The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-07-14

that is the name OF LakingtOn's
house-three months ago. He is about
medium height and rather thick-set
clean-shaven, with thick brown hair,
hecked slightly with white. His fore
head is broad. and his eyes are a
sort Of cold grey-blue. But it's his
hands that terrify me. They're large
and white and utterly ruthless" She
turned TO him appealingly. "Oh don't
think I'm talking wildly" she i'm
plored. He frightens me to death
that man: far, far worse than Laking-
ton. He would stop at nothing TO gain
his ends. and even darlington himself
knows that Mr.. Peterson is his mas
ter"
Peterson :" murmured DrummOnd
cit seems quite a sound old English
name"
The girl laughed scornfully. "Oh
the name is sound enough, If it was
his real one. AS it is, it's about as
real as his daughter"
There is a lady in the case, then?
by the name of Irma.' said the
girl briefly. "She lies on a sofa in
the garden and yawns. She's no
more English than that waiter"
A faint smile fiickered over her
companions face; he had formed a
fairly vivid mental picture of Irma.
Then he grew serious again.
And what is it that makes you
think there's mischief ahead?' he
asked abruptly.
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
''What the nOvelists call feminine in
tuition, 1 suppose" she answered
''That-and my father" She said the
last words very low. He hardly ever
sleeps at night now: hear him pacing
up and down his roOm-hOur after
hour, hour after hour. OH il makes
me mad. Don't you understand?
I've got TO get him away from those
devils. before he breaks down COM
pletely."
DrummOnd nodded, and looked
away. While she had been speaking
he had made up his mind what course
10 take, and now. having Outsat every
body else, he decided that it was time
for the interview TO cease Already
an early diner was having a cocktail,
while darlington might return at any
moment And if there was anything
In what she had told him, it struck
him that it would be as we'll for that
gentleman not to find them together.
Al think" he said, wed better go.
Ny address is GOA Half Moon street;
my telephone 1884 Mayfair. If any
thing happens, if ever you want me
at any hour of the day or night-ring
me up or write. If I'm not in, leave a
message with my servant Denny. He
is absolutely reliable. The only other
thing is your own address"
1.-The Larches, near Godalming," an
swered the girl, as they moved toward
the door. "Ohl if you only knew the
glorious relief of feeling ones got
some one TO turn to =" She
looked at him with shining eyes, and
Drummond felt his pulse quicken sud
denly.
May l drop you anywhereT' he
asked, as they stood on the pavement,
but she shook her head.
mo. thank you. I'll go in that taxi"
She gave the man an address, and
stepped in. while Hugh stood bare
headed by the door.
Don't forget" he said earnestly.
ANY time Of the day or night. And
while / think of it-we're old friends.
Can that be done? In case come and
stay. you see"
She thought for moment and then
nodded her head. "An right" she an
swered. We've met a lot in London
during the war"
With a grinding of gear wheels the
taxi drove off, leaving Hugh with a
vivid picture imprinted on his mind
of blue eyes. and white teeth, and a
skin like the bloom of a -Sun-kissed
peach.
For a moment or two he stood star
ing after it, and then he walked across
10 his own car. With his mind still
full of the interview he drove slowly
along Piccadilly. while every now and
then he smiled grimly TO himself. Was
the whole thing an elaborate hoax?
Somehow deep down in his mind, he
wondered whether 1t was a joke
whether. by some freak of fate, he had
stumbled on one Of those strange mys-
teries which up TO date he had regard
ed as existing only in the realms OF
dime novels.
He turned into his rooms, and stood
in front Of the mantelpiece taking
of his gloves. 1t was as he was
about 10 lay them down on the table
that an envelope. caught his eye, ad-
dressed TO him in an unknown hand
writing. Mechanically he picked it up
and opened it. Inside was a single
half-sheet OF notepaper, on which a
few lines had been written in a small,
neat hand.
There are more things in heaven
and earth, young man, than capabil
ity for eating steak and onions. and a