HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 1925.
PAGE THREE
Jha
A Sequel to Bulldog Drummmd.
COPYRIGHT r
BULLDOG DRUMMOND is back!
Tht hero of the most exciting
mystery story in many moons
of the drama that thrilled audiences
for more than two years and which,
on 'the moving-picture screen, is still
being shown to gasping thousands
returns as the cool-headed, Napoleon
ic leader of the greatest pack that
ever hunted an arch-criminal and his
confederates.
Here is the incessantly exciting
and capitally humorous story of Bull
dog Drummond's private war to a
finish with Carl Peterson, the girl
Irma and their merciless crew. And
what a finish! In the story of "The
Black Gang," Cyril McNeile has car
ried to an unsurpassable climax the
adventures of Hugh Drummond at
the head of a personal secret service
operating in modern London, equally
at home in the Whitechapel slums
and amid the splendors of the Rits.
Under the pen name of "Sapper,"
Mr. McNeile had been keeping the
British public awake nights, with a
series of exciting tales, mostly based
upon the events of the late war. He
did not come into real fame, how
ever, until he wrote an after-the-war
story, "Bulldog Drummond," taking
or his principal character a demob
ilised officer who found peace too
dull and decided upon a round of ac
tion that would liven things up a bit.
The story was written in a sort of
British-American vein, partaking of
the styles of stirring fiction writers
on both sides of the Atlantic and
bringing in international participants.
The combination served to awaken
further the British public and was
even a greater success in America.
The idea of "The Black Gang" seems
to have been taken from a certain or
ganisation in the United States which
you will have no trouble in recogniz
ing, although Mr. McNeile's creation
is more transient and more for the
purposes of humor and adventure
than the one with which we are fa
miliar in America.
CHAPTER I
. . . i T. v Yl 1.
in nnics tilings nappen nwr Darn
ing Creek.
T.HE wind howled dismally round
' J a house standing by itself olmost
on the shores of Barking creek.
The house seemed deserted. Every
window was shuttered; the garden
was uncared for and a mass of
weeds; the gate leading on to the
rosd, apparently feeling the need of
a deficient top hinge, propped itself
-tirunkenly on what once had boon
a flower-bed. . A few gloomy trees
swaying dismally in the wind sur
rounded the house and completed the
picture one that would have caused
even the least imaginative of merf to
draw his coat a little tighter round
him, and feci thankful that it was
not his fats to live in tuch a place.
But then few people ever came near
enough to the house to realize its
sinister appearance. Tho road it was
little better than a cart track which
passed the gate., was out of the beaten
way; only an occasional ficherman or
farm laborer ever used it, and that
generally by day, when things as
sumed their proper proportion, and it
was merely an empty Jiouso gradual
ly falling to pieces through lnck of
attention. At night they avoided it
if possible; folks did say that twelve
years ago some prying expioror had
found the bones of a skeleton lying
on the floor in one of the upstairs
rooms with a mildewed rope fixed
to one end of the beams in the ceil
ing. And . then it had boon empty
for twenty years.
Even now whan tho wind lay in the
east or nothcast and the tide was
setting in, there were thoso who said
that you could see a light shining
through the cracks of the shutters
in that room upstairs, and that,
should a man climb up and look in.
he'd see no skeleton, but a body with
purple face and staring eyes swing
ing gently to and fro, and tied by
the neck to a beam with a rope
which showed no trace of mildew.
Ridiculous, of course; but then so
many of these local superstitions are
Useful, too, in some cases; they af
ford a privacy from the prying at
tentions of local gosBips far more
cheaply and effectively than high
walls and bolts and bars.
80, at any rate, one of tho two
. men who were walking briskly along
the roueh track seemed to think,
"Admirable," he remarked, as he
paused for a moment at the entrance
of the weed-grown drive, "yuite act
mlrablo, my friend. A house situa
ted as this one is, is an acquisition
and when It is haunted in addition it
became a godsend."
; He spoke English perfectly with a
slight foreign accent, and his com
minion nodded abruptly.
"From what I hoard about it I
thought it would do," he answered.
"Personally, I think It's a damnnble
spot, but since you were bo set
against coming to London I had to
find something In this neighborhood."
' "I will explain my reasons in due
course," said the first speaker short
ly, "You may take It from me that
they were good. What's that?"
He swung round with a littlo gasp,
clutching his companion's arm.
"Nothing," cried the other irrita
bly. For a moment or two they
stood still, peering into the dark un
MXIL. JTMJWK,MM.M. '
dergrowth. "What do you think it
was?"
I thought I heard a bush creak
ing as if as if some one was mov
ing, he aaid, relaxing his grip. "It
might have been the wind, I sup
pose." He still peered fearfully into the
gloomy gaden, until the other man
dragged him roughly toward the
house.
Of course It was the wind," he
muttered angrily. "For heaven's sake,
Zabeloff, don't get the jumps. If you
will insist on coming to an infernal
place like this to transact a little
perfectly normal business you must
expect a few strange noises and
sounds. Let's get indoors; the oth
ers should be here by now. It ought
n't to take more than an hour, and
you can be on board again before
dawn."
The man who had been addressed
as Zaboleff ceased looking' over his
shoulder, and followed tho other
through a broken-down lattice-gate
to the rear of the house. They paus
ed in front of the back door, and on
it the leader knocked three times in
a peculiar way. It was obviously a
prearranged signal, for almost at
once stealthy steps could be heard
coming along the passage inside. The
door was cautiously pulled back a
few inches, and a man peered out,
only to throw it open wide with a
faint sigh of relief.
It's you, Mr. Waldock, is it?" he
muttered. "Glad you've got 'ere at
last. This place is fair giving us
all the 'ump."
"Evening, Jim. He stepped inside.
followed by Zaboleff, and the door
closed behind them. "Our friend's
boat was a little late. Is everyone
here?"
"Yep," answered the other. "All
the six of us. And I reckons we'd
like to get it over as soon as pos
sible. Has he" his voice sank to
a hoarse undertone "has he brought
the money?"
"You'll all hear in good time, said
Waldock curtly. "Which is the
room?"
"'Ere it is, guvnor." Jim flung
open a door. "And you'll 'ave to sit
on the floor, as the chairs ain't safe."
Two candles guttered on a square
table in the center of tho room,
showing up the faces of five men who
sat on the floor, leaning against the
walls. Three of them were nonde
script specimens of humanity of the
type that may be seen by the thou
sand hurrying into the city by the
early business trains. They were
representatives of the poorer type of
clerk. And yet to the close observer
something more might be read in
their faces; a greedy, hungry look, a
shifty, untrustworthy look the look
of those who are jealous of everyone
better placed than themselves, but
who are incapable of trying to bet
ter their own positions except by the
relative method of dragging back
their more fortunate acquaintances;
the look of little men dissatisfied
not so much with their own little
ness as with the bigness of other
people.
The two others were Jews; a little
flashily dressed, distinctly addicted
to cheap jewelry. They were sitting
apart from the other three, talking
in low tones, but as the door opened
their conversation ceased abruptly
and they looked up' at the newcomers
with the keen, searching look of their
race. Waldock they hardly glanced
at; it was the stranger, Zaboleff, who
riveted their attention. They took
in every detail of the shrewd foreign
face the olive skin, the dark, pierc
ing eyes, the fine-pointed beard; they
measured him up as a boxer measures
up his opponent, as a business man
takes stock of the second party in
a deal; then once again they eon-
versed' together in low tones which
were barely above a whisper.
It was Jim who broke the silence
Flash Jim, to give him the full name
to which he answered in the haunts
he frequented.
"Wot abaht getting on with It,
guvnor?" he remarked with an at
tempt at a genial smile. ''This 'ere
'ouse ain't wot I'd choose for a
bloomin' "oneymoon."
With an abrupt gesture Waldock
silenced him and advanced to the
table,
"This Is Mr. Znboleff, gentlemen,"
he said quietly. "We are a little
late, I am afraid, but it was un
avoidable. He will explain to you why
you were asked to come here, and
not meet at our usual rendezvous in
Soho."
He stepped back a couple of paces
and Zaboleff took his place. For a
moment or two he glanced around
at the faces turned expectantly to
ward him; then resting his two hands
on the table in front of him, he
leaned toward them.
"Gentlemen," he began, and the
foreign accent seemed a little more
pronounced. "I have asked you to
come here tonight through my good
friend, Mr. Waldock, because it has
come to our ears no matter hpw -
that London is no longer a safe meet
ing place Two or three things have
occurred lately the aignificance of
which it is impossible to disregard
Our chief, with whom I spent last
evening, is seriously concerned about
these things."
"You spent last night with the
.chief?"' aaid Waldock, and his voice
held a tremor of excitement, while
the others leaned forward eagerly.
"Is he, then, in Holland?"
"Who is he this man we're al
ways hearing about and never see
ing?" demanded one of the three
clerks aggressively.
"He is the Chief," replied the
other, while his eyes seemed to bora
into tht speaker's brain. "Just that
and no more. And that is quite
enough for you." His glance traveled
round the room, and his audisnee re
laxed. "By the way, is not that a
chink in the abutter there?"
"All the safer," grunted Flash Jim,
"Anyone passing will think the ghost
is walking."
"Nevertheless, kindly cover it up,"
ordered Zaboleff, and one of the Jews
rose and wedged his pocket handker
chief Into the crack. There was si
lence in the room while he did so,
a silence broken only by the mourn
ful hooting of an owl outside.
"Owls is the only things wot comes
to this d n museum," said Flash
Jim morosely. "Owls and" blinkin'
fools like us."
"Stow it Jim," snarled Waldock fu
riously. "Anyone would think you
wanted a nurseV
"Gentlemen please." Zaboleff held
up a protesting hand. "We do not
want to prolong matters, but one or
two explanationa are necessary. To
return, then, to these things that
have happened recently, and which
necessitated a fresh rndezvous for
this evening one which our friend
Mr. Waldock so obligingly found.
Three messengers sent out during the
last three weeks bearing instructions
and what is more important money,
have disappeared."
"Blimey!" muttered Flash Jim; "is
it the police?"
"It is not the police, which is what
makes it so much more serious,"
answered Zaboleff quietly, and Flash
Jim breathed a sigh of relief. "It is
easy to keep within the law, but if
our informatoin is correct we are up
against a body of men who are not
within the law themselves. A body
of men who are absolutely unscrup
ulous and utterly ruthless; a body
of men who appear to know our se
cret plans as well as we do ourselves,
and the difficulty of it is, gentlemen,
that though legally speaking, on ac
count of the absurd legislation in
this country we may keep within the
law ourselves, we are hardly in a
position to appeal to the police for
protection. Our activities, though al
lowed officially, are hardly such as
would appeal even to the English au
thorities. And on this occasion par
ticularly that is the ease. You may
remember that the part I played in
stirring up bloodshed at Cowden
beath, a few months ago, under the
name of McTavish, caused me to be
deported. So though our cause is
legal my presence in this country is
not. Which was why tonight, it was
particularly essential that we should
not be disturbed. Not only are we up
against this unknown gang of men,
but I, in addition, am up against the
police."
"Have you any information with
regard to this gang?" It was the L
Jew who had closed the chink in the
shutters speaking for the first time.
."None of. any use save that they
are masked in black, and cloaked in
long black cloaks." He paused a
moment as if to collect his thoughts.
"They are all armed, and Petrovitch
who escaped from them was very
insistent on one point. It concerned
the leader of the gang, who he af
firmed was a man of the most gigan
tic physical strength; a giant pow
erful as two ordinary strong men.
He said . . . Ahl Mein Gott 1"
His voice rose in a scream as he
cowered back, while the others, with
terror in their faces, rose hurriedly
and huddled together in the corners
of the room.
In the doorway stood a huge man
covered from head to, foot in black.
In each hand he held a revolver, with
which he covered the eight occupants
during the second or two which it
took for half a dozen similarly dis
guised men to file past him and take
up their positions round the walls.
And Waldock, a little more educated
than the remainder of his friends,
found himself thinking of old tales
of the Spanish inquisition and the
doges of Venice even as he huddled
a little nearer to the table.
' "Stand by ' the table, all of you."
It was the man at the door who
spoke in a curiously deep voice, and
like sheep they obeyed him all save
Flash Jim. For that worthy, crook
though he was, was not without
physical courage. The police he
knew better than to play the fool
with, but these were not the police.
"Wot the" he snarled, and got
no farther. Something hit him be
hind the head, a thousand stars danc
ed before his eyes, and with a
strsngled grunt he crashed forward
on his face.
For a moment or two there was
silence, and then once again the man
at the door spoke. .
"Arrange the specimens in a row."
In a second the seven remaining
men were marshaled in a line, while
behind them stood six motionless
black figures. And then the big man
walked slowly down in front of them,
peering into each man s face. He
spoke no word until he reached the
end of the line, and then, his inspec
tion concluded, he stepped back and
leaned against the wall facing them.
"A nauseating collection, he re
marked thoughtfully. "A loathsome
brood, What are the three under
sized and shivering insects on the
right?"
"Those are three of my clerks,"
said Waldock with an assumption of
angry bravado. "And I would like
to know" '
"In good time you will," answered
the deep voice. ' "Three of your
clerks, are they; imbued with your
rotten ideas, I suppose, and yearn
ing to follow in .father's footsteps?
Have we anything particular against
them?"
There was no answer from the
masked men, and the leader made
a sign. Instantly the three terrified
clerks were seised from behind and
brought up to him, where they stood
trembling and shaking in every limb.
"Listen to mo, you three littlo
worms." With an effort they pulled
themselves together; a ray of hope
was dawning in their minds perhaps
they were going to be let off easy.
"My friends and I do not like you or
your type. You meet in aeeret places,
and in your alimy minds you concoct
schemes which, incredible thongh it
may seem, have so far had more than
a fair measure of success in this
country. But your main idea is not
the schemes, but the money you are
paid to carry them out. This is your
first and last warning. Another time
you will be treated differently. Get
out of here and see you don't stop."
The door was elosed behind them
and two of the masked men; there
was a sound as of a boot being used
with skill and strength, and cries of
pain; then the door reopened and the
mask men returned.
"They have gone," announced one
of them. "We helped them on their
way."
"Good," said the leader. "Let us
continue the inspection. What are
these two?"
A man from behind stepped for
ward and examined them slowly; then
he came up to the leader and whis
pered in his ear.
"Is that so?" A new and terrible
note had crept into the deep voice.
"My friends and I do not like your
trade, you swine. It is well that we
have come provided with the neces
sary implement for such a case. Fetch
the eat."
In silence one of the men left the
room, and as his full meaning came
home to the two Jews they flung
themselves groveling on the floor,
screaming for mercy.
"Gag them."
The order came out sharp and
clear, and in an instant the two
writhing men were seized and gag
ged. Only their rolling eyes and
trembling hands showed the terror
they felt as they dragged themselves
on their knees towards the impassive
leader. .
"The cat for cases of this sort is
used legally," he remarked. "We
merely anticipate the law."
With a ' .resh outburst of moans
the two watched the door open and
the inexorable black figure come in,
holding in his band a short stick
from which nine lashos hung down.
"Heavens!" gasped Waldock, start
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1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIB
1 Make
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W '' Not being able to carry a credit system
H I am forced to return to a strictly CASH- ni
H basis.. Make your money count; I offer f
H you good reductions for the cash, which s
j the following prices indicate: jj
H " $18.00 Leather Coats ....Now $15.00 U
$13.75 Leather Coats Now $10.50 Hj
EH $23.50 Overcoats Now $20.00 3
' $13.50 Moleskin, sheeplined Coats ....$10.50
S $5.25 Boys' Makinaw Coats ;....$4.25 s
H $1.65 Bib Overalls $1.55 HE
Ej A. & L. Peaches, 2y2-lb. cans, 3 for 85c HE
Corn, 2-lb. cans ." ..3 for 55c HE
EE Sweet Corn 3 for 45c H
EE Royal Club Corn 3 for 65c Hj
EE Royal Red Tomatoes, 2y2 cans 3 for 50c j
H Royal Red, case $3.95 he
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Royal Club Peanut Butter, 5 lbs $1.20
U M. J. B. Coffee, 5 lbs. ..$2.80
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W. P. Prophet J
ing forward. "What you going
to do?"
"Flog them to within an Inch of
their lives," said the deep -voice. "It
is the punishment for their method
of livelihood. Five and six take
charge. After you have finished re
move them in Number Three ear, and
drop them in London."
Struggling impotently they were
led away, and the leader passed on
to the remaining two men.
"So, Zaboleff, you came after, all.
Unwise, surely, in view of the po
lice?" "Who are you?" muttered Zaboleff,
his lips trembling.
"A specimen hunter," said the oth
er suavely. "I am aaking a col
lection of people like you. The po
lice of our country are unduly kind
to your breed, although they would
not have been kind tonight, Zaboleff,
unless I had intervened. But I could
n't let them have you; you're such
a very nice specimen. I don't think
somehow that you've worked this lit
tle flying visit of yours very well.
Of course I knew about it, but I
must confess I was surprised when
I found that the police did, too."
"What do you mean?" demanded
the other hoarsely.
"I mean that when we arrived here
we found to our surprise that the
police had forestalled us. Popular
house, this tonight."
"The police!" muttered Waldock
dazedly.
"Even so led by no less a per
sonage than Inspector Mclver. They
had completely surrounded the house,
and necessitated a slight change in
my plans."
"Where are they now?" cried Wal
dock. "Ahl Where indeed. Let us trust
at any rate in comfort."
"By heaven!" said Zaboleff, taking
a step forward. "As I asked you
before who are you?"
"And as I told you before, Zabo
leff, a collector of specimens. Some
I keep; some I let go as you have
already seen."
"And what are you going to do
with me?"
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Your 1
"Keep you. Up to data you are
the cream of my collection."
"Are you working with the police?"
said the other dazedly.
"Until tonight we have not dashed.
Even tonight, well, I think we are
working toward the aame end. And
do you know what that end is, Zabo
leff?" The deep voice grew a little
sterner. "It Is the utter final over
throw of you and all that you stand
for. To achieve this object we shall
show no mercy. Even as you are
working in the dark so are we. Al
ready you are frightened; . already
we have proved that you fear the un
known more than you fear the police;
already the first few tricks are ours.
But you still hold the ace, Zaboleff
or shall we say the king of trumps?
And when we catch him you will
cease to be the cream of my collec
tion. This leader of yours it was
what Petrovitch told him, I suppose,
that made him send you over."
WHY SHIP YOUR CREAM TO PORTLAND?
Patronize your own creamery. We will pay you
as many dollars and cents as you can get any
where. Ship us your next can and be convinced
you are not gaining anything by shipping to
Portland.
Morrow County Creamery Co.
W. C. COX, Manager.
Two Men and their
Credit
TWO men walked into this bank the other day both
asking for a substantial loan. One of them secured
all that he required. To the other we could not and did
not extend credit.
The reason is this : The man who secured all that he
requested had maintained a substantial balance in his
checking account. We know his ability and his financial
stability. We know our money with him will be safe.
The other man to whom we. dared not extend credit
has an account, it's true, but the balance in his account
was always low and occasionally overdrawn a poor
credit risk. This is only one reason why it is valuable to
maintain a substantial balance in your checking account.
Farmers & Stockgrowers National
Heppner Bfflk Oregon
that the unpleasant things
of 1925 be forgotten that the
pleasant ones only be remem
bered that we start 1926 with
sincere good wishes for all
and that we shall strive to be
worthy of your good will and
continued patronage.
Malcolm
fife
"I refuse to say," aaid the ether.
"Ton needn't; it is obvioas. And
now that you are caught he will
come her himself. Perhaps not at
once but be will come. And then
. . . But we waste time. The money,
Zaboleff."
"I have no money," ha anarled.
"You lie, Zaboleff. You lie clum
sily. Yon have quite a lot of money
brought over for Waldock ao that he
might carry on the good work after
you had sailed tomorrow. Quick,
please; time passes."
With a curse Zaboleff produced a
small canvas bag and held it out
The other took it and glanced inside.
"I see," he said gravely. "Pearls
and precious stones. Belonging one,
I suppose, to a murdered gentle
woman whose only erim was that
she, through no action of her own,
was born in a different sphere to
fContfnqgd on Pay She)
-MM-
m
D. Clark