Evening star., 1921-04-08
Bulldog Drumm0nd
BY CYRIL MclEuE ("Sapper -,
A Novel Of Mystery, Love and Adventure.
b q. Dor.a CA)

i, the moon was not due to rise for two
or three hours, but he was too old a
soldier to neglect any precautions.
He wanted to see more of the Elms
and its inha abitants; he did not want
them to see more of him.
Silently he lodged across the lawn
toward the big trees at the end. and
leaning up against one of them. he
proceeded to make a more detailed
survey of his objective. 1t was the
just left. and the grounds seemed
about the same size. A wire fence
/, separated the two places. and in the
darkness Hugh could just make out
small wicket-gate. closing path
which connected both houses. He tried
it, and found to his satisfaction that
it opened silently.
Passing through, he took cover be-
hind some bushes from which he could
command a better view of Mr.. LAX
fngton's abode. Save for one room on
the ground floor the house was in dark
ness. and Hugh determined to have
look at that room. There was a ch1nk
in the curtains. through which the
light was streaming out. which struck
him as having possibilities.
Keeping under cover, he edged to-
ward it, and. at length. he got into
position from which he could see in
side. And what he saw made him de-
eide to chance it. and go even closer.
Seated at the table was man he did
not recognize: while on either side of
him sat Lakington and Peterson. Ly
ing on a sofa smoking a cigarette and
reading a novel was tall dark girl,
who seemed completely uninterested in
the proceedings of the other three.
Hugh placed her at once as the doubt
full daughter IrIna, and resumed his
watch on the group at the table
A paper was in front Of the man.
and Peterson, who was smoking large
cigar. was apparently suggesting that
he should make use Of the pen which
Lak1ngton was obligingly holding In
readiness. In all respects harmless
ia ableau. save for one small thing-the
expression on the mans face. Hugh
had seen it before often-only then 1t
had been called shell-shock. The man
was dazed. semi-unconscious. Every
now and then he stared round the
room. as If bewildered; then he would
shake his head and pass his hand
weari1y over his forehead. For a quar-
ter of an hour the scene continued; !;
then Lakington produced an instru-
ment from his pocket Hugh saw the
man shrink back in terror, and reach
for the pen. He saw the girl lie back
on the sofa as If disappointed and pick
up her novel again; and he saw Laking-
tons face set in cold sneer. But
what impressed him most in that mo-
mentary flash of action was Peterson.
There was something inhuman in his
complete passivity. By not the frac-
tion Of a second did he alter the rate
at which he was smoking-the slow,
leisurely rate of the connoisseur; by
not the twttch of an eyelid did his ex-
preston change. Even as he watched
the man signing his name, no trace of
emotion showed on his face-whereas
on Lakington's there shone a f1endish
satisfaction.
The document was still lying on the
table, when Hugh produced his revol-
yer. He knew there was foul play
about, and the madness Of what he had
suddenly made up his mind to do never
struck him: being that manner Of fool,
he was made that way. But he
breathed pious prayer that he would
shoot straight-and then he held his
breath. The crack Of the shot and the
bursting of the only electric light bulb