The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-08-18

sudden turn of events, and then he
heard the voice Of the man above
speaking clearly and i~nsistently.
go out Of the room. Turn to the
right. Open the front door. You'll see
a house, through some trees. Go to 1t.
When you get there, stand on the lawn
and call Phyllis Do you get meT'
The American nodded dazedly; then
he made a great effort to pull himself
together, as the voice continued:
go at once It's your only chance.
Tell her Pm IN the roof here"
With a sigh Of relief he saw the mil
lionaire leave the room; then he
Strengthened himself up, and proceeded
to %reconnoiter his own position. There
was q bare chance that the American
would get through, and IL he did, every
thing might yet be well. If he didn't
Hugh shrugged his shoulders grimly
and laughed.
1t had become quite light, and after
a moments indecisiOn DrummOnd took
a running jump, and caught the ridge
Of the sloping roof on the side nearest
the road. From where he was he could
not see The Larches, and so he did
not know what luck the American had
had. But he realized that it was long
odds against his getting through, and
that his chief hope lay in himself. 1t
occurred to him that far too few un-
biased people knew where he was; 1t
further occurred to him that 1t was a
state Of affairs which was likely to
continue unless he remedied it himself.
And so, just as Peterson came strOlling
around a corner Of the house followed
by several men and a long ladder,
Hugh commenced to sing. He shouted,
he reared at the top of his very pow
erful voice, and all the time he watched
the men below with a wary eye.
1t was just as two laborers came in
to investigate the hideous din that
Peterson's party discovered the ladder
was too short by several yards.
Then with great rapidity the audi
enc grew. A passing milkman; two
commercial travellers, a gentleman Of
slightly inebriated aspect, whose trous-
ers left much to the imagination and
finally nor farm laborers. Never had
such a tit-bit of gossip for the local
alehouse been seen in the ~neighbor-
hood 1t would furnish a topic of con-
versation for weeks to come. And still
Hugh sang and Peterson cursed; and
still the audience grew. Then, at last.
there came the police with notebook
all complete, and the singer stopped
singing to laugh.
The next moment the laugh froze on
his lips. Standing by the skylight, with
his revolver raised, was Lexington, and
Hugh knew by the expression of his
face that his finger was trembling on
the trigger. Out Of view Of the crowd
below he did not know Of its existence,
and, In a flash, Hugh realized his dan
ger.
Good morrow, Henry" he said
quietly. II wouldn't fire If I were you.
We are observed, as they say in melo-
drama. II you don't believe me-" his
voice grew a little tense, lust wait
while I talk to Peterson, who is at pres
ent deep in converse with the village
constable and several farm laborers."
1t is doubtful whether any action In
Hugh Drummond's life ever cost him
such an effort Of will as the turning
Of his back On the man standing two
yards below him, but he did it ap-
parently without thought. He gave II
last glance at the face %convulsed with
rage, and then with a smile he looked
down at the crowd below.
Peterson" he called u affahly,
there's a pal Of yours up here-dear
old Henry. And ae's very annoyed at
my concert. Would you just speak to
him, or would you like me to be more
explicit? He is so annoyed that there
might be an accident at any moment,
and l see that the police have ar
rived. SO-er-"
Even at that distance he could see
Peterson's eyes of fury, and he chuck
led softly to himself. But when the
leader spoke, his voice was as suave
as ever; the eternal cigar glowed even
ly at it's normal rate.
Are you up on the roof, Laklng-
ton?" The words came clearly through
the still summer air.
Your turn, Henry" said Drummond.
"~Prompter's voice off-'yes, dear Peter
son, | am here, even upon the roof,
with a liver of hideous aspect"
With a mighty effort darlington con-
trOlled himself, and his voice, when he
answered, was calm.
"Yes, I'm here. What's the matterf'
Nothing" cried Peterson, 'but
we've got quite a large and apprecia-
tive audience down here, attracted by
our friends charming concert, and I've
just sent for a large ladder by which
he can come down and join us. SO
there is nothing that you can do
nothing" He repeated the word with
a faint emphasis, and Hugh smiled
genially.
I'm interested In quite a number OF
things, Captain Drummond," said LAX
ington slowly, but they all count as
nothing beside one-getting ever with
you. And when l do. :" He
dropped the revolver into his coat