The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-01-13


He was an Italian-Giuseppe by
name; and the jury brought In a YER
dict Of death from natural causes, A
month before, he had an Interview with
darlington, which took place at our
house: because the Italian, being q
stranger, came to the wrong place, and
Lexington happened to be with US al
the time. The interview finished with
fearful quarrel" She turned to
Drummond with slight smile. "Not
much evidence, is there? Only know
darlington murdered him. / know It.
You may think I'm fanciful-imagining
things; you may think I'm exaggerat-
Ing. l don't mind If you do-because
you won't for long"
Drummond did not answer immedi-
ately. Against his saner judgment he
was beginning to be profoundly i'm
pressed, and, at the moment, he did
not quite know what to say.
what about this other MANI" he
asked at length.
81 can tell you very little about him."
she answered. "He came to The Elms
that Is the name Of LaklngtOn's
house-three months ago. He is about
medium height and rather thick-set ;
clean-shaven, with thick brown hair,
fiecked slightly with white. His fore
head is broad, and his eyes are a
sort Of cold grey-blue. But it's his
hands that terrlfy me. They're large
and white and utterly ruthless" She
turned to him appealingiy. "Oh! don't
think I'm talking wildly" she i'm
plored. "He frightens me to death
that man: far, far worse than Laking-
ton. He would stop at nothing to gain
his ends, and even Lexington himself
knows that Mr.. Peterson Ii his mas
ter"
Peterson murmured Drummond.
ut seems quite sound old English
name"
The girl laughed scornfully. "Ohl
the name is sound enough, II 1t was
his real one. AS 1t is, it's about as
real as his daughter"
"There is a lady In the case, then%
by the name of Irma," said the
girl briefly. "She lies on a sofa in
the garden and yawns. She's no
more English than that waiter"
A faint smile filckered over her
companions face; he had formed a
fairly vivid mental picture Of Irma.
Then he grew serious again.
And what Is 1t that makes you
think there's mischief ahead2" he
asked abruptly.
The girl shrugged her shoulders.
"What the novellsts call feminine in
tuition, suppose" she answered.
"That-and my father" She said the
last words very low. HE hardly ever
sleeps at night now: hear him pacing
up and down his room--hour after
hour, hour after hour. Oh! it makes
me mad. Don't you understand
I've got to get him away from those
devils, before he breaks down COM
pletely."
Drummond nodded, and looked
he had made up his mind what course
to take, and now, having Outsat every
body else, he decided that 1t was time
for the interview to cease. Already
an early diner was having a cocktail,
while darlington might return at any
moment. And If there was anything
In what she had told him, It struck
him that it would be as well for that
gentleman not to find them together.
~ think" he said, "we'd better go.
My address is GOA Half Moon street;
my telephone 1894 Mayfair. If any
thing happens, If ever you want me-
at any hour Of the day or night-ring
me up or write. If I'm not In, leave
message with my servant Denny. He
Is absolutely reliable. The only other
thing is your own address,"
"The Larches, near Godalming," an
swered the girl, as they moved toward
the door. "Oh! If you only knew the
glorious relief of feeling ones got
some one to turn to :" She
looked at him with shining eyes, and
Drummond felt his pulse quicken sud
denly.
May I drop you anywheref" he
asked, as they stood on the pavement,
but she shook her head.
"No, thank you. I'll go in that taxi"
She gave the man an address, and
stepped in, while Hugh stood bare
headed by the door.
Don't forget" he said earnestly.
"Any time of the day or night. And
while l think Of it--we're old friends.
Can that be done? In case come and
stay, you see"
She thought for moment and then
nodded her head. "All right" she an
swered. "We've met lot in London
during the war;"
With q grinding Of gear wheels the
taxi drove of, leaving Hugh with a
vivid picture imprinted on his mind
of blue eyes, and white teeth. and a
skin like the bloom of a sun-kissed
peach.
For a moment or two he stood star
ing after It, and then he walked across
to his own car. With his mind still
full Of the interview he drove slowly
along Piccadilly, while every now and
then he smiled grimlv tn HIMSELF Was