Evening star., 1921-04-16

are far too great for any weak
You're right. my friend-.you're
right. Long live the brotherhood.
smouldering eyes. and Hugh pre-
served discreet silence. Then
asain. aHe"y "e Have ;aea they 'GHe killed that
insolent puppy of soldier YETI"
''Er-not vet" murmured Hugh
mildly
They must find the American at
once" The man thumped the table
emphatically. 1T was important be-
fore-at least his money was Now
with this blunder-it's vital"
Precisely" said Hugh. Pre-
ciscly''
I've already interviewed one man
,, from Scotland Yard. but every hour
increases the danger. However. you
, have a message for me. What is it,"
Hugh rose and casually picked up
his hat. He had got more out Of
the interview than he had hoped for
| and there was nothing to be gained
by prolonging il. But it struck him
that Mr.. Potts impersonator was a
| man Of unpleasant disposition. and
that tactically a fianking movement
TO the door was indicated. And.
being of an open nature himself. 1T
Is possible that the real state Of af-
fairs showed for a moment on his
face. Be that as it may. something
suddenly aroused the others sus-
sprang past Hugh to the door.
who are you?' He spat the words
out venomously. at the same time
whipping an ugly-looking knife out Of
his pocket.
HugMreplaced his hat and stick on
the table and grinned gently.
Il am the insolent puppy of SOL
dier. dear old bird" he remarked.
watching the other warily. "And IL
was you Id put the tooth-pick away.
|. You might hurt yourself-"
AS he spoke he was edging. 1ittle
by little, toward the other man, who
crouched snarling by the door. \'s
eyes, grim and determined, never left
the others face; his hands. apparently
hanging listless by his sides, were
tingling with the Joy Of what he
knew was coming.
And the penalty of failure is death.
isn't 1t. dear one?" He spoke almost
dreamily. but not for an instant did
his attention relax The words of
Olaki. his Japanese instructor, were
ringing through his brain: Distract
his attention II you can, but, as you
value your life. don't let him distract
yours"
And 30. almost imperceptibly. he
crept towards the other man talking
gently.
Such is your rule. And I think you
nave failed, haven't you. you unpleas-
ant specimen of humanity? How Will
they kill you, 1 wonder?"
1t was at that moment that the man.
made his mistake. 1t is a mistake
that has nipped the life of many
promising pussy in the bud, at the
hands. or rather the teeth, of a dog
that knows. He looked away; only
for a moment-but he looked away
Just as a cats nerves give after a
while and it looks round for an ave-
nue. Of escape. SO did the crouching
man take his eyes from Hugh. And
quick as any dog. Hugh sprang.
With his left hand he seized the
mans right wrist, with his right he
seized his throat. Then he forced him
upright against the door and held him
there. Little by little the grip Of his
right hand frightened, till the others
eyes were starting from his head. and
he plucked at Hugh's face with an
impotent left arm. an arm not long
enough by three inches to do any
damage. And all the while the soldier
smiled gently. and stared into the
others eyes. Even when inch by inch
he shifted his grip on the mans knife
hand he never took his eyes from his
opponents face; even when with a
sudden gasp OF agony the man drop
ped his knife from fingers which. of
a sudden. had become numb, the
steady. merciless glance still bored
into his brain.
You're not very clever at it. are
you?" said Hugh softly. ut would be
so easy to kill you now. and, except
| for the inconvenience I should un-
doubtedly suffer. it mightn't be bad
! idea. But they know me downstairs.
and 1t would make 1t so awkward
| when I wanted to dine here again.
|. So, taking everything into ac-
count. 1 think"
There was a sudden lightning move
ment, a heave and a quick jerk. The
| impersonator Of Potts was dimly con-
| of hitting the floor some yards from
the door. He then became acutely
J conscious that the floor was hard. and
that being winded Is a most painful
experience. Doubled up and groaning.
| he watched Hugh pick up his hat and
; stick, and make for the door. He
made a frantic effort to rise. but the
pain was too great. and he rolled over
cursing. while the soldier, his hand
on the door-knob. laughed gently.
| 'Tn keep the toothpick," he re-
marked, "as a memento."
! The next moment he was striding
along the corridor toward the lift. AS
fight it had been a poor one. but
his brain was busy with the informa- =
ton he had heard. True. 1t had been
scrappy in the extreme. and. in part.
had only confirmed what he had sus-
pected all along. The wretched
! Granger had been foully done to
death. for no other reason than that
he was the millionaire's secretary
/ Hugh's jaw frightened; it revolted his
sense Of sport. 1t wasn't as IL the
poor blighter had done anything:
merely because he existed and might
ask inconvenient questions he had
been removed. And as the lift shot
downward. and the remembrance of
the grim struggle he had had in the
darkness OF the Elms the night be-
| fore came back to his mind, he won
dered once again If he had done
wisely in not breaking Peterson's
neck while he had had the chance
He was still debating the question
in his mind as he crossed the tea
lounge. And almost unconsciously he
glanced toward the table where three
days before he had had tea with
Phyllis Benton. and had been more
than half inclined to believe that
the whole thing was an elaborate
lleg-pull.