The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-11-24

Seated at the table vas a man hs
did no, recognize while On either
side ~ him sat Lakiugfou and Peter
son. Lying on q sofa smoking
cigarette and reading novel Nas
tall dark girl. who SEEMED completely
unlnierested IN the proceedings OF
the other three Hugh placed her
NJ oncr as the doubtful daughter lrma,
and resumed his watch on she group
at the table,
A paper was In front ~ the man.
and Peterson. who vas smoking n
large cigar was apparently suggest
Ing that he should make use ~ the
pen which Lexington was ohiangy
holding In readiness IN nh respects
harmless tahlean save for one small
thing the express on on the mans
face. Hugh had seen II before often
only then II had been called she'll
shock. The man was dnzed, semi
unconscious Every now and then he
stared round the room. as II be.
wildered then he would shake his
head aud pass his hand YEARLY over
his forehead For a quarter Of an
hour the scene continued then LAX.
lngton produced au instrument from
his pocket Hugh saw the man
shrink back IN terror, and reach Tor
the pen. But What impressed him
most In that momentar, fash Of
action WINS Peterson There was
something inhuman in his complete
passiylty Even as be watched the
man signing his name, no trace Of
emotion showed on his face-whereas
on Lnkington's there shone a fendish
satisfaction.
The document was still lying on
the table. when Hugh produced hls
revolver. He knew there was foul
play about, and the madness Of what
he had suddenly made up his mind
a. do never HfrucE him; heir" tha'
manner OF fool he was nude me
way But he b.ralled piuas prayer
that he would shoot straight-and
then he held his breath The cracE
81 the shot and the bursting " the
only electric light bulb In the room
were almost simultaneous. and the
next second. with roar 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
az darlington 20 a nicely he hit him
straight on the point Of the jaw and
he felt the man 20 down like 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
10 be lost only the impossibllity OF
seeing when suddenly plunged INTO
darkness, had enabled him To pull the
thing of so far. And before that adj
vantage disappeared he had TO be back
al The Larches with his burden, no
light weight for even man Of his
strength 10 carry,
But there seemed 10 be no pursuit,
no hue and cry. As he reached TIE
little gnte he paused and looked back,
and he fancied he saw outside the
window CLEAN OF white, such rs n
shirt front. He fingered for an instant,
peerlng into the darkness and recover
ing his breath. when with a vicious
phut something buried itself In the tree
beside him. DrummOnd fingered no
more; long years Of experience left
no doubt In his mind as TO what that
something was.
"Compressed.air rife-or electric,
he muttered 10 himself. stumbling on.
and half dragging, half carrying his
dazed companion.
He was not very clear In his own
mind what 10 do next, but the mat
ter was settled for him unexpectedly.
Barely had he got into the drawing
room. when the door opened and the
girl rushed in.
Get him away at once. she cried.
"In your car. Don't waste a
second. I've started her up"
Good girl" he cried enthusiastical.
ly. But what about your
She stamped her foot impatiently.
I'm all absolutely all right.
Get him away--that's all that mat
ters."
Drummond grinned. THE humor-
Gus thing Is that ] haven't nm idea
who the bird ls-exeept that" He
paused. with his eyes fixed on the