The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-02-06


(Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Un'o"''
The auto came to dead halt with
4 softly dying echo of sound like the
last expiring note Of a musical thren-
ody. l sprang from the seat and went
over the machine. Then removed a
cushion, unscrewed the tank top,
probed 1t with the measuring ruler.
LESS than three-quarters Of an Inch
of gasoline" I soliloquized ruefully.
"There's nothing but sediment to draw
from, and that below the strain pipe.
Bother!"
It was not a pleasant, hopeful. nor
apparently mendable misadventure.
knew that the nearest town lay six
miles behind me, the city twelve miles
ahead. The road I was traversing had
not shown an average Of one farm
house to the mile, and that sparse
neighborhood could scarcely support a
garage. l was thinking hard what was
best to do. when a pedestrian came up.
"Stalled?" he intimated. whats
the trouble7"
"Gas gone. You don't happen to
know where could get any?"
"U-um! Let me see," drawled my
chance visitor musingly. "Why, yes.
lou see that grove Of trees, sixty rods
ahead? Well, 1t hides canyons 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 I got past the grove farmhouse
showed. 1t was dark and wrapped in
gloom, and as / 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 had repeated it
half a dozen times.
Nobody home," muttered, disgust
eddy 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 caught the echo
Of voice inside the house.
I 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 a cry, a call from in
side, reached my hearing. got up
on the porch, ran my light across a
low French window, and fixed the rays
upon a chair against the inside wall.
In 1t was seated 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 r. she cried out.
/ did SO. II have broken the catch, "
I said apologetically, as stepped over
the low SILL"
! "That does, not matter" spoke the
girl rapidly. "You are a stranger
What brought you here?"
/ "The need Of gasoline" I told her
"Is there any about the placer"
N eyes. Are you bound for the city p
/ EYES,"
"And your supply gave out? If yor
will help me, I will help you"
"Help your L repeated vaguely
"You mean"
II am prisoner, and those who hav.
chained me here may return at an,
moment, so hasten, oh! please dom
delay. Then will show you where tn,
gasoline is, provided you take me t,
| the CITY,"
"Why, certainly I replied, mystlfie,
and dubious. Chained? Why, so 70,
are!"
was startled. was thrilled. As
drew nearer to the girl I diseovere,
that q chain eneircled her waist
| Through this ran another chain, am
this was padlocked under the chail
holding the girl helpless prisoner.
'The key to the paddock is on tn
mantel. Oh, hurryl hurry! hurry
pleaded the girl breathlessly.
I could not analyze the sftuatio
coherently. Was she demented, an
thus made helpless so she could nc
rove about and do mischief to life an
property Taking a risk, I release
her. She seized bunch of keys an
told me to follow her. ran to the BARI
unlocked door, and pointed to tan
with funneled zinc bucket beside |
made two trips to the AUTOMOBILE
and had got the machine started whe
the girl, who had gone back to til
house. came running up. dressed fl
the open air and carrying several pa
cells in her arm. These she threw I'M
the rear seat and jumped in herself.
"You said you would take me to IL
city," she spoke in a strained, eag,
, tone.
II will keep my PROMISE" 1 reptile
, "only-I don't understand"
you shall, when I am sure we a
J. well on our way"
had left a bank note on top of Il
tank in the barn. so I was satisfi,
} on all scores except the fear that
might be meddling in dangerous bu.
ness In giving this girl her freedo,
made swift spin, to slow down on