The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-12-23


the windows Of the brought
tn as It whirled past park
,.- ~. lamns Britz saw that all
three Of his captors were dark OF fea-
ture and 1.-THE CT form. He strained
his gaze to Ak their faces in his men,
cry. but he knew a. he did II the out
hines he visualizcd were too hasy to
make future recognition certain.
A slight jolt. and three moro in
avift succession. told the detective
the carriage had turred out Of the
BARK and was crossing Central Park
West. That was certain, because there
were no car lines in Fifth Avenue nor
n One Hundred and Tenth Street,
and in Fifty-ninth Street the stretch
Of asphalt between the macadam OF
the drive and the crosstown tracks
was much wider than the brougham
dad crossed before the first Of the
5olts. BY which gate tho brougham
had made its exit was another ques-
tion.
He continued counting the blocks
until. wheeling sharply to the right,
che horses headed north, and change
In the sound Of their hoofs betrayed
that they had left the asphalt ana
were on the macadam again.
"rhe Drive!" Britx told himself with
Q slight glow of satisfaction.
1t was at that point Britz made his
first mistake of the trip. Tho latch or
the left door was Jared loose by an
uneven crossing. and the detective
felt tho door give slightly against ms
shoulder. With a powerful contornon
or his, wiry frame. he threw OH the
men above him long enough 10 iiins
himself against the door.
Britt reckoned on the likelihood that
his fall from the carriage would Do
Seen by q patroiman--at any rate, that
his attempt at escape would cause
commotion sure to result IN ponce an.
terference. He did not expect 70 eet
away unaided; he was bound TOO So
cureiy for that. q.
He was shocked mentally as well as
physically, when his fall was stoppsSS
%ith n Jerk, and the back OF MS neao
str,,ck with cruel force against the
csrriage step. Just for a SECONDS
night. reinforced steel and rupoer
1houeh he was, he lost consciousness.
when his senses returned he was IN
<he same pOsition--head dankiinR,
shoulders resting against the RODS OF
the step, back bent painfully over the
eteel-shod threshold OF the carriage
Moor, legs inside. gripped In a hoid
not all his struggles could break. his
ankles still were bound. so, for tnnt
matter, were his Wrists. with ms
hands behind him. The scarf nanoaE. ".
inr his eyes had slipped partly TO MS
forehead, SO that he could see little;
but, in his upside down position, ne
could not sec the sidewalk: only the
treetops and the dusk line OF the
Paiisades wero in his limo OF vision.
The eax was Hxed as firmly az ever.
He tried 20 call for help, but the cry
was smothered In his throat.
The coach man had whipped his
horses to a gallop and was speeding
them up . slope. over the edge OF
eyes Britz got a glimpse OF the
Soldiers and Sailors Monument. lie
Knew exactly where he was then.
The horses struck slope that took
them out Of the Drive. Britx guessed
they could not go far without en-
countering q policeman.
Suddenly tho sleuth felt frightful,
burning pain in the back OF his hand.
Tho agony was duplicated IN the
knuckles OF the other. Strive though
he did with all his grit and strength
10 retain his grip, his fingers opened
srainst his will. the tendons con.
tracted by the biting agony. and
Sfitz knew a powerful acid had been
sprinkled on his hands. He could not
close them again In the first moment
Of his torment, and before his mus
cies could recover from the shock the
away OF the brougham swung MN
clear Of the rods. Then, by the
united strength Of the three INSIDE;
with a single tug into the carriage.
The door was slammed and the
coachnan brought his horses back 70
their housekeeping trot. suddenly
they slowed to a walk.
whats wrong here? asked voice
.Hello. Rsfferty," said the driver
with the easy familiarity OF q night
hawk toward the rank and ME OF me
force, "Just a bunch OF DRINKS IN
taking 10 their little white COTS No
added in an undertone.
. N was tust then that Britz made ms
.Arond mistake. lie breathed too
doepiy in an effort to fill his emptled
lungs. Tho air Britz breathed was
mixed with a subtle something that
gradually stole his senses and leit
him, though healthily aliVe' an Iner'
heap under the feet Of his csptors'
When Brits CROPPED his way out OF
the soundest sleep he had known IN
many q year, 1t was in absolute ignor-
snce OF his whereabouts. All he knew
was that he was lying. bound, In
dark room. "
Nv a mighty effort he got to his feet.
HIS hands touched radiator. He
iaboriouely rubbed his wrist bonds
Srainst Q rough corner Of 1t until the
eIlksn letters broke. Lieut.. Britz
laughed softly a. with busy myers
10 ioosed the scarf about his ankles.
snatchsd the gag from his mouth. and.
NTH q sin0le shake Of. his shoulders
stAss Ptppied the kinks- out OF his
Cgampad muscles, strobe to the win
dow and flung up the sash.
There was & fire escape on the floor
WhSnce he looked out-A thoroughly
Aod~rn co0tytvanoo With fiat steps,