Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-05-06
CHAPTER Nv.
In Which He Spends Quiet Night at
the. Elms.
ONE.

lerSOn SeulIy, d1ter u lonS SiIeuce. 4
knew you had NO taetn', -,
Drummond leaned back in his chair
and regarded: his host with a faint
smile. ~. -. v.< ,D
II must come 70 you for lessons, Mr.
Peterson. Though frankly admit"
he added geniallyi "that have never
been brought up to regard the foreible
abduction Of harmless individual and
-. a friend whorts sieeping,or the effects
II; OF what: t:low people call 9 jag as being
exactly typical Of that admirable qaal-
ity."
tPeterson's elaace rested on the dis
heveled man still standing by the door,
and after:>a'i moments thought he
leaned forward and pressed bell.
- "Take that man, away he said alb
ruptly to the servant who came into
>. the room, "and put him to bed: will
:. consider what to do with him in the
morning." -. :. .i....s
Consider be ,"rhowled Null
lings, starting forward angrily. you'll
y consider a thick ear, Mr. Blooming
Know-all. What wants to know"
The words died away in his mouth,
and We sazed at Peterson like a bird
looks, at snake. There was some
thing so rusillessly malignant in the
stare OF the: gray-blue. eyes that the
ex-soldier who had viewed going over.
the top with comparative eQuapimity
as being part Of his JOB Quailed and
looked apprehensivcly at Druminond.
i. ..'Do what the kind gentleman tells
yoti, Mullings.", said Hugh, "and, 60 TO
bed" He lit a cigarette. and thought,
fully blew out cloud of smoke. : .
: y :".'stopi this eieohne.'ttI saHled Peter,
son. "Wllere have you hidden potts?
"Tush, tush," murmured Hugh. You
surprise me- J. had formed such
:, charming, mental picture of you Mr..
'S7 Peterson, as tile strong, silent nun
who never" lost his temper. and, here
you are, disappointing me at the begin
ming of our acquaintance"
Fora moment he thought that Pc
terson: was going to strike him, and his
own fist: clenched under the table:
= "I wouldn't my frienu;" he said
=, quietly, indeed K a6ukh,t Because
If you hit me, shall most certainly
hit YOU. And it viii: got improve your
beauty"
Slowly Peterson sank-.bac in his
chair, and the Veins which had been
standing out on his forehead became
normal again. He even smiled; only
the ceaseless tapping Of his hand on
his left knee betrayal Ills monetary
loss Of colnposure. Drummonds fist
unclenched, and he stole look at the
girl. She was in her favoritc attitude
on the sofa and had not even looked
up.
"I suppose that 1t is quite useless
for me to argue with you," said Peter
son after Willie. J.;
81 was member Of my school de-
batting society,": remarked Hugh remi-
niscently. "But I was never much
good I'm too obvious for argument,
GAIN afraid"
"You probably realize from what
has happened tonight" continued Pc
terson, "that am In earnest"
IT should be sorry to think so," an
swered Hugh "1f that Is the best
you can do, I'd cut it right out and
start 4 COlnQtO ldrlu.
The girl gave little gurgle of
laughter and lit another cigarette
evil you come and do the danger
Gus part of the work for us, Monsieur
Hugh?" she asked. .,,....
IF you pro1nise;to restrain the little
fellows, I'll water them with pleas
ure" returned Hugh lightly.
Dot 1yaI n
the window, where he'!tstood motion
less, staring out into the darkness.
Hugh realized that the situation was
what in military phraseology might be
termed critical There were IN the.
house probably half dozen men who,
Ike their master. were absolutely un-
scrupulous. If it suited Petersons
book to kill him, he; would not hesitate
to do so for a single second.
For moment the thought crossed
his mind that he would take no
chances by remaining in the house;
that he would rush Jefferson from
behind and escape into the darkness
of the garden. But it was only mo
mentary-gone almost before 1t had
come, for Hugh Drumniond was not
that manner OF man-gone even before
he noticed that Peterson was standing
in such position that he could sec
every detail of the room behind him
reflected in the glass through which
he stared.
A fixed determination to know what
lay in that sinister brain replaced his
temporary :ndecision. Events UP to-
date had moved so quickly that he had
hardly had time TO get his bearings; /;
even now the last twenty-four hours
seemed almost a dream. And rs he
looked at the broad back and massive
head of the man at the window. and
from him to the girl idly smoking on
TIE sofa, he smiled little grllnly. He
had lust remembered the. tImnbScI ew