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


Drills head came cautiously in at
the window. He glanced around.
frowned. and climbed in. He stared
at the ~disarranged furniture, at the
overturned chair, ut the broken tea
cup on the ground. His frown deep
ened.
Il told you to waiti" 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
dived back into the kitchen, and
frankly shut himself up in the cup
board. He heard Brill enter the
kitchen after him. and endured ten
horrible seconds. during each one OF
which he expected the cupboard
door 70 be pulled open: but appar-
entity Brill satisfied himself with A
superficial investigation or the room
Tor 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 somebody
had been here"
Somebody has been here. I'm
quite aware of that. The question
I'm trying to decide IS whether
they're people we would like 10 be
here. or mott"
People we would like to be here?'
queried the professor. What do you
mean? Only you and I 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. Mr.. Cunningham.
As a rule. you and I are the only
people who come here. Yes. GER
tainly. But our little business Is near
completion now. is it not? and. that
being SO. 1 am taking certain addi-
tional precautions. One Of those,
you already know"
yes. damn you. sir, i KNOW
burst out the professor. you have
stolen my daughter. And If you do
not give her back TO me-
Would you mind speaking a little
less loudly?" suggested Brill, with q
menacing note III his voice. Il fulfill
my compact. and return her to you,
if you fulfill yours. If you fail In
yours-and you may fail. IL you at
tract people we don't want TO this
house-you shall certainly not get
your daughter back. Is that clear?
And 7 may remind you. Mr. Cum
ningham. that IL you attempt "a
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
Won serve-then I suppose I am a
devil in your eyes. That Is the rule
of the world, is it not? However
we won't 60 into ethics. Perhaps
your own aren't spotless. because. In
our first days together, you were
quite willing 10 serve my master, toe
for a consideration"
only because + was In debt-you
know that"
"Yes. 1 knew that. But. I did not
get O into debt. Mr.. Cunningham
Complete your job. and you shall
receive your recompense-and your
daughter. And remember, that Il
YOU hadn't weakened and tried tc
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. mt last
Would I let you know that? But
she Is in safe custody. And now LEI
me tell YOU of another ~precaution ]
have taken. It occurred to me. wher