Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-11-23

with the SCARED face turned on him
mor0sely "What I cannot understand
is why he hasn't been killed by now"
Hugh waggled an accusing finger at
him
Il knew you were nasty man as
soon as I saw you. Now look at Hen
ry UP at the end of the table; he
doesn't say that sort Of thing. And
you do hate me, don't you, Henry?
How's the jaw"
Captain Drummond," said Laking-
ton ignoring Hugh and addressing the
first speaker, was very nearly killed
last night. l thought for some time
as to whether l would or not, but l
finally decided it would be much too
easy death. So it can be remedied
tonight"
If Hugh felt a m0mentaly twinge of
fear at the calm, eXpressionless tone,
and the half-satisfied grunt which
greeted the words, no trace of it
showed on his face. Already the
realization had come to him that if
he got through the night alive he would
be more than passing lucky, but he
was too much of q fatalist to let that
worry him unduly. SO he merely stifled
a yawn. and again turned to Lexington.
$50 it was you, my little one, whose
fairy face | saw pressed against the
window. Would it be indiscreet to ask
how you got the dope into US?
darlington looked at him with an eX-
preston of grim satisfaction on his
face
You were gassed, if you want to
know. An admirable invention Of my
friend Kauffners nation"
A cultural chuckle came from one
of the men, and Hugh looked at him
grimly.
"The scum certainly would not be
complete" he remarked to Peterson,
without filthy Boche in it."
The German pushed back his chair
with an oath, his face purple with
passion.
"a filthy Boche" he muttered thick
ly, lurching toward Hugh. Hold him
the arms of, and l will the throat tear
out. ;"
It all happened so quickly. AT one
moment Hugh was apparently intent
upon selecting a cigarette, the next
instant the case had fallen to the
floor there was a dull, heavy tkud
and the Boche crashed back, over
turned a chair, and fell like log to
the iio0r, his head hitting the wall with
a vicious crack The blOodshOt being
resumed his seat a little Imply. Hugh
resumed his search for a cigarette.
'"After which breezy interlude," re-
marked Peterson, 'let us to business
get"
Hugh paused in the act of striking
a match, and for the first time a gen
uine smile spread over his face.
There are moments. Peterson" he
murmured, "when you really appeal
to me"
Peterson took the empty chair next
to darlington.
"Sit down." he said shortly 81 can
only hope that | shall appeal to you
still more before we kill you"
Consideration, he murmured, was
always your strong point. May l ask
how long | have to liver"
Peterson smiled genially.
AT the earnest request of Mr.. LAX
ingtOn you are to be spared until to-
morrow. At least, that is our present
intention. OF course, there might be
an accident in the night; in house
like this one never can tell. Orr
he carefully cut the end off cigar
you might 90 mad in which case we
shouldn't bother to kill you. In fact,
if you so mad, we shall not be dis
pleased"
Once again he smiled genially.
"As / said before. in a house like
this you can never tell :"
The inundated rabbit, breathing
heavily, was staring at Hugh fascin-
ated and after a moment Hugh turned
to him with a courteous bow.
'LuGdie," he remarked, ''you've been
eating onions. Do you mind DETECTING
the blast in the opposite direction"
His calm imperturbability seemed to
madden darlington.
You watt" he snarled thiclly; ''you
wait till I've finished with you. You
won't be so ID humorous then. )"
Hugh regarded the speaker languid-
ly.
Your supposition is more than prob
able" he remarked. in bored voice.
Il shall be too intent on getting into
a Turkish bath to remove the contain
ination TO think of laughing
Slowly darlington sank back in his
chair, hard, merciless smile on his
lips; and for a moment or two there
was silence in the room. 1t was broken
by the unkempt man on the sofa, who,
without warning, exploded unexpected
ly.
"a truce to all this fooling," he
burst forth in a deep rumble; Il con.
fess l do not understand it. Are we
assembled here tonight, comrades, to
listen to private quarrels and stupid
talk?'
A murmur of approval came from
tho otborc and the sneaker stood nm