Evening star., 1921-04-09
Bulldog Drumm0nd
=. BY CYRIL McNEILE ("Sapper)
A Novel Of Mystery, Love and Adventure.
:, George H.. Dorn Co.
CONTINUED From Yesterdays Star
CHAPTER III.
In Which Things Happen in Half
Moon Street.

In Which Things Happen in Half
Moon Street.
Hugh Drummond folded up the piece
! of paper he was studying and rose
to his feet as the doctor came into
the room. He then pushed a silver
! box of cigarettes across the table and
waited.
| your. friend" said the doctor "is
in very peculiar condition. Capt
| Drummond-very peculiar He sat
down and. putting the tips of his fin
| gers together. gazed at Drummond
| in his most protest. onal manner. He
paused for moment, as if expecting
an awed agreement with this pro-
| found utterance, but the soldier was
| calmly lighting cigarette. Can
you.' resumed the doctor. .'enlighten
| me at all as to what he has been
doing during the last few days?"
Drummond shook his head. Haven t
an earthly. DOCTOR
There is. for instance. that very
unpleasant wound in his thumb pur-
sued the other. The top joint is
crushed to a pulp"
Il noticed that last night" answered
Hugh non-committally. Looks as if
it had been mixed up between d ham
mer and an anvil. don't it?'
But have you no idea how it oc-
curred?"
I'm full of ideas" said the, soldier
I'm fact, if it's any help to you in
your diagnosis that wound was caused
by the application of an unpleasant
medieval instrument known as a
thumbscrew."
The worthy doctor looked at him in
amazement "A thumbscrew! You
must be joking, Capt. Drummond''
Very far from it," answered Hugh
briefly. IF you want to know. it was
touch and go whether the other thumb
didn't share the same fate" He blew
out cloud of smoke and smiled in
wardly as he noticed the look of
scandalised horror on his companions
, face 1T isn't his thumb that con-
Germs me-" he continued; its his
general condition. What's the mat
ter with him?''
The doctor pursed his lips and look
ed wise. while Drummond wondered
that no one had ever passed a law al
dered on sight.
!! His heart seems sound" he an
swered after Aat weighty pause. "and
/ found nothing wrong with him con-
stitutionally. In fact. 1 may say. Capt.
Drummond. he is in every respect a
most healthy man. Except-er-eX-
cept for this peculiar condition"
Drummond exploded. 'Damnation
take it, man. what on earth do you
suppose I asked you to come round
for? It's of no interest to me to hear
that his liver is working properly"
Then he controlled himself. 'I' beg
your pardon. doctor; 1 had rather a
trying evening last night. Can you
give me any idea as to what has
caused this peculiar condition."
His companion accepted the apol-
ogy with an acid bow. Some form
of 6r11p" he answered
Drummond heaved a sigh of relief.
Now were getting on he cried.
Have you any idea ,wnat drug?"
1T is. at the moment. hard 70 say"
have produced a dazed condition
mentally. without having affected
him physically. In a day or two.
perhaps. I might be able to-er-ar-
rive at some conclusion :"
(which, at present. you have not.
A panied expression fitted over the
doctors face: this young man was
very direct ITO continue" Hugh
went on. "as you don't know what
the drug is. presumably you don't
know either how long it will take
for the effect to wear off"
"That-er-is. within the limits,
Correct" conceded the doctor.
Right; once again we know where
we are. What about diet?"
mes9 9h! light No alcohol Sos ae fHe rose musn tn
really the war seemed to have produced
a distressing effect on peoples manners.
Diet was the one question on which he
always let himself go.
Right. Good morning. doctor. Down
the stairs and straight on. Good
morning" The door closed behind
him. and he descended to, his wait
ing car with cold disapproval on his
face. The whole affair struck him
as most suspiciousnthTmbssreWs nalI1s,a (, r's.
his dss d1tf usec to Communicate With With the 9 po-
excuse me, sir" The doctor
paused and eyed well dressed man
who had spoken to him uncompro-
misingly.
what can I do for you, sir?" he
said.
Am I right in assuming that you
are doctor?"
you are perfectly correct. sir, in
your assumption"
The man smiled: obviously a gen.
tleman, thought the practitioner,
with his hand on the door of his car.
ITS about great pal of mine.
Capt. Drummond,, who lives in here"
went on the other. Il hope you
won't think it unprofessional, but I
thought I'd ask you privately, now
you find him."
The doctor looked surprised. 81
wasn't aware that he'was ill.," he an
swered.
But I heard he'd had bad acci-
dent" said the man. amazed.
| The doctor smiled: Treasure your
self my dear sir" he murmured in
his best professional manner. Capt.
Drummond, so far as am aware,
has never been better. I-er-can-
not say the same of his friend" He
stepped into his car. why not go
up and see for yourself?"
The car rolled smoothly into Pic
sadilly, but the man showed no signs
of availing himself of tho doctors S