The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-02-09
CHAPTER XII.
In which the Las, Round Take. plae.
ONE.
ONE.

TX was during the next hour or two
that the full value OF Mr.. Jerome X.
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 II is" said Drummond. point
ing % heavy steel door flush with the
wall, on the opposite side OF the room
10 the big one containing Lakingtons
ill-gotten treasure. "And II doesn't
seem 10 me that you're going to open
that one by pressing any buttons in
the wall"
Then, Captain drawled the Amer
lean, 81 guess wen open 1t 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-
ton" he continued "of how our swell
cracksmen over the water open safes
when the owners have been so tactless
as 10 remove the keys"
Bexterously he proceeded to seal up
every crack in the safe door with the
soap, leaving a small gap At the top
unsealed Then round that gap he
Irfff lao To oil ff,f.
poses a soap dam.
III any Of you boys" he remarked
10 the intent group around him, think
Of taking this up rs a means Of liveli-
hood be careful Of this stun From
another pocket he produced an india
rubber bottle Don't drop II on the
floor unless YOU want TO be measured
for your coffin. There1l just be boot
and some bits to bury"
The group faded away, and the
American laughed
might ! ask what II Isl" 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
what / told you I'd got gelignite; or.
as the boys call Il. the oil. II runs
right round the cracks Of the door In
side the soap He added little more,
and carefully replaced the stopper
Now. n detonator and a 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
a moment Or two later the American
joined them
III may he necessary to do Il again,
ne announced. and as he spoke the
sound ~ a dull explosion came from
inside the house ION the other hand,
he continued going back into the room
and quietly pulling tie safe door open
1T may not There's your book, Cap
lain
lie calmly relit lis cigar, as n safe
opening was the most normal under.
taking. and Drummond lifted out the
heavy ledger and placed It on the IA
he.
Go oui e relays. boys, he aid 10
The group 81 men by the door 'and
ret your breakfasts Tn going 70 he .
busy for a Bit"
He sat down al the table and began /.
10 turn the pages. The American was
amusing himself With the faxed Chi /
nese cabinet: Toby and Peter spraWled |
IN two chairs. unashumelly snoring |
And after a while the detective put 1
down the cabinet and, coming over.
sat al Drummond's side.
Every page contained an entry
sometimes half a d0zen-of the same 4
type. and a. the immensely n the
project dawned on the two men their 4
faces grew serious
Il told you be was a Big man. Cap 4
tain. remarked the American. leaning F.
back u his chair and looking At the
open book through baif-closed eyes
zone can only hope % Heaven that
were in time returned Hush Din
u. man he exploded. surely the 20
lice must know % thIsf-
The American closed his eyes sttl
more
Your English police know mosf
thlnes. be draWled. ''bui you've sorf
81 got some peculiar laws In your
country. With rs Il We dou't IKE
man--soneihing happens he kind o
ceases 70 81 up and take n0urishment.
But over here. the more scurnlous b. !
r. the more be talks b'oedshed and
riot. the more constables does De- get %
guard him from catching cold