The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-08-06
By
Cyril McNeile
"Sapper"
Copyright by Geo. q. Dorsn Co.

| England today quite a number OF
civilians who acknowledge only two
rulers-the King and Hugh Drum
mond. And they would willingly die
| for either.
The result on Drummond was not
surprising; as nearly as man may be
he was without fear. And when the
| idea came to him as he sat on the
| edge Of his bed thoughtfully pulling off
| his SHOES, no question of the possible
risk entered into his mind. To explore
! the house seemed the most natural
| thing in the world, and with character
istic brevity he summed up the situ-
alton as II struck him.
"They suspect me anyhow: in fact,
they know / took Potts. Therefore,
even II they catch me passage creep
| ing, I'm no worse off than l am now.
And l might find something of inter-
est. Therefore. carry on, brave heart"
II was dark in the passage outside
as he opened the door of his room and
| crept toward the top of the stairs. The
collar Of his brown lounge coat was
| turned up, and his stocking feet made
| no sound on the heavy pile carpet.
Like a huge shadow he vanished into
the blackness, feeling his way forward
| with the uncanny instinct that comes
from much practice Every now and
then he paused and listened intently,
but the measured ticking of the clock
below and the occasional creak OF
board alone broke the stiffness.
To the left lay the room in which he
had spent the evening, and DrummOnd
turned to the right. AS he had gone
up to bed he had noticed a door
screened by heavy curtain which he
thought might be the room Phyllis
Benton had spoken of-the room
where Henry darlington kept his ill-
gotten treasures. He felt his way
along the wall, and at length his hand
touched the curtain-Only to drop 1t
again at once. From close beside him
had come sharp, angry hiss.
He stepped back pace and stood
rigid, staring at the spot from which
the sound had seemed to come-but
he could see nothing. Then he leaned
forward and once more moved the
curtain. Instantly it came again,
sharper and angrier than before.
Hugh passed hand over his fore
head and found it damp. Germans he
knew, and things on two legs, but
what was this that Kissed 50 viciously
in the darkness? At length he deter
mined to risk it, and drew from his
pocket a tiny electric torch. Holding
1t well away from his body. he
switched on the light. In the center
Of the beam, swaying gracefully to
and fro, was a snake. For a moment
he watched 1t. fascinated as 1t spat at
the light angrily; he saw the fat hood
where the vicious head was set on the
upright body; then he switched of the
torch and retreated rather faster than
he had come.
"A convivial household" he NUT
tered to himself through lips that were
little dry. "a hooded cobra IL an
unpleasing pet"
Hugh had just determined to recon-
hotter the curtained doorway again to
see IL it was possible to circumvent
the snake, when a low chuckle came
distinctly to his ears from the landing
above.
He flushed angrily in the darkness.
There was no doubt whatever as to
the human origin of that laugh, and
Hugh suddenly realized that he was
making the most profound fool Of him
self. To be laughed at by some dirty
swine whom he could strangle in half
minute-was impossible. His fists
clenched, and he swore softly under
his breath. Then as silently as he
had come down, he commenced to
climb the stairs again. He had hazy
idea that he would like to hit some
thing-hard.
There were nine stairs In the first
half Of the flight, and It was as he
stood on the fifth that he again heard
the low chuckle. At the same instant
something whizzed past his head so
low that 1t almost touched his hair,
and there was clang on the wall be-
side him. He ducked instinctively,
and regardless of noise raced up the
remaining stairs. on all-fours. His
Jaw was set like q wise, his eyes were
blazing; in fact, Hugh Drummond was
seeing red.
He paused when he reached the top.
crouching In the darkness. Close to
him he could feel some one else. and
holding his breath, he listened. Then
he heard the man move-Only the very
faintest sound-but 1t was enough.
Without a seconds thought he sprang,
and his hands closed on human flesh.
He laughed gently; then he fought in
silence.
His opponent was strong above the
average, but after a minute he was
like child in Hugh's grasp. He
choked once or twice and muttered
something; then Hugh slipped his
right hand gently onto the mans
throat. His fingers moved slowly
round, his thumb adjusted itself low
ingly, and the man felt his head being
forced back irresistibly. He gave one
strangled cry, and then the pressure