The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-07-29

IN he loves II she wants him. AS he
had dashed across the lawn to The
Films, with the Americans warning
cry echoing in his ears, he had been
Incapable 81 serious thought. Subcon-
s~ciously he haze known that, from ev-
cry point Of view, it was the act of a
ting his head into what, in all prob
ability. was Il carefully prepared
moose that, from every point Of view.
he could help Phyllis better by re-
naming a free agent outside. But
when a girl shrieks, and the man who
loves her hears it, arguments begin
10 look tired. And what little caution
might have remained To Hugh COM
pletely vanished as he saw the girl
watching him with agoniZed terror in
her face, from an upstair window, as
he dashed up 10 the house. Ii was
only for Il brief second that he saw
her; then she disappeared suddenly,
as If snatched away by some Invisible
person.
I'm coming. darling" He had given
one wild shout, and hurled himself
through the door which led into the
house from the garden. \ dazzling
light of intense brilliance had shOne
in his face, ~mOmentarily binding him
then had come a crushing blow on the
back of his head. one cropping, wild
step forward. and Hugh Drummond.
dimlv conscious of men all round him,
had pitched forward on his face into
utter oblivion.
It's too easy" L~akington'S Sneer-
ing voice broke the silence. as Ire
looked vindictively at the unconscious
man.
80 you have thought before,
Henry" chuckled Peterson. and he
always hobs up somehow. If YOU take
my advice yOull finish him Off here
and now, and run M further risks
Kill him while he's unconscious?"
darlington laughed evilly. mo, Carl.
not under any circumstances what
ever. He has quite IA lengthy score
TO pay and by God he's going to pay
il this time" He stepped forward
and kicked DrummOnd twice in the
ribs with n cold, animal fury.
well, don't kick him when he's
down, guv'nor. You'll ave plenty o.
time after" A hoarse voice from the
circle of men made Lexington look up.
You cut it out, Jem Smith" he
Snarled, cor | might find plenty OF
time after for others beside this young
swine" The eX-pugiliSt muttered I'M
easily under his breath, but said no
more, and 1t was Peterson who broke
the silence.
what are you going to do with
him?"
Lash him up like the other two"
returned Lexington, land leave him
TO cool until | get back tomorrow.
But I'll bring him round before / go,
and just talk to him for Il little. I
wouldn't like him not to know what
was going to happen to him. Antic-
ipatiOn is always delightful" He
turned to two Of the men standing
near Garry him into my ROOM" he
ordered, land another Of you get the
rope"
And so it vas that Algy Longworth
n Toby Sinclair, with black rage
and fury in their hearts, watched the
limp form of their leader being car
ried into the central room. Swathed
in rope, they sat mOtionlesS and inn
potent, in their respective chairs,
while they watched the same process
being performed on Drummond. He
was no amateur at the game. was the
rope-winder, and by the time he had
finished, Hugh resembled nothing so
much as a lifelesS brown mummy.
Only his head was free, and that lOlled
forward helplessly.
darlington watched the performance
for a time; then, wearying of it, he
strolled owe to Algy's chair.
well, you puppy" he remarked,
"are you going to try shouting againT"
He picked up the rhinOceros-hide rid
ing-whip lying on the floor, and
bent it between his hands. That
vale on your face greatly improves
your beauty, and next time you'll get
two, and q gag as we'll"
flows the jaw, you horrible bit Of
dreg?" remarked Aigy insultingly, and
Toby laughed.
Don't shake his nerve, Algy," he
implOred. For the first time in his
filthy life he feels safe in the same
room as Hugh"
The taunt seemed to madden LAX
%ington, who sprang across the room
and dashed Sinclair over the face. But
Eve after the sixth cut no sound came
from the helpless man, though the
blood was streaming down inside his
collar. His eyes, calm and sneering,
met those Of the raving man in front
Of him without Il culver, and, at last,