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

The Empty Apartment.
Eli uben Britt CROPPED his way out OF
i soundest sleep he had known in
Nv a year, 1t was in absolute 1g-
rsnee Of his whereabouts. He
.,ned desperately several times be-
i 10 returned to anything like his
sna! breathing.
Mingled with the peculiar taste OF
I.a snlothering dark was a faint odor
Lake anything in the headquarters
1an's experience.
@ il had q persistence all its own, and
Brben he tried to persuade himself
H sensory nerves had played a trick
asron him, IT wreathed into his nostrils
sxyth lnmistakable individuality.
" Ritz needed no effort to rise to tell
I'm he still was bound hand and foot,
nd IN the first instant OF his full
Weakening he realized the silken gag
9EtII held his speech in thrall. He bit
|bs ball Of silk savagely, and strained
bjs tongue until the roots ached in en-
HeaVors to force the gag out OF his
kuuth. As well might he, helpless as
3#D hands and feet as he was, have
SEied to shake off a gorilla's grip at
Iii throat. Yet the seeming hopeless
sss Of his plight did not disturb him
realty. He had been in worse places.
n was 4 question of patience, perse-
france and pluck, and when it came
ID yirile qualities, the famous Central
)ssHce man was abundantly and allit-
8fatlYely equipped.
a He tested his bonds-gently at first,
|8aen vigorously, then with all his
#rength. @..".
Y He was not Sandow, but he had
#bundance of plant and serviceable
lBrength. After many minutes passed
% rain efforts to free himself, he re-
Rayed his body and limbs for a short
%lt complete rest, meanwhile bending
BBls mind to the task of determining
there he was. The result of his men
8a endeavor was as fruitless as the
zAner. All he knew at the end of 1t
Jas that he lay on a bare floor in a
8oom which, from the sound of his
5iees on the boards, he judged was
Hnall. That thought suggested to him
II means OF summoning help other
nan vocal.
He began drumming on the boards
7Rl1h his heels. It was firing work,
IN MS ankles were held so close that,
8sAn ais feet beating in alienation,
E could not make much noise. To
8aake a sound likely to carry far, he
Aaa to raise and lower his heels to-
assaer-an achievement that sounds
Bass until one has tried doing 1t many
sanes With all his endurance he
saala not keep 1t up for many minu-
Hass q! stretch. In the intervals he
3aalned his hearing for a response.
asohe came.
blt1z rolled over on his face. AS
W. hands were tied behind his back.
8's enln rested on the floor. and he
IN n.y. iittle leverage by which to lift
.ussh. Several times he tried to
ss 70 his knees, only to slip
y y pruise his face on the hard floor.
Il. mlshasps were painful, but not
asssseoufaging to a man of Britz' reso-
I " .,suess' Again and again he made
mn N setempt; again and again he
~, saea' out at lasy, with mighty
M Nv mat left him painting, he raised
1ssh by a catapult movement and
paek on his heels, waiting to
s'ol his breath. w..
was a harder task to get ON his
m m He could not do it in the middle
IN, ~ moor. Slowly, carefully, he
IA 1Su MS way on his knees to the
Il. against which he braced himself.
,.s ~ plt BY bit, he bent his feet for
IL = demilune until his weight
u ~ Knees and toes. His progress
IL = painful as 1t was slow, for the
IL. sea1 compelled his ankles to
NM = unison, If at all, and even
,4sss. y haS bent his toes to the
lse point 1t Yves great strain
y them there.
1 u, uetective, after brief pause
Ill sasaef MS strength, set his shout
l,es aaa,ist the wall and threw all his
NJ lo 3 slcgle, vigorous push.
te n Iaoss'nentS almost threw him to
pss aot again, but he recovered his
III I, laiekly and stced erect. For a
|, aehts he waz content to reveal
'Rsaxation that was so welcome