New Ulm review., 1912-09-18
MEHMH.::

cidedly small. A man in pitch black
ness, with hands and feet strapped. is
not likely to roll into what might be
q bottomless abyss at his side, or
wriggle upon what Il in all probabil.
ity q most uncleanly floor. 49,. ..
They could breathe through the bag
ging. though particles of lint and dust
came into mouth and nose, and no
attempt had been made to gag them.
Judging from the long time 1t had TAX
en- their captors to lug them down
into the depths Of their prison. they
were far below the surface Of the
street, and equally far from any
chance to bring rescue by using their
voices. No attempt had been made
to search them-the crafty Mr.. YAH
moto evidently figured that he had an
amplitude of time. Beyond a doubt
he would soon return to rob and pre-
sumably to interrogate them, but at
the present moment no sound could
be heard except the heavy breathing
Of the prisoners.
A half.muf1ed, half.sputtering noise
reached Brockett's ears, and even in
the darkness OF his own trouble he
felt almost inclined to laughter as he
realized that Solano was trying des.
perately to talk against painful handi-
caps. Rrockett strained his ears, and
managed to catch the Cuban's accents
as solano tried bravely to express his
opinions.
1--WE are-pair of blamed FOOLS
utchook, achoo!" came through the
bagging.
"Worse than that. Boneheads for
fair" Brockett responded.
"Bag-heads you mean-atchak, at
choo!" gurgled Solano. Easy marks.
Softer than pillows"
up against it-katchi, katchoo-"
sneezed Brockett, tiny cloud of dust
getting in his nostrils. Don't you
hear feet? Our friends-coming back"
The trample OF several pairs of feet,
In fact, became distinct, and rough
hands raised the prisoners. They felt
themselves trundled across the floor
and then felt the ropes around their
legs relaxing. Someone pushed them
down into chairs, and someone lifted
the bags from their faces. The boys
blinked in the flaring light of kerosene
lamps, and then stared around their
prison.
They were seated beside a rough
Kitchen table, on the other side Of
which Mr.. Yazimoto, with an almost
benevolent smile, was lingering few
envelopes and bits of paper. At Mr..
Yazimoto's right sat broad-shouk
dered young man, with a swarthy face
and mass of curly black hair. To
the left of the Japanese was a similar
young man, equally swarthN also
adorned with mass of curly black
! hair, but somewhat more slender and
graceful In his supple figure. Another
youth. Of unmistakably Jewish origin,
was looking after two lamps which
had been placed upon shelves at tho.
sides OF the room. Both OF the men,
with Mr. Yazimoto were unmistakably
Italians, and apparently brothers.
Tho room itself had apparently
been roughly dug as a sort of sub.
cellar, or retreat to which the clans.
of the Chinatown district could re-.
treat In time of trouble. 1t was at
least twenty feet square and perhaps.
ten feet high, with rough cement,
walls, dirt floor, no furnishings ex.
cept the table and a few chairs, and
with no sign Of an entrance or an exit
anywhere around its sides. AS a pris-
on, 1t was ideal-far below the level
of the street, unknown, unmapped and
unsuspected.
Mr.. Yazimoto gave his captives q
few minutes in which to get their
bearings and become accustomed to
their surroundings. Then, smiling