The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-08-14


1t was true: he could see the light
OF street lamp shining through a
great jagged hole.
Some bomb" he muttered. Lets
clear"
He gave a final flash of his torch
round the floor, as they moved toward
the shattered wall. and then suddenly
stopped.
whats that?"
Right in the center Of the beam, ly-
ing in the middle Of the floor, was a
small channels leather bag. 1t seemed
unhurt, and, without thinking, Hugh
picked it up and put it in his pocket
Then switching off the torch, they both
clambered through the hole, dropped
on to lean-to roof, and reached the
ground.
They were at the back of the house
in some deserted news, and rapidity
of movement was clearly. indicated.
Already crowd was hurrying to the
scene Of the explosion, and slipping
quietly out of the dark alley, they
Joined in themselves
go home, Ted" said Drummond
II must get the Others"
fright, old man." He made no de-
muir, but just vanished quietly, while
his leader slouched on toward the
front door of Green street. The po-
lice were already beating on it, while
a large knot of interested spectators
giving gratuitous advice stood around
them. And in the crowd Drummond
could see six Of his gang, six anxious
men who had determined-police or
no police-to get upstairs and see
what had happened. In one and all
their minds was sickening fear, that
the man they followed had at last bit.
ten off more than he could chew
that they'd find him blown to pieces
in the mysterious room upstairs.
And then, quite clear and distinct
above the excited comments of the
crowd, came the hooting of an owl.
A strange sound to hear in Lon
don street, but no one paid any atten-
ton. Other more engrossing matters
were on hand, more engrossing that
is to all except the six men who in
simultaneously swung half round as
they heard it. For just a second they
had a glimpse of huge figure stand
ing in the light of a lamp post on the
other side of the street-then it dis
appeared. And with astonishing celer-
ity they followed its example. Who
ever had been hurt it was not Drum
mond; and that, at the moment, was
all they were concerned with.
BY devious routes they left the
scene of the explosion-each with the
same goal in his mind. And within an
hour six young men, shorn of all dis
guise and clad in immaculate evening
clothes, were admitted to Drummond's
house in Brook street by a somewhat
sleepy Denny.
They found Hugh arrayed in a gor-
geous dressing gown with large
tankard Of beer beside him, and. his
wife sitting on the arm of his chair.
"What happened. old lad?" asked
Peter Darrell.
Il got handed the frozen mitten.
asked for bread, and they put across
a half-brick. To be absolutely accur-
ate we got into the room all right. and
having got in we found we couldn't
get out. Then some one switched on
the light and bunged a bomb at US
through a hole in the door. Quite
O.. K, old girl"-he put reassuring
arm round Phyllis waist-"I think
we'd be still there if they hadn't"
"Is Ted all right?" asked Toby Sim
clair.
Eyes. Ted's all right. Got young
load of bricks in his back when the
ceiling came down-but he's all right.
It's>the other poor devil-Ginger Mar
tin" His face was grim and stern. and
the others waited in silence for him to
continue.
"There was big desk in the room,
and the bomb fell on one side of it.
Ted and l gave our well-known imper-
sonation of an earthwOrm on the
other, which saved us. Unfortunately
Ginger Martin elected to run round in
small circles and curse. And he will
curse no more"
"Dead?" Peter Darrell's voice was
low.
"Very," answered Drummond quiet
ly. 'The poor Brighter was blown to
pieces. If he'd done what I told him
he wouldn't have been, but that's be-
side the point. He was working for
me, and he was killed while he was
doing so. And l don't like that hap
pening."
"What do you propose to doy' de
manded Jerry Seymour.