The Arvada enterprise., 1921-09-01
Cyril McNele
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England today quite Z number of
civilians who aeknowisdge only two
rulers-ths King and Hugh Drum
mond. And they would willingly die
for either.
The result On Drummond was not
surprising; - nearly a. man may be
hs was without fear. And when the
idsa came to him - hs sat on the
edge Of his bed thoushtfully pulling of
his shoes. NO question of the possible
risk entered into his mind. To explore
the house seemed the most natural
thing in the world. and with character
lstic brsvity he summed up the stu
ation - II struck him.
''Thsy suspect me anyhow: in fact,
they know I took Potts. Therefore,
even II they catch me passage creep
Ing, I'm NO worDs OF than I am now.
And I might and something Of intsr.
esG Therefore. cary On, brave heart"
II was dark in the passage outside
- be opsned the door Of his room and
crspt toward the top Of the stairs. The
collar Of his brown lounge coat was
turned up, and his stocking feet made
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 crcak Of q
board alone broke the stiffness.
To the left lay the room In which be
had spent the evening, and Drummend
turned to the right. A. he had gone
up to bed - had noticed q deer
screened by Q heavy curtain which be
thought might b. the room Phyllis
Benton had spoken of-ths rosm
whsrs HsaTy Lakingtou kept his H.
gotten treasures. He felt his way
along ths wall, and at length his hard
touched the curtain only 70 drop It
again at eocs. From close bssids him
had cone sharp. angry hisA
He stepped back . pace and stood
nltd, staring at the pot from which
tAs sesnA had seemed to co0e-est
~ eesld ~ HotAiAg. Thsa ~ leaned
fseward and sees mere moved the
eurtaia. Instantly Il cane again.
sharper al aausse tAaa bseees
H1gA passsA . AAaA ever his fore
head end feund II damp. Germans ~
knew. aAl tAinp - two legs. bat
what Was ~ ohat hieooa- - v1e6o01y
u ~ 1ark.sssI AZ lsasth - deter.
ninsd 70 risk It. and drew fron bis
psckst Q tiay electric teech. Hs'diag
II well away frsm his BODY. hs
switchsd o. tAs usAt In ths csatse
Il tAs bsan. svaytas gracefully -
aAa fre. was Q snake. Foe Q nsosat
b watched n fascinated - Il spat at
he light aassily: he saw tie nat heed
where the Vicious head was sst oa he
upright body: then b. switched Oh the
torch and rstreated rather faster than
hs had come.
"A eonvivial household" he NUT
tered to himself through lips that were
q little dry. "A hooded cobra 10 n
unplsasing psf"
Hugh had Just determined to recon-
noltsr the curtaincd doorway again to
zee II It was possible to circumvent
the snake. when Q low chuckle came
dlstinctly to bis sars from the landing
above.
He flushed angrily IN the darkness.
Thers was NO doubt whatever - to
the human origin Of that laugh. end
Hugh suddenly realized that be was
making the NEST profound fool Of him.
self. To b. laughed At BY some dirty
swiss whom he could stranEie In half
. ninute-was impossible. His lists
elesehsd. aaA hs swoee softly under
bic breath. Then % silentiy - be
had come 6own, be commenced to
climb the staira again. He had Q haxy
idea that he would like to hit some
thins-hard.
There were nine stairs In the arst
half Of the Aight, and Il was ~ he
stoed % the Afth that he again heard
the NV chuekls. At the same instant
something vhissed past his head %
low that Il almost touchsd his hair.
and there vas . clans On the wall b.
Ade him. He ducked instinctivsly.
and regardless Of noise racsd up the
remaining staiss. % all-fours. His
jaw was ~ like Q wise. his eyes were
blazing; IN fact. Hugh Drummond was
seeing red.
He paused when be reached the top.
efouchihg h the darkness. Cioee to
him Ae eould feel some one else. and
holding his breath. he listened. Then
he hsard the man novs-oniy the vssy
faintsst sound-but II was enough.
without . seconds thought he sprang.
and his hands closed % human Aesh.
He laughed gently; then no fought In
silence.
His opposent vas strong above the
avesass, but aftss minute he IVES
iike Q child In Hugh's grasp. He
ehoksd oacs or twice and muttered
something: then Hugh slipped bic
rigAt hand seatiy sate the mans
threat His Anssrs moved slowly
round. his tAumb adjusted Itself iov.
insiy. and ths man felt his head being
- nA