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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 27, 1921)
NORTH PLATTE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. kV M Y1YTY DRUMMOND FROM HEADQUARTER8. Synopsis. In December, 1918, lour men guthored In a hotel In Berne and heard one of the quartet, Carl Peterson, outline a plan to paralyze Great 13 rl tain and at the lamo time elie world power. The other three, Hocking', American, and Btelnetnan and Von Grata, Germane, all mil lionaires, agTee to the scheme, pro vldlng- another man, HI ram Potts, an American, Is taken In, Capt. Hugh (Dull-Dog) Drummond, a re tired omcer, advertises for work that will give him excitement, sign ing "X10." Ae a result he meets Phyllis Benton, a young woman who answered hie ad, Bhe telle him of strange murders and rob beries by a hand headed by Carl Peterson and Henry Laklngton. Bhe fears her father Is Involved. Drummond goes to The Larches, Miss Benton's home, next door to The Elms, Peterson's place. Dating tho night Drumrriond leaves Tho Larches and explores The Elms. He discovers Laklngton and Peter son using a thumbscrew on Potts, who eigne a paper. Drummond rescues Potts and takes him to his own home. Re also gets half of the paper torn In the fight. Peter sen visits Drummond, departing with a threat to return and recover Potts and tho torn paper. Hugh substitutes Mulllngs for Potts. The band carry oft Mulllngs and Drum mond to Tho Elms. When Peterson discovers the hoax Drummond Is made to stay all night Irma, Pe terson's handsome daughter, warns Hugh he will be killed. He gpes exploring during tho night, runs Into, a cobra, escapes mysterious death and refrains from breaking Peterson's neck. CHAPTER IV Continued. FOUR. "I heard you wero down here," she wild gravely, holding out her hand to him. "I've been sick with anxiety over slnco father told mo he'd seen you." 1 Hugh Imprisoned tho little hand In his own huge ones, and smiled reas suringly. "Don't worry, little girl," he snld. Tears ago I was told by an old gypsy that I should die In my bed of old age and excessive consumption of In valid port As a mutter of fact, the cnuse of my visit was. rather humorous. They abducted me in tho (middle of the night, with nn ex-sol-'dler of my old battalion, who was, I regret to state, sleeping off the effects of much Indifferent liquor. In my rooms. They thought ho was your Americnn millionaire cove, and the wretched Mulllngs was too drunk to deny it. In fact, I dpn't think they over asked his opinion nt all." Hugh grinned remlnlsccntly. "A (puthotlc spectacle." "Oh! but splendid," cried the girl n little breathlessly. "Tell tne, where Is tho American now?" "Many miles out of London," an swered Hugh. "I think we'll leavo it at that. The less you know, Miss Benton, at the moment lho better." "Hnvo you found out anything?' B"o demanded eagerly. Hugh shook Ills head. "Not n thing. Except that your neighbors are as pretty a bunch of scoundrels as I over want to meet." "But you'll let mo know If you -do." She laid n hand beseechingly on his nrm. "You know what's nt stake for me, don't, you? Father, and oh 1 but you know." "I know," he answered gravely. "I know, old thing. I promise I'll let you know anything I And out. And In tho meantime I want you to keep an eye tlxed on what goes on next ikvor, and let me know anything of Importance by letter to tho Junior Sports club." Ho lit n cigarette thoughtfully. "I have nn Idea that thoy feel so absolutely confident In their own power that they are going to makit the fut.nl mlntako of underrating tholr opponents. Wo shall Reo." Ho turnod to hor with a twinkle In his eye. "Anyway, our Mr. Laklngton will see that you don't come to any harm." "Tlio brute 1" she cried, very low, "How I hate him I" Then with a sudden change of tone sho looked up at Drummond. "I don't know whether It's worth mentioning," she Raid slowly, "but yesterday nftcrnoon four men came at different times to Tho Elms. They wero the sort of typo one rocs tub-thumping In Hydo Park, all except one, who looked llko a re spectable worklngman." Huch shook his head. "Don't seem to help much, docs It? Still, ono 'never knows. Let mo know nnythlng like that In future at tho rltib." "Oood morning, Miss Denton." Peterson's voice behind them made Drummond swing round with n smotli erpd curse. "Our Inestimable friend. Captain Drummond. brought such n nice young fellow to see mo last night, and then left him lying about the house this morning. I have sent him along to your car," continued Peter son suavely. ','vhlch I trust was the correct procedure. Or did you want to give htm to mo ns n pet?" Y . Tf The Adventures of A Demobilized Officer Who Found Peace Dull CYRIL MNEILE "SAPPFTn Illustrations Jby IRWIN MYERS Copyright by Geo H Do ran Co "From a rnpld survey, Mr. Peterson, I should think you havo quite enough already," said Hugh. "I trust you paid him the money you owe him." "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 the meantime, Miss Benton, Is your father up?" The girl frowned. "No not yet." "Then I will go and see him In bed. For the present, nu revolr." He walked toward the house, and they "Oh! but Splendid," Cried the Girl Llttla Breathlessly. watched him go in silence. And It wns as he opened the drawing-room window that Hugh called after him: "Do you like the horso Elllmau's or the ordinary brand ?'V he asked. "I'll send you n bottle for that stiff neck of yours." -Very deliberately PeterBon turned round. "Don't trouble, thnnk you, Captain Drummond. I have my own reme dies, which are far mora emcaclous." CHAPTER V. In Which There la Trouble at Goring. ONE. The car slowed up before tho post ofllco and Hugh got out. There were one or two things ho proposed to do In London before going to Goring, und it struck him that a wlro t6 Peter Darrell might allay that gentleman's uneasiness If he was luto In getting down. So new was lie to tho tortuous ways of crime, thnt tho foolishness of the proceeding never entered his head; up to date In Ills life, if he had wished to send n wire he had sent one. And so It may be deemed a sheer fluke on his part, that a man dawdling by the counter aroused his suspicions. He wus a perfectly or dinary man, chatting casually with tho girl on tho other sldo; but It chanced thnt, Just as Hugh was hold ing tho postolllce pencil up, and gaz ing at Its so-culled point with an air of resigned angulBh, the perfectly or dinary man censod chatting and looked at him. Hugh caught his eye for a Meeting second; then the con versation continued. And as ho turned to pull out the pud of forms, it struck htm thnt the mnn had looked away Just a trifle too quickly. . . . A grin spread slowly over his face, and after a moment's hesitation he proceeded to compose a short wire. Ho wrote it in black letters for addi tional clearness; ho also pressed his naniost, as befitting a blunt poncll. Then with the form In his, hand he ad vnnced to tho counter. "How long will It take to deliver In London?" ho asked the girl. Tho girl was not helpful. It de pended, ho gathered, on a variety of circumstances, of which not the least was the perfectly ordinary man who talked so charmingly. "I don't think I'll bother, then," he snl, thrusting tho wlro Into his pocket, "flood morning. . . He walked to tho door, and shortly afterward his car rolled down tho street. Willi whnt the girl considered pccu llnr abruptness, the perfectly ordinary man concluded his conversation with her. and decided that he too would send n wire. And then, nfter a long nhd thoughtful pnuso at tho writing' bench, she distinctly heard nn untuls tnknblo "D n." Then he walked out and she saw him no more. Moreover, It Is to be regretted that tliv perfectly ordinary man told a lie a little Inter In the day, when giving his report to soma one whose neck ap parently Inconvenienced lilm greatly. Hut then a Ho Is frequently more tactful than the ' truth, and to have announced that tho sole result of his morning's labors had been to decipher a wlro addressed to The Elms, which contained the cryptic remark, "Stung again, stiff neck, stung again," would not havo been tnctful. So hp lied, as has bceu stated, thereby showing hlH wisdom. . . . But though Drummond chuckled to himself ns the car rushed through tho fresh morning air, once or twice a gleum thnt was not altogether amuse ment shone lu his eyes. .For four years ho had played ono game where no, mistakes were allowed; the llttlo Incident of tho postofflce hnd helped to bring to his mind the certainty that he had now embarked on another whero the conditions were much tho same. Thnt he had scored up to doto wus luck rather than good manage ment, and he was far too shrewd not to realize it. Now he wus marked, and luck with n marked man cannot be tempted too far. Alone and practically ungunrded ho had challenged a gung of International criminals; a 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 slie and Imme diate object tie had even less. Per haps It was ns well. Had he realized even dimly the Immensity of the Is sues he wus up against, had ho had but an Inkling of the magnitude of the plot conceived In the sinister brain of his host of tho previous evening, then, cheery optimist though ho Wns, even Hugh Drummond might havo wavered. But he had no such Inkling, and so the gleam In his eyes wns but transitory, the chuckle that succeeded It more whole-hearted' thnn before. Wns It not Bport In a laud flowing with strikes and profiteers; sport such as his soul loved? "I nm afraid, Mulllngs," he said as his car stopped In front of his club, "thnt the kindly gentleman with whom we spent last night has re pudiated his obligations. Ha refuses to meet the bill I gave him for your services. Just wnlt hero a moment." He went Inside, returning 'in n few moments .with a folded check. "Round the corner, Mulllngs, and an obliging fellah In a black coat will shovel you out tho necessary Brad burys." The man glanced nt the check. . "Fifty" pounds, sir!" he gasped. "Why It's too much, sir. . . . I , . ." "Tho laborer, Mulllngs, Is worthy of his hire. You hnve been of tho very greatest assistance to me; nnd Incidentally, It is more than likely that I may want you again. Now, whero can I get hold of you?" "13 Orcen Street, 'Oxton, sir, '11 al ways And me. And any time, sir, as you wants me, I'd like to coma Just for the sport of tho thing." Hugh grinned. "Good Ind. And it may bo sooner than you think." TWO. Inside the Junior Sports club, nugh Drummond wns burying his nose In a large tanknrd of the nla for which that cheery pot-house was still fam ous. A wnltcr was yarrnnglng the flrat editions of the evening papers on a table, and Hugh beckoned to him to bring one. Cricket, racing, the latest divorce cose, and the latest strike all tho usual headings were there. And ho was Just putting down the pnper, to again concentrate on his problem, when a pnrngraph caught his eye. "STRANGE MURDER IN BELFAST "Tho man whose body wns discov ered In such pccullnr clrcumstnnces nenr the docks has been Identified ns Mr. James Grithger, tho confidential secretary to Mr. Hiram Potts, the American multl-mllllonalre, nt present In this country. Tho unfortunate victim of this dastardly outrage his head, as wo freported In our InRt night's Issue, was nearly severed from his body had apparently been sent oyer on business by Mr. Potts, nnd hnd arrived tho preceding dny, What ho was doing in the locality In which ho was found is a mystery. "We understand that Mr. Potts, who has recently been Indisposed, has re turned to the Carlton, and Is greatly unet at the sudden tragedy. "The police arc confident thnt they will shortly obtain a clue, though the rough element In tho locality where the murder wns committed presents grent dlfllcultles. It seems clenr that the motive wns robbery, ns all tho murdered man's pockets wero rifled. But the most pecullnr thing about the caso Is the extraordinary caro taken by Jhe murderer to prevent the Identifi cation of the body. Every nrtlcle of clothing, oven down to the murdered man's socks, had had the name torn out, nnd It wns only Ihrough the crim inal overlooking the tnllor's tab Inside the Inner breast-pocket of Mr. Grang er's cont that tho police were ennbled to Identify the body." Drunimond rIUI down tho paper on his knees, nnd stared a little dazedly nt tho club's Immortal founder. "Holy smoke! Inddle," ho mur mured, "thnt mnn Peterson ought to bo on tho committee bore. Verily, I believe, ho could gnlvnnlzo the stnff Into somo semblance of activity." "Did you order anything, sir?" A waiter unused beside lilm. "No,'- murnnirod Drummond, "but I will rectify the omission. Another Inrge tnnkard of nlo." The waiter departed, and nugh picked up the paper ngnln. "Wo understand," he murmured eentlv to himself, "that Mr, Potts, who tins recently been Indisposed, hns returned to the Carlton. . . . Now that's very Interesting. . . ." He lit a cigarette and lay back In his" chair. "I was .under the impres sion thnt Mr. Potts wns safely tucked tip In bed, consuming semolina pud ding, at Goring. It requires elucida tion." "I beg your pardon, sir," remarked the waiter, placing the beer on the table beside him. "You needn't," returned Hugh. "Up to date you hnve Justified my fondest expectations. And ns a further proof of my good will, I would llko you to get me a trunk call 2 X Goring." A few minutes Inter ho was In the telephone box. "Peter, I have seldom tiecn so glnd to henr your voice. Is all well? Good. Don't mention any names. Our guest Is there, Is he? Gone on strike ngalnat more milk puddings, you say. Coax him, Peter. Make a noise like a sturgeon, and he'll think It's cnvlnre. Have you seen the papers? There are Interesting doings in DelfiiBt, which concern us rather Intimately. I'll be down later, nnd we'll have a pow wow." , Ho hung up the receiver and stepped out of the box, "If, Algy," ho rcmnrked to a man who was looking nt the tape machine outside, "the paper says a blighter's somewhere and you know he's some where else whnt would you da,?" "Up to date In such cases I have al ways shot the editor," murmured. Algy Longworth. "Come nnd feed." "You're so helpful, Algy. A per fect rock of strongth. Do you want n Job?" "Whnt sort of n Job?" demanded the other suspiciously, "Oh! not work, dear old boy. D n It, mnn you know tne better thnn thnt, surely I" "People are eo funny nowadnys," returned Longworth gloomily. "What Is this Job?" Together the two men strolled iDto the luncheon-room, nnd long after the cheese had been finished, Algy Long worth wns still listening In silence; to his companion. "My tlenr old bean," he murmured ecstntlcally as Hugh finished, "ray very denr old bean. I think It's the most priceless thing I ever heard. Enroll me as n member of the band. And, Incidentally, Toby Sinclair Is running round in circles asking for trouble. Let'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 thnt tho wretched Potts, bathed In tears at the Carlton, Is In need of sympntliy. So long, old denr. You'll henr from meln a day or two." Drummond sauntered along Pali Mall. He had tojd Longworth more or less on the spur of the moment, knowing thnt gentleman's capabilities to a nicety. Under a cloak of as sumed flippancy he concealed an Iron nerve which had never yet failed him ; and, In spite of the fact that he wore- an entirely unnecessary eye glass, he could see further Into n brick wnll than most of the people who called him n fool. It was his suggestion of telling Toby Sinclair that caused the smile. For It hnd stnrted a train of thought In Drummond's mind which seemed to "My Dear Old Bean," He Murmured Ecstatically as Hugh Finished, "My Very Dear Old Bean." him to bo cood. If Slnclnlr whs lot two or three more equnlly trsty sportsmen? Why not n gang of tho boys? Toby possessed a V. C, and n good out for there are grades of the V. C, nnd those grades are appreciated to n nicety by the recipient's brother officers If ntlt by the general public. The show would fit Toby like n glove. . . . Then there wns Ted Jem Inghnni. who combined the roles of an amateur actor of more thnn aver age merit with an ability to hit any thlils at any range with every con ceivable typo of llrenrm. And Jerry Sevmour In tho Flvlnc corns. . . , Not n bad thing to have a flying mnn tin one's sleeve. . . . And pos slbl.v some one versed In tho ways of tanks might come In hanuy. . . . Tho smllo broadened to a grin; surely life was very good. And then tho grin faded, and spmethlng sus nlclouslv llko n frown took Its place, For he hnd arrived at the Carlton, und reality bad come back t him. "Mr. Potts will see no one, sir," rc mnrked tho mnn to whom h ad dressed his question. "You are about the twentieth gentleman who hns been here already todayV' Hugh had expected this, and smiled genlnlly. "Precisely, my stout fellow," he re marked, "but I'll lay a small amount of money thnt they were newspaper men. Now, I'm not. And I think that if you will havo this note delivered to Mr. Potts, ho will see me." no snt down nt n table, and drew n sheet of pnper toward hlra. Two facts were certain: First, that tho mnn upstairs was not the real Potts; second, that he was ono of Peterson's gnng. Tho difficulty was to know ex actly how to word the note. There might bo fcome mystic pass-word, tho omission of which would prove him nn Impostor nt once. At length he took a pen nnd wrote rapidly; he would have to chance It. "Urgent. A message from head quarters." He sealed the envelope anA handed It with tho necessary five shillings for postage to the mnn. Then he ant down to wnlt. After' whnt seemed an Interminable dday he snw thff mes senger crossing the lounge. "Mr. Potts will see you, sir." Hugh followed his guide along a corridor, nnd pnused outside a door while he went Into a room. He heard n murmur of voices, nnd then the man reappeared. "This way, sir," he said, and Hugh stepped Inside, to stop With nn Invol untary gnsp of surprise. The man sented In the chnlr was Potts, to all Intents nnd purposes. The likeness wns extraordinary, and had he not known thnt the real article was at Goring he would have been com pletely deceived himself. The mnn waited till the door was closed: then he rose and stopped forward suspiciously. "I don't know you." ho said. "Who are you?" "Since when has every one em ployed nt headquarters known one another?" Drummond returned guard edly. "And, Incidentally, your like ness to our Inmented friend is won derful. It very nehrly deceived even me." The mnn, not Hl-plensed, gave a short lough. , "It'll pass, I think. But it's risky. Tncse curseu reporters nave oeen badgering the whole morning. . . . And If his wife or somebody comes over, what then? " It wasn't like Rosea to buntrle In Belfust- He's never left n clue before, and heHad plenty of time to do "the Job prop erly." "A name Inside a breast-pocket might easily be overlooked." remarked Hugh, seizing the obvious clue. "Are you making excuses for him?" snarled the other.' "He's failed, and failure Is death. Such is our rule. Would you have It altered?" "Most certainly not. The Issues arc far too great for any weakness. . . ." "You're right, my friend you're right Long live the Brotherhood." He stared out of the window with smouldering eyes, nnd nugh preserved n discreet silence. Then suddenly the other broke out again. . . . "Have they killed that insolent puppy of a soldier yet?" "Er not yet." murmured Hugh mildly. "They tnnst find the American at once." The man thumped the table 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 one man from Scotland Yard, but every hour Increases the danger. However, you hnve a message for me. What Is It?" Hugh rose und casually picked up his hat. He had got more out of the interview thnn he had hoped for, and there was nothing to be gained by prolonging It. But It struck him that Mr. Potts' Impersonator wus a man of unpleasant disposition, nnd thnt tactically a flanking movement to the door wns Indicated. And, being of nn open nature himself, It Is possible thnt the real state of affairs showed for a moment on his face. Be that as It may, something suddenly aroused the other's, suspicions, nnd with a snarl of fury he sprang past Hugh to the door. "Who are you?" ne spat the words out venomously, at the same time whipping an ugly-looking knife out of lils pocket. Hugh replaced his hat and stick on the table nnd grinned gently. "I nm tho Insolent puppy of a sol dier, dear old bird," he remarked, watching the other warily. "And If I was you I'd put the toothpick away. . . . You might hurt yourself" As he spoke he was edging, little by little, toward the other man, who crouched snarling by the door. His eyes, grim and determined, never left the other's face ; lils hands, apparently hnnglng listless by his sides, were tingling with the Joy of what bo knew wns coming. "And the pennlty of fnlluro Is death, Isn't It, dear ono?" ne spoko nlmost dreamily; but not for an lnstnnt did his nttentlon relnx. Almost Imper ceptibly, ho crept towurd the other mnn, tulhlng gently. ' Hugh and his friends are gassed by the band. (TO 13E CONTINUED.) Hie Falth.- "A man should not put his trust id riches," advised the pastor. "I knew It," agreed Old Moneybag. "But he should have ueuec tuciax ; put bla rich l trust." THREE YEAR OLD WASHED ASHORE Mrs. Dingman Tells of Adventure of Childhood When Father's Ship Was Wrecked. RELATES LATER EXPERIENCE Declares That the Way Tanlac Re stored Her Health la More Re markable Than Anything Sho Has Ever Had Happen ' to Her. Tve had Borne remarkable expe riences In my life, but none more won derful thnn the wny Tanluc overenmo my troubles nnd made me gnln twen ty pounds," wns the statement of Mrs. Christina K. Dingman, 1210 Alice St., Oakland. Calif. One of the experiences to which Mrs. Dlngmnn refers Is well known to her friends. When n child of three years, accompanying her fa ther, n noted sea cnptaln. on an ocean trip, the vessel wns wrecked, but sho was almost miraculously saved, the small box Into which she wns put be ing washed ashore. According to her statement, Mrs. Dlngmnn enjoyed the best of health until three years ago when she began to suffer from a bnd form of stomach trouble and Inter from rheumatism. How she was com pletely restored to health Is best told in her own words : "Nobody knows how I suffered for the pnst three years. No matter how carefully I nte I would endure ago nies afterwards from smothering und sinking spells. Sometimes they were so severe I would fall 'to the floor and would have to be carried to bed. I went for days at a time without eat ing, as 1 dreaded tho misery I knew would follow, no matter what I ate. Then rheumatism set In and my shoul ders and arms hurt me so I couldn't comb my hair. My back felt like It was' breaking in two. "I was nlmost In the depths of de spair when I began on Tnnlnc, but this grapd medicine has made me a well and happy woman. I'm not even trou bled with constipation now, thnuks.to tho Laxative Tablets, which nro for superior to anything of tho kind I ever tried. It seems almost too good to be true, but hero I nm in the best of health and spirits nfter I had given up hope, and I'll always praise Tanlac for it." Tanlac Is Bold by leading druggists everywhere. Advertisement. Men enre little for violets; but lilacs make them try to write poetry and some succeed. , Cutlcura for Sore Hands. Soak hands on retiring in the hot suds of Cutlcura Soap, dry and rub in Cu tlcura Ointment. IJemovo surplus Ointment with tissue paper. This Is only one of the things Cutlcura will do If Soap, Ointment and Talcum aro used for all toilet purposes. Adv. A Question. One of the Questions wo havo Inntr wanted to nsk Is: "Who takes care of the dentist's teeth?" There Is nothing more satisfactory after a day of hard work than a line full of snowy whlto clothes, ir'nr nm results use Red Cross Ball Blue. 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