The Lamar register., 1921-07-27
(Continued from Page Two)

After which breezy interlude," re-
marked Peterson, "let US to business
get"
Hugh paused In the act of striking
II match. and for the first time a gen
uine smile spread over his face.
There are moments. Peterson" he
murmured, when you really appeal
to me-"
Peterson took the empty chair next
to Lakington.
"Sit down." he said shortly. II can
only hope that l shall appeal to you
still more before We kill you"
Hugh bowed and sat down.
Consideration" he murmured, -was
always your strong point. May ask
how long have to liver
Peterson smiled genially.
AT the earnest request OF Mr.. LAX
ington you are to be spared until to-
morrow. At least. that is our present
intention. OF course. there might be
an accident in the night: In house
like this one never can tell. Or
he carefully cut the end OFF cigar
''you might 20 mad. In which case we
shouldn't bother to kill you. In fact,
If you 20 mad, We shall not be dis
pleased"
Once again he smiled genially.
"As | said before. in house ike
this, you can never tell.
The intimidated rabbit, breathing
heavily. was staring at Hugh fascin-
ated and after moment Hugh turned
to him with a courteous bow.
"Laddie," he remarked, you've been
eating onions. Do you mind DETECTING
the blast In the opposite directionr
His calm imperturbability seemed to
madden Lakington.
"You wait" he snarled thickly: you
wait till I've finished with you. You
won't be SO id humorous then. :"
Hugh regarded the speaker languid-
ly.
"Your supposition is more than PROB
able" he remarked, In bored voice.
II shall be too intent on getting into
a Turkish bath to remove the contain
ination to think of laughing"
Slowly Lakington sank back In his
chair, a hard, merciless smile on his
lips; and for u moment or two there
was silence In the room. Ii WAS broken
by the unkempt man on the sofa, Who'
without warning, exploded unexpected
ly.
"a truce to all this fooling," he
burst forth In deep rumble; Il con-
fess I do not understand II. Are We
assembled here tonight. comrades, to
listen to private quarrels and stupid
talk?"
murmur of approval came from
the others, and the speaker stood up
waving his arms.
81 know not what this young man
has done: / care less. In Russia such
trifies matter not He has the appear
ance of u bourgeois, therefore he must
die. Did We not kill thousands-aye,
tens of thousands Of his kidney. before
we obtained the great freedomf Are
we not going TO do the same In this
accursed country XIII him now
throw him in a corner and let US pro-
ceed.'
He sat down, amidst a murmur OF
approval, In which Hugh Joined heart
lily.
"Splendld," he murmured. "A mag
nificent peroration. Am l right, sir,
In assuming that you are what Is 'ui-
carly known as BolshevistT
The man turned his sunken eyes,
glowing with the burning fires Of fanat-
icism on Drummond.
lam one of those who are nghting
for the freedom Of the world" he cried
harshly, "for the right to live OF the
preletariat" He flung out his arms
wildly. at is freedom 1t is the dawn
of the new age"
Hugh looked at him with genuine
curiosity; 1t was the first time he had
actually met one of these wild vision
aries In the flesh. And then the curl
osity was succeeded by a very dennite
amazement: what had Peterson to do
with such as hef
For the moment his own deadly risk
was forgotten: a growing excitement
filled his mind. Could 1t be possible
that here, at last, was the real obJect
of the gang; could IT be possible thst
Peterson was organizing deliberate
plot to try and Bolshevize Engiandf
He looked up to ind Peterson regard
ing him with a faint smile.