Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-14
I reached the corner of Washington,

ahead Of ME when stopped and stood
staring ON down To where the great
gray pile of the Hall of Justice reared
itself al the foot 81 the slope on
Kearny It was only half block
away
! could see its shadow falling across
the street stood on as the sun struck
IL santwise TO east and north. ! won
dercd what Connel might be thinking
OF now. and IL he had held Reich aud
Greek Annie until this hour or turned
them loose, as he had threatened.
A step sounded behind me. and |
whrled Bur I faced nothing more
startling than a young man, nattily
clad, even to a small. swagger cane
which he carried. He was of round
headed, florrd type, with stubby
mustache over full red lips, and close
ay cropped. reddish-brown hair. All in
all. he reminded Inc OF an English type
of manhood and his words seemed to
confirm the surmise.
L
hat with neatly gloved hand Are
you acquainted up here? You see.
was looking for the Chinese telephone
exchange. and | can't understand the
beastly pidgin these chaps speak at
all. | rather wanted to see the place.
They, tell me it is unique in its way
for this side"
Inwardly | laughed at my nervous
starting The mans manner was def
erence itself. pointed back up the
way had came.
"You can hardly miss IT," replied
III yop'll just go W nearly to tho
corner
The man | was directing lurched
against me. Apparently in seeking to
turn and follow the line OF my hands
indication he had slipped or stumbled
He staggered dagonally forward and
struck me SO that !, in turn. lost ny
balance, and must have fallen e
that he caught me quickly. even AZ he
recovered himself.
And in that moment. as he seized
me and seemed TO be dragging me
back 10 a secure footing ! saw a small
or figure rush forward, dragging a
Tapping something from underneath
its blouse
II had all come SO quickly. II was
so totally unexpected that for just
moment did not understand. The
shock of The mans impact against me,
the lift of his hands as they held me
upright, the darling attack of the
smaller assailanl, seemed for an III.
slant TO deprive me of the proper pow
er of action of which stood in need
And by then it was too late.
The flapping object which | had
seen swung up and descended IN the
choking, smoherng folds of cloth
about my head and face.
| sought to ward it off, and found
that my arms were held beyond free
ing. sought to cry out, and tense
fingers gripped my throat ! felt my.
self lifted in muscular arms and borne
swiftly upward. A door slammed
smartly shut The sound of board
flooring came 70 my ears as ! was
carried onward,
There was . pause, another door
shut more softly and felt myself low
cred into sitting position with strong
hands on my shoulders, holding me
fast Got her, all right" said 4 voice.
speaking in English.
"rally,' said some one else with a
chucke. THE score stands even"
A singsong broke in with a rapid
chatter.
And that's right. too" said the
first speaker. I'VE haven't any time
TO stand here chinnin'. an this amt
the place for IT. THIS dame goes to
the chief for little third degreein
Wait d mo-"
The cloth was showed up from my
face slightly 80 that faint glimlner
OF artificial light came to my eyes
from below its edge. Some one forced
my mouth open and slipped cloth
gag into my jaws. tying 1t behind my
neck The cloth was pulled down
some one seized my wrists and secur
ed them behind me. thrust hand I'M
der my arms and fitted me to MY
feet.
Come on" directed voice short
~. Mind the steps
We went forward and downward
along what seemed to me like steel
flight of stairs. Presently we reached
the bottom, and felt earth beneath
my feet. knew that once more ! was
In the underground tunnel through
which we had come last night, or a.
least in n similar one. The man wht
held me walked forward quickly, ant
almost dragged me along,
Il suppose you think that now WA
really frightened But, strange as !
may appear, was perfectly cool
Hardly had felt the hands upon me
felt myself lifted and carried away
than II came upon me that this was
part OF Semi Dual's design
Something within mc seemed to or.