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

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When Britt CROPPED his way out OF
the soundest sleep he had known in
many a year, 1t was in absolute tg-
morance Of his whereabouts. He
tgasped desperately several times be-
fore he returned to anything like his
normal breathing.
Mingled with the peculiar taste OF
the s~mothering dark was a faint odor
unlike anything in the headquarters
mans experience.
It had a persistence all it's own. and
whom he tried to persuade himself
his sensory nerves had played a trick
upon him, 1t wreathed into his nostrils
with unmistakable individuality.
Britz needed nc effort to rise to tell
him he still was bound land and foot,
and in the first instant Of his full
awakening he realized the silken gag
still held his speech In thrall. He bit
the ball of silk savagely, and strained
his tongue until the roots ached in en-
deavors to force the gag out Of his
mouth. AS we'll might he, helpless as
to hands and feet as he was, have
tried to shake OF q gorilla's grip at
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nes of his plight did not disturb him
greatly. He had been in worse places.
It was Z question Of patience, perse-
voranoe and pluck. and whom 1t came
70 virile qualities, the famous Central
once man was AbundAntly and allit-
oratively equipped.
He tested his bOnds-gently at first,
then vigorously, then with all his
strength.
He was not . sandow. but he had
abundance Of plant and s~erviceable
strength. After many minutes passed
a vain efforts to free himself. he 70
laxsd his body and limbs for = short
hut complete rest, meanwhile bending
h1s mind to the task Of determining
where be was. The result Of his men
tai endeavor was ~ fruitless as b
other. All he knew At tho end OF 1t
VA that he lay on q bare floor In a
room which, from the sound of his
heels on the boards, he judged wal
small. That thought suggested to him
= NJ OF summoning help other
than vocal.
He began drumming on the boards
with his heels. It was firing work,
for his ankles were held so close that,
with his feet beating in alienation.
he could not make much noise. To
make q sound likely to carry far. he
had to raise and lower his heels to-
gether-an achievement that sounds
easy until one has tried doing 1t many
times. With all his endurance he
could not keep 1t up for many minu-
utes ct q stretch. In the intervals he
strained his hearing for = response.
None came.
Britx rolled over on his face. AS
his hands were tied behind his back,
his chin rested on tho floor, and he
had little leverage by which to lift
himself. Several times he tried to
rise to his knees, only to slip
Those mishaps were painful. but o
discouraSing to . man Of Britz' reso-
lutenesse Again and again he made
the attempt; again and again he
failed, but at last, with . mighty
heavc that left him painting. he raised
himself by = catapult movement and
sat back on his heels. waiting to
catch his breath.
It was q harder task to get on his
feet. He could not do 1t in the middle
Of the floor. Slowly. carefully. he
worked his way on his knees t. the
wall, against which he braced himself.
Then, bit by bit, he bent his feet for
ward In q demilune until his weight
was On knees and toes. His progress
wa al painful as 1t was slow, for the
silk scarf compelled his ankles to
bend in unison, If at all, and even
when he had bent his toes I the
requisite point 1t was a great strain
to keep them there.
The detective, after a brief pause
to gather his strength, set his shoul-
der against the wall and threw all his
force into = single, vigorous push.
The movement almost threw him to
the floor again. but he recovered his
poise quickly and stood erect. For a
few moments he was content to revel
In the relaxation that was so welcome