Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1936-04-09

Synthetic
By 81
CLAIMING d
POLLOCK 81
Oopynght. ChsnnIns Pollock =
wNu Service ~
CHAPTER l
Oopynght. Ch>nnIng Pollock
WNU Service

Inc mouse $1,000 dlOuc Oh u sduu-
dune overlooking the s~ea-dark, de
serted, and silent, except for the swish
Of the rain blowing against Its shingles.
Wet to his skin, and shivering. the
Duke struggled to pry open a window.
From his dank Goa pocket, the Duke
drew a cheap ~jackknife and a tiny
searchlight. With these In his hands.
he turned to look toward the highway.
1t was Invisible, two hundred yards
from the porch on which he stood,
winding over and around and about
these dunes.
The Dukes thumb pressed the but
ton, and, momentarily, the ray revealed
waving wet beach-grass, and a single
scrub pine bent in the wind. Then,
carefully, he began cutting away the
dry putty that held a pane Of glass. 1t
was slow work. why don't ! break
the damned thing7" the Duke asked
himself, and, a minute later. felt the
unshattered glass drop into his hand.
1t was easy to open the window,
then, and easy for a slim and agile
man to climb through. Once inside the
house, he paused. Would the electric
lights be working, and would 1t be
safe to turn them ONT Why mott Half
the summer residences In Southampton
had been opened for the season. Even
al observant passer-by-if there were
to be one-would think a brightly light
ed room less remarkable than q furtive
ray. The Duke touched a switch his
searchlight had disclosed beside a
door.
It was exactly the sort Of he
had expected luxurious breakfast
room In a luxurious summer residence.
Most Of the furniture was covered, but
q gay breakfast table stood In the CEN
ter, and, beyond 1t, was an open door
to a pantry. The Duke walked through,
and into the kitchen, turning on lights
as he went. "Guess they're going to
open the house pretty soon. After all,
why should they mind an extra week
end guest7"
He grinned, and anyone who had
seen that grin might have found 1t
hard to mind. 1t was an ingratiating
grin, In a pleasant, likeable face. A
lean face, weather-beaten and a little
honey, but with large, kind, s~teel-gray
eyes. surmounted by a thatch Of un-
ruly brick-red hair. The Dukes trim
figure stretched a tidy six feet above
the worn soles of his untidy boots, but
his gray suit, though worn, too. and
wet, was well cut and well made, re-
vealing square shoulders and firm
muscles.
wonder If there's any grub" said
the Duke.
All the kitchen shelves bore bright
colored tin boxes, with bright letter
ing. but they were empty. The bread
box was empty, of course; no use open
ing that. But above the shelves was
4 cupboard, and In that cupboard were
rows of canned things-each can neat
ly wrapped in paper-sardines, an
chovies, caviar, chicken, ham, tongue
all sorts of things. "Hospitable peo-
pie" said the Duke. II wonder where
they keep the coffee"
Thirty minutes later, His Grace had
dined sustainingly, II not well. Half
the contents of the pot Of coffee still
bubbling on the stove had warmed him
comfortably, and he washed the dishes.
Then he put everything back in place,
turned out the lights, and. whistling
merrily, went upstairs.
At the top of the steps was 4 kind
Of Mbrary-book-lined, with doors on
either side, and, at Its end, windows
facing the sea. Even through the black
ness, the intruder could discern the al
most luminous white Of breaking
waves.
Again, he touched a switch, and, this
time, lights sprang into being In shaded
table-lamps, doubly shaded now by win
ter wrappings. A fire had been laid In
the CRATE. He lit the IRE, and a cigar,
and then opened a door on his right.
This was a mans room, gracious and
inviting. The Duke felt the mattress
drawn back over the footboard Of the
bed, and, smiling a pungent odor Of
cedar and camphor, turned his atten-
ton to a closet across the room. A
very large closet, with an electric light
In 1t, and built-in drawers, and a cedar
chest. Atop the chest were two pairs
Of slippers, and above 1t hung the only
garment visible, a blue-striped dressing
gown Of soft, light flannel. His own
apparel still clInging damply, the Duke
took the dressing gown and slippers
back to the blazing fire, and, standing
luxuriously before 1t, changed his
clothes.
Still neat, he carried the gray suit
and the wet undergarments back to the
bedroom, folded the trousers carefully.
and laid them on the box-spring. With
m hand, he flung the mattress Into
place over them.
He returned to the fire, stretching
himself lazily In 4 huge, over-stured
chair. Outside, the storm was growing
steadily worse. Wind-fung against the
windows. the rain kept up Its incessant
swish A little puddle formed on one
Of the stills. The Duke mopped 1t up
with an old cloth that had been spread