The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-05-20

hear things in the 'night-turn over
and go TO sleep again"
But what are you going to do?"
she cried.
Hugh grinned. 81 haven't the re-
hottest idea" be answered. Doubt
less the Lord will provide" !
The instant the girl had left the
room Hugh switched off the lights, and
stepped across to the curtains which
covered the long windows. He pulled
them aside, letting them come to-
gether behind him; then, cautiously,
he unbolted one side Of the big CEN
ter window. Silently he lodged across
the lawn toward the big trees at
the end, and leaning up against one
of them, he proceeded TO make a more
detailed survey Of his objective, The
Elms. 1t was the same type of house
as the one he had just left, and the
grounds seemed about the same size.
A wire fence separated the two places.
and In the darkness Hugh could just
make out a small wicket-gate, clos.
ing a path which connected both
houses. He tried 1t, and found to his
satisfaction that it opened silently.
Save for n room on the ground.
floor the house was in darkness, and
Hugh determined to have q look at
that room. There was a chink in the
curtains, through which the light was
streaming out, which struck him as
having possibilities.
Keeping under cover, he edged
a position from which he could see
inside. And what he saw made him
decide to chance it, and go even closer.
Seated at the table was a man he
did not recognize; while on either
side of him sat darlington and Peter.
son. Lying on a sofa smoking q
cigarette and reading a novel was q
tall dark girl, who seemed completely
unintereSted in the proceedings of
the other three. Hugh placed her
ut once as the doubtful daughter Irma
and resumed his watch on the group
at the table.
A paper was In front Of the man,
and Peterson, who was smoking a
large cigar, was apparently suggest.
ing that he should make use OF the
pen which darlington was o~bligingly
holding in readiness. In all respects
a harmless tableau, save for one small
thing-the expression on the mans
face. Hugh had seen it before often
only then IL had been called she'll
shock. The man was daZed, semi.
unconscious. Every now and then he
stared round the ROOM, as if be.
wildered; then he would shake his
head and pass his hand YEARLY over
his forehead. For a quarter Of All
hour the scene continued then LAX.
ington produced an instrument from
his pocket. Hugh saw the mar
shrink back In terror, and reach foi
the pen. But what impressed him
most In that momentary flash OF
action was Peterson. There was
something fnhuman In his complete
passivity. Even as he watched the
man signing his name, no trace OF
emotion showed on his face-whereas
vi LdhllSton tlcIc suouc Il ueUulSL
satisfaction.
The document was still lying OH
the table, when Hugh produced his
revolver. He knew there was fOul
play about, and the madness of wha,
he had suddenly made up his mind
to do never struck him being that
manner Of fool, he was made that
way. But he breathed a pious prayer
that he would shoot straight-anG
then he held his breath. The crack
Of the shot and the burstiDg Of the
only electric light bulb in the room
were almost simultaneous, and the
next second, with a roa Of "Come
on, boys" he burst through the win.
dow. At an immense advantage
over the others, who could see moth.
ing for the moment, he Numbered
round the room. He timed the blow
at darlington to a nicely; he hit him
straight on the point Of the jaw and
he felt the man go down like q log.
Then he grabbed at the paper on the
table, which tore In his hand, and
picking the daZed signer up bodily
he rushed through the window onto
the lawn. There was not an instant
TO be lost only the impOssibility OF
seeing when suddenly plunged into
darkness, had enabled him to pull the
thing off so far. And before that ad.
vantage disappeared he had to be back
at The LarcheS with his burden, nc
light weight for even a man Of his
strength to carry.
But there seemed to be no pursuit,
no hue and cry. AS he reached the
little gate he paused and looked back
and he fancied he saw outside the
window a CLEAN Of white, such AS a
shirt front. He fingered for an instant,
peering into the darkness and recover
ing his breath, waen with a vicious
phut something buried itself in the tree
beside him. Druinmond fingered nc
more; long years Of experience left
no doubt In his mind as to what that
something was.
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