NORTn PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. BULL-DOG DRUMMOND "YOU'LL DO, X 10." rroloRue. In December. 1918, four men gather In a hotel In Iterne and hear one of tho quartet outline a plan to paralyze Grout Britain and at the same tlmo selie world power. The other three, Hocking, Ameri can, and Stelneman 'and Von Grutz, German, all millionaires, agree to the acheme, providing another man, Hiram Polta, an American, la taken In. The Instigator of the plot gives his name as Comte de Guy, hut when he leaves for, England with hln daughter he decides to use the name Carl Peterson. The plotters recognlzo neither nationality nor patriotism nor laws. They are a formidable band of conspirators. The Comte de Guy as leader Is to be paid a million pounds sterling. PROLOGUE (Continued.) 2 Genius that he wns In the reading of men's minds, he felt Mint he knew Ihe result of Mint ten minutes dellher ntlon. . . And then . , . Whnt Mien7 ... In his imagination he saw him self supreme in power, glutted wlUi It a king, an autocrat, who had only to lift Ills finger to plunge IiIh kingdom Into destruction and annihilation, , , And when lie hnd done It, and the country lie tinted was In ruins, Mien lie would cinim his million nnd enjoy it as a great man should enjoy a great re ward. . . . Thus for the space of ten minutes did the Count sec visions and dream dreams. That the force tie pro posed to tamper with was n dangerous force disturbed lilm not at alii he was n dnngerous man. That tills Hellenic would bring ruin, porhnps dentil, to thousands of Innocent men and women caused him no qualm: he was n su preme egoist. All that appealed to lilm was that he hud seen tho oppor tunity Mint existed, and thut ho had the nerve and the- brain to turn that opportunity to his own , ndvnntago. Only the necessary money wns lacking a nnd . . . With a quick movement he pulled out his watcli. They had hnd their ten minutes . . . The matter was settled, tho dlo was ens't. . . . Ho rose nnd walked across the lounge. For an nppreclnblo moment tho Count paused by tho door, am n faint smile came to his Hps. Then he opened it, nnd,pn8sed Into the room. Tho American, was hMU chewing hs toothpick; Stolnemann wns still brenthlng hnrd. Only von Grafs: hnd changed his occupation nnd he vas sitting nt tho table smoking n Jong thin clgnr. TJio Count closed tho door, and wnl Iced over to the fireplace. . . . "Well, gentlemen," ho sad quietly, "what have you decided?" It was the American who nnswered. "It goes. With one amendment. Tho money Is too big for three of us: there must bo a fourth. That will bo n quarter of a million ench." The Count bowed. "Havo you any suggestions as to whom tho fourth should be?" "Yep," said tho American shortly. "Theso two gentlemen agreo with mo that It should he another of my coun trymen so Mint wo got equal numbers. Tho man wo htivo decided on Is com ing to England In a few weeks Illrum C. Potts. If you get lilm In, you can count us In, too. If not, tho deal's off." Tho Count nodded, nnd If ho felt nny nnnoynnco at this unexpected develop ment ho showed no sign of It on his face. "I knbw of Mr. Potts," ho nnswered quickly. "Your big shipping man, Isn't lie? I agree to your resorvutlon." "Good," snld tho American. "Lot's discuss some details." Without a trace of emotion on his face the Count drew up a chair to tho table. It wns only when ho sat down that ho started to play a tattoo on his knee with his left hnnd. . . . Half on hour latef he entered his luxurious sulto of rooms at tho Hotel Magnificent A girl, who had been lying by tho lire reading a French novel, looked up ut the sound of tho door. She did not speak, for Mio look on his face told her all she wanted to know. He crossed to the sofa and smiled down at her. "Successful ... on our own terms. Tomorrow. Irr.u, tho Comte de Guy dies, and Carl Peterson and his daugh ter leave for England. A country gen tleman, I think, Is Carl Peterson. He might keep hens, and possibly pigs." The girl on Mie sofa rose, yawning. "Mon DIeul what a prospect I Pigs nnd hens and In England 1 How long ts It going to taker' The Count looked thoughtfully Into the fire. "Perhaps u year perhaps 'six months. . . It la on the lup of tho gods. ..." CHAPTER I In Which He Takes Tea at the Cariton ', " and It 8urprted. ONE. Captain Hugh Drummond, D.S.O., 1L 0 late of His Majesty's Uoyul Loamshlres, was, whistling In his morn lng hath. Doing by nnturu of a cheerful disposition, tho symptom did not sur prise his servant, late private of tho famous regiment, who wus laying breakfast In an adjoining room. After n while the whistling censed, and tho musical gurgle of escaping water announced that the concert was over. It was tho signal for James Denny the square-Jawed ex-batman to dlsnppear Into the hack regions und,' get irom ins wire the kidneys uuu Da- con which Mint most excellent woman hnd grilled to a turn. Hut on this pnr- tlculur morning the invariable routine wns broken. James Denny seemed preoccupied, distrait, Once or twice lie scratched Ills head and stared out of the window with n puzzled frown. "What's you looking for, James Den ny?" The irate voice of his wife ut the door made him look round guiltily. "Them kidneys Is relldy and waiting these live minutes," Her eyes fell on the tnble, and she ndvanced Into the room wiping her hands on her apron. "Did you ever see such a bunch of letters?" she snld. "Forty-live," returned her husband', grimly, "and more to come." He picked up the newspnper lying beside the chair and opened It. "Them's the result of that," he con tinued cryptically, Indicating a para graph with a square linger, and thrust ing the paper under his wife's nose. "Demobilized olllcer," she read slow ly, "llndlng peace Incredibly tedious, would welcome diversion. Legitimate. If possible; but crime. If of u compara tively humorous description, no objec tion. Excitement essential. Would he prepared to consider permanent Job If suitably Impressed by applicant for his services. Iteply at once Box X10." She put down the paper on a chair and stared first at her husband and then nt tho rows of letters neatly ar ranged on the table. "I calls It wicked," she announced at length. "Fair Hying In the face of Pro vidence. Crime, Denny crime. Don't you get 'living notnlng to do with such mad pranks, my man, or you und me will he having words." She shook an admonitory linger nt him, und retired slowly to the kitchen. A moment or two later Hugh Drum- mond cailio In. Slightly under six feet In height, he was broad In proportion. Ula best friend would not haves called him good-looking, hut he wus the for tunate possessor of thut cheerful typo of ugliness which Inspires lmmcdluto confidence 111 Its owner. He paused as ho got to tho table and glanced at the rows of letters. "Who would have thought it, James?" lie re marked. "Great Scotl I shall have to get u pnrtiier." With disapproval shbwlng in every lino of her face, Mrs. Denny entered the room, carrying the kidneys, nud Driimmond glanced at her with u smile. "Good morning, Mrs. Denny," he snld. "Whereforu Mils worried look on your fucel Has that reprobate .Tumes been misbehaving himself?" The worthy woman snorted. "He has not, sir not yet, leastwise. And If so bu thut ho does" her eyes trav eled up and down tho back of tho hapless Denny, who wus quite tnmecos- "Demobilized Officer," She Read Slow, ly, "Flhdlna Peace Incredibly Tedl ou, Would Welcome Diversion." sarlly pulling books off shelves and putting them back again "if so bo that ho does," she continued grimly, "him and mo will have words as I've told him already this morning." She stalked from the room, nfter staring pointedly at the letters In Drummoud's hand, nnd the two men looked nt one another. "It's Mint there reference tp crime, sir, Mint's torn It," said Denny In, a hoarse whisper. "Thinks I'm going to lend you nstray, doc sho. James?" He was opening the first envelope, und sud The Adventures of a Demobilized Officer Who Found Peace Dull By CYRIL McNEILE "SAPPER" Copyright by Oeo. II, Dorsn Co. denly lie looked up with a twinkle In Ills eves. "Just to wt liir mlml ' ' - - - - w . k rest," he remurked gravely, "you might (en tier that, as far as I can see nt present, I slall only undertake murder in exceptional cases." He propped the letter up ugalnst the toast-rack and commenced his breakfast. "Where Is Pudllngton, .lames and one mleht almost ask why Is Pudllngton? No town has any right to such an offensive name." He glanced through the letter, and shook his head. "Tush I tush I And the wife of the hank manager too the bank manager of Pudllngton, James ! Can you conceive of any thine so dreadful? Hut I'm afraid Mrs. Hank Manager Is a puss u distinct puss. It's when they get on the soul-mate stunt that the furniture begins to fly." Drummond tore up the letter nnd dropped the pieces into the basket be side him. Then he turned to his ser vant nnd handed lilm the remainder of the envelopes. "Go through them, James, while I as sault the kidneys, nnd pick two or three out for "me. I see that you will have to become my secretary." "Do Vflll U'lllit inn li ntii.n sir?" asked Denny doubtfully. "Voti've hit It, James hit It In one. Classify them for me In groups. Crim inal; sporting: amatory that means of or pertaining to love ; stupid and merely boring; and as a last Tesort, miscellaneous." He stirred Ills coffee thoughtfully. "I feel that ns a flrnt venture In our new career ours, I said, James love appeals to me Irresistibly. rind me a dnmsel In distress: a beau- t If ill girl, helpless In the clutches of knaves. Let me feel Uiat I can fly to her succor, clud In my new grey suit ing." He finished the Inst niece of bacon and pushed awuyhls plate. Denny was engrossed In a letter lie hnd Just opened. A perplexed look Was spreading over his face, and sud denly he sucked his teeth loudly. It was a sure sign that James was ex cited, nnd Drummond glanced up quickly, nnd removed the letter from his hands. "I'm surprised at vou. James," ho remarked severely. "A sec retary should control itself., Don't forget that the perfect secretary is an It; nn automatic machine u thing In-, capable of feeling; . . ." Ho read the letter tliroutrh rnnlrtlv. and then, turning back to the begin- nlng, he rend It slowly through ngaln. "My dear Hox X10. I don't know whether your advertisement was a Joke: I suppose It must have been. 1,.. T .1 1. . , urn x iuuu u uu.t morning, ami u s just possible, X10, Just possible, you mean It. And If you do, you're the man I want. I can offer you excitement and probably crime. "I'm up ngalnst It. X10. For a clrl I've bitten off rather more than I can chew. I wunt help badly. Will you come to the Carlton for ten tomorrow afternoon? I want to have a look nt you nnd see If T think vou are lrenii- ino. Wear a white flower In your but tonhole." Drummond laid the letter down, nmi pulled out his cigarette ense. "To morrow, James," ho murmured. "That Is today Mils very afternoon. Verily I believe that we have Impinged upon the goods." He rose nnd stood look ing out of the window thoughtfully. "ou think It's genuine, sir?' said James. His master blew out n cloud of smoke. "I know It Is," ho answered dreamily. "Look nt Mint writing; the decision In It the character. She'll be medium height, nnd dark, with the sweetest little nose and mouth. Her coloring Jaines, will be " Hut James had discreetly left the room. TWO. At four o'clock exactly Hugh Drum mond stepped out of his two-seater at tho Haymnrket entrance to the Cnrl ton. For a few momenta after enter ing tho hotel ho stood at tho top of the stairs outside the dining room, wlille his- eyes traveled round the ta bles In the lounge below. Slowly nnd thoroughly he continued his search. It wns early, of course, yet and sho might not have arrived, but he was taking no chances. Suddenly his eyes ceased wauderlng, nnd remained fixed on n tnble nt the fnr ond of the lounge. Half hidden behind a plant a girl wns seated alone, nnd for n moment she looked straight nt him. Then with tho faintest sus picion of n smile, she turned nwny, nnd commenced drumming' pn tho tnble with her Augers. The tahlo next to her was unoccu pied and Drummond made his way to ward It and sat'down. He felt not tho slightest doubt In Ids mind that this was the girl who had written him, and, having given an order to tho waiter, he started to study her face as unobtrusively ns pos slide. Ho could only see tho profile, but that wns quite sufllclent to make him bless the moment when more as n Jest thnn anything 4lse ho hnd sent his ndvertlsement to the paper. ner eyes, he could see, were very blue; and great masses of golden brown hair collod oyer hor ear, from under n smnll black hnt. Ho glnnced at her, hnnds, nnd noted, with approv al, 'yio absence of uny ring. Then he louKot once more nt her face, and found her eyes were fixed on him. This time she did not look away. She seemed to think that It was her turn to conduct the examination nnd Drummond fumbled In his waistcoat pocket. After a moment lie found what he wanted, nnd tnklng out n 4-nrd he propped It against the teapot so that the girl could see what was on It. In large black capitals ho had written Hox X10. She spoke almost at once. "You'll do, X10," she suld, and he turned to her with n smile. "It's very nice of youto say so," he murmured. "If I may, I will return the compliment. So will you." She frowned slightly. "This Isn't foolishness, you know. What I said In my letter is literally true. I want you to tell me," and there was no trace of Jesting In her voice, "tell me, on your word of honor, whether that ad vertisement was bona fide or a Joke." Ho answered her in the same vein. "It started more or less as a Joke. It may now be regariled ns nbsolutely genuine." She nbdded ns If satisfied. "Are you prepared to risk your life?" Drummdnd's eyebrows went up nnd then he smiled. "Granted that the Inducement is sufllclent," he returned slowly, "I think I may say that, I am." no saw that she was staring over his shoulder at some one behind his hack. "Don't look around," she ordered. "nnd tell me your name quickly." "Drummond Captain Drummond, late of the Loumshlres." He leaned back In his chair, and lit a, cigarette. "My denr I'liyllls," said a voice be hind his back, "this Is a pleasant sur prise. I bad no Idea that you were In London." A fall, clean-shaven man stopped be side the table, throwing a keen glance nt Drummond. The world is full of such surprises, Isn't It?" answered the girl lightly. "I don't suppose you know Captain Drum mond, do you? Mr. Luklngton art connoisseur und er collector." The two men bowed slightly, and Mr. Lnklngton smiled, "I do not re member ever having heurd my harm less pastimes more concisely de scribed," he remarked sunvely. "Are you Interested In such matters?" "Not very, I'm afraid," answered Drummnnil. "Just recently I have been rather too busy to pay much at tention to art." The other man smiled again, and it struck Hugh that rarely, If ever, had he seen such u cold, merciless face. "Of course you've been to France." Laklngton murmured. "Unfortunately n bad heart kept me on this side of the water. Sometimes I cannot help thinking how wonderful It milst huve been to he able to kill without fear of consequences. There Is art In killing, Captain Drummond profound art." He looked nt his wntch and sighed. "Alas I I must tear myself away. Are you returning home this evening?" The girl, who had been glancing round the restaurant, shrugged her shoulders. "Probably," sho answered. "I haven't quite decided. I might stop .with Aunt Kate." "Fortunate Aunt Kate." With n how Lnklngton turned away, nnd through the glass Drummond watched lilm get his hat und stick from the cloakroom. Then he hfoked at the girl, nnd noticed that she had gone a little white. "What's the 'matter, old thing?" be asked quickly. "Aro you feeling faint?" She shook her head, and gradually the color enme back to her face. "I'm quite nil right," she answered. "It gave me rather u shock, that man finding us here. You-'ve stumbled right Into the middle of It, my friend rather sooner than I anticipated. That Is one of the men you will probably have to 1:111. ." Her companion lit another cigarette. "What is his particular worry?" "First and foremost the brute wants to marry me," replied tho girl. "I loatho being obvious," suld Hugh, "but I am not surprised." "Hut It Isn't that that mutters." She looked ut Drummond quietly. "Henry Lnklngton Is the second most danger ous man In England." "Only the second," murmured Hugh. Then hadn't I better sturt my career with the first?" Sho looked at him In silence. "I suppose you think thut I'm hysterical," she remarked after a while. "You're probnbly even wondering whether I'm nil Miere." Drummond flicked the nsh from his cigarette, then ho turned to her dis passionately. "You must admit" he remnrkod, "Mint up to now our conver sution has hardly proceeded along conventional lines. I nm n complete stranger to you; another man who Ik a complete stranger to mo speaks to you whtlo we're at tea. You Inform mo that I shull probnbly have to kill him In the near future. The state ment Is, 1 think you will agree, a trifle disconcerting." Tho girl throw back her head and laughed merrily. "You poor young man," she cried ; "put that way It does sound alarming." Then sho grew se rious again. "There's plenty of time for you to back out now If you like, Sho was looking at him gravely as sue spoke, and It seemed to her com panion that Miere was an appeal In the big blue eyes. And they were very big: and the fnco they were set In was very charming especially at the anglo It was tilted nt, In tho hnlf-llght of the room. Altogether, Drummond reflect ed, n most adorable girl. And ador able girls had always been a hobby of nls. Probubly Laklngton possessed a letter of hers or something, nnd she wanted lilm to get It back. Of course he would, even If ho had to thrash tho swine to within an Inch of his life. "Weill" The girl's voice cut into his trnln of thought and lie hurriedly pulled himself together. "The Inst thing I wnnt Is for the Incident to finish." lie said fervently. "Why It's only Just begu-" "Then you'll help me? 'That's what I'm hero for." With a smile Drummond lit another cigarette. "iell me all about it." "The trouble," she began after a mo ment, "Is that thero is not very much to tell. At present It Is largely guess work, and guess work without much of a clue. However, to start with, I had oetter tell you what sort of men you are up against. Firstly, Henry Lak lngton the mnn who spoke to me. Ho was, I believe, one of the most brilliant scientists who has ever been up ut "That Is One of the Men You Will Probably Have to Kill." Oxford. There was nothing, In his own line, which would not have been open to him, had he run straight. But he didn't. He deliberately chose to turn his brnln to crime. Not vulgar, common sorts of crime but the big things, calling for u master criminal. He has always had enough money to allow him to take his time over any coup to perfect his details. And that's what he loves. He is quite un scrupulous; he Is only concerned In pitting himself against the world and winning." An engaging fellah," snld Hugh. "What particular form of crime does he favor?" "Anything that cnlls for brain, iron nerve, nnd refinement of detail," she answered. "Principally, up to dute, burglnry on n big scale, and inurder." "My denr soull" said Hugh Incredu lously. "How cun you be sure? And why don't you tell the police?" She smiled wearily. "Because I've got no proof, nnd even If I had . . ." She gave a little shudder, and left her sentence unfinished. "But ono day, my father and I were In his house, and, by accident, I got Into a room I'd nev er been In before. On a desk lay some miniatures, and, without think ing, I picked them up and looked at them. I hnppen to know something about mlnlutures, nnd, to my horror. I recognized them. Do you remember the theft of the celebrated Vatican mlnlntures belonging to the duke of Melbourne?" Drummond nodded; he wns begin ning to feel Interested. "They were the ones I wns holding in ray hnnd," she said quietly. "And Just ns I wns wondering what on earth to do, the man himself walked Into tho room." Awkward deuced awkward." Drummond pressed out his cigarette and leaned forward expectantly. "Whnt rilrl lio lnV Drummond gets a warning to keep out. (TO HE CONTINUED.) Be Sure It's the 'Right Road. It's tho best policy to go slow enough to make sure of the way you would go. There's many a youth car ried away by the enthusiasm of the minute. He has never learned tho true sense of values,'' and lacks the measures for proper ratings. Many get the work bee and leave school long before they aro fitted for toll. Some get tho Idea that they are never treated right at any Job and throw It up before they get to the point of earning a dividend for their employer. Still others leave home thinking they will have full oppor tunity to do as ' they please. How little such folks understand life. There Is much repentance that would never have been needed, and tears that might have been spared if folks had boon willing to take tho right road In life. Grit. FINE CROPS SURE Farmers in Western Canada Jubilant at Prospect. Splendid Winter Weather Has Put the Naturally Fertile Land In Splen did Condition, and Bountiful Yields Are Assured. "What a delightful winter we have had," is an expression that could bo heard almost unywhere when the topic of the weather became the sub ject of conversation. Not only In the Middle West and "down east" could it be heard, but also in the Far West, up in tho Canadian West. There the same remnrkuble features that brought forth d wonderful winter ex isted. Iteports from all parts of the country, from fumed Medicine Hat In Alberta to Winnipeg In Manitoba, in dicate that ull through the winter season very little cold wenther was experienced. In December, wo .end that golf playing had put into the dis card ull Ice sports, Mint fnrmers were caught "red-handed" plowing their fields. In Jnnunry, the Alberta yeo man got out his tractor and In his shirt sleeves was seen preparing ground for the 1021 crop. During February, in Saskatchewan, one farmer harrowed fifty acres and planted the seed. "Why, yes. of course, In March," said nn Iowa farmer, who had- Just, heard from his son, who wns looking after tho West ern Canadian farm, "my boy writes tne they had some suow, and a few cold dips, but what did that matter? The cattle 'and the horses enmo through the winter In better condition than they looked three or tour months ago. Grass wns plentiful on the prai ries, the stubble was rich and valu able as food, nnd the straw stucks nnd grove proved ample for shelter." Sprlug is now fully upon the West ern Canada farmer, his machinery Is nil in shape for n spring's work, nnd he Js looking fonVnnl to nn excellent crop year. Last fall there was a splendid lot of moisture .that perme ated the ground sufficiently to leave a perfect seed bed. Indications nre now that the crop will go In in the condition required for successful ger mlnntlon. Then, with the lengthened- days of May and June, the many hours of sunshine Mint they bring, ac companied by showers of rain, nnd with n soil of which there Is none richer nor more generous, there will be seen preparing for a ripening har vest the hundreds of thousands of acres of whent, oats, barley, rye, al falfa and corn that will make the hearts bf the Western Canada fanners swell with pride ns they rensonnbly look forwnrd to an abundant harvest. Thero is n great deal that can bo snld in favor of the climate of West ern Canada. The most Important is that those who live there, and have' lived In other countries, prefer it to any they have experienced elsewhere. It Is true the winters ns n rule are colder than are those In countries lying much farther south, but It Is nlso true thnt 'they nre tempered by n dryness of the atmosphere thnt makes u lower temperature preferable . to that several degrees higher where greater humidity prevails. Knerva tion and llstlessness are unknown; the nir Is bracing, but the cold Is not penetrating. Then the summers and the autumns they could not be more enjoyable. Advertisement. "Lost and Found." . About 15,000 articles found on trains hnd about the stations nre turned Into the lost nnd found dennrt- ment at the Grand Central terminal In New York In the course of a vear. Besides this there nre 30,000 person al and telephone calls to he answered In reference to nrtlcles which are not turned In, being picked up by nersuis on trains or about the stations who never make any report of them. ASPIRIN Name "Bayer" on Genuin Take Aspirin only us told in nnrh package of genuine Bayer Tablets of Aspirin. Then you will be following the directions and dosage worked out by physicians during 11 years, and proved safe by millions. Take no chances with substitutes. If you see tho Bayer Cross on tablets, von ran toko them without fear for Colds, Jjeauaene, feuralgla, Rheumatism. Earache, Toothache, Lumbngo nnd for Pnln, Handy tin boxes of twelve tablets cost few cents. Druggists also sell larger packages. Aspirin Is the trade mark of Bayer Manufacture of Monoacetlcocldester of Sallcylicucld. Adv. Shop Talk. First Printer (having got rid of bore) "That fellow's a typo, Isn't ho?'1 Second Printer "A type? He's n cuse." Children's handkerchiefs often loot: hopeless when they come to the laun dry. Wash with good soap, rinse In water blued with Red Cross Ball Blue. Most of the scolding letters aro never written; but more than enough are, r A