Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-07-15

which he had been flung
into the kitchen had knocked the
breath out of Armitage, and the huge
thighs of his, captor pinned his arms
tight. The match spurted fire. and he
looked into the face of the servant
whom he had seen in the room above.
His round head was covered with short
wirelike hair that grew low upon his
narrow forehead. Armitage noted, too,
the mans bull-like neck, small sharp
eyes and brlstling mustache. The fit
full flash of the match disclosed the
rough furniture of kitchen. The
brick flooring and his wet Inverness
lay-cold at Armifage's back.
The fellow growled an execration in
Servlan. Then With ponderous Diff
Guilty asked a question in German.
who are you and what do you want
here?"
Armitage shook his head and replied
in English:
II do not understand"
The man struck series of matches
that he might scrutinize his captiye's
face, then run his hands over Armi-
arms The big fellow was clearly puz-
zled to find that lie had caught n gen
tleman In water soaked evening clothes
lurking in the area, and as the matter
was beyond his wits 1t only remained
for him to communicate with his mas
ter.
This, however, was not Sc. readily
accomplished. He had reasons Of his
own for not calling out, and there We're
difficulties in the way of holding the
prisoner and Mt the same time bring
ing down the men who had gone to the
most distant room in the house for
their own security.
Several minutes passed during which
the burly Servian struck his matches
and took account of his prisoner, and
meanwhile Armitage layperfectly still,
his arms fast numbing from the rough
clasp of the stalwart servants legs
There was nothing to be gained by Il
struggle in this position, and he knew
that the Servian would not risk losing
him In the effort to summon the odd
pair who We're bent over their papers
at the top of the house. The Seryian
was evidently man of action.
Get up" he commanded, still in
rough German, and he rose in the dark
and jerked Armitage after him. There
was moment of silence in which Ar
mitage shook and stretched himself,
and then the Seryian struck another
match and held 1t close to a revolver
which he held pointed ut ArmitaEe's
head
II will shoot" he said again in his
halting German.
Undoubtedly you will!' and some
thing In the fellows manner caused
Armitage to laugh. He had been
caught, and he did not at once see any
safe issue out of his predicament, but
his plight had its preposterous side and
the ease with which he had been taken
ut the very outset Of his quest touched
his humor. Then he sobered Instantly
and concentrated his wits upon the i'm
mediate situation.
The Servian backed away, with u
match upheld in one hand and the lev.
eled revolver in the other, leaving AZ
mitage in the middle of tle kitchen.
II am going to light lamp, and if
you move will kin you," admonislled
the fellow, and Armitage heard his
feet scraping over the brick floor of the
kitchen as he backed toward a table
that stood against the wall near the
outer door.
Armitage stood perfectly still. The
neighborhood and the house itself We're
quiet. The two men in the third story
room We're probably engrossed with the
business Mt which Armitage had left
them, and his Immediate affair was