The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-04-04
My First
Case
By Margaret Es.els Asdssoa


The auto came to a dead halt with
z softly dying echo Of sound like the
last expiring note Of a musical thren-
ody. sprang from the seat and went
over the machine. Then I removed
cushion, unscrewed the tanE top,
prObed 1t with the measuring ruler.
LESS than three-Quarters Of an inch
M gasoline" l 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 misadventure.
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 to the mile, and that sparse
neighborhood could scarcely support q
garage. was thinking hard what was
best to do. when pedestrian came up.
"Stalledr' he intimated. "What's
the troubleT
"Gas gone. You don't happen to
know where. I could get anyr
"U-um! Let me see." drawled my
chance visitor musingly. "Why. yes.
You see that grove OF trees. sixty rods
ahead7 Well, It 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,
~ got past the grove a farmhouse
showed. It was dark and wrapped In
gloom, and as entered the gateway
Of its front yard I nared my. pocket
electric torch to guide me. I went up
the steps. focused the light rays to
ind no bell knob and knocked on the
door. There was no response to my
rapping. even after I had repeated It
half dozen times.
"Nobody home" muttered. disgust
edly and disagreeably enough, and had
daring idea In my mind to visit the
barn structure at the rear and burst
my way In. II necessary, to explore for
the possible gasoline surplus kept on
hand, when fancied caught the echo
Il OF voice inside the house.
ii descended the steps and, fiaring the
light as much to attract attention MS
to guide my course, descended them
and walked slowly around one side Of
the house. Near to small porch
paused. Again cry, call from In
side. reached my hearing. got NJ
on the porch. ran my light acros1 4
low French window, and fixed the rays
upon a chair against the inside wall.
In It was seated girl, pale, eager
faced, with parted lips and wild eyes
In which there lurked a haunted ex.
precision. Those lips moved. "Pusf
In the Window" she cried out.
did SO. II have broken the catch,
I said alphabetically, as stepped over
the low SILL"
'sThat does not matter" spoke the
girl rapidly. "YOu are a stranger
What brought you here2"
1.-THE need Of gasoline" told her
rs there any about the placer"
Eyes. Are you bound for the cityf'
"Yes."
"And your supply gave outf II 20,
will help me, will help you"
"Help your / repeated vaguely
you mean"
II am prisoner, and those who hav'
chained me here may return at an!
moment. 80 hasten, oh! please dom
delay. Then will show you where tn
gasoline Is. provided you take me t
the city"
..Why, certainly" I replied. mystifie,
and dubious. Chained? Why, SO yol
are"
I was startled. I was thrilled. As
drew nearer to the girl I discovere,
that q chain enclrcled her waist
Through this ran another chain, an,
this was padlOcked under the chair
holding the girl helpless prisoner.
"The key to the paddock Is on tn
mantel. oh. hurryi hurry! hurry |!
pleaded the girl breathlessly.
I could not analyze the situation
= coherently. Was she demented, an,
thus made helpless so she could no
rove about and do mischief to life ant
property Taking a risk, released
y her. She seized bunch Of keys an,
D told me to follow her, ran to the barn
: unlocked a door. and pointed to a tanl
| Win OuShCt OCSiuO ~
I made two trips to the automobile
and had got the machine started wheI
! the girl, who had gone back to tn
g house. came running up, dressed 70
A the open air and carrying several par
cells In her arm. These she threw int
the rear seat and Jumped in herself.
"You said you would take me to tn
city" she spoke In strained, cage
tone.
II will keep my PROMISE" replied
"only7-I don't understand"
"You shall, when am sure we ar
n well on our way"
|. had left bank note on top of tn
n tank in the barn, SO was satisfie
n on all scores except the fear that
n might be meddling in dangerous bus
d ness In giving this girl her freedom
> made swift spin. to slow down onl
n as the lights Of the city began to az