The Farmington times., 1922-06-23
CHAPTER XII.
In Which the Last Round Takes Place.
ONE.

Green as an acquisition to the party
became apparent. Certain other prep
arations In honor of Peterson's arrival
were duly carried out, and then arose
! the question of the safe in which the
all-important ledger was kept.
'There 1t is" said Drummond point
y ing to a heavy steel door flush with the
wall. on the opposite side Of the room
to the big one containing Lakington's
ill-gotten treasure. "And 1t doesn't
seem to me that you're going to open
that one by pressing any buttons In
the wall"
'sThen. Captain drawled the Amer.
lean, Il guess we'll open It otherwise.
It's sure plumb easy. I've been get
ting gay with some of the household
effects, and this bar Of soap sort Of
caught my eye"
From his pocket he produced some
ordinary yellow soap, and the others
glanced at him curiously.
"I'll just give you little demonstra-
tion," he continued, "of how our swell
cracksmen over the water open safes
when the owners have been so tactless
as to remove the keys"
DexterousIy he proceeded to seal up
every crack in the safe door with the
soap, leaving small gap at the top
unsealed. Then round that gap he
built what was to MI intents and pur-
poses soap dam.
anr n4 x,a,7 d nx,a he ram, rs,.1yn1
TO the intent group around him, "think
Of taking this up as means of liveli-
hood, be careful Of this stuff" From
another pocket he produced an india
rubber bottle. Don't drop 1t on the
floor unless you want to be measured
for your coffin. There'll Just be boot
Rnd some bits to bury"
The group faded away, and the
American laughed.
might ask what 1t is7' murmured
Hugh politely from the neighborhood
Of the door.
"Sure thing, Captain" returned the
detective, carefully pouring some of
the liquid into the soap dam. "That Is
WlluJ lulu JOu VI OAt
MS the boys call 1t, the Oil. 1t runs
right round the cracks of the door in
eide the SOAP" He added little more,
and carefully replaced the stopper.
Now, detonator and bit of fuse,
and guess wen leave the room"
"It reminds one of those dreadful
barbarians, the sappers, trying to blow
up things" remarked Toby, stepping
with some agility into the garden; and
4 moment or two later the American
Joined them.
"It may be necessary to do 1t again."
be announced, and as he spoke the
sound of dull explosion came from
inside the house. ION the other hand"
be continued, going back into the room
knd quietly pulling the safe door open,
tit may not. There's your book, Cap
tain"
He calmly relit his cigar, as IL safe
opening was the most normal under
taking, and Drummond lifted out the
heavy ledger and placed 1t on the ta-
BILE.
"Go out in relays, boys" he said to
the group Of men by the door, "and
get your breakfasts. I'm going to b
busy for bit"
He sat down at the table and began
to turn the pages. The American was
amusing himself with the faxed Chi
nese cabinet Toby and Peter sprawled
in two chairs, unashamedly snoring
And after while the detective put
down the cabinet and, coming over
sat at Drummond's side.
Every page contained an entry
sometimes half dozen--of the samt
type. and as the immensity Of the
project dawned on the two men theil
faces grew serious.
" told you he was a big man, Cap
tain" remarked the American, leaning
back in his chair and looking at th'
open book through half-closed eyes.
zone can only hope to Heaven tina
we're in time," returned Hugh. ID
1t, man." he exploded, "surely the po
lice must know Of thisW
The American closed his eyes still
more.
"Your English police know mos
things" he drawled, ''but you've. sor
of got some peculiar laws In you
country. With us, If we don't like
man something happens. He kind Q
ceases to sit up and take nourishmen'
But over here. the more scurrilous b
is, the more he talks bloodshed an
riot, the more constables does he get t
guard him from catching cold.
The soldier frowned.
'Tso0k at this entry here" he grunted
THAT blighter is a member Of parlia
ment. What's he getting four payment
OF thousand pounds forf"
''Why, surely to buy some nice war;
nnderclothes WITH grinned the detet
tive. Then he leaned forward an
glanced at the name. But isn't p