Marble Hill press., 1911-11-23

enough To one accustomed 20 his free
, dom OF movement, almost undid the
work OF the last half hour Tie tried
to step away from the wall. obliyious
TO the scarf that bound his ankles
and pitched forward heavily lie did
not fall 10 tho foor. however. for
! something sharp and hard stopped
him lie found himself wedged be,
tween a metallic framework and the
wall A yenomous 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 II was extra hazard.
GUS now. lie was gripped in the Jaws
formed by the radiator and the wall.
and neither hands nor feet at liberty.
II seemed next 10 impossible for him
10 free hir'self lie kicked and strug.
gled furiously. the hiss OF the steam
constantly growing louder. and
in his endeavor 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 Il caused eliminated
in a final effort that lcosed the grip
In which he was he'd and sent him
staggering In q series OF tVofootsd
hops along the wall
Rracing his shoulders once more
against the wall BriiE began another
series OF vigorous attempts 20 break
the sllken scarves. or 20 slir out OF
them. Exerting all bis strength. he
strained alternately at wrist and
ankles, and ground between bis teeth
the little ball OF elk that blocked his
voice But It was all to no purpose
His captors knew their trade. and the
clinging bonds, while Welding did not
give at any point sufficiently to set the
sleuth al liberty. Suddenly thought
swift and keep as saber fash Glove
It's way straight through his perpleI.
ity. That which 'mperiled bis life
should give him liberty lie sidled
along the wall until he stood beside
the radiator at the end away from the
safety valve. Pressing against the
edge Of the metal the scarf that held
his hands. he began swinging himself
from side to side The corrugated
edge OF the ornamental irouwork
served as a saw. and although more /
than once the man gaspcd As clouds .
Of steam whirled about his head, in I
fewer minutes than would seem prob .
able the metallic edge gnaved It's way
through the silk. and the kerchief
parted with abruptness that sent
BrttZ reeling back against the wall
and crashing headlong to the aoor
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 I'm
gers he loosed the scarf about his
ankles. snatched the gag from his
mouth, and. with q single shake OF his
shoulders that rippled the kinks out OF
his cramped muscles. strobe 10 the
window and flung up the sash one
deep intake Of good cold air, then half
a dozen more, and he felt as At as II
he had not been close to a distressing
and altogether ignominious end. lie
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 gleam 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 a pocket elec.
trio torch and explored the room.
From the style Of It's finish IL evident.
ly was section Of an unoccupied
apartment In new and rather pre-
tenuous building, a room planned to
be cut of from the rest OF the suite.
for It seemed to give directly on the
hall and was separated from Its neigh
Dor by a freproof door OF massive
steel. He seized the handle. 1t
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 II was apparent
the kidnappers had made him a prls-
oner in full knowledge of the unlike
lihood he would be released speedily.
That they had plotted his death was
not certain. but II was unmistakable
they had given themselves little, II
any. concern In that respect Britx
thought of the possibilities OF FIRE as
he had lain bound on the floor, and an
unpleasant sensation passed over
him: but he hastened back to the ,
window and examined the outside OF
The building with view to escape in
that direction. He did not expect to
overtake his abductors quickly, nor
was he even Of mind TO devote the ,
bulk of his time TO that purpose. But
he regarded the capture of his recent ,
captors as an important side enter |
prise to the solution of the great dia-
mond mystery, and habit made him
eager to begin working without delay. !
There was fire escape on the floor
he looked out--a thoroughly
modern contrivance with fiat steps, |