The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-12-28
EIGHTH EPISODE
The Knotted Cord.


In the office Of the chief Of police
Helen, with Melrose. Webb and Roy
Wilson, impatiently awaited news con
corning touring a No. 52479. Instead
or news, a Gull came from the depo1
reporting that a patrol officer had beer
knocked on the head and left sense
less on the platform. From the bag
Eageman the chief got a description oil
n officers assailants and what was
OF the more Importance, learned tina
d two men had shipped a trunk or
No. Q to Pedro.
Lady Melrose may be in thai
trunk" exclaimed Helen, listening ea.
gerly.
Melrose snorted incredulously: "Im.
possible J"
NO." persisted Helen impetuously
With that gang nothing Is impossible
She turned quickly to her companions
I'VE an beat Number Mines time to
Pedro. Gomez
Webb started for the door. Wilson
and Helen were close behind and Mel
rose, half-dazed at the ~suddenness of
the move, followed. They tumbled into
a police car, and with a sergeant at
the wheel started at emergency speed
for the harbor terminal.
The highway parallels the railroad
track to Pedro, and after catching
sight Of the train they soon o~verhauled
1t. Helen, always the wit and esourc
OF the party. now gave her orders to
the driver: "Beat the train to the Bur-
nett brldge-the overhead crossing.
All drop from 1t to the top of the train
and II Lady Melrose is in that trunk,
I'll take her place."
The startling proposal shook even
Webb's courage: he caught his breath.
Wilson and Melrose declared Der in
sane, but Helen was obdurate and SHE
carried her point. The sergeant urged
the police car madly ahead. Once at
the bridge, Helen, clinging to the edge.
swung hand W hand above No. 9's
track. AS the train shot under her.
she dropped to the baggage-car root.
The messenger within heard the
heavy fall. Believing he faced a hold
up, he slammed all doors shut and made
ready for defense. But Helen, lowering
herself from the top Of the car, showed
him. through the window, her star. He
promptly opened the door, and, swing
ing inside, she explained. But when
she helped him open the trunk, her
fears were realized: Lady Melrose lay
s~enseless within it.
With the aid Of the messenger, Helen
lifted her gently out, and then, to the
nmazement of the trainman, told him
she herself would take the place Of the
unconscious woman - directing him
how to close the trunk and leave 1t 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 Raiders
claim their trunk and follow them to
their headquarters that all might be
taken together.
When the train pulled In, Marshall
and Masters claimed their trunk, and
putting It into their machine, started
away, Helen's companions following.
But careful as Webb was, Masters
saw the pursuerA "Webb's behind u.s."
he cried to Marshall.
Marshall acted promptly. "Get her
ont e the trunk" he shouted as the
q reeled with the breakneck speed.
Throw 1t overheard and we'll beat 1t
Tor Ling Wo's."
Helen. listening, heard the words.
Ripping . strip Of cord from the trunk
lining, she rapidly tied into It by means
- knots, the dots and dashes Of q
Morse message. The abductors were
already opening the trunk. Resisting
IN impulse to . her pistol, she
felgned unc0nsciOusness In order to 60
through to the end and capture all
concerned. The next moment she was
lifted from her hiding place and the
trunk was thrown OF. The machine
was now within sight Of the ferry slip +;
= boat was about to start across the
bay. With Helen between them, the
tw0 men fastened aboard just a.
Webs car reached the discarded
trunk on the roadway. Unluckily,
Webb stopped to open the trunk. Then,
hiding II empty. he dashed for the
ferry, but only to g the boat half
way across the bay.
Explaining to the curious that they
were taking I sick woman to the hos
apltaI. Masters and Marshall, without
Interference, got Helen to Ling Woo's.