Part 43 (2/2)
”James has spoken very well,” said the owner of the hands which Chester could see playing about his breast; and as he uttered these words he too sank into a chair, and the ray of light struck across his face for a brief space, one, though, sufficiently long for Chester to recognise the features of the quaint old bookwor his search for the house which had been the scene of such strange adventures
”Uncle!” he thought to himself, as the oldto fear It is our own secret
What do you say, Dennis, ht, curse it!” said the young man, slowly ”I can't see how anyone can find it out All we have to do is to go on as we have before--take care that everything is kept dark What do you think, Rob, old man?”
”Think?” cried the latter, sharply; and as he spoke Chester felt a quiver of exciteh her who as this is quiet Say what you like-- that it was in your own defence you fired, there are thetools; say that they were surprised in the act--the marks on the iron door and their false keys will speak for that--but we can't go on with it in the way you propose; the police must be called in”
”You cursed fool!” snarled Jah ”Bah! you alere an idiot and a hindrance to our enterprise You could spend your share readily enough, but you were always like a log to drag at our heels”
”My dear boy!” cried the old professor, quickly, ”hush, please; therenoe have tooit all, Jeue of yours quiet,”
cried Dennis
”Who is to keep quiet when he listens to such idiotic drivel? Bring the police in--set their detectives to exa to force--to look at the jewels and plate stored up inside
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!” he laughed discordantly ”Has Rob any brains at all?”
”Yes, yes; he spoke without thinking,” said the old erly ”Rob, my dear lad, you see it is irowled Dennis ”You can't say to the hounds of the law, 'You must stop your scent here' Why, it would, as they say, be blowing the whole gaff”
”Well, let it,” cried Robert, bitterly; ”let them find it out I'm sick of it all, and have been for years”
”Then you h, fiercely
”Yes, yes, he is upset,” said the old man, quickly ”Robert's never been himself since you fired at him, Jem It was a mad act on your part; but there, there! don't let's open old sores Let me speak Rob, my dear boy, this is not a position in which a ether in this business, and the one who talks of throwing it up talks of throwing his partners over Think, my lad, of what it means You cannot draw back It is impossible This is a ht their fate upon themselves They have fallen in our battle of life, and there is that so to be done for all our sakes--our wives' and your sister's sake They ht,” growled Dennis ”Coood sound sense”
”Yes,” said Rob, with a groan; ”I suppose it is There, uncle, go on”
”Yes, yes, my dear boy,” cried the old man ”Well, here is our position, to finish up what Jem has said It would be easier and better for us if we could call in the police and go through the inquest, but you know it is i to propose over what must be done at once?”
There was utter silence, and Chester, as he stood there with a cold perspirationto his te of his and his companion's hearts
”No one speaks,” said the old man, quietly; ”well then, the old inventor has to coain, as he always has since we held the first , and had to look starvation in the face Hark ye here, boys,”
he continued in a low, deep whisper; ”I have turned it all over in oing to be troubled about the disposal of what is, after all--speaking as a chemist--so much matter which has to be resolved rapidly into its primary constituents There is the far cellar beneath the other house; we s of cement, and a carboy of acid, etcetera, and the matter is at an end”
Dennis drew a deep breath, and a low, hissing sound arose, which Chester felt h's teeth
”Well, have I spoken rightly?” said the old h
”You others are silent, but of course you acquiesce You must keep the women down at The Towers, or take the more There, the ado to work”