Evening star., 1921-05-05
BY CYRIL McNEILE C"Sapper"

go tipping through the underground
as he lay motionless on the ground
| then very cautiously he turned his
head and peered about. A man with
an ordinary. revolver is at a disad-
| vantage against some one armed with
a silent gun, especially when he is
not desirous of alarming the neigh
! borhood.
| A shrub was shaking a 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 a man peered
through 1t was the chauffeur who
usually drove the Rolls Royce. and
ne seemed unduly anxious'to satisfy
himself that all was well before COM
ing nearer. The fame of Hugh Drum
mond had spread among 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
movement. But the soldier lay
sprawling and inert, and by the time
the chauffeur had reached HIM there
was no doubt in that worthy's mind
that. at last. this wretched meddIer
with things that concerned him not
had been laid by the heels. Which was
as unfortunate for the chauffeur as
1t had been for unwary Huns in the
past.
Contemptuously he rolled Drum
mond over; then. noting the relaxed
muscles and inert limbs. he laid his
gun on the ground preparatory to
running through his victims pockets
And the fact that such an action was
little more foolish than Offering a
man-eating tiger a peppermint loz-
enge did not trouble the chauffeur In
fact, nothing troubled him again.
He got out one gasping cry of terror
as he realized his mistake; then he
had blurred consciousness of the
world upside down, and everything
was over. 1t was Olakrs most dam
| gerous throw. carried out by grip
ping the victims wrists and hurting
his body over by a heave Of the legs.
was a broken neck. This was one Of
the nine.
For a while the soldier stared at
the body. frowning thoughtfully. To
have killed the chauffeur was incon-
venient, but since it had happened it
necessitated little rearrangement
| of his plans. The moon was setting
and the night would become darker.
| so there was good chance that LAX
, ington would not recognize that the
] driver of his car had changed. And
, if he did-well. it would be necessary
to forego the somewhat theatrical
| entertainment he had staged for his
| benefit at The Elms. Bending over
the dead man. he removed his long
| gray driving coat and cap; then.
without a sound. he threaded his way
| through the bushes in search of the
| car.
| He found it about a hundred yards
| nearer the house. so well hidden in a
! almost on top of it before he realized
| the fact. To his relief it was empty.
| and placing his own cap in pocket
under the seat he put on the driving
! coat of his predecessor. Then, with
| quick glance round to insure that
! everything was in readiness for the
! Immediate and rapid departure such
as he imagined darlington would de-
! sire, he turned and crept stealthily
| toward the house.
| Laidley Towers was en- fete. The
duchess, determined that every con-
ceivable stunt should be carried out
which would make for the entertain
| ment of her guests. had spared no
! pains to make the evening a success.
| 1he Onke, DOreO 10 eStlnctlOn, mad
! been five times routed out of his
study by his indefatigable spouse,
! and was now. at the moment Hugh
| first came in sight of the house, en-
| gagged in shaking hands with a tall,
| aristocratic-looking Indian.
! How dy do" he murmured va
cantly. What did you say the dam
| fellah's name was. my dear?" he
| whispered in a hoarse undertone to
| the duchess. who stood beside him
| welcoming the distinguished for
| eigner.
| "We're so glad you could come, Mr.
| Ram Oar" remarked the duchess, af-
| fably. Every one is so looking for
! ward to your wonderful entertain
| ment." Round~he neck was the his
! toric pearls. and as the Indian bowed
| low over her outstretched hand. his
| eyes CLEANED for a second
your grace is too kind" His voice
| was low and deep. and he glanced
thoughtfully around the circle Of faces
| near him. Maybe the sands that
| come from the mountains that lie be-
' yond the everlasting SHOWS will speak
the truth; maybe the gods will be