The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-09-25


tell the police Of your extraordinary
delusions with regard to me?"
mot unless they should happen to
become acquainted with the ridiculous
hallucination that am the leader Of
the Black Gang" answered Drum
mond. "That was for your ears alone,
my little one, and<as you knew it al
ready you won't get fat on it, will
you? No, my intentions-since we
are having heart-to-heart talk-are
as follows: Once the exchange Is eff
fected we will start quite fair and
square-just like last time, Carl. 1t
doesn't pay you to 60 to the police:
It doesn't pay me, so we'll have a
single on our own. / am frightfully
anxious to add you to my collection
of specimens, and can't believe you
are burning with zeal to go. But wen
see, Carl, we'll see. Only-no more
monkey-tricks with my wife. Don't
let there be any misunderstanding on
that point"
The clergyman smiled benevolently.
How aptly you put thingsw he
murmured. Il accept your terms. and
I shall look forward afterward to the
single on our own that you speak
about. And nOw--as to details. You
must bear in mind that just as Mrs.
Drummond is more valuable to you
than diamonds, she is also somewhat
larger. In other words, it will be OBJ
viouS at once whether those whom /
represent have kept their side of the
bargain by producing your wife. 1t
will not be obvious whether you have
kept yours. The diamonds may or may
not be in your pocket, and once you
have your wife in your arms again the
incentive to return the diamonds
would be diminished. So / suggest,
Captain Drummond, that you should
bring the diamonds. to me-here in
this room, before six o'clock as proof
Of good faith. You MAY keep them
in your possession; all that require
is to see them. I will then engage on
my side to produce Mrs. Drummond
within a quarter of an hour.
For a moment Drummond hesitated,
fearing trick. And yet it was a per-
fectly reasonable request, as he adj
mitted to himself. From their point
Of view it was quite true that they
could have no proof that he would
keep his word, and once Phyllis was
In the room there would be nothing
to prevent the two Of them Quietly
walking out through the door and tell
ing the Reverend Theodosius to 60 to
hi.
Nothing can very well happen at
the Ritz, can it," continued the clergy
man suayely. "And you see 1 am even
trusting you to the extent that / do
not actually ask you to hand over the
diamonds until your wife comes
have no guarantee that even then you
will not get up and leave the room
with them still in your possession.
You are too big and strong man,
Captain Drummond, to allow of any
horseplay- especially-er-ina clergy
mans suite of rooms"
Drummond laughed. "Cut it out,
Carl! !" he exclaimed. "Cut it out, for
heavens sake! All right. agree.
I'll go round and get the stones now"
He rose and went to the door.
But don't forget, Carl-if there are
any monkey-tricks, heaven help you"
The door closed behind him, and
with a snarl the clergyman spun round
on the girl
"How the devil has he spotted us?"
His face was convulsed with rage.
Hes the biggest fool in the world,
and yet he spots me every time.
However, there's no time to worry
about that now; we must think"
He took one turn up and down the
room, then he nodded his head as if
he had come to a satisfactory de-
cision. And when he spoke to the
girl, who sat waiting expectantly on
the sofa, he might have been the head
of big business firm giving orders
to his managers for etday.
ring up headquarters of A branch"
he said quietly. "Tell them to send
round No. 10 to this room at once. He
must be here within quarter of an
hour"
Number 49," repeated the girl,
making note. "That's the man who
is such a wonderful mimic, isn't it2
Well?"
Number 10 and the italian are to
come with him, and they are to wait
below for further orders"
'sThat all?" She rose to her feet as
the Reverend Theodosius crossed rap
idly to the door which led to the bath
room. "What about that silly little
fool-his wifeW
For a moment the man paused.
genuine amazement on his face.
'My dear girl, you don't really i'm
agine ever intended to produce her,
do you? And any lingering doubt
might have had on the matter disap-
peared the moment / found Drum
mond knew us. There's going to be
no mistake this time over that young