The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-12-08

ton. brilliant light Streamed out
through The glass dome, and the In
side az The central room was clearly /
visible. In the three chairs sat the
motiouisSs. bound figures So GwRthed |
h rope thst only the tops of their {
Heads we're visible. just US darlington .
had left h'u and Toby and Algy EARL /
er in q e evening. The only moving /
thing 10 Tie room was The criminal 4
hiniseii and at the moment he was |
seated az llc table with the Chinese /
cabiuei in front OF him. With "a quick |
tErn ~ ha wrist lie pried open two |
flaps OF wood. and folded them back !
AGA '-, ihc S.Ge. Then he lifted out !
ii parcel of gold and silver tissue from |
underneath.
"liy L..; =" muttered Hugh. what |
fool ! was not TO think OF it, Just |
"A false bottom actuaied by closing |
the IiG"
But the American. WhiStlinS gently !
To himself. had his eyes fixed on the |
rope OF wonderful pearls which LAX
ngton was holding lovingly in his
hands.
$50 easy. you scum" continued LAX
selves against me'-he rose and stood
In front uf the chair where he had
last left DrummOnd THAT fool OF a
chauffeur failed To carry out my or
derS. and create a diversion. You
Will see what happens 10 people who
fail 10 carry our my orders. in min
ute. And after that you'll never see
anything again"
SAY. he's Il dream-that guy" NUT
tesred the American. What pearls
are those he's got?'
The duchess OF Lampshire'S" wills
pereG Hugh. Lifted right under the
nose or the whole bolly house party"
The four watchers on the roof glued
their eyes 10 the glass. And the sight
they saw moment or two afterward
stirred even the phlegmatic Mr.. Green.
A heavy door was swinging slowly
open. apparently Of its own vOlition,
though Hugh, stealing quick glance
mt Lexington, saw that he was press
Ing some small studs in u niche in
enc OF the walls Then he looked
back at the door, and stared dunn
founded. 1t was the mysterious cup
board or which Phyllis had spoken to
him, but nothing he had imagined from
her words had prepared him for the
reality. 1t seemed to be literally cram
med to overlooking with the most
priceless loot. Gold vessels OF fantas-
tic and beautiful shapes Uttered the
floor; while on the shelves were ar
ranged the most wonderful collection
OF precious stones. which shOne and
scintillated in the electric light till
their glitter almost blinded the
watchers.
The pearls were carefully placed In
a position Of honor and for a few
moments darlington stood gloatinR
over his collection.
ado you see them, Captain Drum
Rondf' he asked quietly. Each thing
obtained by my brain-my hands. All
mine-minep His voice rose to a
shout. And you pit your puny wits
against me-" With laugh he crossed
the room, and once more pressed the
studs. The door swung slowly to ana
closed without a sound. while Laking-
ten still shook with silent mirth.
"And nOW"-he resumed, rubbing his
Aands-'we will prepare your bath,
captain DrummOnd. And while 1t Is
getting ready, we will just deal with
the chauffeur who neglected his or
ders."
For a few minutes he bent over
the chemicals, and then he poured the
mixture into the water which half
Med the long bath at the end OF the
room. About ave minutes before
we're quite ready" he announced
~Jnst time for the chauffeur"
he went to q Epeaking-tube, dOWn
which he blew. Somewhat naturally
there was no answer, and LakingtSn
froWned.
a. stupid fellow" he remarked SOft
n. but there Is no hurry; VIII
deal with him later"
Iakington returned to the eha1l
which contained. a. he thought hi1
shasf enemy. and was standing besidl
IT with an unhOly joy shining on hii
face.
"And since have - deal with hin
later, Captain DrummOnd, d. 8. o,
n c., may as well deal with yol
new. Then it Will be your friends
turn. I am going . cut the ropes
and carry you, while you're so numbe'
nat you can't move. t. the bath. The
ahan drop you in, Captain Drum
mGAd, and when. afteFWard, you pra!
fer death, I shall merelfully SPAR
year nfe-for 4 while"
he slashed at the ropes behind tn
chair, and the four men eraned fer
ward expectantly.
There snarled Lakington. eTI
ready for you. you young swine"
And even as he spoke, the words
died away on his lips. and with
dreadful cry he spranE back Re