Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-10-02

reur would have been most uneasy
when he missed it but for the note
you've left him, saying youll be away
for three days" Peterson laughed
gently as he stared at his victim.
| "YOu must forgive me if I seem to
| glOat little. won't yOu?" he cOntin-
ued. "I've got such large score to
settle with you, and I very much fear
| shant be in at the death. have an
engagement to dine with an American
millionaire whose wife is touched to
the heart over the sufferings of the
starving poor in Austria. And when
| the wives of millionaires are touched
| to the heart, my experience Is that the
husbands are generally touched to the
pocket"
He laughed again even more gently
and leaned across the table towards
| the man who sat mOtionless in the
| chair. He seemed to be striving to
see some sign Of fear in DrummOnd's
eyes, some appeal for mercy. But If
there was any expression at all It was
as Drummond had been wont to In
furiate him with during their first en-
counter a year before Then he had
| expressed it In words and actions;
now only his eyes were left to him,
but it was there all the same And
after a while Peterson snarled at him
viciOusly.
"No, | shan't be in at the death,
DrummOnd, but l will explain to you
the exact program. You will be driven
out Of London in your own car, but
when the final accident occurs you will
be alone. It Is most excellent place
for an accident, Drummond-mOst ex-
cellent. One or two have already
taken place there, and the bodies are
generally recovered some two or three
days later-mOre or less unrecOgniz-
able. Then when the news comes out
in the evening papers tomorrow
shall be able to tell the police the
whole sad story. How you took CON-
passion on an old clergyman and
asked him to lunch, and then went out
of London after your charming young
Wife-Only to meet with this dreadful
end | think I'll even offer to take
part in the funeral service. And yet
no, that is a pleasure | shall have to
deny myself Having done what
came over to do, Drummond, rather
more expeditiously than | thought
likely, | shall return to my starving
children in Vienna. And, do you know
what | came over to do, DrummOnd?
| came over to smash the Black Gang
and came over to kill you-though
the latter could have waited"
Peterson's eyes were hard and mer-
ciless but the expression Of faint
boredom still fingered in Drummond's.
Only too well did he realize now that
he had played straight into his enc
my's hands. but he was a gambler
through and through, and not by the
CULVER of an eyelid did he show what
he felt.
Peterson glanced at his watch and
rose to his feet.
Il fear that that is all the spiritual |
consolation that ! can give you this |
evening my dear fellow" he re.
marked benignly. You will under |
stand I'm sure. that there are many |
;.llS on my time. Janet. my love- I
.': .r' his Voice-"our young friend |
Is leaving us now. feel sure you'd |
like to say gOod-by to him.
She came into the room walking a
little slowly and for a while she
stared in silence at Hugh. And 1t
seemed to him that In her eyes there
was a CLEAN of genuine pity. Once
again he made frantic effort to speak |
Ito beg, beseech, and implore them
not to hurt Phyllls-but 1t was USE
less. And then he saw her turn to
Peterson.
II suppose" she said regretfully.
"that 1t Is absolutely necessary"
Absolutely" he answered curtly.
HE knows too much, and he worries
US too much"
She shrugged her shoulders and
came over to Drummond.
'Well, good-by, mon ami," she re-
marked gently. 81 really am sorry
that l shan't see you again. You are
one of the few people that make this
atrocious country bearable."
She patted him on his cheek, and
again the feeling that he was dream
ing came over Drummond. 1t couldn't
be real-this monstrous nightmare
And then he was being wheeled along
the passage toward the lift, while
the Reverend Theodosius Longmoor
walked solicitously beside him, muir
muring affectionately in his ear
"Good-by, my dear frlend-good-by,"
he remarked, after the chair had been
into the lift. ut was good of
you to come. Be careful, liftman,
won't youT>
He waved a kindly hand, and the
last vision Drummond had of him be-
fore the doors closed was Of benevo-
ent old clergyman beaming at him
from behind q pair of
norn-rimmed spectacles.
And now came his only chance. Sure
y there would be someone who wonld