The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-11-24

+ fFiftAAANl W iNthA NAANt u ~ MAJ - y
: again disturbed the silence. With
the training bred Of many hours ln
No Mans Land Drummond was us
feniug even while he was speaking.
FOR tie falntest suspicious sound-bui
he heard nothing The soft whisper
ing nlght-noiscs came gently through
the window: hut the man who had
screamed once did not even whlmper
again. He remembered hearing a
similar cry near the brlck-stacks ~
Gulnchy. and two nights later he had
found the giver Of. H. at the edge
II mine-crater. with glazed eyes that
still held In them the horror Of the
final second. And more persistently
han ever, his thoughts centered on
he fifth occupant ~ the Rolls
Royce
II was with almost n look ~ reliet
that Mr.. Benton listened To his tale OF
woe abont his chr
"Of course you must stop here for
the night" he cried. Phyllis, my
lear. will you tell them TO get a
oum ready"
With an inscrutable look nj Hugh,
In which thankfulness and apprehen-
sion seemed mingled, the girl left the
room. There was an unnatural gilt
Ter In her fathers eyes--a flush on his
checks hardly 10 be accounted for by
the warmth Of the evening; and
II struck Drummond that during the
time he had been pretending 10 look
AT his car, Mr. Benton had been forth
flying himself. II was obvious, even
to the soldiers unprofessional eye,
that the mans nerves had gone to
pieces. his daughters worst forebod-
ings were likely TO be fulfilled. He
talked disjointedly and fast; his
hands were not steady, and he seemed
to be always waiting for something
to happen.
Hugh had not been In the room ten
minutes before his host produced the
whisky, and during the time that ne
took 10 drink mild nightcap. Mr..
Benton succeeded in lowering three
extremely strong glasses Of spirit.
And what made II the more sad was
that the man was obviously not
heavy drinker by preference.
At eleven o'clock Hugh rose and
said good night.
you'll ring II you want anything
won't your said his host. I'VE don't
have very many visitors here, but
hope you'll find everything you re-
auire. Breakfast NJ nine"
Drummond closed the door behind
him. and stood for a moment In
silence. looking round the hall IL
was deserted. hut he wanted 10 get
the geography OF the house firmly i'm
printed on his mind. He stepped
across toward the drawing-room. In
side, as he hoped, he found the girl.
She rose the instant he came In,
and stood by the mantelpiece with her
hands locked
"What was ~" she half whispered
-"that awful noise at dinDerf
He looked M her gravely for a
while, and then he shook his head.
"Shall we leave II as night-birtl for
the presentT' ne said quietly. Then
he leaned toward her, and took her
hands In his own. go 10 bed. little
girl" he ordered; "this Is my show.
And. may ] say. think you're just
wonderful Thank God you saw my
advertisement -
Gently he released her hands, and
walking 10 the door, held II open for
her. III by any chance you should
hear things In the night-turn over
and 20 20 sleep again"
But what are you going to dol"
she cried
Hugh grinned. II haven't the re
hottest Idea he answered. Doubt
less the Lord viii provide"
The instant the girl had left the
room Hugh switched on the lights. and
stepped scross TO the curtains which
covered the long windows. He pulled
them Inside. letting zhem come 20
gether behind him: then, cautiously,
be unbolted one side Of the big cen
ter window. Silently he lodged across
the lawn toward the big trees AZ
the end, and leaning Up against one
Of them. be proceeded TO make more
detailed survey o. his objective, The
Elms. II was the same type Of house
as the one he had just left, and the
grounds seemed about the same Size.
A wire fence separated the two places.
and 10 the darkness Hugh could Just
make out q small Wicket-gsts. clos
ing q path which connected 10th
houses. He tried II, and found 70 his
satisfaction that "a opened silently.
save for Ons room on the ground
floor the house Was In darkness. and
Hugh determined 20 have . look At
that room. There was q chink in the
curtains. through which the Light vas
streaming out. which struck him as
having possibilities.
KEEPING under cover, Be edged
toward ~ and. AZ length. be got into
q position from which be could see
inside Anc what he s4u Dscs him