The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1921-06-30
BY
Cyril McNeile
"Sapper'
Copyright by Geo. 81. Dorsn Co.

Ouiy SFluuileu anu SAW 10 LlS ulSu
breakfast. Which is why there are in
England today quite number Of
civilians who acknowledge only two
rulers-the King and Hugh Drum
mond. And they would willingly die
for either.
The result on Drummond was not
surprising; as nearly as man may be
he was without fear. And when the
idea came to him as he sat on the
edge of his bed thoughtfully pulling off
his SHOES, no question Of the possible
risk entered into his mind. 70 explore
the, house seemed the most natural
thing in the world, and with character
istic brevity he summed up the stu
alton as 1t struck him.
They suspect me anyhow: in fact,
they know I took Potts. Therefore,
even If they catch me passage creep
ing, I'm no worse off than I am now.
And I might find something of inter
est. Therefore, carry on, brave heart"
1t was dark in the passage outside
as he opened the door Of his room and
crept toward the top of the stairs. The
collar Of his brown lounge coat was
turned up, and his stocking feet made
no sound on the heavy pile carpet.
Like huge shadow he vanished into
the blackness, feeling his way forward
with the uncanny instinct that comes
from much practice. Every now and
then he paused and listened intently,
but the measured ticking Of the clock
below and the occasional creak Of a
board alone broke the stiffness.
To the left lay the, room in which he
had spent the evening, and Drummond
turned to the right. AS he had gone
up to bed he had noticed door
screened by heavy curtain which he
thought might be the room Phyllis
Benton had spoken Of the room
where Henry darlington kept his Ill
gotten treasures. He felt bis way
along the wall, and at length his hand
touched the curtain--only to drop it
again at once. From close beside him
had come sharp. angry hiss.
He stepped back a pace and stood
rigid, staring at the spot from which
the sound he'd seemed to come-but
he could see nothing. Then he leaned
forward and once more moved the
curtai1. Instantly 1t came again,
sharper and angriar than before.
I Hugh passed hand over his fore
head and found 1t damp. Germans he
knew, and things on two legs, but
what was this that Kissed so viciously
in tile darkness? At length he deter
mined to risk 1t, and drew from his
pocket a tiny electric torch. Holding
1t well away from his body, he
switched on the light. In the center
Of the beam, swaying gracefully to-
| and fro, was snake. For a moment
he watched 1t, fascinated as it spat at
the light angrily; he saw the fiat hood
where the -icious head was set on the
upright body; then he switched of the
1 torch and retreated rather faster than
he had. come:
conviviai household, ne hit -
tered to himself through lips that were
| d little dry. "A hooded cobra is an
|! unpleasing pet"
Hugh had Just. determined to recon-
hotter the curtained doorway again to
see IL 1T was possible to circumvent
| the snake, when a low chuckle came
distinctly to his ears from the landing
above.
! He flushed angrily in the darkness.
There was no doubt whatever as to
the human origin Of that laugh, and
/ Hugh suddenly realized that he was
i making the most profound fool of him
self. To be laughed at by some dirty
a swine whom he could strangle in half
1 d minute was impossible His fists
clenched, and he swore softly under
his breath. Then as silently as he
had COME down, he commenced to
climb the stairs again. He had q hazy
idea that he would like to hit some
Il thing hard. 81
There were nine stairs In the first
half of the flight, and It was as he
u stood on the fifth that he again heard
u the low chuckle AT the same instant
q something whlzzed past his head SO
low that 1t almost touched his hair,
q and there was "a clang on the wall be.
q side him He ducked instinctiyely
and regardless Of noise raced up thu
remaining stairs on all-fours His
Jaw was set Hike d wise. his eyes were
q blazing; III fact. Hugh Drummond wai
seeing red.
He paused when he reached the top
crouching IL, the darkness. Close +
4 him he could feel some one else, ami
holding his breath, ne listened. .rhel
ne heard the man NOV oilly. the yer,
-r =