The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-05-05


character. He Jaw the comrnissloaG6re
eyeink them curiouely.
] Il understood" ne said slowly, that
thes guard had been relieved"
No. SIR" said the man, and the clus-
| inner hall confirmed this.
| Il sent orders this afternoon" said
/ Speeding between his teeth.
mo orders have been received, sir"
and the lawyer saw the scrutinizing
eye of the soldierly sentry pass over
us this the reiief?' asked the guard.
not attempting to conceal the contempt
in his tone.
YES" said the lawyer.
| AS the sentry saluted and disap-
peared into the han Speeding drew
: Conner aside.
: "This is ruin" he said quickly. "Ths
, safe must be cleared tonight. Tomor-
row London will not hold me-"
The sentry reappeared at the door
way and beckoned them in They
shuffled into the great hall, where In
the half darkness the safe doomed up
from it's rocky pedestal, an eerie, mys-
| terious thing. He saw Bat Sands
glancing uncomfortably around the dim
spaces of the building, and felt the i'm
1 preston of the loneliness.
| A man who wore the stripes Of SER
geant came up.
Are we to withdraw, sir?' he asked
YES" said Speeding shortly.
will you give US q written order?"
asked the man.
SPEEDING hesitated. then drew out
pocket book and wrote few hasty
words on sheet, tore 1t out and hand
ed 1t to the man.
The sergeant looked at 1t carefully.
you haven't signed It or dated II
either" he said respectfully, and hand
ed 1t back.
SPEEDING cursed him under his breath
and rectified the omissions.
Now you may CO."
In the half-light. for only one soli-
tary electrolier illuminated the vast
hall, he thought the man was smiling.
ows, for he could not see his face.
And am to leave you alone?" said
the sy sergeant.
rs 1t safer" the non commissioned
officer asked quietly.
cried the lawyer.
WELL" said the other easily. II see
you have Conner with you, notorious
thief and blackmailer."
The lawyer was dumb.
And Bat Sands How dye do, Bat?
How did they treat you In Borstal,. or
was 1t Parkhurst" drawled the ser
geant. And there's the gentle Lamby
trying hard to look military in an over
coat too large for him. That's not the
uniform you're used to wearing, Lam
by, eh?"
From the group of men at the door
came genuinely amused laugh.
I'd ha avno ~
chaps" said the sergeant, and turning
again to Spedding's men, Here we
have our respected friend Curt Goyle."
He stopped and picked up bag that
Bat had placed gingerly on the floor.
what a bag of tricks" the sergeant
cartridges and-what's this little thing,
Bat--an ark? 1t is. By Jove, con-
graduate you on the swag"
Speeding had recovered his nerve
and strobe forward. He was playing
for the greatest stake in the world.
You shall be punished for this inso-
lence," he stormed.
mot at ALL" said the imperturbable
sergeant.
Somebody at the door spoke.
Here's another one, sergeant" and
pushed a queer old figure into the hall,
figure that blinked and peered from
face to face.
He espied Speeding, and ran up to
him almost fawning.
1.-THE Safe Deposit-in Lombard
Street." he cackled joyousy. You see,
remembered, dear friend: and I've
come to tell you about the book-my
book, you know. My munificent patron
who desired puzzle word"
The sergeant started forward.
my God" he cried, 'the professor"
Eyes, yes chuckled the old. man,
that's what he called me. He bought
copy of my book-two sovereigns
four sovereigns he gave me. The book
what was II called?"
The old man paused and clasped both
hands to his head.
"A Study-a Study" he said pain
fully, ION the Origin of--the Alphabet.
Ali"
Another of the commissionaires had
come forward as the old man began
speeSsing, and to him the sergeant
turned. r,
Make a note of that, Jimmy" the
SPEEDING reeled back as though he
had been struck.
Angel" ne gasped.
That's ine," was the ungrammatical
reply.
less, SPEEDING awaited Judgment.
What form 1t would take he could not
guess, that 1t would effectively ruin
him he did not doubt. The trusted law
yer stood self-condemned; there was no
explaining away his companions, there
could be no mistaking the meaning Of
their presence.
"Send your men away" said Angel
A wild hope seized the lawyer. The
men were not to be arrested, there was
chance for him.
The Borough Lot" needed no second
ordering: they trooped through the
doorway, anxious to reach the open air
before Angel changed his mind.
You may CO." said Angel to Conner.
who still fingered.
IF the safe is to be opened, I'm in
it," was the sullen reply.
CONTINUED Next week.)