The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-02-17

marked the man to whom no 3D.
dressed his question. "You are about
the twentieth gentleman who has been
here already today"
Hugh had expected this, and smiled
genially.
Precisely, my stout fellow" he ~
marked, "but I'll lay small amount
Of money that they were newspaper
men. Now, I'm not. And think that
II you will have this note delivered
to Mr.. Potts, he will see me-"
He sat down at table. and drew
sheet Of paper toward him. Two
facts were certain: First, that the
man upstairs was not the real Potts;
second, that he was one of Peterson's
gang. The difficulty was to know ex-
actly how to word the note. There
might be some mystic password. the
omission of which would prove him
an impostor at once. At length he
took a pen and wrote rapidly; he
would have to chance 1t.
urgent. A message from head
quarters"
He sealed the envelope and handed
1t with the necessary five shillings
| for postage to the man. Then he sat
down to wait. After what seemed an
interminable delay he saw the mes
senger crossing the lounge.
"Mr. Potts will see you, sir" TO-
Hugh followed his guide along a
corridor, and paused outside door
while he went into room. He heard
a murmur of voices, and then the
man reappeared.
"This way, sir" he said, and Hugh
stepped inside, to stop with an invol-
untary gasp Of surprise. The man
seated in the chair was Potts, to ali
intents and purposes, The likeness
was extraordinary, and had he not
known that the real article was at
Goring he would have been COM
pletely deceived himself.
The man waited till the door was
closed: then he rose and stepped
forward susplciously.
81 don't know you," he said. ,"Who
are you"
"SInce when has every one en-
ployed at headquarters known one
anotherT Drummond returned guard
eddy. "And, incidentally, your like
ness to our lamented friend Is Won
derful. 1t very nearly deceived even
me-"
The man, not ill-pleased, gave q
short laugh.
"Tt'll pass, think. But it's risky.
These cursed reporters have been
badgering the whole morning. .
And If his wife or somebody comes
over, what then? 1t wasn't like
Rosca to bungle in Belfast He's
never left a clue before, and he had
plenty of time to do the job prop
erly."
"a name inside breast-pocker
might easily be overlooked" remarked
Hugh, selling the obvious clue.
Are you making excuses for himT'
snarled the other. Hes failed, and
failure Is death. Such is our rule.
Would you have 1t alteredT
Most certainly not. The issues are
far too great for any weakness. :"
You're right, my friend-you're
right. Long live the Brotherhood"
He stared out of the window with
smouldering eyes, and Hugh preserved
a discreet silence. Then suddenly the
other broke out again. Have
they killed that insolent puppy Of a
soldier yeti"
"Er-not yet" murmured Hugh
mildly.
"They must find the American at
once" The man thumped the table
emphatically. at was important be-
fore-at least his money was. Now
with this blunder-it's VITAL"
Precisely" said Hugh. "Preclse-
ly."
"Tve already interviewed one man
from Scotland Yard, but every hour
increases the danger. However, you
have message for me. What is itr'
Hugh rose and casually picked up
his hat. He had got more out Of the
interview than he had hoped for, and
there was nothing to be gained by
!; prolonging 1t. Rut 1t struck him that
Mr.. Potts impersonator was man
of unpleasant disposition, and that
tacticalIy a flanking movement to the
door was indicated. And, being Of
an open nature himself, 1t Is possible
that the real state Of affairs showed
for a moment on his face. Be that
as It may, something suddenly aroused
the others suspicious, and with q
snarl of fury he sprang past Hugh to
the door.
! "Who are your" He spat the words
out venomously, at the same time
whipping an ugly-looking knife out OF
his pocket.
Hugh replaced his hat and stick
1 on the table and grinned gently.
81 am the insolent puppy of sol
der, dear old bird" he remarked
watching the other warily. "And II
was you I'd put the toothpick away
-. You might hurt yourself"
AS he spoke he was edging, little By
little, toward the other man, who