The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-08-04


/ into the room.
YES. James, he remarked, IT
! think we are at home. want you to
remain within call, and under no cir
! cumstances let our sick visitor out
of your sight for more than a minute.
In fact, I think you'd better sit in
his rOOm.'
James. with 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 a
chair. Hope you've had no more
trouble with your car"
Mr.. Peterson drew off his gloves,
smiling amiably None at all, thank
you, Captain Drummond. The chauf-
feur appears to have mastered the
defect"
1T was your eye on him that did
il. Wonderful thing-the human
optic, as 1 said to your friend, Mr.
Mr.. darlington. 1 hope that he's quite
well and taking nOurishment."
Soft food only" said the other
genially. Mr.. darlington had a most
unpleasant accident last night-most
unpleasant"
Hugh's face expressed his Sympa-
thy. How very unfortunate - he
murmured. II trust nothing serious"
Il fear his lower jaw was fractured
in two places" Peterson helped him
self to a cigarette from the box be-
side him. The man who hit him
must have been a boxer"
Mixed up in a brawl, was hep
said ,DrummOnd, shaking his head. Il
should never have thought, from what
little I've seen of Mr.. darlington, that
he went in for painting the town red.
I'd have put him down as a most
abStemiOuS man-but one never can
tell, can one? 1 once knew a fellah
who used to get fighting drunk on
three WHISTLES, 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 f1icked the ash from his
cigarette into the CRATE. "Shan we
come to the point, Captain Drum
monde" he remarked affably.
Hugh looked bewildered. 1.-THE
point. Mr.. Peterson? Er-by all man
ner of means"
Peterson smiled even more affabIy.
L felt certain that you were a young
man of discernment," he remarked,
and l wouldn't like to keep you from
your paper a minute longer than nee
asSary."
Not a Bit" cried Hugh My time
is yours-though Ia very much like
TO know your real opinion of The
Juggernaut for the Chester cup. 1t
seems TO me that he cannot afford
to give Sumatra seven pounds on
their form up to date"
Are you interested in gambling?"
asked Peterson politely.
"A mild flutter, Mr.. Peterson, every
now and then" returned Drummond.
Strictly limited stakes"
IF you cOnfine yourself to that
you will come to no HARM" said Pc
terson. 1T is when the stakes be-
come unlimited that the danger of a
crash becomes unlimited too
THAT is what my mother always
told me-" remarked Hugh. "She even
went further dear good woman that
she was Never bet except on a GER
tainty, my boy was her constant adj
vice, and then put your shirt Onr
L can hear her saying it now. Mr..
Peterson, with the golden RAYS of the
setting sun lighting up her sweet
face"
Peterson leant forward in his chair.
OnnO no
got TO understand one another. Last
night you butted in on my plans, and
L do not like people who do that. By
an act which, I must admit, appealed
10 me greatly, you removed something
require moreover which
L intend to have. Breaking the cleo
tric bulb with a revolver shot shows
resource and initiative. The blow that
smashed Henry Lakington's jaw in two
places shows strength. All qualities
which 1 admire, Captain Drummond-
admire greatly. I should dislike hav-
ing to deprive the world of those Quail
tiles"
Drummond gazed at the speaker
open-mouthed. My dear SIR. he pro-
rested feebly, you overwhelm me.
Are you really accusing me of being
a sort Of wild west show?'' He wag-
gled a finger at Peterson. ''YOu know
you've been to the movies too much,
ike my fellah, James. He's got re-
VolVers and things on the brain.'
Peterson's face was absolutely i'm
passive; save for a slightly tired
smile it was expressionIess. 'sFinal-
", Captain Drummond. you tore In
half piece OF paper which 1 re-
qulre-and removed a very dear old |
friend Of my family, who is now In
this house. I want them both back,
please, and if You like I'll take them
now"