The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-08-19

out Indt our one anu Only hlIum ~.
Potts was upstairs" ~
"Good Lordr spluttered Darrell,
by now very wide awake, "what do
we do, sergeant-majorT
"We take it in turns-two at
time-to sit up with Potts" Hugh
glanced at the other three. "D-n 1t
you blIghters-wake up!"
II don't know what II Is" Darrell
said, rubbing his eyes, II feel most In
formally sleepy"
swell, listen to me-confound you
Tobyr
"Sorry, old man." With start Sin
clair sat up In his chair and blinked
at Hugh.
"They're almost certain to try and
get him tonight" went on Hugh.
Having given the show away by
leaving a clue on the wretched secre-
tary, they must get the real man as
soon as possible. It's far too danger
Gus to leave the-leave the" His
head dropped forward on his chest:
short, half-strangled snore came
from his lips. 1t had the effect Of
waking him for the moment, and he
staggered to his feet.
The other three, sprawling In their
chairs, were openly and unashamedly
asleep; even the dogs lay in fantastic
attitudes, breathing heavily, inert like
logs.
awake upp shouted Hugh wildly.
"For Gods sake - wake upl We've
been druggedw
An iron weight seemed to be press
ing down on his eyellds: the desire
for sleep grew stronger and stronger.
For a few moments more he fought
against 1t, hopelessly, despairingly
while his legs seemed not to belong
to him, and there was a roaring noise
in his ears. And then. just before
Inconsistencies overcame him, there
came to his bemused brain the sound
of whistle thrice repeated from out
side the window. With a last stu
pendous effort he fought his way to-
ward II. and for a moment he stared
into the darkness. There were dim
figures moving through the shrubs,
and suddenly one seemed to detach
itself. 1t came nearer, and the light
fell on the mans face. His nose and
mouth were covered with a sort OF
pad, but the cold. sneering eyes were
unmistakable.
darlington gasped Hugh. and
then the roaring noise increased In
his head; his legs struck work alto
gether. He collapsed on the floor and
lay sprawling, while Lexington, his
face pressed against the glass outside,
watched in silence.
'Draw the curtains" darlington
was speaking, his voice muffled be-
hind the pad, and one Of the men did
as he said. There were four In all,
each with a similar pad over his
mouth and nose. "Where did you put
the generator, BrownlowT
"In the coal-scuttle." A man whom
Mrs. Denny would have had no dill
Guilty In recognizing, even with the
mask on his face, carefully lifted q
small black box out Of the scuttle from
behind some coal. and shook 1t gent
ly, holding 1t to his ear. Its nm
ished," he remarked. and darlington
nodded.
IAN ingenious invention is gas
he said, addressing another Of the
men. "we owe your nation quite
debt Of gratitude for the idea"
A cultural grunt left no doubt as
to what that nation was, and Laking
ton dropped the box into his pocket
go get him." he ordered briefly
and the others left the room.
Contemporary darlington kicked
one Of the dogs; 1t rolled over and
lay motionless In Its new position
Then he went In turn to each Of the
three men sprawling In the chairs
With no attempt at gentleness he
turned their faces up to the light. and
studied them deliberately; then he lei
their heads roll back again with
thud. Finally, he went to the window
and stared down at Drunimond. In
his eyes was a look Of cold fury, and
he. kicked the unconscious man saw
agely In the ribs.
"You young swine." he muttered
"Do you think, I'll forget that blow
on the jawf
He took another box out Of hi'
pocket and looked at II lovingly.
"ShaI IT. With a short laugh h
replaced II. "Its too good a death
for you, Captain Drummond, d. 5. o.
INC. Just to snuff out In your sleep
No, my friend, l think I can devis'
something better than that; some
thing really artistic"
Two other men came In as h
turned away. and Lexington lookes
at them.
"well," he asked, shave you got thu
old womanl"
Bound and gagged In the kitchen,
answered one Of them laconically
@Are you going to do this crowd IMP
The speaker looked at the uncon
scious men with hatred In his eyes
@They encumbef the earth-thi
breed Of puppy"
They viii not cucumber II 10