Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-06-24
CHAPTER xI.
In Which Lakinston Plays His Last
"coup."
ONE

Ing tlaL the nuHt IL IledFly ofer.
With ,regretful sigh Hugh swung
the. cart out 'of2the sleeping town of
Godalming In the direction of Laidley
Towers. Mile after mile dropped
smoothly behind the powerful two
scatter, and still Drummond's eyes wore
look Of resigned sadness.
"Ve1:y mearly; ovef,''. he remarked
again. ""And then once more the
tedinm Of $ reypectabalty positively
s:ares US In the face"
You'll be getting married, old bean, -
niurnured Toby Sinclair hopefully.
For a moment his. companion bright.
ened up. 49, ..-, .,r.''1, .'...y D.
"True, @ King" he: answered. 1T
will ease the situation somewhat; al
least, I suppose: so. But think Of It.
Toby: no~Lakington, no Peterson:
nothing at ali to play about. with and
keep one amused :. '''
YOU'RE very certain; Hugh" With
u feeling almost OF wonder Sinclair
glanced Ssat; the .square-tawed, ugiy
profile beside him. There's many a
slip. =:
My. dear ",old man." interrupted
Drummond. there's, only one cure for
the proverb:quoting Hsease-a dose Of
salts in the morning" For while
they raced on Though the warm sum-
mer's, night In silence, and it was not
I'LL they wers: within a mile Of, their
destination that Sinclair spoke again.
What are YOU going to do with
them, Hugh?" -. -,
"Who-our Carl and little Henry"
Drummond>glinned gently. "N'hy, 1
think that Carl and + will part
amicably-unless, of course, be gives
me any trouble. And as for Laking-
ton-well hsve to see about Laking-
ton" The grin. faded from his face
as he spoke. Wen have to see about
our little-Henry." he--repeated; softly.
land T cane help feeling, Toby, that
between us we shall find method Of
Kidding the earth of-such thoroughly
unpleaslng fellow"
'.YoI mean to kill him?" grunted
the other non-comlnittally.
"Just that, and no more" responded
Hugh. Tomorrow morning as ever
is. But he's. going to get the shock
Of his young life before it happens"
He pulled the car up silently In the
deep shadows Of, some trees, and the
Two men got out. .'.
Nov. old boy, you take her back
to The, Elms."
But confound 1t ALL" .spluttered
Toby Sinclair Don't you want me
to help you!'
81 do: by taking the buzz-box back.
This little show is my shout"
For moment or two Hugh stood
down the road along which they had
just come, while his thoughts turned
to the girl now safely asleep in his
flat in London. Another week-per-
haps fortnight-but no more. Not
day more .. And so delightful
was the train Of thought thus con-
jured up, that for while Peterson
and Lakington were forgotten. The
roseate dreams OF the young about TO
wed have been known to act similarly
before.
Wherefore to the soldiers instinc-
tive second nature, trained in the war
and sharpened by his grim duel with
the gang, must be given the credit Of
preventing. the ringing of the wedding
bells being postponed for good. The
sudden snap Of twig close by, the
sharp hiss Of q compressed-air rifle,
seemed simultaneous with Hugh hurl-
ing himself fiat On his face behind a
sheltering bush. In reality there was
that fraction of second between the
actions which allowed the bullet to
pass harmlessly over his body instead
of finishing his career there and then.
He heard 1t go tipping through the
underground as he lay motionless on
the ground; then very cautiously he
turned his head and peered about.
A shrub was shaking u few yards
away, and on it Hugh fixed his half
closed eyes. If he lay quite still the
man, whoever lie was, would probably
assume the shot had taken effect, and
come and investigate. Theli things
would be easier. as two or three
Boches had discovered to their cost
III days gone by.
For two minutes he saw no one
then very slowly the branches parted
and the white fuce Of man peered
through. 1t WAS the chauffeur who
usually drove the Rolls Royce, and
he seemed unduly anxious to satisfy
himself that all was we'll before com.
Ing nearer. The fame Of Hugh Drum.
mouu had spread abroad amongst the
satellites Of Peterson.
At last he seemed to make up his
mind, and came out into the open
Step by step he advanced toward the
motionleSs figure. his weapon held In
readiness to shoot ut the fuintes,
movement But the soldier lay
Sprawllng and inert, and by the time
the chaufteur'-h had reached him there
was no doubt In that worthy's mind
La tb3p nboI p1aRAlnY