The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-05-06
The Adventures of a
DemObiiZed Officer
Who Found Peace Dull
By CYRIL McNEILE
"SAPPER"
Copyright by Gee. Ii. Doran Co.

Copyright by Geo. IL. Doran Co

his eyes. Just TO set her mind al
rest" he remarked gravely, you might
tell her that, as far as / can see at
present, l shall only undertake murder
in exceptional cases"
He propped the letter UP against
the tOaSt-rack and commenced his
breakfast. where is P%udlington,
James? and one might almost ask
Why is Pudlington? No town has any
right TO such an offensive name" He
glanced through the letter and shook
his head. flush tush And the wife
Of the bank manager too-the bank
manager Of Pudlington, James! Can
you conceive of anything so dreadful
But I'm afraid Mrs. Bank Manager is
a puss-a distinct puss. It's when
they get on the soul-mate stunt that
the furniture begins to fly"
Drummond tore up the letter and
dropped the pieces into the basket be-
side him. Then ne turned to his ser
var and handed him the remainder Of
the envelopes.
Go through them, James, while l as.
Sault the kidneys, and pick two or
three out for me. l see that you will
have TO become my secretary"
"Do you want me to open them,
sir?" asked Denny doubtfully.
you've hit it, James-hit 1t in one,
Classify them for me in groups. Grim,
inal; sporting; amatOry-that means
Of or pertaining to love; stupid and
merely boring; and as a last resort,
miscellaneous" He stirred his coffee
thOughtfully. II feel that as a first
venture in ournew career-ours, l said,
JameS-lOve appeals TO me irresistibly,
Find me a damSel in distress a beau
tiful girl, helpless in the clutches OF
knaveS. Let me feel that l "a fly to
her succor, clad in my new grey suit
ing"
He finished the last piece Of bacon
and pushed away his plate.
Denny was engroSsed In a letter he
had just opened. A perplexed look
was spreading over his face, and sud
denly he sucked his teeth loudly. II
was a sure sign that James was ex'
cited, and Drummond glanced VI
quickly, and removed the letter from
his hands. I'm surprised at you
James," he remarked severely. "a sec
rotary should control itself. Dom
forget that the perfect secretary is ar
1t an automatic machine-a thing in
capable Of feeling. . . :"
He read the letter through rapidly
and then, turning back to the begin
ming, he read it slowly through again.
"My dear Box MOI don't know
whether your advertisement was 8
joke: I suppose 1t must have been
But l read it this morning, and it's jusi
possible, X10, just possible, you mean
1t. And If you do, you're the man
want. / can offer you excitement and
probably crime.
I'm up against It, X10. For a girl
I've bitten off rather more than l can
chew. | want help-badly. Will you
come to the Carlton for tea tomorrow
afternoon? I want to have a look al
you and see If / think you are genu'
inc. Wear a white flower in your but
tonhole."
Drummond laid the letter down, and
pulled out his cigarette case "To
morrow, James," he murmured. "That
Is today-this very afternoon. Verify
1 believe that we have impinged upon
the goods" He rose and stood look
ing out of the window thoughtfully.
"You think it's genuine, sir?' said
James.
His master blew out a cloud OF
smoke. II know 1t is" he answered
dreamily. Look at that writing; the
decision In 1.-THE character. Shell
be medium height, and dark, with the
sweetest little nos and mouth. Her
coloring James, will be"
But James had discreetly left the
| room.
TWO.
At four o'clock exactly Hugh Drum
mond stepped out of his twO-seater al
the Haymarket entrance to the Carl
ton. For a few moments after enter
ing the hotel he stood at the top OF
the stairs outside the dining room
while his eyes Travelled round the ia
bles in the lounge below.
Slowly and thoroughly he continued
his search. 1t was early, Of course
yet, and she might not have arrived
but he was taking no chances.
Suddenly his eyes ceased wandering
and remained fixed on q table at the
far end Of the lounge. Half hidden
behind a plant a girl was seated alone
and for a moment she looked straight
at him. Then with the faintest sus
picion of a smile. she turned away, and
commenced drumming On the table
with her fingers.
The table next to her IA unoccu'
pied and Drummond made his way to
ward 1t and sat down.
He felt not the slightest doubt In