The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1921-04-26
Copyright BY Geo r DoFo0 &
"SAPPER'
Illustrations by
! IRWIN NYERS

eIed up and down the back OF the
hapiesS Denny, who was quite unneces-
sarily pulling books off shelves and
putting them back again-'if 50 be
that he does" she continued grimly,
him and me will have words-as I've
told him already this morning" She
Staiked from the room, after staring
pointedly at the letters in Drummonds
hand, and the two men looked at one
another.
ITS that there reference to crime.
Sir that's torn it, said Denny in q
hOarse whisper.
Thinks I'm going to lead yoa
astr:y, Goes she, James?' He was
opening the first envelope, and sud
denly he looked up with a twinkle in
his eyes. Just to set her mind at
rest he remarked gravely, you might
tell her that, as far as l can see at
present, shall only undertake murde,'
in exceptional cases.
He cropped the letter up agai1.s,
the toast-rack and commenced his
breakfast ''Where is Pudlington
James? and one might almost ask
why is Pudlington? No town has any
right to such an offensive nalue." He
glanced through the letter and shook
his head flush tush! And the wifi
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 /.
8 rLss-a distinct puss. It's w,,a..
:hng get on the sOuI-mate stunt tts.:
SIX; furniture begins to fly"
Il,':lr,f.o nd tore up the letter and
'"~7<n"i he pieces into the basket be-
size tim. Then he turned to his SER
rili1 and handed him the remainder Of
the envelopes
X, through them, James, while I as
sautt the kidneys. and pick two Or
three out FOR me. l see that you will
nave TO become my secretary
40 soi. want ne to open tiien,,
SIR: asked Denny doubtfuily.
''1o u'He bit it. ,Jalnes-hit ii in one.
liz ssilly them for ne in groups. Grim
mai; sporting; ;lIllatory-that means
d o. pertaining to love; stupid and
merely boring: and as last resort.
miscellaneous" He stirred his coffee
thGughtfuiIy. Il feel that as a firs1
Venture in oar new career-ouFs. | said.
Jal1les-love appeals to ne irre>iStinly.
sind me q iamsel in distress: Il beau
iltu! girl, helpless in the clutches OF
Eli"ves- Let ne feel That I can H. to
neg succol, clad in my new grey suit
ing"
lie finished the last piece Of bacon
aiad pushed away his plate.
Denny was enGIosseu in a letter lie
had Just opened. 4 perpiexed lco;l
WAS spreading over his face, and sud
ueniy tie sucked his teeth loudly. Ii
""::@ {: sure sign thst James n'as. eX-
c1ied, and Drulnmond glanced up
Quickly ;lal reIao1ed the letter from
Is hands. I'm surprised at YOU.
James, lie remarked severely. "a sec
rotary si4cuid control Itself. Don't
forge: shat the perfect secretary is an
Z; az automatic machine-;s thing in
aDable OF feeling -
lie rc2n TIE letter through rapis1'y.
and then, turning back 10 the begin
n!ng, he read it slowly through again
My dear Box Mol don't know
whether your advertisement was q
Joke: | suppose il must have been
S}t read it this morning, and its just
possible, N1O, just possible you mean
It. And if you do, you're the man /
"ant- | can offer you excitement and
probably crime.
Tim up against it, X1O For girl
We bitten off rather more than l can
heW- | want help-badly. viii YOU
'1i:te 20 the Carlton for tea tomorrow
afternoon? I want to have look at
YOU and see if I think YOU are genu-
me. Wear white flower in your but
tonloie''
Drumlnond laid the letter down. and
pulled out his cigarette case. ITO
morrow. James," he murnured. "That
Is tooay-this very afternoon Verify
believe that we have impinged upon
the goods" He rose and stood look
Inc out Of the window thoughtfully
You think it's genuine, sir?' said
James
His master blew out a cloud OF
smoke. Il know it is" he answered
dreamily. look at that writing: the
decision in 1.-THE character Shell
be medium height, and dark, with the
sweetest little nose and mouth. Hel
cOlOring James, will he-''
But James had discreetly left the
ROOM ~
TWO,
At four o'clock exactly Hugh Drum
mond stepped out of his two-ssater a
the Haymarket entrance to the Carl
ton. For a few moments after enter
ing the hotel he stood at the top o.
the stairs outside the dining room
! While his eyes Travelled round the Ia
bles III the lounge below
Slowly and thoroughly he continued
his search. It was early, OF course
vet. and she might not have arrived
but he was taking no chances.