The bee., 1909-04-29
Robinson S
Detective Work

business detail that had popped into
my head just as ! was leaving the
theater, when the thing happened.
Il am sure that number is not
busy" , assured the operator, and
there followed the usual provoking ST.
lence. plague take IT," ! muttered,
when heard something like a moan
through the phone
my God, they'll kill mel"
almost dropped the receiver in
surprise. The words, uttered in low
time. evidently a woman's. had the
effect Of coming from blank space.
The shock set me to quivering.
They'll be back in a moment.
They'll have no mercy. Help me, for
Gods sake"
The words came jerkily over the
phone, cut into sentences, and we're
spoken in a repressed fashion AZ II
the speaker we're trying to conceal
them from someone But they began
to grow louder and more charged with
emotion.
"They can't be gone much longer.
think hear them on the stairs now.
Good God, they're comingl Help mel
help mel They're"
II was Randalrs blatant voice that
broke in. Hello" he said Hello
WellI -'sa --.-~~.s---e-~---. -
Hang up your receiver" / shouted,
This is me, Robinson. Hurry, you
Idiot. Something terrible's happened"
II took an endless time to make him
understand. The moment he did cut
on | began violently to work the re.
ceiver-holder OF my phone in an effort
to attract the operators attention.
There was a snap somewhere. The
phone suddenly became absolutely
dead. II took me some time to realize
this; then / jammed II down on the
desk and ran to the door.
As opened II, cab was creeping
by. Hailing the driver, jumped in.
Go like the devil" said, and gave
him the address Of the west exchange
with which knew my phone was con
nected.
fairly gnawed my nails to the
quick as the driver whipped his horse
along at top speed. The words were
ringing in my ears: Help mel Help
mel" What had happened?
Around the corner we whirled and
the lights of the exchange flashed
into sight. watt I shouted to the
driver, as leaped out and dashed up
the stairs. "A girl pointed out to me
the manager.
THE forces have just been
changed" he said. THE operator on
your line has gone home"
But can't anyone else tell me what
phone | was connected within" | ex-
claimed.A
He said they couldn't.
Then another resort came into my
mind. Where does the girl liver I'll
|. so to her home"
He asked each separate girl and
none knew. / was growing desperate
when the boy who did oId jobs said
he thought she lived with her aunt on
Queen and Oak streets in the Mills
worth suburb. The next instant was
in the cab. driving like fury. The
Millsworth suGIrb was six miles
away. It was three o'clock when we
reached there. The girl and her aunt
had moved back within the city fully
ten miles from where we were. AS
soon as possible / changed cabs, for
the horse had been using was utterly
done up Drive for all you are worth. /"
said to my new eabby.
The words l had heard over the
phone kept running through my brain:
Help me. help mel" Perhaps It was
too late.
There was a growing light in the
east when we stopped before q small
frame house Aching in every Joint
from my hard drive, ran up the
steps. Bur-er, went the bell. There
was a wait, tn patter Of feet, then
the gas In the hall was lighted.
l shouted who | was and whom
wanted to see.
The door cracked and head done
up in curl-papers appeared. I'm her.
What's the trouble?"
NOlu hCAs ClCuNhAu6 my ubuuS, XIII
ting my prows. filling my tones with
dramatic emphasis the while. She
started. slowly her eyes opened, then
her mouth expanded into a smile. For
a moment ! stood unbelieving.
But, do you understand" cried.
This is a life and death matter.
Whom was connected within"
"Me."
"What?"
She extended a yelloY-back volume
through the door. Il had got TO the
third chapter, Just where the princess
had been thrown into the dungeon,
when had I'd go on duty; so took the
book along with me, and was reading
a bit out to Mamie Moore when you
asked for a number. Listen: MY God,
they'll kill me! They'll be back in
moment. They'll have no mercy. Help
me for Gods sake. They can't be gone
much longer. think ] hear them on
the stairs now. Good God, they're COM
ing! Help me. help mel They're