Show r iu it 0 the 77 adventures of a mobilized demobilized De cyril cyra mcneal by e officer who found peace dull sapper S apper copyright by geo EL dorn doran co ja L 12 THOSE DEVILS Synopsis In december 1918 four moil gather in a hotel in berne and I 1 hear bear one of the quartet outline ft a plan to paralyze great bi I 1 tain and at the same time seize world power the tha other three hocking king american and Stel neman and von cratil germans german all ail millionaires agree to the scheme providing another man hiram potts potte an american Is taken in tile the instigator of ilia hie plot pint gives aives his name as comte de guy but when he leaves for england with his daughter lie he decides to use the name carl peterson capt hugh bulldog bull dog doe drummond a retired advertises for work that civo alvo him excitement albring As a result he meets phylis I 1 its bonton benton a young woman who answered his hia ad she tells him of strange murders and robberies of which she suspects a band headed headd by peterson CHAPTER I 1 continued 3 t admiring my treasures he be remarked tretty pretty things arent thear I 1 speak a word ord I 1 just put them bark back on the table wonderful copies lie bent on of the duke of Mel bournes lot miniatures I 1 think they would deceive most people they deceived me I 1 managed to get out all the time he was staring at me a cold merciless stare that seemed to freeze my brain then lie went over to one of the safes and unlocked it IL come here miss benton ben ton lie sold said there are a lot more copies 1 I only looked inside for or a moment but I 1 have bare neler seen or thought of such a sight beautifully arranged on ell black velvet shelves were ropes of 0 pearls a gorgeous dia diamond tuond tiara and a whole heap of loose uncut stones and in oue one corner I 1 caught a glimpse of the most wonderful gold clial ked leed cup just like the one for which samuel levy the jew moneylender was still offering a reward then he be shut the door and locked it and again stared at me in silence all copies he said quietly wonderful copies and should you ever be tempted to think otherwise ask your father miss bliss denton benton ile be warned by me dont do anything foolish ask ash your father first and did you asked drummond she shuddered that biery cry evening she answered and daddy new flew late into a frightful pas passion sinn and told we me A 4 admiring my treasures he re marked pretty things arent they never ever to dare to meddle in things that concern me ma agala then grad illy as time went on I 1 realized that La lackington kington bad some hold over daddy that hed got MY by father in his power her bands were clenched and her breast rose and fell stormily storm lly drummond waited for her to compose herself before he spoke again you mentioned murder too he remarked silo sho nodded ive got no proof she said less even than over the burglaries but there was a man called george dringer and one evening when was dining with us I 1 heard him discussing this roan man with daddy hes got to go said La lackington kington hes hea dangerous and then my father got up and closed the door but I 1 heard them arguing for or halt half an hour three weeks later ft a coroners jury found that george dringer had committed suicide while temporarily insane the same evening daddy for the first time in his life went to bed the worse for drink tile the girl fell silent and drummond stared at the orchestra with troubled eyes things seemed to be rattier rather deeper than he had anticipated then there was another case she was vas jpe peaking aking again do you remember that man who was found deal bend in a railway carriage at oxley station ue he was nn an lilliin lin liin giuseppe by name and the jury brought lit in a verdict of death front natural causes A month before lie belind had an interview A with ith La kington Lington which took place at our house mccaue tile the italian allUn being a stronger stranger came to the wrong place and La kington happened to be with us nt at tile the time the inte interview finished with u alth a fearful quarrel slie she turned to drummond with a slight light smile not much evidence Is only I 1 know laking ton murdered blin I 1 know it you toil may think im fanciful imagining things you may think im exaggerating I 1 dont mind if you do because you wont vont for long drummond did not answer immediately against his saner judgment lie was beginning to ile be profoundly impressed and at the moment lie did riot not quite know alint to say what about this other man he risked asked at length 1 I lean can tell you very little about him slip she answered he came to the elms that is the name of LakIng house houe three months ago ile he is about medium height and rather thickset thick set clenn clean shaven with thick brown hair bair flocked flecked slightly with white uis his fore hend bead Is broad and ills his eyes are a sort of cold grey blue but its his hands that terrify tile me large or and white milte and utterly ruthless she turned to him appealingly oh I 1 dont think thin ic im fin talking wildly she implored ile he frightens me to death that man far tar far worse than laking ton ile he would stop at nothing to gain liis his ends and even La kIngton himself knows that mr peterson is his master peterson I 1 murmured drummond it seems quite a sound old english name the girl laughed scornfully ohl oh the name Is sound enough it if tt it was his real one As it Is its about as real as ills his laughter daughter there Is a lady in the case then by the name of irina said thi the girl briefly she lies iles on a sofa in the garden and yawns ashes to no more english than that waiter A faint smile flickered over her companions face lie he had formed a fairly vivid mental picture of irma then lie grew serious again arid and what Is it that makes you think theres ahead lie asked abruptly the girl shrugged her shoulders Wh atthe novelists call feminine intuition I 1 suppose she answered that and ray my fattier father she said the last words very low ue he hardly ever sleeps at night now I 1 hear him pacing up and down his room hour after hour hour after hour ohl oh it makes me mad don doall you understand ive got to get him away from those devils before lie breaks down completely ely 11 drummond Dru iamond nodded and looked away while she had been speaking he had made up his mind what course to take and now having everybody else he decided that it was time drue tor for the interview to cense cease already an early eaily diner u was as having a cocktail while La kington mig might lit return at any moment and if there was anything in what she sha had told him it struck him that it would be as well for that gentleman not to find them together 1 I think lie said 1 wed better go my address Is GOA halt hall moon street my telephone 1234 mayfair Mayta lr it if anything happens it if ever you want me at any hour of the day or night ring me up or write it if im not in leave a message with nith my servant denny he Is absolutely reliable the only other thing is your own address addres 4 11 the larches barches Lar ches near Go dalming answered the girl as they me awed ed tom toward ard the door oh I 1 if you only knew the glorious relief of 0 feeling ones got some one to turn 07 to 0 7 1 she looked at him wit with shining hitting eyes and drummond felt his pulse quicken suddenly may blay I 1 drop you anywhere he asked as they stood on the pavement but the she shook her heyd hepol no thank you ill go eo in that taxi she gave the man an address and stepped in while hugh stood bareheaded by the door dont forget 1 he said earnestly any time of tile day or night and while I 1 think of it were old friends can that be done in case I 1 come and stay you see she thought for a mome moment nt and then nodded her head bend all right she answered weve met a lot in london during the war or with a grinding t t gear wheels the taxi drove off leaving hugh with a vivid picture imprinted on his mind of blue eyes and white teeth and a skin like the bloom of a sun kissed peach for a moment or two he stood staring after it and then lie he walked across to his big own car with his mind still full of the interview he drove slowly along piccadilly while every now and then lie he smiled grimly to himself was tile whole thing an elaborate hoax somehow deep down in ills his mind he wondered whether it was a joke oke j hether by some freak of fate he had I 1 1 stumbled bumbled Eum bled on one of t those strange roya mys teries which up to late date lie ii ha ind regarded us as existing tiling only in the realms of dime novels noels ile he turned Int into ohis his room and stood in front of the mantelpiece nian bece taking off on his gloves cloves it was as lie he was as about to lay them down on th the e t able that an envelope caught his eye addressed to him bid in an unknown handwriting mechanically lie he picked it up and opened it inside was a single half short sheet of notepaper note paper on which a few lines had been written in a small nent hand there are more things in ID heaven and earth young man than a capability for eating steak and onions and a desire for adventure I 1 imagine that you possess both and they tire are useful U assets in ID the second locality mentioned by tile the poet in heaven however lio wever one never knows especially with regard to the on onions foris be careful drummond Dru stood motionless for a moment moui ent narrowed eyes then lie leaned forward and pressed the be bell 1 who brought this note james lie he said quietly as his servant came into the room A small boy bov 1 sir air said I 1 was to be sure and see you got it most particular or ile he unlocked a cupboard near the window and produced a tantalus IW whisky bisky sir or cocktail whisky I 1 think james hugli hugh carefully folded the sheet of poplar paper and placed it in his pocket and his face as ile ho took tile the drink from his man would have left no doubt in an onlookers mind as to why in the past lie he had bad earned the name of bulldog bull dog drummond CHAPTER 11 II in which he journeys to Go dalming and the game begins ONE 1 I almost think james that I 1 could toy with nith another kidney drummond looked across the table at his servant who lie mas carefully arranging two or three dozen letters in groups ive got a journey in front of me today anil and I 1 require a large breakfast james denny supplied the deficiency from a dish that was standing on an electric heater are you going for long sir 1 I dont know james it all depends on circumstances which when you come to think of it Is undoubtedly one of 0 the most fatuous phrases in the english language Is there anything in tile the world that depend ou on circumstances will you be motoring sir or going by train asked james prosaically dialectical arguments did not n of appeal app eal to him by car answered drummond pajamas and a tooth brush you wont take evening clothes sir no I 1 I 1 want my visit to appear unpremeditated james and it if one goes about completely encased in boiled shirts while pretending to be merely out for the afternoon people have doubts as to ones intellect james digested this great thought in silence will you be going far sir he asked at length pouring out a second cup 0 of coffee to flo Go dalming A charming spot I 1 believe though ive never been there charming inhabitants inhabit apts too james the lady I 1 met yesterday at the carlton lives at God aliling indeed sir murmured james noncommittally commit tally you d d old humbug laughed drummond you know youre itching to know all about it I 1 had a very long and interesting talk with her and one of two things emerges quite learly clearly from our conversation ei either i her james I 1 am a congenital idiot and dont know enough to come in out it of tile the rain or weve laete hit the goods that Is what glint I 1 propose to find out by toy my little excursion either our cur legs my friend are being bell pulled till they will riener never resume their normal shape or that advertisement has succeeded beyond our wildest dream dr eanis s there are a lot more answers in this morning sir denny made a movement toward the letters he had been one from froin a lovely widow aldow with two children lovely cried drummond now how forward of her he glanced at the letter and smiled care james and accuracy are essential in a secretary the misguided woman noman calls herself lonely riot not lovely she will remain so as tar far as I 1 am concerned until the other matter Is settled will it take long sir do you think to got get it 11 settled settle dT drummond lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair listen james and I 1 will outline 0 tu tile the case the maiden lives at a it house called the lurches Lar ches near god aiming with her papa not tar far ray away is another house called the elms owned by a gentleman of the name of henry La kington a nasty man james with a nasty fact face who was also at the carlton yesterday afternoon tor for a short time and now we come to the point miss benton that la 13 the ladys name accuses mr La kIngton of being the complete IT ln in the criminal line jine shel she went nent even so ile tar far as to say any that liu lit was the I 1 he second most dangerous mun man in il england indeed sir more fore coffee sir mr will nothing nol liing mop moie you J james arnes remarked his anster plaintively this mild man murders people pi cylc and does things like that you know personally mr I 1 prefer a picture palace but I 1 suppose re aint no accounting for ob bleg may I 1 clear away sir I 1 N so 0 james not at present keep quite qu ite quite still while I 1 go g on or I 1 shall axt if 11 wrong three months ago there arrived nt at the elms the most dangerous ann in england the IT of 0 ITS tills this gentleman goes by tile the name of peterson and he owns a laughter daughter from what balts denton benton said I 1 have doubts doubt about that daughter james lie ile rose roe and strolled over to the window grove grave doubts however to return to tile the point it appears that some conspiracy Is being launched by IT the IT of ITS and the doubtful daughter into which rapa papa benton has been unwillingly drawn As far as I 1 can call make out ont the alie suggestion Is that I 1 should unravel the tangled skein of crime and extricate papa in a spasm of uncontrollable ex elt ellement ement james sucked his teeth lumme it alf go on the k Y I 1 A I 1 t I 1 alwi 4 acos and see if you can find that wa ter squirt pistol I 1 used to have son of a gun they called it movies would it lie he remarked better than them red ked indians and things thing 1 I fear james that you are not in the habit of spending your spare time at the british museum as I 1 hoped said drummond and your brain work very quickly the point Is not whether this hideous affair Is better than red ked indians and things but whether its genuine am I 1 to battle with murderers or shall I 1 find a house party roaring with laughter on the lawn As long as you laughs like ell Y yourself sir I 1 dont see as ow it makes much odds answered james tile the first sensible remark youve made this morning said his master hopefully 1 I will go prepared to tough laugh lie ile picked up a pipe from the mantelpiece tel piece and proceeded to fill it while james denny waited in silence A lady may ring up today drummond continued miss benton to be exact dont say where ive gone if she does but take down any message and write it to me at godal ming post postoffice pos office if by any chance you dont hear from me for three days get in touch with scotland yard and tell em where ive pone gone that covers everything if its genuine it if on the otter other hand band its a hoax and the house party Is a good one I 1 shall probably want you to come down with my evening clothes and some more kit very ver good sir air I 1 will clean 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