Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-12-24
CHAPTER XIII
sR Which Things Happen at
Maybrick Hall.

been Wen AS it was, at the very mo-
ment when Drummond's crashing blow
t0oS him on the point of the jaw with
mathematical precision, another mathe-
NAUTICAL law began to operate else
where-the law of gravity. Something
fell from ceiling onto a table in the
room below that ceiling, even as in
days gone by an apple descended into
che eye Of the discoverer Of that law.
The two men seated in the room be-
low the ceiling in question failed to
notice it at first.
Itcn one stared upward and gave
attic cry of horror. Slowly spreading
ever the white plaster was great
crimson stain, whilst from a crack in
she middle the steady drip fell onto
the table
There's been murder done," he
shouted hoarsely and dashed out of the
Room. Doors were flung open, and half
D dozen men rushed up the stairs after
aim. There was no doubt which the
Ho0m was. and headed by YulowslSi
they crowded in-only to stop and
stare at what lay on the floor.
IT'S the Greek" muttered one of
them. He was guarding the girl.
And someone has severed the main
artery IN his arm"
With one accord they dashed across
the passage to the room where Phyllis
had been. In a second the door was
broken in, and they saw the uncOn-
scious Italian lying on the bed.
THE Black Gang" muttered some
one fearfully, and Yulowski cursed him
for cowardly swiae. And it was his
h0arse voice that Drummond heard
ash0Iting for the power to be switched
OF, as he turned and darted across the
5S,vn.
Completely ignorant of what had
taken place, he was just as ignorant
OF what was meant by switching on the
power. His one thought now was to
get away with Phyllis. A start meant
everything, and at the best he couldn't
hope for long one. With his arm
through hers he urged her forward,
while behind him he heard a confused
shouting which gradually died away
AANNA bAC pei VI SOluC-
one who seemed to be in command.
And almost subconsciously he noticed
that the thudding noise had ceased;
only the faint humming of the engine
broke the silence.
Suddenly in front of him he saw
the fence which had caused him to
wonder earlier in the evening. He was
nh
pened-the amazing and at the me-
ment inexplicable thing. For months
after he used to wake in the night and
lie sweating with horror at the near
ness of the escape. For it would have
been Phyllis who would have gone
through first; it would have been
Phyllis, who But it did happen
just in time.
He saw dark shape dart across the
open toward the fence an animal car
rying something in its mouth. 1t
reached the fence, and the next in
stant it bounded an incredible height
in the air. only to fall backward onto
the ground and lie motionless almost
ut Drummond's feet. 1t was so utterly
unexpected that he paused instructive
ly and stared at it. 1t was a fox, and
the fowl it had been carrying lay
yard away. 1t lay there rigid and
motionless, and completely bewildered
he bent and touched it, only to draw
back his hand as If he'd been stung.
A sharp stabbing pain shot up his
arm, as if he'd had an electric shock
and suddenly he understood and
with cry of fear he dragged Phyllis
back just in time.
The fox had been electrocuted.
That was what the man had meant
by shouting for the power to be
switched on. And as he stood there
still clutching Phyllis arm, and shaken
for the moment out of his usual calm,
there came from the direction of the
house, the deep-throated baying of
big hound.
"What is it, Hugh" said Phyllis in
an. agonized whisper.
With terrified eyes she was staring
at the body Of the fox, stiff and rigid
in death, and with its jaws parted in
AideOus snarl
Then suddenly she realized that her
husband was speaking-quietIy, in
gistently. 1--WE can't climb through
the fence, DEAR" he was saying calmly.
''You see they've switched an electric
current through the wires, and if you
touch one you'll be electrocuted. So
I'm going to throw you over the top"
In an agony of fear she chung to
him for a moment: then as she saw
mis- quiet, set face she pulled herself
together and smiled There was no
time for argument now: there was no
time for anything except instant ac-
tiOn. And being thoroughbred, she
was not going to hinder him by any
weakness on her part. OF fear for
herself she felt no trace: her faith and
trust in her husband was absolute.
And so she stood there silently waiting
while he measured height and distance
with his eye.
Come. DEAR" he said after a mo-
ments pause. "Put your knees close
up to your chin, and try and keep like
= ball until you feel yourself falling"
She doubled herself up and he
picked her up. One hand held both
her feet-the other gripped the waist
band at the back of her skirt. Once
he lifted her above his head to the full