The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-08-19
With Crash the Stopper Fell From
Mr.. Benton's NerveIess Fingers,
Breaking the Finger Bowl in Front
of Him, While Every vestige of Color
Left His Face.

have very many visitors here, but /
hope you'll find everything you re-
quire. Breakfast at nine."
Drummond closed the door behind
him. and stood for moment In
silence, looking round the hall. 1t
was deserted, but he wanted to get
the geography of the house firmly i'm
printed on his mind He stepped
across toward the drawing-room In
side, as he hoped, he found the girl.
She rose the instant he came in,
and stood by the mantelpiece with her
hands locked.
"What was it," she half whispered
that awful noise at dinner?7
He looked at her gravely for a
while, and then he shook his head.
"Shall we leave it as night-bird for
the present:' he said quietly. Then
he leaned toward her, and took her
hands in his own go to bed, little
girl" ne ordered; "this is my show.
And, may l say, think you're just
wonderful Thank God you saw my
advertisement
Gently he released her hands, and
walking to the door. held it open for
her. "If by any chance you should
hear things in the nigllt-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," he 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 more
detailed survey of his objective, The
Elms. It 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 I'm the darkness Hugh could just
make out small wicket-gate. clos
ing path which connected both
houses. He tried it, and found to his
satisfaction that it opened silently.
Save for one room on the ground
floor the house was in darkness, and
Hugh determined to have a look at
that room. There was chink in the
curtains, through which the light was
streaming out. which struck him as
having possibilities.
Keeping under cover, he edged
toward it, and, at length, he got into
position from which he could see
inside. And what he saw made him
decide to chance 1t, and go even closer.
Seated at the table was man he
did not recognize; while on either
side of him sat darlington and Peter
son. Lying on a sofa smoking a
cigarette and reading a novel was a
tall dark girl, who seemed completely
uninterested In the proceedings of
the other three. Hugh placed her
at once as the doubtful daughter Irna
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 obliginply
holding in readiness. In all respeefs
| a harmless tableau, save for one small
thing-the expression on the mans
face. Hugh had seen it before often
only then it had been called she'll
shock. The man was dazed. semi