The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-10-14
"What are you going TO do,y 9

,swered Hugh. go round and 600 him
at the Ritz-now, at once. 7 sban,t
AXE the diamonds with me, but there
VIII be no worry over the exchange
as far as I'm concerned. It's lust Ike
ms dirty method Of fighting to 20 for
y GIRL he finished satagely.
| He crossed to the door and
| opened IT.
| In case / don't come back by six
4le diamonds are in my sponge bag
v the bathroom-and go straight to
! scotland Yard. Tell Tum-tum the
whole yarn"
At the Ritz he was shown into the
| sitting-room where the Reverend Theo-
dosius Longmoor was busily working
on Austrian famine accounts. He
rose as Hugh entered. and his daugh-
ter, still knitting busily, gave him a
charming girlish smile.
"Ah my dear young friend" began
Ar. Longmoor, 81 see you've had my
message"
Yes" answered Hugh affably. 81
was standing next door to the fellow
you were talking to. But before we
come to business. so to speak, must
really ask you not to send Shocks
round again. 1 don't like him. Why.
my dear Carl, I preferred our late la
mented Henry Lexington"
There was moment of dead 81
ience, during which the Reverend
Theodosius stared at him speechlessly
and the busy knitter ceased to knit.
TIE shock was so complete and sud-
den that even Carl Peterson seemed
at a loss, and Drummond laughed
gently as he took chair
I'm tired of this dressing-up bust
ness, Carl" he remarked in the same
affable voice. "And it's so stupid to
go on pretending when everybody
knows. So I thought we might as
well have all the cards on the table. |
Makes the game much easier"
The clergyman found his voice.
Are you mad, sirY" he spluttered. |
"Are you insane? How dare you come |
into this room and insult me? l shall
ring the bell, sir, and have you re-
moved"
He strobe across the room, and
Drummond watched him calmly.
1--WE just called one bluff this after
noon, Carl" he said lazily. Now I'll
call another. Go on, push the bell.
Send for the police and say I've In
70 nj
tum yourself: he'll be most awfully
braced at meeting you"
The others hand fell slowly TO his
side. and he looked at his daughter
with a resigned expression in his face.
Really, my dear, l think that the
heat-or perhaps" He paused ex-
pressively, and Drummond laughed.
"You were always good actor,
Carl, but Is it worth while? Ihere
are no witnesses here. and I'm rather
pressed for time Through a series
of accidents you have become aware
of the fact that 1 am the leader OF
the Black Gang You can go and tell |
the police if you like-in fact, that
horrible little man who came round
20 see me threatened to do so. But,
f YOU do, | shall tell them who you
ire. and | shall also inform them OF
he secret history of the bomb. So
hat. though it will be awkward for
ne, Carl, it will be far more awkward
or YOU and Mademoiselle Irma; ana
I will be positively unhealthy for
snooks. You take me so far, don't
,ou? I'd to date have been dealing
n certainties; now we come to con- (
ingencles. 1t strikes me that there
re two doubtful points. old friend OF q
nv youth-just two. And those TWO /
oints are the whereabouts respec- a
ively of my wife and your diamonds.
Tow, Carl. do we talk business OF +
ot p"
"My dear young man." said the oth- c
r resignedly, 81 intended to talk (
usfness with you when you arrived IL u
on had given me a chance. But as o
ou'ye done nothing but talk the most Il
nmitigated driyel since you've come
,to the room | haven't had chance. n
on apnear obsessed with this absurd r.
plusion that l am some person called III
arl and But where are you 60 n
lg?"
Drummond paused at the door m
"I am going straight to Scotland is
ard. shall there tell Sir Bryan W
,bnstone the whole story from A 10
Mt the same time handing him CO
tle bag containing diamonds when be
,s recently come into my posses
on." IN
"You admit you've got them. i'd
apped the other, letting the mask no
Cd for a moment. TO
.,rbat's better, Carl-much better.
came back into the ROOM &c
admit I've got them-but they're
q Mace where you can never ma ag
ON and they will remain there I'M do
civ o'clock tonight, when they 60 mi
.aipbt TO Scotland Yard-uniess' pc
rlNunless my wife is returned TO mt
absolutely unscathed and unhurt no
fore that hour. 1t is five o'clock gel
W." =.
ga ~ She Is returned-Wnat int