NORTTT PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE
DAIRY
FACTS
BULL-DOG DRUMMOND
The Adventures of u Demobilized
Officer Who Found Peace Dull
By CYRIL McNEILE
"SAPPER"
Copyright by Geo. n. Doran Co.
?
"DANQERI DANOERl"
Synopsis. In December, 1918, four
men gather In r hotel In Uerno and
hear one of the quartet outline a
plan to paralyze Great Urltaln anil
at the same time seize world power.
The other three, ilockltiK, Ameri
can, and Stelnemati and Von Griitx,
Germans, all millionaires, agree to
the scheme, providing another man,
Hiram Potts, an American, I taken
In. The Instigator of the plot gives
his name as Com to do Guy, but
when he leaves for Knglund with
his daughter he decides to uso the
namo Carl Peterson. Capt. Hugh
(null-Dog) Drummond, a retired
officer, advertises for work that
will give him excitement, signing
"X10," As a result ho meet Phyl
lis Henton, a young woman who
answered his ad. She tells him of
strange murders and robberies of
which she suspocts a band headed
by Peterson and Henry Laklngton.
She fdars her father Is Involved.
Drummond decides to go to The
Larches, Miss Benton's home, next
door to Tho Kims, Peterson's place.
Peterson and Laklngton stop his
car and look him over. While din
ing with Phyllis and her father
Drummond leavci The Larches and
oxploroH The Elms. He discovers
Laklngton and Peterson using a
thumbscrew on an American who
signs a paper. Drummond rescues
tho American after a struggle and
takes him to his home.
CHAPTER II. Continued.
5
"Compressed-air rifle or electric,"
be muttered to himself, stumbling on,
nnd half drngghig, half carrying bla
dazed companion.
He was not very clear li) his own
mind whnt to do next, but the mat
ter wns settled for him unexpectedly.
Bnrcly hnd he got Into tho drawing
room, when the door opened and the
girl ruBhod In.
"(let him nway nt onco," she cried.
"In your cnr. . ,. . Don't wasto a
second. I've started her up."
"Good girl," ho cried enthusiastical
ly. "But what about you?"
She stamped, her foot Impatiently.
"I'm nil right absolutely nil right,
(let him nwny Hint's all that mat
ters." Drummond grinned. "Tho humor
ous thing Is that I haven't nn Idea
who tho bird Is except thnt " He
paused, with his eyes fixed on the
man's left thumb. Tho top Joint was
crushed into a red, shapeless pulp,
nnd suddenly the meaning of the- In
strument Laklngton .had produced
from his pocket became clear. Also
the reason of that dreadful cry nt
dinner. ...
"By God I"- whispered Drummond
half to himself, while his Jaws set
Ilk- a steel vlso. "A thumbscrew.
The devils . . . tho swlno . . ."
"Oh I quick, quick," tho girl urged
In nn ngony, "They may be here at
any moment." Sbo drnggod hint to'
the door, 'and together thoy forced
the man Into the cur.
"Laklngton won't," sold Hugh with
a grin. "And If you see him tomor
rowdon't nsk after bis Jaw. . . ,
Good-night, Phyllis."
With a quick movement he raised
her band to his lips; then bo slipped
ln.w(s
"The Humorous Thing la That I
Haven't an Idea Who the Bird li
Except that
In the clutch and tho car disappeared
down the drive. . . .
He felt a sense of elation nnd of
triumph at having won the first round,
nnil a the car whirled hack to Lou
dmi through the cool night nlr IiIh
liprt wus singing with Joy of action.
And It wan perhaps as well for Ills
peace of mind that he did not witness
the scene In, the room ut The Kims,
Laklngton still lay motionless on
the floor; Peterson's cigar still glowed
steadily In the darkness, It was hard
to believe that bo had ever moved
ifnnn the table; only the bullet Im
'bedded In n treo proved ,it sume
body must have got busy. Of course,
It illicit biivc been the girl, who was
Just lighting 'another cigarette! from
the slump of the old one.
At length Peterson spoke. "A
young nmn of dnsli and temperament,"
be said gcnlnlly. "It will be a pity
to lose him."
'Why not keep him nnd lose the
girl?" yawned Irma. "I think he
might amuse me "
'We hnve nlways our deur Henry
to consider," answered Peterson.
"Apparently the girl appeals to him.
I'm afraid, Inna, he'll have to go
, . nnd at once. . . ."
The speaker was tapping his left
knee softly with his hand; save for
that slight movement he sat nit If
nothing hnd bnppencd. And yet ten
minutes before a carefully planned
coup had failed nt the Instnnt of
success. Kvcn his most fearless nc
compllceshad rn'en known to con
fess that Peterson's Inhuman calmness
sent cold shivers down their hacks.
CHAPTER III.
In Which
Things Happen
Moon Street.
ONE
In 'half
Hugh Drummnud folded up the
pleco of paper he was studying nnd
rose to his feet us the doctor came
Into the room. He then pushed u sil
ver box of cigarettes ucross tho table
und waited.
"Your friend," snld the doctor, "Is
In n very peculiar condition, Captain
Drummond very peculiar. Can you
enlighten me nt all as to what ho has
been doing during the Inst few days?"
Drummond shook his head. "Haven't
nn earthly, doctor."
"There Is, for Instance, ,thnt very
unpleasant wound in his thumb," pur
sued the other. "Tho top Joint Is
crushed to u pulp."
"I noticed that Inst night," answered
Hugh noncommlttally. "Looks us If It
had been mixed up between a ham
mer und an anvil, don't It?"
"But huve you nb Idea how It oc-
enrreil?"
Tnr full nf i,imia a 1,1 n, ,!.
dler. "In fact, if It's anv beln to vou
in your diagnosis that wound wus
caused by the nppllentlon of nn tin-
pleusnnt medieval Instrument known
ns n thumbscrew."
The worthy doctor looked nt him In
amazement, "A thumbscrew I You
must be Joking, Captain Drummond.;'
"Very far from It," answered Hugh
briefly. "If you want to know, It
wns touch nnd go whether tho other
thumb didn't shnro the snmo fate."
lie blew out a cloud of smoko and
smiled Inwardly as ho noticed the look
of scandalized horror on his compan
ion's face. "It Isn't his thumb that
concerns me," ho continued; "It's his
general condition. What's the matter
with him?"
The doctor pursed his lips and
looked wlso, whllo Drummond won
dered that no one hud ever passed n
law nllowlng men of bis type to bo
murdered on sight.
"Ills heart seems sound," he an
swered after a weighty pause, "and I
found nothing, wrong with him con
stitutionally. In fact, I may say,
Cnpte'.n Drummond, he Is In every
respect n most healthy man. Except
er except for this peculiar condi
tion."
Drummond exploded. "Dnmnntlon
take It, man, what on earth do you
suppose I askod you to come round
for? It's of no interest to mo to hear
thnt his liver Is working properly."
Then ho controlled himself. "I beg
your pnrtion, uocior; i nan rather a
trying evening last night. Can you
give me any Idea ns to what bus
caused this peculiar condition?'
His companion accepted tho apology
with an ncld how. "Some form of
drug," he answered,
Drummond heaved a sigh of relief,
Now we'ro getting on," he cried.
"Have you any Idea what drug?
"It Is, nt tho moment, hnrd to say,"
returned the othor. "In n day or two,
perhaps, I might bo nblo to er ar
rive at somo conclusion
"Which, nt present, you have not.
Itlght; now we know where wo are.
As you don't know whnt tho drug Is,
presumably you don't know either bow
long It will tuko for tho effect to wear
off,"
"That er is, witnin limits, cor
rect," conceded tho doctor.
"What nbout diet?"
"Oh I light. . . . Not too much
meat. ... No alcohol
He rose to his feet as Hugh opened
tho door; really .the war seemed to
hnvo produced u distressing effect on
people's mnnuers. Diet wns the one
question on which ho alwuys let him
self go.
"Not much moat no alcohol. Itlght.
Good morning, doctor. Down tho
stairs and straight on. Good morn
Ing," Tho door closed behind him,
nnd he descended to his watting car
with cold disapproval on his face
"Excuse mo, sir." The doctor
paused and eyod a well-dressed man
who hnd spoken to him uncompro
mlslngly, "Am I right In assuming
that you uro n doctor?"
"You nro perfctly correct, sir, lu
your assumption."
The man smlred: obviously a gen
tleman, thought the practitioner, with
his hnnd on the door of bis car.
"It's about a great pal of mine.
Captain Drummond, who lives In
here," went on the other. "I hope you
won't think It unprofessional, but I
thought I'd ask you privately, how
you Hnd him."
The doctor looked surprised, "Cap-
tnln Drinnmond, so far as I am aware,
has never been better. I er cannot
say the same of his friend." He
stepped Into his cnr. "Why not go up
nnd see for yourself?"
The cnr rolled smoothly Into Pic
cadilly, hut the mnn showed no signs
of availing himself of the doctor's
suggestion. He turned nnd walked
rapidly nwny, nnd n few moments later
ift an exclusive West End club
a trunk call was put through to
Godnlmlng n cnll which caused the
recipient to nod his bend In satisfac
tion nnd order the Itolls-Hoyce.
Meanwhile, unconscious of this sud
den solicitude for his health, Flugh
Drummond wns once more occupied
with the jjlece of paper no had been
studying on tho doctor's entrance.
Beyond establishing the fact that the
man In the pocullnr condition wns
Illrum C. Potts, the American multi
millionaire, he could make nothing
out of It.
"If only I'd tnnnaged to get the
whole of It," he muttered to himself
for tho twentieth time. "That dam'
fellah Peterson wns too quick." The
scrap he had torn off wns typewrit
ten, snve for the American's scrawled
signature, and Hugh knew the .words
by heart.
plete paralysis
nde of Britain
months I do
the holder of
of five million
do desire nnd
cnr! necklnce nnd tho
nro nt present
chess of Lnm-p
k no questions
btnined.
AM. O. POTTS.
At lengtn ne rewaccu tup scrap in
POOKet-booic nnti rang the nen
"James," he remnrked ns his serv-
nnt came In: "You'd better know
that ns fnr ns I can see we're up
against a tough proposition."
"Indeed, sir," murmured his servant.
"The gentleman Is asking for you,
sir." Mrs. Denny's voice from the
door mndo them look round.
Hugh wnlked quickly nlong the pnss-
ngo to tno room where the million
nlre lay In bed.
"How are you feeling?" said Drum
mond cheerfully.
Tho mnn stared nt him uncompre-
hendlngly, nnd shook his head.
"Do you remember last night?"
Hugh continued, speaking very slowly
and distinctly. Then a sudden Idea
struck him and he pulled the scrap of
paper out of his case. "Do you re
member signing that?"
For n while the man looked at It;
then with a sudden cry of fear he
shrank nwny.
"No, no," he muttered, not ngaln."
Hugh hurriedly replaced the paper.
"Bad break on my part, old benn ; you
evidently remember rnther too well.
It's quite all right." he continued re
assuringly; "No one will hurt you."
Then nfter a pause "Is your name
II I ram C. Potts?"
The man nodded his head doubtful
ly and muttered "Hlrnm Potts" once
or twice, as If the words sounded
familiar.
"Do you remember driving In a
motor car last night?" persisted Hugh.
But what little Hash of remem
brance hnd pierced tho drug-clouded
brain scorned to hnvo passed; the
man only stared dazedly nt the speak
er, Drummond tried him with a few
more questions, but It wns no use,
and nfter a while ho got up uud moved
toward the door.
"Don't you worry, old son," he said
with a smile. "We'll have you Jump
ing about like a two-ycur-old In a
couple of dnys."
Then ho paused; tho man was evi
dently trying to say something. "What
Is It you want?" Hugh leant over
tho bed.
"Danger, danger." Faintly the
words came, and then, with a sigh,
he lay back exhausted.
With a grim smile Drummond
watched tho motionless figure.
"I'm afraid," ho said half aloud,
"that you're rnthor like your medical
attendant. Your only contribution to
the sphere of pure knowledge is
something I know already,"
He went out nnd quietly closed the
door. And ns he re-entered his sit
ting-room he found his sorvnnt stand
lug motionless behind ono of the cur
tnlns watching tho street below.
"Thero's n man, sir," ho remarked
without turning around, "watching the
house."
For n moment Hugh stood still
frowning. Then he gavo a short
laugh. "The devil there IbI" ho re
murked. "The game has begun In
earnest, my worthy warrior, with tho
first nine points to us. For posses
slon, even of a seml-dnzcd luuatlc, Is
nine points or tno law, Is It not.
James?"
TWO.
At twelve o'clock precisely the bell
rang, announcing u visitor, and Drum
mond looked up, us his servant came
Into the room.
"Yes, James." he remarked, "I
think we are at home. I wunt you to
emnlii within cnll, nnd under no cir
cumstances let our sick visitor out
of your sight for more than a minute.
In fnct, 1 think you'd better sit In
his room."
James, with u curt "Very good,
sir," left the room. Almost ut once
be returned, and flinging open the
door, nnuouueed Mr. Peterson.
Drummond looked up quickly nnd
rose with a smile.
"Good morning," he cried. "This Is
very pleasant surprise, Mr. Peter
son." Hp waved Ills visitor to a
chair. "Hope you've Jiad no more
trouble with your can"
Mr. Peterson drew off his gloves,
smiling nmlnbly. "None at nil, thank
you, Captain Drummond. The chauf
feur appears to have mastered the
defect."
"It was your eye on him that did.
It. Wonderful thing the human
optic, as I said to your friend, Mr.
Mr. Laklngton. I hope that he's quite
veil uud luklng nourishment."
"Soft food only," snld the other
genially. "Mr. Laklngton hnd n most
unpleasant accident last night most
unplensant."
Hugh's fnce expressed his sympa
thy. "How very unfortunate I" he
murmured. "I trust nothing serious."
"I fear bis lower Jaw was fractured
In two places." Peterson helped him
self to a clgnrette from the box be-
Ide him. "The mnn who hit him
must have been a boxer."
"Mixed up In n brawl, was he?"
said Drummond, slinking his b,ead. "I
should, never have thought, from what
little I've seen of Mr. Laklngton, thnt
he went in for painting the town red.
'd have put him down as a most
abstemious man but one never can
tell, can one? I once knew a fellah
who used to get fighting drunk on
three whiskies, nnd to look at him.
you'd have put him down as a pnrson.
Wonderful amount of cheap fun that
chup got out of'llfe."
Ueterson nicked the ash from his
cigarette Into the grate. "Shall we
come to the point, Cnptaln Drum
mond?" be remarked uffably.
Hugh looked bewildered. "The
point, Mr. Peterson? Er by all mun
ner of means."
Petersou smiled even more nffnbly.
"I felt certain that you were a young
mini of discernment," he remarked,
"nnd I wouldn't like to keep you from
your paper a minute longer than nec
essary." "Not tl bit," cried Hugh. "My time
Is yours though I'd very much like
to know your real opinion of The
Juggernuut for the Chester cup. It
seems to me that he cannot afford
to give Sumatra seven pounds on
their form up to date."
"Are you Interested In gambling?"
asked Peterson politely.
"A mild flutter,. Mr. Peterson, every
now, und then," returned Drurnmohd.
"Strictly limited stukes."
"If you contlne yourself to thnt
you will come to no hnrm," said Pe
terson. "It Is when the stakes be
come unlimited that the danger of a
crash becomes unlimited too."
Thnt Is what my mother alwuys
told me," remarked Hugh. "She even
went further, dear good womun that
she was. 'Never bet except on a cer-
talnty, my hoy,' wus her constnnt ad-
vice, 'and then put your shirt on!'
can hear her suylng Jt now, Mr.
Peterson, with the golden rays of the
scttlug sun lighting up her sweet
fnce."
Peterson leant forward lu his chair.
"Young man," he remarked, "we've
got to understand one another. Last
night you hutted In on my plans, and
I do not like people who do that. By
an act which, I must admit, appealed
to tno greatly, you removed something
I require something, moreover, which
I intend to have. Breaking the elec
trie bulb with a revolver shot shows
resource and Initiative. The blow that
smashed Henry Lnkington's Jaw In two
places shows strength. All qualities
which I admire, Captain Drummond
admire grently. I should dislike hnv
Ing to deprive tho world of those qua!
Itles."
Drummond gazed nt the speaker
open-mouthed. "My dear sir," be pro
tested feebly, "you overwhelm mct
Are you really accusing me of being
n sort of wild west show?" Ho wag
gled a linger at Peterson. "You know
you've been to the movies too much
like my fellah, James. He's got re
volvers and things on the brnln."
Peterson's face was absolutely Im
passive; save for n slightly tired
smile It was expressionless. "Flnnl
ly. Captain Drummond, you tore In
half a pleco of paper which I re
quire and removed n very denr old
friend of my family, who Is now In
this house. I want them both back
please, und If you like I'll tuko them
now."
Brummond shrugged his shoulders
reslguedly. "There Is something nbout
you, Mr. Petersou," he murmured,
"which I like. So masterful, so com
polling, so unruffled. I feel sure
when you have finally disabused your
mind of this absurd hallucination
that we shall become real friends.
Tell me, why did you allow this
scoundrel to treat you In such an
offhand manner?"
"Unfortunately n bullet Intended
for him Just missed." nnswered Peter-
sop casually. "A pity because there
would have been no traco of him by
now."
"Might bp awkward for you," mur
mured Hugh. ,"Such methods, Mr.
Peterson, are Illegal, you know. May
I offer you ti drink?"
I'eterson declined courteously.
"Thank you not nt this hour." Then
he rose. "I take It, then, that you
will not return me my property here
and now.'
"Still the same delusion, I see!" re
mnrked Hugh with a smile.
"Still the same delusion, repented
Peterson. "I shnll be i!ndy to re
ceive both the pnper and the man up
"You're Such an Aggressive Young
Man, Captain' Drummond and, I
Fear, Not Very Tactful."
till six o'clock tqnlght nt 32A Berners
street ; nnd It Is possible, I might even
say probable, should they turn up by
then, that I shall not find It neces
sary to kill you."
Hugh grinned. "Your kindly for
bearance amazes me," he cried.
'Should they not arrive by then, I
shnll be put to the Inconvenience of
taking them, und In that case much
as I regret It you may have to be
killed. You're such an aggressive
young mnn, Captain Drummond nnd,
T feur, not very tactful." He spoke
regretfully, drawing on his gloves1;
then us he got to the door he paused.
"I'm afraid that my words will not
have much effect," he remurked, "but
the episode last night did appeal to
me. I would like to spare you I
would really. It's n sign of weakness,
my young friend, which I view with
amazement but nevertheless, It is
there. So be wurned In time. Return
my property to Berueru street, and
leuve England for a few months." His
eyes neemed to burn Into the soldier's
brain. "You are meddling In alTulrs."
he went 'on gently, "of the danger of
which you have no conception. A lly
In the near-box of n motor-cur would
be u sounder proposition for a life
Insurance than you will be If you
continue on your present course."
"Where
Potts?"
have you hidden
(TO UK CONTINUKD.)
Portraiture on Jewels.
Probably the best bit of portraiture
done on any Jewel Is that of tho head
of Mlthrldnten, tho ancient king of
Pontus. This deep violet Image was
discovered many years ago In India
The largest sculptured or curved work
with an amethyst ns the medium con
sists of the bust of Trajan, the Roman
emperor. 'This adornment, formerly In
the possession of the Prusslun court,
mysteriously disappeared when Nupo
Icon occupied the city of Berlin. Ills
torlans allege thnt somo of bis generals
had taking ways. The work of urt
has been lost to tho world since tho
time of this Invasion by "tho llttlo
corporal."
Work Done by Leaves of Trees.
A single leaf of an npplo treo has
100.000 nores thrmurh each on of
which water Is continually passing off
into surrounuliig ntmospbere. There
nro 7,000 leaves on a 00-foot elm treo.
These leaves, If spread out, would
cover a surface of 200,000 square feet
or live acres. Over seven tons of wn
ter, In tho form of vapor, pass out of
tuese leaves into tho air within a sum
mer day.
BETTER BULLS ADD PROFITS
Associations Make Possible Improved
Sires at but Small Additional
Cost to Dairyman.
(Prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agrlculturo)
Two years ngo u bull ussoclutlou
was organized In Webster County,
Mo.; nnd n year later another one In
tho adjoining counties of Wright ami
Douglas. Tho experience of these two
associations Illustrates the tendencies
that such organizations display. A
tabular comparison Is given below,
from which It will bo noted thut both
organizations brought about 11 great
reduction In the number of bulls need
ed. Before organizing, Webster coun
ty hnd 1 bull for every 17 cows, and
Wright and Douglas counties 1 bull
for every 29 cows; but in each locality
after they got the association Into
operation they found 1 bull for every
50 cows was enough.
Another great change was In the
value of the bulls. Before the bull as
sociations were organized the bulls
which the members owned were valued
at $70 each. After organizing, the
bulls purchased and owued by tho two
associations were worth on the aver
age about $275 each, which Is nearly
four times ns much as the privately
owned bulls.
Yet the cost was not much greater
per farm. When nn Individual owns
a bull, the value of the bull and the
amount of the Investment nre the
same; but In n co-operative nssoclar
tlon each man pays only n part of the
cost. The tabulation shows that the
Investment per farmer, that Is, the
average amount that each man had to
pay was about one nnd a quarter
times as much after the organization
ns It wns before. In Webster county,
and n little oyer twice as much In the
Wright-Douglas association ; but In
both cuses the value of the Individual
A High-Producing Cow The Result of
Good Breeding.
bull was three and two-thirds times
as much. It appears, therefore, that
by a comparatively small additional
Investment the members of these two
associations were able to secure very
much more vnluable bulls.
Both these Missouri associations
seem to have considerable influence In
encouraging their members to keep
pure-bred cows. The Webster county
association started with only 2 pure
bred cows, but In 1020 there were no
fewer thnn 95. The Wrlght-Dpuglas
association had no purebred cows nt
all when It begun, but a year later it
had 12, u change which, though small.
shows progress and may lead to greut
results In the future.
Comparative Figures.
Webster Wright
County Douglas
Assocla- Associa
tion, tlon.
Date of organization..
Number of mombers at
June, 1918 Oct, 1919
time of starting .... 31
26
200
Total number of cows
at starting 300
Number of bulls owned
by meinberB before
organizing 18
Number of bulls owned
by association after
organizing A
4
"29
I SO
175
$275
$20.19 v
$42.31
Cows per bull before
organizing 17
Cows per bull after
organizing 60
Average value of bulls
owned by members
beforo organizing ... $75
Average value of bulls
owned by association $276
Investment per farmer
before organizing ... 143.71
Investment per farmer
after organizing .... (53.45
Purebred cows at time
of starting 2
Purebred cows at pres
ent 95
13
SUCCESS WITH YOUNG STOCK
Part of Constructive Benefits Lost by
Failure to Properly Develop
Animals.
To breed good dairy cnttle and then
fall to grow and develop them Is to
loso pnrt of the benellts of construc
tive breeding. More beginners fall
because they do not properly feed the
stock they buy or breed, thnn fnll
from any other cause. Find the farm
ers who grow out their young stock,
nnd you will And men who are mnk
Ing a success In their animal hus
bandry enterprises.
MUCH BUTTER IS IMPORTED
.
Efficiency of Foreign Dairymen Is
Largely Responsible for Large
Amount Coming Here.
Tho ofllclency of the foreign dairy
men Is largely responsible for the vast
amount of Imported butter renchlng
this country. In Denmnrk the aver
age cow's production Is 220 pounds
of butterfnt a yenr. Tho average cow
In thls'country Is credited with less
than 150 pounds.
Isst VHssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssBk; sssssssssssssssssssssssssH