Middletown transcript., 1921-09-10
CHAPTER XII.
In Which the Last Round Takes Place.
ONE

In Which the Last Round Takes Place.
ONE.
It was during the next hour or two
that the full value of Mr.. Jerome X.
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 it is" said Drummond, point
ing to heavy steel door flush with the
wall, on the opposite side of the room
to the big one containing Lakington's
ill-gotten treasure. Sand 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
ican, 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.
"Tll just give you little demonstra-
tion," he continued, "of how our swell
cracksmen 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 a small gap at the top
unsealed. Then round that gap he
built what was to all intents and pur-
poses soap dam.
"If any of you boys" he remarked
to the intent group around him, "think
of taking this up as a means of liveli-
| hood, be careful of this stuff" From
another pocket he produced an india
| rubber bottle. Don't drop it on the
floor unless you want to be measured
for your coffin. Therell just be boot
and some bits to bury
The group faded away, and the
American laughed.
"Might i ask what it isl" murlnured
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 1 told you I'd got-gelignite; or
as the boys call it, the oil. 1t runs
right round the cracks of the door in
side the soap.' He added little more
and carefully replaced the stopper
"Now, detonator and bit of fuse
and 1 guess We'll leave the room."
"It reminds one of those dreadful
barbarians, the sappers, trying to blow
up things" remarked Toby, stepping
with some agility into the garden; ant
joined them.
"It may be necessary to do it again,
he announced, and as he spoke tht
sound of a dull explosion Ncame from
inside the house. "On the other hand,
he continued, going back into the room
and quietly pulling the safe door open
"it may not There's your book, Cap
tain"
He calmly relit his cigar, as if safe
opening was the most normal under
taking, and Drummond lifted out th'
heavy ledger and placed it on the ia
BILE.
"Go out in relays, boys" he said tt
the group of men by the door, "ant
get your breakfasts. I'm going to b.
busy for bit"
He sat down at the table and begal
to turn the pages. The American wa
amusing himself with the faxed Chi
nese cabinet; Toby and Peter sprawlet
in two chairs, unashamedly snoring
And after a while the detective pu
down the cabinet and, coming over
sat at Drummond's side.
Every page contained an entry
sometimes half dOzen-of the SAM
type. and as the immensity Of tn
project dawned on the two men thei
faces grew serious.
II told you he was big man, Cap
tain," remarked the American, leanin
back in his chair and looking at tn
open book through half-closed eyes.
zone can only hope to Heaven tha
we're in time," returned Hugh. Cd
it, man," he exploded, "surely the pc
lice must know of this !"
The American closed his eyes still
more.
"Your English police know mos
things" he drawled, "but you've sor
of got some peculiar laws in you
. country. With us, if we don't like
, man-something happens. He kind {
> ceases to sit up and take nourishmen1
But over here, the more scurrilous h
is, the more he talks bloodshed an
Y riot, the more constables does he get t
$ guard him from catching cold.
D The soldier frowned.
$ 'Look at this entry here he gruntet
sThat blighter is a member of parlis
; ment. What's he getting four payment
: Of a thousand pounds for?"
] "Why, surely to buy some nice war;
= underclothes WITH" grinned the detet
: tive. Then he leaned forward an
8 glanced at the name. "But isn't
some pot in one of your big trad
e unions?"
ei Heaven knows" grunted Hugh.
t only saw the blighter once, and the