The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-02-16

/ LOOK heFts btuhttftd ifoftefs y
have the law on you.
-By all manner Of means. Mr. John
Crofter. eonsummAte blaekguard," an
ssered Hugh. calmly. But that comes
afterward. Just now-slt down"
"Tm d-d II will. roared the 9th.
er springing al 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 misearried. never stirred as
half-stunped member OF parliament
crashed to the floor beside him.
"sit down, said" remarked Drum
mond. affably. "But II you prefer 20
lie down. It's all the same to me. Are
there any more 10 come, Petersonf
mo, d-n you. Get IL over =
Right. Throw your gun on the
floor" Drummond picked up the wea-
pom and put II In his pocket then he
rang the bell. IL had hoped" he muir
INJURED, for q larger gathering, but
one cannot have everything"
Save 10 Peterson. who understood,
II only dimly, what had happened. the
thing had come as such complete
surprise that even the sudden entrance
OF twenty masked men. who ranged
themselves In single rank behind their
chairs, failed TO stir the meeting II
merely seemed In keeping with what
had gone before.
IL shall not detaln you long, gentle
men," began Hugh, suavely. Your gen
eral appearance and the warmth Of the
weather have combined to produce In
me desire for sleep. But before
hand you over to the care OF the
sportsmen who stand SO patiently be-
hind you, there are one or two remarks
wish to make. Let me say at once
that on the subject Of Capital and La
Dor am supremely ignorant. You
will therefore be spared any disserta-
tlon on the subject But from an ex-
haustive study OF the ledger which now
lies upon the table, and fairly inti-
mate knowledge OF its authors move
ments, 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 coun-
try OF ours; but given time and the
right methods / am sufficiently op-
timlstic 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
slble exception OF you, Mr. Torrance.
and you're mad-is playing with revo-
luton for his own ends: TO make mon
ey out OF ito gain power. 4.
LET us start with Peterson-your
leader. How much did you say he de-
manded, Mr.. Potts. as the price OF rev.
olutionT
With strangled cry Peterson
sprang up as the American millionaire.
removing his mask stepped forward.
1.-Two hundred and fifty thousand
pounds, you swine. was what you asked
me-" The millionaire stood confront
ing his tormentor. who dropped back
in his chair with a groan. "And when
I refused. you tortured me. Look at
my thumb"
With a cry Of horror the others sit
ting at the table looked at the mangled
flesh, and then at the man who had
done II. This. even TO their mind. was
going too far.
'Then there was the same sum,
continued Drummond, ito come from
Hooking. the American cotton man
half German by birth; Stelnemann.
the German coal man; Won Gratz. the
German steel man. Is that not so.
Petersonf" II was an arrow at
venture, but II hit the mark. and Pc
terson nodded.
$50 one million pounds was the
stake this benefactor OF humanity
was playing for" sneered Drummond
"One million pounds, as the mere
price OF a nations life-blood. i
But at any rate he had the merit OF
playing big, whereas the rest OF you
scum, and the other beauties so ably 1
catalogued In that book, messed about 4
at his beck and call for packets OF I
bulls eyes Perhaps you labored un-
der the Gelusion that you we're fool I
ing him. but the whole lot OF you are .
so d-d crooked that you probably I
thought Of nothing hut your own filthy .
skins
Listen TO me" Hugh Drummond's .
voice took on deep, commanding .
ring. and against their viii the four
men looked nj the broad. powerful 4
soldier. whose sincerity shone clear
fin his face. Not BY revolutions and
direct action win You make this island
of ours right though ! am fully
aware thar that Is the lasi thing you
would wish 10 ~ee happeH But with
y0ur brains. and for your own m
crgHui1us ends you gun The work
ngraan into believing it And be- Be-
cause you can talk with your Tongues
iu your cheeks e led away He Be-