Evening star., 1921-04-12
Bulldog Dru1nm0nd
y BY CYRIL McNEIIE ('Sapper')
A Novel Of Mystery, Love and Adventure.
~ GeorEe h Dorsp Or

ment I was wondering whether lit
tie persuasion now-might not give
me all the information I require more
lquickly and with less trouble"
A f1eeting vision of a mangled. pulp
like thumb flashed across Hughs
mind; once again he heard that hid
eous cry. half animal. half human
ness the preceding night. and for an
instant his breath came a little faster
Then he smiled. and shook his head.
II think you are rather too good a
Judge OF human nature to try any
thing SO foolish" he said. thought
which / don't think would suit your
book. you might find explanations a
little difficult tomorrow
For while there was silence in the
room. broken at length by short
! laugh from Peterson.
For a young man truly your per
spicacity is great" he remarked.
"Irma. is the blue room ready? If so.
tell Luigi to show Capt. Drummond
| to it,
Il will show him myself" she an
swered. rising. "And then I shall go
to bed. Mon Dieu, my Hugh. but I
find your country tres ennuyeux.
She stood in front of b5, for mo
door. glancing at b6z over her
| shoulder
! Hugh saw a quick s-sk of annoy
ance pass over Petersmi's face as he
| turned to follow thv girl. and it
| struck him that that gentleman was
not best pleased at the turn of events.
| 1t vanished almost as soon as it came.
and Peterson waved a friendly hand
at him, as If the doings of the night
had been the most ordinary thing in
| the world. Then the door closed, and
he followed his guide up the stairs.
The house was beautifully furnished
Hugh was no judge of art. but even
his inexperienced eye could see that
the prints on the walls were rare and
valua BILE. The carpets were thick. and
his feet sank into them noiselessly;
the furniture was solid and in ex-
quisite taste. And it was as he
reached the top of the stairs that
single deep-noted clock rang a won
derful chime and then struck the
hour. The time was just O'Clock.
The girl opened the door of a room
and switched on the light. Then
she faced him smiling. and Hugh
looked at her steadily. He had no
wish whatever for any conversation,
but as she was standing in the CEN
ter of the doorway it was impossible
for him to get past her without
being rude.
Tell me. you ugly man." she mur-
Hugh smiled. and. as has been
said before. Hugh's smile trans
formed his face
Il must remember that opening"
he said. $50 many people. / feel
convinced, would like to say it on
selves to merely thinking it. 1t es-
tablishes a basis of intimacy at once,
doesn't it?"
She swayed a little towards him.
and then, before he realized her in
tention. she put hand on his shoul-
der.
Don't you understand" she whis-
pered fiercely, that they'll kill you?"
She peered past him half fearfully.
and then turned to him again. Go.
Oh! if I could only make you under
stand; if you'd only believe me! Get
out of it-go abroad; do anything
but don't fool round here"
In her agitation she was shaking
him to and fro.
1T seems a cheerful household"
remarked Hugh with a smile. May
ask why you're all so concerned
about me? Your estimable father
gave me the same advice yesterday
Don't ask why" she answered fe-
verish1y. because I can't tell you.
Only you must believe that what
say Is the truth-you must It's Just
possible that If you go now and tell
ifsn them xoheI5 where ~ you've hid hidden the Amer
don't Her hand dropped to her
side suddenly. breakfast will be
at 9. my Hugh; until then. au revoir."
He turned as she left the room, a
Little puzzled by her change of tone.
Standing at the top. of the stairs
in silence. -
In the days when Drummond had
been a platoon commander he had
done many dangerous things. The
ordinary joys<of the infantry subal-
terms life-such as going over the
rroved suficient Tor his appetite
He had specialized in peculiar stunts
of his own. stunts over which he
was singularly reticent: stunts over
which his men formed their own
conclusions. and worshiped him ac-
But Drummond was no fool. and he
had realized the vital Importance Of
fitting himself for these stunts to
the best of his ability. Enormous
Sng It ca4ss s,isssa With is certain ssai
ural disadvantages. In the first
place. it's possessor is frequently
clumsy: Hugh had practiced in
France til he could move over
ou ground I,,s,1tho Without "a . sinsle blade Of
trapper-had nrst shown him the
trick. by which a man goes forward
on his elbows like a snake. and is
here one moment and gone the next,
with no one. the wiser
Again. its possessor Is frequently
slow; Hugh had practiced in France
till he could kill a man with his bare
hands in a second. Olaki-a jap
onese-had first taught him two or
three Of the secrets Of his trade, and
in the intervas Of resting behind the
lines he had perfected them until it
was even money whether the Jap
or he would win in a practice bout.
(To be continued tomorrow.)