Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-12-26
CHAPTER X-Continued

IT'S all right, Denny" he said
hoarsely. ITS not your fault; you
couldn't have known. But-what a
fool I've been, And this time wasted
when l might have been doing some
thing"
but what on earth's happened2'
cried Algy
"She never turned up at the Ritz
Algy: Phyllis never turned up for
lunch. At first ! thought she was late
and we waited. Then thought she'd
run into some pal and had gone 10 feed
somewhere else. And then, what with
talking to Peterson, and later that
hunchback, ! forgot all about her"
but, good heavens Hugh. what do
you mean2" said Ted You don't
think that"
"Of course think II. l know It.
They've got her: they've kidnapped her
Right under my nose" lie rose and
began TO pace up and down the room
with long, uneven strides. while the
others watched him anxiously
THAT id girl heard me say that
she was coming 10 lunch, and just
after that she went upstairs And
Peterson, being Peterson, took chance
and he's pulled It off"
Algy Longworth stood up, serious for
once In n way.
There's no time now to beat about
the bush Hugh II they've got Phyllis
there's only one possible thing that you
can do. Go straight to Bryan John
stone and put all the your cards on the
table. Tell him the whole thing from
A to Z--conceal nothing And then
leave the matter in his hands. lie
won't let you down"
For "A moment or two Hugh faced
them undecided. The sudden danger
TO Phyllis seemed to have robbed him
temporarily Of his power of initiative;
for the time he had ceased to be the
leader.
"Algy's right" said birmingham
quietly. 1T doesn't matter what hap
pens to us, you've got to think about
Phyllis. Wen get Il In the neck but
there was always that risk"
Il believe you're right" muttered
Hugh, looking round for his hat MY
brains all buzzing, can't think"
And at that moment the telephone
bell rang on his desk.
ANSWER It, Ted" said Hugh.
birmingham picked up the receiver
"Ies -this is Captain Drummonds
house No-it's nor him speaking.
Yes--lll give him any message you like.
Who are your Whol MIR Longmoor
at the Ritz | see Yes he told me
you had lunched with him today OH
yes, certainly"
For a while Ted birmingham stood
holding the receiver TO his ear. and
only the thin, metallic voice Of the
speaker at the other end broke the
silence OF the room. Il went on, mad
deningly indIstlnct to the three rnen
crowdng round the instrument, broken
only by an occasional mohosyllable
from birmingham. Then with a final
- will certainly tell him" Ted laid
down the instrument
What did he say. Ted?" demanded
huEh HEitHteuly.
lie sent message to you, old man.
II was approximately TO this effect
that he was feeling very uneasy be.
cause your wife had not turned up at
lunch 0nd that he hoped there had
been no accident. He further went on
TO say that since he had parted from
you most peculiar piece of informa-
tion had come TO his knowledge, which.
Incredible though IL might appear.
seemed 20 bear on her failure to turn
up al the RITE. He most earnestly
begged that yon should 80 round and
see him at opce-hecnuse II his infor-
nation was correct amy delay might
prove most dangerous for her. And
lastly, on no account were you to 90
10 the police until you had seen him"
For while there was silence In the
room. Drummond, frovnlns heavily.
was staring cut Of tile window; the
others, not knowing what to say, were
waiting for him 10 speak Ana after
a while he swung round, ana they saw
that the air of INDIGESTION had gone.
THAT simplIaes matters consider
ably he said quietly. 1T reduces 1t
10 the old odds OF Peterson ana me-"
but youn 80 to the police. ola
nan," cried Aley "You won't pay
any attention 70 that message Hen
never SNOW that you haven't come
straight to him"
Drummond laughed shortly.
"Haye you forgotten the rules a.
much, Algy, that you think thatg Look
out OF the window. man, only don't be
seen There's a fellow watching the
house now--I couldn't 40 a yard with
out Peterson knowing Moreover I'm
open 10 small bet chat lie kQev
was In the house when ne was ta,sing
10 Ted. Good heavens No. Peter.
son is not the sort 81 man 10 p,ay
those monkey-rricks With He's got
Phyllis. the whole citing Is hts show.
And Il went 10 the police. long be-
fore they could bring IL home to him.
or eat har herk-EhefS ha-t,-A 90 ~