The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-07-28

room. mere was an uDDdluIdl SAAl-
ter In her fathers eyes-a flush on his
cheeks hardly to be accounted for by
the warmth OF the evening; and
II struck Drummond that during the
time he had been pretending to look
at his car, Mr.. Benton had been fOru-
flying himself. 1t was obvious, even
to the soldiers unprOfessional eye,
that the mans nerves had gone 10
pieces, his daughters worst fOrebod-
ings were likely TO be fulfilled. He
talked disjointedly and fast; his
hands were not steady, and he seemed
10 be always waiting for something
10 happen.
Hugh had not been in the room ten
minutes before his host produced the
whisky, and during the time that he
took to drink mild nlghtcap, Mr..
Benton succeeded in lowering three
extremely strong glasses of spirit.
And what made il 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 if you want anything,
won't your said his host. 1--WE don't
have very many visitors here, but
hope you'll find everything you re-
quire. Breakfast at nine"
DrummOnd closed the door behind
him, and stood for a moment in
silence, looking round the hall. 1t
was deserted, but he wanted TO get
the geography of the house firmly i'm
printed on his mind. He stepped
across toward the drawing-rOO In
side. as he hoped. he found the girl.
She rose the instant he came in,
and stood 10y the mantelpiece with her
hands locked.
What was it?" she half whispered
that awful noise at dinnerT'
He looked at her gravely for a
while, and then he shook his head.
"Shall we leave it as a night-bird for
the preSent?" he said quietly. Then
he leaned toward her, and took her
hands in~his own. go TO bed, little
girl" he ordered; this is my show.
And. may I say. I think you're just
wonderful. Thank God you saw my
advertisement :"
Gently he released her hands, and
walking TO the door, held it open for
her. IF by any chance you should
hear things in the night-turn over
and go TO sleep again."
But what are you going TO dO?"
she cried
Hugh grinned. 81 haven't the re
hottest idea" he answered. Doubt
less the Lord will provide"
The instant the girl had left the
II, a
stepped across TO the curtains which
covered the long windows. He pulled
them hside. letting them come to-
gether behind him; then. cautiously,
he unbOlted one side of the big CEN
ter window. Silently he lodged across
the lawn toward the big trees at
the end. and leaning up against one
of them, he proceeded 10 make more
detailed survey of his objective, The
ElmS. 1t 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 pldces,
and in the darkness Hugh could just
make out a small wicket-gate, clos
ing a path which connected both
houses. He tried it, and found to his
y
Save for one room on the ground
floor the house was in darkness, and
Hugh determined to have look at
that room. There was a chink in the
curtains, through which the light was
streaming out which struck him as
! having possibilities.
Keeping under cover, he edged
toward it, and, at length, he got into
a position from which he could see
| inside. And what he saw made him
! decide TO chance it, and 20 even closer.
Seated at the table was a man he
! did not recognize; while on either
side of him sat Lexington and Peter
! son. Lying on a sofa smoking a
| cigarette and reading a novel was a
tall dark girl, who seemed completely
uninterested in the proceedings of
! 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 a
large cigar, was apparently suggest
ing that he should make use of the
| pen which Lexington 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 ii before often
only then it had been called she'll
shock. The man was dazed, semi
unconscious. Every now and them he
stared round the room. as if be-
wildered; then he would shake his
head and pass his hand YEARLY over
his forehead. For a 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