Semi-weekly herald., 1911-10-09

could not keep 1t up for many minu-
utes at stretch. In the intervals he
strained his hearing for a response.
None came.
Britz rolled over on his face. AS
his hands were tied behind his back,
his chin rested on the floor. and he
had little leverage by which to lift
himself. Several times he tried to
rise to his knees, only to slip
and bruise his face on the hard floor.
Those mishaps were painful, but not
discouraging TO man Of Britz' reso-
luteness, Again and again he made
the attempt; again and again he
failed, but at last, with mighty
heave that left him painting, he raised
himself by catapult movement and
catch his breath.
1t was a 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 to the
wall, against which he braced himself
Then, bit by bit, he bent his feet for
ward in a demilune until his weight
was on knees and toes. His progress
was as painful as It was slow. for the
silk scarf compelled his ankles to
bend in unison. if at all. and even
when he had bent his toes to the
requisite point 1t was a great strain
to keep them there.
The detective, after brief pause
TO gather his strength, set his shoul-
der against the wall ana 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
few moments he was content to revel
in the relaxation that was SO welcome
after his long continuance in
cramped and PROSTATE position, Then
seconds forgetfulness, natural
enough to one accustomed to his free
dom of movement, almost undid the
work of the last half hour. He tried
TO step away from the wall obliyious
to the scarf that bound his ankles,
and pitched forward heavily. He did
not fall to the floor, however, for
something sharp and hard stopped
him. He found himself wedged be-
lNrth iittdiit anu Lut
wall. A venomous 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 heen
perilous before It was extra hazard
Gus now He was gripped in the jaws
formed by the radiator and the wall,
and neither hands nor feet at liberty,
it seemed next to impossible for him
to free himself He 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 It caused eliminated
in final effort that loosed the grip
in which he was held and sent him
staggering in series of two-footed
hops along the wall
Bracing his shoulders once more
against the wall, Britt began another
series of vigorous attempts to break
the silken scarves, or to slip out OF
them. Exerting all his strength. he
strained alternately at wrist and
ankles. and ground between his teeth
the little ball OF silk that blocked his
voice. But 1t was all to no purpose.
His captors knew their trade, and the
clinging bonds while yielding. did not
give at any point suffi iciently to set the
sleuth at liberty. Suddenly thought,
swift and keep as a saber flash, Glove
its way straight through his perplex-
ity. That which imperiled his life
should give him liberty He 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 ironwork
served as a saw, and although more
than once the man gasped as clouds
Of steam whirled about his head, in
fewer minutes than would seem prop
able the metallic edge gnawed its way
through the silk, and the kerchief
parted with abruptness that sent
Britt reeling back against the wall
and crashing headiong TO the floor.
His hands were free! And as that
welcome realization followed the Jar
ring impact OF his head against an
angle of the Dashboard, Lieutenant
Britt laughed softly as with busy fn-
gers he loosed the scarf about his
ankles. snatched the gag from his
mouth. and. with a single shake OF his
shoulders that rippled the kinks out OF
his cramped muscles, strobe to the
window and flung up the sash. One
deep intake of good. cold air, then half
dozen more. and he felt as fit as If
he had not been close to distressing
and altogether ignominious end. He
gripped the sill and leaned far out.
looking first downward, then all
around in quest OF 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 pocket cleo
trio torch and explored the room.