Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-10-20

a seconds forgetfulness, natura
enough to one accustomed to his free
dom of movement, almost undid thu
work of the last half hour. He tried
to step away from the wall, oblivious
to the scarf that bound his ankles
and pitched forward heavily. He die
not fall to the floor, however. fol
something sharp and hard stopped
him. He found himself wedged be
tween a metallic framework and the
wall. A hiss and b con
tact of his bound hands with hot
metal told him he had fallen on q
steam radiator, and as the kissing
sound increased he guessed the shock
had broken the little safety valve
close to the top of the curved pipes
II the detectives position had been
perilous before 1t was extra hazard
Gus now. He was gripped in the jaws
formed by the radiator and the wall.
and neither hands nor feet at liberty.
1t seemed next to impossible for him
to free himself. He kicked and strug-
| gled furiously, the hiss OF the steam
constantly growing louder, and
In his endeavor to escape, he bent for
ward until his face was scalded by the
rushing steam. The pain OF that mis-
hap aided him, however, for the in
voluntary recoil it caused eliminated
In a final effort that loosed the grip
in which he was held and sent him
staggering in a series Of two-footed
hops along the wall.
Bracing his shoulders once more
against the wall. Britz began another
series of vigorous attempts to break
the silken scarves, or to slip out OF
them. Exerting all his strength, he
strained alternately at wrist and
ankles, and ground between his teeth
the little ball Of silk that blocked his
voice. But 1t was all to no purpose.
His captors knew their trade, and the
clinging bonds, while yielding, did not
give at any point sufficiently to set the
sleuth at liberty. Suddenly a thought.
swift and keep as a saber flash, Glove
its way straight through his perplex-
ity. That which imperfled his life
should give him liberty. He sided
along the wall until he stood beside
the radiator at the end away from the
safety valve. Pressing against the
edge of the metal the scarf hat held
his hands, he began swinging himself
from side to side. The corrugated
served as a saw, and although more
than once the Ia gasped as clouds
OF steam whirled about his head, in
fewer minutes than would seem prob
able the metallic edge gnawed its way
through the silk, and the kerchief
parted with abruptness that sent
Britx Keeling back against tho wall
and crashing headlong to the floor.
His hands were free! And as that
Welcome realization followed the jar
ring impact Of his head against an
angle Of the Dashboard, Lieutenant
Britx laughed softly an with busy nm
gers he loosed the scarf about his
ankles. snatched the gag from his
mouth, and, with a single shake OF his
shoulders that rippled the kinks out Of
his cramped muscles. strobe to b
window and flung up the sash. One
deep intake of good. cold air. then half
he had not been close to a distressing
and altogether ignominious end. He
gripped the sill and leaned far out,
looking flrst downward, then all
around In quest OF a landmark. There
we're not many lights on that side OF
the building, but a faint CLEAN In the
depths enabled him to Judge that he
was about at the tenth story, and that
the building was in an unfreQuented
uptown street. Withdrawing his head
he pressed the button Of a pocket cleo
trio torch and explored the room.
From the style Of its finish 1t evident
ly was a section of an u~noocupied
apartment in q new and rather pre-
tentious building, a room planned to
be cut OF from the rest of the suite,
for it seemed to give directly on tho
hall and was separated from its neigh
Dor by q nreproof door Of massive
steel. He seised the handle. 1t
turned readily, but the door did not
open. The same was true OF the door
between the room and the hall. He
shook both doors with all his
strength. but they had been locked
too stoutly to yield. It was apparent
the kidnappers had made him q pris-
oner in full knowledge Of the unlike
lihood he would be released speedily.
That they had plotted his death was
not certain, but it was unmistakAble
they had given themselves little, II
any. concern in that respect. Britz
thought of the possibilities Of fire az
he had lain bound on the floor, and an
unpleasant sensation passed owe
him; but he fastened back to the
window and examined the outside OF
the building with a view to escape In
that direction. He did not expect to
overtake his abductors quickly. nor
was he even Of a mind to devote the
bulk of his time to hat purpose. But
he regarded the capture of his recent
captors as an important side enter
prise to the solution of the great dia-
mond mystery, and habit made him
eager to begin working without delay.
There vas a fire escape on the floor
whence he looked out-a thoroughly
modern contrivanee with fiat steps,
and a really serviceable handrail-but
1t did not run to the window at which
he stood. However, Britz had more
than n attribute Of the lynx, and 1t