The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-07-07
~ IRWIN MYERS
Copyright by Geo II Do'on &c

fellows, TIL water them with pleas
ure," returned Hugh lightly.
Peterson rose and walked over to
tie window, where he stood motion
less, staring out into the darkness.
Hugh realized that the situation was
what In military ~phraseoiogy might be
termed critical. There were In the
house probably half a dozen men who,
like their master, were absolutely I'M
scrupulous. If II suited Peterson's
book to kill him, he would not hesitate
to do so for q single second.
For a moment the thought crossed
his mind that he would take no
chances by remaining In the house;
that ne would rush Peterson from
behind and escape into the darkness
Of the garden. But II was only mo-
mentary-g0ne almost before II had
come, for Hugh Drummond was not
that Of man-gone even before
he noticed that Peterson was standing
in such a position that he could see
every detail Of the room behind him
reflected in the glass through which
he stared.
A fixed determination to know what
lay In that sinister brain replaced his
temporary indecision. Events up to-
date had moved sc quickly that he had
hardly had time to get his bearings ;
ever now the last t%wenty-four hours
seemed almost a dream. And as he
1onlrnI ne thn h~nnd horE on1 vpocoiya
head Of the man at the window, and
from him to the girl idly smoking on
the sofa, he smiled a little grimly. He
had just remembered the thumbscrew
Of the preceding evening. Assuredly
the demobllized officer who found
peace dull was getting his moneys
worth; and Drummond had a shrewd
suspicion that the entertainment was
only just beginning.
A sudden sound outside in the gar
den made him look up QuicMy. He
saw the white CLEAN Of a shirt front,
and the next moment a man pushed
open the window and came unsteadily
into the ROOM. 1t was Mr.. Benton, and
quite obviously he had been seeking
consolation In the bottle.
"Have you got him" he demanded
thickly, steadying himself with a hand
on Peterson's arm.
II have not" said Peterson shortly,
cycling the swaying figure In front Of
him contemptuously. "For heavens
sake, sit down, man, before you fall
down." He pushed Benton roughly
into a chair, and resumed his impas-
sive stare into the darkness.
The girl took not the slightest notice
of the new arrival, who gazed stupid
ly at Drummond across the table.
1--WE seem 10 be moving in an at
mosphere Of cross-purpOses, Mr.. Ben
ton." said the soldier affably. II hope
your daughter is quite we'll"
"Er-quite, thank you," muttered
the other.
"Tell her, will you, that l propose
to call on her before returning to Lon
don tomorrow"
With his hands In his pockets, Peter
was regarding Drummond from
the window.
"You propose leaving us tomorrow,
do your" he said quietly.
Drummond stood up.
II ordered my "A for ten O'clock"
he answered. II am quite sure that
I shall be more useful to Mr.. Peter
son at large than ! am cooped up
here. / might . lead him to this
hidden treasure which he thinks I've
got"
"You will do that, all right" re
marked Peterson. But at the mo-
ment I was wondering whether a Ut.
tie persuasion now-might not give me
all the information I require more
quickly and with less trouble"
A ieeting vision Of a mangled, pulp
like thumb flashed across Hugh's
mind; once again he heard that hide