Omaha daily bee., 1917-05-27
The Knotted Cord.


In the Office of the chief Of police,
Helen, with Melrose, Webb and Roy
Wilson, impatiently awaited news con-
cerning touring car No. S247o. Instead
of news, a call came from the depot
reporting that q patrol officer had
been knocked on the head and lett
senseless on the platform. From the
baggageman the chief got descrip-
ton OF the officers assailants and
what was Of more Importance
learned that the two men had shipped
a trunk on No. 9 to Pedro.
Lady Melrose may be in that
trunk exclaimed Helen, listening ca
gerly,
Mclrose snorted incredulously:
"lmpossiblep
mo" persisted Helen impetuously.
"With that gang nothing is impos-
sible." She turned quickly to her conf
panions: we can beat No. Mines
time to Pedro. Come"
Webb started for the door. Wilson
and lle.en were close behind and Mel
rose, ha.i-dazed at the suddenness Of
the move, followed. They tumbled into
a po,icc car, and with sergeant at
the wheel started at emergency speed
ior the harbor terminal.
The highway parallels the railroad
track to Pedro, and after catching
sight OF the train they soon over
hauled it. Helen, always the wit and
resource of the party, now gave her
.,r.io,. - tha Irt.,nr. hDnat the kra,n
to the Burnette bridge--the overhead
crossing. I'll drop from it to the top
Of the train and if Lady Melrose is
: in that trunk, I'll take her place.
The startling proposal shbok even
Webbs' courage; he caught his
breath. Wilson and Melrose declared
her insane, but Helen was obdurate
and she carried her point. The SER
geant urged the police car madly
ahead. Once at the bridge, Helen
clingng to the edge, swung hand over
hand above No. 9s track. As the
train shot under her, she dropped to
the baggage car roof. Z.
The messenger within heard the
heavy fall. Believing he faced hold.
up, he slammed all shut and made
ready to defend. But Helen, lowering
herself from the top of the car
showed him, through the window, her
star. He promptly opened the door
and, swinging inside, she explained
But when she helped him open the
trunk, her fears were realized; Lady
Melrose lay senseless within il.
With the aid OF the messenger
Helen lifted her gently out. and then
to the amazement OF the trainman
told him she herself would take the
place of the unconscious woman--
directing him how TO close the trunk
and leave it to be claimed.
Her companions in the police ma
chine, by speeding furiously, had al
ready beaten the train into Pedro
the intention being to let the Raider;
claim their trunk and follow them tc
their headquarters that all might bt
taken together. ..t.-
When the train pulled in Marshal
and Masters claimed their trunk. ant
putting it into their machine, startec
away, Helen's companions following
But. careful as Webb was, Master!
saw the pursuersA "Webbs behinC
u.s. he cried TO Marshall
Marshall acted promptly. Get he
out of the trunk" he shouted as tn,
car reeled with the breakneck speed
Throw it overheard and well beat i
for Ling Woo's." .t
Helen, listening, heard the words
Ripping a strip OF cord from tn
trunk lining, she rapidly tied into !
by means Of knots, the dots AM
dashes OF Morse message The alb
ductors were already opening tn
trunk. Resisting an impulse to us
her pistol, she feigned unconscious
ness in order to go through TO tn
end and capture all concerned. TIL
next moment she was lifted from he
hiding place and the trunk was throw
off. The machine was now With
sight Of the ferry slip; boat wa
about to start across the bay. Wit
Helen between them. the two me
fastened aboard just as Webb's ca
reached the discarded trunk on tn
roadway. Unluckily, Webb, stoppe
to open the trunk. Then, finding
empty, he dashed for the ferry, bu
only TO see the boat halfway acros
the bay.
Explaining, to the curious that the
were taking a sick woman TO the no:
lital, Masters and Marshall, withou
interference, got Helen TO Lin
Woo's. True to his word, the latte
paid the two men the money prom
ised, but as her captors started to gt