The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-06-16
OnI AN
Illustrations by
n MYERS

else.
They're so utterly u~nscrupulous,"
she continued hurriedly, 80 fendlshly
clever, that even you would be a child
in their hands"
Hugh ~endeavored to dissemble his
pleasure at hat little word even
and only succeeded In frownlng hor-
ribiy.
81 will be discretion Itself" he as
sured her firmly.
81 suppose l shall have TO trust
you" she said. "Have you seen the
evening papers today?"
81 looked at the ones that come out
In the morning labeled six p. m. be-
fore I had lunch" he answered. as
there anything OF INTEREST,""
She handed him a copy Of the
Planet. Read that little paragraph
In the second column" She pointed
to 1t, as he took the paper, and Hugh
read II aloud.
"Mr. Hiram G.. POttS-the celebrat-
ed American mlllionaire-is progress
ing favorably. He has gone into the
country for a few days, but Is suf-
as usual" He laid down the paper
and looked at the girl sitting opposite.
"One Is pleased" he remarked In n
puzzled tone, "fOr the sake Of Mr..
Potts. To be i'll and have a name
4 k that Is more than most men
could stand. . But l don't quite
see a.. ="
THAT man was stopping at the
Carlton. where he met Lexington"
said the girl. "He Is a multi-mil-
lionaire, Owe here In connection with
some big steel trust and when multi
mlllionaires get friendly with Laking-
ton. their health frequently does suf-
fer"
But this paper says he's getting
better" objected Drummond. "'Suf-
ficiently recovered to conduct business
as usual"
III he Is sufficiently recovered to
conduct business as usual, why did he
lend his confidential secretary away
JSotVi uoy " III Oh I'LL uIkShl iDlS-
sion to Belfast?"
Search me-" said Hugh. 'Inci-
dentally, how do you know he dld?'
II asked at the Carlton this morn
ing" she answered. 81 said I'd come
after a job as typist for Mr.. Potts.
They told me ut the inquiry office that
he was i'll In bed and unable to see
anybody. So / asked for his secre-
tary. and they told me what I've just
told you-that he had left for Belfast
eral days. 1t may be that there's
nothing In 1t; on the other hand. 1t
may be that there's a lot. And It's
only by following up every possible
clue" she continued fiercely, that l
can hope to beat those fiends and get
daddy out Of their clutches"
Drummond nodded gravely, and did
not speak. For into his mind had
flashed suddenly the remembrance OF
that sinister, motionless figure seated
by the chauffeur. The widest guess
work certainly-no vestige of proof
and yet, having once come, the
thought stuck. And as he turned 1t
over In hts mind. almost prepared to
laugh at himself for his credulity-
~milllonaires are not removed against
their will, In broad daylight. from one
Of the biggest hotels In London, to sit
in immOvable silence in an open car
the door opened and an elderly man
came In.
Hugh rose, and the girl introduced
the two men. "An old friend, daddy"
she said. "You must have heard me
| speak Of Captain Drummond."
" don't recall the name at the mo-
ment, my dear" he answered courte-
ously-a fact which was hardly sur
prising-"but I fear I'm getting a little
forgetful. You'll stop and have some
dinner, OF course"
Hugh bowed. 81 should like to, Mr..
Benton. Thank you very much. I'm
afraid the hour of my call was a little
informal, but being round IN these
parts, l felt l must come and look
Miss Benton up"
His host smiled absentmindedly,
and walking to the window, stared
through the gathering dusk at the
house opposite. half hidden In. the
trees. And Hugh, who was watching
him from under lowered lids, saw him
suddenly clench both hands In a ges.
ture of despair.
1t cannot be said that dinner was
a meal Of sparkling gaiety. Mr.. Ben
ton was palpably ill at ease, and be
yOnd a few desultOry remarks spoke
hardly at all; while the girl, who sal
opposite Hugh, though she made one
or two valiant attempts to break the
long s~ilences, spent most Of the mea
In cOvertly watching her father. Il
anything more had been required tt
convince Drummond Of the genuine
ness Of his interview with her at the
Carlton the preceding day, the atmos
phere at this strained and silent party
supplied It
As II unconscious Of anything pecu
liar he rambled on In his usual In
consistent method. needless Of wheth