The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-02-08

lower floor Of the elevator for short
time merchandise storage. | am In
structed TO bring the books back TO the
Office. We shall 30 over them thor
oughly and see how far the discharged
Delbrldge has manipulated them"
Dare had barely unlocked the safe
when the door was burst open. Three
men entered the room.
"rhose twom cried Verda, paling
and arising to her feet in consterna.
lion. "Ihey are the men who followed
me from the depot"
The third Dare at once recognized
as Delbrldge, the discharged manager.
AT signal from the latter his asso-
ciate seized Dare by the arms and
backed him TO the wall Delbridge
picked up the books Dare had dropped
when assailed.
Wen see TO II that these telltale
documents don't see the light again"
he chuckled. Then he turned upon the
affrighted Verda. "We mean business"
he said coolly, but you're not going to
be harmed. Your friends have tried to
blacken my reputation and you've got
To pay for IT,"
What do you meant" breathed Yer.
da in a tremulous tone.
81 mean that I'm going TO leave these
parts and propose that you finance me
for the Journey" bluntly responded the
villain. "YOu have plenty of money.
You will give me an order or check
for five thousand dollars. I'll send one
Of my men to get it cashed. When he
does, you shall go free"
"Yes, yes" assented Verdn readily,
"only do not mlstreat Mr.. Darew
The latter was struggling to release
himself and his two captors were treat
ing him roughly.
'Do not give these scoundrels cent,
Miss Bliss !" shouted Dare, and made
Il desperate effort to break away from
them.
Here :" cried Delbridge, sliding back
door ut one side of the little room.
Give him the benefit of solitude and
darkness till we finish our negotiations
with the young lady"
Verda screamed in outright terror as
the two men gave Dare fling into
dark space and Delbridge drew close
the door again. Dare felt himself fall
ing. He swung out both hands. One
grazed chain, there was sharp
click. The chain slipped through his
fingers and he went downward several
feet and landed on mass resembling
n bank of shifting sand.
In flash he guessed where he was
in one Of those sealed compartments
where grain was stored. The close
musty air was sitting. He had
sunk up to the knees in the mass of
oats. Like man in quicksand
his body began to sink deeper and
deeper He tried to anchor himself
steady. The feat could not be accom-
plished. Then he noted with thrill
of concern that the mass was moving
and that he was moving with it.
The grain was going down the dis
charge chute, he decided.
The chain he had grazed must be
the one controlling the door to the
chute down which ordinarily grain was
loaded into the holds of boats taking in
a cargo. Twice the mass nearly en-
quilted him. With n prodigiOus effort
Dare drew his feet out Of the gyrat-
ing mass and managed to lay fiat on
his back. At the rate of hundreds Of
bushels minute the grain was pour
ing into the mouth of the chute. He
was tossed, rolled, engulfed, cast up
wards like q feather amid tumbling,
rushing sea drift. Gradually the vOr-
tex current lowered, he aimed to strike
the side of the great bin with his feet,
missed, and was whirled into the con-
fined space of the glass-smooth sides
of the chute.
Splash He had reached the end OF
the chute to fall not into the hold of
some boat but squarely into the river.
He came up to find himself In the
midst of a flood of thousands of bush
els of floating grain.
"Ahoy, there /" rang out boisterous
tone from the dock, and a rope was
flung him by one Of thrOng wonder
ngly viewing the strange waste OF
precious grain. Dare was pulled up
to the wharf platform, half blinded,
choking, well-nigh cOllapsing.
"Quick !" he gasped-"some one hur-
ry for the police"
"What's up?" challenged his rescuer.
"Some scoundrels-they tried to kill
me. They are holding a young lady
captive up in the elevator office"
Contrary to their designs, the schem-
ing Delbridge and his confederates
were led out of the building hand
cuffed by the emissaries Of the law
Miss Bliss clung to Dare's arm in few
erish, almost hysterical agitation.
She shuddered as Dare recited his
uncanny experience. She was solicitous
and kindly, more than friendly, as they
proceeded back to the lawyers office.
Wise, observant Samuel Crompton
smiled quietly to himself as he heard
what had happened.
INV client will soon have husband
TO look after her affairs" he solilo-
quiZed.