The Farmington times., 1922-03-17
CHAPTER vll--centinued.

-uOeb ne tnlAk you areT
"A charming young GIRL" answered
HTna demurely, 'whose father lost
his life in the war, and who at present
ekes out a precarious existence in a
government office. At least, that's
what he told Lady Frumpley-she's
the woman of unassailable virtue.
She was profoundly sentimental and
scents a romance, In addition to being
q snob and scenting a future duke, to
say nothing of a future duchess. By
the mercy Of Allah she's on q COM
mittee with his mother for dlstribut-
Ing brown paper underclOthes to des-
titute' Belgians, and SO Freddie wan
gled an invite for her. VOLTA tout"
Splendid" said LakIngton slowly.
splendid. Young Laidley comes Of
age In about a week, doesn't hep
Monday, to be exact; and SO 60
down with my dear aunt on Satur-
day"
Lakington nodded his head as II
satisfied, and then glanced at his
watch.
What about bed?" he remarked.
"Not yet" said Peterson, halting
suddenly in his walk. II must see the
Yank before / go to Paris. Wen
have him down here now. Give him
an injection, Henry-and, by God,
we'll make the fool sign. Then can
actually take 1t over to the meeting
with me-"
He strobe to the door, followed by
Lakington; and the girl in the chair
stood up and stretched her arms above
her head. For a moment or two Hugh
watched her; then he, too, stood up
right and eased his cramped limbs.
Make the fool sign" The words
echoed through his brain, and he
stared thonghtfully at the grey light
which showed the approach of dawn.
What was the best thing to dor
"Make' with Peterson generally i'm
piled torture. II other means failed,
and Hugh had no intention of watch
ing any man tortured. At the same
time something of the nature of the
diabollcal plot conceived by Peterson
was beginning to take a definite shape
in his mind, though many of the most
important links were still missing.
And with this knowledge had come
the realization that he was no longer
a free agent. The thing had ceased
to be mere sporting gamble with
himself and a few other chosen spir-
its matched against a gang of Grim
inals; 1t had become-if his surmise
was cOrrect-a national affair. Eng
land herself-her very existence-was
threatened by one Of the vilest plots
ever dreamed of In the brain of man.
And then, with a sudden rage at his
own impotence, he realized that even
now he had nothing definite to go on.
He must know more; somehow or
other he must get to Paris he must
attend that meeting at the Ritz. Then
sound from the room below brought
him back to his vantage point. The
American was sitting In a chair, and
Lakington, with hypodermlc syringe
In his hand, was holding his arm.
He made the injection, and Hugh
watched the millionaire. He was still
undecided as to how to act, but for
the moment, at any rate, there was
nothing to be done. And he was very
curious to hear what Peterson had to
say to the wretched man, who, up to
date. had figured so largely In every
round.
After while the American ceased
staring vacantly in front Of him, and
passed his hand dazedly over his fore
head. Then he half rose from his
chair and stared at the two men sit
ting facing him. His eyes came round
to the girl, and with groan he sank
back again, plucking feebly with his
hands at his dressing gown.
Better, Mr.. Potts2" said Peterson,
suavely.
"I-I-" stammered the other.
''Where am II"
at Tic Ems, C73a!E;:zs. e yc1
wish to know"
~ Thought Thought" He rose
swaying. "What do you want with
me2 D-n you!"
"Tush, tush," murmured Peterson.
'There is a lady present, Mr.. Potts.
And our wants are so simple. Just
your signature to little agreement,
by which in return for certain services |
you promise to Join us In our-er-
labors In the near future"
II remember" cried the millionaire.
Nov l remember. You swine-you
filthy swine, refuse absolute
ly."
1.-THE trouble is, my friend, that you |
are altogether too big an employer of |
labor to be allowed to refuse, as l
pointed out TO you before Won must !
be In with US, otherwise you might |
wreck the scheme. Therefore l re-
luire your signature"
"And when you've got II" cried the
American, "what good will 1t be to
you. shall repudlate it."
"oh! no, Mr.. Potts" said Peterson
With thoughtful smile; II can assure |
,ou, you won't. The distressing NAL
.dy from which you have recently been