The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-09-08

stopped quite short and said, My God
What do you want?' | could tell he'd
looked up, because his voice was muf-
fled. Then there vas the sound OF a
s~cuffle, | heard Toby curse, then moth
ing more l rang and rang and rang
no answer"
"What did you doY" Drummond.
with n letter in his hand which he
had taken off the mantelpiece, was lis
tening grimly.
"Algy was here. He motOred straight
off to see If he could find out what
was wrong. l stopped here to tell
you"
Anything through from himT"
mot a word. There's foul play, or
I'll eat my hat"
But Hugh did not answer. With a
look on his face which even Peter had
never seen before, he was reading the
letter. 1t a short and to the point,
but he read 1t three times before he
spoke.
"When did this Gomez" he asked.
can hour ago" answered the other.
81 very nearly opened It,"
"Read it, said Hugh. He handed 1t
to Peter and went to the door.
Denny" he shouted, IL want my
car round at once" Then he came
back into the room. "If they've hurt
one hair of her head" he said, his
voice full Of a smoldering fury, "Tll
murder that gang one by one with my
bare hands"
teri" said the American; and Hugh
nodded.
"For PHYS sake, come at once"
read the detective aloud. 1.-The bearer
Of this Is trustworthy" He thought
fully picked his teeth. Girls writ
ing. Do you know herr"
"My %fiancee," said Hugh shortly.
"Certain?" snapped the American.
Certain !" cried Hugh. "Of course
I am. I know every curl Of every let
ter"
There is such a thing as forgery"
remarked the detective dispassionately.
"D--n it, man." exploded Hugh do
you imagine I don't know my own
girls writing?"
"a good many bank cashiers have
mistaken their customers writing be-
fore now" said the other, unmOved.
II don't like it. captain. A girl In
real trouble wouldn't put in that bit
about the bearer"
you 60 to HI" remarked Hugh
briefly. "Im going to GOdalming."
SWELL" drawled the American, mot
knowing Godalming, l don't know who
scores. But, If you go there-I come
too"
"And me-" said Peter, brighten
ing up.
Hugh g%rinnned.
mot you, old son. II Mr.. Green will
come, I'll be delighted but I want
you here at headquarters"
He turned round as his servant put
his head in at the door.
"Car here, sir. Do you want a bag
packedT
"No-only my revolver. Are you
ready, Mr.. Greenf'
"Sure thing" said the American. II
always am"
"Then We'll move" And Peter,
watching the car resignedly from the
window, saw the American grip his
seat with both hands, and then raise
them suddenly in silent prayer, while
an elderly lady fed with a scream
to the safety Of the area below.
They did the trip in we'll under the
hour, and the detective got out OF the
car with a faint sigh of relief.
Drummond lodged rapidly through
the bushes on his way to The Larches
and when the American finally over
took him, he was standing by a side,
door knocking hard on the panels.
Seems kind of empty" said the de-
tective thoughtfully, as the minutes
went by and NJ n came. "Why not
try the front door,"
Because it's In sight % the other
house." said Hugh briefly. "Im going
to break n"
He retreated a yard from the door
then, bracing his shoulder, he charged
1t once. And the door. as a door, was
not. -. Rapidly the two men went
from room to room-bedrooms, serv
ants quarters, even the bathroom
Everyone was empty: not a sount
could be heard in the house. Finally
only the dining room remained, an
as they stood by the door LOOKING
round, the American shifted his chew
ing gum to a new point Of vantage.
Somebody has been rough-housini
by the look of things" he remarked
judicially. Looks like a boozing del
after a thick night"
ut does" remarked Hugh grimly
taking In the disorder Of the room
The %tablecloth was pulled of, tn
telephone lay on the floor. China an
glass, smashed to pieces, Uttered tn
carpet; but what caught his eye, an
caused him suddenly to step fOrwar'
and pick 1t up, was a plain circle o
glass with a black cord attached t
1t through q small hole.