The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-02-09
THREE
tContiInedl

Drummond. hunched low over IN,
wheel. In his endeavor 20 concea, hl,
identity from the man behind. knew
nothing OF that at the time And LAX
ington WIS far too busy TO bother
with the chauffeur.
one snarllng 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
90 the normal kept Lakington busy. and
Hugh could see him reflected In the
vind-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
elear-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 againf
For one thing he was quite certain.
Whatever was inside the parcel OF
gold and silver tissue which. for all
be knew. they might be still staring
st, II was not the historic necklace.
And he was stlll puzEling II over In
his mind when the car swung into the
drive at The Elms
Change the wheels as usual"
snapped Laklngton as he got out. and
Hugh bent forward to conceal his face.
'-Then report to me In the central
room
And out OF the corner Of his eye
Hugh watched him enter the house
with the Chinese cabinet clasped In
his hand.
Toby" he remarked 20 that worthy,
whom he found mournfully eating a
ham sandwich In the garage, Lets
go on the roof"
der which had been placed In readi-
ness. TO nnd 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
motionless. bound figures so swathed
In rope that only the tops OF their
heads were visible. just as Lakington
had left him and Toby and Algy earli-
er In the evening The only moving
thing In the room was the criminal
himself and at the moment he was
sealed at the table with the Chinese
cabinet In front OF him With a quick
turn OF his wrist he pried open two
naps OF wood. and folded them back
against the side. Then he lifted out
. parcel Of gold and silver tissue from
underneath.
MY hati" muttered Hugh. what
fool ! was not 60 think OF it Just
. false bottom actuated by closing
the lid"
But the American. whistling gently
20 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
ington. ~and you thought 10 pit your
selves against me~-he rose and stood
In front of the chair where be had
last left Drummond. That fool OF q
ehAuneur failed 20 carry out my or
ders. and creafe diversion You
viii -ee what happens 20 people who
fail to carry out my orders, IN min.
ute And after that you'll never ~
anything again
"Say hes q drenm-that guv- NUT
tered The American what pearls
are those he's rotT
s-The duchess - Lhmpshire', vhis
p~red Hugh Lifted right under the
nos u the whole haIly house party
TIE four WATCHERS on tie rraf glued
their eyes rs ths e't@ Ana 'Ha aeht
thcy saw a momeut ar tno atraruarl
stirref eVcn ~ rh'eElu 81. Green.
A heavy door uus swtne.rv slowly
o1en. apparently - its oun yo'f'eu.
though Hush. stealing q quick glance
az Lakinrfun. s1W that he vas rrsss-
iuE s1Tne small sr3s ca 1iehe in
une - the WnIIx Tl~n hp looked
back ~ the dooF. and sfared 8um-
founded u uas the mysterious cup
heard - utich rhyiIis bad sTsaEen a.
him. but noshiHg D. bad imag.nef from
her words had rreranei him fsr the
rsalify. r. seerned - - literally cram
med 20 overnawang with the most
prsceiess beet. Gold vessels - fantAs
nc and heautifui shspes filtered the
nocr. whiie "a tfe shelves were ~
rzngei lhe unst uos...s.-1ui colle-rtia-