The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-01-25
My First
Case
By Margaret EsteIle Anderson
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


n softly dying echo Of sound like the
last expiring note of musical thren-
ody. ! sprang from the seat and went
over the machine. Then | removed
cushion, unscrewed the tanE top,
probed II with the measuring ruler.
LESS than three-quarters OF an inch
of gasoline" soliloquIzed ruefully.
There's nothing but sediment to draw
from and that below the strain pipe.
BOtherw
1t was not a pleasant, hopeful, nor
apparently mendable mlsadventure. /
knew that the nearest town lay six
miles behind me, the city twelve miles
ahead, The road was traversing had
not shown an average Of one farm
house 10 the mile and that sparse
nelghborhood could scarcely support
garage. was thinking hard what was
best to do, when pedestrian came up.
5 "Stalledr' he intlmated. whats
the troubler
"Gas gone. You don't happen to
know where could get any2"
"U-um Let me see," drawled my
chance visitor muslngly, why, yes.
You see that grove OF trees, sixty rods
ahead7 Well. 1t hides Lanyons farm
house. They have a machine and can
help you out"
| thanked the man, who went lum-
bering along on his way. Sure enough,
as | got past the grove a farmhouse
showed. It was dark and wrapped In
gloom, and as | entered the gateway
OF Its front yard fiared my pocket
electric torch to guide me. l went up
the steps, focused the light rays to
find no bell knob and knocked on the
door. There was no response to my
rapping, even after 1 had repeated it
half dozen times.
Nobody home" muttered, disgust
edly and disagreeably enough, and had
a daring idea in my mind to visit the
barn structure at the rear and burst
my way in, If necessary to explore for
the possible gasoline surplus kept on
hand, when fancied l caught the echo
of voice inside the house.
l descended the steps and, flaring the
light as much to attract attention as
to guide my course, descended them
and walked slowly around one side of
the house Near to a small porch
paused. Again a cry, a call from In
side, reached my hearing l got up
on the porch, ran my light across
low French window, and fixed the rays
upon a chair against the inside wall.
In it was seated a girl, pale, eager
faced, with parted lips and wild eyes
In which there lurked a haunted ex-
preston. Those lips moved, Push
in the window" she cried out.
I did so. Il have broken the CATCH"
l said alphabetically, as I stepped over
the low sill"
"That does not matter" spoke the
girl rapidly. you are a stranger.
What brought you hereT
"The need of gasoline" told her.
as there any about the placer
"Yes. Are you bound for the city?"
"Yes"
Anu yOuT supply SdN0 JUL II JOu
viii help me, will help you"
Help your" 1 repeated vaguely.
you mean"
II am prisoner, and those who have
chained me here may return at any
moment. so hasten, oh please don't
delay. Then l will show you where the
i;asOline is, provided you take me to
the city"
"Why, certainly" replied, mystifed
and dubious. "Chained? Why, so you
areW
/ was startled, l was thrilled. AS l
drew nearer to the girl l discovered
that chain enCircled her waist.
Through this ran another chain, and
this was padlocked under the chair,
holding the girl helpless prisoner.
"The key to the paddock is on the
mantel. Oh, hurry hurry! hurry J"
pleaded the girl breathlessly.
7 could not analyze the situation
coherently. Was she demented, and
thus made helpless so she could not
rove about and do mischief to life and
property? Taking risk, l released
her. She seized a bunch Of keys and
toid me to follow her ran to the barn,
unlocked a door, and pointed to tank
with a funneled zinc bucket beside 1t.
made two trips to the automobile,
and had got the machine started when
the girl. who had gone back to the
house, came running UP, dressed for
the open air and carrying several par
cels In her arm. These she threw into
the rear seat and jumped in herself.
"You said you would take me to the
city." she spoke in strained, eager
tone.
az will keep my promise" / replied,
"only-I don't understand"
~You shall, when l am sure we are
we'll on our way"
had left a bank note on top Of the
tank In the barn, so was satisfied
On All scores except the fear that
mirht be meddling in dangerous busi-
ness in giving this girl her freedom.
made a swift spin, to slow down only
as the lights of the city began to ap-
near In the distance. She leaned to-
ward me.
"You doubtless think am some de-
merted creature" she spoke into my
ear. "Wrong. have been Kidnapped
and held prisoner for q reason do
not comprehend.
II am a lawyer" announced, with
the budding dignity quite professional
Tell me your story"
"No," she answered definitely. "The
people who certainly were bFibed ia
Imprfson ME are distant relatives.
wish to make them no trouble. / an
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