The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-01-26

moved H. remarked Aigy-
Good, said Hugh. -AlU, TAKE
Miss Benton and her father Up TO Half
Moon street-at once. Then come back
here
-Bura Hugh" began hs glH sp-
pealingly
Al once. dear. please" He smiled
a. her jenderly. bur his tone was de-
cided This is going to be no place
for you n the near future"
With no further word Of protest the
girl followed Algy, and Hugh drew
a breath Of relief
"Now. you ugly-looking Brighter,
he remarked 70 the covering rutiian.
who was By this time shaking with
fright, I'VE come TO you. When does
Lakington returnf
"Termorrow. sir" stammered the
other.
"Where Is he nowf"
The man hesltated for q moment,
but the look IN Hugh's eyes galyan-
lied him into speech.
Hes after the old woman's pearls
sir-the duchess Of Lampshire's."
@Ahl" returned Hugh softly. "of
course he is. forgot When does
Peterson come hackr
'sTerimorrow. too. sir, as far as
knows" answered the man.
"And what's he dolngf" demanded
Drummond.
"On the level, guvnor, | can't tell
yer. Strife, | can't"
At that moment Darrell's voice came
up from the hall.
"The whole bunch are slowed away,
Hugh. What's the next ltemi"
Hugh walked TO the top Of the
stairs. A grin spread over his face
as he saw half dozen familiar faces
in the hall. and he hailed them
cheerily
Like old times. boys" he laughed.
swhere's the driver OF the lorryf"
That's me, sir" One OF them
stepped forward
"Good." said Hugh. ''Take your bus
ten miles from here then drop that
crowd one by one on the road as you
go along. You can take II from me
that none OF 'em will say anything
about II. even when they wake up.
Then take her back 10 your garage
I'll see you later.
Now" went on Hugh. as they heard
the sound of the departing lorry,
"we've got TO set the scene for to-
morrow morning" He glanced at his
watch. Just eleven. How long will
il take me to get the old buzz-box TO
Laidley Towers7'
'Laldley Towers" echoed Darrell.
what the devil are you going there
for?"
81 just can't bear TO be parted from
Henry for one moment longer than
necessary" said Hugh quietly. "And
Henry Is there, in "a praiseworthy en-
deayor to lift the duchess pearls,
Dear Henryr His two fists clenched,
and the American. looking at his face,
laughed softly.
But IL was only for a moment that
Drummond INDUCED In the pleasures
OF anticipation; all that could come
after. And just now there were other
things TO be done-many others, II
events next morning were to go as
they should.
Take those two into the center
ROOM" he cried. Incidentally there's
q dead Boche on the floor, but he'll
come In very handy In my little
scheme"
"A dead Boche !" The inundated
rabbit gave frightened squeak.
"Good heavensi you rufIian,J this is
beyond joke"
Hugh looked at him coldly.
'You1l find II beyond a Joke, you
miserable little rat" he said quietly,
IF you speak to me like that" He
laughed as the other shrank past him.
Three of you boys In there" he or
dered briskly, "and II either Of them |
gives the slightest trouble clip him |
over the head. Now let's have the
rest OF the crowd in here. Peter"
They came filing in, and Hugh |
waved a CHEEKY hand in greeting.
"How goes 1t, you fellows" he cried
with his infectious grin. Like com
pany pow-wow before popping the
parapet. What And it's a bigger
show this time. boys. than any you've
had over the water. Gather round. |
and listen TO me"
For FIVE minutes he spoke, and his
audience nodded delightedly. Apart |
from their love for Drummond-and I
three out Of every four Of them knew
him personally-it was a scheme which |
uckled them 10 death. And he was /
careful 10 tell them just enough Of the
sinister design Of the master-criminal
to make them realize the blgness Of
the issue.
That's all clear, them said Drum
mond. rising. wow I'm OF. Toby. /
/ want you to come. too We ought /
to be- there by midnight
There's only one point. captain