Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-02-02
CHAPTER XII.
The Empty Apartment.

When Britt CROPPED his way out Of
the soundest sleep he had known in
many q year, II was in absolute ig-
norance of his whereabouts. He
rssped desperately several times be-
fore be returned to anything like his
normal breathing.
Mingled with the peculiar taste OF
the smcthering dark was a faint odor
mike anything in the headquarters
mans experience.
Il had a persistence all its own, and
when he tried to persuade himself
hIs sensory nerves had played a trick
upon him, It wresthed into his nostrils
With unmistakable individuality.
Britt needed no effort to rise to tell
him be still was Bound hand and foot,
and IN the first instant of his full
awakening he realized the silken gag
still held his speech in thrall. He bit
tie ball Of silk savagely, and strained
bis tongue until the roots ached in en-
deavors TO force the gag out OF his
mouth As well might he, helpless as
70 hands and feet as he was, have
tried TO shake OF a gorilla's grip at
bis throat Yet the seeming hopeless
ness Of his plight did not disturb him
greatly. He had been in worse places.
Il vas q question of patience, perse-
verance and pluck, and when It came
70 virile qualities, the famous Central
o1lce man was sbundantly and allit-
srstively 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 serviceable
strength. After many minutes passed
n vain efforts to free himself, he re-
lsxed bis body and limbs for a short
but complete rest, meanwhile bending
hiH mind to the task of determining
where he was. The result Of his men,
"a endeavor was as fruitless as the
other. All he knew at the end OF it
vas that he lay on a bare floor in a
room which, from the sound of his
heels on the boards, he judged was
snail That thought suggested to him
. means of summoning help other
han vocal.
ne began drumming on the boards
uIn his heels. It was firing work,
ior his ankles were held so close that,
Win his feet beating in alienation.
he could not make much noise. To
make sound likely to carry far, he
~a to raise and lower his heels to-
eher--an achievement that sounds
esy until one has tried doing 1t many
umes. With al his endurance he
COULD not keep It up for many minu-
ives at a stretch. In the intervals he
strained his hearing for a response.
None came.
Dliu rolled over on his face. As
m' hands were tied behind his back.
ms.enin rested on the floor. and he
20 little leverage by which to lift
lmseh Several times he tried to
H'e TO his knees, only to slip
-'a oruise his face on the hard floor.
,aose mishaps we're painful, but not
saeOuraging to man OF Britt reso-
a'eness. Again and again he made
suempt; again and again he
-Aea' but at last, with a mighty
ave mat left him painting. he raised |
a''eh BY a catapult movement and |
oack on his heels, waiting to
Nleh his breath.
I was harder task to get on his
!. he could not do it in the middle
NE noor. Slowly, carefully. he
SAeo nis way on his knees to the
= against which he braced himself. !
-se' DIT BY bit. he bent his feet for
~ N demilune until his weight
W Knees and toes. His progress
,n as painful as It was slow. for the
sean compelled his ankles to
- N unison, II at all, and even
-sa ne had bent his toes to the
solsite point 1t was a great strain
Y weep them there.
me detective, after n brief pause
q. ea'ner his strength. set his shout
-. akainst the wall and threw all his
m ln'o a single. vigorous push.
n. movement almost threw him to
pol.- again, but he recovered his
=. quickly and stood erect. For a
4 noments he was content IN reveI
- Ne ralax,ts. -