The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-03-31

but he read It three times before he
spoke.
when did this Gomez" he asked.
"An hour ago." answered the other.
II very nearly opened It,"
"Read it, said Hugh. He handed 1t
to Peter and went to the door.
Denny" he shouted, 81 want my
car round at once" Then he came
back into the room. IF they've hurt
one hair of her head" he said, his
voice full of a smolderlng fury, TN
murder that gang one by one with my
bare hands,"
"Say, captain, may l see this let
teri" said the American; and Hugh
nodded.
"'For PHYS sake, come at once, :"
read the detective aloud. 1.-The bearer
Of this is trustworthy He thought
fully picked his teeth. Girls writ
ing. Do you know herr"
my fiancee," said Hugh shortly.
Certain" snapped the American.
Certain cried Hugh. "Of course
/ am. know every curl Of every let
ter"
''There is such thing as forgery"
remarked the detective dispassionately.
"D-n 1t, man." exploded Hugh; "do
you imagine | don't know my own
girls writingf'
"a good many bank cashiers have
mistaken their customers writing be-
fore now" said the other. unmoyed.
Il don't like 1t, captain. A girl in
real trouble wouldn't put In that bit
about the bearer"
You go to HI" remarked Hugh
briefly. "I'm going to Godalming."
"Well," drawled the American, mot
knowing Godalming, don't know who
scores. But, If you go there-I come
too"
"And me-" said Peter. brighten
ing up.
Not you, old son. II Mr.. Green will
come, I'll be delighted; but l want
you here at headquarters"
He turned round as his servant put
his head in at the door.
Gar here, sir. DO you want bag
packedf"
"No-only my revolver. Are you
ready, Mr.. Greenf"
"Sure thing" said the American. II
always am"
"Then we'll move" And Peter,
watching the car resignedly from the
window, saw the American grip his
seat with both hands, and then raise
them suddenly in silent prayer, while
an elderly lady fed with scream
to the safety Of the area below.
They did the trip in well under the
hour, and the detective got out Of the
car with faint sigh of relief.
Drummond lodged rapidly through
the bushes on his way to The Larches
and when the American finally over
took him, he was standing by a side
door knocking hard on the panels.
Seems kind Of empty" said the de-
tective thoughtfully, as the minutes
went by and no one came. "Why not
try the front door,"
Because it's in sight of the other
house." said Hugh briefly. I'm going
to break in"
He retreated yard from the door,
then, bracing his shoulder, he charged
1t once. And the door, as door, was
not. >. Rapidly the two men went
from noon, m ,.-.hodrooms sorry.
ants quarters, even the bathroom.
Everyone was empty: not sound
could be heard in the house. Finally,
only the dining room remained, and
as they stood by the door looking
round, the American shifted his chew
ing gum to n new point Of vantage.
Somebody has been rOugh-housing
by the look of things" he remarked
judicially. Looks like BOOKING den
after a thick night"
at does" remarked Hugh grimly,
taking in the disorder of the room.
The tablecloth was pulled off, the
telephone lay on the floor. China and
glass, smashed to pieces, Uttered the
carpet; but what caught his eye, and
| caused him suddenly to step forward
and pick 1t up, was plain circle OF
glass with a black cord attached to
1t through a small hole.
"Algy Longworth's eyeglass," he
muttered. $50 he's been caught too
And 1t was at that moment that
clear and distinct through the still
evening air, they heard woman's
agonized scream. 1t came from the
house next door, and then DrummOnd
aartc5 forward.
"Stop, you young fool" the Ameri
can shouted, but he was too late.
He watched Drummond, running
like a stag cross the lawn and dis.
appear in the trees. For second he
hesitated then, with a shrug of square
shoulders, he rapidly left the house by
the way they had entered. And few
minutes later, Drummond's car was
Swimming back toward London, with
a grim-faced man at the wheel.
And the owner Of the car was lying
| In bllssful Inconsistencies In the hal
of The Films, surrounded by half g
dozen men.
CHAPTER X