The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-08-28
CHAPTER VII
In Which Hugh Drummond
Makes a Discovery

The prospect In front of Count Ia
dowa alias Mr.. Atkinson was not a
very alluring one, and the more he
thought about it the less he liked it.
Either the diamonds were blown to
dust, or they were in the hands of the
authorities. In the first event he had
the Reverend Theodosius to reckon
with; in the second the police. And
for preference the police won in a
canter.
He was under no decisions. was
the hunchback. This mysterious man
who signed all his communications
by the enigmatic letter X, and whose
real appearance was known probably
only to the girl who was his constant
companion. so wonderful and varied
were his DISCUSSES, was not a person
whom it paid to have any decisions
about. With shudder Count Zadowa
remembered the fate of certain men
he had known in the past. men who
had been employed, even as he was
now employed, on one of the innu-
merable schemes of their chief. No
project, from the restoration of a
monarchy to the downfall of bust
ness combine, was too great for the
man who now called himself the Rev
erend Theodosius Longmoor. All that
mattered was that there should be
money in it. Why he should be in
teresting himself in the spread of
Communism in England it was not for
Count Zadowa to inquire, even though
he was the head Of that particular
activity. Presumably he was being
paid for it by others; it was no bust
ness Of Count Zadowa's.
And as he undressed that night in
the quiet hotel in Bloomsbury where
he lived the hunchback cursed bitter
ly under his breath. 1t was such a
cruel stroke Of luck.
He had already decided that his
only method lay in going down to the
office next morning as usual. He
would find it, of course, in the posses
sion of the police. and would be told
what had happened. And then he
would have to trust to luck to dis
cover what he could.
Punctually at half-past nine the
next morning he arrived at 5 Green
street. AS he had expected, con-
stable was standing at the door.
"Who are you, sir?" The policeman
was barring his entrance.
my name is Atkinson" said the
count, with well-feigned surprise.
MAY ask what you're doing here?"
Haven't you heard. STRIP said the
constable. "There was a bomb out
rage here last night. In your office
upstairs"
"A bomb outrage?" Mr. Atkinson
gazed at the constable in amazement,
and loafer standing by began to
laugh.
mot 'arf, guv'nor." he remarked
cheerfully. "The ole rudy place is
gone to blazes."
"You dry up" admonished the po-
liceman. Move along, can't you?
"Orl rite, ,orl rite" grumbled the
other, shambling off. "Not allowed to
live soon, we won't be-"
You'd better go up, sir, contin-
ued the constable. "The inspector is
upstairs"
Mr. Atkinson needed no second in
vitation. Viewed by the light of day
which came streaming in through the
great hole in the wall the ruin was
complete. In the center-and it was
there Mr.. Atkinson's eyes strayed
continuously even while he was ac-
knowledging the greetings of the in
SpectOr-stoOd the remnants of the
desk. And as he looked at it any
faint hope he may have cherished
vanished completely. 1t was literally
split to pieces in every direction !;
there was not left hiding-place for
a pea. much less bag of diamonds.
The inspector was speaking and Mr..
Atkinson pulled himself together. He
had part to play, and whatever
happened no suspicious must be
aroused.
II feel quite staggered, inspector"
His glance travelled to sinister-look-
ing heap in the corner-a heap rough
ly covered with an old rug. The wall
above it was stained a dull red, and
from under the rug stretched out two
long streams of the same color
streams which were not yet dry.
"What on earth has happened?"
"There seems very little doubt
about that, sir" remarked the inspec-
tor. Evidently their idea was bur-
glary. What happened. then, of
course, it is hard to say exactly. Pre-
sumably they started using explosive
to force your safe. and explosive IS
funny stuff even fer the expert"
The inspector waved hand at the
heap in the corner.
II Maybe that loafer was not
III fhAra anfirAlu nv rhanNA AID III