The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-10-14
CHAPTER VlI-Continued.

his life in the war, and who at present
ekeS out precarious existence in
government office. At least, that's
what he told Lady Frumpley-she's
the woman of unaSSailable virtue.
She was profoundly sentimental and
scents romance, in addition to being
snOb and seeming a future duke, to
say nothing of future duchess. BY
the mercy of Allah she's on COM
mittee with his mother for distribut-
Ing brown paper underclotheS to des-
titute Belgians, and so Freddie wan
gied an invite for her. VOLTA tout"
Splendid" said darlington slowly.
Splendid. Young Laidley comes of
age in about q week, doesn't he?"
Monday, to be exact; and so ! go
down with my dear aunt on Satur-
day"
darlington nodded his head as if
satisfied, and then glanced at his
watch.
what about bed?" he remarked.
"Not yet" said Peterson, hating
suddenly in his walk. Il must see the
dIA bClOIc 80 " L a. 10. W -
have him down here now. Give him
an injection, Henry-and, by God,
we'll make the fool sign. Then l can
actually take it over to the meeting
with me-"
He strobe to the door, followed by
darlington; and the girl in the chair
stood up and stretched her arms above
her head For a moment or two Hugh
watched her; then he, too, stood up
right and eased his cramped limbs.
Make the fool sign" The words
echoed through his brain, and he
stared thoughtfully at the grey light
which showed the approach of dawn.
What was the best thing to do?
Make with Peterson generally i'm
piled torture, if other means failed.
and Hugh had no intention of watch
ing any man tortured. At the same
time something of the nature of the
diabolical plot conceived by Peterson
was beginning to take definite shape
in his mind, though many of the most
important links were still missing.
And with this knowledge had come
the realization that he was no longer
a free agent. The thing had ceased
to be a mere sporting gamble with
himself and few other chosen spir
its matched against gang of Grim
inalS; Ii had become-if his surmiSe
was correct-a national affair. Eng
land herself-her very eXistence-was
threatened by one of the vilest plots
ever dreamed of in the brain of liam.
And then, with a sudden rage at his
own impotence, he realized that even
now he had nothing definite to go on.
He must know more; somehow or
other he must get to Paris; he Lust
attend that meeting at the Ritz. Then
sound from the room below brought
him back to his vantage point. The
American was sitting in chair, and
darlington, with a hypodermic syringe
in his hand, was holding his arm.
He made the injection, and Hugh
watched the millionaire. He was still
undecided as to how to act, but for
the moment, at any rate, there was
nothing to be done. And he was very
W near WIdI SlcISOu iltlu W
say to the wretched man, who, up to-
date, had figured so largely in every
round.
After q while fine American ceased
staring vacantly in front of him, and
passed his hand dazedly over his fore
head. Then he half rose from his
chair and stared at the two men sit
ting facing him. His eyes came round
to the girl, and with a groan he sank
back again, plucking feebly with his
hands at his dressing gown.
Better, Mr.. Potts?" said Peterson,
suaveiy.
Ill" stammered the other
"Where am II"
"At The Elms, Godalming, If you
wish to know"
ST thought thought" He rose
swaying. "What do you want with
me? On your!
flush, tush," murmured Peterson.
"There is a lady present, Mr.. Potts.
And our wants are so simple. Just
your signature to little agreement,
by which in return for certain services
you promise to join us in our-er-
labors in the near future"
az remember" cried the millionaire.
'Now 1 remember You swine-you
filthy swine, 1 refuse absolute
ly."
1.-THE trouble is, my friend, that you
are altogether too big an employer of
labor to be allowed to refuse, as
pointed out to you before. You must
be in with US, otherwise you might
wreck the scheme. Therefore l re-
quire your signatures"
and. when you've got it." cried the
American, what good will it be to
you. l shall repudiate it."
"Oh! no, Mr.. Potts." said Peterson
with thoughtful smile; Il can assure
you, you won't. The distressing NAL
ady. from which you have recently been
suffering will again have you in its
grip. 1t renders you quite unfit for
business"
For a while there was silence, and
the millionaire stared round the room
like trapped animal.
81 refuse!" ne cried at last. sits
On outrage against humanity. You can
do what you like"
'.Then We'll start with little more
thumbscrew," remarked Peterson,
strolling over to the desk and opening
a drawer. San astonishingly effective
implemeDt, as YOU can see if Won Iool,