The Dickinson press., 1915-04-10

listening. We listened also. There
certainly was a most peculiar noise
inside that tank.
Was it a mufled scream? DOH
Kennedy reached down and picked
up a rock, hitting the tank with a re-
sounding blow. AS the echo died
down. he listened again.
Yes, there was a sound-a scream.
perhaps-a woman's voice, faint, but
tunmistakable. . "
I looked at his face inquiringly.
Without a word I read in it the con-
hrmation Of the thought that had
flashed into my mind. ~.
Elaine Dodge was inside!
First had come the limousine, with
Its three bandits, to the spot fixed on,
as a rendezvous. Later had come the
taxicab. AS it hove into sight, the
three well-dressed crooks had drawn
revolvers, thinking perhaps the plan
for getting rid of Kennedy might pos
slbly have miscarried. But the taxi,
~cabsdriver and the rough-faced fellow
had treasured them with the sign OF
the Clutching Hand, and the revolvers
were lowered.
AS they parleyed hastily, the
roughneck and the fake chauffeur;
lifted Elaine out of the taxi. She was
bound and gagged.
well now we've got her, what shall
we do with herr" asked one.
ITS got to be quick. There's, an.
other cab" put in the driver.
"The deuce with that"
"The deuce with nothing" he re.
turned. THAT fellow Kennedy's d
clever one. He may come to. If be
does, he won't miss us. Quick, nowl"
"See," cried the third. "See that old
boiler down there at the edge Of the
water? Why not put her in theref
No one'll aver think to look in such
a place."
With a hasty expression of approval,
the roughneck picked Elaine up bodily
still struggling vainly, and together
they carried her, bound and gagged
to the tank. The opening, which was
toward the water, was small, but they
managed, roughly, to thrust her in.
A moment later and they had rolled
up a huge bowlder against the small
entrance, bracing it so that it would
be impossible for her to get out from
the inside. Then they drove off hast
lily.
. Frantically Elaine managed to-
loosen the gag. She screamed. Her
voice seemed to be bound around by1
the iron walls as she was herself. She
shuddered. The water was rising
had reached her chest, and was still
rising, slowly, inexorably.
What was that? Silence? Or was
someone outside?
y .
Coolly, in spite of the emergency,
Kennedy took in the perilous situa4
ition.
The lower end of the boiler, which
was on a slant on the rapidly shelving
beach, was completely under wa
ter and impossible to get at. Besides,
the opening was small, too small.
Kennedy gazed about frantically
and his eye caught the sign on the
factory:
: OXYACETYLENE WELDING co. !
Come, Walter" he cried, running
up the shore.
A moment later, breathless, we
reached the doorway. 1t was, OF
course, locked. Kennedy whipped out
his revolver and several well-directed
shots through the keyhole smashed
the lock. We put Jul shoulders to IT
and swung the door open. entering
the factory.
Beside a work bench stood two long
cylinders, studded with bolts. =
That's what I'm looking for" ext
claimed Craig. Here, Walter, take
one. I'll take the other-and the
tubes-and-" !
We ran, for there was no time to-
lose. AS nearly as I could estimate It,
the water must now be slowly CLOSING
over Elaine. !:
What is it," I asked, Is he Joined
up the eSbes from the tanks to the
peculiar hooklike apparatus he cary
Sied.
can ~oxyacetylene blowpipe'" he mutt
tered back feverishly. USED for weld
ing and cutting, too" he added.
With a light he touched the nozzle;
instantly a Kissing, binding damet
needle made the steel under it incan1
descent. The terrific heat from one
nozzle made the steel glow. The
stream Of oxygen from the second
completely consumed the hot metal
Kennedy was actually cutting out a
huge hole in the still exposed surface
of the tank-all around, except for a
few inches, to prevent the heavy
piece from falling inward. !
A. KonnoAv corePuI1v hent outward