The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-05-06

This time she did not look away.
turn to conduct the examination and
Drummond fumbled in his waistcoat
pocket. After a moment he found
what he wanted, and taking out a card
he propped it against the teapot so
that the girl could see what was on il.
In large black capitals he had written
Box X10.
She spoke almost at once. you'll
do, Mo" she said, and he turned to
her with q smile.
ITS very nice OF you TO say So" he
murmured. az l may, I will return
the compliment. So will you"
She frowned slightly. This isn't
f~oOliShnesS, you know. What / 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 a joke"
He answered her in the same vein.
at started more or less as a joke. 1t
may now be regarded as absolutely
genuine"
She nodded as IL 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, 81 think / 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 a cigarette.
my dear Phyllis" said a voice be-
hind his back, this is a pleasant sur
prise. had no idea that you were in
London"
A tall, clean-shaven man stopped be-
side the table, throwing a keen glance
at DrummOnd.
"The world is full of such surprises,
isn't it," answered the girl lightly. II
don't suppose you know Captain Drum
mond, do you? Mr.. Lakington-art
connoisseur and-er-cOllectOr."
The two men bowed slightly, and
Mr.. Lexington smiled. 81 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, I'm afraid" answered
Drummond. Just recently l have
been rather too busy to pay much at
tention to art"
The other man smiled again, and it
struck Hugh that rarely, II ever, had
he seen such a cold, merciless face.
"Of course you've been to France"
LakingtOn murmured. unfortunately
q bad heart kept me on this side Of the
water. Sometimes cannot help
thinking how wonderful 1t 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! l 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.
81 haven't quite decided. l might stop
with Aunt Kate"
Fortunate Aunt Kate" With a
bow Lexington 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 hat she had gone a
little white.
! whats the matter, old thing?' he
asked quickly. "Are you feeling
faint?"
She shook her head, and gradually
the color came back to her face. I'm
quite all right" she answered. ut gave
me rather a shock, that man finding us
here. You've stumbled right into the
middle of it, my friend-rather sooner
than / anticipated. That is one of the
men you will probably have to kill. -
Her companion lit another cigarette.
"What is his particular w0rry?"
First and foremost the brute wants
to marry me-" replied the girl.
Il lOatne being OBVIOUS, SAID Hugh,
but I am not surprised"
but 1t isn't that that matters" She
looked at Drummond quietly. Henry
Lexington Is the second most danger
Gus man in England"
"Only the second" murmured Hugh.
"Then hadn't l better start my career
with the frstT"
She looked at him in silence. 81
suppose you think that I'm hysterical,"
she remarked after a while. you're
probably wen wondering whether I'm
| all there"
Drummond fiicked the ash from his
| cigarette, then he turned to her dis
| p~assiOnately. "You must admit" he
remarked, that up to now our CONVEX
satiOn has hardly proceeded along
conventional lines. l am a complete
stranger to you; another man who u
q complete stranger to 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
Lent is, l think you will agree. a
| trifie discaacerting."
The girl threw back her head and