Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-14
CHAPTER XII

Brill's head came cautiously in at
the window. He glanced around,
frowned. and climbed in. He stared
at the ~disarranged furniture. at the
overturned chair. at the broken tea
cup on the ground. His frown deep
ened.
II told you 10 watt" he snapped
suddenly, as the professor began TO
climb through after MIN.
Am ! TO get soaked?' retorted the
professor rebelliouSly.
Brill gave an angry exclamation,
and moved swiftly around the hall
As he neared the passage. Charlie
diyed back into the kitchen, and
frankly shut himself up in the cum
board. He heard Brill enter the
Kitchen after him. and endured ten
horrible seconds. during each one OF
which he expected the cupboard
door TO be pulled open: but appar-
emily Brill satisfied himself with 4
superficial investigation OF the room
for after his steps made a single
slow tour around the table. they
returned to the kitchen door.
There they paused. The professor
had come along the passage. still in
a state OF grumbling inquiry.
What are you doing?" came the
professors anxious voice. rs any
thing wrong?"
You saw the state Of The hall
didn't you?' Brill's voice snapped
back.
1T looked as though somebod,
had been here"
Somebody has been here. Tn
quite aware of that. The question
I'm trying to decide Is whether
they're people we would like to be
here. or mott"
People we would like 10 be here7'
queried the professor. What do YOU
mean? Only YOU and l come here
don't we?"
There was a short silence. The
question was one evidently requir-
ing a careful answer When the
careful answer had been decided on,
Brill said:
Listen to me. MI. Cunningham
As a rule. YOU and I are the only
people who come here. Yes. ter
tainly. But our little business is near
completion now. Is II not? and. that
DeinE So. 7 am taking certain addi-
tional precautions. One OF those
you already know"
Yes. damn you sir. I knowlT
burst cut the professor. you have
stolen my daughter. And If you dc
not give her back 10 me-
Would you mind speaking q little
less loudly?" suggested Brill. with ?
menacing note in his voice II fulfil
nv compact. and return her TO you
II you fulfill yours. If you fail In
yours-and you may fail, II you al
tract people VIC don't want 70 TINS
house-you shall certainly not get
your daughter back. Is that clcarl
And I may remind YOU. Mr.. Cum
nincham. that II you attempt %
harm me. your daughters last
chance has gone"
You're a devil. Mr.. Brill. II ever
there was one" muttered the pro-
fessor. desperately.
Il serve my master" replied Brill
now speaking more quietly. land II
the master I serve is not the master
vou serve-then I suppose l am a
devil in your eyes. That is the rule
of the world. is it not? However
we won't 20 into ethics. Perhaps
your own aren't spotless. because, III
our first days together. you were
quite willing TO serve my master, toe
for a consideration
only because I was in deht-you
know that
Yes. / knew that. But. ! did not
Get YOU into debt. Mr.. Cunningham
Complete your job. and you shall
receive your recompense-and your
daughter. And remember. that 4
YOU hadn't weakened and tried *
back out at the eleventh hour
would not have had to apply pres
sure, and your daughter would have
been quietly sitting In her garden
now. at this moment. instead-well
OF being somewhere else
Again there was a short silence
Brill was preparing another careful
answer.
That Is a foolish question. Mr.
Cunningham he said. nc last
Would I let you know that7 But
she Is In safe custody. And now LEI
me tell YOU ar another precautinn
have taken. II occurred TO me, wher