The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-09-23
Che BLACK GANG


that silly little fool Phyllis Benton
d And they live In Brook street.
might be worth trying. Ii by an
d chance he has got the dIamonds-wel
/ she'll be very useful. And II h,
y hasn't she shrugged her shoulders, "w'
: can easily return her if we don't wan
! her."
The Reverend Theodosius smiled
Longwinded explanations between the
two of them were seldom necessary.
: Then he looked at his watch.
"Short notice." he remarked; "but
Wen try. No harm done If we fall"
He stepped over to the telephone
and put through a call. And having
given two or three curt orders he came
slowly back into the room.
"Chances of success very small, I'm
afraid; but as you say, my dear, worth
trying And now l think I'll renew
my acquaintance with Drummond."
With a short chuckle he left the
room, and minute or two later a
| benevolent clergyman, reading the
Church Times, was sitting in the
lounge just opposite Hugh and Peter.
Through half-closed eyes Hugh took
stock of him, wondering casually If this
was the Reverend Theodosius Long
moor. And when a few minutes later
the clergyman took a cigarette out of
his case and then commenced to fun
BILE in his pockets for matches which |
he had evidently forgotten, Hugh rose
and offered him one.
"Allow me, sir" he murmured hold
ing it out.
Il thank you, SIR" said the clergy
man, with a charming smile. "Im so
terribly forgetful over matches. AS a
matter of fact 1 don't generally smoke
before lunch, but I've had such a dis
tressing morning that l felt 1 must
have cigarette just to soothe my
nerves."
by Jove! that's bad" remarked
Hugh Bath water cold, and all
.hat?"
Nothing so trivial, fear" said the
'ther. mo; poor man who has been
With me since ten has just suffered the
most terrible blow. 1 could hardly
ave believed it possible here in Lon
lon, but the whole Of his business
remises were wrecked by a bomb last
light"
You don't say So" murmured Hugh,
mixing into chair, and at the table
pposlte Peter Darrell opened one eye. i,
All MS papers-everything
nd 1t has hit me, too. Quite a re-
'ectable little sum Of money-over a
inbred pounds gathered together for
e restoration of the old oak chancel
my church-blown to pieces by this q
known miscreant. It's hard, sir, it's
I'D But this poor fellows loss is
eater than mine, so must not COM
ain" =
The clergyman took off his spec- RI
cles and wiped them, and Drummond b
lie lightning glance at Darrell. The r
htest shrug of his shoulders indi- II
ted that the latter had heard. and
8 as much In the dark as Hugh. r
at this was the Reverend Theodosius y
ngmoor was now obvious, but what
courteous old gentlemanl
seemed impossible to associate guilt j
n such a delightful person, and, If
they had made bad mistake. It
not the hunchback who had
own the bomb; they were up an 90
er blind alley" az
or while Hugh chatted with him 'i'
Ut the outrage, then he glanced at W.
watch. de
Nearly time for lunch, l think" said ~
clergyman. Perhaps you would 81 az
lonely old man the pleasure of Oil
r company" WI
very nice of you, but I'm expecting
"lIe,' said Hugh. "She said she'd ."
'ere at one, and now it's a quarter eo
Perhaps you'll lunch with usY'
harmed" said the clergyman. TAX
note which page boy was hand 80
% MN on tray. Charmed" He -,
ced through the note, and placed -,
MS pocket. 1.-THE ladies. bless
y SO often keep US waiting"
II just go and ring up" said Drum
u :. one may have changed her 10
gn returned looking worried. VIII
ant make it out, Peter he said MOI
'usly. Just got through to Denny =
PHYLLIS left half an hour ago TO T
here"
'ooably doing a bit of shopping. t
an" answered Peter reassurInelv RI
y Hugh, we're bloomered over
show"
On glanced across at the table
Inc clergyman was sitting. and
My Peter found his arm eripped
a force that made him cry out
anced at Hugh, and that worthy
laring at the clergyman with a
u speeches. amazement on his
Then he swung around. and his
we're blazing.
ERR he said tensely. Look at
me one trick that gives him q
very timel Bloomered, have BUY
,etersoa -, 'ens ABOVE, man, it's For
az dcl