The St. Charles herald., 1921-07-23
TWO.


| into the room.
."Yes, James," he remarked, 4
I think we are at home. l want you 10
remain within call, and under no CIR
cumstances let our sick visitor odt
of your sight for more than minute.
| In fact, think you'd better sit IN
| his rOOm."
James. with a curt VERY, good,
SIR" left the room. Almost at once
he returned. and flinging open the
door, announced Mr.. Peterson.
Drummond looked up quickly and
rose with smile.
Good morning" he cried. "This is
very pleasant surprise Mr.. Peter
son." He waved his visitor to
chair. Hope you've had no more
trouble with your car
| Mr.. Peterson drew off his gloves,
smiling amably. "None at all, thank
you, Captain Drummond. The chauf-
| feur appears to have mastered the
defect"
1T was your eye on him that did
| it. Wonderful thing-the human
optic, as / said TO your friend, Mr..
Mr. Lakington. / hope that he's quite
we'll and taking nOurishment."
"Soft food only" said the other
genially. "Mr. Lakington had most
unpleasant accident last night-most
unpleasant"
Hugh's face expressed his sympa-
thy. How very unfortunate! he
murmured. 81 trust nothing serious
II fear his lower jaw was fractured
In two places" Peterson helped him.
self to a cigarette from the box be-
side him. 1.-The man who hit him
must have been a boxer"
.Mixed up in a brawl, was her
said Drummond. shaking his head. u
should never have thought, from what
little I've seen of Mr.. Lakington, that
he went In for painting the town red
I'd have put him down as most
abstemious man-but one never can
tell, can one? l once knew fellah
who used to get fighting drunk on
three whiskies, and to look at him
you'd have put him down as a parson
Wonderful amount Of cheap fun that
chap got out of life"
Peterson flicked the ash from his
cigarette into the crate. "Shall We
come to the point. Captain Drum
mond" he remarked affably.
Hugh looked bewildered. "Tht
point, Mr.. Peterson? Er-by all man
ner of means"
Peterson smiled even more affably
ST felt certain that you were youn'
man of. discernment," he remarked
"and I wouldn't like to keep you from
your paper a minute longer than nee
essary."
"Not a Bit" cried Hugh. 'My tim
is yours-though I'd very much lik
to know your real opinion of Th
Juggernaut for the Chester cup. l
) seems to me that he cannot affor'
to give Sumatra seven pounds o.
their form up to date"
"Are you interested in gambling?
. | asked Peterson politely.
"A mild fiutter, Mr.. Peterson, ever
now and then," returned Drummont
strictly limited stakes"
| "If you confine yourself to tina
. you will come to no HARM" said Pc
:. terson. 1T is when the stakes bt
come unlimited that the danger of
, crash becomes unlimited too
"That is what my mother alway
: told me-" remarked Hugh. "She eve
2 went further, dear good woman ths
] she was. Never bet except on ce
tainty, my boy was her constant al
/ vice, and then put your shirt on
. can hear her saying it now. NJ
: Peterson, with the golden rays of I'll
j setting sun lighting up her swee
e face"
: Peterson leant forward In his chat
' ssYoung man." he remarked, "we'y
J, got to understand one another. La
night you butted in on my plans, an
do not like people who do that. L
d an act which, must admit, appeale
y to me greatly, you removed somethir
q | reauire-something. moreover, whit
intend to have. Breaking the ele
i tric bulb with a revolver shot SHOW
t resource and initiative. The blow tha
+ smashed Henry Lakington's jaw In tv
places shows strength. All qualiti
e which 1 admire, Captain Drummond-
i, admire greatly. should dislike ha
ing to deprive the world OF those quf
d tiles"
Drummond gazed at the speak
i. open-mouthed. "My dear sir" he pr
al tested feebIy, "you overwhelm m
% Are you really accusing me Of bell
Is sort of wild west show?" He wa
gled a finger at Peterson. "You kne
le you've been to the movies too muC
t. like my fellah, James. He's got !
d. volvers and things on the BRAIN"
r. Peterson's face was absolutely i
passive; save for slightly tir
d smile it was expressionless. Fin
le ly. Captain Drupmond, you tore
half piece of paper which
II, uuire-and removed very dear {
ri friend of my family, who is now
e. this house. / want them both ba'
in please, and If you like I'll take tht
ne now"
s. Drummond shrugged his shonlde
is resi- yne,ily. There II something abe
Il Won Mr.. Peterson he Inilrmur'