The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-01-05
tcontirned)
CHAPTER WI.

DrummOnd paused for moment AT
the door of the sitting room, then with
O slight shrug he stepped past Peter
son. During the last few days he had
grown TO look on this particular room
+. as the private den Of the principals OF
the gang. He associated II In his mind
with Peterson himself. suaye, impas-
slye. ruthless: with the girl Irma, per
fectly gowned, lying on the sofa, smok-
ing innumerable cigarettes. and mani
curing her already fautless nails: and
In a lesser degree, with Henry Laking-
toms thin. cruel face. and blue, staring
eyes.
But tonight different scene con-
fronted him The girl was not there
her accustomed place on the sofa was
occupied by an unkempt-looklng man
with ragged beard. At the end OF
the table was a vacant chair. on the
night Of which sat Laklngton regard
Ing him with maleyolent fury. Along
the table on each side there were half
dozen men. and he glanced at their
faces. Some were obviously foreign
ers; some might have been anything
from murderers 60 Sunday school
teachers There was one with spec
tacles and the general appearance Of
an intimidated rabbit, while his neigh
Dor. helped by large red scar right
across his cheek. and two bloodshot
eyes, struck Hugh as being the sort
~ man with whom one would not
share a luncheon basket.
Peterson's voice from Just behind
his shoulder reused hm.
'Permit me, gentlemen, 10 Introduce
TO you Captain Drummond. u. $. O.,
NJ c., the originator OF the little en-
tertalnment we have just had"
(. Hugh bowed gravely. "My only re
gni-is that II failed to function" he
remarked. "As | told you outside, I'd
quite forgotten your menagerie. In
fact"--his glance wandered slowly and
somewhat pointedly. from face TO face
al the tablet had no idea. II was
such large one"
$50 this is the insolent young swine.
is ~" The bloodshot eyes Of the man
with the SCARED face turned on him
morosely. "What | 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 saw you. Now look at Hen
~ 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 taw1@
Captain Drummond." said Laklng
ton. ignoring Hugh and addressing the
FIRST speaker, was very nearly killed
last night. ! thought for some time
as 20 whether I would or not but
finally decided II would be much too
easy death. So IL can be remedied !
tonight"
II Hugh felt a momentary twinge of /
fear at the calm. expressionless tone,
and the half-satisfled grunt which /
greeted the words. no trace OF II /
showed on his face Already the I
realization had come 70 him that II /
he got through the night alive he would 4
be more than passing lucky. but he 4
vas too much of fatalisi 10 let that 1
worry him unduly. SO he merely stiaed 1
a yawn- and again turned to Laklngton. /
$50 Il was sou. my little one. whose
fairy face I saw pressed against the
window. Would II be indiscreet 20 ask I
how you got the dope into usf"
Lakingion looked az him with an ex-
prcssion Of grin satisfaction on his
face.
~lou were gassed, n you want TO
know An admirable invention of my 4
friend Kaunners nation
A cultural chuckie came fron one
~ the men. Hnd Hugh laosed a. bin
grimiy
The scum certainly would not be
complete be remarked 70 Peterson.
''uiihoat 3 filthy ueebs in lt~
Tie German pushed baek MS cbair
with an oath his face pgrule Wtih
passion.
a nifhy Beehe." he mutrered thick
~. lurchinz tauard Hurh Hold bin
the arms o. sud wIii ~ throat tear
out ..
i Hh happeucd - quickly. A. one
moneut Hugh vas apparentiy Intent
uI'on selecting cigarette. the next
instant The case had fallen To- the
'oar; there was 3 duiL heavy thud.
and TIE Boche crashed hack. over
TUNED chair. s1d fel uke a log o l
TIE neor his head hlriuE 4 2 wall with