Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-12
BY'J.JEFFERSoN FARJEoN

somehow commanded Charles re-
spect.
grunted Charlie. Rotten thinking
of that poor FELLOWSHIP out there"
Go on" said Brown, gulping.
But Brown was to receive a worse
shock in a minute. Charlie de-
scribed the events that followed the
discovery of Ted in the ditch. the
conversation with Brill. the subSe-
quent return to Coomber house. the
finding Of the staircase door open.
and the passing through that door
of Brill. Rupert and Joscelyn, just
before he was knocked out.
Browns eyes grew big with hor-
ror.
You mean-she went down
there?" he gasped.
She did. Brown" answered Char
lie. gravely. And when you saw
Brill at the foot of the stairs. he'd
probably just come up from there"
But the doors locked nowl" cried
Brown.
obviously it's locked nodded
Charlie. 1T was locked when 7 be-
gan to come to, after the blow 7
received"
Didn't you try to open it?" de-
manded Brown. jumping up.
You try TO open a locked door"
retorted Charlie. when you find a
revolver threatening you from a few
yards off. i was ordered to 60 up
stairs, and If I hadn't obeyed that
order. Brown, / wouldn't be talking
to YOU now. The revolver was
pressed into my back all the time
/ was walking along the passage.
Then they bundled me into the
room where you found me. knocked
me out again, the dirty hounds, and
when I came to the second time !
was bound and gagged. / seemed
TO lie there for hours. At last /
managed to roll a bit across the
floor. and then you came-and
here we are. And nov let's get to 1t.
What's our plan?'
Why. to smash that door In, OF
coursel" replied Brown, already at
the kitchen door.
Wait a second, wait a second!'
exclaimed Charlie. Don't be in too
much of a hurry. You won't be
able to smash that door in"
why not?"
Tits not like the door upstairs.
It's made to resist intrudes, that
door is"
We'll. we can try. anyhow. can't
we?" cried Brown. You don't sup
pose I'm going to sit here and twid-
die my thumbs?"
we are neither OF us going 10 sit
here and twiddle our thumbs"
Charlie promised. "All the same.
the situation wants studying. Don't
forget. Rupert is with Miss Marlowe
and don't forget that. since the
storm has abated a little. We shall
certainly be heard smashing away
at the door. and our two sentries
may come in upon us"
If they do, It's two against two"
said Brown.
mo. four against two" Charlie
pointed out. Two men against two
men and two r~evolvers. That's why
I say don't act hastily. We may
come to crude methods in the end,
but can't we hatch something a bit
cleverer? AS far as I can make out.
we've got four p~eople-plus at least
two revolvers-little Ugly Mug. big
Ugly Mug. Brill. and that fellow who
popped his head in at the window
and who went off with Brill. By
the way. what about that fellow
! Do you suppoes he was against US?
He might have been Just a passer-
by"
What's IL matter?v interrupted
Brown. desperately There may be
a thousand against u.s. But all
can think of is that girl down there
and If you haven't got a better plan
I'm going to smash my way through
that door, yes. see II / don't"
"Righto-IIl help" sikhed Char
lie. I'm not sure that we shouldn't
try and establish communication
with the outside world first though
And waste more timer"
Would II waste time? AT the
moment. we know that all the en-
envy are outside. II one of EN- was
down below. IL might be different
And II we start banging On that
door. they'll all come back---be sure
lof that-we shall be overpowered
and we may be doing mere harm