The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-08-05

utes. Slowly, ineXOrably, the Germans
arm was being twisted, while he ut
tered gasping cries, and beat impo-
tently at DrummOnd'S head with his
free hand. Then at last there was a
dull crack as the arm broke, and a
scream Of pain, as he lurched round
the chair and stood helpless in front
OF the soldier, who still held the Gig
arctic case in his left hand.
They saw Drummond open the Gig
arctic case and take from it what
looked like a tube Of wood. Then he
felt in his pocket and took out a
matchbox, containing Il number Of
long thin Splintcrs. And, having fitted
one Of the ]splintcrs into the tube he
put the other end in his mouth.
With a quick heaye they saw him
jerk the German round and catch his
unbroken arm with his free left hand.
And the two bound watchers looked at
Hugh's eyes as he stared at the moan
ing BOche, and saw that they were
hard and merciless.
There was a sharp, whistling hiss,
and the splinter few from the tube
into the Germans face. 1t hung from
his cheek, and ever the ceaseless move
ment of his head failed to ~dislodge
ii.
Il have broken your arm, BOche,"
said DrummOnd at length, 'and now |
have killed you. I'm sorry about it {;
| wasn't particularly anxious TO end
your life. But it had to be done
The German, hardly conscious of
what he had said owing TO the pain in
his arm, was frantically kicking the
Englishman's legs, still bound to the
chair; but the iron grip on his wrists
never SlaCkenpd. And then quite sud-
denly came the end. With one dread
full, cOnvulsive heave the German
jcrked himself free, and fell doubled
up on the floor. Fascinated, they
watched him writing and twisting,
until at last, he lay still. The
Boche was dead.
What was that bloW-pipe affair.""
cried Sinclair hoarscly.
'"The thing they tried to finish me
with in Paris last night" answered
Hugh grimIy, taking a knife out of his
waistcoat pocket. LET us trust that
none of his pals come in to look for
him"
4 minute later ne stood up. only to
sit down again abruptly, as his legs
gave way. They were numbed and
stiff with the hours he had spent in the
same position, and for a while he could
do nothing but rub them with his
hands, till the blood returned and he
could feel once more.
Then, slowly and painfully, he tot
tered across to the others and set them
free as well. They were in an even
worse condition than he had been;
and it seemed as if Algy would never
be able TO stand again, so completely
dead was his body from the waist
downwards. But, ut length, after what
seemed an eternity to Drummond, who
realized only too well that should the
gang come in they were almost as help
less in their present condition as if
they were still bound in their chairs.
the other two recovered.
"All fit now? Good! We've got to
think what we're going to do, for we're
not out Of the wood yet by two or
three miles"
Lets get the door open,' remarked
Algy, "and explore"
Cautiously they swung it open, and
stood motionless. The house was in
absolute silence; the hall was de-
serted.
Switch out the light" whispered
Hugh. "WeH wander round"
They crept forward stealthiIy in the
darkness, stopping every now and Their
to listen. But no sound came to their
ears; 1t might have been a house Of
the dead.
Suddenly Drummond, who was in
front of he other two, stopped with a
warning hiss. A light was streaming
out from under a door at the end Of a
passage and, as they stood watching
it, they heard a mans voice coming
from the same room. Some one else
answered him and then there was
silence once more.
~ 'thSNh iihS-h IOI w L
again, and the others followed. And
1t was not until they got quite close to
the door that a strange. continuous
noise began to be noticeable-a noise
which came most distinctly from the
lighted room. 1t rose and fell with
monotonous regularity at times it re-
sembled a brass band-at others it
died away to a gentle murmur. And
occasionally it was punctuated with a
~strangled snort. $3.50.
Great Scott" muttered Hugh ex-
citedly, ''the whole boiling bunch are
asleep, or I'll eat my hat"
Then who was it spoke?" said Algy.
AT least two Of 'em are awake right
enough"
And, as II in answer to his question,
there came the voice again from in
side the room.
"Wal, Mr.. Darrell, l guess we can
pass on, and leave this bunch"
With one laugh of iOyful amaZement