The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-09-04
Che BLACK GANG

arms could see 1t. His wife is coming
here to lunch. You remember her
that silly little fool Phyllis Bentoni
And they live In Brook street. 1t
might be worth trying. If by any
! chance he has got the diamonds-well,
she'll be very useful. And If he
hasn't she shrugged her shoulders, 1--WE
can easily return her If we don't want
her.N
The Reverend Theodosius smiled.
Longwinded explanations between the
two Of them were seldom necessary.
Then he looked at his watch.
"Short notice." he remarked; but
Wen try. No harm done If we fail"
He stepped over to the telephone,
and put through call. And having
given two or three curt orders he came
slowly back into the room.
Chances of success very small, I'm
afraid; but as you say, my dear, worth
trying. And now l think I'll renew
my acquaintance with Drummond."
With a short chuckle he left the
room, and minute or two later a
benevolent clergyman, reading the
Church Times, was sitting in the
lounge just opposite Hugh and Peter.
Through half-closed eyes Hugh took
stock of him, wondering casually if this
was the Reverend Theodosius Long
moor. And when few minutes later
the clergyman took cigarette out Of
his case, and then commenced to fun
BILE in his pockets for matches which
he had evidently forgotten. Hugh rose
and offered him one.
"Allow me, SIR" he murmured, hold
ing it out.
II thank you, SIR" said tho clergy
man, with charming smile. "Im so
terribly forgetful over matches. AS a
matter Of fact don't generally smoke
before lunch, but I've had such a dis
tressing morning that I felt must
have cigarette just to soothe my
nerves."
by Jove! that's bad,' remarked
Hugh. bath water cold. and all
that?"
Nothing so trivial, fear" said the
other. No: poor man who has been
with me since ten has just suffered the
most terrible blow. could hardly
have believed it possible here in< Lon
don, but the whole of his business
premises were wrecked by a bomb last
night"
"You don't say So" murmured Hugh,
sinking into chair, and at the table
opposite Peter Darrell opened one eye.
"All his everything
And 1t has hit me, too Quite a re-
spectacle little sum of money-over a
hundred pounds, gathered together for
the restoration Of the old oak chancel
In my church-blown to pieces by this
unknown miscreant. It's hard, sir, it's
hard. But this poor fellows loss is
greater than mine, SO must not COM
plain"
The clergyman took off his spec
tacles and wiped them. and Drummond
stole lightning glance at Darrell. The
faintest shrug Of his shoulders indi-
Gated that the latter had heard. and
was as much in the dark as Hugh.
That this was the Reverend Theodosfus
Longmoor was now obvious, but what
a charming, courteous old gentleman |!
Il seemed impossible to associate guilt
with such delightful person, and. If
so. they had made bad mistake. 1t
was not the hunchback who had
thrown the bomb; they were up an
other blind alley"
\ For while Hugh chatted with him
about the outrage, then he glanced at
his watch.
< Nearly time for lunch, think" said
the clergyman. perhaps you would
give a lonely old. man the pleasure of
your company"
"Very nice of you, but I'm expecting
my wife," said Hugh. "She said she'd
be here at one, and now it's quarter
past. Perhaps you'll lunch with us?"
Charmed" said the clergyman. TAX
ing note which page boy was hand
ing to him on tray. Charmed" He
glanced through the note, and placed
IL III lis pOChSt. LIE iuuleS, DiSSS
them SO often keep us waiting"
"I'll just go and ring up" said Drum
mond. "She may have changed her
mind"
Hugh returned looking worried.
Cant make it out, Peter" he said
anxiously. "Just got through to Denny,
and Phyllis left half an hour ago to
come here"
Probably doing bit of shopping.
old man." answered Peter reassuringly.
II say. Hugh, we're bloomered over
this show"
Hugh glanced across at the table
where the clergyman was sitting, and
suddenly Peter found his arm gripped
with force that made him cry out
He glanced at Hugh, and that worthy
was staring at the clergyman with a
look of speechless amazement ON his
face. Then he swung around, and his
eyes were blazing.
"Peter!" he said tensely. Look at
him. The one trick that gives him
AWAY every timei BIoOmered have