Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-20
CHAPTER Xl.
4 Wild Ride.

A Wild Ride.
Once he realized the futility of re-
sistance, Britt busted himself with eff
forts to get line on his direction. He
was In an ordinary brougham, drawn
by pair Of housekeeping horses. He
was lying on the floor, but on pile
OF rugs. The silb sco*f with which
he had been fastened had been loosed
from his neck, only to be drawn tight
ly about his mouth. A smaller strip
of silk, rolled into q ball, had been
thrust between his teeth, gagging him
beyond his power to utter cry. His
wrists and ankles were bond with
similar scarves. He was as helpless
as II in the electric chair. His life,
1t might be, depended on his self-con-
troll and resourcefulness
In the faint light that flashed from
time to time through the windows Of
the brougham as 1t whlrled past park
lamps, Britt saw that all three Of his
captors we're dark Of feature and 1.-the
of form One moment he was con.
tluCcu tueT6 was SOiuolulLS lOI
in the appearance of the men. The
next he was less certain they were
not American. A hawklike sharpness
OF profile, however, inclined him more
strongly to the former belief. He had
seen recently, he thought, face that
in such q light would resemble those
bending above him. AS he was striv-
ing to recall it, and the circumstance
surrounding It, a fourth scarf was
passed about his eyes and knotted
behind his head. The silken strip was
light in texture, but folded so many
times that he could not see the dim
NEST gliumer of light
Britt focused his forces on the task
OF ascertaining his Whereabouts and
direction. One, two. three tho
prouguIri speu escTaT'. pr''7 y :"
he was headed for the Hudson. Had
not his blindfolding convinced him his
life was not in peril, he might have
thought his captors were hurrying
him to the river to make an end of
him. He continued counting the
blocks until. wheeling sharply 10 the
right, the horses headed north, and
a change in the sound OF their hoofs
betrayed that they had left the as
phalt and were OF the macadam
again.
The Drive" Britz told himself
with slight glow of satisfaction. The
distance travelled from the park, the
oh nf 1trontinn q; nd tho aItnraI
pounding of the highsteppers hoofs
could mean but one thing; the vehicle
was bowling along the beautiful Riv-
erside concourse New Workers have
come to appreciate only In recent
years.
first mistake OF the trip. The latch
of the left door was Jared loose by
an uneven crossing, and the detective
felt the door give slightly against his
shoulder He senscd In an eyeflash
the door had not swung open. Prob
ably an end of the rug had caught
under 1t sufficiently to hold 1t shut
But it undoubtedly was unfastened
and that evidently without the knowl
edge Of his captors. Had any OF the
three noticed the unlatching OF the
door, he would have drawn 1t close i'm
mediately There was momentar!
danger OF that There was not mo
mont to spare. Britz had little time
for thought. With Il powerful contor
ton of his wiry frame he threw of
the men above him long enough tC
fling himself against the door
Britt reckoned on the likelihood
that his fall from the carriage woult
be seen by patrolman-at any rate
that his attempt at escape woul'
cause a commotion sure to result II
police Interference. He did not eN
pect to get away unaided; he wa
bound too securely for that. 1t wa
more than possible bad bruises, If no
broken bones, would be among tn
consequences. He was willing 10 TAX
that chance rather than to hazard IN
definite captivity with the great Mis-
sioner diamond mystery unsolved, Il
the very moment of hurting himsel
against the door. nothing was strong
err In his mind than a yearning to Sc
the Swami He felt he positive'
must chat with that mysterious pei
sonage about diamonds and stcs
safes, and other things. Until h
made the Oriontal's acquaintance, hi
social development would be stuntet
The detective omitted from his reel
oning the astuteness and readiness
his captors. He thought the surpris
Ringing on his desperate attempt 9
escape would be of sufficient duratio
to let him roll to the road. He wa
shocked mentally as we'll as physica
ly, therefore, when his fall was stoppe
with q jerk, and the back OF his hea
. struck with cruel force against ii
carriage step. Just for a second
fight reinforced steel and rubb'