Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-09-24
CHAPTER Nv
In Which a Bomb Bursts at
UnpIeasantly Close Quarters


UnpIeasantly Close Quarters
1t was perhaps because the thought
of failure never entered Hugh Drum
mond's head that such a considerable
measure Of success had been possible
up to date-that, and the absolute,
unquestioning obedience which he de-
manded of his pals, members of the
Black Gang, and which they accorded
him willingly. AS they knew, he laid
no claims to brilliance; but as they
also knew, he hid a very shrewd COM
mon sense beneath his frivolous man
ner. And having once accepted the
sound military truism that one indif
ferent general is better than two good
ones, they accepted his leadership
with answering Equality. What was
going to be the end Of their self-im-
posed fight against the pests of So
ciety did not worry them greatly;
all that mattered was that there should
be a certain amount of sport in the
collection of the specimens. Granted
the promise Of that, they willingly
sacrificed any engagements and car
ried out Hugh's orders to the letter.
Up to date, however, the campaign,
though far from being dull, had not
produced any really big results. A
number of sprats and few moderate
sized fish had duly been caught in the
landing-net, and been sent to the pri-
vate pool to mediate at leisure. But
nothing really large had come their
way. Zaboleff was a good haul. But
the Black Gang, which aimed merely
at the repression of terrorism by ter
rorism, had found 1t too easy. The
nauseating cowardice of the majority
of their opponents was becoming mo-
notorious, their strong aversion to soap
and water, insanitary. They wanted
big game-not the rats that emerged
from the sewers.
Even Drummond had begun to feel
that patriotism might be carried too
far, until the moment when the adj
dress in Hoxton had gallen into their
hands. Then, with the optimism that
lives eternal in the hunters breast,
fresh hope had arisen in his mind.
He had determined on a bigger game.
If 1t failed-if they drew blank-he
had almost decided to chuck the thing
up altogether, Phyllis, he knew,
would be overjoyed If he did.
"Just this one final coup, old girl"
he said, as they sat waiting in the
Carlton for the awe-inspiring rela-
tives. 'Tve got it cut and dried, and
1t comes off tonight. If it's dud,
well dissolve ourselves-at any rate,
for the present. If only"
He sighed, and his wife looked at
him reproachfully.
II know you want another fight with
Petersen, you old goat" she remarked.
"But you'll never see him again, or
that horrible girl"
Don't you think shall, PhyI?" He
stared despondently at his shoes. ST
can't help feeling myself that some
where or other behind all this that
CHEEKY bird is lurking My dear, it
would be too CHASTITY If l never saw
him again."
"Tbe next time you see him, Hugh"
she answered quietly, ''he won't take
any chances with you"
"But, my angel child" he doomed
cheerfuliy. 81 don't want him to. Not
on your life! Nor shall /. Good
lord Here they are. Uncle Timothy
looks more like q mangel-wurzel than
ever"
And so at nlne-thirty that evening a
party Of five men sat waiting in a
small sitting-room Of house situated
In a remote corner of South Kensing-
ton. Some easels stood round the
walls covered with half-fnished
sketches, as befitted a room belonging
to a budding artist such as Toby Sim
clair, Not that he was an artist or
even budding one, but he felt that
a man must have some excuse for
living in South Kensington. And so
he had bought the sketches and put
them round the room, principally to
deceive the landlady. The fact that
he was never there except at strange
hours merely confirmed that excellent
woman's opinion that all artists were
dissolute rascals. But he paid his
rent regularly, and times were hard
especially in South Kensington. Had
the worthy soul known that her second
best sitting-room was the rendezvous
of this Black Gang, 1t is doubtful If
she would have been so compIacent.
But she didn't know, and continued
her weekly busting Of the sketches
with characteristic zeal.
Tied should be here soon" said
Drummond, glancing at his watch. "I
hope he's got the bird all right"
"You didn't get into the inner room,
did you, Hugh?" said Peter Darrell
mo. But / saw enough to know
that it's beyond our form, old lad.
We've got to have skilled cracks
man to deal with one Of the doors