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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 1926)
HEPPNER GAZETTE TIMES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1926 PAGE THREE C77e A Sequel to Bulldog Drummond. C0PVR16HT BY B. DOEAN CO. 8YNOPS1S CHAPTER I. To a iratherlnir of anar chists in Harking, London suburb, ZaboMf, foreign agitator, tells of the operations of a body of men who have become a menace to their activities. He is interrupted by the men he is describing (the Black Gang), who break up the meeting, sentencing some of the participants to condign punishment and carrying away others. A memorandum found on ZaboletT gives an address in Hox ton, London, which the leader of the at tacking party considers of importance. CHAPTEK II In Which Scotland Yard Sits Up and Takes Notice. SIR BRYAN JOHNSTONE, director of criminal investigation, leaned back in his chair and Ktared at the ceiling with a frown. His hands were thrust deep into his trousers pockots; his long legs were stretched out to their full extent under the big roll-top desk in front of him. He was puzzled, and the report lying on the desk in front of him was the rea son. For perhaps ten minutes he re mained motionless, then he leaned forward and touched an electric bell. A girl secretary came quickly into the room. "Miss Forbes," said Sir Bryan, "I wish you would find out if Chief In spector Mclver is in the building. If so I would like to sec him at once; if not, see that he gets the message as soon as he comes in." The door closed behind the girl, and after a moment or two the man rose from his desk and began to pnee up and down the room with long, even strides. Every now and then he would stop and atare at some print on the wall, but it was the blank stare of a man whose mind is engrossed in oth er matters. His eyes came round to the desk once more, the desk on which the re port was lying. It was Inspector Mc Iver's report hence his instructions to the secretnry. It was the report on a very singular matter which had taken place the previous night, and after a while Sir Bryan picked up the typed sheets and gianced through them again. And he was still stand ing by the desk, idly turning over the pages when the secretary came into the room. "Chief Inspector Mclver is here, Sir Bryan," she announced. "Tell him to come in, M,iss Forbes." A square-jawed, rugged Scotsman, Mclver looked the typo to whom Holy Writ was Holy Writ only in so far as it could be proved. He was short and thick-set, and his physical strength was proverbial. "What the dickens is all this about, Mclver?" said Sir Bryan with a smile, when the door had shut behind the secretary. "I wish I knew myself, 3ir," re turned the other seriously. "I've never been so completely defeated in my life." Sir Bryan waved him to a chair and sat down at the desk. "I've read your report," he said, still smiling, "and frankly, Mclver, if it had been anyone but you, I should have been annoyed. But I know you far too well for that. Look here" he pushed a box of cigarettes across the table, "take a cigarette and let's hear about it." "Well, sir," began Mclver, "this is briefly what took place. At ten o' clock last night. as we had arranged, we completely surrounded the sus pected house on the outskirts of Hac king. I had had a couple of good men on duty there lying concealed the whole day, and when I jirrived at about nine-thirty with Sergeant An drews and half-a-dozen others, they reported to me that at least eight men were inside, and thnt ZubolefT was one of them. Ho had been shad owed the whole way down from Lime house with another man, and both the watchers were positive that he had not left tho house. So I posted my men and crept formard to investi gate myself. There was a little chink in the wooden shutters of one of the downstairs rooms through which tho light was streaming. I took a glimpse through, and found that everything was just as had been reported to me. There were eight of . thorn thorn, ami an unpleasnnt looking bunch they were, too, Zaboleff I saw at the head of the table, and standing next to him was that man Waldock who runs two or three of the worst Rod papers. There was also Flash Jim, and I be gan to wish I'd brought a few more men." Mclver smiled ruefully. "It was about the last coherent wish I re member. And," he went on seriously, "whnt I'm going to tell you now, sir, may Boem extraordinary and what one would expect in detective fiction, but as sure as I am sitting in this chair, It is what actunlly took place. Some where from close to, thero came the sound of an owl hooting. At tho same moment I distinctly heard the noise of what seemed u scuffle, and stifled curse. And then, and this is what beats mo, sir." Mclver pounded a Tiuee fist into an equally huge palm "I was picked up from behind as if I was a baby. Yes, sir, a baby. Involuntarily Sir Bryan smiled "You make a good substantial in fant, Mclver." "Exactly, Bir," grunted tho Inspec tor. "If a man had suggested Buch gang BY CYRIL McNEILE a thing to me yesterday, I'd have laughed in his face. But the fact remains lhat I was picked up just like a child in arms, and doped, sir, doped. Me at my time of life. They chloroformed me, and that was the last I saw of Zaboleff or the rest of the gang." The inspector leaned forward and stared at his chief. "You've heard the rumors, sir," he went on after a moment, "the same as I have." "Perhaps," said Sir Bryan quietly. "But go on, Mclver. I'd like to hear what's op your mind." "H'b the Black Gang, sirr" said the inspector, leaning forward impress ively. "There have been rumors going round, rumors which our men have heard here and there for the past two months, I've heard 'em myself; and once or twice I've wondered. Nov I'm sure especially after what Flash Jim said. That gang is no rumor, it's solid fact." "Have you any information as to what their activities have been, as suming for a moment it is the truth?" asked Sir Bryan. "None for certain, sir; until this moment I wasn't certain of its exist ence. But now looking back there have been quite a numbr of sudden disappearances. We haven't troubled officially, we haven't been asked to. Hardly likely when one realizes who the people are who have disappeared." "Ail conjecture, Mclver," said Sir Bryan. ."They may be lying doggo, or they'll turn up elsewhere." "They may be, sir," answered Mc lver doggedly. "But take the com plete disappearance of Granger a fortnight ago. He's one of the worst of the Red men, and we know he hasn't left the country. Where is he? His wife, I happen to know, is crazy with anxiety, so it doesn't look like a put-up job. Take that extra ordinary case of the Pole who was found lashed to the railings in White hall with one-half of his 'beard shaved off and the motto 'Portrait of a Bolshevist' painted on his forehead. Well, I don't need to tell you, sir that that particular Pole, Strambowski, was undoubtedly a messenger be tweenwell, we know who between and what the message was. And then take last night." "Well, what about last night?" "For the first time this gang has come into direct contact with us." "Always assuming the fact of its existence." "Exactly, sir," answered Mclver. "Well, they've got Zaboleff and they 've got Waldock, and they laid eight of us out to cool. 1 guess they're not to be sneezed at." With a thoughtful look on his face Sir Bryan rose and strolled over to the window. Though not prepared to go quite as far as Mclver, there were certainly some peculiar elements in the situationelements which he, as head of a big public department, could not officially allow for an in stant, however much it might amuse him as a private individual. "We must find Zaboleff and Wal dock," he said curtly, without turn ing round. "Waldock, a any rate has friends who will make a noise unless he's forthcoming. And . . .' But his further remarks were in terrupted by the entrance of his sec retHry with a note. .' 1' or the inspector, Kir Bryan," she said, and Mclver after a glance at his chief onened the jnirelone. For a while he studied the letter in si lence. then with nn enienmtic smile he rose and handed it to th2 man by the window. "No answer, thank you, Miss Forbes," ho said, and when they were once more alone, he began rubbing his hands together softly-a sure sign of being excited. "Curtis and Samuel Bauer, both flogged nearly to death and found in a t:lum off White chapel. The note said two of 'em had been flogged. So," said Sir Bryan quietly. Those two were at Barking last night They were, sir," answered the in spector. And their line queried the duel. White slave traffic of the worst typo," said Mclver. "They generally drug the gills with cocaine or some dope first. What do you s;.y to my theory now, sir "It's another point in its favor, Mclver," conceded Sir Bryan cau tiously; "but it still wants a lot more proof. And, anyway, whether you're right or not, we can't allow it to continue. We shall be having ques tions nskel in parliament." Mclver nodded portentiously. "If I can't lay my hands on a man who can lift me up like a baby and dope me, may 1 never have another ensc. Like a baby, sir. Me He opened hii hands out helpless ly, and this time Sir Bryan laughed outright, only to turn with a quick frown as the door lending to the secretary's office was flung open to admit a man. lie caught a vague glimpse of the scandalized Miss Forbes hovering like a canary eat ing bird-seed in. the background; then he turned to the newcomer. "Confound it, Hugh," he cried. "I'm busy." Hugh Drummond grinned all over his fnce, and lifting a hand like a leg of mutton he omoto Sir Bryan in tho back, to tho outraged amaze ment of Inspector Mclver. 'You priceless old bean, boomed Hugh affably. "I gathered from the female bird punching the what-not outside that the great brain was heaving but, my dear old lad, I have come to report a crime. A crime which I positively caw com mitted with my own eyes; an out rage;, a blot upon this fair land of ours. He sank heavily into a chair and selected a cigarette. He was a vast individual with one of those phe nomenally ugly faces which is ren dered utterly pleasant by the ex traordinary charm of its owners ex pression. No human being had ever been known to be angry with Hugh for long. He was either moved to laughter by the perennial twinkle in the big man's blue eyes, or he was stunned by a playful blow on the chest from a fist which rivaled a steam hammer. Of brain he appar ently possessed a minimum; of mus cle he possessed about five ordinary men's share. And yet, unlike so many powerful men his quickness on his feet was astounding as many a good heavy weight boxer had found to his cost. In the days of his youth Hugh Drummond known more familiarly to his intimates as Bulldog had been able to do the hundred in a shade over ten seconds. And though the mere thought of such a performance now would have caused him to break out into a cold sweat, he wu3 still quite capable of a turn of speed which many a lighter-built man would have envied. Between him and Sir Bryan John stone existed one of those friend ships which are founded on totally dissimilar tastes. At school, for some inscrutbale reason, the quiet schol arship of the elder boy had appealed to the kid of fourteen who was even then a mass of brawn. Their friend ship started then, and it never died, though their ways lay many poles apart. To Johnstone a well-deserved knighthood and a high position in the Innd; to Drummond as much money as he wanted and a life of sport. "Has someone stolen the goldfish?" queried Sir Bryan with mild sar casm. "Great Scott! I hope not," cried Hugh in alarm. "Phyllis gave me complete instructions about the brutes before she toddled off. I make a noise like an ant's egg, and drop them in the sink every morning. No, old lad of the village, it is something of vast import; a stain upon the es cutcheon of your force. Last night let us whisper it in Gath I dined and further supped not wisely but too well. In fact I deeply regret to ad mit that I became a trifle blotto not to say tanked. Of course it wouldn't have happened if Phyllis had been propping up the jolly old home, don't you know; but she's away in the coun try with the nightingales and slugs and things. Well, as I say, in the young hours of the morning, I thought I'd totter along homo, I'd been with some birds, male birds, Tumkins" he stared sternly at Sir Bryan, while Mclver stiffened into rigid horror at such an incredible nickname "and when I left it was about 2 a. m. Well, I wandered along through Leicester square, and stopped just outside Scot's to let one of those watering cars water my head for me. While 1 was lying in the road, steal ing at the brow, a motor car went past, and it stopped in Piccadilly cir cus." Mclver's air of irritation vanished suddenly, and a quick glance passed between him and Sir Bryan. "Nothing much you observe in that, Tuirfluns," he burbled on, quite un conscious of the sudden attention of his Wearers. "But wait, old lad I haven't got to tho motto yet. From this car there stepped largo numbers of men; at least so it seemed to me, and you must remember I'd recently had a shampoo. And just as I got abreast of them they lifted out an other warrior, who appeared to me to be unconscious. They put him on the pavement and got back into tho car again just 3 I tottered alongside. "'What ho! souls,' I murmured, 'what is this and that, so to speak ' "'Binged, old bean, badly binged,' said the driver of the car. 'We're leaving him there to cool.' "And wtih that the car drove off. Thero was I, Tumkins, in a partially binged condition alono ill Piccadilly circus with a bird in a completely binged condition. " 'How now,' I snid to myself. 'Shall I go and induce yon wate merchant to return' as a matter of fact I was beginning to feel I could do with an other whack myself 'or shall I leave you here as your pals observed to cool'." "I bent over him as I pondered this NEW HANDY PACK Fits hand pocket and purse More for your money "nd the beet Peppermint Chairing Sweet for auymc i.ey Look for Wrigley's P. K. Handy Pad on your Dealer' Counter 07 S knotty point, and as I did so, Tum kins, I became aware of a strange smell.". Hugh paused dramatically and se lected another eigarette, while Sir Bryan flashed a quick glance of warn ing at Mclver, who was obviously bursting with suppressed excitement. "A peculiar and sickly odor, Tum kins," resumed the speaker with mad dening deliberation. "A strange and elusive perfume. For a long while it eluded me that smell: I just couldn't place it. And then suddenly I got it; right in the middle, old boy plumb in the center of the windpipe. It was chloroform: the old bird wasn't drunk he was doped." Completely exhausted, Hugh lay back in his chair, and once again Sir Bryan flashed a warning glance at his exasperated subordinate. "Would you be able to recognize any of the men in the car if you saw them again?" he asked quietly. "I should know the driver," an swered Hugh after profound thought. "And the bird beside him. But not the others." "What did you do then?" asked Sir Bryan. "Well, I brought the brain to lear," answered Hugh, "and decided there was nothing to do. He was doped, and I was bottled so by a unanimous casting vote of one I toddled off home. But Tumkins, while I was feeding the goldfish this morning or rather after lunch conscience was gnawing at my vitals. And after pro found meditation, and consulting with my fellow Denny, I decided that the call of duty was clear. I came to you, Tumkins, as a child flies to its mother. Who better, I thought, than old Tum-tum to listen to my maidenly secrets? And so . "One moment, Hugh," Sir Bryan held up his hand. "Do you mind if I speak to Inspector Mclver for a moment?" "Anything you like, old lad," mur mured Drummond. "But be merciful. Remember my innocent wife in the country." And silence settled on the room, broken . only by the low-voiced con versation between Mclver and his chief in the window. After a while strangled snore from the chair an nounced that Drummond was ceasing to take an intelligent interest in things mundane. "He's an extraordinary fellow, Mc lver," said Sir Bryan, glancing at the sleeper with a smile. "I've known him ever since we were boys at SUCCESS MUST BE BUILT ON SOMETHING REAL Chesterfield present position anion world's cigarettes on taste school. And he's not quite such a fool an he makes himself out. You re member that extraordinary cae over the man Peterson a year or so ago. Well, it was he who did the whole thin p. His complete disability to he cunning utterly defeated that master crook, who was always looking for subtlety that wasn't there. And of course his strength is absolutely phe nomenal." "I know, sir," said Mclver doubt fully, "but would he consent to take on such a job and do exactly as he was told?" They were both looking out of the window, while in the room behind them the heavy breathing of the sleeper rose and fell monotonously. And when the whole audience is asleep it ceases to be necessary to talk in undertones. Which was why Sir Bryan and the inspector during the next ten minutes discussed cer tain matters of import which they would not have discussed through megaphones at the Savoy. They con cerned Hugh and other things, and the other things particularly were of interest. And they continued discuss ing these other things until, with a dreadful noise like a racing motor backfiring, the sleeper sat up in his chair and stretched himself. "Tumkins," he- cried, "I have com mitted sacrilege. I have slept in the Holy of Holies. Have you decided on my fate? Am I to be shot at dawn?" Sir Bryan left the window ai.J sat down at his desk. For a tixjpa int or two he rubbed his chin thoughtfully with his left hand, as if trying to make up his mind. "Would you like to do a job of wcrk, old man?" Hugh started as if he had been stung by a wasp, and Sir Bryan smiled. "Not real work," he sr. id reassur ingly. "But by mere luck last night you saw something which Inspector Mclver would have given a good deal to see. Or to be more accurate, you saw some men whom Mclver particu larly wants to meet." "Those blokes in the car you mean?" cried Hugh brightly. "Those blokes in the car," agreed the other. "'Incidentally, I may say there was a good deal more in that little episode than you think: and after consultation with Mclver I have decided to tell you a certain amount about it, because you can help us, Hugh. You see, you're one up on Mclver: you have at any rate seen those men and he hasn't. Moreover, . ' m vfc3Hr. y C1 .TrW,vv,'.V. : "VST you say yau could recognize two of them again." "Good heavens! Tumkins," mur mured Hugh aghast, "don't cay you want me to tramp the streets of Lon don looking for them." Sir Bryan gmiled. "We'll spare you that," he an swered. "But I'd like you to pay at tention to what I'm going to tell you. Last night a very peculiar thing hap pened to Mclver. He and some of hi? men in the normal course of duty surrounded a certain house in which were some people we wanted to lay our hands on. To be more accurate there was one man there whom we wanted. He'd been shadowed ever since he'd landed in England that morning, shadowed the whole way from docks to the house. And sure enough, when Mclver and hip men surrounded the house, there was our friend and all his pals in one of the downstairs rooms. It was then that this pceuliar thing happened. I gather from Mclver that he heard the noise of an owl hooting, also a faint scuffle and a curse. And after that he heard nothing more. He was chloroformed from behind and went straight out of the picture." "Great Scott! " murmured Hugh, staring incredulously at Mclver. "What an am:izing thing!" "And this is where you come in, Hugh," continued Sir Bryan. "Me!" Hugh sat up abruptly. "Why nie?" "One of the men inside the room was an interesting fellow known as Flash Jim. He is a burglar of ro mean repute, though he is quite ready to tackle any sort of job which carries money with it. A .id vhen Mclver, having recovered himself ir. the morning, ran Flash Jim to ground in one of his haunts he was quite un der the impression that the men who had doped him and the other officers were pals of Flash Jim. But after he'd talked to him he changed his mind. All Flash Jim could tell him was that on the previous night he and some friends had been discussing business at this house. He didn't attempt to deny that. He went on to say that suddenly the room had been filled with a number of masked men, and that he'd had a clip over the back of the head which knocked him out. After that presumably he was given a whiff of chloroform to keep him quiet, and the next thing he remembers is being kicked back into activity by the policeman at" Sir Bryan paused a moment to emphasize the point "at J X lias earn v X Piccadilly circus. "Good Lord!" said Hugh dazedly. "Then that bird I saw last night sleeping it off on the pavement was Flash Jim." "Precisely," answered Sir Bryan. "But what is far more to tho point, oid man, it that the two birds you think you would be able to recognize and who were in the car, ar two of the masked men who first of all laid out Mclver and subsequently iur rounded Flash Jim and his pais in side." "But what did they want to do that fcr?" asked Hugh in bewilderment. "That is just what we want to find out," replied Sir Bryan. "As far as we can see at the moment they are not criminal in the accepted sense of the word. They flogged two of the men who were there last night, and there are no two men in England who more richly deserved it. They kid naped two others, one of whom was the man we particularly wanted. Then to wind up they planted Flash Jim as I've told you, let the others go, and brought Mclver and all his men back to Mclver's house, where they left them to cool on the pavement. If we give you warning would you care to go with Mclver the next time he has any job on, where he thinks it is likely this gang may turn up? We have a pretty shrewd idea as to the type of thing they specialize in." Hugh passed his hand dazedly over his forehead. "Sort of mother's help you mean," and Mclver frowned horribly. "While the bird biffs Mclver, I biff the bird. Is that the notion?" "That is the notion," agreed Sir Bryan. "Of course you'll have to do exactly what Mclver tells you, and the whole thing is most unusual. But in view of the special features of the case . . . What is it Miss Forbes?" He glanced up at his secretary, who was standing in the doorway with a slight frown. "He insists on seeing you at once, Sir Bryan." She came forward with a card, which Sir Bryan took. "Charles Latter," The frown deep ened. "What the deuce does he want?" The answer was supplied by the gentleman himself, who appeared at that moment in the doorway. He was evidently in a state of great agitation and Sir Bryan rose. "I am engaged at the moment, Mr. Latter," he said coldly. ("Continued on Pare SK alone Liofiirr & Mr ntt Tobacco Co. a i edits g the
