The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-10-06
SAPPER
Illustrations by
: IRWIN MYERS
Copyright by Geo II Doron 60

DeSlHc MIN, anu Win NCiiVS Va
Ominous thuds a body rolled down
rhe stairs into the hall below.
"YOu fool" He heard LskingtOn's
voice. ShrilI with anger. You've
killed him. Switch on the light ="
But before the order could ne ear
ried out Hugh had disappeared. like
a great cat, into rhe darkness Of the
passage above. As luck would have
it the first room he darted into was
empty. and he flung up the window
and peered out.
\ faint, watery moon showed him
q twenty-fOot drop onto the grass,
and without hesitation he flung his
legs over the sill. And at that mo-
:nent something prompted him tn look
upward.
1t was dOrmer window, and TO an
active man access 10 the roof was
easy. Without an instRnt'S hesitation
he abandoned all thoughts of retreat;
and when two excited men rushed in
10 the room he was firmly enscOnced
with his legs aStride OF the ridge of
the window, not yard from their
heads.
Securely hidden in the shad"v-. he
watched the subsequent proceedings
with genial federation. A raucOuS bel
low from the two men announced
hat they had discovered his line OF
escape; and. i'm half a minute the
garden was full of hurrying figures
One. calm and impressive. his i'sentity
betrayed only by the inevitable cigar.
stood by the garden door. apparently
taking no part in the game; Laking-
ton. blind with fury, was running
round in small circles. curSing every
one impartially.
The car is still there" A man
came up rO Peterson, and Hugh heard
the words distinctly.
Then he's probably over AT Ben
tons house. will go and see"
Hugh watched the thick-Ser mas
sive figure stroll down toward the
wicker gate. and he laughed gently
rn himself Then he grew serious
again, and with slight frOwn he
pulled out his watch and peered AT it.
Half-rasr one two more hours
before dawn. And in those two hours
he wanted Ia explore the house from
on top especially he wanted to have
look nj the mysterious central room
Of which Phyllis had spoken TO him
the room where darlington kept his
treasures. But until the excited
thrOng below Went indoors, il was
unsafe L" move. Once out OF the
shadow. any one would be>able t.
see him crawling over the roof in the
moonlight
At times the thought eff the help
less nau for whose death lie had in
one way been responsible required to
! him. but he shook his head angrily
| 1t had heen necessary, he realized
| you can carry someone upstairs il
normal house without him having
his neck broken-but still AnC
! then he wondered who he was L
had heen one OF the men who Sa
round the rablP-of that he was toler
ably certain. But which Wa.
il the frightened bunny. or the Rus
sian, or the gentleman with the blood
ShOt eye The only comfort was tina
whoever il had been. the world woulC
not he appreciahly the poorer for hi
sudden decease. The only regret wa
| maj II iAESA bNNl hCdl EANiltH
He had a diState for Henry whicl
far exceeded his dislike of Peterson
He's not over there Peterson
voice came TO him from below An,
we've wasted time enough as ii is"
The men had gathered together il
a group. just below where Hugh wa
sitting. evidently awaiting further OF
ders.
DO you mean to say we've lost tn
young swine again?" said I.akingto
angrily.
Not lost-merely mislaid." mul
INJURED Peterson. 1.-THE more I see q
him the more do I admire his initis
tive"
darlington SnOrted.
1T was that id fool IvulSky's ow
fault" he snarled; why didn't h
keep still as he was told to doEr
"Why. indeed" returned Petersen
his cigar glowing red. And II
afraid We shall never know. He
very dead He turned toward tn
house. That concludes the entel
tainment, gentlemen. for tonight.
think you can all go To he'd"
He disappeared into the house. an
the others followed slowly. For III
time being Hugh was safe and wit
a sigh of relief he stretched h
cramped limbs and lay back again.
the sloping roof. If only ne had dare
to light a cigarette.
THREE.
1t was half an hour before Drum
mOnd decided that it was safe to sta
exploring. First he took of his shoe
y and tying the laces together he slur