The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-10-15
CHAPTER XII.
In Which the Last Round Takes Place.
ONE.

II was curing Ine next nOuT or TWO
that the full value of Mr.. Jerome K.
Green as an acquisition to the party
became apparent. Certain other prep
aratiOns In honor Of PetersOn's arrival
were duly carried out, and then arose
the question of the safe in which the
all-impOrtant ledger was kept.
There II Is" said Drummond. point
ing to a heavy steel door flush with the
wall, on the opposite side of the room
to the big one containing Lakington's
ill-gotten treasure. "And it doesn't
seem to me that you're going to open
that one by pressing any buttons in
the wall"
Then, Captain" drawled the Amer
lean, Il guess We'll open it otherwise
It's sure plumb easy. I've been get
ting gay with some o. the household
effects, and this bar of soap sort of
caught my eye"
From his pocket he produced some
ordinary yellow soap. and the others
glanced at him curiOusly.
''I'll just give you a little demonstra-
tion," he continued. "of how our swell
craftsmen over the water open safes
when the owners have been so tactless
as to remove the keys"
Dexterously he proceeded to seal up
every crack in the safe door with the
soap leaving small gap at the top
unsealed. Then round that gap he
built what was to all intents and pur-
poses a soap dam.
'If any Of you boys" he remarked
to the intent group around him, ''think
Of taking this up as means Of livelI-
hood, be careful of this stuff" From
another pocket he produced an india
rubber bottle. ''Don't drop 1t on the
floor unless You want to be measured
for your coffin. There'll just be boot
and some bits to bury"
The group faded away. and the
American laughed.
might ask what 1t Isl" murmured
Hugh politely from the neighborhoOd
of the door.
"Sure thing, Captain" returned the
detective, carefully pouring some of
the liquid into the soap dam. THAT Is
what told you I'd got-gelignlte or,
as the boys call 1t, the oil. 1t runs
right round the cracks of the door in
side the SOAP" He added little more,
and carefully replaced the stopper.
Nov, detonator and a bit of fuse,
and guess wen leave the room"
at reminds one of those dreadful
barbarians, the sappers, trying to blow
up things" remarked Toby, stepping
with some agility into the garden; and
moment or two later the American
| joined them.
ut may be necessary to do 1t again."
he announced. and as he spoke the
sound of a dull explosion came from
inside the house. ION the other hand"
he continued. going back into the room
and quietly pulling the safe door open,
lit may not. There's your book, Cap
tain"
He calmly rellt his cigar. as II safe
opening was the most normal under
taking. and Drummond lifted out the
heavy ledger and placed It on the ia
BILE.
Go out in relays, boys" he said to
the group OF men by the door. "and
get your breakfasts. I'm going to be
busy for a bit"
He sat down at the table and began
to turn the pages. The American was
amusing himself with the faxed Chi
nese cabinet; Toby and Peter sprawled
in two chairs, unashamedly snoring.
And after a while the detective put
down the cabinet and, coming over,
sat at Drummond's side.
Every page contained an entry
sometimes half a d0zen-of the same
type, and as the immensely Of the
project dawned on the two men their
faces grew serious.
II told you he was a big man, Cap
TAIN" remarked the American, leaning
back In his chair and looking at the
open book through half-cl0sed eyes.
"One can only hope to Heaven that
we're in time" returned Hugh. "D-n
1t. man." he exploded. surely the pO-
lice must know of this !"
The American closed his eyes stiIl
more
"Yorr English police know most
things" he drawled. but you've sort
Of got some peculiar laws in your
country. With Us, II We don't like a
man-something happens. He kind o.
ceases to sit up and take nourishment.
E;ut over here, the more scurril0us he
is. the more he talks bloOdshed and
riot. the more constables does he get to
guard him from catching cold.
The soldier frowned.
Look at this entry here he grunted
THAT blighter Is member Of parlia-
ment. What's he getting -Four payments
Of a thousand pounds forT'
"Why, surely to buy some nice warm
underclothes WITH" grinned the detec-
tive Then he leaned forward and
| glanced at the name. "But isn't he
some pot In one Of your big trade
unionsl'
Heaven knows" grImted Hugh. 81
onlv aAw the Brighter once. and than