The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-19
My First
Case
BY Margaret E.teIle Anderson


The auto came to a dead halt with
a 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 1 removed a
cushion, unscrewed the tank top,
probed it with the measuring ruler.
LESS than three-quarters of an inch
of gasoline" 1 %soliloquized ruefully.
There's nothing but sediment to draw
from, and that below the strain pipe.
Bother ="
1t was not a pleasant, hopeful, nor
apparently mendable mi~sadventure. l
knew that the nearest town lay six
miles behind me, the city twelve miles
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 a
garage. l was thinking hard what was
best to do, when a pedestrian came up.
"StalledY' he intimated. "What's
the troubleT"
Gas gone. You don't happen to
know where l could get anyT'
"U-um! Let me see,' drawled my
chance visitor musingly. "Why, yes.
You see that grove of trees, sixty rods
ahead? Well, it hides LANNON'S farm
house. They have a machine and can
help you out"
L thanked the man, who went lum-
bering along on his way. Sure enough,
as I got past the grove a farmhouse
ahOwad II uoS dorx ond uvroppad In
gloom, and as l entered the gateway
of its front yard 1 Jared my pocket
electric torch to guide me. 1 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, eve after 1 had repeated it
half a dozen times.
Nobody home,'' I muttered, disgust
eddy and disagreeably enough, and had
a daring idea in my mind to visit the
barn structure at the real and burst
my way in, If necessary, to explore for
the possible gasoline surplus kept on
hand, when / fancied l caught the echo
of q voice inside the house.
I descended the steps and, flaring the
AShb 40 u " lllaNl dlltIllOh as
TO guide my course, descended them
and walked slowly around one side of
the house. Near to a small porch 1
paused. Again a cry, a call from in
side, reached my hearing. 1 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 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. ~ 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?"
1.-The need of gasoline" I told her.
ais there any about the placer"
"Yes. Are you bound for the city?
"Yes."
"And your supply gave out? If you
will help me, I will help you"
"Help you" 1 repeated vaguely.
"You mean"
81 am a 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
gasoline is, provided you take me to
the city"
"Why, certainly" I replied, mystified
and dubious. "Chained? Why, so you
are I"
was startled, I was thrilled. AS
that a chain encircled her waist
Through this ran another chain, and
this was padlocked under the chair
holding the girl a helpless prisoner.
'The key to the paddock Is on the
mantel. Oh, hurry! hurry hurry +
pleaded the girl breathlessly.
1 could not analyze the situation
coherently. Wa she demented, anC
thus made helpless so she could MOI
o about and do mischief to life anG
property? Taking q risk, 1 released
her. She seized q bunch Of keys anC
told me to follow her, ran to the barn
unlocked a door, and pointed to a tank
with a funneled zinc bucket beside it
I made two trips to the automobile
and had got the machine started wher
the girl, who had gone back to the
house, came running up, dressed fol
the open air and carrying several par
cells 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 a strained, eager
tone.
81 will keep my promise" I replied
'only-I don't understand"
"You shall, when 1 am sure we are
well on our way"
1 had left a bank note on top of the
tank in the barn, SO I was satisfied
on all scores except the fear that
might be meddling in a dangerous bust