Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-11-12
ID. n. u. Service

whole yarn"
AT the Ritz he was shown into the
sitting-room where the Reverend Theo-
dosius Longmoor was busily working
on Austrian famine accounts. He
rose as Hugh entered, and his daugh-
ter, still knitting busily, gave him a
charming girlish smile
"Ah! my dear young friend" began
Mr. Longmoor, II see you've had my
message"
''Yes," answered Hugh affably, 81
was standing next door co the fellow
you were talking to. But before we
come to business. so to speak, must
really ask you not to send Shocks
round again. 1 don't like him. Why,
my dear Carl, preferred our late la
ented Henry Lakington."
There was moment Of dead ST.
lence, during which the Reverend
Theodosius stared at him speechlessly
and the busy knitter ceased to knit.
The shock was so complete and sud-
den that even Carl Peterson seemed
at a loss, and Drummond laughed
gently as he took chair.
I'm tired of this dressing-up busi-
ness, Carl" he remarked in the same
affable voice. "And it's so stupid to
go on pretending when everybody
knows. So I thought we might as
we'll have all the cards on the table.
Makes the game much easier"
The clergyman found his voice.
"Are you mad, sir?" he spluttered.
"Are you insane? How dare you come
into this room and insult me? shall
ring the bell, sir. and have you re-
moved"
He strobe across the room. and
Drummond watched him calmly.
"Tve just called one bluff this after
noon, Carl" he said lazily. "Now I'll
call another. Go on, push the bell.
Send for the police and say I've in
suited you. Go and see dear old Turn
tum yourself: he'll be most awfully
braced at meeting you.'
The others hand fell slowly 70 his
side, and he looked at his daughter
with a resigned expression in his face.
Really, my dear, ! think that the
heat-or perhaps" He paused ex-
pressively, and Drummond laughed.
"You were always good actor,
Carl, but is it worth while? There
are no witnesses here, and I'm rather
pressed for time. Through series
accidents you have become aware
of the fact that am the leader of
the Black Gang. You can go and tell
the police if you like-in fact, that
horrible little man who came round
to see me threatened to do so. But
If you do, / shall tell them who you
are, and shall also inform them OF
the secret history Of the bomb. So
that, though it will be awkward fo1
me, Carl, it will De far more awkward
for you and Mademoiselle Irma; and
it will be positively unhealthy for
Shocks. You take me so far, don't
you? Up to dateI have been dealing
in certainties; now we come to con
tingencies. It striker me that there
are two doubtful points, old friend OF
my youtl-just two. And those two
points are the whereabouts respec
lively of my wife and your diamonds
Now, Carl. do we talk business OF
not?"
MY dear young man." said the 9th
er resignedly, II intended to tall
business with you when you arrived II
you had given me a chance. But al
you've done nothing but talk the mos
unmitigated drivel since you've come
into the room haven't had chance
You appear obsessed with this absurd
delusion that 1 am some person called
Carl, and But where are you go
mgr
Drummond paused at the door.
II am going straight to Scotland
Yard. l shall there tell Sir Bryan
Johnstone the whole story from A t.
z, at the same time handing him {
little bag containing diamonds which
has recently come into my posses
sion."
"You admit you've got them,
snapped the other, letting the masl
drop for moment.
That's better, Carl-much better.
Drummond came back into the room
II admit I've got them-but they're
in a place where you can never fine
them, and they will remain there TN
til six o'clock tonight, when they gC
straight to Scotland Yard-unless
Carl-unless my wife Is returned t.
me absolutely unscathed and unhur
before that hour. 1t is five O'Clock
now"
"And If she is returned-wha
Them
"You shall have the diamonds"
"There is just one point, Captain
Drummond," remarked the clergyman
mildly. "Supposing that l am able Il
persuade certain people to-er-ex
pedlte the return of Mrs. Drummonc
in exchange for that little bag, wher,
do you and stand after the bargain
| Is transacted? Do you still intend IL
tell the police of your extraordinary
delusions with regard to meT"
mot unless they should happen tt
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