The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-08-20

information he had heard. True, it
had been scrappy in the extreme, and,
in part, had only confirmed what he
had suspected all along. The wretched
Granger had been foully dene to death,
for no other reason than that he was
the millionaire's secretary. Hugh's
law tightened; it revolted his sense of
sport. 1t wasn't as.if the poor blight
er had done anything; merely because
he existed and might ask inconvenient
questions he had been removed. And
as the elevator shot dOwnwards, and
the remembrance of the grim struggle
he had had in the darkness of The
Elms the night before came back to
his mind, he wondered once again If
he had done wisely in not breaking
Peterson's neck while he had the
chance.
He was still debating the question
in his mind as he crossed the tea
lounge.
"Why, Captain Drummond, you look
pensiye." A well-knOwn voice from a
table at his side made him look down,
and he bowed little grimly. Irma
Peterson was regarding him with a
hooking smile.
He glanced at her companion, a
young man whose face seemed vaguely
familiar to him, and then his eyes
rested once more on the girl. Even
his masculine intelligence could ap-
preciate the perfection-in a slightly
foreign style-of her clothes; and, as
to her beauty, he had never been I'M
der any decisions.
"The Carlton seems rather a favor
lite resort Of yours" she continued,
watching him through half closed eyes.
81 think you're very wise to make
the most OF 1t while you can"
"While 1 CAM" said Hugh. THAT
sounds rather depressing.
"Tve done my BEST" continued the
girl, "but matters have passed out OF
my hands, I'm afraid"
Again Hugh glanced at her compan-
| ion, but he had risen and was talking
to some people who had just come in
els he one of the firm? he re-
marked. His face seems familiar y
ooh, MOI" said the girl. HE is
just a friend" She leaned forward
suddenly. "Why don't you join us
instead Of so foolishly trying to fight
us? Believe me, Monsieur Hugh, it is
the only thing that can possibly save
you. You know too much"
"Ts the invitation to amalgamate
official, or from your own charming
brainY murmured Hugh.
Made on the spur Of the moment,
she said lightly. "But it may be re
garded as official"
'T'm afraid it must be declined on
the spur Of the moment" he an.
swered in the same tone. "And equal.
" to be regarded as official. Well
aui revoir. Please tell Mr.. Peterson
how sorry I am to have missed him.
II will most certainly" answered
| the girl. "But then, mon ami. you
will be seeing him again soon, without
| doubt.
She waved q charming hand In fare
well, and turned to her companion.
But Drummond, though he went into
the hall outside, did not Immediately
leave the hotel. Instead, he button
holed an exquisite being arrayed IN
| gorgeous apparel. and led him to 9
point Of vantage.
| "You see that GIRL" he remarked
"having tea with a man at the thirt
| table from, the big palm? Now. car
you tell me who the man is? seen
to know his face, but l can't put &
name to It."
"That, SIR" murmured the exquisite
being, with the faintest perceptibl'
scorn at such ignorance, us the mar
uuis Of Laidley. His lordship is FIRE
quently here"
.Laidley!" cried Hugh. in sudden ex
element. '.Laidley! The duke O
Lampshire's son! You priceless OLE
stuffed tomato-the plot thickens."
Completely regardless of the scan
dalized horror on the exquisite being
face, he smote him heavily in thu
stomach and stepped into Pail Mall
For clear before his memory had COM
three lines on the scrap of paper h
had torn from the table at The Elm
that first night, when he had grabbe'
the dazed millionaire from unde
Peterson's nose.