Evening star., 1927-11-16

gruff1y. Il didn't hear it myself, but
If shot was fired it's fairly obvious
by now that it wasn't fired up here!
What are you standing around like
pack Of sheep for?"
''That's what 1 was wondering"
said Capt. Francis Newcombe softly to
himself-and joined the now concerted
rush down the stairway.
Lights were going on all over the
house now, and the man servants be-
gan to appear. The rush scurried
from one room to another. A cry
went up from some one ahead. 1t
turned the rush into the dining room,
and there, in their motley garb, cho-
rusing excited exclamations, the crowd
surrounded the two gagged and bound
\ guards.
y. Then some one else shouted from
< the pantry that the metal chest had
. been broken open and that the gold
! service was gone. There was another
8 rush in that direction. Capt. Francis
e Newcombe accompanied the rush. On
= the floor lay revolver. The eX-cap-
= tain of territorials picked it up.
{. Hello he CALCULATED. Its rather
s queer this has been left behind-or
8. perhaps it belongs to one of the two
out there in the dining room"
*No, SIR" said one of the servants
!. at his elbow. Its the earps sir.
I, I'd know it anywhere. And, begging
: your pardon, sir, it's bit strange that
IS he hasn't been seen since"
a Here he is"' cried a voice from be-
pond the farther pantry door, Here,
: lend q hand The earl'S been hurt"
= Capt. Francis Newcombe aiding, the
y earl was carried back to the dining
: room and restoratives hastily applied.
7 Here the man in livery, released now,
4 his voice weak and unsteady, was tell
]. ing his story His companion was
= still unconscious.
= :" Gawd knows the man
+ was saying, I'VE was in the pantry.
I and Brown there e card sound out
! ERE in the dining room. And e gets
up and pushes the swinging door open
+ and goes through, and minute later
4 ears what l thinks is i'm calling me.
= "Ere, quick. Johnson" e SAYS. And
. / goes through the door and something
4 bashes we over the cad and / goes
:, out What 'appened, though, is IS
r. clear as daylight now. Brown goes
8 through the door and gets 1t on the
'ead. and l goes through the door and
s gets it on the cad. And it WASH t
s Brown as called to me; it was the
4 bliehter that did US in, and"
.
3 "Im all right. I tell you" he in
& sisted weakly. There were two Of
Il them one behind the door
. knocked the revolver out of NY hand
as I fired and smashed me over the
4 head with something bags,
7 travelling bags for the plate d.
that's the way they're carrying it
q. . L"
II The earl's voice trailed off.
" minutes ago. then" said the man with
the gruff voice, for they were there
fore in the house when the shot was
fired. They can't have got very Ear
+. carrying that load. Quick, now.
: Wen search the park
Z But they wouldn't attempt to carry
1t very far, anyway" objected some
/, one. They'd have motor of course.
Exactly" retorted the other. But
. not near enough to the house to be
heard. Did any one hear a motor
after that shot was fired? Of course
not. We may get them before they
= get their motor. Also We'll use a
motor, too. Any one of the chauffeurs
e heye?"
= Yes. sir" answered man.
, Good. ANY one armed?"
"I've got the earl's revolver" said
Capt. Francis Newcombe.
ell, there the gunrOom, SAID
the man who 41ad assumed command
/, And you servants get lanterns and
l.. things. Loolslively now! Sharp's the
word"
And for some reason Capt Francis
: Newcombe smiled srim.y to himself as
he attached his person TO the chauf
eeur. and, accompanied by three ether
: pajama clad guests. raced from the
b house.
At the garage Capt. Francis New
- conbe appropriated the front seat be
a.. side the chauffeur, his fellow guests
{. scrambling into the toEneau, and a
- moment later the big car shot around
a. the end Of the house and began to
6 sweep down the driveway. The ex
: captain Of territorials screwed around
. In his seat for a backward glance as
they tore along. Every window in the
/. great rambling, castlelike edifice s.p
> peared to be alight. This caused a
, filrny, lighted zone without. an6
through this raced ghostly figures ir
!. bath robes and dressing gowns that
were almost instantly swallowed up ir
Z. tke shadows Of the trees. And from