The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-08-25
q beard, a Yank, and two Bochcs. Do

a beard, a Yank, and two Bochcs. Do
your best"
"Right-o, old bean !" returned the
waiter, but don't hope for too much"
He disappeared unobtrusively into
the restaurant, and Hugh turned with
a laugh to the American, who was
staring at him in amazement.
"Who the devil is that guy?" asked
the detective.
Ted JerninSham-son Of Sir Pat
rick birmingham. Bart, and Lady Jern-
ingham, OF birmingham hall, Rutland,
England" answered Hugh, still grin
ming. 1--WE may be crude in our
methods, Mr.. Green. but you must ad-
NIT we do our best. Incidentally, If
you want TO know, your friend Mr..
Potts is at present tucked between
the sheets at that very house. He
went there by airplane this morning"
He waved a hand toward Jerry. "He
IA the pilot"
The American was shaking his head
a little dazedly. "We've got 10 get
busy on what your friend Peterson's
little worry is; we've then got to stop
it some old how. Now, does moth
Ing sort Of strike your" He looked
keenly at the soldier. Revolution
aries, Bolshevists, paid agitators last
night; international %financiers this
evening. Why, the broad outline Of
the plan Is rs plain as the nose on
your face; and it's just the sort Of
game that man would love. . :"
The detective stared thoughtfully at
the end Of his cigar, and a look Of
Hugh's face.
Great Scott! Mr.. Green" he said,
I'm beginning to get you. What was
defeating me was, why two men like
Peterson and darlington should be
mixed up with last nights crowd"
darlington! Who's LakingtonY'
asked the other quickly.
Number Two in the combine" said
Hugh, land a nasty man."
well, We'll leave him out for the
moment" said the American. Doesn't
1t strike you that there are quite a
number of people in this world who
would benefit If England became a
sort OF second Russia? That such a
thing would be worth ~money-big
money? That such a thing would be
worth paying through the nose for?
1t would have to be done properly;
your small strike here, and your small
strike there, amt no manner Of use.
One gigantic syndicalist strike all over
your country-that's what Peterson's
playing for, I'll stake my bottom dol
lar. How he's doing it is another mat
ter. But he's in with the big iinan-
ciers: and he's using the tub-thump-
ing Bolshies as tools. Cad! It's a
big scheme he pulled twice at his
cigar-'a burned big scheme. Your
little old country, captain, is, saving
one, the finest on Gods earth but she's
in a funny mood. She's sick, like
most Of us are maybe she's a little
bit sicker than a good many people
think. But l reckon Peterson's cure
won't do any manner Of good, except
ing to himself and those blamed cap
italists who are putting up the dol
lars"
'"Then where the devil does Potts
come in" said Hugh, who had lis
tened lntently to every word the Am
erican had said. And the duchess Of
LampShire's pearls?"
Pearls" began the American, when
the restaurant door opened suddenly
and Ted birmingham emerged. He
seemed TO be in a hurry, and Hugh
half rose in his chair. Then he sat
ity a crowd Of infatuated head walters
and other great ones appeared from
nowhere and surrounded birmingham.
Undoubtedly this was not the way
for a waiter to leave the hotel-even
II he had just been discovered as an
impOstor and sacked on the spot. And
undoubtedly IL he had been a waiter,
this large body OF ~scandalized beings
would have removed him expeditiously
through some secret buttery-hatch,
and dropped him on the pavement out
Of a back entrance.
Just opposite Hugh he halted, and
in a clear voice addressed no one In
particular:
you're spotted. Look out. Legder
at Godalming."
Then, engulfed once more in the
crowd, he continued his majestic pro-
gress, and finally disappeared a little
abruptly from view.
Cryptic" murmured the American,
"but some lad. Gee! He had that
bunch guessing"
"The ledger at G%odalming," said
Hugh thoughtfully. 81 watched Peter
son, through the skylight last night,
getting gay with that ledger. I'm think
ing we'll have to look inside II, Mr..
Green. What about a little dinner at
Maxim's? I'm thinking we've found
out all we're likely to find, until we
can get TO that ledger. And thanks
TO your knowing those birds, Mr..
Green, our trip TO Paris has been OF
considerable value"
III