The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-01-28
My First
Case
BY Margaret E.tene Anderson

Copyright. 1917, Western Newspaper Union.)
The auto came to dead halt with
a softly dying echo of sound like the
last expiring note of musical thren-
ody. [ Sprang from the seat and went
over the machine. Then l removed a
| cushion, unScrewed the tank top,
| probed it with the measuring ruler.
LESS than three-quarters of an inch
of gasoline" l soliloquized ruefully.
There's nothing but sediment to draw
from, and that below the strain pipe.
BOther!"
1t was not pleasant, hopeful, nor
apparently mendable misadventure. I
knew that the nearest town lay six
| miles behind me, the city twelve miles
not shown an average of one farm
| house to the mile, and that sparse
neighborhood could scarcely support
garage. was thinking hard what was
best to do, when pedestrian came up.
stalled" he intimated. whats
the trouble?"
Gas gone. You don't happen to
know where l could get any?"
"U-um! Let me see," drawled my
chance visitor musingly. "Why, yes.
You see that grove of trees, sixty rods
ahead? Well, it hides canyons farm
house. They have machine and can
help you out"
L thanked the man, who went lum-
bering along on his way. Sure enough,
as l got past the grove a farmhouse
showed. 1t was dark and wrapped in
gloom, and as l entered the gateway
of its front yard l f1ared 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 70 my
rapping even after l had repeated it
| half a dozen times.
Nobody home" muttered, disgust
edly 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
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. 81 have broken the catch"
I said alphabetically, as 1 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.
us 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 1 repeated vaguely.
"You mean
II am prisoner, and those who have
chained me here may return at any
moment, so hasten, oh! please don't
delay. Then I will show you where the
| gasoline is, provided you take me to
the city"
| "Why, certainly" 1 replied, mystified
| and dubious. "Chained? Why, so you
are"
1 was startled, I was thrilled. AS I
| drew nearer to the girl 1 discovered
| that a chain encircled her waist.
| Through this ran another chain, and
| this was padlocked under the chair,
holding the girl helpless prisoner.
"The key to the paddock is on the
mantel Oh, hurry hurry! hurry ~
| pleaded the girl breathlessly.
I 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, I released
| her. She seized a bunch Of keys and
| told me to follow her, ran to the barn,
unlocked door, and pointed to tank
with a funneled zinc bucket beside it..
I 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
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" 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
might be meddling in dangerous bust
ness in giving this girl her freedom.
I made 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 I am some de-
mented creature" she spoke into my
ear. "WrOng. l have been kidnapped
and held a prisoner for a reason I do
not comprehend.
II ain a lawyer" | announced, with
the budding dignity quite professional