The Arvada enterprise., 1921-07-28

This time she did not look away.
She seemed to think that 1t was her
turn to conduct the examination and
Drummond fumbled In his waistcoat
pocket. After a moment he found
what he wanted. and taking out a card
he propped 1t against the teapot 50
that the girl could see what was on it.
In large black capitals he had written
Box x1O.
She spoke almost at once. you'll
do, X1O," she said. and he turned to
her with a smile.
"It's very nice Of you to say So" he
murmured. 1T may, will return
the compliment. So will you"
She frowned slightly. ''This isn't
foolishness. you know. What said In
my letter Is literally true. want
you to tell me-" and there was no trace
Of testing In her voice. tell me, on
your word Of honor, whether that ad-
vertisement was bona fide or a Joke"
| He answered her in the same vein.
ut started more or less as q Joke. 1t
may now he regarded as absolutely
genuine"
She nodded As II satisfied. "Are
you prepared to risk your life?"
| DrummOnd's eyebrows went up and
then he smiled. "Granted that the
inducement Is SUFFICIENT" he returned
slowly, n think may say that am"
| He saw that she was staring over
his shoulder at some one behind his
hack.
Don't look around" she ordered
"and tell me your name quickly"
"Drummond - Captain Drummond,
late Of the Loamshires." He leaned
back in his chair. and lit cigarette.
my dear Phyllis" said q voice BE-
hind his back. this Is 4 pleasant sur
prise. had no idea that you were In
London"
A tall, clean-shaven man stopped be-
side the table, throwing q keen glance
at Drummond.
The world 10 full Of such surprises.
isn't III" answered the girl lightly. Il
don't suppose you know Captain Drum
mond. do your Mr.. Lakington-art
cOnnoisseur and-er-collsctor."
The two men bowed slightly. and
Mr.. darlington smiled. II do not re-
member ever having heard my harm
less pastimes more concisely de-
scribed." he remarked suavely. "Are
you interested In such matters7"
Not very. I'm afraid" answered
Drummond. "Just recently have
been rather too busy to pay much at
tention to art"
The other man smiled again, and 1t
struck Hugh that rarely. II ever. had
he seen such Il cold. merciless face.
"Of cOurse you've been to France"
Lexington murmured. unfortunately
bad heart kept me on this side Of the
water. Sometimes cannot help
thinking how wonderful It must have
been to be able to kill without fear Of
consequences. There 10 art In killing.
Captain Drummond-profound art"
He looked At his watch and sighed.
ALAS! must tear myself away. Are
you returning home this EVENING"
The girl, who had been giancing
round the restaurant. shrugged her
shoulders. "Probably." she answered.
II haven't quite decided. might stop
With Aunt Kate"
Fortunate Aunt Kate" With .
bow Lakingtou TUNED away. and
through the glass Drummond watched
him get his hat and stick from the
cloakroom. Then hs looked at the
girl. and noticed that she had gone .
little white.
"What's the matter. old thinsr he
asked quickly. Are you feeling
faintf'
She shook her head. and gradually
the color came back to her face. Tim
quite all right" shs answered. 1T gave
me rather . shock, that man finding Us
here. You've stumbled right Into the
middle Of II. my friend-rather sooner
than l anticipated. That u one Of the
men you will probably have to kill. -
Her companion III smother cigarette.
what Is his particular worryf'
First and foremost the brute wants
to marry me-" replied the girl.
Il loathe being obvious" said Hugh,
but I am not surprised"
"But II Isn't that that matters" She
looked at Drummond quietly. Henry
Lakington II the second most danger.
GUS man In England"
"Oniy the second" murmured Hugh
Then hadn't I better start my career
with the firsti"
She looked at him In silence. II
suppose you think that I'm hysterical,'
she remarked after while. You're
probably even. wondering whether I'm
all there"
prummond dnked the ash from hi.
cigarette. then he turned to her dis
pnssionutely. You must admit" M
remarked. that up to now our CONVEX
sation has hardly proceeded along
conventional lines. I am u complete
stranger to you another man who
complete stranger to me speaks Il
you while we're at tea. You inform
me that ! shall probably have to kill
him In the near future. The state
| ,u~os a. thtnk voO vvill aUra~ =