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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1930-09-04, Page 7w I W a the exeter time^apvocate * l^emple &owerw fry SAPPER £ ^IIIIIIIIIIUIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll^ THE STORY SO FAR II seen him in a similar condition. Hugh Drummond and Peter Darrell And it were safer for, a man to sit •are interested in Mr. Granger, on an open barrel of gunpowder with who lives at Temple Tower, which'a lighted match in his hand, than to Is Strongly fortified, Miss Verney .eonie to grips with Hugh Drummond 11 seen him in a similar epndiitiop. interested in Mr. Granger, J on an open barrel of gunpowder with ■_ accepts a position as private se cretary to Mr. Granger and her in such a mood, “Scott,” he said Quietly, “you and friend (Freckles) Tom Sc6.lt is John will remain with Miss Verney, ‘ -staying with Hugfe. John, an oid When she has recovered sufficiently ■friend of Hugh’s, has the plans of, take her back. to my house. ComeCome Temple Tower, but' someone steals them. Gaspard, Granger’s ser vant, his big watch dog and a at Spragge’s Farm are all W^found strangled. The men meet "Victor Matthelvs, a member of the New York iiolice, who also retuns ■with them and tells, the history of Le Bossu Masque. While ‘ at the .Dolphin Inn Peter jhotice'd some- sone watching them through the ■fireplace and* goes upstairs to in vestigate and someone nearly ■strangles Kim. When he recover ed he discovers the lost plans ly ing beside the bed. Before leav ing the hotel Vandali and Madame, Vandali were found strangled, the onan hanging from the ceiling the Woman in a cupboard in ■room. (While Matthews was ■ling in Hugh’s house a shot Tired and Le Bossu entered nearly strangled-liim. 6 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY Another.,hour passed in a sort of f ®nmi-stupor\fpr her, while le Bossu miafle his ciidjce. Each stone was ®arefully examined, "and either re- laimed to the table, or placed icare- Satlly in one of the'velvet bags he taken from his pocket. No word was spoken, and once when Grang er ventured some cringing remark. j Sie was bidden curtly to be silent, j; And for the second time that night ‘ ‘ a?he sense of unrealty came over her. I‘ The great deformed*/figure at the J 4esk, silent and Absorbed; the fawn- ( ang obsequious Granger at his side, ivere just' parts of/ some ghastly mightmare. At length le Bossu rose: he had ©nished, and for a space stood star ling. at"'.Granger.- His back was to wards the girl, but in his eyes there wiist have.. been something which ■2toid the other .the ti;uth. For with sudden frenzied cry lie hurled him- on his Ruegland/grovelled for /^■■'i/cy.- ’ '/ ^■ftSpare me,” he '-screamed again again. “I have‘flven you all.” “Crapean,” came a terrible voice, “what. was the penalty for disobey ing in the past?” •“Death,” moaned tlie other. “Is there any reason, Crapeau,” went on the voice, “iVhy you should /Escape that penalty?’”- And. then le,,Bossu paused and sss.v4.mg round. For. the"; girl had seiz- giirn by tlie arm, aiid -was shouting sit him hysterically. “You’re not going to murder him,” jshe eried. '“It’s monstrous: it’s. .” The words died away on her lips, mmd she gave.a little moaning sob t ®f terror, and cowered back. Forlj liis eyes seemed to be .glowing with ■some strange'light, a greenish-yellow Bglit, which bored into- her brain and arum-bed. her. Then like a flash he tomed again. There came a chok ing squeal: then silence • save for a ,Saint hissing Miwigllng le ®,yes. He seemed ssjrrous spider, who-,had at last got ’35re fly in its ’ clutches. Her brain sreTnsed to act*-: she*’could only lean mgainst the wall, m&aning pitifully. And suddenly it' was ..all over. With m thud Granger fell, on the floor: She strangler’s work was done, a -moment she stared at -faee; Then, with a little 3i<MTor, ,'$he fainted., 'When/she .came' to Tropm was eippty. And . She heap of •rejected stuff which still "Say on the table that told her it had Srnen grim realty, .and not some rghastly dream. Le Bossu had been Shere, he had. murdered Granger and diad .gone. But had lie? For ■nnoment lie was not in the room, «a't miy iiistant lie might return and mmnplete his work by killing her* , NTow wafi- her chalice to open the .switch. .Shakily she .got to her feet, and it was when she was halfway across the roontitlrat the crazy man- ■aaral laughter, which we had heard 3n the passage, pealed through the "Srouse. For a second 'or two. she gyansed, clutohing the table, wonder- Whether the murderous fiend was even now playing with her as .a eat plays with a mouse."''Then, as $the laughter ceased> she took a little 'OTt.ii forward and pullod out the jS.Witell. And so did she come stiiiiibl- dng down the stairs to1 us~a girl who ^kad reached tlie .btonkiiig-point. We lifted, her on to the sofa, and Then Hugh spoke. His voice was gierfectly normal, and In all proba bility the others noticed nothing. jBut I knew at once that he was in a (Condition of cold, overmastering ®ige. It was rare with him, very mute; only twice before* I think, had end the sit- was and ,' Peter,” Without another word he strode to the front door and I followed. It was open:: le Bossh had left that way. And the instant he was out- . side lie dodged into ithe bushes: rage or no rage his judgment was not blinded. In absolute silence lie made liis way through the underbush and at such a speed that I, used though I was to his. uncanny power of movement at night, was hard put to it to keep up with him, Only once did he pause, and- that was when there came fro'm the distance tlie sudden roar of a motor engine. Then we reached the wall, and swarmed over. “Leave those '‘things,” he said ishortly. “There will be a good deal to tell the police before the night is through, and our method of entry will be on.e of them.” The Bentley was where we had her, and started at once. No tamp ering this time, and. a few minutes ’ later we spun past Hugh’s house. bound for” Iwej “Where are asked, “The Marsh,” he the .proof that four as six. Blit, my God! icut it fine this time.” I Through Rye, and ! straight stretch bo. the “■;he turned, right-handed along the " • sea road. We were going to the .same place as the first night when Iwe'liad visited Spragge’s Farm. And I it was not until he was getting out answered. “And can be as good Peter, we’ve alopg the fork, where J noise. Le Bossu was Crapeau before her to her like some mon- . of the car that he .spoke again. “If 'by any chance he does me in, Peter,”, he said gravely, “shoot him as. you would shoot a mad dog.” So-it was here that the final battle was to come. Somewhere in the sand dunes Drummond and le Bossu Masque were going to meet. How Hugh knew I didn’t ask: he was in no mood for idle chatter. That he had known all along was obvious now. And even at that moment,, keyed up though I was, I couldn’t help realizing the torment of mind he must have gone through when, as a prisoner, in the passage, he thought his plan was going to fail through no fault of his own. Side by 'side we crept over the sandy/hummocks. He was taking a course almost parallel with the sea. but a little inshore. And after we had gone about four hundred yards, he put out his hand as a warning. Evidently we were near the spot. In front of us lay a dune higher than the average, and up this he wormed his way on his stomach. I follow ed him, and then, inch by inch, I . raised my head to see what was on i the 'Other side. An in that instant I I understood. Below us was the motor-boat we had found on our visit to Spragge’s Farm. It. had been moved from its original position, and n.ow bow pointing to the open little creek. We had cut ■ Bossu’s line of retreat. “We may- have to wait I For the victim’s sob of utter herself the it was only i tlie | but '■ for some time,” whispered Hugh In my ear. “But that is better than being too late.” And then began an eerie vigil. The ceaseless roar of the .sea: tlie harsh call of some night bird above our heads, were tlie only sounds. And after a while there ■ came that faiint lessening of the darkness over Dungeness, that heralded' tlie ap proach of dawn, I glanced at my watch, it marked a quarter to -three. Suddenly Hugh 'gripped my arm. “He is coming,” he whispered. I had heard nothing myself, but .of old I knew that Drummond at night was not as other men. And then, I, too, heard the noise of a Stone being dislodged. It came from inland, and I* peered in the direction of the sound, “There he is,” breathed Hugh. “We Will play with him a little, Peter.” And plainly, side of boat, be moving no were there before him. by the side of,the boat, and I halt expected Hugh to hurl himself down the dune on to him. But' he made no movement, though in the very faint light I thought I detected a grim smile on Ills face. Below us, quite unconscious of liis danger, le Bossu went on with his preparations;. He was stowing some things away in the stern of the boat lifted could the jetsblack mirror of water: was near enough to hoar the fohri hissing whistle with which he work ed/ like a man grooming a horse. At length he straightened up and stepped into, the bout: he' was go ing to take off the tarpaulin that covered the 'engine, I glanced at Hugh: it struck me that what, he had said op the drive down was. true now —he was cutting it fine, Once Jet. le Bossu start the engine, there was every chance in the darkness of iris being able to make the sea. At any rate, the only method of stopping him would' be to fire more or less blindly at the boat. But still Hugh made no movement: like a piece of carved granite he lay Jbere staring at the boat below.* . , z LedBossu folded the tarpaulin, and threw it into the bows., Then he gojt on to the bank once more, and the rattle of a chain told us he had cast off the painter. He was ready to go. .For a moment or two lie stood by the side of the boat, and clear above the noise of the waves we heard him laughing. Low and triumphant, and yet with the same ring of madness in it as that wild, frenzied peal he had giyen at Temple Tower. Then he got back into the boat, and again I glanced at Hugh, Surely fie •wasn’t going to wait any longer. t Crank went the starting-handle: no result'. Again he tried; nothing, His laughter had ceased; and tie tried once more. The engine refus ed to fire. And now I felt Hugh shaking silpntly beside ‘nne—-and a dim premonition of what had hap pened began^o dawn on me—a pre monition which was confirmed a moment or two later. Le Bossu had switched on his torch to examine the motor. All the four sparking-plugs had been removed. The meaning of Hugh's cryptic utterance about four being the equivalent of six was clear, Out went the light, and from be low us came a flood of frightful blasphemy. ‘ His hardly above a whisper, word carried to our ears, puptly it "ceased; le Bossu was think ing, But alone with a useless motor boat instead of alone and well out to .sea. What was lie to do? He must have realized that the object, of the boat was known to us, and that being the case, that we should come . to it the instant we got out of the secret passage. And he must have pursed himself for not having taken more precaution to prevent us doing so. As long as he liad thought that the secret of tlie .boat was liis alone, it had not mat tered when we escaped:’ now when he knew it wasn’t, everything was altered. ■One thing- was clear: tlie idea of escaping in: the boat must be aband oned, at any rate, for the present. Moreover, the sooner he was away from tlie boat, the better for him. Feverishly he began to unpack the things he had so 'carefully stewed ■away; every second was of import ance. At any moment we might be on liim: from triumph he had. plung ed to failure. And it was then I realised that Hugh beside me: like a vanished into the time for play was settlement was due. self forward a few inches, and with my revolver ready I waited. How was it going to happen?’ .Suddenly from about ten yards away came Hugh’s clear laugh, and with a hiss like an angry snake le Bossu Straightened up. A few seconds later came the laugh again, but from quite a different spot, and le Bossu spun round, and again time from could see the bank, quickly at each sound: playtime evi dently was not yet ever. The murd erous devil was to have a taste of his own medicine before the end. “Good-evening, Blossu.” Hugh’s drawling voice, 'sparking-plugs are in my pocket. It was kind of you to give me the idea. Won’t you come and get them?” A snarl was the only answer. “Five- people, Bossu, have y< murdered cm this little trip. To say nothing of an attempt to brain me with a chimney-pot. I dislike people who- try to brain me with chimney-pots, "bossu. So what are we going to do about it?” And once snarl that ferocity, “I can % the most voice was ■but every Then ab was no longer shadow he had darkness. The over: the final I hitched my- Then again came that laugh, each a fresh place. Diinl’y I le Bossu, croii'Clilng on liis head jerking round came “Your again there came was half animal now I could see his outline , Ho was coming along the the dyke Moreover, taking any silently; suspicions towards the motor lie 'did not seem to precautions about evidently lie had whatever that we fore him. i-Ie paused ■and every now and then lie his head .and listened. Otte just see his ■movements against eno see you quite clearly, Bossu,” mocked Hugh. “And you can’t see me. Unfortunate isn’t it? Shall I put five perfectly good bul lets into your carcase, one for each person you have murdered, or would you .prefer to die another way?” There came a sudden crack from below me, and a shot went droning harmlessly over the Marsh. “Quite the wrong direction, my frieiid,” said Hugh easily. “Don’t, I beg of you, add a harmless cow to your bag. And you haven’t an swered my question. Which way would you prefer to die, Bossu? Because you , are /going to-—very shortly. You won’t say? Then I have a suggestion to make. You shall die as you ■ have lilmd—-by strangling, Does that appeal to your sense of humour?” Silence from below,, and once a- gaiij. Hugh laughed. “Putting on ttye robes of office, are you* Bossu? The false hump: mask: the long black h'ood. I have been wonder’*' off and on why you a little further a moment for bothered ^Ith quite such an elabor ate make-up. The mask ^1 cun un derstand: even the hump, But It. is the hood that .defeated, me. Am I’ right In supposing that a fold of loose stuff like that round your neck, gives you a con^ib’erable ad vantage If your adversary tries to meet you at your own game and en deavours to strangle you? I nan as sure you that you needn’t be afraid .of giving away any of your parlour secrets: you will never need, them again. You won’t speak? Not very chatty to-night, are you, Bossu?” It was growing lighter now, and I could plainly see the great black fig ure below me,He was staring around like a wild beast at bay, trying to locate Drummond, and in his right hand was. an ugly-looking revolver. And knowing the nature of the brute I slipped my own gun forward: it was not talcing chances. “It was clever of you to think of the aeroplane to-day,” went on his tormentor. “Indeed* mind admitting it was a stroke of genius. Very nearly—so very neav- ly—it enabled you to pull it off. Iii-fact Bossu, I quite agree with all that dear -fellow Victor Matthews said about you, But it doesn’t alter my opinion, that you are a nasty bit of work: so nasty, to be exact, that I grow weary of you, I would fain seek ale in my humble cottage. Tljrow your gun into- the water, Bossu.” The drawling voice had ceased: the order came curt and stern. But the man below still glared savagely round him. Came a crack, stab of flame. Another crack le .Bossu, who had fired at the and Hugh’s mocking laugh. “Through your hump that Bossu, and more peri] to the from you. I am a very much better shot than you, so if you take my ad vice you won’t go on playing at game. I give you exactly five onds to throw your gun into water. The next time I fire it be through you revolver hand.” For a moment or two le Bossu seemed to hesitate: then without a woyd he flung his revolver into the creek. “Good!” said Hugh curtly. “Now Bossu, put your hands above your head.” Again came a momentary hesita- I don’t and a ■from flash tibn, then Irik. arms, grotesquely draped In the black hood, wept above his head. And simultaneously Hugh emerged from behind a sand duna twenty yards away, His gun was in his hand, and he walked slowiiy along the edge of the water tilt be reached le Bossu. And then for a space there was silence. I watched fascinated? had bver day dawned on a more incredible scene? This monstrous masked devil -—this murderer many times oxer, facing a man in whose face there wag no glint o|f pity." “Strictly, speaking, Bossu, I sup-’ pose I 'should hand you, over to the police,” said Drummond quietly, “But we are not spe’aking strictly at the moment. And so I propose to give myself the extreme pleasure of anticipating the hangman. Do not imagine, Bossu, that I shall suffer in any way. I have here a witness’ in the shape of Mr. Darrell who will swear that you' made a dastardly assault upon me, should any ques tions arise.” He paused: then he flung his re volver up to me, “Bight, strangler, I am ready. Do you begin or shall I?” ' ■ And now, the necessity for con cealment gone, J stood up. I was almost shaking with excitement, but neither man paid any attention to me. Le Bossu hafi dropped his arms, and was crouching a little. His body swayed slightly from side to side: his hands, with fingers curv ed like steel hooks, were in front of him, stretched out towards Hugh. And suddenly, like • a flash, he sprang. The University belongs to ths peopt* of Western Ontario. It js supported by Provincial mH, Municipal /granb, by Endowiyent Fund, ineprpt, and by tuition f« The «r of readier 1 1929-30/was 1260, not. approximately four hundr _ in special groups, who/iceived in- struction from the Uni ^ “ Staff. J Registration Day A,TURD AY, September 20th , 3rd and 4th year students frojfi London. MON* . DAY, Septfmlfer 22nd,all freshmen, TUESDA' ptember 23rd—2nd, 3rd and w year students from centre* other than London. WEDNESDAY, September 24th, Lectures begin. 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