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xxx x mufuuAi, miN. zi, irat). rAGE THREE
A Sequel to Bulldog Drummond.
COPYRIGHT sv
CftOK6E B. DCSAN CO.
SYNOPSIS
CHAPTER I. To gathering- of anar
chist in Harking-, London suburb, Zaboleff,
foreign ag-itator, tells of the operations of
body of men who have become a menace
to their activities. He is interrupted by
the men he is describing (the Black Gang) ,
wno DreaK up tne meeting, sentencing some
of the participants to condign punishment
and carrying away others. A memorandum
found on Zaboleff gives an addres in Hox
ton, London, which the leader of the at
tacking party considers of importance.
CHAPTER II. Sir Bryan Johnstone, di
rector of criminal investigation, hears f.om
Inspector Mclver. sent to arrest Zaboleff
the night before, of his discomfiture. He
had been seized and chloroformed and his
raid frustrated. Hugh Drummnd, man of
leisure and old friend of Johnstone's ar
rives and tolls of seeing the kidnapers and
their victims. He becomes an unpaid agent
of the police, to be under the direction of
Mclver, and takes up his duties at once.
CHAPTER III. A "Mr. William Atkin
son," ostensibly pawnbroker and money
lender, really Count Zadowa, director of
anarchy in England, does business in an
other London suburb. A mysterious stran
ger invades the premises. Count Zadowa,
after a brief glimpse f the intruder, is
strangely disconcerted.
CHAPTER IV
In Which a Bomb Bursts at Unpleas
antly Close Quarters.
IT WAS perhaps because the
thought of failure never entered
Hugh Drummond's head that such
a consiacraoie measure or success
had been possible up to date that
and the absolute, unquestioning obe
dience which he demanded of hii
pals, members of the Black Gang,
and which they accorded him willing
ly. As they knew, he laid no claims
to brilliance; but as they also knew,
he hid a very shrewd common sense
beneath his frivolous manner. And
having once accepted the sound mil
itary truism that one indifferent gen
eral is better than two good ones,
they accepted his leadership with un
swerving loyalty vvnat was going
to be the end of their self-imposed
fight against the pests of society did
not worry them greatly; all that
mattered was that there should be a
certain amount of sport in the col
lection of the specimens. Granted
the promise of that, they willingly
sacrificed any engagements and car
ried out Hugh's orders to the letter.
Up to date, however, the campaign,
though fKr from' being dull, had not
produced any really big results. A
number of sprats and a few moderate-sized
fish had duly been caught
in the landing-net, and been sent to
the private pool to meditate at lei
sure. But nothing really large had
come their way. Zaboleff was a good
haul. But the Black Gang, which
aimed merely at the repression pf
terrorism by terrorism, had found it
, too easy. The nauseating cowardice
of the majority of their opponents
was becoming monotonous, their
strong aversion to soap and water,
insanitary. They wanted big game
not the rats that emerged from the
sewers.
Even Drummond had begun to feci
that patriotism might be carried too
far, until the moment when the ad
dress in Hoxton had fallen into
their hands. Then, with the optimism
that lives eternal in the hunter's
breast, fresh hope had arisen in his
mind. He had determined on bigger
game. If it failed if they drew
blank he had almost decided to
chuck the thing up altogether. Phyl
lis, he knew, would be overjoyed if
he did.
"Just this one final coup, old girl,"
he said, as they sat waiting in the
Carlton for the awe-inspiring rela
tives. "I've got it cut and dried, and
it comes off tonight. If it' a dud,
we'll dissolve ourselves at any rate
for the present, If only "
He sighed, and his wife looked at
him reproachfully. ,
"I know you want another fight
with Petersen, you old goat," she
remarked "But you'll never see him
again, or that horrible girl."
"Don't you think I shall, Phyl?"
He stared despondently at his shoes.
"I can't help feeling myself that
somewhere or other behind all this
that cheery bird is lurking. My
dear, it would be too ghastly if I
never saw him again.1'
"The next time you see him,
Hugh," she answered quietly, "he
won't take any chances with you."
"But my angel child," he boomed
cheerfully. "I don't want him to.
Not on your lifel Nor shall I. Good
Lord! Here they are. Uncle Timothy
looks more like a niangel-wbrtzcl than
ever."
And so at nine-thirty that evening,
a party of five men snt waiting in a
small sitting-room of a house situa
ted in a remote corner of South Ken
sington, Some easels Btood around
the walls covered with hulf-finlshed
sketches, as befitted a room belong
ing to a budding artist such as Toby
Sinclair. Not that he wna an artist
or even a budding one, but ho felt
that a man must have some excuse
for living in South Kensington. And
so ho had bought the sketches and
put them round the room, principally
to deceive the landlady. The fact
that he was never there except at
strange hourt merely confirmed that
excellent woman's opinion that all
artists were dissolute rascals. But
he paid his rent regularly, and times
were hard, especially in South Ken
sington, Had the worthy soul known
that her second best sitting-room
BYQfRIL Jctffflf
wn.it. AWce
was the rendezvous of this Black
Gang, it is doubtful if she would
have been so complacent.' But she
didn't know, and continued her week
ly dusting of the sketches with char
acteristic zeal.
"Ted should be here soon," said
Drummond, glancing at his watch
"I hope he's got the bird all right."
"You didn't get into the inner room,
did you Hugh?" said Peter Darrell.
"No. But I saw enough to know
that it's beyond our form, old lad.
We've got to have a skilled cracks
man to deal with one of the doors
and almost certainly anything impor
tant will be in a safe inside."
"Just run over the orders again."
Toby Sinclair came back from draw
ing the blinds even more closely to
gether.
"Perfectly simple," said Hugh.
"Ted and I and Ginger Martin if
he's got him will go straight into
the house through the front door. I
know the geography of the place all
right, and I've already laid out the
caretaker clerk fellow once. Then
we must trust to luck. There should
n't be anybody there except the little
blighter of a clerk. The rest of you
will hang about outside in case of
any trouble. Don't bunch together;
keep on the move; but keep the doors
in sight. When you see us come out
again, make your own way home.
Cnn't give you any more detailed in
structions because I don't know my
self what may turn up. I shall rig
myself out here, after Ted arrives.
You had better go to your own rooms
and do it, but wait first to make sure
that he's roped in Ginger Martin
He glanced up as the door opened
and Jerry Seymour sometime of the
R F. G. put his head into the room.
"Ted's here, and he's got the bird
all right. Unpluasantjlooking bloke
wun a nattenea lace.
Right." Drummond rose, and
crossed to a cupboard. "Clear off.
you fellows. Zero twelve, midnight."
From the cupboard he pulled a long
black cloak and mask, which he pro
ceeded to put on, while the others
disappeared with the exception of
Jerry fceymour, who, came, into the
room. He was dressed in livery like
a chauffeur, and he had, in fact, been
driving the car in which Ted had
brought Ginger Martin.
"Any trouble?" asked Drummond.
"No. Once he was certain Ted had
nothing to do with the police he came
like a bird," said Jerry. "The fifty
quid did it." Then he grinned. "You
know Ted's a marvel. I'll defy any
body to recognize him."
Drummond nodded, and sat down at
the table facing the door.
"Tell Ted to bring him up. And
I don't want him to see you, Jerry,
so keep out of the light." -
Undoubtedly Jerry Seymour was
right with regard to Jerningham's
make-up As he and Martin came
into the room, it was only the sud
den start and cry on the part of the
crook that made Drummond certain
as to which was which.
"Blimey!" muttered the man.
shrinking back as he saw the huge
figure in black confronting him.
"Wot's the game, guv'nor?"
"There's no game. Martin." said
Drummond reassuringly. "You've
been told what you're wanted for,
hnven't you? A. little professional
assistance tonight, for which you will
be paid fifty pounds, is all wo ask
of you."
But Ginger Martin still seemed far
from easy in his mind. "You're one
of this 'ere Black Gang," he said
sullenly, glancing at the door in
front of which Jerningham was stand
ing, hhould he chance it and make
a dash to get away? Fifty pounds
are fifty pounds, but He gave a
little shiver as his eyes came around
again to the motionless figure on the
other side of the table.
"Quite correct, Martin," said the
same reassuring voice. "And it's only
because I don't want you to recog
nir.e me tlint I'm dressed up like this.
We don't mean you any harm." The
voice paused for a moment, and then
went on again. "You understand
that, Martin. We don't mean you any
harm, unless" and once again there
came a pause "unless you try any
monkey tricks. You are to do exactly
as I tell you, without question and
at once. If you don't well, Martin,
I have ways of dealing with people
who dori't do what I tell them."
There was silence while Ginger
Martin fidgeted about, looking like
a trapped animal. "What do yer
want me to do, guv'nor?" he said
at last.
"Open a safe amongst other things,"
r-nswered Drumnionu "Have you
brought your tools and things?"
"Yus -I've brought the outfit,'' mut
tered the other. "Where is the snfc?
Kic?"
"No, Martin, not hero. Some dis
tance awny, in fact. Wo shall start
in about an hour, Until then you
will stop in this room. You can
nine ,a whisky-and-s k(ii, and my
(riend here will stay with you. He
hen a gun, Martin, so remember what
1 nid. No monkey tricks,1'
With fnscinated eyes the crook
watched the speaker rhie and cross
to an inner door. Standinr he seem
ed more huge than ever, and Martin
gnvo a sigh .of relief as the door
closed behind him.
The entrance to Number 5 Green
street proved easier than Drummond
had expected so easy as to be al
most suspicious. No lights shone in
the windows above: the houe seem
ed completely deserted. Moreover,
the door into the street 'a unbolted,
and without a moment's hesitation
Drummond opened it and stepped in
ride, followed by Martin and Ter
Jerningham. The long blacx cloak
had been discarded; on.y the black
mask concealed his face, as the three
men stood inside the door, listening
intently. Not a sound was audible,
and after a moment or two Drum
mond felt his way cautiously through
the downstairs office toward the flight
of stairs that led to the rooms abov;.
In single file they crept up the
stairs, Drummond leading. The door
at the top was ajar, and for a while
they stood in the carpeted passage
above listening again.
"Along this passage are the- clerks'
offices," he explained in a low voice
to the other two. "At the far end
is another door which we shall prob
ably find locked . Beyond that is the
inner office,"
Well, let's go on wiv it, guv'nor,"
muttered Ginger Martin hoarsely.
There's no good in 'anging abaht."
Drummond switched on his electric
torch, and flashed it cautiously round.
Doors leading off the passage were
open in most cases, and all the
rooms were empty; it was obvious
that none of the staff were about.
And yet he felt an indefinable sense
of danger, which he tried in vain to
shake off. Somehow or other, he felt
certain that they were not alone
that there were other people in th
house. But Ginger Martin had no
such presentiments, and was rapidly
becoming impatient. J'o open the door
at tne end of the passage, if it should
prove to be locked, was such child's
play as to be absolutely contemptible
He wanted to get on with the safe
which might take time, instead of
fooling round in a passage listening
tor mice
Without a sound the cracksman tet
to work; his coarse features outlined
m the circle of the torch, his ill-Kept
fingers handling his instruments as
deftly as any surgeon. A little oil
here and there; a steady pressure
with a short pointed steel tool; a
iaint click.
"There you are, guv'nor," he mut
tered, straightening up. "Easy as kiss
yer 'and. And if yer waits till 1 find
me glove 'I 11 open it for yer; but
Ginger Martin's finger prints are too
well Known to run risks."
Still no sound came from anywhere.
though the click of the lock shot
back had been horribly loud in the
silence. And then, just as Martin
cautiously turned the handle and
pushed open the door, Drunimotid
switched off his torch. He could have
sworn that he heard the sound of
voices close by
uniy ior a second tney were in
stantly silenced; but just for that
fraction of time as the door opened
he knew he had heard men speaking.
Once again the three men stood
motionless, listening intently, but the
sound was not repeated. Absolute s,i
lence reigned, broken only Dy the
noise of their own breathing! And
at last, after what seemed an intern
inable pause, Drummond switched on
his torch again. The passage was.
empty; the door of the inner office
was just in front of them. Almost
he was persuaded that he must have
made a mistake that it had been his
imagination. He peered through the
keyhole: the room was in darkness.
He turned the handle cautiously; the
door gave to him; and still with his
torch held well in front of him, he
stepped into the room, turning the
light into every corner. Not a trace
of anyone; the inner office was abso
lutely empty. He flashed the light
all round the walls, as far as he couid
see there was no other door not
even a window. Consequently the
only way out was by the door through
which they had just entered, which
was obviously impossible for anyone
to have doae without his knowledge.
"It is all right!" he muttered turn
ing round to the other two. "Must
have been my mistake. Now then,
Ginger, lets' tackle the big desk first."
As he spoke he moved into the cen
ter of the room, his torch lighting
up the big roll-top desk.
Right-ho, guv'nor. Keep th beam
on the keyhole "
The crook bent over his task, only
to straighten up suddenly as all the
lights went on.
Yer d d fool!" he snarled.
"Switch 'em off! It ain't safe "
"I didn't put 'em on!" snapped
Drummond.
"Nor I," said Jerningham.
For a moment or two no one spoke;
then Ginger Martin made a wild dive
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More for your money
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Look for Wrigley's P. K. Handy Pack
f on your Dealer' Counter n? (fr
RK.
for the door. But the door which had
opened so easily a few moments be
fore now refused to budge, though
he tugged at it, cursing horribly. And
after a while he gave it up, and turn
ed on Drummond like a wild beast.
"You've trapped me, yer swine.
I'll get even with you over this if
I swing for it!"
But Drummond, to whom the pre
sence of actual danger was as meat
and drink, toojc not the slightest no
tice. His brain, ice-cold and clear
was moving rapidly. It had not been
a mistake, he had heard voices
voices which came from that very
room in which they now were. Men
had been there men who had got
out by some other way. And Gincer
Martin was trapped all of them.
More out of thoughtlessness than
anything else, he brushed the swear
ing crook aside with the back of his
hand much as one brushes away a
troublesome fly. And Martin, feeling
as if he'd-been kicked in the mouth
by a horse, ceased to swear.
It was uncanny devilish. The
room empty, save for them, suddenly
flooded with light. But by whom?
Drummond felt they were be'ng
watched. But by whom? And then
suddenly he heard Ted Jerningham's
voice low and tense.
"There's & man watching us, Hugh.
1 can see his eyes In that big safe
door."
Like a flash, Drummond swung
round, and looked at the safe. Ted
was right; he could see the eyes
himself, and they were fixed on him
with an expression of malignant fury,
through" a kind of opening that look
ed like the slit in a letter box. For
a moment or two they remained there
staring at him, then they disappeared,
and the opening through which he
had seen them disappeared, also, and
seemed to become part of the door.
And it was just as he was moving to
ward this mysterious safe to examine
it closer that with a sudden clang,
another opening appear! one m-.it h
larger than the first. He stopped in
voluntarily as something was thrown
through into the room something
which hissed and spluttered.
For a moment he gazed at it un
comprehendingly as it lay on the
floor; then he gave a sudden, tmse
order.
"On your faces for your lios!"
His voice cut through the room like
a knife. "Behindthe des, yju fools!
It's a bomb!"
(To Be Continued.)
SUCCESS TO BE LASTING MUST BE
Exactly as it
smokers,Cliesterfield
its new ones-on taste alone
:
FROM THE STATE
MARKET AGENT
STATUS OF FLAX INDUSTRY IX
WILLAMETTE VALLEY.
Many requests for information and
advice regarding the new flax indus
try of the Willamette valley eome
to the State Market Agent depart
ment, and C. E. Spence says he has
had to go to the growers themselves
ers ask for is will they be warranted
ask his department for.
The information most of the grow
ers ask for it will they be warranted
in going into flax growing as a major
crop; what the price outlook is, and
if the two new flax mills will be able
to take the production if farmers
generally go into flax raising? As
partially answering these inquiries,
Mr. Spence quotes a farmer of Polk
county, who has for ten years experi
mented with flax growing, and who
is well informed on all phases of the
industry:
"I believe that eventually flax pro
duction and manufacture will be lead
ing industries for the Willamette val
ley, but just now a prediction as to
how soon this will come would be
little more than guesswork.
"There seems to be considerable
misunderstanding about the matter in
some ways, and many farmers are
under tne impression that the two
new flax mills will buy flax direct
from the farms and work it into the
various products in their factories.
"As I understand, these linen mills
will not buy flax from the farmers,
but will depend on the flax mill at
the penitentiary for their material
after the prison factory has worked
the raw flax into the various forms
wanted by the mills. The linen mills
will then go on with its further man
ufacturer into many different pro
ducts. "So it appears to me that at the
present time the success of flax grow
ing depends very largely on the mill
at the state prison and the success
and enlargement of that plant. There
is no doubt but the farmers of the
valley will furnish all the flax the
state will buy, but I have doubts
about the state buying all the flax
the farmers will grow, for the reason
that the prison plant has its limits,
and when that is reached it will have
to enlarge and increase its output or
w II' J
a - J A
private capital will have to put in
like plants. One drawback is the
slow process of retting and drying
and the big investment of money tied
up in large stocks during the slow
process."
One of the stockholders of the
Miles Linen Mill at Salem, just com
pleted, stated surveys show that 200,
000 acres in the Willamette valley
are adapted to flax growing; that
only about 4,000 acres were grown in
1925, and that the state contracted
for about 2,500 acres. Asked what
he thought of farmers going in for
increased production he replied:
"I have not gone into the matter
very much beyond the needs of our
own plan. Our mill manufactures
fishnet twine and linen fabrics, and
re get our material from the prison
plant after they work it up for use.
Whether the prison plant will be en
larged to meet increased production,
or whether others will put in like
plants, I do not. know, but certainly
this part of the industry must be
taken care of if we are to make flax
a leading industry of the valley, for
mills must have the raw material
worked into shape for them. I have
been told that the prison plant has
about reached its capacity."
NOTICE.
The Willing Workers are prepared
to do plain sewing, tack comforts,
sew carpet rags, etc., at reasonable
prices. See Mrs. Jeff Jones for fur
ther information.
J B. Sparks has entered business
in Portland, and is now running the
Sparks Cafe at 413 Washington street,
opposite the Blue Mouse theater. As
sociated with Mr. Sparks is Sam
Ganger, chef, and they announce that
they have just the very best place
to eat in the city. Heppner people
in Portland are invited to give them
a call.
Have Loans in Force
Of More Than $300,000
From the lone Independent it is
learned that the Morrow County
Farm Loan association held their an
nual meeting the nnst wpplr nn Tnoo.
day and elected a full list of officers,
as ionows: w. J. Blake, president;
L. P Davidson, vice president; C. B.
Ruly, secretary and treasurer; A. A.
McCabe, E. C. Heliker and . Algott
Lundell, directors.
The annual routine matters of bus-
holds it
inesa were transacted and the rec
ords of the secretary-treasurer in
ppected and approved. The associa
tion now has in force 61. 'oans, to
taling $325,000.
One, two or three furnished and
heated rooms for rent. See C. A.
Minor.
WANTED To rent ranch In Morrow
county; prefer near Heppner. Laur
ence K. Reaney, Lexington, Oregon.
PROMINENT
! PEOPLE
: are very apt to meet each
, other at the Elkhorn Res-
j tal'rant. There's just one
i thing that traws them the
assurance of getting choice
i food, properly cooked and
admirably served midst
j pleasant surroundings.
j Special 35c Merchants
Lunch 11a. nt.-4 p. m.
ELKHORN
RESTAURANT
ED CHINN, Prop:
DESERVED
I.ir,ciTT & Mybus Tobacco Co.
5 Old
wins