The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-09-16
CHAPTER VII
in Which Hugh Drummond
Makes a Discoverv

| - DAo&OVSIJ
Inc prospect In front of Count "a
uo"a alias Mr.. Atkinson was not
very ailuring one. and the more he
tnought about it the less he liked II.
Either the diamonds were blown TO
DUST, or they were In the hands of the
authorities. In the first event he had
Inc reverend Theodosius to reckon
WIN IN the second the police And
Ior preference the police won in a
canter.
de was under no decisions. was
me hunchback. This mysterious man
VINO signed all his communications
ny the enigmatic letter X, and whose
ieal appearance was known probably
only TO the girl who was his constant
companion. so wonderful and varied
were his DISCUSSES, was not person
"hom 1t paid to have any delusions
ABOUT. With shudder Count Zadowa
remembered the fate of certain men
ne mad known in the past. men who
mad 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 a 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
ne was the head of that particular
activity. Presumably he was being
paid for 1t 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
cover what he could.
Punctually at half-past nine the
next morning he arrived at Green
street. AS he had expected, a 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 l ask what you're doing here?"
Haven't you heard. sir?" said the
There was bomb out
age here last night. In your office
Upstairs"
"A bomb outrage?" Mr.. Atkinson
,azed at the constable In amazement,
md loafer standing by began to
augh.
mot 'arf. guv'nor," he remarked
heerfully. 'The ole rudy place is
,one to bazes."
You dry up" admonished the po-
ceman. Move along, can't you?"
"Orl rite. orl rite" grumbled the
Their. shambling off mot allowed to
We soon, we won't be-"
You'd better go up, SIR" contin-
ed the constable. The inspector Is
pstairs."
Mr. Atkinson needed no second in
itation. Viewed by the light Of day
hich came streaming in through the
reat hole in the wall the ruin was
omplete. In the center-and it was
lere Mr.. Atkinson's eyes strayed
,ntinuously even while he was ac-
the greetings of the in
the remnants of the
ask. And as he looked at ii any
int hope he may have cherished /,
lnished completely. II was literally
lit to pieces in every direction;
ere was not left a hiding-place for
pea. much less bag of diamonds.
The inspector was speaking and Mr..
-kinson pulled himself together. He !,
ID part to play, and whatever
ppened no suspicious must be
oused. =
81 feel quite staggered. inspector" '
IS glance travelled to a sinister-look-
. heap in the corner-a heap rough
covered with an old rug. The wall
ove II was stained a dull red. and
I'm under the rug stretched out two :
10 streams of the same color y
.eams which were not yet dry.
.What on earth has happenedY :,
There seems very little doubt =
Il ~. |
evidently their idea was bur -
nv What happened. then, of :.
Irse. II is hard to say exactly. Pre- -
uably they started using explosive -
force your safe. and explosive IS o,
INV stuff even for the expert" -
rbe inspector waved hand at the
I'D in the corner.