Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-10-29

square, waving his stick vaguely as
material aid to thought, that he relt a
touch on his arm.
Excuse me, sir" said a voice at
his elbow, "but / would like few
words with YOU"
He looked down, and his eyes mar.
fowed suddenly. Standing beside him
was the hunchback, Mr. Atkinson, and
for moment Hugh regarded him N
silence. Then, dismissing strong
inclination to throw this unexpected
apparition under a passing furniture
van, he raised his eyebrows slightly
and removed his cigar from his mouth
Evidently the next move had begun
and he felt curious as to what form
1t would take.
my powers as a conversationalist
are well known" he remarked,
amongst large and varied circle. /
was not, however, aware that you be-
the deuce are you and what the dick
ems do you want to talk to ice about?
Something which concerns us both
very intimately" returned the other.
"And with regard to the first part of
your Question-do you think it neces-
sary to keep up the pretense, espe.
c1ally as there are no witnesses pres
ent? l suggest, however, that as our
conversation may be trif1e prolonged,
and this spot is somewhat draughty,
we should adjourn to your house /;
Brook street, / believe, is where you
live, Captain Drummond."
Hugh removed his cigar, and stared
at the hunchback thoughtfully.
Il haven't the slightest wish to have
prolonged conversation with you in
any place. draughty or otherwise" he
remarked at length. However, if you
are prepared to run the risk of being
slung out of the window If you bore
me, TIL give you ten minutes"
He turned on his heel and strolled
slowly on toward his house, while the
hunchback, shooting venomous glances
at him from time to time, walked by
his side in silence. And 1t was not
until some five minutes later when
they were both in Drummonds study
that any further remark was made.
1t was Hugh who spoke, standing
with his back to the fireplace, and
looking down on the misshapen little
man who sat in an armchair facing
the light An unpleasant customer. he
reflected, now that he saw him close
frN fnY fha Hrcf win
dictive little devil-but able, distinct
Uy able Just such type as Peterson
would choose for tool.
what is it you wish to say to me?"
he said CURLY.
"a few things, Captain Drummond, y
returned the other, that may help to
clear the air. In the first place may
/ say how pleased / am to make your
acquaintance in the flesh, so to speak?
have long wanted little talk with
the leader of the Black Gang"
II trust murmured Hugh solicitous-
ly, "that the sun hasn't proved too
much for you"
"Shal we drop this beating about
the bush?" snapped the other.
81 shall drop you down the stairs
If you talk to me like that, you id
little microbe," said Hugh coldly, and
the other got to his feet with a snarI.
His eyes, glazing like those of an an
CRY cat, were fixed on Drummond,
who suddenly put out vast hand to
screen the lower part Of the hunch-
backs face. With cry Of fear he
recoiled, and Hugh smiled grimly. So
it had been Mr.. Atkinson himself who
had flung the bomb the night before !:
the eyes that had glared at him
through the crack in the door were
Enthusiastically the same as those he
had just looked into over his own
hand. With the rest Of the face blot
ted out to prevent distraction there
could be no doubt about it, and he
was still smiling grimly as he lowered
his hand.
$50 you think I'm the leader Of the
Black Gang, do you" he remarked.
"What are your grounds for this some
what startling statement?"
my grounds are these" said the
hunchback, recovering his self-control:
last night my Office in Hoxton was
wrecked by bomb. That bomb also
killed man."
'It did," agreed Hugh grimly.
zone of the three men who broke
in. The other two escaped-how, l
don't know But one of them was
recognized by the clerk downstairs"
81 gathered that was the story" said
Hugh.
HE was recognized as the leader of
the Black Gang-an unknown person.
But today-at the Ritz, Captain Drum
mond-my clerk, who had brought me
& message, recognized him again, with
out his disguise. No longer an un-
known man, you understandable
you"
Drummond smiled, and selected a
cigarette from his case.
every pretty" he answered, but a
trifle crude. AS understand you, |
gather that your shrewd and intelli-
gent clerk states thai the leader of
the Black Gang broke into your office
last night in order to indulge in the
doubtful pastime of throwing bombs
about the premises. He further states
that l am the humorist in question.
Allowing for the moment that your
clerk Is cono what 10 Won prOpOco ~