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About Dakota County herald. (Dakota City, Neb.) 1891-1965 | View Entire Issue (June 16, 1921)
y DAKOTA COUNTY HERALD MS A i 'i; f y tj; V ttU LL JJUU 1 DRUMMOND LM BpLLA. If v. 1 W'J iil. Klltwlk ' l Vx AVW-JS S . Zi5iTA. ' l . JfAWS -ss- FROM HEADQUARTERS. Synopsis. In December, 191S, four men gathered In a hotel tn Berne and heard one of the quartet, Carl Peterson, outline a plan to paralyze Great Britain and at the samo time telze world power. The other throe, Hocking, American, and Stelneman and Von Qratz, Germans, all mil lionaires, agree- to tho scheme, pro viding another man, Illrum Potts, an American, Is taken In. Capt. Hugh (Bull-Dog) Drummond, a re tired oflicer, advertines for work that will give hint excitement, sign ing "X10." As a result ho meets Xhyllls Benton, a young woman who answered his ml. She tolls him of strange murders and rob beries by a bund headed by Carl Peterson and Henry JLaklngton. Sho fears her father la Involved. Drummond goes to The Latchos, Jtiss Benton's home, next door to The Elms, Petet son's place. During the night Drummond leaves The Larches and explores The Elms. He discovers Laklngton and Peter ton using a thumbscrew on Potts, who signs a paper. Drummond rescues Potts and takes him to his own home. He also gets half of the paper torn In tho light. Peter son visits Drummond, departing with a threat to return and recover Potts and the torn paper. Hugh substitutes Mulllngs for Potts. Tho band carry off Mulllngs and Drum mond to The Elms. When Peterson discovers the hoax Drummond 1b made to stay all night. Irma, Pe terson's handsome daughter, warns Hugh ho will bo killed. Ho goes exploring during tho night, runs Into a cobra, escupes mysterious death and refrains from breaking Peterson's neck. CHAPTER IV Continued. FOUR. "I heard you were down here," she said gravely, holding out her hand to him. "I've been sick with anxiety ever since father told me he'd seen ..you." Hugh imprisoned the little hand in his own huge ones, and smiled reas suringly. "Don't worry, little girl," he said. "Years ago I was told by an old gypsy that I should die in my bed of old age and excessive consumption of ln vnlid port ... As a matter of fact, the cause of my visit was rather humorous. They abducted me In tho middle of the night, with nn ex-sol-ller of my old battalion, who was, I regret to state, sleeping off the effects of much indifferent liquor, in my roams. They thought he wag your American millionaire cove, and the .wretched 'Mulling: was too drunk to ,deny It. In fact, I don't think they ,-ever asked his opinion at all." Hugh i grinned remlnlscuntly. "A (pathetic tspectuclo." "Oh ! but splendid." cried the girl n little breathlessly. "Tell me, where Is the American now?" "Many miles out of London," an swered Hugt. "I think we'll leave it at that. The less you kn6w, Miss "Benton, at the moment the better." "Have you found out anything?" she demanded pngerly. Hugh shook his head. "Not a thing. Kxeept that your neighbors ar as pretty a bunch of scoundrels as I ever want to meet." "But you'll let me know if you do." She laid a hand beseechingly on his arm. "You know what's at stake for Tme, don't you? Father, and oh! but you know." "I know," he answered gravely. "I laiow, old thing. I promise I'll let you know anything I And out. And In the meantime I want you to keep an eye fixed on what goes on next loor. and let me know anything of importance by letter to the Junior Sports club." He lit a cigarette thoughtfully. "I have an Idea that they feel so absolutely confident In their own power that they are going to wake the fatal mistake of underrating their opponents. We shall see." Ho turned to her with a twinkle In his eye. "Anyway, our Mr. Lnklngton will see that you don't come to any harm." "The brute I" she cried, very low. "How I hate him I" Then with n sudden change of tone she looked up at Drummond. "I don't know whether it's worth mentioning," sho said slowly, "but yesterday afternoon four men came at different times to The .Kims. They were the sort of typo one sees tub-thumping In Hyde Park, all except one. who looked like a re spectable worklngmnn." Hugh shook his head. "Don't seom to help much,- does It? Still, one never knows. Let mo know anything like that In futjiro at the club." "Good morning, Miss Benton," Peterson's voice behind them made Drummond swing round with a smoth red curse. "Our Inestimable friend, Cuptaln Drummond, brought such n nice young fellow to see me last night, and then left him lying about tho houeo this morning. I have sent him nlong to yonr car," continued Peter son suavely, "which I trust was the correct procedure. Or' did you want to give htm to me as a pot?" The Adventures of A Demobilized Officer Who Found Peace Dull CYRIL MC-NEILE "SAPPFT" Illustrations by IRWIN MYERS Copyright by Geo H Do ran Co "From a rapid siyvey, Mr. Peterson, I should think you hnve quite enough already,", said Hugh. "I trust you paid him the mouey you owe lilin." "I will allot It to him In my will," remarked Peterson. "If you do the same in yours, doubtless lie will get It from one of us sooner or later. In tho meantime, Miss Benton, Is your father- up?" Tho girl frowned. "No not yet." "Then I will go and see him In bed. For the present, nu revolr." lie walked townrd tho house, and they .WlM ICEU "Oh! but Splendid," Cried the Girl a Little Breathlessly. watched him go In silence. And It was as he opened the drawing-room window that Hugh called after him: "Do you like the hprse Ellimnn's or the ordinary brand?" he asked. "I'll send you 'a bottle for that stiff neck of yours." Very deliberately Peterson turned round. "Don't trouble, thank you, Captain Drummond. I have my own reme dies, which are far more elficaclous." CHAPTER V. In Which There Is.Trouble at Gorlntj. ONE. Tho car slowed up before tho post ofllce and Hugh got out. There wero one or two things he proposed to do In London before going to Goring, and It struck him that a wire u Peter Darrell might allay that gentleman's uneasiness if he was late In getting down. So new was he to -the tortuous ways of crime, that the foolishness of the proceeding never entered his head; up to date In his life, If he had wished to send a wire ho had sent one. And so It may bo deemed a sheer fluke on his part, that a man dawdling by the counter uroused his suspicions. He was a perfectly or dinary man, chatting casually with the girl on the other side; but It chanced that, Just as Hugh was hold ing tho postofllce pencil up, nnd gaz ing at Its so-called point with an air of resigned anguish, the perfectly or dinary man ceased chatting and looked at him. Hugh caught Ills eye for a lleetlng second ; then the con versation continued. And as he turned to pull out the pad of forms, it struck him that the man hail looked away Just a trifle too quickly. . A grin sprend slowly over his fice, and after a moment's hesitation he proceeded to compose a short wire. He wrote It In black letters for addi tional' clearness; he also pressed his hardest, as befitting a blunt pencil. Then with the form In his hand ho ad vanced to the counter. "How long will It tnke to deliver In London?" he asked tho girl. Tho girl was not helpful. It de pended, ie gathered, on n Variety of elrcumstanres, of which not the least was the perfectly ordinary man who talked so charmingly. "I don't think I'll bother, then," ho said, thrusting the wire Into his pocket. ''Good rnornlug. . . ," He walked to tho door, and shortly afterward his car rolled down the street. With what the girl considered pecu liar abruptness, the perfectly ordinary man concluded hla conversation with her, and decided that he too would send a wire. And then, after a long nnd thoughtful pause at the writing bench, she distinctly heard an unmls tnkablo "D n." Then he walked out, and sho saw him no more. ,,.( ..JtflH . AI52 &A Moreover, It Is to bo regretted that tho perfectly ordlnnry man told n Ho' n llttlo Inter In tho day, when giving his report to some ouo whose neck ap parently luconvonlenced him greatly. But then a He Is frequently more tactful than tho truth, nnd to havo announced that tho solo result of his morning's labors hnd been to decipher n wire addressed to Tho Elms, which contained the cryptic remark, "Stung again, stiff neck, stung ngnln," would not have been tactful. So he Ucd, as has been stated, thereby showing his wisdom. . . . But though Drummond chuckled to himself as tho cur rushed through the fresh morning air, once or twice a gleam that was not altogether amuse ment shone In his eyes. . For four years he hnd played one game where no mistakes were allowed; the llttlo Incident of the postolllce hnd helped to bring to his mind the certnlnty that ho had now embarked on miothor where the conditions wero much tho same. That ho had scored up to date was luck rather than good manage ment, nnd he was far too .shrowd not to realize It. Now he wits marked, and luck with n marked man cannot be tempted too far. Alono nnd practically unguarded ho had challenged n gang of International criminals ; n gang not only utterly un scrupulous, but controlled by a mas ter mind. Of Its power as yet he had no clenr idea; of Its size nnd linmo dlnto object he had oven less. Per haps It was as well. Had ho realized even dimly the Immensity of the Is sues ho was up against, hnd ho hud but an Inkling of the magnitude of the plot conceived In the sinister brain of his host of the previous evening, then, cheery optimist though ho was, even Hugh Drummond might have wavered. But he hod no such Inkling, nnd so tho gleam In his eyes was but transitory, the chuckle that succeeded It more whole-hearted than before. Wns It not sport In a laud flowing with strikes and profiteers; sport such as his soul loved? "I nm afraid, Mulllngs," ho said as his car stopped In front of his club, "that the kindly gentlemnn with whom wo spent last night has re pudiated Ids obligations. He refuses to meet the bill I gave him for your services. Just wait hero a moment." He went Inside, returning In a few moments with a folded check. "Bound the corner, Mulllngs, nnd nn obliging fellah In a black coat will shovel you out the necessary Brnd burys." Tho man glanced at the check. "Fifty pounds, sir!" he gasped. "Why It's too much, sir. . . . I . . ." "The lnborcr, Mulllngs, to worthy ot his hire. You hnve been of tho very greatest assistance to me; nnd Incidentally, It Is more than likely that I may wnnt you ngnln. Now, where can I got hold of you?" "13 Green Street, 'Oxton, sir, '11 al ways find me. And nny time, sir, as you wants me, I'd like to come Just for the sport of tho thing." Hugh grinned. "Good lad. And It -may be sooner than you think." TWO. Inside tho Junior Sports club, Hugh Drummond wns burying his nose In n large tankard of the nlo for 'which that cheery pot-houso was still fam ous. A waiter was (arranging tho first editions of tho evening papers on a table, nnd Hugh beckoned to him to bring one. Cricket, racing, tho latest divorce case, and tho latest strike nil the usual, headings wero there. And ho wns Just putting down the paper,, to again concentrate on his problem, when a paragraph caught his eye. x "STRANGE MUBDER IN BELFAST "The man whoso body was discov ered in such peculiar circumstances near tlip docks has been Identified ns Mr. James Granger, tho confidential secretary to Mr. Hiram Potts, tho American multl-mllllonalre, at present In this country. The unfortunate victim of this dastardly outrage his head, as wo reported In our last night's Issue, was nearly severed from his body hud apparently been sent over on business by Mr. Potts, and had arrived tho preceding dny. What he was doing In the locality In which ho was found Is a mystery, "We understand that Mr. Potts, who lips recently been Indisposed, has re turned to the Carlton, and Is greatly upset at the sudden tragedy. "The police are confident Mint they will shortly obtain n clue, though the rough element In the locality where the murder wns committed preionts great difficulties. It seems clear that tho motive wns robbery, as all the murdered man's pockets were rilled. But the most peeullur thing about the case Is the extraordinary care taken by the muiderer to prevent the Identifi cation of the body. Every article of clothing, ccn down to the murdered man's socks, hnd had the name torn out, and it was only through the crim inal overlooking tho tailor's tub Inside the Inner breastpocket of Mr. Grang er's coat that the police were enabled to Identify the body." Drummond slid down the paper on his knees, nnd stared a llttlo dazedly at the club's Immortal founder. "Holy smoke! laddie," he mur mured, "Mint man Peterson ought to be on the commltteo here. Verily, I believe, he could galvanize the start1 Into somo semblance of activity." "Did you order anything, sir?" A waiter paused beside him. "No,'- murmured Drummond, "but I will rectify the omIslon. Another Inrge tankard of ale." The waiter departed, nnd Hugh picked up the paper agnln. "Wo understand," he murmured ijently to himself!. "Ut Mr. Potts, who has recently been Indisposed, hits returned to the Carlton. . . . Now that's very Interesting. . . ." He lit a cigarette nnd lay back In his chnlr. "I wns under tho Impres sion that Mr. Potts was safely tucked up In bed, consuming semollun pud ding, nt Goring. It requires elucida tion." "I beg your pnrdon, sir," remarked the waiter, placing the beer on tho tnble beside him. "You needn't," returned Hugh. "Up to date you have Justified my fondest expectations. And ns a further proof of my good will, 1 would like you to get me a trunk call 2 X Goring." A few minutes later ho was In the telephone box. "Peter. I havo seldom been so glad to hear your voice. Is all well? Good. Don't mention nny names. Our guest Is there, Is he? Gone on strike ngnlnst more milk puddings, you say. Coax him, Peter. Make a noise like a sturgeon, and he'll think It's caviare. Have j on seen tho papers? There are Interesting doing- in Belfast, which concern us rather .Intimately. I'll be down later, and we'll hnve a pow wow." Ho hung up tho receiver and stepped out of the box. t'If. Algy," ho remarked to n man who was looking at tho tape mnchlno outride, "the paper says njillghtur's sonewhoro nnd you know he's some wl ere cIsl what would you do?" ' Up to date In such cases I hnve nl ways shot the editor," murmured Algy Longworth. "Como and feed." "You're so helpful, Algy. A per fect rock of strength. Do you want a Job?" "What sort of a Job?" demanded the other suspiciously. "Oh I not work, denr old boy. D n It, man you know mo better Minn Mint, surely!" "Pcoplo lire so funny nowadays," returned Longworth gloomily. "What Is. this Job?" Together tho two men strolled Into the luncheon-room, nnd long after the cheese had been finished, Algy Long worth wns st.lll listening In silence to his companion. "My denr old bean," ho murmured ecstatically as Hugh finished, "my very denr old bean. I think it's tho most priceless thing I over heard. Enroll me us a member of tho band. And, Incidentally, Toby Slnclnlr Is running round in circles asking for trouble. Lei's rope him In." "Go nnd find lilm this afternoon, Algy," said Hugh rising. "And tell him to keep his mouth shut. I'd come with you, but It occurs to me that tho wretched Potts, bathed In tears at the Carlton, Is In need of sympathy. So long, old denr. You'll hear from me In n dny or two." Drummond sauntered along Pall Mall. He had told Longworth moro or less on the spur of the moment, knowing that gentleman's capabilities to a nicety. Under a cloak of as sumed flippancy ho concealed an Iron nerve which had never yet failed him; and, In spite of tho fact that ho wore an entirely unnecessary eye glass, he could see further Jnto a brick wnll than most of the 'people who called him a fool. It was his suggestion of telling Toby Sinclair that caused the smile. For It had started a train of thought In Druminond's mind which seemed to "My Dear Old Bean," He Murmured Ecstatically ac Hugh Flnlohed, "My Very Dear Old Bean." him to be good. If Sinclair why not two or three more equally trusty sportsmen? Why not a gang of the boys? Toby possessed a V. C, and u good one for there are grades of the V. 0., and those grades are appreciated to a nicety by the recipient's brother olllcers If not by tho general public. The show would fit Toby like u glove. . . . Then there was Ted Jern- Ingham, who combined the roles of un amntniir actor of more than aver age merit with an ability to hit any thing at any range with every con ceivable type of lliearm, And Jerry Keyinnur In tho Flying corps. . . . Not a bad thing to havo a flying man ill) one's sleeve. . . . And pos sibly some one versed In tho ways of tanks might come In handy, . . . The Mullo broadened to a grin; surely life was very good. And then the grin faded, mfd something sus piciously like u frown took Its place. For lie had arrived nt the Carlton, J a nd reality had come back to him. k. n-J JJUiPfl - i-i- r ri. a 0V "Mr. Potts will beo no ono, sir," re marked the iimn to whom he nd dressed his question. "You nro nbout (ho twentieth gentleman who has been hero already today." Hugh had expected this, nnd smiled genlnlly. "Precisely, my stout fellow," ho re marked, "but I'll lay a smnll amount of money Mint they were newspaper men. Now, I'm not. And I think Mint If you will hnve this note delivered to Mr. Potts, he will Bee' me." Ho sat down nt n table, nnd drew n sheet of paper toward him. Two facts were certain: First, -Mint tho man upstairs wns not the real Potts; second, that he wns one of Peterson's gang. The dllllculty wns to know ex actly how to word the note. There might bo somo mystic pass-word, tho omission of which would prove him nn Impostor at once. At length he took u pen and wrote rapidly; he i would hnve to chance It. " i "Urgent. A message from hend- ' quarters." I He sealed the envelope nnd handed ' it with tho necessary five shillings , for postage to the man. Thou ho sat down to wait. After what seemed nit Interminable delay he saw the mes senger crossing tho lounge. "Mr. Potts will seo you, sir." Hugh followed his guldo along a corridor, and paused outsldo n door" while ho went Into n room. He heard n murmur of voices, nnd then the man reappeared. ' "This way, sir," he snld, nnd Hugh stepped Inside, to stop with an Invol untary gasp of surprise. The man sented In the chair was Potts, to nil Intents and purposes. Tho likeness wns extraordinary, and had he not known that the real urtlclo wns al Goring ho would havo been com pletely deceived himself. The man walled till tho door was closed: then ho rose nnd stopped forwnrd suspiciously. "I don't know you," ho said. "Who are you?" "Since when has every ono em ployed nt headquarters known one nnother?" Drummond returned guard edly. "And, Incidentally, your like ness to our lamented friend Is won derful. It very nearly deceived even me." The man, not Ill-pleased, gave a short laugh. "It'll pass, I think. But It's risky. Those cursed reporters have boon badgering the' whole morning. . . . And If his wife or somebody conies over, what then? It wasn't llko Rosea to bungle In Belfast. Ho's never loft a clue before, and ho hud plenty of tlmo to do the Job prop erly." "A name Inside n hroast-pockot might easily be overlooked," remarked Hugh, seizing the obvious duo. "Are you making excuses for hhn?" snarled the other. "He's failed, ami failure Is death. Such is our rnlo Would you have it nltorou?" "Most certainly not. Tho Issues nro far too great for any weakness. . . ." "You're right, my friend you're right. Long live the Brotherhood." Ho Htuied out of the window with smouldering eyes, and Hugh preserved a discreet silence. Then suddenly tins other broke out again. t . . "Hnve they killed that Insolent puppy of n soliiler.yetV" ' "Er not yot." murmured Hugh mildly. "They must And tho American al once." The innn thumped ho tabic emphatically. "It was Important be fore nt least his money was. Now with this blunder It's vital." "Precisely," said Hugh. "Precise ly." "I've already Interviewed ono ninn from .Scotland Yard, but overy houi Increases tho danger. Uowevor, you have n message for roe. What, Is It?" Hugh rose and caually picked up bis lint. He had got uiore out of the Interview Minn ho hufl hoped-for, and there vAis nothing to bo gained by prolonging It. But It ntruck him that Mr. Potts' Impersonator was n man of unpleasant disposition, nnd thai tactically a flanking oovement to tho door was Indicate)? And, being ot an open nature liliilf-o'f, It Is possible that the real stnto fl! uffulrs showed for n moment on hlr face. Be that us It may, something suddenly aroused tho other's susplcloi-s, nnd with a snail of fury ho sprang past Hugh to the door. 'Who are you?" Wit spat the words out venomously, at fho same time whipping an ugly-looVng knife out of his pocket. Hugh replaced W hat and stick on tho table and gVPined gently. "1 am the Insolent .puppy of a sol dier, dear old blnl" he remarked, watching the other 'rarlly. "And it I wus you I'd put Ml toothpick uwny. . . . You might Irm yoursolf " As ho spoke ho wrn edging, llttlo by little, toward thu vllier man, who cioiithed Kiiaiilng ! tho door. Ills eyes, grim nnd detoin-lned, never left tho other's face; hi '.nnilH, apparently hanging listless by lis sides, wero tingling with the Joj ef what ho knew waj. coming. , "And the penalty .' failure Is death, Isn't It, dear ono?" Po spoke almost dreamily; but not 'or nn Instant did his attention relax Almost Imper ceptibly, he crept toward tile 6ther man, talking goullj Hugh nnd hii friends gaited by tho bmi. (TO 11U CONTINUED,) His Fr.lth. "A man should not put his tmst In riches," udvlsod the inistor, "I knew It," agreed Old Moneybags, "But he should liuve sense enough t put L'U riches In trout." fisasEi MARY GIrWA BONNER. , COflkQNI It VI1UIN KlWtni VCM ii i. HOUSE OF 8ECRETS. "I must show you tho collar beforo the rest ot the house," said Master Thoughtfulness to tho boy nnd girl who hnd come on ndvonturcs nnd who had now reached Uielr Journey's end nt'tho House of Secrets. "Tho cellar Is dnrk nnd dnmp," Mas ter Thoughtfulness continued; "nnd wo don't wnnt to stny there long. Wo' wnnt to see Mie best Inst." They went down somo dnrk stairs, and Micro they heard murmurJngs nnd mumbles nnd curious sounds, JlhMng to get up, it seemed. "Here," snld Muster Thoughtfulness, "dwell tho Things Thnt Aren't True. They're kept dowil by tho Things That Are True. Here dwell Mio evil thoughts and desires nnd wishes Uiat are In people's hearts. They're kept down by the Things Thnt Are Trim above. "At times they get uppermost, but not often, for even If tho evil thoughts do como up for a tlmo they are quickly put down. Evil thoughts nnd mean desires aro always In tho cellar In the House ( Secrets." It was so dark they could hardly see, only Miey. heard the mutterlugs, and from time to tlmo thoy would hear a mullled voice saying: "Oh, I liopo sho doesn't got Uu prize, maybe If I cheat no ouo will scs me." And Uiero'd bo a violent qunrrcl nnd tho mullled volco would slink away. "Oh, It's good to get upstairs ngnln," snld tho girl after thoy had left Mie cellar. From room to room thoy went. Yes, l hoy surely found out why thoy hnd had the bunips, for without them thoy would never have reached tho House of Secrets, but would still bo going backwards. Now they could learn so many, many secrets. Tho great center rooms wero filled with dancers nnd with music. There Brownie Joy and his dancers were, there wns BroMier Joker, nnd Mrs. Got-thu-Most Out-of-Llfo was often to bo found wandering through these rooms. , "You see," sho told tho boy and girl, "you had lots of signposts along tho way In Mio peoplo you met, as you can heo now. "And ulso many ot those bad crea tures like Doubt and Intolerance nnd the little Gnomo who couldn't grow wero sign-posts of what to turn your hacks u iron I" Master Thoughtfulness Introduced them to many new friends In tho 'dif ferent rooms. How cozy and bright "Down Some Dark 8talr." uid cheory tho rooms were. Anyone nt once could feel at homo In Mietn. They weren't big and stiff and cold and formal, but thoy were Just like rooms to be found in tho homo of a very nice person where ouo could sot tlo down and hnvo such a good qulot read or chat, or where one could find guyety, too, and laughter, and music and dancing. It seemed us If there wero every thing In the House of Secrets, and tho house wasn't so terrlflcally largo It was big and It hud enough stair ways and rooms so one could play hldc-nnd-go-Hcek when one was through exploring and meeting friends but It wasn't llko a castle where ono would havo to bo thinking of how dignified one must be all the time. And tho great secret of all they learned wus thu secret of real broth erhood. 'Every secret wns almost llko a part of the big secret, or llko n by path which leads to the main road. How happy overy ono was In thu Houso of Secrets. How happy every one was not always quarreling to bo thu chief and most Important one. And the hoy and the girl learned that real leadership wus curing for peoplo and not trying to boss them. "Our udventures hnvo been wonder ful," snld thu boy, "I will never forget this trip ns long as I live," tho girl replied. "Never, never Indeed," the boy an swored, and Master Thoughtfulness smiled with pleasure and huppiness. Collecting Overdone, Miss Madge was making her tlrst trip In n train. Tho ticket collector'cnme along nnd called for tho tickets. Madge readily gave up her ticket. But later they stopped nt a station and a station boy came down the pint form calling: "Chocolates 1" "Never I" cried Madge bravely.' "You can take my ticket, but vnot m chocolates !"