The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-10-16
CHAPTER XI-Continued

-I-
He laughed again even more gently
and leaned across the table towards
the man who sat motionless in the
chair. He seemed to be striving to
see some sign of fear in Drummond's
eyes, some appeal for mercy. But If
there was any expression at all it was
only faint hooking boredom, such
as Drummond had been wont to in
furiate him with during their first en-
counter year before. Then he had
expressed it in words and actions
now only his eyes were left to him,
but it was there all the same. And
after a while Peterson snarled at him
viciously.
"No, shan't be in at the death,
Drummond, but l will explain to you
the exact program. You will be driven
out of London in your own car. but
when the final accident occurs you will
he alone 1t is most excellent place
for an accident, Drummond-most ex-
cellent. One or two have already
taken place there, and the bodies are
generally recovered some two or three
days later-more or less unrecogniz-
able. Then when the news comes out
in the evening papers tomorrow l
shall be able to tell the police the
whole sad story. How you took COM
passion on an old clergyman and
asked him to lunch. and then went out
1e aff oI,o inc n
wife-only to meet with this dreadful
end. I think I'll even offer to take
part in the funeral service. And yet
no, that is pleasure I shall have to
deny myself. Having done what
came over to do. Drummond. rather
more expeditiously than l thought
likely. shall return to my starving
children in Vienna. And, do you know
what / came over to do. DrummOnd?
/ came over to smash the Black Gang
and 1 came over to kill you-though
ME latter could have waited"
Peterson's eyes were hard and mer-
CHESS. but the expression of faint
boredom still fingered in Drummond's.
Only too well did he realize now that
lie had played straight into his enc
my's hands, but he was gambler
through and through, and not by the
culver Of an eyelid did he show what
he felt.
Peterson glanced at his watch and
rose to his feet.
81 fear that that is all the spiritual
consolation that l can give you this
evening, my dear fellow" he re-
marked benignly. "You will under
stand, Pm sure, that there are many
calls on my time. Janet, my love-
he raised his voice-"our young friend
is leaving us now. feel sure you'd
like to say good-by to him."
She came into the room. walking a
little slowly and for a while she
stared in silence at Hugh. And i.
seemed to him that in her eyes there
was CLEAN of genuine pity. Once
again he made frantic effort to speak
Ito beg, beseech. and implore them
not to hurt Phyllis-but it was use
less. And then he saw her turn to
Peterson.
Il suppose" she said regretfully.
"that it is absolutely necessary"
Absolutely" he answered curtly.
-'He knows too much, and he worries
lis too much"
She shrugged her shoulders and
came over to Drummond.
HLEolI rOoH-hv MON o,,,f oh ,o
marked gently. 81 really am sorry
that shan't see you again. You are
one of the few people that make this
atrocious country bearable."
She patted him on his cheek. and
again the feeling. that he was dream
ing came over Drummond. 1t couldn't
be real-this monstrous nightmare.
And then he was being wheeled along
the passage toward the lift, while
the Reverend Theodosius Longmoor
walked solicitously beside him. muir
muring affectionately in his ear.
"Good-by, my dear good-by,"
he remarked, after the chair had been
wheeled into the lift. "It was good of
you to come. Be careful. liftman,
won't you?"
He waved kindly hand, and the
last vision Drummond had of him be-
fore the doors closed was of a benevo-
lent old clergyman beaming at him
solieitously from behind pair of
horn-rimmed spectacles.
And now came his only chance. Sure
ly there would be someone who would
recognize him below; surely the hall
porter. who in the past had received
many a tip from him. must realize
who he was in spite of the hat pulled
down over his eyes. But even that
hope failed The elderly party in the
invaiid's chair who had come half an
hour ago was now going, and there
was no reason why the hall porter
should suspect anything. He gave the
two men hand lifting the chair into
a big and very roomy limousine car
which Drummond knew was certainly
not his, and the next instant they
were off