North Carolina Newspapers

BULL- DOC ^ DRUMMOND .The Adventures of A Demobilized Officer Who Found Peace Dull CYRIL W?NEILE ?;sAPPxir Iliuitrations by V _IRWIN MYERS . < Copyright by Geo H Do ran. Co. ^HOUOQUE In the month ol December. 1918. J UlQ on the very day thai a BrlTTsJT cavalry division inarched Into Cologue. with flwgH flying and hands playing ?? itn? conqutfrorM or a unman nmiun, the manager of the Hotel National? Id Berne received a letter. Its con tents appeared to puzzle hi in some what, fui liailug lead It juke Hmir the hell on his desk; sumruon his secretary. Almost Immediately the door opened, and a young French ftrl came Into the room. "^uiil^u u*BS""iiwii -wfavtuk lu the hotel a man called le Comte de Guy?" He leaned back In his chair and looked at her through^ hie Elnct^nea. The secretary thought tor a mo ment and then shook -her head. "Not u far as I ean remember." ghe said. "Do we know anything about him? Has he ever fed here, or taken a pri vate room?" "Not that I know of." The manager handed her the letter, ind waited In silence until she had read It. "It seems on the face of It a pecu liar request from an unknown man," he remarked as she laid It down. "A dinner of four covers; no expense to be spared. Wines specified and If not in hotel to be obtained. A private room at half-past seven sharp. Guests to TSrtr for room X" The secretary nodded In agreement. "It can hardly be a hoax," she re marked after a short silence. "No." The manager tapped his teeth with his pen thoughtfully. "But If by any chance It was. It would provV an expensive one for ~u&. wish I could think who thia Comte de Qny la." He took oft his plnce-ner and laid them on the desk in front of him. "Send the maltre d'hotel to me at enee." may have beeh the man ager's misgivings, they were certainly Dot shared by the head waiter as he left the office after receiving his In structions. War and short rations had not been conducive to any partic ularly lucrative business In his Bphere; and the whole sound of the , proposed entfTt^<"TT>pnt seemed to him } to contain considerable promise. And so at about twenty mluutes4 past seven the maltre d'hotel was hovering around the hall-porter, the manager was hovering round the maltre d'hotel. and the secretary was [ hovering around both. At flve-and- [ twenty minutes paBt the first guest arrived. . . ? ._ He was a peculiar-looking man, a big fur coat, reminding one lrre ?latlbly of a codfish. ? "I wish to be taken to Room X. The French secretary stiffened Invol untarily as the maltre d'hotel stepped obsequiously forward. Cosmopolitan a* the hotel was, even now she i-ouM never hear German Spoken without an Inward shudder of dlgust. "A Boche," she murmured in disgust. Almost immediately afterward the ?ecood and third members of the par tr arrived. They did.not come togeth ?r and what seemed peculiar to the manager ?u that they were evidently strangers to one another. The leading one ? a tall gaunt ma with a ragged beard and a pair of Dlerclng eyes-asked In a nasal and by no means an Inaudible tone for Boom X. As he spoke a little fat man who was standing just behind him started perceptibly, and shot a birdlike glaflce at the speaker. Then in execrable French he too asked for Room X. "He's not French." said the secre ?ry excitedly to the manager. "That laat one was another Boche. The manager thoughtfully twirled bis plnce-nei between his 1?*"* "Two Oermans and an American He looked a little apprehensive. Let ? hope the dinner will appease every body Otherwise But whatever fears he might have entertained with regard to the furnl tar? In Room X, they were not des tlned to be uttered. Kven as he spoke the door again swung open, and a man with a thick white scarf around his neck so pulled up as almost com nletely to cover his face, came In. All that the manager could swear to as retards the newcomer's appesrance wss a pslr of deep set. steel gray eyes which seemed to bore through him. "Tou got my letter this morning?" "M'sleur le Comte de OuyT The manager howed deferentially and rubbed his hands together. Every thing Is ready, and three guests have arrived." -Oood. I will go to the room at ??2s he fallowed his guide his eye* swept round the lounge. Save'ortwo or three elderly women of doubtful nationality, and a man In the Amerl Oroee, the place was desert SS ? M * ? thrtWthe u . - * swing doorsTie turneI!~nr"(IIo bead waiter. "Business good?" lie asked. No? business decidedly was not good. The waiter was voluble. Busl HAfla hart nnvt?r hpnii wo floor la. Uie memory or man. i ' .nut it whs to be hoped that the dinner would be to Monsieur le Cojgte's liking- . . . Also the wines. "11 everything is to my saUaiaciKflr* 1.-111 pnt rogrpf >t" anlil thp rnnnf tersely. "But remember one thing. After the coffee has been brought In, I do ngt wlfth t1.1 I1" '".inilinn -M'sleur Is Cemte de Guy 7" circumstances whatever." The head waiter paused as he came to a door, and the connt reppat>'fl t^p J 0 St? few words. "Under no circumstances whatever." "Mais certainement, Monsieur le Comfp. ? . ? ? . I, personally will ?pft to It. . . ." As bespoke he flung^-epen the door and the count entered. It cannot be said that the atmosphere of the room was congenial. The three occupants were regarding one another In hostile silence, and as the count entered they, with one accord, transferred their sus-~ plclous glances to him. For a moment he stood motionless, while he looked at each one in turn. Then he stepped forward. . . "Good evening, gentlemen" ? he still spoke In French ? "I am honored at your presence." He turned to the head waiter. "Let dinner be served In -five ratnutes exactly." With a bow the mun left the room, and the door closed. "During that five minutes, gentle men, I propose to introduce myself to you, and you to one another. The business which I wish to discuss we will postpone, with your permission, till after the coffee, when we shall be undisturbed." In silence the thrqe quests waited until he unwound the thick white muf fler ; then, with undisguised curiosity, they studied their host. In nppenrance he was striking. He had ashort dark beard, and In profile his fnce was aqui line and stern. The eyes, which had so impressed the manager, seemed now to be n cold grey-bine; ttte thick brown hfftr, flecked slightly with grey, was brushed back from a broad fore head. To even the most superficial ob server the giver of the feast was a man of power; a man capnble of form ing Instant decisions tind of carrying them through. .... And If so much was obvious to the superficial observer. It was more than obvious to the three men who str?od by the flre watching him. Kach one of them, as he watched the host, realized that he was In the presence of a great man. It was enough; great men do not send fool Invitations to dinner to men of International repute. It mat tered not what form his greatness took ? there was mbney in greatness, big money. And money was their life. The count advanced Tlrst to the Am erican. "Mr. Hocking, I believe," Ue re marked In English, holding out his hand. "I am glad you managed to come." The American shook the proffered hand, while the two Hermans looked Rt him with sudden Interest. As the man at the head of the great American cot ton trust, worth more In millions than he could count, he was entitled to their respect. . . . "That's me. Count." returned the mil lionaire In his nasal twang. "I am In terested to know to what I am Indebt ed for this Invitation." "All in food time.. Mr HwklOf I ttnlled the ho?t. -I have hope? that Wit* dinner vslll fill in that time t?utl? factorlly." He turned to the taller of the two (ifriimns, who without his coat *eemed TuSfe lite a codflgh than ever. ? " ? ? "Herr Stelnemann. ls-lt not?" Thit Time he spoke In lierman. The man whose Interest Id German coal wus hatdly le*s well knosvu than Hocking's In cotton, bowed stiffly "And Herr Von Gratz?" The Count turned to the last member of the par ty and shook hands. Though less well known than either of the other two In the realms of internutlu/ial finance, von (Imtz/s name in tht .tiu-l tmdo of *>? tral Europe was one to conjun^lth. tlemen." aald the "before we sit down to dinner, I may perhaps be permitted to say a- few words of Introduction. Tty*_niLtU*M -of~TTre~^orrd~~Kave recently been en gaged In a performance of unrivaled stupidity. As far us one can tell that piTfurinanr*' U- ? now ov-ar, ? The Ta~5H thing I wish to do la to discuss the war? except In so far as It concerns jmr r.mZrtlnfl Wr*> tnnl^if. Mr Hock lng Is an American, you two gentlemen are (lermans. I" ? the Count smiled slightly ? "have no nationality* Ox rather. r>ih!1 I sav. I have every na tionality. ? Completely cosmopolitan. ? - ~ . !";?? ntlemtMi, tin* nar was waged by idiots, and when Idiots get busy^ on a large ?'iiulg. It 1* lime for <'I^\er men to step In. . . . That 1* tlie ralaon d' tUia llUlf dinner "7.1 claim that we four luen are sufficiently international to be able to dfftregard any stupid and petty feelings about this country and that conn try, lind to regard the world outlook at the present moment, ft&ta ?*ne tnHin of vie* and one point of view only ? our own." Jhe gaunt American gave a hoarse chuckle. "It will be my object after dinner," continued the Count, "to try and prove to you that we have a common point of view. Until then ? shall we merely concentrate on a pious hope that the Hotel Nationale will not poison us with their food?" The next moinent the head waiter opened the door, and the four men sat down to dine. It must be admitted that the average hostess, desirous of making a dinner a success, would have been filled with secret dismay at the general atmos phere In the room. The American. In accumulating his millions, had also accumulated a digestion of such an ex otic and tender character that dry msks and Vichy water were the limit of his capacity. Herr Stelnemann was of the common order of German, to whom food Is -sacred. He ate ami drank enormously and evidently considered that nothing -further was required of him. Von Gratz did his best to keep his ?n.i up hnf in was apparently In a1 chronic condition of fear that the gaunt American would assault him with violence, he cannot be said to ~hnve contributed much to the gaiety of the^uieal. ? And so to the host must be given 1 the credit that the dinner was a suc llze the conversation h? talked cease lessly and brilliantly. But to even the I most brilliant of conversationalists the strain of talking to a hypochondriacal American and two Germans ? one I greedy and the other frightened ? Is considerable; and the Count heaved an Inward sigh of relief when the coffee had been handed round and the door closed behind the waiter. From now on the topic was the topic of money ? the common bond t>f his three guests.1 And yet, as he carefully cut the end ' of his cigar, and realized that the eyes of the other three were fixed on him expectantly, he knew thtST the hardest parr tif Hip mailing was In front of I HI tn. Big financiers, in common with nil other people, are fonder of having money put Into their pockets than of taking It out. And that was the very thing the Count proposed they should do? In large quantities. . . . "Gentlemen," he remarked, when his cigar was going to his satisfaction, "we are all men of business. I said before dinner that I considered we were sufficiently big to exclude any small arbitrary national distinctions from our minds. As men whose Inter ests are International, such things are beneath us. I wish now to slightly qualify that remark." He ^turned to the American on his right, who with eyes half closed was thoivj'i: .'ally pick ing his teeth. "At "li's siuge, I ad dress myself pnrtl"i:':uly to you." i "Go right ahead." drawled Mr. Hock ing. "T do not wish to touch on the war ? or Its result; but though the Central Powers have been beaten by America and France and England. I think I can speak for you two gentlemen" ? he bowed to the two Germans ? "when I say that It Is neither France nor Amer ica with whom they deal re another -round. England Is Germany's main' enemy; she always has been, nhe al ways will be. I have reason to be lieve. Mr. Hocking, that yon personally do not love the English T* "I guess I don't see what my private feellrtgs have to do with It. But If It's of any Interest to the company you are correct In your belief." "fiood." The Count nodded his head as If satisfied. "I take It then that yon wbWd not be averse to seeing England down and out." "Wal." remarked the American, "you can assume anything yon feel like. Let's go to the show-down." Once ajfaln the Count nodded hi* head ; then he turned to the two Her mann. ^ "Now you two gentlemen must ad mit that jour plans have miscarried somewhat It was no part of your or Iglnal programme that a British arm should occupy Cologne. . . .** I Tbl Oar ?aa Ul? act of ? fool." 1 snari?4 H? rr Stetaemnim. "La t ,ffW ! yrara BJure of l<eac?, vr? slicmld Lav* I beaten swine. . . ?Ai?d no?? tlity b?ve tw*at?i you." ! The Count ainlled slightly. "L?t ua atlm" th*T war waa Uuj act a [ tool, tf TV'-i ttke. bat a* men of bust j nea* we can only deal with the result. I . , , ? The result, gentlwnen, as It concern? u< Both you gentlemen are I sufficiently patriotic to resent the pres ence of that army at Cologne, I have uo doubt. And you, Mr. Hocking. have no love on personal grounds for the English- ? ?" jttrr+mr trot? propos ing to appeal to financiers of your rep utatlon on such ground* aB those to support my scheme. ... It U enough thu'. your personal pred'lec iiuim ruu "? .; mm uui URaum wbai i am about to put before you? th?_il& f i*n f "f --I ? ' . a defeat more utter and complete than If she had loat the war. . . ." His voice sunk a little, and Instinct I Ively hla thrae- lUieoers drew ctusar. "Don't ti.n.k I am proposing tnia through motives of revenge merely. We are business men, and revenge Is only worth our m.iii- if it pay*. Thu 'wm pay. There is a force In England which. If It ctm.be harnessed and led properly, will result in millions coming t n y uu. IL Is piesem now In Rvprv pal ion? fettered. Inartlcujagi. "rcsuTF-^^ he war ? the war that the Idlota have waged. . . . Harness that force. ^.-itUeoien, co-ordinate It, HUH uw'tt fnryour uwu ?uds. : ; ~ That Is my proposal. Not -ualy will you humble that cursed coUDtry to the as few "men ha ve tasted b4ifore. . . T~ Ttrfc rviunt fimxi up. hla eyes blazUig. "And I ? I will do It for you." He resumed his seat, and his left hand, slipping off the table, beat a tattoo on his knee. "This Is our opportunity ? the oppor tunity of clever meif. *1 have not got the money necessary: you have." . . . He leaned forward In his chair, and glanced at the Intent faces of his au dience. Then he began to speak. . . . Ten minutes later he pushed back his cbalr. "There Is ray proposal, gentlemen. In a nutshell. Unforeseen^fiidop ments will iloubUcas occur; I have I spent-my We overcoming the unexpect ed. What Is your answer?" He rose and stood with his back to them by the flre, and for several mlnutea no one spoke. Each man was busy with his own thoughts, and ghowed It* In Ms own particular way. CtwiH* d? <iu> iHareO unconcernedly at the flre, as if Indifferent to the result of their thoughts. In his attitude at tligt moment be gave a true expression^ to hla attitude on life. Accustomed to play with grent stakes, he had Just dealt the cards for the most glgautlc gamble of his life. . . . What matter lu lilt? Uiiee men, who were looking at the hands he had given them, that only a master criminal could have con ceived such a game? The only ques tion whlcfv- occupied their minds was whether he could carry It through. And on that point they had only their Judgment of his personality to rely on. Suddenly the American removed the toothpick from his mouth and stretched out his legs. "There Is a question which occurs to me, Count, before I inuke up my mind on the matter. Are you disposed to be a little more communicative about yourself? If we agree to come In on thisTiand, It's going to cost big money. The handling of that money Is with yon. Wal ? who are you?" Von Grata nodded his head In agree ment. stelnemann raised his eyes to the Count's face as he turned and faced them. . ? ? "A very fair question, gentlemen, and yet one which Jt reifretJLsm unable to answer. I would not Insult your In telligence by giving you the fictitious address of ? a fictitious Count. .Enough that I am a man whose livelihood lies In other people's pockets. As you say, Mr. Hocking, It Is going to cost big -I will Return In Ten Mlnutas. By That Tlma You Will Hava Decided One W ay or the Other." moiiv> hut compared to the resulta the costs will he a flea hlte. You wiU have t" truat me, even aa I ahall have to trust you. . . . You will have to truat me not to divert the money which you fire nif aa working expensed Into ray own pocket. ... I shall have to truat yoti to pay OM wb? til* Job ft* lahrd. ..." _ -And that L*) Ui#iit will b*? h?JW nuthr* tUetnemann s guttural vvicm brvkt* rL* tlleuce. "One mlllluci pound* sterling? to fre split up betwe**-'you H? aoy proporflo? yxxv raajr decide. *ud to ba paid within one muuUi of completion of my worfc. After that the matter will \m.m ^nt? your hands . . . and may you leave that cursed country groveling In tile dir ty . . Hi* eyes glowed with a Jlerce. "vindictive fur? ; and then, as If replac ing a mask which had flipped for a moment, the Count was once again the suave, courteous boat. lie had stated hla terms frankly and without ht>fgHnLf : sfr them at oo* hig man states them to another of the sajne kid ney. to whom time 1# money and tnde clslon or bea_tlng aJHwt- tee "btfiin ;lli?na. --- - "Ferbapi. Count, you would be good enough to leave us for a few minutes." Von Gratx was speaking. "Tha tied alon Is a big one, and . . "Whr,- rerralnty pntlwiipn^ Tha, Count moved toward the door. **I will return In teu minutes. By that time you will have decided ? one way or the other." Genius that he was in the reading of men's minds, he felt that he knew the result of that ten mlnutea dellber* atlon. . An, I .hen What then? . In hl? Imagination fee saw Wa?? aelf jmpreme in power^jjlutted wUb ? a king, an autocrat, who had only to lift his finger to plunge his kingdom Into detraction- and annihilation. . . And ' wheTT he l.ud done lt.^ and t5e country he hated was In ruins, then h# would claim his mlllloo and en^oy _lt as a grPBt man ghrmtfl ecloy a great re want. . . . Thus for the space of t?o mlnut.'K did the Count ace vloloos aa4 dream dreads. That the force he pro- I posed to tamper with was a dangerous force disturbed him not at all : he was ? dangerous man. That thin scheme would bring ruin, perhaps death, to thousands of Innocent men and women caused him no qualm : he was a su preme egoist. All that appealed to him was that he had seen the oppor tunity that existed, and that he had the nerve and^tJy^JinjJji to turn that opportunity to his own advantage. Only the necessary money was lacking . . . and . . . With a quick movement he pulled out his watch. They had - had their ten mtnutea . . The matter was settled, the die was cast. . . . Re rose and walked across the lounge. For an appreciable moment the Count paused by the door, and a faint omlle came to -hla lips. Then he opened It. and passed Into the room. The Amel'knn was huu cnewlng nis toothpick ; Stelnemsnn was 8 till breathing hard. Only von Orati had changed his occupation and he wa9 sitting at the table smoking a long thin cigar. The Count closed the door, J and walked over to the fireplace. . . . "Well, gentlemen," he said quietly, "what have you aeciaeu?" It was the American who answered. "It goes. With one amendment. The money Is too big for three of uft : there must be a fourth. That will be a quarter of a million each." ? The Count bowed. "Have you any suggestions as to whom the fourth should be7" "yep," said the American shortly. "These two gentlemen agree with me that It sh>mld be another of my couh trymen-^so that we get equal numbers. The Klau we have decided on Is com ing to England In a few weeks ? Blram C. Potts. If you get him In, you can count us in. too. If not, the _ deal s off." - The Count nodde<^ .and If he felt any annoyance at this unexpected develop ment he showed no sign of It on his face. "I know of Mr. Potta," he answered quickly. "Your big shipping man, Isn't hW I ak'rw to your reservation.". "Good," said the American. "Let's dlsctiSs some details." Without a trace of emotion on his face the Count drew up a chair to the table. It was only when he sat down that he started to play a tattoo oh hla knee with his left hand. , ? ? Half au hour later he entered his luxurious suite of rooms at the Hotel Magnificent. A girl, who had been lying by the Ore readtag tt French n^vel, looked up at the sound of the door. She did pot speak, for the look on his face told her all she wanted to know. Hfe crossed to the sofa and smiled ilown at her. "Successful ... on our own terms. Tomorrow, Irma, the Comte de Guy dies, and Carl Peterson and his daugh ter leave for England. A country gen tleman. I think, Is Carl Petersou. He might keep hens, and possibly pigs." The girl on the sofa ruse, yawning. "Mon Dleu I what a prospect I Pigs and hens ? and In England I How long Is It going to take?" The Count looked thoughtfully into the Are. "Perhaps a year ? perhaps six months. . .* It Is on the lap of the god?. . . (TO BE CONTINUED) To Stop a Cough Quick take* HAYES* HEALING HONEY, a cough medicine which stops the cough by healing the Inflamed and Irritated tissues. A bo* of GROVE'S O-PEN-TRATE SALVE for Chest Golds. Head Colds and Group la enclosed with every bottle of HAYES* HEALING HONEY. The salve should be rubbed on the chest end throat of children suffering from a Cold or Group. The healing effect of Hares' Heel In d Hooey In tide the throat oombtoed with the heeling effect of Grove's (VPen-Trete Sehre through the poree of the skin eooo atope a ooagh Both remedies era peeked In one oarton end the cost of the combined treatment Is 38c. Just ask your druggist foe HAYES* HEALING HONEY. PROFESSIONAL COLUMN UU. U. B. BONNEH of l>r? boiin M B?nvr Lie, Lv, )im u4 lkn*t Bmlelffh, Bwtt Cnrwllaa Will b? Id Loulsburg on Thursday of each week. Offlcw over Scoggln's Drug Stare. [)?. B. F. YAKB0E01GH -? "Pbjsiclan nn4 Sarffros Loulsburg, N. C. Office la Blckett and Yarborouga Blllillag. Office Phou? 296 Residence Phone 28 MIW.I, ?OWOt - Eys Specialist Office 4n- HoT?T Building Laaimari. mjiui Caruiuu 8. ATWOOD 51 WELL. Attorney -At- Law. Loulsburg. N. C . Phone 249 Office In First National Bank Building DB. ABTHCB BINES FLEB1NW iwy D*?UsC Loulsburg, North Carolina Office In Masonic Hall Building tr Crgf Stan 1 p. m.. and 4 to S p. m. DR. W. B. BASS. Veterinarian Loulsburg. N. C. Special attention to -Hogs' and Dogs Office and Hospital at R- F. Kuuot'a StaM?. Calls answered da; or night Phones. Da 56 Night 336 DB. U. Jf. BEAM WOOD, X. C. Offices at Wood Drug Co. DB. D. f. SMITH WICK. Dentist. Uibkui, 5. C. Office In the First National Bank Building on Main and Nash Su W. a. PERSON. ATTORNEY - AT-LA W Loulsburg, North Carolina raetlce In aU courts. Office on Halo Street. DR. J. B. DAVIS Physician Loulsburg, North Carolina Office Church St. Next to Loulsburg Bottling Works Telephone: Office 64-1 Ring ReB. 64-2 Rings. B. B. White E. H. Hal one WHITE M MAXONE LAWTKRB Lonllburg. North Carolina ? ?aneral practice, settlement of es tates funds In Tea tod. On* member of ill arm always In the office. > L DB. H. H. JOHNSON Physician ' ? Loulsburg, North Carolina Offices Adjoining Aycock Drug Co. - 'Telephones: . Day 287 Night 10 DB. J. B. MALONE. Loulsburg. North Carolina jffiee In Aycock Drug Btore, Market Street, Office Practice Liurgery and consultation. J. 0. NEWELL, M. D. Loulsburg, N. Office In First National Bank Building WU1 be at Loulsburg regularly Day Phone 249 ? Night Phone 249-2 ' 6. X. BEAM Attorney -at Law Loulsburg, N. C. Offices over old Tar River Drug Co. Practice In all courts. Wm. H. Ruffin, Thoa. W. Ruffln wa. a. * thos. w. ruffin Attorneyi-?t-Law Lealsburg, i North Carolina General practice, both civil and crim inal, In Franklin and adjoining coun ties, Supreme and Federal Courts. Offices In First National Bank Bulldln*. REMEMBER YCL'R DEAD. Let us submit designs and prices on a nice up-to-date Monument or Tomb stone to be erected at the grave of your loved one. Photos burned on China. HENDERSON GRANITE * MARBLE WORKS. Henderson north Carolina. aiMKORD BABBF.B SHOP Nash Street loulsburg, North Carolina Only barber shop In Loulsburg run by white men. The best of service at most reasonable prices guaranteed. Cleaning and pressing department in connection. Clothes sent for and de livered promptly. STEGALL BROS. hrktri UiUtart. If. C. We have i>archasod the ahop former ly occupied by Oscar Stegall and will ran same at the aatiw stand. Satis faction and cleanliness shall be oar motto. Plenty of hot running water and olean towels. No Worms In a I leal thy Child All children troubled with Worms have aa kMlth) color, which ladkxtM pour Mood. ao4ua rul*. thrro la Bore or le?? Moaaach dlatarfcaaoe Gnovrs TASTELFSSchlll triNIC (Weo re?alarlr lor two or three weh will rnrlrh the Mood, kj* prove the dlaeetloo. and act aa ? Geoeral 8traa0fe eoind Toole to (ha whole sy <Ser> Nature will then throw off or dispel the VOUt*. end the Child will be la perfect health Pleasant to take. ?0c per bottle A (oBierratloeUt Mbther? "Willie, ha?e you no (n?u nerar* Willie- "Well, If I waat# 'em now I won't have any when coimny uomea." a