NOItTFI PLATTE STOMT-WEEKLY TRTBUNE.
BULL
The Adventures of a Demobilized
Officer Who Found Peace Dull
CHAPTER XI Continued.
17
"Did I not say," he answered, "tlmt
there was power In the box? But In
the nnnic of thnt power unknown to
you I wnrn you : Do not touch those
pearls till the light lins burned low
In the brazier. If you do they will
disappear never to return. Watch,
hut do not touch!"
Slowly he barked townrd the win
clow, unpcrcelvcd In the general ex
citement; and Hugh dodged rapidly
toward the car. It struck him that
the senncc was over, and he JuHt had
time to sec Laklngton snatch some
thing which appeared to have been
let down by a string from abovo, be
fore turning Into the hushes nnd rue-
"Did I Not Say That There Was Power
In the Box?" He Said Dreamily.
Ing for the car. As It wob he waH
only a second or two In front of tho
other, ntid tho last vision he had
through a break In the trees, before
they were spinning smoothly down tho
deserted road, was an open window In
Lnldlcy Towers from which dense
volumes of vnpor poured steadily out.
Of tho houso party belrind, waiting for
the light to burn low In the brazlei,
ho could see no sign through tho
opaque-wall of green fog.
It took fivo minutes, so he gathered
afterward from a member of tho house
mrty, beforo tho light had burned suf
ficiently low 'for tho duchess to con
sider It safo to touch tho pearls.
In various stages of asphyxiation
tho assembled guests had peered at
tho box, while the cynical comments
of tho men were rightly treated by tho
ladles with tho contempt they de
served. Was tkfs necklace not there,
wrapped In Its gold nnd silver tissue,
whoro n few mlnutus beforo thcro had
been nothing?
"Sonic trick of thnt beastly light,"
remarked tho duko peevishly. "For
, heaven's sake throw tho dam' thing
out of the window,"
"Don't bo a fool, John," retorted
his spouse. "If you could do this sort
of thing, the house of lords might
be somo uso to somebody,"
WJien two minutes Inter they stared
'horror-struck at a row of ordinary
marbles laboriously unwrapped from
u piece of gold and silver tissue, the
dukes pungent agreement with his
wife's sentiment passed uncontrn
dieted. In fact, It Is to be understood
that over tho scene which followed It
was best to draw a decent veil.
THREE.
' Drummond, hunched low over the
wheel, In his endeavor to conceal his
Identity from tho man behind, know
nothing of that at the time. And Laic-
ilugton was far too busy to bother
with the chauffeur.
One snarling curse ns they had
started, for not having done ns he had
been told, was tho total of their con
vorsntlon during tho trip. During the
rest of tho tlrno the transformation
to the normal kept Lnkl;ton busy, and
Hugh could see him rellected In tho
wind-screen removing tlio make-up
from his face, and changing his
clothes.
Even now ho was not quite elenr
how the trick had been worked, That
there had been two cabinets, that was
cieurono false, tho other the real
one. That thoy had been changed at
the crucial moment by tho girl Irmn
was also obvious. Hut how had tho
pearls disappeared lit tho first case,
and then apparently reappeared agalu?
For one thing ho was quite certain
Whatover was Inside tho parcel of
igold nnd silver tissue which, for all
he know, thoy might bo still staring
lat, it was uot tno Historic ncckiaco,
And he was still puzzling it over In
(bis mind when tho car swung Into tho
(drive at Tho Elma.
''Image the wheels as usual,'
hi 'it Laklngton aB he got out, and
DOG DRUMMOND
Hugh bent forward to conceal his face.
"Then report to me In tho central
room."
And out of the corner of his eye
Hugh watched him enter the house
with the Chinese cabinet clasped In
his hnnd. . . .
"Toby," he remarked to that worthy,
whom he found mournfully eating n
ham sandwich In the garage, "Let's
go on the roof."
Silently they both climbed the lad
der which had been placed In readi
ness, to find I'cter Darrell nnd the
American detective already In posi
tion. A brilliant light streamed out
through the glass dome, and the In
side of tho central room was clearly
visible. In the three chairs sat the
motionless, bound figures so swathed
In ropo (hat only the tops of their
heads were visible. Just us Laklngton
hud left htm and Toby and Algy earli
er In the ovonlng. The only moving
thing In the room was the criminal
himself, nnd at the moment he wns
seated at the table with the Chinese
cabinet In front of him. With n quick
turn of his wrist he pried open two
flaps of wood, nnd folded them back
against the side. Then he lifted out
a parcel of gold and sliver tissue from
underneath.
"My lint I" muttered Hugh, "what n
fool' I wus not to think of Itl Just
a falsa bottom actuated by closing
the lid."
But the American, whistling gently
to himself, had his eyes fixed on the
rope of wonderful penrls which Lak
lngton wns holding lovingly In his
hands.
"So ensy, you scum," continued Lnk
Ington, "and you thought to pit your
selves against me" he roso nnd stood
in front of tho chnlr whore ho had
last left Drumm6nd. "Thnt fool of a
chauffeur failed to carry out my or
ders, and create a diversion. You
will sco what hnppens to people who
fall to carry out my orders, In n min
ute. And nfter Unit you'll never see
anything again."
"Sny, bo's u dream that guy," mut
tered the American. "What pearls
aro thoso he's got?"
"Tho duchess of Lnmpshlro's," whis
pered Hugh. "Lifted right under tho
noso of tho whole bnlly houso party."
Tho four watchers on the roof glued
their eyes to tho glass. And the sight
thoy Baw n moment or two afterword
stirred even the phlegmatic Mr. Green.
A heavy door was swinging slowly
opon, apparently of Its own volition,
though Hugh, stealing n quick glance
at Laklngton, saw that ho was press
Ing some small studs In a niche In
ono of tho walls. Then ho looked
back at tho door, and stared dutn
founded. It wns tho mysterious cup-
board of which Phyllis had spoken to
him, but nothing he hnd Imagined from
her words had prepared him for the
reality. It seemed to be literally cram
mod to. overflowing with the most
priceless loot. Gold vessels of fnntas-
tic nnd beautiful shapes littered tho
floor; whllo on tho shelves wero ar
ranged tho most wonderful collection
of precious stones, which shone and
scintillated in the electric light till
their glitter almost blinded the
watchers.
Tho pearls were carefully placed In
n position of honor, nnd for a few
moments Laklngton stood gloating
over his collection.
"Do you seo them, Captain Drum
mond?" ho asked quietly. "Each tiling
obtuiucd by my brain my hands. All
mine minor ms voico rose to a
shout. "And ymi pit your puny wits
ngnlnst mo." With u laugh he crossed
the room, .and once more pressed tho
studs. The door swung slowly to and
ClUMfU WIUIUIU II HUIIIH1, WII1IU llKlllgl
l ...111. 1 .. ..t ...!., T...
ton still shook with silent mirth.
"And now" ho resumed, rubbing his
hands "we will prepare your bntli,
Captain Drummond. And whllo It Is
getting ready, we will just deal with
the chnuffeur who neglected his or
ders."
Kor a row minutes tie oent over
tho chcmlcnls, nnd then ho poured the
mixturo into the water which half
tilled tho long bath at tho end of tho
room, "About five minutes beforo
wo'ro quite ready," ho announced
"Just tlrno for tho chnurfeur."
He went to a spcakitlg-tube, down
which ho blow. Somewhat naturally
there was no answor, and Laklngton
frowned.
"A stupid fellow," ho remarked soft
ly. "But there Is no hurry; I will
dcnl with him Inter."
Laklngton returned to the chair
which contained, 'nB ho thought, his-
chief enemy, and was standing beside
it with an unholy Joy shining on his
face.
"And since I hnvo to deal with him
later, Captain Drummond, D, 3. O.,
M. 0., I may as well deal' with yon
now. Then it will bo your friends'
turn. I nm going to cut tho ropes,
and enrry you, whllo you're so numbed
that you can't move, to tho bath. Then
I shall drop you In, Captain Drum
mond, nnd when, afterward, you pray
for denth, I shall mercifully spare
your life for u while."
He slnshed at the topes behind the
chnlr, nnd Wio four men craned for
ward expectantly.
"There." snarled Laklngton. "I'm
ready for you. you young swlno."
And even ns he spoke, tho words
died away on his lips, and with a
dreadful cry he sprang back. For
with a dull, heavy thud the body of
the dead German Hclnrich rolled off
the rhnlr nnd sprawled nt his feet.
"My God!" screamed Laklngton.
"Whnt has happened? I I"
He rushed to the bell and pealed it
frantically, nnd with a smile of joy
Hugh watched his frenzied terror. No
one came In answer to tho ring, nnd
Laklngton dashed to the door, only to
recoil Into the room with n choking
noise In his throat Outside in the
hall stood four masked men, ench
with a revolver pointing at his heart,
"My cue," muttered Hugh. "And
you understand, fellows, don't you?
he's my meat."
The next moment he had disap
peared down the ladder, and tho three
remaining watchers stared motionless
at the grim scene. For Laklngton hod
shut the door and was crouching by
the table, his nerve utterly gone. And
all the while the puffed, bloated body
of the German sprawled on tho
floor. . . .
Slowly the door Into the ball opened,
nnd with n scream of fear Laklngton
sprang back. Standing In the door
way was Hugh Drummond, and his
face wns grim nnd merciless.
"You sent for your chauffeur, Henry
Laklngton," he remnrked quietly. "I
nm here." .
"What do you mean?" muttered
Lnklngtnn thickly.
"1 drove you bock from Laldley
Towers tonight." snld Hugh with a
slight smile. "The proper man was
foolish and had to be killed." He ad
vanced n few steps Into tho room, nnd
tho other shrank bnck. "You look
frightened, Henry. Can It be thnt
the young swine's wits ore, nfter all,
better than yours?"
"Whnt do you want?" gasped Lak
lngton, through dry Hps.
"I want you, Henry Just you.
Hitherto you've always used gangs of
your ruffians ngnlnst me. Now my
gang occupies this house. But I'm
not going to use them. It's going to
be Just you nnd 1. Stand up, Henry ?
stand up as I have always stood up
to you." He crossed the room and
stood In front of the cowering mriu.
"Take half take half." he screamed.
And Drummond hit him n fearful
blow on the mouth.
"I shall take all, Henry, to return to
their rightful owners. Boys" ho
rnlscd his volet "carry out these
other two, nnd undo them."
The four masked men came In, and
carried out the two chairs.
'The Intimidated rabbit, Henry, nnd
the kindly gentleman you put to guard
Miss Benton," he remnrked as the
door closed. "So now we may regard
ourselves ns being nlonc. Just you
and I. And one of us, Laklngton
you devil in human form is going In
to thnt bnth." '
"But the bnth means death,"
shrieked Laklngton "death In agony."
"That will bo unfortunate for the
ono who goes In, said Drummond,
taking a step townrd him.
"You would murder mo?" half sobbed
the terrified man.
"No, Laklngton; I'm not going to
murder you." A gleam of hope came
Into the other's eyes. "But I'm going
to fight you In order to decide which
But Still There Wao No Mercy on the
Soldier's Face, and He Felt Himself
Being Forced Farther and Farther
Over the Liquid.
of -us two ceases to adorn tho earth
that Ik, If your diagnosis of tho con
tents of the hath Is correct. What
little gleam of pity I might havo pos
sessed for you has been completely ox
tlngulRlied by your prosent exhibition
of nauseating cownrdtce. Fight, you
worm, fight ; or I'll throw you In I"
And Laklngton fought. The sudden
By CYRIL
SAPPER"
complete tunning of the tables had for
the moment destroyed his nerve; now,
nt Drummond s words, he recovered
himself. There was no mercy on the
soldier's face, and In his Inmost heart
Laklngton knew thnt tho end hod come.
For strong nnd wiry though ho wns,
he wns no match for tho other.
Relentlessly he felt himself being
forced toward the deadly liquid he had
prepared for Drummond, and ns the
Irony of tho thing struck htm, the
sweat broke out on his forehead and
he cursed aloud. At last lie backed in
to tho edge of the bath and his strug
gles redoubled. But still there was no
mercy on the soldier's face, and he
felt himself being forced farther and
farther oyer the liquid until he was
only held from falling Into it by Drum
mood's grip on his tiirout.
Then, just beforo tho grip relnxcd
and he went under, the soldier spoke
once.:
"Henry Laklngton," he said, "the
retribution is just."
Drummond sprung back, and tho
liquid closed over the wretched man's
head. But only for a second. With
a dreadful cry Laklngton leaped out.
and even Drummond felt a momentary
qualm of pity. For the criminal's
clothes wero already burnt through to
the skin, nnd his, face or what was
left of It was a shining copper color.
Mad with agony, he dnshed to the door,
and Hung it open. The four men out
side, ngliast at the spectacle, recoiled
and let him through. And the kindly
mercy which Laklngton hod never
shown to any one in his llfo was
given to him at the lust.
Blindly he groped his wny up tho
stairs, and as Drummond got to the
door the end came. Some one must
have put In gear the machinery which
worked on the fifth step, or perhaps it
was automatic. For suddenly a heavy
steel weight revolving on nn arm
whizzed out from tho wall and struck
Laklngton behind the neck. Without
sound lie fell forwnrd, and the
weight, unchecked, clanged suddenly
home. And thus did the invention of
which he was proudest break the In
ventor's own neck. Truly, the retribu
tion wns just. . . .
"Tlmt only leaves Peterson," re
marked tho American, coming Into the
hall at that moment, and lighting a
cigar.
"Thnt only leaves Peterson," agreed
Drummond. "And the girl," he added
as au afterthought.
CHAPTER XII.
In Which the Last Round Takes Place.
ONE.
It was during the next hour or two
that the full value of Mr. Jerome K.
Green as an acquisition to the party
became apparent. Certain other prep
arations In honor of Peterson's arrival
wero duly curried out, and then arose
tho question of the safe In which the
all-Important ledger wns kept.
"There It Is," said Drummond, point
Ing to a heavy steel door fiush with the
wall, on the opposite side of tho room
to the big o'no containing Lnklugton's
Ill-gotten treasure. "And it doesn't
seem to me thut you're going to open
time ono by pressing any buttons in
tho wull."
"Then, Captain," drawled the Amer
ican, "I guess we'll open It otherwise.
It's sure plumb easy. I've been get
ting gay with somo of the household
effects, and this bar of soap sort of
caught my eye."
From his pocket he produced some
ordlnnry yellow soap, and the others
glanced at him curiously.
"I'll Just give you u llttlo domonstra
tlon," ho continued, "of how our swell
cracksmen over the water open safes
when the owners hnve been so tactless
as to remove the keys."
Dexterously he proceeded to seal up
every crack In the safe door with the
soup, leaving u small gap at the top
unsealed. Then round thut gap he
built what was to all Intents and pur
poses n soap dam.
"If any of you boys," he remnrked
to tho Intent group around him, "think
of taking this up as a means of liveli
hood, bo careful of this stuff." From
another pocket he produced an India
rubber bottle. "Don't drop it on the
floor unless you want to be measured
for your coflln. There'll just be a boot
nnd some bits to bury."
The group faded away, and the
American laughed.
"alight I ask what It Is?" murmured
Hugh politely from the neighborhood
of tho door.
"Sure tiling. Cnptaln," returned the
dotcctlve, carefully pouring some of
the liquid into tho soap dam. "That Is
what I told you I'd got gelignite; or,
us tho uoys can it, tno on. it runs
right round tho cracks of the door In
sido tho soup." Ho added a little more,
ond carefully replaced the stopper,
"Now, a detonator and a bit of fuse,
and I guess wo'll leave tho room."
"It remlndB ono of thoso dreadful
barbarians, tho sappers, trying to blow
up things," remarked Toby, stopping
with some ngillty into tho garden ; nnd
a moment or two later tho American
joined them
"It may be necessary to do It ngaln,"
. be announced, and as he spoke the
McNEILE
Copyrlf ht by Qeo. n. Doran Co.
sound of a dull explosion came from
Inside the house. "On the other hand,"
ho continued, going back Into Uie room
and quietly pulling the safe door open.
"it muy not. There's your book. Cap
tain." He calmly relit his cigar, as If safe-
opening wus the most normal under
taking, nnd Drummond lifted out the
heavy ledger and placed It on the ta
ble. "Go out in relays, boys,'; he said to
the group of men by the door, "nnd
get your breakfasts. I'm going to be
busy for n bit."
He sat down nt the table and began
to turn the pages. The American was
amusing himself with the faked Chi
nese cabinet ; Toby and Peter sprawled
In two chairs, unashamedly snoring.
And after a while the detective put
down the cabinet and, coming over,
sat at Drummond's side.
Every page contnined an entry
sometimes half a dozen of the same
type, nnd as the- Immensity of the
project dawned on the two men their
fnecs grew serious.
'I told you he wns a big man, Cap
tain," remurked the Araericau, leaning
bnck in his chnlr and looking at the
open book through half-closed eyes.
"One can only hope to Heaven that
we're in time," returned Hugh. "D n
It, man," he exploded, "surely the po
lice must know of tills 1"
Tho American closed bis eyes still
more.
'.'Your English police know most
things," ho drnwled, "but you've sort
of got some peculiar laws In your
country. With us. if we don't like u
"What's He Getting Four Payments of
a Thousand Pounds For?"
man something happens. He kind o'
censes to sit up and take nourishment.
But over here, the more scurrilous ho
Is, tho more he talks bloodshed and
riot, the more constables does he get to
guard him from catching cold.
The soldier frowned.
"Look at this entry here," he grunted.
"That blighter is a member of parlia
ment. What's he getting four payments
of a thousand pounds for?"
"Why, surely to buy somo nice warm
underclothes with," grinned the detec
tive. Then he leaned forwurd nnd
glanced at tho name. "But Isn't he
some pot in one of your big trade
unions?"
"Heaven knows," grunted Hugh. "I
only saw the blighter once, nnd then
his shirt wns dirty." He turned over
a few more pages thoughtfully. "Why,
If these are the sums of money Peter
son has blown, the man must have
spent a fortune. Two thousand pounds
to Ivolsky. Incidentally, that's the
bloke who had words with the whatnot
on the stairs."
In silence they continued their study
of the book. The whole of Englnnd
nnd Scotland had been split up Into
districts, regulated by population
rather than area, und each district ap
peared to be in charge of one director.
A vnrylng number of sub-dlstrlcts in
every main division hnd ench their sub-
director and staff, and at some of the
names Drummond rubbed his eyes In
nmazement. Brielly, tho duties of every
man were outlined; the locality In
which Ills work lay, his exact responsi
bllltles, so thut overlapping wns re
duced to a minimum. In each case the
stuff was small, the work largely that
of organization. But in each district
there appeared ten or a dozen names
of men who were euphemlstlcully de
scribed ns lecturers; while at tho end
of the book there appeared nearly fifty
names both of men and women who
were proudly denoted ns flrst-clasa lec
Hirers. And If Drummond had rubbed
ids eyes nt some of the names on the
organizing stnffs, the first-class general
lecturers deprived him of speech.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
The practical mun of today carries
out tho plans of yesterday's theorist.
COMMITS SUICIDE
AFTER REPRIMAND
Mortification Over Automobile Ac
cident Causes Colorado Boy.
to Take His Life.
Boulder, Colo, Mortification over
an nutomobllo accident for which ho
was held largely responsible and a
subsequent reprimand from his father,
Is believed to havo prompted C. W.
Lawrence, elghteon-yenr-old Boulder
lad, to take his own life.
Young Lawrence disappeared after
ho nud been held In connection with
the serious injury of William B.
Browncll, twenty-two, In an auto crash
at Fourteentli nnd Pearl streets. His
body was found by his brother Paul,
eleven years old, in a shed la the rear
of tho Lawrence home, 2245 Mnpleton
nvenue. A Millet wound was Inflicted
In his right temple and a 32 Colt au
tomatic lay nt his side.
Coroner A. E. Howe, who took
charge of the body, declared young
Lawrence had been dead several
hours. Neighbors reported that a shot
His Body Was Found by His Brother.
had been heard about 0:30 o'clock.
No one had attempted to Investigate
the source of the gun report at that
time.
Concern over the lad was reported
to the Boulder police when he -failed
to come home at a late hour. He had
been employed In a garage owned by
his father, Henry Lawrence, at Elev
enth and Walnut streets.
He arid some other lads "borrowed"
a large touring car stored In the ga
rage and went out for a joyride. On
slippery pavement at Fourteenth and
Pearl streets the automobile skidded
into n smaller vehicle and seriously
injured Brownell, who was attempting
to start the lntter car. He was ren
dered unconscious, several ribs were
broken and a leg severely sprained.
Lawrence and a companion, Harold
Metcalf, who was driving, were held
to blame for the crash. Metcalf was
pi need under arrest and fined by the
police magistrate. Lawrence wa3 tak
en to task by his father and severely
rebuked for removing the car from
the garage, It is alleged. Remorse,
following the accident, and the cen
sure of his father is believed to have
led the lad to commit suicide.
BUILDS 20-FOOT SPITE FENCE
Atlantic City Woman Cuts Off Neigh
bor's View When Sued for Al
leged Slander.
Atlantic City. Tho erection of a
fence, 20 feet high, between her prop
erty and that of Thomns M. Davis, on
fashionable States uvenue, Is the
answer of Mrs. Mnrgnret Workman to
a suit to collect $500 damages for al
leged slander filed by Davis. Tho
fence reaches to tho top of Davis
second-story window.
The fence cuts off part of Mrs.'
Workman's view of the ocean, and it
Is expected that neighbors on the land
side of her property will institute ac
tion. Mrs. Workmun wns the original
owner of the land occupied by Davis'
house, and Davis, in his suit, alleged
sho attempted to dlcourage prospec
tive purchasers by saying there wns a
flaw in tho title.
Attempt to Chloroform
Pet Cat Fatal to Man
Frank Souders, a railroad en
gineer, of Paoll, Pa., lost his
life ntteraptlng to chloroform
nn aged pet cat whllo his fam
ily was away. Tho cat
scratched and struggled ns Sou
ders tried to hold a chloroform
rag to Its, nose. Souders fell
unconscious and died from the
fumes. The cat ran away.
X
Death for Many Cats.
Boston, Mass. During the fiscal
year Just closed 42,50-1 homeless nnd
suffering cats have been "humanely
disposed of by the Animal Rescue
League. Also disposed of In like man
ner wero 4,048 dogs, 700 horses, 272
birds and 58 small animals.
i'''
