The Washington herald., 1916-10-31


Today shopping on Fifth avenue. I met
Hazet Dawn.
Doll look as II had been rehearsing
twelve and even fifteen hours a day?'
she asked me.
I glanced at her sparkling blue eyes,
rosy cheeks and red lips, then shook
my head.
mo one would guess It"
I'VE open in less than two weeks and
am about scared to death. Really. 1t
isn't half SO much fun as pictures" she
confided to me Il love the out-of-doors.
even to that yawny getting up in the
morning. You know that I was born in
Salt Lake City. and, like all Western
girls, ride horseback, drive a car, swim.
canoe and mountain climb
"I know" I replied. I have heard It
said you are another of the fearless girls
in pictures. There is nothing you are
afraid to do. at least once"
Hazel Dawn's eyes grew suddenly very
serious.
It's all very well to boast" she re-
piled, until someone takes you up on it,
l made a remark once when we were
up in the Catsklls. that nothing could
trighten me. My director, James hIrk-
wood, laughed at this
You'd better look for your landing
place before you leap, he cautioned me
'Brag little and suffer much"
paid no attention to this and the days
went by until 1t was almost time for
our return to New York The last even
ing at the little. unfrequented resort
where we were staying. We gave an in
formal dance
Let's put on our evening dresses I
suggested TO the other girls. It's the
first opportunity We have had to wear
ANYTHING e1rYf Yfs
so we donned our party frOcks and
the evening spun merrily along It was
about II O'Clock when one of the maids
came in to tell me that a gentleman out
side on the veranda was waiting to speak
to me. It's probably one of the boys I
thought to myself. so hurried out of the
hall without saying word to anyone.
walking around the veranda, thought
l saw the familiar figures Of the leading
man and Mr.. Kirkwood, but as l ap-
preached them. they stepped into the
shadows.
Did anyone want me?' 1 asked
Before could say anything more, both
men sprang forward, one holding my
arms, the other forcing a gag into my
mouth. I tried to scream. but it was to
no avail. 1 kicked as hard as could but
in a jifry the men had wound a rope
around me and carried me OF the YER
anda. In the distance / could hear the
clash OF the cymbals and a round Of ap-
plause when the dance was over
First I was lifted into an automobile,
and then covered by a huge robe AL
though I strained my ears, could not
catch a sound OF what the men were
saying while they whispered to each 9TH
er before the machine started down the
hill at fifty miles an hour. There came
rush OF cool air. could feel the ma
chine whirling around the mountain
roads, and then the minutes slowly drag
ged into hours. Once we stopped It was
by some stream of water which could
hear bubbling ovef the rocks. They
hlled the engine. then one OF the men
In husky voice asked me II I would
have drink Of water.
I shook my head and tried to talk,
hoping they would at least take the
bandage off my eyes. But they paid no
further attention to me.
Then 1 began to recognize the sounds
OF the city, the whistles, the thunder OF
the elevated railroads, the whir of a
thousand automobiles. Finally the ma
chine came to a standstill and was car
ried up flight OF steps. One Of the men
evidently rang the bell, for few min
utes later the door opened and a woman's
shril voice commanded them to drag me
upstairs
BY this time must admit was pal
DtSN WIN terror, ana Wnen Iell one OF
the men taking the bandage of my eyes
and untytng me, finally removing the
gag. 1 almost swooned. The room was
dark. The men disappeared. I heard a
key turned in the lock.
My first impulse was TO scream: then
l staggered around the room, looking for
the lights. With almost a joyous cry I
found the switch and pressed the button.
But the switch had been destroyed;
there were no lights
"A few minutes later the key once more
turned in the lock and the old woman
with the shrill voice opened the door. In
one hand she held lighted lamp. in the
other revolver leveled at me.
Don't scream. don't make a sound.
but follow me- she ordered.
Trembling so my teeth ratified like dice
in a box, I followed her down a fight of
stairs and into room where, in the dark
ness, 1 could see the shadows of many
people sitting around a table.
Turn on the lights, the woman shril-