The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-10-15

and with a scream of fear darlington
sprang back. Standing in the door
way was Hugh Drummond, and his
face was grim and merciless.
you sent for your chauffeur, Henry
Lakington," he remarked quietly. 81
am here"
"What do you mean?" muttered
darlington thickly.
Il drove you back from Laidley
Towers tonight" said Hugh with a
slight smile. ''The proper man was
foolish and had to be killed" He ad-
vanced few steps into the room, and
the other shrank back. "YOu look
frightened, Henry. Can 1t be that
the young swine's wits are, after all,
better than yOursT'
what do you want?" gasped LAX
ington, through dry lips.
Il want you, Henry-just you.
Hitherto you've always used gangs of
your ruffians against me. Now my
gang occupies this house. But I'm
not going to use them. It's going to
be just-you and l. Stand up, Henry ;
stand up-as l have always stood up
to you" He crossed the room and
stood In front Of the covering man.
Take half-take half" he screamed.
I've got treasure-Tve
And Drummond hit him q fearful
blow on the mouth.
II shall take all. Henry, to return to
their rightful owners. Boys"-he
raised his voice-"carry out these
other two, and undo them"
The four masked men came In, and
carried out the two chairs.
''The intimidated rabbit, Henry, and
the kindly gentleman you put to guard
Miss Benton" he. remarked as the
door closed. $50 now we may regard
ourselves as being alone. Just you
and /. And one of us, Lexington
you devil in human form-is going in
to that bath"
"But the bath means death"
shrieked Lakington-"death in agony"
THAT will be unfortunate for the
one who goes in" said DrummOnd,
taking q step toward him.
"You would murder me-" half sobbed
the terrified man.
mo, Lexington; I'm not going to
murder YOU" A CLEAN Of hope came
into the others eyes. But I'm going
to fight you In order to decide which
of rs two ceases to adorn the earth;
that is, If your diagnosis of the con-
tents of the bath Is correct. What
little CLEAN Of pity l might have pos
sessed for you has been completely ex-
tinguished by your present exhibition
Of nauseating cowardice. Fight. you
worm, fight; or I'll throw you in!"
And darlington fought. The sudden
complete turning Of the tables had for
the moment destroyed his nerve; now,
at Drummond's words, he recovered
himself. There was no mercy on the
soldiers face, and In his inmost heart
Lexington knew that the end had come.
For strong and wiry though he was,
he was no match for the other.
Relentlessly he felt himself being
AOhNCO tONdLO Tie uCduiy lllu4O HC Aetu
prepared for Drummond, and as the
irony Of the thing struck him, the
sweat broke out on his forehead and
he cursed aloud. At last he backed in
TO the edge of the bath and his strug-
giles redoubled. But still there was no
mercy on the soldiers face, and he
felt himself being forced farther and
farther over the liquid until he was
only held from falling into it by Drum
mond's grip on his throat.
Then, just before the grip relaxed
and he went under, the soldier spoke
once:
Henry Lexington" he said, 'the
retribution Is just"
Drummond sprang back, and the
liquid closed over the wretched mans
head. But only for a second. With
a dreadful cry darlington leaped out,