Middletown transcript., 1921-08-27

ulIuSell VIII
TWO
1--WE appear" remarked Hugh quiet
ly, few minutes later, ''to be in for a
CHEEKY night"
For a moment the German had left
the room, and three motionless, bound
figures, sitting grotesquely in their
chairs, were alone.
How did they get you, Toby?"
"Half a dozen of 'em suddenly ap-
peared," answered Sinclair shortly,
"knocked me on the head, and the next
thing I knew l was here in this id
chair
"Is that when you got your face?'
asked Hugh.
NO." said Toby, and his voice was
grim. 1--WE share in the matter Of
faces, old man.
'Lakington again, was it?' said
Hugh softly. "Dear Heaven! if I could
get one hand on that - He broke
off and laughed. ''What about you,
Algy?'
Il went blundering in over the way,
old beam" returned that worthy, "and
some dam fellow knocked my eye
glass off. So, as couldn't see to kill
him, l had to join the picnic here"
Hugh laughed, and then suddenly
grew serious.
"By the way, you didn't see man
chewing gum on the horizon, did you,
when l made my entrance? DogrOb-
her suit, and face like a mOtOr-mas-
cot"
"Thank God, was spared that" re-
marked Algy.
"Good!' returned Hugh. Hes prob
ably away with it by now, and he's
no fool. For I'm thinking it's only
Peter and him between us and" He
left his remark unfinished, and for a
while there was silence. Jerry is
over in France still, putting stamp
paper on his machine; Ted's gone up
to see that Potts is taking nourish-
ment"
"And here we sit like three we'll
preserved specimens in bally
museum" broke in Algy, with a rue
full laugh. 'What'll they do to us,
Hugh?"
But Drummond did not answer, and
the speaker seeing the look on his
face, did not press the question.
Slowly the hours dragged on, until
the last CLEANS Of daylight had faded
from the skylight above, and soli-
tary electric light, hung centrally,
gave the only illumination. Period
ically Heinrich had come in to see
that they were still secure: but from
the sounds Of the hoarse laughter
which came at frequent intervals
through the half-open door, it was evi-
dent that the German had found other
and more cOngenial company At
length he appeared carrying a tray
with bread and water on it, which he
placed on table near Hugh.
Food for you, you English swine,
he remarked, looking gloatingly al
each in turn. Herr Lakington the or.
der gave. so that you will fit be to.
morrow morning. Fit for the torture
He thrust his flushed face close to
Drummond's, and then deliberately
spat at him.
Algy Longworth gave a strangled
grunt, but DrummOnd took no notice
With q quiet smile, he looked up al
the German.
"How much. my friend" he re,
marked. "are you getting for this?"
The German leered at him.
Enough to see that you tomorrow
are here" he said.
"And l always believed that yours
was business nation" laughed Hugh
"Why, you poor fool, I've got thou
sand pounds in notes in my cigarette
case"
"You hof, hof you," the German
grunted. '"rhen the filthy Boche will
for you of them take care"
Hugh looked at him angrily.
IF you do" he cried. "you must lei
me CO."
The German leered still more.
"Naturlich. You shall out of the
house at once walk"
He stepped up to DrummOnd and
ran his hands over his coat, while the
others stared at one another in amaze
ment. Surely Hugh didn't imagine
the swine would really let him go; he
would merely take the money and
probably spit in his face again. Then
they heard him speaking, and sudden
gleam of comprehension daWned on
| their faces.
"You'll have to undo one Of the
ropes, my friend, before you can get
at it," said Hugh quietly.
For a moment the German hesitat-
r..I l..