The Lamar register., 1921-08-03

empty. ana ne nunx up the WihuoW
and peered out.
A faint. watery moon showed him
a twenty-foot drop onto the grass,
and without hesitation he dung his
legs over the sill. And at that mo-
nient something prompted him 10 look
upward.
II WAS dorrner window, and to an
active man access to the roof was
easy. Without an instant's hesitation
he abandoned all thoughts Of retreat;
and when two excited men rushed In
to the room he WAS firmly ensconced.
with his legs astride OF the ridge Of
the window, not q yard from their
heads.
Securely hidden in the shadow. he
watched the subsequent proceedings
with genial liberation. A raucous bel
low from the two men announced
that they had discovered his line Of
escape; and, In half = minute the
garden was full of hurrying ngures.
One. calm and impassive, his Identity
betrayed only by the Inevitable cigar,
stood by the garden door, apparently
taAAAA ho PaAt Al hhS A~oAAo
tSn. blind with fury. was running
round in small circles. cursinE every
one impartially.
THE car is still there" A man
came up to Peterson. and Hugh heard
the words distinctly.
Then he's probably over At Ben
toms house. I will 20 and see."
sive figure stroll down toward the
wicket gate. and he laughed gently
to himself. Then he grew serious
again, and with u slight frOwn he
pulled out his watch and peered At II.
Half-past one two more hourS
before dawn. And In those two hours
he wanted to explore the house from
on top; especially he wanted to have
look al the mysterious central room
Of which Phyllis had spoken TO him
the room where Lakington kept his
treasures. But until the excited
throng below went Indoors II was
unsafe TO move. Once out Of the
shadow, any one would be able to
see him crawling over the roof In the
moonlight.
At times the thought Of the help
less man for whose death he had In
one way been responsible recurred to
him. but he shook his head angr1ly.
II had been necessary, he realised:
you can carry someone upstairs in
q normal house without him having
his neck broksn-but still =. And
then he wondered who he was. II
had been one of the men who sat
round the table-of that he was toier-
ably certain. But which - Was
1t the frightened bunny, or the Rus
sian. or the gentleman with the blood
shot eye? The only comfort was that
whoever IT had been. the world would
not be apprecisbly the poorer for his
sudden decease. The only regret was
thar II hadn't been dear Henry. &.
He had 4 distste for Henry which
far exceeded his dislike Of Peterson.
Hes not over there" Petersons
voice came TO him from below. And
we've wasted time enough as II Is"
The men had gathered together In
group. just below where Husb was
sitting. evidently awaiting further or
ders.
do you mean to say we've lost the
Young swine again. said Lskington
angrily.
mot lost-merely mislaid." mur-
INJURED Peterson. The more ! see Of
him the more do I admire his initia-
tive"
Lakington snorted.
ut WAS that ID fool Iv0isky's own
fault" he snarled; "why didn't he
keep still as he was told TO dor
why. indeed" returned Peterson.
his cigar glowing red. And I'm
afraid we shall never know. He 10
very dead He turned toward the
house. That concludes the enter
tainment. gentlemen, for tonight. 1
think you can all 90 to bed"
He disappeared into the house, and
the others followed slowly. For the
time being Hugh was safe. and with
sigh OF relief he stretched his
cramped limbs and lay back against
the sloping roof. II only he had darsd
to light . cigarette
THREE.
II wss half an hour before Drum