The Maelstrom

"Pretty done up buz-z come at once buz-z at thirty-four buzz-z Gardens, Kensington buzz-z."

"Number, please?" said a new and distinct voice.

"Blast," said Menzies simply, and put down the telephone. This addiction to forcible language on occasions of annoyance was a constant regret to him in his more reflective moments.

Jimmie Hallett's first impression on awakening had been that someone was swinging a sledge-hammer irregularly on to his temples. He lay still for a little, wondering why it should be. By and by he sat up and tried to piece together the events of the evening. His head ached intolerably, and he found consecutive thought painful.

It was totally dark, and he could make out nothing of where he was. Then the whole thing flashed across his mind and he staggered rather uncertainly to hifl feet and, steadying himself against the wall, struck a match.

The feeble nicker showed him a blue papered apartment,