Judsonia weekly advance., 1921-06-02

This time she did not look away. She seemed to think that it was her turn to conduct the examination and Drummond fumbled in his waistcoat pocket. After moment he found what he wanted, and taking out card he propped it against the teapot so that the girl could see what was on it. In large black capitals he had written Box X10.
 She spoke almost at once. You'll do, X10,' she said. and he turned to her with q smile.
 "It's very nice of you to say so" he murmured. If I may. I will return the compliment. So will you"
 She drowned slightly. "This isn't foolishness, you kIiow. What I said in my letter is literally true. want you to tell me-" and there was no trace of testing in her voice, "tell me, on your word of honor, whether that ad- vertisement was bona fide or joke l He answered her in the same vein. Tt started more or less as joke. It may now be regarded as absolutely genuine"
 She nodded as If satisfied. Are you prepared to risk your life?" Drummond's eyebrows went up and then he smiled. Granted that the inducement is sufficient he returned | slowly, q think I may say that I am."
 He saw that she was staring over his shoulder at some one behind his | back.
 Don't look around" she ordered, "and tell me your name quickly"
 "Drummond Captain Drummond. late of the Loamshires." He leaned back in his chair, and lit cigarette.
 My cear Phyllis" said voice be- hind his back, this is a pleasant sur prise. l had no-idea that you were in LondoIt."
 A tall, clean-shayen man stopped be- side the table, throwing a keen glance at Dr1mmond.~
 '"The world is full of such surprises. isn't itf' answered the girl lightly. q don't suppose you know Captain Drum mond, do you? Mir. Lakington-art connoisseur and-er-collector"
 The two men bowed slightly. and MT. Lakington smiled "l do not re- member ever having heard my harm less pastimes more concisely de- scribed," he remarked suavely. Are you interested in such matters?"
 Not very, Pm afraid' answered been rather too busy to pay much at | tention to art"
 The other man smiled again, and it | struck Hugh that rarely, If ever, had he seen such cold, merciless face. "Of course you've been to France" Lakington murmured. "Unfortunately bad heart kept me on this side of the water. Sometimes I cannot help thinking how wonderful it must have been to be able to kill without fear of consequences. There is art in killing, Captain Drummond-profound art" He looked at his watch and sighed. Alas! must tear myself away. Are you returning home this evening?"
 The girl, who had been glancing round the restaurant. shrugged her shoulders. Probably" she answered. T haven't quite decided. I might stop with Aunt Kate"
 Fortunate Aunt Kate." With a bow Lakington turned away, and through the glass Drummond watched him get his hat and stick from the cloakroom. Then he looked at the girl, and noticed that she had gone little white.
 What's the matter, old thingT he asked quickly. Are you feeling faint?'
 She shook her head, and gradually the color came back to her face. "1'm quite all right" she answered. Tt gave me rather a shock, that man finding us here. You've stumbled right into the middle of it, my friend-rather sooner than I anticipated That is one of the men you will probably have to kill. ;
 Her companion lit another cigarette. "What is his particular worry?" First and foremost the brute wants | to marry me-" replied the girl. Il loathe being obvious" said Hugh, but am not surprised"
 But it isn't that that matters" She looked at Drummond quietly. Henry Lakington is the second most danger ous man in England"
 "Only the second" murmured Hugh. "Then hadn't I better start my career | with the first?"
 She looked at him in silence. q suppose you think that I'm hysterical," she remarked after while. You're probably even wondering whether I'm !! all there."
 Drummond licked the ash from his | cigarette, then he turned to her dis passionately. You must admit" he remarked, 'that up to now our conver- sation has hardly proceeded along conventional lines. I am complete stranger to you; another man who t | complete stranger t. me speaks to you while we're at tea. You inform me that I shall probably have to kill him in the near future. The state ment is, think you will agree. q trifle disconcerting
 The girl threw back her head and laughed merrily. You poor young