Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-05-05
Robinson S
Detective Work

hhVoISi, "hSu TIC tuihS HdppchSh.
81 am sure that number is not
busy" | assured the operator, and
there followed the usual provoking ST.
lence. plague take it," l muttered
when I heard something like a moan
through the phone.
my God they'll kill mel"
| almost dropped the receiver in
surprise. The words, uttered in a low
time, evidently a womans, 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 were
spoken in repressed fashion as if
the speaker were trying to conceal
them from someone. But they began
to grow louder and more charged with
emotion.
"They can't be gone much longer. l
think hear them on the stairs now.
Good God, they're coming! Help me!
help me! They're"
1t was Randalls blatant voice that
broke In Hello" he said Hello.
Well?"
Hang up your receiver" | shouted,
This is me, Robinson. Hurry, you
Idiot. Something terrible's happened"
1t took an endless time to make him
understand. The moment he did cut
off began violently to work the re-
ceiver-holder of my phone in an effort
to attract the operators attention.
There was snap somewhere. The
phone suddenly became absolutely
dead. 1t took me some time to realize
this; then damned 1t down on the
desk and ran to the door.
AS | opened it, a 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 me, Help
mel" What had happened?
Around the corner we whirled and
he lights of the exchange flashed
INTO sight. Wait" shouted to the
iriver, as leaped out and dashed up
he stairs. A girl pointed out to me
he manager.
1.-THE forces have just been
changed" he said. "The operator on
your line has gone home"
But can't anyone else tel! me what
phone | was connected WITH" | ex-
claimed.
He said the! yuldnt.
Then another resort came into nv
mind. Where does the girl live? III
20 to her home"
He asked each separate girl and
lone knew. was growing desperate
When the boy who did DAD jobs said
lie thought she lived with her aunt on
queen and Oak streets in the Mills
worth suburb. The next instant was
n the cab, driving like fury. The
suburb was six miles
way. 1t was three o'clock when we
cached there. The girl and her aunt
lad moved back within the city fully
en- miles from where we were. AS
Don as possible l changed cabs, for
he horse had been using was utterly
one up, Drive for all you are worth"
said to my new cabby.
The words had heard over the
phone kept running through my brain:
Help me, help mel" Perhaps it was
90 late.
There was growing light in the
'ast when we stopped before a small
rame house. Aching in every Joint
rom my hard drive, l ran up the
teps. Bur-er, went the bell. There
vas wait, tn patter of feet, then
he gas in the hall was lighted.
| shouted who / was and whom l
wanted to see.
The door cracked and a head done
Up in curl-papers appeared. I'm her.
What's the trouble?"
| told her, clenching my hands, knit
ing my brows, filling my tones with
emphasis the while. She
started, slowly her eyes opened, then
Ter mouth expanded into a smile. For
! moment | stood unbelieving.
But, do you understand" l cried.
This is a life and death matter.
Whom was connected with?"
Me"
WHAT"
She extended yellow-back volume
through the door Il had got to the
bird chapter, just where the princess
lad been thrown into the dungeon,
when had to go on duty; SO took the
look along with me, and was reading
! bit out to Mamie Moore when you
Isked for number. Listen: MY God,
hey'll kill me! They'll be back in
They'll have no mercy. Help
ne for Gods sake. They can't be gone
much longer. / think hear them on
he stairs now. Good God, they're COM
ng! Help me, help mel They're
The boss came along about that time"
turned brusquely away. Good
light,' said