Middletown transcript., 1921-07-02


no sound on the heavy pile carpet.
Like q huge shadow he vanished into
the blackness, feeling his way forward
with the uncanny instinct that comes
from much practice. Every now and
then he paused and listened intently,
but the measured ticking of the clock
below and the occasional creak of a
board alone broke the stiffness.
To the left lay the room in which he
had spent the evening, and Drummond
turned to the right. AS he had gone
up to bed he had noticed a door
screened by heavy curtain which he
thought might be the room Phyllis
Benton had spoken of-the room
where Henry Lakington kept his ill
gotten treasures. He felt his way
along the wall, and at length his hand
touched the curtain-only to drop 1t
again at once. From close beside him
had come a sharp, angry hiss. .
He stepped back pace and stood
rigid, staring at the spot from which
the sound had seemed to come-but
he could see nothing. Then he leaned
forward and once more moved the
curtain. Instantly it came again.
sharper and angrier than before.
Hugh passed a hand over his fore
head and found it damp. Germans he
knew, and things on two legs, but
| what was this that hissed so viciOusly
in the darkness? At length he deter
mined to risk it, and drew from his
| pocket tiny electric torch. Holding
it we'll away from his body, he
switched on the light. In the center
Of the beam, swaying gracefully to
and fro, was a snake. For moment
he watched it, fascinated as it spat al
the light angrily; he saw the flat hood
where the vicious head was set on the
upright body; then he switched off the
torch and retreated rather faster than
he had come.
"A convivial household" he NUT
tered to himself through lips that were
a little dry. "a hooded cobra Is an
unpleasing pet"
Hugh had just determined to recon.
noiter the curtained doorway again to
see if it was possible to circumvent
| the snake, when q low chuckle came
distinctly to his ears from the landing
above.
He flushed angrily in the darkness
There was no doubt whatever as tC
the human origin Of that laugh, and
Hugh suddenly realized that he was
making the most profound fool Of him
self. To be laughed at by some dirty
swine whom he could strangle in hall
a minute-was impossible. His fists
clenched, and he swore softly under
his breath. Then as silently as he
had come down, he commenced tt
climb the stairs again. He had hazy
idea that he would like to hit some
thing-hard.
There were nine stairs in the, frs
half of the flight, and it was as hi
stood on the fifth that he again hear(
the low chuckle. At the same instan
something whizzed past his head 81
low that 1t almost touched his hair
and there was a clang on the wall be
side him. He ducked instinctively
and regardless Of noise raced up thu
remaining stairs, on all-fours. Hi!
jaw was set like wise, his eyes were
blazing; in fact, Hugh Drummond wa
seeing red.
He paused when he reached the top
crouching in the darkness. Close II
him he could feel some one else, ant
holding his breath, he listened. The1
he heard the man move-Only the yer!
faintest sound-but it was enough
Without a seconds thought he sprang
and his hands closed on human flesh
He laughed gently; then he fought il
silence.
His opponent was strong above tn
average, but after a minute he wa
like child in Hugh's grasp. HI
choked once or twice and muttere'
something; then Hugh slipped hi
right hand gently onto the man.
throat. His fingers moved slowl.
round, his thumb adjusted itself lOv
ingly, and the man felt his head bein,
forced back irresistibly. He gave on
strangled cry, and then the pressure
relaxed. -.
"One half-inch more, my gentle hi
morist," Hugh whispered in his ear
"and your neck would have beer
broken. As it is, it will be very stif
for some days. Another time-don'
laugh. It's dangerous"
Then. like a ghost, he vanisie,
along the passage in the direction o
his own room.
THREE.
At eight o'clock the next morning {
burly looking ruffian brought in som
hot water and cup Of tea. AS h
pulled up the blinds the light fell full
on his battered, rugged face, and sud
denly Hugh sat up in bed and stare
at him.
"Good Lord!" he cried, "aren't 20
Jem Smith,"
The man swung round like a flas
and glared at the bed.
'Wot the ell as that got to do wi
you?" he snarled, and then his fac
changed. "Why, strike me pink, if
amt young Drummond."
Hugh grinned.
Fright in one, Jem. What in tn