Judsonia weekly advance., 1921-08-11

Potts was upstairs.
 'Good Lord P spluttered Darrell, by now very wide awake, what do we do. sergeant-major? I've take it in turns-two at a time-to sit up with Potts" Hugh glanced at the other three. "D-n it you blighters-wake upw "I don't know what it is," Darrell said, rubbing his eyes, q feel most in- formally sleepy"
 "Well, listeD to me-confound you Toby!"
 "Sorry, old man." With a start Sin clair sat up in his chair and blinked at Hugh.
 "They're almost certain to try and get him tonight" went on Hugh. Having given the show away by leaving a clue on the wretched secre- tary they must get the real man as soon as possible. It's far too danger ous to leave the-leave the" His head dropped forward on his chest :: short, half-strangled snore came from his lips. It had the effect of waking him for the moment, and he staggered to his feet.
 The other three, sprawing in their chairs, were openly and unashamedly asleep; even the dogs lay in fantastic attitudes, breathing heavily, inert like | logs.
 Wake upr' shouted Hugh wildly. "For Gods sake = wake up! We've 1
 been drugged" !"
 An iron weight seemed to be press ing down on his eyelfds: the desire l for sleep grew stronger and stronger. For a few moments more he fought against it, hopelessly, despairingly {; while his legs seemed not to belong to him, and there was a roaring noise 1 in his ears. And then, just before unconsciOusness overcame him, there | came to his bemused brain the sound | of whistle thrice repeated from out side the window. With a last stu pendous effort he fought his way to- ward it, and for moment he stared into the darkness. There were dim | figures moving through the shrubs, and suddenly one seemed to detach itself. It came nearer, and the light | fell on the mans face. His nose and mouth were covered with sort of | unmistakable.
 "Lakington !" gasped Hugh, and then the roaring noise increased in his head; his legs struck work alto | gether. ->He collapsed on the floor and | lay sprawling, while Lakington, his face pressed against the glass outside, watched in silence.
 Draw the curtains" Lakington was speaking, his voice untitled be- hind the pad, and one of the men did as he said. There were four in all, each with similar pad over his mouth and nose. 'Where did you put the generator Brownlow?'
 "In the coal-scuttle." A man whom Mrs. Denny would have had no diff culty in recognizing, even with the mask on his face, carefully lifted a small black box out of the scuttle from behind some coal, and shook it gent ly, holding 1t to his ear ''Its fin ished," he remarked, and Lakington nodded.
 "An ingenious invention is gas" he said, addressing another of the men. We owe your nation quite a debt of gratitude for the idea
 A guttural grunt left no doubt as to what that nation was, and Laking tor dropped the box into his pocket.
 GO get him." he ordered briefly, and the others left the room.
 Contemptuously Lakington kicked one of the dogs; it rolled over and l8y motionless in its new position. Then he went in turn to each of the three men sprawling in the chairs. With no attempt at gentleness he turned their faces up to the light, and studied them deliberately; then he let their heads roll back again with a thud. Finally, he went to the window and stared down at Drummond. In his eyes was look of cold fury. and he kicked the unconscious man saw agey in the ribs.
 Ou young SWlue, ue ulullereu. DO you think I'll forget that blow on the jaw"
 He took another box out of his pocket and looked at it lovingly.
 "Shall F" With short laugh he replaced it. It's too good death for you, Captain Drummond D. S. O., M. c. Just to snuff out in your sleep. No, my friend, I think I can devise something better than that; some thing really artistic"
 Two other men came in as he turned away, and Lakington looked at them.
 'Well," he asked, "have you got the old woman?"
 "Bound and gagged in the kitchen" answered one of them laconically. Are you going to do this crowd in?'
 The speaker looked at the uncon- scious men with hatred in his eyes.
 "They cucumber the earth-this breed of puppy"
 ''They will not cucumber 1t for long," said Lakington softly. "But A.