The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-05-14

of this if there is the least chance. |
won't be here and see those rascals
break that safe without doing my best
to prevent it"
But it was easier to resolve than
to act, as is often the case; and the
more Arthur examined his bonds the
less he could see how to loosen them.
His hands were tied behind his back,
his feet dashed together, and the rope
around his neck barely allowed him
to sit up. The cords were drawn
painfully tight and the wooden gag
hurt his mouth cruelty. After series
of fruitless witherings and twistings,
| he lay back to rest. almost discourage
ed.
Meanwhile the burglars had lost no
time, They were now drilling holes
in the safe door around the lock. and
working away like beavers, seldom
speaking and manifestly quite at their
ease regarding discovery. The sentin
ell kept close watch on the empty
street, occasionally turning around to
glance at the lock. Once he left his
post and examined Arthur, rolling him
roughly from side for the purpose of
testing the fastenings, and finding
them quite secure, returned to his
post.
After tumbling me about so, he
might have loosened this thing in my
mouth a little" thought the boy,
wrathfully; he must have seen how it
cuts. Does he think would be fool
enough to make noise, tied up here
among four armed men?
The guards conduct and the in
crcasing pain made Arthur we'll nigh
| IaenaroHn He IaraI hnnlacc
| ly around the space under the count
lamp, until they fell upon large nail,
projecting from the upright to which
he was tied.
An idea struck him. Sitting up, he
found he could just pass his bound
wrists over it, bringing the cord in
contact with the sharp edges of the
nail. Then by bending backward and
forward, he managed to give his
wrists about three inches play, bear
ing down as hard as he could in order
to make the utmost possible friction.
He rubbed away inside the counter
while the robbers hammered and drill
ed without, until sharp Hist" from
the guard stopped them all.
The patrolman was comingl
Instantly the tools were hidden. the
lantern darkened, the men crouched
down out of sight. and when the Of
hcer, after rafting the door handle,
peeped through the shutters as usual,
he saw nothing suspicious, not MOTTO
ing that the gas was a little less brill
Ian than cuStomary-just enough so,
in fact, to conceal the small holes in
the safe, which had been, moreover,
hastily blackened, to prevent any be-
traying glisten from the bright sur
face OF the bored metal.
Another moment. and the man
walked on, the sound of his footsteps
growing fainter, till he passed around
more. Then the robbers resumed
their stations and continued work as
calmly as if they had not just es-
capped a serious danger They were
plainly old hands at their criminal
trade.
But Arthur recommended his work,
likewise. He sawed away as indus
triouSly as his captors drilled, and by
quicker results for in the course of a
quarter of an hour, he had so nearly
severed the cord that smart pull would
break it.
w" tllSHy lHOuSHi lie.
| He braced himself for the pull,
when, all of a sudden, the guard
stood before him!
He threw himself back upon the
bed not a moment too soon. for the
man stopped down scarcely a second
later. Fortunately, while standing,
the robber could not see under the
counter, and fortunately, too, in the
half light he did not notice the frayed
edges of the cord. He was not a whit
more gentle in his handling than be-
fore, and seemed to enjoy treating the
boy roughly.
"Oh, wait, awhile, my friendp'
thought Arthur. Wen see which OF
us IS the prisoner tomorrow morn
ing"
He already considered the fellow
!, his personal enemy-a feeling probab-
ly shown by the expression of his
tace-for the robber cursed him in a
whisper and bestowed an entirely
gratuitouS kick upon his ibis before
leaving.
Arthur, boiling with rage. watched
the man out of sight, and went 10
work again, more than ever dctermin-
ed to make his escape and Necure the
! arrest of the whole party.
a sharp tug, and the rope broke,
!. fell from his hands. and he street.-The, /
on. his cramped arms At tull length
while they ached and pricklci SO sew
erelJ as the blood rushed back irto
them, that he could hardly endure the
Cain.
But minutes were precious-the ruff
nan at the door might return al any
moment-and he managed - unite
the other laShings, and rem I'VE tine
gag which had tortured him so long.
Yet, is spite of all the necessity for
haste, It was some time before he
could do more than to smother his
groans.
Everybody knows how a hand or
la foot feels when it is asleep" Well