Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-06-06
Help Wanted
By T. D. ALDERSoN

fIlSi uiiu WIS turning over lCS pages
to find the Help Wanted" column.
The narrow street 1 was on was de-
selted, lonely locality given over to
warehouse structures. My eyes were
fixed upon the paper, my mind alb
sorbed with the hope of finding work.
I minded not my feet. Suddenly, as
they rested on one side of large coal
cover, 1t tipped. AS niftily as might
a Humpty Dumpty harlequin disap-
pear through stage trap, straight
down I went.
The glints of light where the cover
fitted in showed that must have
dropped fully fifteen feet. struggled
to my feet, flared q match and sur
vcyed my surroundings.
My means If entrance was not to be
reached. I was in q grewsOme prison.
Feeling my way across a StOne-flagged
space, came up against closed door.
This yielded to my touch. Just be-
yond stairway began. I assembled it.
Another door, another stairway and
yet another, and I found myself in
corridor. 1 CROPPED along until 1t
turned; then a CLINT Of light. 1t pro-
ceeded from Dom the inside door
Of which was slightly ajar. Its out
side door aroused q sense Of mystery,
for 1t was composed Of heavy iron
bars.
l stumbled slightly. A slight cry
fell upon my ear. CHANGING into the
room beyond lighted by hanging
lamp and comfortably, almost luxuri-
ously furnished, my eyes rested upon
a beautiful young girl, who glided to
the door and scanned ME closely.
"A stranger!" she uttered with in
tense excitement Of manner. "Quickl
Take this letter. See that 1t Is mailed,
and I will bless you for the rest Of
my life"
The strangeness Of the presentation,
my unusual environment, the fervent
appeal of the girl, sense Of having
intruded upon guarded and forbidden
ground held me speeches..
"Oh, do not deny mel" pleaded the
girl. '"The letter bears an address.
Believer it, and you will be richly re-
warded, besides bringing to justice
the inhuman plotters who hold me
captive"
A ringing shrek ended the SEN
tence. I was seized from behind. My
arms were plnioned helpleSsly in an
iron grasp. was pushed, led, forced
from the spot up a flight of stairs,
and then, besides my captor, I was
aware of the presence of a fitting
feminine form which brushed by me,
opened door and was forced into q
lighted room and thrown bodily across
q couch.
Ny captor, huge, swarthy, a man of
exceptionally powerful build, glowered
down upon me. The woman was fair
and graceful, but there was piercing
steely glow to her eyes that told of
an evil spirit within, vivid contrast
to the innocent girl captive.
"How came you kere?" demanded
the man and I told him the simple
truth. The woman had snatched the
letter from my hand. Now she and
the man conversed in whispering
tones. She left the room. He faced
me grimly.
II believe you have told the TRUTH"
he said. "You have stumbled into
bad situation, however, and there is
only one thing for you to do. Are
you willing to remain a prisoner In
this room for one week, living on the
best, keeping your ears and mouth
shut and ut the end Of that time re-
ceive hundred dollars, go your way
and forget the poor demented creature
you saw in the room below your"
"Why not?" challenged casually.
Il am out Of work, your affairs are
not mine, your liberal financing will
place me on my feet-yes."
. 1 was treated sumptuously. The
room l occupied had q barred door,
AM one irOn-shuttered window look
ing out upon dreary court. The
shutters were strongly padlocked but
old and rusted. and through q break
In their surface could make out an
equally ancient and dilapidated fire es-
cape.
Now / might have been content to
enjoy such elegant leisure but for
thinking Of the pleading face Of the girl
captive. This interest was empha.
sized, as 1t seemed to me that con-
stantly, day and night, I could hear
her pace the floor of the room below
as though too restless and anxious to
remain quiescent. Why should be-
lieve the statement that she was in.
sar.e? Why not her own clear accuse.
ton Of being in cruel hands?
In drawer in closet found
some tools. among them small saw.
Ny room and the one below had no
ceiling except that provided by floor
boards and rafters. / found that I
could break through the thin, rusted
away surface of the iron shutter. It
was only foot to the fire escape.
sawed through the floor one night