The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-04-09
AT Four
O'Clock
Story Of a Narrow
Escape
By cLARIssA MAcKIH

Y ~ SA<AANASS<A 4N4<AAAAAA 4
Jaros Wostokow stared sullenly at
young Maitland as the paymaster
showed his pay envelope through the
little grated window.
you dock me that day loser" he
growled threateningly.
TITS the rule Of the company, you
know, Jaros," he said patiently. IF
it's worth days pay to you to get
drunk it's your own fault Take my
advice and leave the rum alone. Then
you'll get full pay. Move along and
give the other chaps a chance"
Jaros flung a backward glance Of
hate toward the paymaster and the
cashier as he went out, and he saw
something in that brief glance that
caused light to flicker into his dull
gray eyes.
The men had all received their pay,
and the paymaster and the cashier
were alone. Maitland was gazing down
at the girl with an unmistakable look
in his eyes. and the girl. Miss Lane,
was blushing consciously.
Jaros Wostokow turned away salts
fed. With something tangible to work
upon he could have revenge upon the
misery paymaster. ALA, his golden
haired daughter, could help him. She,
too. hated Americans. If Dick Matt
land loved Edith Lane, then 1t was
through Miss Lane that disaster would
come to him.
On the following Monday afternoon,
just as Edith Lane had turned the cor
ner of the street beyond the Fleck
foundry, she was approached by a
fearful young girl, who inquired the
way to the nearest hospital dispensary.
my mother-she is suddenly ILL., She
is dying just beyond here. know not
what to dor she walled in voice with
foreign accent.
Edith looked at her quickly. She
was young and pretty and evidently
poor. The neighborhood was one in
habited by many of the foreigners who
worked at the foundry.
Take me to your mother" she said
hastily. Perhaps I can revive her
while you run for doctor. There must
be drug store near by. The druggist
will direct you to doctor"
At 10 o'clock that same evening Dick
Maitland received telephone message
from Edith's home.
Have you seen EdithT' asked Mrs
Lane anxiously. "She hasn't been
home since noon."
Not since noon? Why, she left the
Office at o'clock, as usual-said she
was going out to play cards this even
ing. What can have happenedT" Dick
was anxious.
I'll call up all of her girl friends
and see if she has stopped anywhere,
but it is unlike Edith to do anything
like that. She is so thoughtful"
"Call me the instant you get word
from her," said Dick. "Pll wait here
till you phone again"
He hung up the receiver and paced
the floor with worried frown creas
ing his forehead.
What had become of Edith Lane?
Had she met with an accident on her
way home and was lying dead or dy-
ing and quite unknown In one Of the
city hospitals? He would inquire of
each one.
he leaped to the telephone again, for
it was ringing madly. A girls voice
fn hic ctr nd
frightened, but he forgot the tones in
the words that came over the wire.
Come, come to me. / am in great
trouble, In danger-No. Vroon street :
Come at once. Helpp
1t was Edith calling to him for help! |
He dashed into his outer garments
paused to notify Mrs. Lane of the dis
covery and that he was on the way to !
Edith, and then he was down in the |
street jumping into a taxicab.
Vroon street was miles away, the |
driver told him, on the outskirts of the |
city, and it would take half hour to |
get there at a fast clip.
Get me there in twenty minutes and |
you'll not regret IT, snapped Dick, and |
the man earned the money.
Vroon street was pit of blackness, |
lighted by solitary lamp post halfway |
down its length There was a dark |
bulk of frame tenements against the |
sky with long spaces Of vacant lots be
tween.
The cab stopped before a small de |
tached cottage standing in the midst |
Of a large empty lot, and Dick babe |
him wait, but the man refused.
I've got another fare waiting for |
me-" he protested and pocketed the |
money Dick paid him There's a car |
line three blocks east of here. You can
walk that easily"
The machine moved away, and Dick |
felt in his pocket for his revolver. 1t
was there. He approached the cottage
with sinking heart.
1t was dark and gloomy, but some
body within the house had been watch
ing for him, for the door opened In |
ward, and as he passed through some
thing soft and thick was tossed over
his head, tied tightly about his neck,
and he was grasped in strong arms and
his hands and feet bound, and he was
tossed in the corner of a room on to |
bare boards
Footsteps crossed the room heavily |
and left the house. and the front door
was locked. and some person left the
premises.
A great silence fell upon the cottage