New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-16
BY GELETT BURGESS


sprawling hitting bis forehead upon the iron plate
And he fell his overloaded pockets disgCrged 'ewelr
and precious stones all about him. For moment
he lay there only half conscious.
The next thing he knew TWO men were helping nm TO
rise His head was 5uZzing, blood was dripping from
his face he would have fallen again but for their assist
ancc. In another moment, he snct the scksh 0dor u
chlor90ru. and he lost consciousness Tor an instant
Before he went Off voices sounded strangely IN his ears
and his half opened eyes caught sight Of Mangus Shea
supporting him. He was TOO dazed even 70 realize his
danger.
When he regained partial use Of his senses. he was
walking still assisted by the Two men He could
scarcely support his own weight and they held him up
by sheer strength If arm. He caugh, q few words
There a stable round The corner. III get cab, and
well take him to- II was Alangus OShea speaking
Then, as in q dream, be walked on tottering. II
seemed TO last for hours, that horrible Journey slowly
he began 70 revive. and started 20 protest
Hist He's coming round again, SAID another voice.
"Give him another Whit.
damp handkerchief held hard 10 bis nostrils for
few seconds He struggled weakly and went back into
oblivion So alternately walking and doing III again.
irving 10 shake himself free from some awful night
mare, he was dragged on and on. and on
The next thing he knew he was IN q cab Tins time
he had wit enough not show signs Of reWwng; out sat
huddleG between TWO men. listening His pockets were
being deliberately rtec. Shea was ming MS own
with the spoil as he talked
be there tonight; he'll be AT the club telling his TOOL
stories We can make good getaway. Take his pants
of and he'll stay awhile. Wen dlvvy up at the Nor
cross. and catch the first boat over the pond.
Then an indisCreet movement OF Fent0n mead at
-raced the notice Of his capt0rs. The choroioTn hand
kcrchet was pressed firmly 70 his nose again ana
Fcnton knew more.
He awoke. he had no idea how long atterwart, with
chilled legs 10 find himself lying on lls back, sick
with nausea his trousers missing. He was IN some dark
place and could nothing except III one SIDE 10" yl
dim spots which from time 20 time ODltCrdleL one
bv one and re4DDearcd again Ike holes N the dark,
admitting the mcrest trace " light tie was not ou- OF
doors though the floor he lay on Tel, as covered with
gravel. There was close, Unfamiliar smell ID Ills nos
trls and IN his confused noise Ike coons, 81 low
persistent cultural sound be could not az FIRST explain
soon as his brain cleared, be made out by the hutter-
ing Of wings back and forth and the peep o. chicks that
he was in some sort n large tovccOte pigeon house.
Every tte while he teI. sharp peck at his bare legs,
and feathers brlshc. his face tie reached out MS mana
cautiously felt bird slip away from him, ana MS pam
fell upon small eggs still warm from the mother
He lay there awhile longer, ~ wonderful discomfort
trying puzzle out bis situation. As the nausea "oTe
off be rose and stumbling over pigeons and smashing
eggs a. every step, CROPPED ms way toward at "ss'
The windows were too small for him 10 see anything
outside He started 20 explore the garnet Bang-Ae
suddenly fell ust escaping being precpitaied INTO
hole in the floor square ike the opening Tor ladder
though no ladder there. He thanked ms LUCKY
stars that he had only b4rked his Sims, and rubbed
them till he found they sticky whether with blood
or broken eggs he could not, IN that darkness De sure
40 light came from the trap IL the ORAL De could
See about him vague forms that fitted 10 ana no.
all he could hear was rhe monoonous 5rooding muTinHr
Of doves There seemed no escape I'll someone came.
He shouted aloud shouted again and again waited and
listened His overcoat was gone and the pockets 81 MS
coat had been uhct.
He found q single match. Lighting II, be gave one
glance about which revealed nothing more than his
IMAGINATION had pictured, thousands ~ pigeons on the
aD.r ON the r4ftcrs. hying hrhcr and yon. He was
irving 10 devise some means Of escape yelling with al
his might meanwhile. when q light hckered IN The hole
below him. and q voice came up 20 HIM.
who's there
CENTON stuck his head through the trap and dis
L ccrned q sprctaded old man with scra"ny beard
holding lantern and looking mp 10 him, mouth agape
m wonder