New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
Chapter XXXvII. The One Weak Link


THE dav with Thurley was one long mo-
notony Of fear, disgust, and helpless
ness. The windows had been finally uncur-
tanned. late in the morning; but the day was
gray and dreary, while the atmosphere with
in was murky and foul with odors from be-
low and the reek Of the stove that kept the
room slightly warmer than freezing.
Zagorskv remained at her captive's side
almost constantly. She seldom spoke, and
Thurlev would never have addressed her
voluntarily since questions and pleading
would have been of no avail, and converse
tion was impossible. As often as she en-
countered the ice blue stare OF the woman S
ewes, she shuddered anew with repugnance
and the certainty of gross, malevolent
mind behind their baleful clustering.
She had found herself wrapped in an eX-
ceptionally long, gray cloak, patched and
dirty but at least of wool, and therefore
slightly comforting in this leaky old howell
long before abandoned as a human habltd-
ton. She spent her time lying or sitting on
the bed. or walking the few feet rendered
possible by the meager length OF the chain.
She did not sleep again. From time 70
time she heard a murmur OF voices, where
the men below were repeatedly protesting
against the delays of Madam Zagorsky.
Now and again the woman descended on
the trio. 70 sOothe or 70 dOmineer, as occa-
sion might demand. Never for more than
five minutes at a time did she thus leave
Thurlev to hersef-and the girl was aware
of the utter futility Of attempted escape IN
such an interim, or in the glare Of day.
Twice she had dared snatch up her chain
and try with her fingers TO loosen the wires,
where the twisted ends were nipped and
bent over on the link. She had no intention
of doing more than barely prepare the stub
born splice for possible tamperng later on;
but even this seemed quite impractical 10
fingers fashioned delicately and unprovided
with tools.
On the last occasion, nevertheless, Shc
found an edge on the iron bed where the
twist of wire. being once engaged, was readi-
" bent backward on the link. 1t did not
break, being tough and malleable, and she
barely had time to bend 1t once more 10 It's
former position when Zagorsky again re-
turned.
There were no more opportunities 10 labor
with the wire, and at most 1t was merely
possible for Thurley TO sit there planning
how. if her chance should come, she could
bend and bend that metal prong till It's Joint
should finally snap.
CHE planned all day at a thousand thing
~ impossible and even eXtravagant. No
thought had entered her mind again Of at
tempting a struggle with the woman. She
knew her strength could avail her nothing
in a combat so entirely unequal. And the
noise would disturb the men.
Her hope attached itself with childlikc
confidence 10 the man Pelevin, hour after
hour. Her only fear concerning him was
that of his inability, surrounded as he was
Inv other men, to render the necessary help
~ the vital moment. She had doubts again
Cf the arrival of the note addressed 10 the
Duke and Robley. II seemed % her she
was very far from all the world Of Gotham.
The note might be lost, intercepted. The
dav being Sunday, it might easily fail Of de
livery. ii no one should come that night a,
4 fever Of anxiety, hope succeeding doubt
oagcr planning for herself, and increasing
dread and illness in this fetd room, was
aaning her cheeks and eyes The day was
80 frjghtfully long, the unknown fate i'm
ncnding. and the mystery as 10 why she had
fern thus entrapped, were so battling and
frgbteninq as the hours wore slowly on
She could not have known that Pclevin
clever actor that he was, had tricked and
deceived her with shameless duplicity play