The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-09-25
awhat are you going to do?n sail
s r r E r
U. n. U. Service

L
swered Hugh. go round and see him
at the Ritz-now, at once. I shan't
take the diamonds with me, but there
viii be no worry over the exchange
as far as I'm concerned. It's just like
his dirty method Of fighting to go for
a GIRL" he finished savagely.
He crossed to the door and
opened it.
I'm case I don't come back by six,
the diamonds. are in my sponge bag
in 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
charming girlish smile.
"Ah! my dear young FRIEND" began
Mr.. Longmoor, II see you've had my
message" f
EYES," answered Hugh affably, II
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. don't like him. Why,
my dear Carl, preferred our late la
mented Henry Lexington"
| There was a moment of dead ST.
lence, during which the Reverend
Theodosius stared at him speechlessly
and the busy knitter ceased to knit.
The shock was so complete and sud-
den that even Carl Peterson seemed
at a loss, and Drummond laughed
| gently as he took a chair.
'T'm tired Of this dressing-up bust
ness, Carl" he remarked in the same
affable voice. sand it's so stupid to
go on pretending when everybody
knows. So 1 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, sir?" he spluttered.
care you insane? How dare you come
into this room and insult me? shall
ring the bell, sir, and have you re-
moved"
He strobe across the room. and
Drummond watched him calmly.
/ eve just called one bluff this after
noon. Carl" he said lazily. Nov I'll
call another. Go on. push the bell.
Send for the police and say I've in
suited you. Go and see dear old Tun1-
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 resigned expression in his face.
Really, my dear, think that the
heat-or perhaps" He paused ex-
pressively, and Drummond laughed.
| "You were always a good actor,
Carl, but is it worth while? There
are no witnesses here and I'm rather
pressed for time. Through series
of accidents you have become aware
of the fact that I 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
to see me threatened to do so. But,
if you do, / shall tell them who you
are, and shall also inform them of
| the secret history of the bomb. So
that, though it will be awkward for
me, Carl, it will be far more awkward
for you and Mademoiselle Irma; and
it will be positively unhealthy for
Shocks You take me so far, don't
you? Up to date have been dealing
in certainties; now we come to con-
tingencies. 1t strikes me that there
are two doubtful points, old friend Of
my youth-just two. And those two
points are the whereabouts respec-
lively Of my wife and your diamonds.
Now, Carl, do we talk business or
not?"
"Afy dear young man." said the 9TH
err resignedly, 81 intended to talk
business with you when you arrived If
you had given me a chance. But as
you've done nothing but talk the most
unmitigated drivel since you've come
into the room haven't had q chance.
You appear obsessed with this absurd
delusion that am some person called
Carl, and But where are you go
ing?"
Drummond paused at the door.
II am going straight to Scotland
Yard. shall there tell Sir Bryan
tombstone the whole story from A to
z. at the same time handing him
little bag containing diamonds which
has recently come into my posses
sion."
you admit you've got Them"
snapped the other, letting the mask
drop for a moment.
THAT'S better, Carl-much better"
Drummond came back into the room.
II admit I've got them-but they're
in a place where you can never find
them, and they will remain there I'M
til six o'clock tonight, when they go
straight to Scotland Yard-unless,
Carl-unless my wife is returned to
me absolutely unscathed and unhurt
| before that hour. 1t Is five O'Clock