Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-09-18


sitting-rOom where the Reverend Theo-
dosius Longmoor was busly working
on Austrian famine accounts. He
rose as Hugh entered, and his daugh-
ter, still knitting buslly, gave him a
charming girlish smile.
"Ah my dear young friend" began
Mr.. Longmoor. Il see you've had my
message"
Yes" answered Hugh affably, 81
was standing next door to the fellow
you were talking to. But before we
come to business so to speak, must
really ask you not to send Snooks
round again. l don't like him. Why,
my dear Carl, preferred our late la
mented Henry Lakington."
There was a 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
well 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.
1--WE just called one bluff this after
habn, 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 Tum-
tum yourself: he'll be most awfully
braced at meeting you"
= The others hand fell slowly to his
side, and he looked at his daughter
with a resigned expression in his face.
Really, my dear, l think that the
heat-or perhaps" He paused ex-
preSSlNely, anu OIullllHOIlu lduShcu
you were always good actor,
Carl, but is it worth while? There
are no witnesses here, and I'm rather
pressed for time. Through a series
of accidents you have become aware
of the fact that 1 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, l shall tell them who you
are, and l shall also inform them or
the secret history Of the bomb. SO
me, Carl, it will be far more awkward
for you and Mademoiselle Irma and
1t will be positively unhealthy for
Shocks. You take me so far, don't
you? Up to date have been dealing
in certainties; now we come to con-
tingencies. 1t strikes me that there
are two doubtful points, old friend or
my youth-just two. And those two
points are the whereabouts respec-
lively Of my wife and your diamonds
Now, Carl, do we talk business or
not?"
my dear young man." said the 9TH
er resignedly, II intended to talk
business with you when you arrived it
you had given me a chance But as
you've done nothing but talk the most
unmitigated drivel since you've come
into the room haven't had a chance
You appear obsessed with this absurd
delusion that / am some person called
Carl, and But where are you go,
ing"
Drummond paused at the door.
81 am going straight to Scotland
Yard. I shall there tell Sir Bryan
Johnstone the whole story from A to
z. at the same time handing him a
little bag containing diamonds which
has recently come into my possess
sion"
"You admit you've got them,"
snapped the other, letting the mask
drop for moment.
That's better, Carl-much BETTER"
Drummond came back into the ROOM
Il admit I've got them-but they're
in a place where you can never find
them, and they will remain there un-
til six o'clock tonight, when they go
straight to Scotland Yard-unless,
Carl-unless my wife is returned to
me absolutely unscathed and unhurt
before that hour. 1t is five o'clock
now"
"And II she is returned-what
thenY
"You shall have the diamonds"
"There is just one point, Captain
Drummond," remarked the clergyman
mildly. "Supposing that l am able to
persuade certain people to-er-ex-
pedite the return Of Mrs. Drummond
in exchange for that little bag, where
do you and l stand after the bargain
is transacted? Do you still intend to
tell the police Of your extraordinary
delusions with regard to me?"
mot unless they should happen to