Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-01-11
TFiR e.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
IRWIN MYERS

DrummOnd hunched low over the
wheel, in his endeayor to conceal dis
sdentity from the man behind knew
nothing OF that at the time. And Lax
ington was far too busy to bother
with the chauffeur
one snarling curse as they had
started, for not having done as he had
been told, was the total of their con-
versation during the trip. During the
rest Of the time the transformation
10 the normal kept darlington busy, and
Hugh could see him reflected in the
wlnd-screen removing the makeup
from his face, and changing his
clothes.
Even now he was not quite clear
how the trick had been worked That
there had been two cabinets, that was
clear--one false, the other the real
one That they had been changed at
the crucial moment by the girl Irma
was also obvious. But how had the
pearls disappeared in the first case,
and then apparently reappeared again?
For one thing he was quite certain.
Whatever was inside the parcel of
gold and silver tissue which. for all
ne knew, they might be still staring
al, il was not the historic necklace.
And he was still puzzling it over in
mis- mind when the car swung into the
drive at The Films.
Change the wheels as usual"
snapped darlington as he got out, and
Hugh bent forward to conceal his face.
Then report to me i'll the central
ROOM
And out Of the corner of his eye
Hugh watched him enter the house
with the Chinese cabinet clasped in
mis- hand.
toby" he remarked TO that worthy.
whom lie found moumfulIy eating a
ham sandwich in the garage, Lets
go ON the roof"
Silently they both climbed the lad
der which had been placed in readi-
ness, to find Peter Darrell and the
American detective already in posi-
ton a brilliant light streamed out
through the glass dome, and the in
side of the central room was clearly
visible. In the three chairs sat the
moti0nless, bound figures SO swathed
In rope that only the tops of their
beads We're visible. JUST as Lakington
had left him and Toby and Algy earli-
Gr in the evening The only moving
thing in the room was the criminal
himself, and at the moment he was
seated at the table with the Chinese
cabinet in front of him. With quick
turn Of his wrist he pried open two
! flaps of wood, and folded them back
against the side. Then he lifted out
a parcel Of gold and silver tissue from
underneath.
MY hiatt" muttered Hugh. what a
fool | was not to think Of 1t! Just
q false bottom actuated by closing
the lid
But the American, whistling gently
so himself had his eyes fixed on the
rope OF wonderful pearls which LAX
ington was holding lovingly IN his
: hands
$50 easy, YOU scum" continued LAX
,1ngtOn. land YOU thought to pit YOUR
SeNes against me"--he rose and stood
lnIfront of the chair where he had
lag left Drummond. THAT fool Of a
CT Iffeur failed to carry out my or
!. and create diversion. You
vi see what happens to people who
q to carry out my orders in min
And after that you'll never see
thing again"
Say, he's dream-that guy" NUT
ed the American. what pearls
those he's got?"
The duchess Of Lampshire's," wills
I'd Hugh Lifted right under the
Of the whole baIly house party"
he four watchers on the roof glued
ir eyes to the glass. And the sight
" saw q moment or two afterward
FRED even the phlegmatic Mr.. Green.
A heavy door was swinging slowly
y open, apparently of its own volition,
though Hugh, stealing a quick glance
ut darlington, saw that he was press
ing some small studs in a niche in
one Of the walls Then he looked
back at the door. and stared dunn
founded. II was the mysterious cup
board of which Phyllis had spoken to
him, but nothing he had imagined from
her words bad prepared him for the
reality. 1t seemed to be literally cram
med to overlooking with tile most
priceless loot Gold vessels OF fartas-
tic and beautiful shapes Uttered the
floor; while on the shelves were ar
ranged the most wonderful collection
of precious stones. which shone ana
scintillated in the electric light till
their glitter almost blinded the
watchers.
The pearls were carefully placed in
g position of honor, and for few
moments darlington stood gloating
over his collection
SDo you see them, Captain Drum
mond?' he asked quietly. Each thing
obtained by my brain-my hands. All
mine mine !" His voice rose to a
shout "ADd yOus nit vOur pllny wits