Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-07-17
II
{ { ChaPterV
A LOST CIGARETTE CASE.

HE man clinched Armi
KzN tage about the body with
N& his legs while he struck a
\85sA match on box he pro-
vi duced from his pocket.
The suddenness with
which be 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
Ills round head was covered with short
wirelike hair that grew low upon his
narrow forehead. Armitage noted too
the mans bull-iike neck. small sborn
eyes and bristling mustache. The fiji
Iul Hash of the match disclosed the
rough furniture of a kitchen. The
brick flooring and his wet inverness
lay cold at Armitage's back.
The fellow grOwled an execration in
SerYian. Then with ponderous diff.
Guilty asked a question in German.
who are you and what do you want
hereY'
Armitage shook his head and replied |
IN English:
Il do not understand"
The man struck a series Of matches
mat he might scrutinize his captive's
race, then ran his hands over Armi.
tage's pockets to make sure he had no
arms. The big fellow was clearly puz-
zled TO find that he had caught a gen
ueman in water soaked evening clothes
lurking in the area and as the matter
was beyond his wits it only remained
for him to communicate with his mas ,
ter.
This, however, was not so readily :
accomplished He had reasons of his
own for not calling out ana there were q
r -dlties in the way Of holding the n
prisoner and az the same time bring h
ing down the men who had gone to the n
most distant room in the house for q
their own security. 9
Several minutes passed during which h
the burly Servian struck his matches
and took account Of his prisoner, and "
meanwhile Armitage lay perfectly still.
bis arms fast numbing from the rough IN
clasp OF the stalwart servants legs nj
There was nothing to be gained by
struggle in this position. and he knew A
that the Servian would not risk losing n,
him in the effort to summon the odd h,
pair who were bent over their papers
It the top of the house. The Servian
vas evidently a man of action.
Get up" he commanded, still in
ough German, and he rose in the dark
nd jerked Armitage after him. There
vas moment Of silence in which Ar
1itage shook and stretched himself.
nd then the Servian struck another -
latch and held it close to a revolver
Thich he held pointed at Armitage's
cad.
Il will shoot" he said again in his
alting German.
Undoubtedly you willr and some
ling in the fellows manner caused
rmitage to laugh. He had been
ught, and he did not at once see any
fe issue out of his predicament, but
S plight had its preposterOus side and
e ease with which he had been taken
the very outset Of his quest touched
; humOr. Then he sObered instantly
d concentrated his wits upon the i'm a
ediate situation.
The Servian backed away, with fly
itch upheld in one hand and the lev hea,
d revolver in the other. leaving Ar his
tage in the middle of the kitchen. voly
! am going TO light lamp, and II kite
move l will kill you" admOnished lam
Iellow' and Armitage heard his hear
seraping over the brick floor Of the ter
chen as he backed toward a table 1t
t stood against the wall near the Serv
er door. and
rmitage stood perfectly still The over
yhborhoOd and the house itself were stair
ct The two men in the third story blinf
n were probably engrossed with the Ar
mess at which Armitage had left OF a
n, and his immediate affair was was