The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-10-08
CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XII
In Which Lakington Plays His Last
Coup"
ONE
"Toby, I've got sort Of horrid feel
ing that the hunt Is nearly over"
With a regretful sigh Hugh swung
the cart out of the sleeping town of
Godalming in the direction of Laidley
Towers. Mile after mile dropped
smoothly behind the powerful two
scatter, and still Drummond's eyes wore
look Of resigned sadness.
Every nearly over" he remarked
again. "And then once more the
tedium of responsibility positively
stares us in the face"
you'll be getting married, old BEAM"
murmured Toby Sinclair hopefully.
For a moment his companion bright
ened up.
"True, o King" he answered. 1T
will ease the situation somewhat; at
least, l suppose so. But think Of it,
Toby: no darlington, no Peterson
nothing at all to play about with and
keep one amused"
you're very certain, Hugh" With
a feeling almost of wonder Sinclair
glanced 'at the sQuare-jawed, ugly
profile beside him. There's many a
slip :"
"My dear old man." interrupted
Drummond, there's only one cure for
the prOverb-quoting disease-a dose Of
salts in the morning." For a while
they raced on through the warm sum-
mer's night in silence, and it was not
till they were within a mile Of their
destination that Sinclair spoke again.
what are you going to do with
them, Hugh?"
'Who-our Carl and little Henry?"
Drummond grinned gently. "Why, l
think that Carl and / will part
amicably-unless, of course, he gives
me any trouble. And as for Laking-
ton-well have to see about Laking-
ton." The grin faded from his face
as he spoke. "We1l have to see about
our little Henry" he repeated softly.
and can't help feeling, Toby. that
between US we shall find method of
Kidding the earth Of such thoroughly
unpleasing fellow"
you mean to kill him." grunted
the other non-committally.
Gust that, and no more" responded
Hugh. Tomorrow morning as ever
is. But he's going to get the shock
of his young life before it happens"
He pulled the car up silently in the
deep shadows Of some trees, and the
two men got out.
"Now, old boy, you take her back
to The Elms"
"But confound 1t ALL" spluttered
Toby Sinclair. Don't you want me
to help you?"
II do: by taking the buzz-box back.
This little show Is my shout"
For moment or two Hugh stood
watching. the car as it disappeared
down the road along which they had
just come, while his thoughts turned
to the girl now safely asleep in his
fat In London. Another week-per-
haps fortnight-but no more. Not
a day more :. And so delightful
was the train Of thought thus con-
jured up, that for while Peterson
and darlington were forgotten. The
roseate dreams of the young about to
wed have been known to act similarly
before.
Wherefore to the soldiers instinc-
tive second nature, trained in the war
and sharpened by his grim duel with
the gang. must be given the credit Of
preventing the ringing of the wedding
bells being postponed for good. The
sudden snap Of twig close by, the
sharp hiss of a cOmpressed-air rifle,
seemed simultaneous with Hugh hurl-
ing himself fiat On his face behind a
sheltering bush. In reality there was
that fraction Of second between the
actions which allowed the bullet to
pass harmlessly over his body instead
of finishing his career there and then.
He heard 1t go tipping through the
underground as he lay motionless on
the ground; then very cautiously he
turned his head and peered about
A shrub was shaking few yards
away, and on it Hugh fixed his half
closed eyes. If he lay quite still the
man, whoever he was, would probably
assume the shot had taken effect, and
come and investigate. Then things
would be easier. as two or three
Boches had discovered to their cost
in days gone by.
For two minutes he saw no one;
then very slowly the branches parted
and the white face Of man peered
through. 1t was the chauffeur who
usually drove the Rolls Royce, and
he seemed unduly anxious to satisfy
himself that all was well before COM
ing nearer. The fame Of Hugh Drum
mond had spread abroad amongst the
satellites of Peterson
At last he seemed to make up his
mind, and came out into the open.
Step by step he advanced toward the
motionless figure, his weapon held in
readiness to shoot at the faintest
nu< thu on1d1nr Law