Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-07-31
SYNOPSIS

CHAPTER Ito gathering Oh
anarchists in Barking, London suburb.
Zaboleff, foreign agitator. tells OF the
operations Of a body Of men who have
become a menace to. their activities.
He is interrupted by the men he Is
describing (the Black Gang). who
break up the meeting, sentencing some
of the participants to condign punish
ment and carrying away others. A
memorandum found on Zaboleff gives
an address in Hoxton. London, which
the leader Of the attacking party con-
siders of Importance.
CHAPTER II-Sir Bryan Johnstone,
director Of criminal investigation.
hears from Inspector McIver, sent to
arrest Zaboleff the night before, Of his
discontinue. He had been seized and
chloroformed and his raid frustrated.
Hugh Drummond, man Of leisure and
old friend of Johnstone's. arrives and
tells Of seeing the kidnapers and their
victims. He becomes an unpaid agent
of the police, to be under the direction
of McIver. and takes UP his duties at
once.
Hugh paused dramatically and Sc
lected another cigarette, while Sir
Bryan flashed quick glance Of warm
ing at McIver, who was obviously
bursting with suppressed excitement.
"A peculiar and sickly OdOr, Tum-
kins." resumed the speaker with mad
uv.ans ueliDerauoR. "A strange and
elusive perfume. For a long while 1t
eluded me-that smell: just couldn't
place it. And then suddenly l got 1t {:
right in the middle, old boy-plumb
In the center Of the windpipe. 1t was
chloroform: the bird wasn't drunk
he was doped."
Completely exhausted Hugh lay
back in his chair, and once again Sir
Bryan flashed warning glance at his
exasperated subordinate
"Would you be able to recognize any
Of the men in the car If you saw them
againT' he asked quietly.
II should know the driver" an
swered Hugh after profound thought.
And the bird beside him. But not
the Others"
what did you do then?" asked Sir
Bryan.
"Well, l brought the brain to BEAR"
answered Hugh, land decided there
was nothing to do. He was doped,
and l was bottled-sO by unanimous
casting vote of one-I tOddled off
home. But Tumkins, while | was
feeding the goldfish this morning or
rather after lunch-conscience was
gnawing at my v4tals. And after pro-
found meditation, and consulting with
my fellow Denny, l decided that the
call Of duty was clear. l came to YOU,
Tumkins, as child flies to it's moth
or. Who better, l thought, than old
Tum-tum to listen to my maidenly Sc
crets? And so :"
Zone moment, Hugh" Sir Bryan
held up his hand. do you mind If |
speak to Inspector McIver for a mo-
ment?"
Anything you like, old lad" mur.
INJURED DrummOnd. "But be merciful.
remember my innocent wife in the
country"
And silence settled on the room,
broken only by the low-voiced con-
versation between McIver and his
chief in the window. After while a
strangled snOre from the chair an
nounced that Drummond was ceasing
to take an intelligent interest in
things mundane.
Hes an extraordinary fellow, Nc
Iver," said Sir Bryan, glancing at the
sleeper with a smile. "I've known
him ever since we were boys at school.
And he's not quite such fool as he
makes himself out. You remember
that extraordinary case over the man
Peterson year or SO ago. Well, it
was he who did the whole thing. His
complete disability to be cunning ut
terly defeated that master-crook, who
was always looking for subtlety that
wasn't there. And Of course his
strength is absolutely phenomenal"
II know, sir" said McIver doubt
fully, "but would he consent to take on
such job-and do exactly as he was
told"
They were both looking out Of the
window. while In the room behind
them the heavy breathing Of the
sleeper rose and fell monotonously.
And when the whole audience is asleep
~ SSU6Co w Nv ASN00C&AJ W tuIh III
undertOnes. Which was why Sir
Bryan and the inspector during the
next ten minutes discussed certain
matters Of import which they would
not have discussed through mega
phones at the Savoy. They concerned
Hugh and other things, and the other
things particularly were Of interest.
And they continued discussing these
other things until. with a dreadful
noise like a racing motor back-Aring,
the sleeper sat up In his chair and
stretched himself.
"Tumkins," he cried. ~ have COM
mitted sacrilege. have slept in the
Holy Of Holes. Have you decided
on my fatei Am I to be shot at
dawn"
Sir Bryan left the window and sat
down at his desk. For a moment or
two he rubbed his chin thoughtfully