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About Dakota County herald. (Dakota City, Neb.) 1891-1965 | View Entire Issue (July 7, 1921)
vs. DAKOTA COUNTY HERALD I ) s l I 4 It 1 ViVVVVVVVVMWVVVVViV Bull-Dog Drummond The Adventures of a Demobilized Officer Who Found Peace Dull VVVWVWWVWVV'VVWVVVk'VB CHAPTER VII -Continued. Hugh bowed gravely. "My only re ret is that It failed to function," lie remarked. "As I told you outside, I'd quite forgotten your menagerie. In fact" his glance wandered slowly and somewhat pointedly from face to face at tlie tabic "I bad no idea It was such a large one." "So this is the insolent young swine, Is it?" The bloodshot eyes of the man with the scarred face turned on him Tnoroscly. "What I cannot understand Is why he hasn't been killed by now." Hugh waggled an accusing linger at i tlin. "I knew you were a nasty man ns soon as I saw you. Now look at Hen ry tip at the end of the table; he doesn't say thnt sort of thing. And you do hate me, don't you, Henry? How's the jaw?" "Captain Drunimond," said Laklng ton. Ignoring Hugh and addressing the 'first speaker, "was very nearly killed last night. I thought for some time tas to whether I would or not, but 1 Bnally decided It would be much too easy a death. So It can be remedied tonight." If Hugh felt a momentary twinge of Tear at the calm, expressionless tone, and the half-satistk'd grunt which greeted the words, no trace of it Showed on his face. Already the realization had come to him that If he got through the night alive he would he more than passing lucky, but he was too much of a fatalist to let that worry him unduly. So he merely stilled a yawn, and again turned to Laklngton. "So it was you, my little one, whose fairy face I saw pressed against the window. Would It be indiscreet to ask how you got the dope Into us?" Laklngton looked at him with an ex pression of grim satisfaction on his lace. "You were gass'ed, if you want to know. An admirable Invention of my friend Kauffner's nation." A . guttural chuckle came from one A of the men, and Hugh looked at him jf grimly. "The scum certainly wotila not be complete," lie remarked to Peterson, "without a filthy Hoche In It." The German pushed back Ills chair with an oath, his face purple with passion. "A filthy IJoche," he muttered thick- ' 4" lj'i lurching toward Hugh. "Hold him the arms of, and I will the throat tear out. ..." It all happened so quickly. At one moment Hugh was apparently intent upon selecting a cigarette, the next instant the case had fallen to the lloor; -there was a dull, heavy thud, nnd the Hoche crashed back, over turned a chair, and fell like a log to the lloor, his head hitting the wall with n vicious crack. The bloodshot being resumed his seat a little limply. Hugh resumed his search for a cigarette. "After which breezy interlude," re marked Peterson, "let us to business get." Hugh paused In the act of striking ' ryCMf ' "'Kill Him Now Throw Him In a Cor ner and Let Us Proceed." n match, and for the first time a gen uine smile spread over his face. There are moments, Peterson," he murmured, "when you really appeal to me." Peterson took the empty chair next to Laklngton. "Sit down," he said shortly. "I can only hope that I shall appeal to you Htlll more before we kill you," Hugh bowed and sat down. "Consideration," he murmured, "was always your strong point. May I ask how long I have to live?" Peterson smiled genially, "At the earnest request of Mr. Lak lngton you are to be spared until to morrow. At least, that Is our present InttnOou. Of curi, there might be CsSsj Am Wkxmwm an accident In the night; In a house like this one never can tell. Or" he carefully cut the end off a cigar "you might go mad, In which case we shouldn't bother to kill you. In fact, If you go mail, we shall not be dis pleased." Once attain he smiled genially. "As L fluid before. In a house like this, you can never tell. . . " The Intimidated rabbit, breathing heavily, was staring at Hugh fascln nted ; anf after a moment Hugh turned to liliu with a courteous bow. "Laddie," he remarked, "you've been eating onions. Do you mind deflecting the blast in the opposite direction?" Ills calm Imperturbability seemed to madden Laklngton. "You wait," he snarled thickly ; "you wait till I've finished with you. You won't be so d d humorous then. . . ." Hugh regarded the speaker languid ly. "Your supposition is more than prob able," he remarked, In a bored voice. "I shall be too intent on getting into a Turkish bath to remove the contam ination to think of laughing." Slowly Laklngton sank back In hts chair, a hard, merciless smile on his lips; and for n moment or two there was silence In the room. It was broken by the unkempt man on the sofa, who, without warning, exploded unexpected ly. "A truce to 'all this fooling," be burst forth In a deep rumble; "I con fess I do not understand It. Are we ussembled here tonight, comrades, to listen to private quarrels and stupid talk?" A murmur of approval came from the others, and the speaker stood up waving his arms. "1 know not what this young man has done : I care less, in Russia such trifles matter not. He has the appear ance of a bourgeois, therefore he must die. Did we not kill thousands aye, tens'of thousands of his kidney, before we obtained the great freedom? Are we not going to do the same In tills accursed country? Kill him now throw him In a corner nnd let us pro ceed." He sat down, amidst a murmur of approval, In which Hugh Joined heart ily. "Splendid," he murmured. "A mag nificent peroration. Am I right, sir, in assuming that you are what is vul garly known as a Bolshevist?" The man turned his sunken eyes, glowing with the burning fires of fanat icism, on Druininond. "I am one of those who are fighting for the freedom of the world," be cried harshly, "for the right to live of the proletariat." lie Hung out his arms wildly. "It is freedom ; It is the dawn of the new nge." Hugh looked at him with genuine curiosity; It was the first time he had actually met one of these wild vision aries In the llesh. And then the curi osity was succeeded by a very definite amazement: what hnd Peterson to do with such as'he? For the moment his own deadly risk was forgotten: a growing excitement filled his mind. Could It he possible that here, at last, was the real object of the gang; could it be possible that Peterson was organizing a deliberate plot to try and llolshevize Kngland? He looked up to find Peterson regard ing him with a faint smile. "It is a little difficult to understand, Isn't It, Captain Drunimond?" he said, carefully flicking the ash off his cigar "I told you you'd find yourself In deep water." Then he resumed the contem plation of the papers In front of him. Hugh half closed his eyes, while a general buzz of conversation broke out round the table. Fragments of conversation struck his ears from time to time. The Intimi dated rabbit, with the light of battle In his watery eye, was declaiming on the glories of workmen's coimc's; a bullet-beaded man was shouting an In- i spiring battle cry about no starvation wages and work for all. "Can It be possible," thought Hugh, grimly, "that such as thce have the power to control big destinies?" And then, because he had some experience of what one unbalanced brain, whose owner could talk, was capable of uchlelng; because he knew something about mob psychology, his half con temptuous amiibcment changed to a bitter foreboding. "You fool!" he cried suddenly to the Husslan ; and everyone ceased talk ing. "You poor d d boob ! You and your new earth I In Petrograd today bread Is two pounds four shillings a pound ; tea, fifteen pound a pound. Do you call that freedom?" He gave a contemptuous laugh. Too surprised to speak, the Rus sian sat staring at hlin; and It was Peterson who broke the silence with his suave voice. "Your distress, I am glad to say, Is not likely to be one of long dura tion," bo remarked. "In fact, the time has come for you to retire for the night, my young friend." Ho stood up smiling; then he walked over to the bell behind Hugh and rang It. "Dead or mad I wonder which." He threw the end of his, cigar Into the grate as Hugh rose. "While we deliberate down here on rarlnus mat IS By Cyril McNeile "Sapper" .Copyright by Geo. II. Doran Co. ters of Importance we shall be think ing of you upstairs that Is to say, if you get there. I see that Laklngton Is even now beginning to gloat In pleasant anticipation." Not a muscle on the soldier's face twitched; not by the hint of a look did he show the keenly watching au dience that he realized his danger. Laklngton's face was merciless, with Its fiendish look of anticipation, and Hugh stared at him with level eyes for a while before he turned toward the door. "Then I will say 'Good night,"' he remarked casually. "Is It tio same room that I had last time?" "No," said Peterson. "A different one specially prepared for you. If you get to the top of the stairs a. man He Opened the Door and Stood There Smiling. will show you where It Is." Ho opened the door and stood there smiling. And at that moment all the lights went out. TWO. The dnrkness could be felt, as real darkness Inside a bouse always can be felt. Not the faintest glimmer even of greyness showed anywhere, nnd Hugh remained motionless, won dering what the next move was going to be. Now that the night's ordeal had commenced, all his nerve had re turned to him. He felt Ice-cold; and as his powerful hands clenched nnd unclenched by his sides, ho grinned faintly to himself. Then very cau tiously he commenced to feel his way toward the door. At that moment someone brushed past bin). Like a flash Hugh's hand shot out and gripped him by the arm. The man wriggled and twisted, but he was powerless as a child, and with another short laugh Hugh found his throat with his other hand. And again silence settled on the room . . . Still holding the unknown man In front of him, he reached the foot of tin? stairs, and there be paused. He had suddenly remembered, the mys terious thing which bad whizzed past his bead that other night, and then clanged suddenly Into the wnll beside him. He had gone up five stairs when It hail happened, mid now with his foot on the first, he started to do some rapid thinking. If, as Peterson had kindly assured him, they proposed to try and snd him mad, It was unlikely that they would kill Iilm on the stairs. At flic same time It was obviously an Imple ment capable of accurate adjustment, and therefore It was more than likely thnt they would use It to frighten him. And If they did If they did . . . The unknown man wriggled feebly In his bands, and a sudden unholy look came on to Hugh's face. "It's the only possible chance," he said to himself, "and If It's you or me, laddie, I guess It's got to be you," With a quick heave be Jerked the man oft his feet, anil lifted him up till his head was nbove the level of bis own. Then clutching him tight, he commenced to climb. Ills own head was bent down, somewhere In the region of the man's back, and be took no notice of the feebly kick ing legs. Then at last ho reached the fourth slep, ami gave a final adjustment to his semi-conscious burden. He pressed his bead even lower In the man's hack, and lifted him up another three Inches. "How awfully Jolly I" ho murmured, "I hope the result will plense you." "I'd stand quite still If I were yon," said Peterson suavely. "Just listen." As Hugh had gambled on, the per formance was designed to frighten. Instead of thnt, something hit the neck of the man he wuv holding with such force (hnt It wrenched htm clean I ,i5t Nlgif out of hv arms. Then enme the clnng beside hint, and with n series of ominous thuds a body rolled down the stairs Into tho hall below. "You fool." He heard Laklngton's voice, shrill with anger. "You've killed hlin. Switch on the light . . ." lint before the order could be car ried out Hugh had disappeared, like a great cat, Into the darkness of the passage above. As luck would have It the first room he darted Into was empty, and he Hung up the window ami peered out. ' A faint, watery moon showed hlin n twenty.foot drop onto the grass, and without hesitation he flung tils legs over the sill. And at that mo ment something prompted hlin to look upward. It was a dormer window, nnd to an active man access .to the roof was easy. Without an Instant's hesitation he abandoned all thoughts of retreat; and when two excited men rushed In to the room he was firmly ensconced, with his legs astride of the ridge of the whitlow, not a yard from their heads. Securely hidden In the shadow, ho watched the subsequent proceedings with genial toleration. A raucous bel low from the two men announced that they had discovered his line of escape; and, In half a minute the garden was full of hurrying figures. One, calm and Impassive, his Identity betrayed only by the Inevitable cigar, stood by the garden door, apparently taking no part In the game; Lnklng ton, blind with fury, was running round In small circles, cursing every one Impartially. "The car Is still there." A man came up to Peterson, and Hugh heard the words distinctly. s "Then he's probably over at Pon ton's house. I will go and see." Hugh watched the thick-sot, mas sive figure stroll down toward the wicket gate, and lie laughed gently to himself. Then he grew serious again, and with a slight frown he pulled out his watch and peered at It. Half-past one . . . two moro hours before dawn. And In those two hours he wanted to explore the house from on top; especlally.be wanted to have a look at the mysterious central room of which Phyllis had spoken to hlin tho room where Laklngton kept Ills treasures. Hut until the excited throng below went Indoors, It was unsafe to move. Once out of the shadow, any one would be able to see him crawling over the roof In the moonlight. At times the thought of the help less man for whose death he had In one way been responsible recurred to him, but he shook his head angrily. It hnd been necessnry, he reallzec): you can carry someone iU'talrs " hi n normal house "without film having his neck broken but still . . . And then ho wondered who he was, 1$ had been one of the "men who sat round the table of that he was toler ably certain. Hut which . . . ? Wns It the frightened bunny, or the Itus slnn, or the gentleman with (he blood shot eye? The only comfort was that whoever Jt had been the world would mil be appreciably the poorer for his sudden decease. The only regret was that It hadn't been dear Henry. . . . lie had a dlstate for Henry which far exceeded his dislike of Peterson. "He's not over there," Peterson's voice came to him from below. "And we've wasted time enough as It Is." The men had gathered together In a group, just below where Ilugti wns sitting, evidently awaiting further or ders. "Do you mean to say we've lost the young swine again?" said Laklngton angrily. "Not lost merely mislaid," mur mured Peterson. "The more 1 see of li I in the more do I admire bis Initia tive." Laklngton snorted. "It was (hat d d fool Ivolsky's own fault," be snnrled ; "why didn't he keep still as be was told to do?" "Why, Indeed." returned Peterson, his cigar glowing red. "And I'm afraid we shall never know. He Is very dead." lie turned toward the 'That concludes the enter tainment, gentlemen, for tonight. I think you can all go to lied." He disappeared Into the houe, and the others followed slowly. For the time being Hugh was safe, and with a sigh of relief he stretched his cramped limbs and lay back against the sloping roof. If only he had dared to light a cigarette. THREE. It was half an hour before Drum mond decided thnt It was safe lo start exploring. First he tool; off his shoe-, and tjlng the laces together, be slung them aroiuid his neck. Then, as si lently as he could, he commenced to scramble upward. It was not an easy operation; one slip and nothing could have stopped him sliding down and finally crush ing Into the garden below, with, a broken leg, at the very least, for his pain1-. In addition, there was the rNk of dislodging a slate, an unwise procei-dlug In a house where most of fhe occupants slept with one eye open. Hut at last he got his hands over the ridge of the roof, and In another mo ment he was sitting straddlewlse across It. A sudden rattle clove to him made him start violently; only to curse him self for a nervous ass the next mo ment, and lean forward eagerly. One of the blinds had been re-aued from Inside the room, and a pale, diftused light came filtering out Into the night from the side of the glass roof. He wan still craning backward ami tor ward to try and find some chink through which he could see, when, with a kind of uncanny deliberation, one of the paues of class slowly opened. It wan worked on a ratchet from Inside, and Hugh bowed his thnnUa to tho unseen operator below Then he leant forward cautiously, and peered In. . . . The whole room was visible to him, nnd his Jaw tightened as he took In tho scene. In an armchair, smoklna as unconcernedly as ever, sat Peter son. Ho was reading n letter, and occasionally underlining some point with a pencil. Heslde him on a table wns a big ledger, and every now ami then hn would turn over a few pages nnd muke an entry. Hut It was not Peterson on whom the watcher above was concentrating his attention; It was Laklngton, taking a red velvet box out of a drawer In the desk. H opened It lovingly, and Hugh saw the Hash of diamonds. Laklngton let the stones run through his bauds, glitter tug with a thousand tlanies. while Pe terson watched him contemptuously. "Haubles," he said, scornfully. "Pretty baubles. What will you get for them?" "Ten, perhaps fifteen thousand," re turned the other. "Hut It's not the money 1 care about; It's the delight In having them, and the skill required to get them." Peterson shrugged his shoulders. "Skill which would give you hun dreds of thousands If you turned It Into proper channels." Laklngton replaced the stones, nnd threw tho end of his cigarette Into the grate. "Possibly, Carl, quite possibly. Hut It bolls down to this, my friend, mat you like the big canvas with broad effects; I like the miniature and the well-drawn etching." "Which makes us a very happy coin blnatlon," said Peterson. "The pearls, don't forget, are your Job. The big thing" he turned to the other, and a trace of excitement came Into his volet "tho big thing Is mine." The sound of the door opening nindo both men swing round Instantly; then Peterson stepped forward with a smile as Irnia entered. "Hack, my dear. I hardly expected you so soon." " In a few words he told the girl what hud happened, and she clapped her hands together delightedly. "Assuredly I shall have to marry that man," slus cried. "He Is quite the least boring Individual I have met In this atrocious country." She sat down and lit a cigarette. "I saw Wal ter tonight. He came over especially to see you. They want you there for a meeting, at the Ititz." Peterson frowned, "It's most Inconvenient," he re marked with a shade of annoyance In his voice. "Did he say why?" "Among other things I think they're uneasy about the American," she an swered. "My dear man, you can easi ly slip over 'for a day? '"WW .'. "Of course I can," said Peterson Irritably; "but Ibat doesn't alter tin) fact tfiiil lts hiconveulcnt. Tldiiffs will he shortly coming to a head here, and I want to be on the spot. How ever " He started to walk up and down the room, frowning thoughtfully. "Your fish Is hooked, nion null," continued the girl to Laklngton. "Hu has already proposed three times; and he has Introduced me to u dread, fill-looking woman of extremo virtue, who has adopted me as her niece for the great occasion." "What great occasion?" asked Lak lngton. "Why, his coining of age," cried the girl. "I am to go to Laldley Towers as an honored guest of the duchosi of Lanipshlre." She threw buck her bead and laughed, "What no you "Because Dear Freddlt Has Told So," Answered th Girl. think of that, my friend? The old lady will be wearing pearls and all complete, In honor of the great day, and I shall be one of the admiring house party." "How do you know she'll have them In the house?" said Laklngton. "Hecause -dear Freddie has told ma so," answered the girl. She blew two smoke rings and then laughed, "Freddie Is really rather a dear nt times, I don't think I've ever met any one who Is so nearly nn Idiot without being one. Still," she rv pealed thoughtfully, "he's rather a dear." (TO 1113 CONTINIJKD.) The world needs good men mnrfc more than It needs either rich men or great men, Unci Henry' Haying ipijp t KrV CM WOULD GO FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE Tennessee Farmer Wants to Go From House to House anr1 Tell Everybody About Tanlac. "If I wore not so busy with my . arm work I would go from house to house and tell tho people about Tan lac," said A. J. Livingston, a well known farmer, living near Ashland City, Tenn. "1 had stomach and kidney trouble and suffered torment with my back and side. The doctors could do noth ing for me, so I wrote to u friend of mine In Nashville about Tanlac, and ho advised mo to try It, saying he had heard so many favorable reports about It and sent mo a bottle. "After taking the first bottle 1 felt so much better that 1 ordered another bottle myself and the result Is I am a well man. I totd a friend of mine about It and ordered a bottle for hlin and ho had good results. 1 can eat anything I want and it don't hurt me, and can sleep like a log. To tell you the truth, I Just simply feel like a now man and have more strength and en ergy than 1 have had In years. It is simply the grandest medicine In tho world. I would like to see all of my friends and got those who are suffer ing to try It, and I hope you will reach them through tills testimonial, which. 1 have gladly given." Tanlac, the celebrated medicine, which accomplished such remarkable results In this man's case, Is a won derful tonic, appetizer and Invlgorant. It builds up tho system, creates a healthy appetite, promotes digestion and assimilation of the food and makes you feel strong, sturdy and well as nature Intended. Sold by leading druggists every where. Advertisement. Old Ed Howe'a Neighbor. If you want to talk blue talk; busi ness all gone to pot; country facing tho worst time In its history; haven't begun to bee the hard times yet; prices going lower and half the merchants aru going to fall; two-thirds of the farms will be foreclosed, and nil that line of conversation, don't come around and talk It to the Times. In tho first place we don't believe It, and In tho second place It makes us feel bad nnd nervous for a while. Clay Center (Knn.). 'L'll,M;s' . . - - uwJ LADIES CAN WEAR SHOES One lici arnnllor nml walk In comfort T ilslnir AM.ISN'H FOOTnUASIC, the untliep tlo powilcr tor the feet. Shaken Into the tihoe ami jprlnlcled In the foot-bath, Allon'n FootaUnae mnltce tlifht or new nhocn feel easy; gives Inntnnt rollef to corns, tiiinlune and calloused, prevents misters, Cnlloui and Horo Siiote. Around the Clock. " , "Yes, boys," continued tho steep lejack, who was tolling "true" and thrilling stotlos, "yes, I was working a clock lower one afternoon about 12 minutes to (1, when I slipped, slid down the roof nnd caught on the long hand of the clock. There I dangled while the town folks collected below. So I yells to 'em, "Sny, you folks, go homo to your suppers, it'll be close to half an' hour before I drop." Houston Post. Don't Forget Cutlcura Talcum . When adding to your toilet requisites. An exquisitely scented face, skin, baby and dusting powder and perfume, ren dering other perfumes superfluous. You may rely on It because ono of tho Cutlcura Trio (Soap, Ointment anil Talcum). i!5c each everywhere.- Glass Workers Lose Sight. .Many of the workmen In the glass factories of Venice begin to lose their sight after they have passed their for tieth year and soon become totally blind. The Impairment of vision Is caused by the excessive heat and the glare from the glass furnaces. ABLE TO After Long Suffering Mrs. Siefert Was Restored to Health by Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound Pottflvilto, Pa. "I suffered with female trouble for four or five years nnd iimrrKrmmmtwi aa very lrrunuiur. PiUHJjyjm , wa3 n't flt Bt0 do VL Hb! mv work at times anil iook ineuicinu I from n doctor and got no benefit. I saw Lydia E. Pink hain'fl VoKotablo Compound adver tised in the news papera nnd took it and got all right. I gained twenty noundrt or moro and am now nblo to do my work. I recom mend tho Vegetal lo Compound to my friends and you may uso theso factans a testimonial' Mrs. Salub SlKFKT, 31! W. Fourth Street, Pottsvillo, Pa., Tim everyday life of many housewives is n continual struBKlo with wenknesa ojiU pain. Thero is nothing moro wear ing than tho ceaseless round of house hold duties and thoy become- doubly hard when Borne fcmalo trouble makcBovery bono and muaclo ache, and nerves all on odgo. If you aro ono of these women do not suffer for four or 11 vo yeara s Mrs. Siefert did, but profit by her experkeca and be restored to health by Lydia B. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. DO HERW0RK ! m. m x vOy 5X' &m M tX&m. i. m. h-