The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-10-27
"Who wrote that?" he snarled.

Must have been Mr.. Peterson" an
swered Hugh placidly. "A wonderful
judge Of character, too" he murmured,
turning away to greet Mr.. Ditchling,
who arrived somewhat opportunely, in
company with a thin, pale man-little
more than a youth-whose identity
completely defeated Drummond.
MY God" Crofter was livid with
rage. Me and Peterson will have
words this afternoon. Look at this,
Ditchling." On second thoughts he
turned over some pages. "WeIl see
what this insolent devil has to say
about YOU"
Drinks" Ditchling thumped the
table with a heavy fist. "What the HI
does he mean? Say, you, Mr.. Secre-
tary-what's the meaning Of thisT"
They represent Mr.. Peterson's con-
sidered opinions of you ALL" said Hugh
genially. Perhaps this other gentle
man :"
He turned to the pale youth. who
stepped forward with a surprised look.
He seemed to be not quite clear what
had upset the others, but already Mes
tor had turned up his name.
"Terrance, Victor. A wonderful
speaker, Appears really to believe
that what he says will benefit the
workingman. Consequently very valu-
able; but individually mad"
Does he mean to insult us deliber-
atelyT' demanded Crofter. his voice
Still shaking with passion.
"But | don't understand" said Victor
Torrance, daZedly. Does Mr.. Peter
son not believe in our teachings, toov'
He turned slowly and looked at Hugh,
who shrugged his shoulders.
"He should be here at any moment"
he answered, and as he spoke the door
opened and Carl Peterson came In.
Good afternoon, gentlemen" he be-
gan, and then he saw Hugh. With a
look Of ~speechless amazement he
stared at the soldier, and for the first
time since Hugh had known him his
face blanched. Then his eyes fell on
the open ledger, and with a dreadful
curse he sprang forward. A glance at
the faces of the men who stood watch
ing him told him what he wanted to
know, and with another oath his hand
went TO his pocket.
Take your hand out, Carl Peter
son." Drummond's voice rang through
the room, and the arch-criminal, look
t,,r AnlI,,I,- 500 f,,,,NJ bt,nrnlf stn ~
into the muzzle of a revolver. Nov,
sit down at the table-all Of you. The
meeting is about to commence"
Look here" clustered Crofter, "Ill
nave the law on you. :"
"By all manner of means, Mr.. John
Crofter, consummate blackguard," an
swered Hugh, calmly. But that comes
afterward. Just now-sit down."
I'm id if l WILL" roared the 9TH
er, s%pringing at the soldier. And Peter
son, sitting ~sullenly at the table try
ing to readjust his thoughts to the
sudden binding certainty that through
some extraordinary accident every
thing had miscarried, never stirred as
a half-stunned member Of parliament
crashed to the floor beside him.
"Sit down, l said" remarked Drum
mond, affably. But If you prefer to
lie down, it's all the same to me-. Are
there any more to come, PetersonT'
"No, d-n you. Get it over!"
Fright. Throw your gun on the
floor" Drummond picked up the wea-
pom and put it in his pocket; then he
rang the bell. 81 had hoped" he MUIR
INJURED, for q larger gathering, but
n cannot have everything"
Save to Peterson, who understood,
If only dimly, what had happened, the
thing had come as such a complete
surprise that ever the sudden entrance
Of twenty masked men, who ranged
themselves in single rank behind their
chairs, failed to stir the meeting. 1t
merely seemed in keeping with what
had gone before.
81 shall not detain you long, gentle
men," began Hugh, suavely. Your gen.
eral appearance and the warmth Of the
weather have combined to produce In
me q desire for sleep. But before l
hand you over to the care Of the
sportsmen who stand so patiently be-
hind you, there are one or two remarks
l wish to make. Let me say at once
that on The subject Of Capital and La
Dor l am supremely ignorant. You
will therefore be spared any disserta-
ton on the subject. But from an ex-
haustive study of the ledger which now
lies upon the table, and a fairly init
mate knowledge Of It's authors move
ments, I and my friends have been put
to the inconvenience of treading on
you.
There are many things, we know,
which are wrong In this jolly old
try Of urs but given time and the
right methods | am sufficiently Op-
timistic to believe that they could be
put right. That, however, would not
suit your book. You dislike the right
method, because it leaves all of you
much where you were before. Every
single one Of you-with the sole pos
sible exception OF you, Mr.. Torrance,