The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-02-05
My First
Case
~
By Margaret Estene Anderson
Observation-Disclosures

| ahead. The road 1 was traversing had
not shown an average Of one farm
house to the mile, and that sparse
neighborhood could scarcely support q
garage. was thinking hard what was
best to do, when pedestrian came up.
"StalledT" he intimated. whats
the troubIeY'
GAS gone. You don't happen to
; know where could get any?"
"U-uml Let me see," drawled my
chance visitor musingly. "Why, yes.
You see that grove of trees, sixty rods
ahead? Well, 1t hides LANNON'S 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. 1t was dark and wrapped in
gloom, and as l entered the gateway
of Its front yard flared my pocket
electric torch to guide me. / 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 I had repeated 1t
half dozen times.
Nobody home" 1 muttered, disgust
ealy 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 1 caught the echo
Of voice inside the house.
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 small porch I
paused. Again cry, a call from in
side, reached my hearing. I got I'D
on the porch, ran my light across a
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.
did so. 81 have broken the catch
said apologetically, as l 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" I told her.
SIS there any about the placer"
eyes. Are you bound for the city?"
"Yes."
"And your supply gave out? If you
will help me, will help you"
Help your repeated vaguely.
you mean"
Il am prisoner, and those who have
chained me here may return at any
moment, SO hasten, oh / please don't
delay. Then will show you where the
gasoline is, provided you take me to
the city,"
"Why, certainly" replied, mystihed
and dubious. Chained? Why, so you
are"
was startled, was thrilled. AS
drew nearer to the girl / discovered
that chain encircled her waist.
Through this ran another chain, and
tAAS was PoOlONhCO lAlC ClldlIs
holding the girl helpless prisoner.
'"The key to the paddock is on the
mantel. Oh, hurryi hurryl hurry !"
pleaded the girl breathlessiy.
l 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, / released
her. She seized a bunch of keys and
told me to follow her, ran to the barn,
unlocked door, and pointed to a tank
with a funneled zinc bucket beside it.
l 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
GELS 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.
II will keep my promise" / replied,
"only-I don't understand"
"You shall, when I am sure we are
well on our way"
had left bank note on top of the
tank in the barn, so I was satisfied
on all scores except the fear that I
might be meddling in dangerous bust
ness ip giving this girl her freedom.
made a swift spin, to slow down only
as the lights of the city began to ap-
pear in the distance. She leaned to-
ward me.
'You doubtless think am some de-
mented creature" she spoke into my
ear. "Wrong. I have been kidnapped
and held prisoner for a reason do
not comprehend.
II am lawyer" I announced, with
the budding dignity quite professional.
''Tell me your story"
NO." she answered definitely. "The
people who certainly were bribed to
imprison me are distant relatives. /
wish to make them no trouble. / am
free, thanks to you. / have friends in
the city. shall be safe with them"
She did not speak again until we
WIZ 6AANAh5 oAOhS PINC0 oLl CCNos 4ANh
she again leaned over towards me.
"Please STOP" she urged, In calm,
collected tone now, and did so. She
got out of the machine, leaning over to
collect her bundles. Then she gave me
n grateful glance.
II thank you from the bottom Of my
heart" she said, and somehow longed
to know more of her, Us she vanished
around corner from my view.
longed to see her far more urgent
~ an hour later. Why, shall have to
explain. l was a young lawyer and 1
was due at the city the next day on my
first test case. OF course represent
ed my firm, but If / met with success
It would be a great start In promis-
Ing legal career.
Briefly, the case was this: Adam
Moore, lifelong client of the firm,
had died, and the week following a dis
reputable mining promoter presented
his note for thirty-five thousand dol
lars, due on demand, for half inter-
est In a patent of no value, hawked
around the market unsuccessfully for
some years. The promoter showed
Rlso a signed agreement proving the
deal. This was duly attested by
stenographer and notary public, Miss
Elsa Deane.
There was no doubt but that Mr..
Moore had held some correspondence
with the promoter. but the daughter
and legatee Of Mr., Moore declared that