The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-10-07

cramped and PROSTATE position. Then
a seconds forgetfulness. natural
enough to one accustomed to his free
oom or movement, almost undid the
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 did
not fall to the floor, however, for
something sharp and hard stopped
him. He found himself wedged be-
tween a metallic framework and the
wall A venomous hiss and the con
tact of his bound hands with hot
metal told him he had fallen on a
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 WA kex4 Phazard-
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 endeayor 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 1t caused eliminated
in final effort that 1oosed the grip
in which ne was held and sent him
staggering in SERIES Of two-footed
hops along the wall
Braclng mis- shoulders once more
against the wall, Britz began another
series OF vigorous attempts to break
the sllken scarves, or to slip out OF,
them. EXerting all his strength, he
strained alternately at wrist and
ankles, and ground betweeS Ills teeth
the little ball of silk THAI blocked his
voice. But it was all to no purpose.
His captors knew their trade, and the
clinging bonds, white yielding, die not
give at any point sufficiently to set the
sleuth at liberty. Suddenly thought,
swift and keep as saber flash, Glove
| its way straight through his perplex-
ity. That which imperiled 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 thu scarf that held
his hands, he began swinging himself
from side to side. The corrugated
edge of the ornamental ironwork
served as saw, and although more
| than once the man 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
Britz Keeling back against the 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
Britz laughed softly as with busy fin
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
! ais cramped muscles, strobe to the
window and flung up the sash. One
| deep intake of good, cold air, then hall
dozen more, and he felt as fit as ii
| he had not been close to a distressing
and altogether ignominious end He
gripped the sill and leaned far out,
looking first downward, then all
around in quest of a landmark There
were not many lights on that side OF
the building, but 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 apocket cleo
trio torch and explored the room.
From the style of It's finish it evident
! ly was a section of an unoccupied
apartment in a new and rather pre-
tentious building, room planned to
be cut off from the rest Of the suite.
for it seemed to give directly on the
hall and was separated from it's neigh
Dor by a fireproof door Of massive
steel. He seized @=ae Idle. II
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. 1t was apparent
the l1idnappers had made him prls-
oner in full knowledge Of the unlike
lihood he would be released speedily
That they had plotted his death was
not certain, but 1t was unmistakable
they had given themselves little, II
any, concern In that respect. Br1tz
though. Of the possibilities OF fire as
he had lain bound on the floor, and an
unpleasant sensation passed over
him; but he fastened back to the
window and examined the outside OF
the building with view to escape IN
that direction. He did not expect tic
overtake his abductors quickly, MOI
was he even of mind to devote the
bulk Of his time to that purpose. But
he regarded the capture Of his recent