The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-07-16

less the LOru VIII pIo'i =. .,,o
The instant the girl had lei'
room Hugh switched off the lights anu
stepped across to the curtains wiz
covered the long windows. he pu'e
them aside, letting them come w
gether behind him; then, cautiou''''
he INDEBTED one side OF the Dig een
ter window. Silently he dodged acio's
the lawn toward the big trees a'
the end. and leaning up against ono
of them, he proceeded to make hloie
detailed survey of his objective, lhe
Elms. 1t was the same type OF nouso
as the one he had just left, anu tiie
grounds seemed about the same siAo'
A wire fence separated the two places
and in the darkness Hugh could just
make out small wicket-gate, cios-
ing path which connected Doth
houses. He tried it, and found TO MS
satisfaction that it opened silently.
Save for one room on the ground
floor the house was in darkness, anu
| Hugh determined to have a look at
| that room. There was chink IN the
| streaming out. which struck him as
| having possibilities.
Keeping under cover, he eoged
toward it, and, at length, he got INTO
| position from which he could see
inside. And what he saw made him
decide to chance it, and go even closer.
| Seated at the table was man he
! did not recognize; while on ether
| side of him sat darlington and Peter
son. Lying on a sofa smoking
| cigarette and reading a novel was
tall dark girl, who seemed completely
uninterested in the proceedings or
the other three Hugh placed her
at once as the doubtful daughter Irma,
and resumed his watch on the group
at the table.
A paper was in front Of the man,
and Peterson, who was smoking
large cigar, was apparently suggest
ing that he should make use of the
pen which darlington was obligingly
holding in readiness. In all respects
a harmless tableau. save for one small
thing-the expression on the mans
face. Hugh had seen it before often
only then it had been called she'll
shock. The man was dazed, semi
unconscious. Every now and then he
stared round the room, as If be-
wildered; then he would shake his
head and pass his hand YEARLY over
his forehead. For quarter of an
hour the scene continued; then LAX
ington produced an instrument from
his pocket. Hugh saw the man
shrink back in terror, and reach for
the pen. But what impressed him
most in that momentary fash of
action was. Peterson. There was
something inhuman in his complete
passivity. Even as he watched the
man signing his name, no trace OF
emotion showed on his face-whereas
on LakingtOn's there shone a f1endish
satisfaction.
The document was still lying on
the table, when Hugh produced his
revolver. He knew there was foul
play about, and the madness of what
he had suddenly made up his mint
to do never struck him; being thai
manner of fool, he was made thai
way. But he breathed pious prayer
that he would shoot straight-an(
then he held his breath. The cracl
of the shot and the bursting Of thu
only electric light bulb in, the room
were almost simultaneous, and thu
| vxyfth
on, boys" he burst through the win
dow. At an immense advantage
over the others, who could see moth
ing for the moment, he blundere'
round the room. He timed the blow
, at darlington to a nicely; he hit hin
!, straight on the point of the jaw AM
: he felt the man go down like log
Then he grabbed at the paper on tn
, table, which tore in his hand, an
picking the dazed signer up bodily
, he rushed through the window ont
! the lawn. There was not an instan
o to be lost; only the impossibility Q
: seeing when suddenly plunged int
!, darkness, had enabled him to pull tn
o thing off so far. And before that &C
vantage disappeared he had to be bac
:, at The Larches with his burden, n
. light weight for even man of hi
q strength to carry.
r. But there seemed to be no pursui
e no hue and cry. As he reached til
t. little gate he paused and looked bacl
S and he fancied he saw outside tn
q window a CLEAN of white, such as
shirt front. He fingered for an instan
d peering into the darkness and recove
ing his breath, when with a vicior
phut something buried itself in the TIRE
y beside him. Drummond- fingered r
7 more; long years of experience le
q. no doubt In his mind as to what thi
something was.