Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-22
CHAPTER xLvIII

Rupert turned 20 Joscelyn. With
deeper love than ne had ever felt
In his heart. he spoke to her fiercely.
"Go!" he shouted. do you
hear? We've got three minutes"
Then don't waste them. Rupert"
she answered, with a sudden smile.
DO you think life could ever mean
anything to Miss Cunningham and
me If we deserted you and your
friend now-after the way you've
both stuck to us?" She shook her
head. Lets try and lift him to-
eether-and get him as far away
from here as we CAM"
And then. round a corner. a large
form suddenly shot into view.
Miss Merlowel" exclaimed the
newcomer. pausing and staring.
JoScelyn stared back.
"Mr. JarvisI" she gasped. her
face suddenly becoming Illuminated
with inexpreSsible relief. Quick"
she cried. Don't ask questions.
Lift this man. and carry him out.
We must be out of this in two min
utes-out OF Coomber House-as far
from II as possible"
Jarvis knew his Job. He knew
when to ask questions, and when
TO postpone the asking. Before she
had finished speaking. he had
sprung forward and had begun to
lift Charlie on his back. and In ten
seconds he had completed the task.
Go back!" he shouted to the
constable. who had abruptly added
his startled form to the company.
Get out Of the house quickl The
lot Of you. And out into the laneI"
The constable needed no more.
He led n race which he subsequent
ly described as the queerest ne had
ever known, or ever hoped to know.
He tripped and stumbled through
dark passages. and scampered up
stairA with a crowd of breathless
folk after him, and he hadn't the
slightest idea what he was running
from. Even when he was back in
the hall of Coomber House. and
was shouting to all and sundry TO
leave II, he was totally ignorant Of
the cause or the trouble. So were
all the other constables who fled
with him.
But when they actually reached
the lane. the mystery was revealed.
An explosion. the sound of which
exceeded anything within the con-
stables previous experience. sud-
denly rent the air. Coomber House
shook, tottered and fell. And all
along the countryside. as far as the
old mine hill. the thunder of the
explosion reverberated. and the
land opened. yawned and belched.
100 ses there's no earthquakes
in northumberland" demanded
the constable that night.
Another man listened 20 the
earthquake, and viewed its results
with considerable interest He was
q tall, rather stately. rather mill
tary-looking foreigner. and Brown
bumped into him as he was escap-
ing along the lane.
"what Is happenirg7" asked the
foreigner.
Browns reply may have been
inju6icious, for IL countered the
prevailing impression OF the catas-
trophe: but he vas In a frenzy OF
emotion when the question was put
to him. and was not in q mood for
sagacity.
"A damn skunk's been blown up!'
he answered.
The foreigners interest was not
decreased by this picturesque state
ment. He stared nc Brown rather
searrhingly for n moment. then put
N second question.
was the damn skunk's name
Simon Brill. by any chance?" ne
queried.
Now ft was Brown who stared.
That's right" me- answered. ISL
mon Bril- why. did you know
him."
The foreign smiled family.
II had . little business 20 COM