Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-07-12

TRAPPED.

obtained position az janitress of u
large apartment house, because we had
nice rooms rent free, tho work was light,
and my mother was not compelled to
take in sewing as she once did
Mother was out one night visiting
some friends and was just setting the
tea table when the bell rang pulled
the door open and then stepped into
the hall, expecting, of course, that il
was my mother.
Two men had entered and closed the
hall door.
Gentlemen, whom do you wish to
see ~ asked them.
"We don't want to see any one,"
said one of tho men, and, stepping TO-
ward me, they pushed me back into the
room | had just left and locked the door.
readily OWNED that they we're
thieves, who, knowing that was alone
in the house, had entered for the pur-
pose of robbing it, Absurd ideas flashed
through my mind about how I should
escape and alarm the neighborhood but
all were impracticablc; and, in fact, Gre
l could move or scream, one of tho ruff
fans had stepped forward and grasped
my wrists
Come, Jack" said he, turning to
his companion, even have to tic up
this young lady, or she'll give US trou-
BILE"
Sulting the action to the word, they
proceeded to tic me up in tho most
scientific manner. They first tied my
hands behind me, and then. after plac.
ing me in chair, tied my feet together,
passing the spare cord securely around
the rungs of the chair.
Nov, lady," said tho man addressed
as Jack. will you promise not to scream,
or must gag you p exhibiting an i'm
proyised gag in the shape Of thick
wad OF cotton and bandage as he spoke.
The sight of this was sufficient. Over
come by terror, promised to keep
discreet silence.
"Now, please tell me where the dumb
waiter is, and we will not trouble you
any further" said the first speaker.
accordingly directed them to the
kitchen, through which passed the large
dumb. waiter, or elevator used for con-
veying coal, wood, groceries and the
like to each successive kitchen from the
basement clear up to the roof.
| now knew that they intended to get
on the dumb-waiter and draw themselves
up, systematically ransacking floor after
floor and lowering thoir plumber to the
cellar. This effected without Interrupt
ton. their escape with their booty would
be comparatively easy matter.
heard them got into the elevator
box and begin to pull themselves slowly
up, and then | determined what to do.
BY great effort | drew myself on my
feet and succeeded in placing the cords
binding my hands over the lamp that
we used to read by. The flame burnt
my hands cruelty, and nearly tainted
with the terrible pain, but | did not al
low moan to escape me, for fear Of
alarming the villains TO the frustation of
my plan.
1t was not more than minute before
my hands were free, although to me it
seemed ages, and my burnt flesh was
pceling off in great pieces. | dropped
back in my chair, and for moment sat
there completely stunned with pain and
gasping for breath. Recovering, soon
freed myself from the chair and united
my feet. Then ran lightly to the Gle
vator shaft and peered up through the
darkness toward the roof The thieves
had light with them, and saw by its
glow that they were nearly TO tho
kitchen door of the uppormost floor |
reached 10 and caught the rope by
which they were pulling themselves up,
and with quick, hard jerk | had it
thoroughly secured by tho iron clamp
placed at each opening for the purpose.
The clamp was different from those
in moot elevators. Generally they are
smooth, but this had two sharp rows of
teeth, and when the rope was firmly
gripped between them it was impossible
to loosen it without opening the clamp
so you will see how completely had
trapped my robbers, hanging as they
did between two floors.
did not want to hear the horrible
curses that they gave vent TO upon dis
covering their position, but fastened to
get out Of tho house and summon help.
succeeded in reaching the front steps
and there tainted away in the arms Of a
gentleman who was just entering.
When | recovered l found myself on
a lounge in the young physicians Office.
with my hands neatly bandaged, and
feeling quite comfortable from some
soothing application.