Bull-Dog
Drummond
The Adventures of a
Demobilized Officer Who
Found Peace Dull
. by CYRIL McNEILE
"SAPPER” '
ILLUSTRATIONS BY .
IRWIN MYERS
' . - "ft
FROM HEADQUARTERS.
| Synopsis.—In December, 1918, fpur
men gathered In a hotel in Berne
and heard one ol the quartet, Carl
Peterson, outline a plan to paralyze
Great Britain and at the same time
'• seize world power. The other three.
Hocking, American, and Stelneman
and Von Gratz. Germans, all mil
lionaires, agree to the scheme, pro
viding another man, Hiram Potts,
an American, Is taken In. CapL
Hugh (Bull-Dog) Drummond, a re
tired officer, advertises for work
that will give him excitement, sign
ing “X10." As a result he meets
Phyllis Benton, a young woman
who answered ‘ his ad. She tells
him. of strange murders and rob
beries by a band headed by Carl
Peterson and Henry Lakington.
She fears her father is jnvolved.
Drummond goes to The Larches,
Miss Benton’s home, next, door to
The Elms, Peterson’s place. During
the night Drummond leaves The
Larches and explores The Elms.
He discovers Lakington and Peter- .
son using a thumbscrew on Potts,
who signs a paper. Drummond
rescues Potts and takes him to his
’ own home. He also gets half of
the paper torn In the fight Peter
son visits Drummond, departing •
with a threat to return and recover
Potts and the torn paper. Hugh
substitutes Mulltngs for Potts. The
band carry oft Mullings and Drum
mond to The 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 goes
exploring during the night runs
Into a cobra, escapes mysterious
death and refrains from breaking
Peterson’s neck.
CHAPTER IV—Continued.
FOUR.
“I beard you were down here," she
said gravely, holding out her hand to
lilni. : “I’ve been sick with anxiety
•ever since father told me he’d seen
.you,”
Hugh imprisoned the little hand In
bis own huge ones, and smiled reas
suringly.
"Don’t worry, little girl,” he said.
"Tears ago I was told by an old gypsy
that I should die in my bed of old
sge and excessive consumption of in
valid port. ... As a matter of
fact the cause of my visit was rather
liumorous. They abducted me in the
middle of the night with an ex-sol
dier of my old battalion, who was, 1
regret to state, sleeping off the effects
of much indifferent liquor, In my
rooms. They thought he wns your
Americaq millionaire cove, and the
wretched Mullings was too drunk to
deny it. In fact, I don’t think they
over asked his opinion at all.” Hugh
grinned reminiscently. "A pathetic
spectacle.”
"Oh! but splendid,” cried the girl a
little breathlessly. “Tell me, where
Is the American now?”
“Many miles out of London,” an
swered Hugh. “I think we’H leave
It at that., The less you know. Miss
Benton, at the moment—the better.”
“Have you found out anything?” site
demanded eagerly. 1
Hugh shook his head,
"Not a thing. Except that your
neighbors are as pretty a bunch of
scoundrels as I ever want to meet.”
“But you’ll let me know If you do.”
She laid a band beseechingly on his
arm. “You know what’s at stake for
me, don’t you? Father, and—oh I but
you know."
“1 know,” he answered gravely. “I
know, old thing. I promise I’ll let
you know anything I find out And
In the meantime I want you to keep
an eye fixed on what goes on next
door, and let me know anything of
Importance by letter to the Junior
Sports club.” He lit f cigarette
thoughtfully. “I have an Idea that
they feel so absolutely confident in
their own power that they are going to
make the fatal mistake of underrating
their opponents. We shall see.” He
turned to her with a twinkle in his eye.
"Anyway, our Mr. Lakington will see
that you don’t come to any harm."
“The brute!” she cried, very low.
"How I hate him!” Then with a
sudden change of tone she looked up
at Drummond. “I don’t know whether
It’s worth mentioning,” she said
slowly; “but yesterday afternoon four
men came at different times to The
■r Elms. They were the sort of type
• one sees tub-thumping In Hyde Park,
all except one, who looked like a re
spectable workingman,”
Hush shook bis lieiul.
‘•Don’t seem to help ranch, does It?
Still, one never knows. Let me know
anything' like that In- future at the
cliih-f’ - (
“Good morning, - Miss Benton.”
1 Peterson’s voice, behind them made
Dr.ummond swing round with a smoth
ered curse. “Our Inestimable friend.
Captain Drummond, brought such n
nice young.fellow to see me last night,
and then- left him lying about the
house this fiiorning. I have sent .him
along to your car." continued Peter
son suavely, “which I trust-was the
correct procedure. Or did you want
to give him to me os n pet?"
“From a rapid survey. Mr. Peterson,
I should think you have quite enough
alrea'dy,” said Hugfi. “I trust y’oti
paid him the m|>ney you owe him.”
“T 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. ,1n
the meantime, Miss Benton, is your
fiuher up?” - , ; ii.
The girl frowned. ' V f
“No—not yet." ;
“Then I will, go and see him In tied.
For tlie present, nu revoir." He
walked toward the house, and they
watched him go in silence. And It
was as he opened tlie drawing-room
window that Hugh called after him:
“Do you like the horse EUimaa’s
or the ordinary brand?" he asked.
“I’il send you a bottle for that stiff
neck of yours.”
Very deliberately Peterson turned
round. .
“Don’t trouble, thank you. Captain
Drummond. I have my own reme
dies, which are far more efficacious.”
CHAPTER V.
In Which There Is Trouble at Goring.
ONE.
T|ie car slowed up before the post
office and Hugh- got out. There were
one or two things he proposed to do
in-London before going to Goring, and
It struck him that a wire to Petec
Darrell might allay that gentleman’s
uneasiness if be was late in getting
down. So new was be to the tortuous
ways of crime, that the foolishness
of the proceeding never entered his
head; up to date In his life, if be
had wished to send a 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 was a perfectly or
dinary man, chatting casually with
the girl on the other side; but it
chanced that, just as Hugh was hold
ing the postoffice pencil up, and gaz
ing at its so-called point with an air
of resigned anguisiC the perfectly or
dinary man ceased chatting and
looked at him. Hugh caught ids eye
for a fleeting second; then the con
versation continued. And as he turned
to pull out'the pad of forms. It struck
him that the man had looked away
Just a trifle too quickly. . . .
k grin spread slowly over his face,
and after a moment’s hesitation he
proceeded "to compose h short wire.
He wrote it in black letters for addi
tional clearness; he also pressed his
hardest, as 'befitting a blunt pencil.
Then with the form In his hand he ad
vanced to the counter.
"How long will it take to deliver
in London?’’ he asked the girl.
The girl was not helpful. It de
penaea, lie gatnerea, 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 said, thrusting the wire into his
pocket. “Good morning. . .
He walked to the door, end shortly
afterward his car rolled down the
street.
With what the girl considered pecu
liar abruptness, the perfectly ordinary
man concluded'his conversation with
her, and decided that he too would
send a wire. And then, after a long
and thoughtful pause at the writing
bench, she distinctly heard an unmis
takable “D—n.” Then he walked out,
and she saw him no more.
‘ Moreover, It is to bo regretted that
the perfectly ordinary man told a lie
a little later in the day, when giving
his report to some one whose neck ap
parently inconvenienced him greatly.
But then a lie Is frequently more
tactful than the truth, and to have
announced that the sole result of his
morning’s labors had been to decipher
a wire addressed to The Elms, which
contained the cryptic remark, “Stpng
again, stiff neck, stung again,’’ would
not have been tactful., So he lied,
as has been stated, thereby showing
h!s wisdom. . . .
- But though Drummond chuckled to
himself as the car rushed through the
fresh morning air, once or twice a
gleam that was not altogether amuse
ment shone In his eyes. For four
years he had played one game where
no mistakes were allowed; the little
Incident of the postofflee had helped
to bring to his mind the certainty
that he bad now embarked on another
where the conditions were much (he
same. That he had scored up to date
was luck rntlier than good manage
ment, and he was far too shrewd not
to realize It. Now be was marked,
and luck with a marked man cannot
be tempted too far.
, Alone and practically unguarded lie
liud challenged a gang at international
criminals ; a gang not only utterly un
scrupulous, but controlled by a mas
ter mind.- Ol its power as yet he had
i)0 clear tdeu; of its size and itume
'dinte object he had even less. 'Per
haps It was ns well Had he realized
even dimly the Immensity of the Is
sue's he was up against, had he had
but an Inkling of the magnitude of
the plot conceived in tile sinister brain
of his host of ,the previous evening,
then, cheery optimist though • he was,
even Hugh Drummond might have
wavered. But he hud no such inkling,
and so rile gleam in his eyes was but
transitory, the chuckle that succeeded
it more whole-hearted than before.
Was It not sport in a land flowing
with strikes and profiteer's; sport such
us his soul loved?
“1 am afraid. Mullings.” he said
as his car stopped In front of his
club, “that the kindly gentleman with
whom we spent last night has re
pudiated his obligations. He refuses
to meet the bill I gave him for your
services; Just wait here a moment”
He went inside, returning In a few
moments with a folded check.
“Bound the corner, Mullings, and
tin obliging fellah in a black coat will
shovel you out the necessary Brad
burys.”
The man glanced at the check.
“Fifty pounds, sir!” he gasped.
“Why—it’s too much, sir. . . .
I . . .”
“The laborer, Mullings, is worthy
of his litre. You have been of the
very greatest assistance to me; and
Incidentally, it Is more than likely that
I may want you again. Now, where
can I cet hold of you?”
“13 Green Street, 'Orton, sir, ’ll al
ways find me. And any time, sir, as
you "wants me, I’d like to come lust
for the sport of thing.”
Hugh grinned.
“Good/ lad. And it. may be sooner
than you think.’’ /
TWO.
Inside the Junior Sports club, Hugh
Drummond was burying -his nose in -a
large tankard of the ale for which
that cheery pot-house was still fam
ous. A waiter was arranging the.
first editions of the evening papers
on a - table, and {lugh beckoned to
him to bring one. Cricket, racing, the
latest divorce case, and the latest
strike—all the usual headings were
there. And lie was just putting down
the paper, to again concentrate on his
problem, when ar paragraph caught
his eye. \
“STRANGE MURDER IN BELFAST
“The man whose body was discov
ered in such peculiar circumstances
near the docks has been identified as
Mr. James Granger, the confidential
secretary- to Mr. Hiram ' Potts, the
American multi-millionaire, at present
In this country. The unfortunate
victim of this dastardly, outrage—his
head, as we reported In our last
night’s issue, was nearly severed from
his body—had apparently been sent
over 6n business by Mr. Potts, and
had arrived the preceding day. WLat
he was doing in the locality in which
he was found is a mystery.
"We understand that Mr. Potts, who
has recently been Indisposed, has re
turned to the Carlton, and Is greatly
upset at the sudden tragedy.
“The police are confident that they
will shortly obtain a clue, though the
rough element In the totality where
the murder was .committed presents
great difficulties. It seems clear that
the moth# was robbery, as all the
murdered man’s pockets j were rifled.
But the most peculiar thlhg about the
case is the extraordinary care taken by
the murderer to prevent the identifi
cation of the body. Every article of
clothing, even down to the murdered
mnn’8 socks, had had the name torn'
out, and It was only through the crim
inal overlooking the tailor’s tab inside
the Inner breast-pocket of Mr. Grang
er’s coat that the police were enabled
to Identify the body."
. Drummond slid down the paper on
his knees, and stared a little dazedly
at the club’s Immortal founder.
“Holy smoke! laddie,” he mur
mured, “that man Peterson ought to
be on the committee here. Verily, I
believe, he could galvanize the staff
into some semblance of activity."
- “Did you order anything, sir?" A
waiter paused beside him.
. “No,’- murmured Drummond, “but
I will rectify the omission. Another
large tankard of ale."
The waiter departed, and Hugh
picked up the paper again.
“We understand,” he murmured
gently to himself, “that Mr. Potts,
who has re&ntly been Indisposed, has
returned to the Carlton.
Now that’s very Interesting. . ,
He lit a cigarette and lay back In
his chair. ‘T was under the impres
sion that Mr. Potts was safely tucked
up 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 have justified my fondest
expectations. And as a further proof
of my good will, I would like you to
get me a trunk call—2 X Goring."
' A few minutes later tie was in (lie
telephone box.
“Peter, I have seldom been so glad
to hear’your voice. Is all well? Good.
Don’t mention any names. Our guest
is there, Is he? Gone on strike against
more milk puddings, you say. Coax
him, Peter. Make a noise' like a
sturgeon, and he’ll think it’s caviare.
Have you seen the papers? There are
interesting doings In Belfast, which
concern us rather Intimately. I’ll be
jjown later, and we'll have a pow
wow."
He hung up the receiver and
stepped out of the box.
“If, Algy,” he remarked to a man
who was looking at the tape machine
outside, “tlie, paper says a blighter's
somewhere and you know lie’s some
where else—what would you do?’’
“Up to date In such cases I have al
ways shot the editor,” murmured Algy
Longworth. “Come and feed.”
“Vou’re so helpful, Algy. A per
fect rock of •strength.' Do you want
a Job?”
“What sort of a Job?” demanded the
other sussldousiy.
VOh i not work, dear old boy. D—n
It, man—you know me better than
that, surely!”
“People are so funny nowadays.”
returned Longworth gloomily. “What
Is this job?”
Together the two men strolled into
the luncheon-room, and long after,the
cheese had been finished, Algy Long
worth was still listening In silence to
his companion.
“My dear old bean,” he murmured
ecstatically as Hugh finished, “my very
dear old bean. I think it’s the most
•vvvwa r> * V > V» MV.U1 U- 'UUIUU
me as a member of the band." And,
Incidentally, Toby Sinclair is running
round in circles asking for trouble.'
Let’s rope him In.” *
“Go and find him this afternoon,
Algy,” said Hugh rising. “And tell
him to keep his mouth shut. I’d
come with you. but it occurs to me
that the wretched Potts, bathed In
tears at the Carlton, Is In need of
sympathy. So long, old dear. You’ll
hear from me In a day or two."
Drummond sauntered along Pall
Mall. He had told Loogworth more
or less on the spur of the moment,
knowing that 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 a
brick wall than most of the people
who called him a fool.
It was bis suggestion of telling Toby
Sinclair that caused the smile. For
it had started a train of thought in
Drummond’s mind which seemed to
him to be good. If Sinclair—why not
two or three more equally trusty
sportsmen? Why not a gang of 'the
hoys? < ' „
Toby possessed a V. C.. and a good
one—for there, are grades of the V. C..
and those grades are appreciated to
a nicety by the recipient’s brother
officers if not by the general public.
The show would fit Toby like a glove.
. . . Then there was Ted Jeru
Inghara, who combined the roles of
an amateur actor of more than aver
age merit with an ability to hit any
thing at any range with every con
ceivable type of firearm. And Jerry
Seymour In. the Flying corps. . . .
Not a had*thing to have a flying man
—up one’s sleeve. . . . And pos
sibly some one versed In the ways of
tauks might come In handy. . . .
surely life was very good. And then
the grin faded, and something sus
piciously like a frown took Its place.
For he had arrived at the- Carlton,
and reality had come back to him.
“Mr. Potts will see no one, sir." re
marked the man to whom he ad
dressed his question. “You are about
the twentieth gentleman who has been
here already today.”
Hugh had expected this, and smiled
genially.
“Precisely, my stout fellow," he re
marked, “but Til lay a small amount
of money that they were newspaper
men. Now, I’m not. And I think that
if you will have this note delivered
to Mr. Potts, he will see me.”
He sat down at a table, and drew
a sheet of paper toward him. Two
facts were certain: First, that the
man upstnlrs was not the real Potts;
second, that heawas one of Peterson’s
gang. The difficulty was to know ex
actly how to word the note. There
might be some mystic pass-word, the
omission of which would prove him
an Impostor at once. At length he
took a pen and wrote rapidly; he
would have to chance it
“Urgent A message from head
quarters.”
He sealed the envelope and handed
it with the necessary five shillings
for postage to the man. Then he sat
down to wait. After what seemeft an
interminable delay he saw the mes
senger crossing the lounge. ■
“Mr. Potts will see you. sir.”
Hugh followed his guide along a
corridor, and paused outside a door
while he went into a room. He heard
a murmur of voices, and then the
' inun reappeared.
“This way, sir," he said, and Huch
stepped Inside, to stop with an Invol
untary gasp of surprise. The man
seated )u tiie elmir was Potts, to all
intents Htid purposes. The likeness
was extraordinary, and had ho not
known that the real article was at
Goring ■ lie would have been com
pletely deceived himself.
The man waited till 'the door was
closed: then he rose and stepped
forward suspiciously.’
“I don’t know you,” he said. “Who
are you?”
! “Since when has every one em
ployed at headquarters known- one
another?” Drummond returned guard
edly. “And. incidentally, your like
ness to cur lamented friend Is won
derful. ' It very nearly deceived even
me.”
The man, not ill-pleased, gave a
short laugh.
“It’ll pass. I think. But It’s risky.
These cursed reporters have been
badgering the whole morning. .
And If his wife or somebody comes
over, what then? It wasn’t like
Rosea to bungle in Belfast. He’s
never left a clue before, and he had
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 are ,
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, and Hugh preserved
a discreet silence. Then suddenly the
other broke out again. . . . “Have ; ;i
t li at* lrlllorl tViot Inonlant mmnn r\P a
soldier yet?”
“Er—not yet." murmured Hugh;
mildly.
“They must find the American at -
onpe.” The man thumped the table
emphatically. “It was Important be
fore—at least his money was. Now
with trils 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
have a message for me. What is It?”
Hugh rose and casually picked. up
his hat He .had got more out of the
Interview than he had hoped for. and
there was nothing to be gained by
prolonging it. But it struck him that
Mr. Potts’ impersonator was n man
of unpleasant disposition, and that
tactically a flanking movement to the
door was Indicated. And, being of
an open nature himself. It Is possible ‘
that the real state of affairs showed
for a moment on his face. Be that
as it may, something suddenly aroused'
the other’s suspicions, and with a
snarl of fury he sprang past Hugh to
the door.
, “Who are you?” He spat the words
out venomously, at the same time
whipping an ugly-looking knife out of
his pocket. \
Hugh replaced his hat and stick
on the table and grinned gently.
“I am the Insolent puppy of a sob
dler, 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
crouthed snarling by the door. His
eyes, grim and determined, never left
the other’s face; his hands, apparently
hanging listless by his sides, were
tingling with the Joy of what he knew
was coming.
“And the penalty of failure is death, ’
isn’t it, ‘dear one?" He spoke almost
dreamily; but not for an instant did
his attention relax. Almost Imper
ceptibly. he crept toward the other
man. raiking-gently.
>
Hugh and hi* friends ere
gassed by the band.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Had Bought Into the Firm.
Glass was the possessor of a very
red nose. An acquaintance chaffing
him upon Its ruddy hue, a quarrel en
sued.
An apology was offered and accept
ed and a drink followed. Then a sec
ond. Apd a third. Just as they were
saying good-night the offender wanted
to make quite sure that he was par
doned.
“Awfully sorry, old man, about that
silly remark of mine. I didn’t mean—”
Glass cut him short. u
“ ’Nough shaid. No more ’poiogies
needed. Can shay anything about my
nose you like now. You’re a share
holder.'’
Microscopic Writing.
The British museum possesses a
portrait of Queen Anne not much
above the size of a hand, on which
appear what seem to be a number of
scratches. The scratches when mag
| nlfled prove to be the entire contents
of a book carried in the queen's hand.
New Kind of Driver.
From a Story—“She glanced cau
tiously out of the window at her coff
I fure, who stood beside her car.’—Boi*.
i ton Transcript.