Evening star., 1921-04-25
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

Continued from Yesterdays Starr
Are YOU up on the roof. Laking-
tom the woras came clearly through
the still summer air.
Your turn. Henry said Drum
mond. 'Prompter'S voice off-'YeS.
dear Peterson. ! am here, even upon
the roof, with a liver of hideous as
pect.
For one moment he thought he had
gone too far, and that Lakington. in
his blind fury. would shoot him then
quences. But with mighty effort
the man controlled himself, and his
voice, when he answered. was calm.
yes. I'm here. What's the mat
ter
Nothing" cried Peterson, but
we've got quite a large and appre-
clatlve audience down here. attracted
by our friends charming concert and
We just sent for a large ladder by
which he can come down and join US.
SO there is nothing that you can do
nothing" He repeated the word
with faint emphasis. and Hugh
smiled genially.
Isn't he wonderful. Henry" he
I -murnured. Thinks of everything; /;
staff work marvellous But you near
~ had a bad lapse then, didn't you?
1t really would have been embarrass-
ing for you if my corpse had de-
posted itself with dull thud on the
corns of the police"
I'm interested in quite a number
Lakington. slowly. but they all
count as nothing beside getting
even with you. And when | do
He dropped the revolver into his
coat pocket. and stood motionless.
staring at the soldier.
''Ah, when mocked nrummond.
There have been SO many 'whenS.
Henry dear. Somehow l don't think
you can be very clever. Don't go
I'm so enjoying my heart-to heart
talk. Besides | wanted to tell you
the story about the girl, the soap. and
the bath. That's to say. if the ques-
ton of baths isn't too delicate.
Lakington paused as he got to the
skylight.
bathing people in, he remarked.
The best are those l use when the
patient is alive
The next instant he opened a door
in the skylight which Hugh had
failed to discover during the night.
the room. disappeared from view.
.HuiIo. old bean" 4 cheerful shout
from the ground made Hugh look
down. There. ranged round Peterson.
in an effective group. were Peter
Darrell. Algy Longworth and Jerry
seymour. "Birds-nestin'?
"Peter, old SOUL cried Hugh, joy
fully. Il never thought the day would
come when ! should be pleased to
see your face, but it has. For heav-
ems sake get move on with that
blinking ladder; I'm getting cramp."
Ted and his pal. Hugh. had tod
died off in your car. said Peter. so
that only leaves us four and Toby
For a moment Hugh stared at him
blankly. while he did some rapid
mental arithmetic.
He even neglected to descend at
once by the ladder which had at last
been placed in position. Ted and us
four and Toby made six-and six
was the strength of the party as II
had arrived Adding the pal made
seven; so who the deuce was the pal?
The matter was settled just as he
reached the ground. Lakington. wild
eyed and almost incoherent, rushed
from the house. and. drawing Peter
son on one side, spoke rapidly in a
whisper
It's all right" muttered Algy. rap
idly. They're halfway to London by
now. and going like hell if l know
Ted
1t was then that Hugh started to
laugh. He laughed till the tears pour
ed down his face, and Peterson's livid
face of fury made him laugh still
more.
"Oh. you priceless pair" he sobbed.
Right under your bally noses. Stole
away. Yoicks". There was another
interlude for further hilarity. Give
it up, you two old dears. and take to
knitting. Miss one and purl three,
Henry my boy. and Carl in a nightcap
can pick up the stitches you drop"
He took out his cigarette case. We'll.
au revor. Doubtless we shall meet
again quite soon. And. above all. Carl.
don't do anything in Paris which you
would be ashamed of my knowing"
With a friendly wave he turned on
his heel and strolled off. followed by
the ether three. The humor of the sit
uation was irresistible: the absolute
powerlessness of the whole assembled