The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-07-17

hands on. To be more accurate there
was one man there whom we wanted
He'd been Swallowed ever since he'G
landed in England that morning
Swallowed the whole way from docks
to the house. And sure enough wher
house, there was our friend and al
his pals in one of the downstairs
rooms. 1t was then that this peculiar
thing happened. gather from McIvel
that he heard the noise Of an owl
hooting, also faint scuffle and Q
curse. And after that he heard moth
ing more. He was chlorOformed from
behind, and went straight out of the
picture"
Great Scott!' murmured Hugh
staring incredulously at McIver
what an amazing thing!p
"And this is where you come in
Hugh" continued Sir Bryan.
ME" Hugh sat up abruptly. "Why
me?"
zone of the men inside the roon
was an interesting fellow known as
Flash Jim. He is a burglar of nc
mean repute, though he is quite ready
to tackle any sort of job which car
ries money with it. And when McIver
having recovered himself in the morn
ing, ran Flash Jim to ground in one
of his haunts he was quite under the
impression that the men who had
doped him and the other officers were
pals of Flash Jim. But after he'd
talked to him he changed his mind
All Flash Jim could tell him was that
on the previous night he and some
friends had, been discussing business
at this house. He didn't attempt to
deny that. He went on to say that
suddenly the room had been filled
with number of masked men. and
that he'd had "a clip over the back of
the head which knocked him out. AT
ter that presumably he was given a
wlliff Of chloroform to keep him quiet,
and. the next thing he remembers is
being kicked back into activity by the
policeman at" Sir Bryan paused a
moment to emphasize the point-"at
Piccadilly circus"
"Good Lord" said Hugh dazedly.
'"Then that bird saw last night sleep.
ing it off on the pavement was Flash
jim
Precisely" answered Sir Bryan
But what is far more to the point.
old man, is that the two birds you
think you would be able to recognize
and who were in the car. are two Of
the masked men who first of all laid
out McIver and subsequently sur
rounded Flash Jim and his pals in.
SIDE"
But what did they want to do
that for?"' asked Hugh in bewilder-
ment.
'"rhat is just what we want to find
out" replied Sir Bryan. "As far as
we can see at the moment they are
not criminals in the accepted sense
of the word. They logged two of the
men who were there last night a..l
there are no two men in England
who more richly deserved it. They
kidnapped two others, one of whom
was the man we particularly wanted.
Then to wind up, they planted Flash
Jim as I've told you. let the others
go, and brought McIver and all his
men back to McIver's house, where
they left them to cool on the pave
ment. And what want to know is
this. If we give you warning would
you care to so with McIver the next
time he has any job on. where he
thinks it is likely this gang may turn
up? We have a pretty shrewd idea
as to the type of thing they special
ize (in."
Hugh passed his hand dazedly over
his forehead.
"Sort of mothers help you mean"
and McIver frowned horribly. "While
the bird biffs McIve-. biff the bird.
Is that the notion?"
''That is the notion" agreed Sir Bry.
an. "Of course you'll have to do exact
ly what McIver tells you. and the
whole thing Is most unusual. But in
view Of the special features Of the case
:. What is it, Miss Forbes?" He
glanced up at his secretary, who was
standing in the doorway, with slight
frown.
HE insists on seeing you at sonce,
Sir Bryan"
She came forward with a card,
which Sir Bryan took.
Charles Latter" The frown deep
ened. 'What the deuce does he
want?"
The answer was supplied by the
gentleman himself. who appeared at
that moment In the doorway. He
was evidently in state of great agi-
tation and Sir Bryan rose.
Il am engaged DIT the moment. Mr..
Latter. he said coldly.
MY business won't take you a min
ute. Sir Bryan" he cried. "But what
l want to know is this. Is this coun-,
try civilized or is 1t not? Look at
what l received by the afternoon