Grand Forks herald., 1919-12-16
THE RED SIGNAL
BIZ GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL (LUrz,
Asthor OF The Enchanted Barn." Best Man" Etc

nal. She had seemed to know from
the first that she was in an alien
street. in a lonely region, where her
cries would be practically useless, be-
cause they would reach. the ears OF
ner captors before they could bring
any succor. It would be necessary to
orlng outsiders in some way AZ she
were to be saved, The few who
passed this way might not care to
step aside and trouble themselves,
and how easy the Schwarxes could
say she was crazy girl, confined
there until they could take her to the
asylum, even II she did succeed in
attracting the attention of some stray
passerby! Perhaps, toward evening,
when people came home from their
work to these houses, there might be
enough Of them together at once for
her to take tkS SSch44cep'to cali out
that she had beer tkfdhaTbed ana ~
them to send for therpolices 70 rescue
her: but certainly she would not risk
1t now with that awful Captain Just
across the street. watching perhaps,
and no doubt in communication by
telephone with all the powers OF evil
ernment.~ BesideA who knew but
Sylvester might come any minute?
No, she would run no risks yet. But
she must get up and discover the
resources At her command. She
must find out il there vas any quick
way Of ending her life IN case it came
TO that to protect herself against
these fiends. Perhaps she might try
ty.ns the bedclothes together and let
would it do to get sheet or blanket
and wave It out that broken pane IL
anybody came by, and then call?
Stealthily she sstole about her
room. looking in the half-opcn bur-
eau drawers, feeling in the open
boxes. One contained thousands OF
pamphlets. She lifted one and saw
it was something about peace. She
wondered If this could be what they
called German propaganda. Another
was an appeal to all loyal Americans
hid no time to look at such things
now. She slipped copy Of each in
her pocket and then smiled grimly
at herself. She had no idea OF ever
getting out of this place alive, much
less being able to communicate. with
her friends again. Why. did she put
these away? Well. perhaps II she
dropped from the window they would
find them about her and understand
q little Of where she had been I'M
prisoned since her disappearance.
In the washstands drawer beside a
half-used cake Of brown soap, she
found three matches! All! She
clutched them and examined them
closely to see II they were good. She
could not tell but II they were, here,
indeed, was a means OF signalling
that would be more effective than
anything else. The thought of it
made her put her hands on her heart
and draw deep breath. Had she
the n - IN dr RNn 10 he
room where she had barred hseselt
from escape, except through the
third-story window? Well. why not?
There were worse fates. and It tho
matches were aood then surely God
had sent them to her. She would
have to wait awhile and see IL her
letter did any good. She would sit
down and get quite calm and cool and
think out what was best to be done.
30, with her matches in her hand,
she crept back to the window again
and took up her station where she,
could pull the blind aside and watch
the street. Three times az she kept
her watch she was sure she saw that
same white face da1h up to the win
dow, glance across the! street ana
away again. Each time her heart
she heard again those sinister words
spoken at Platt's Crosslag. .She abe-
longs to me! Understahd7''
AS the minutes dragged into an
hour. and then two. and the suns
rays grew long and slant down tho
middle Of the street from 4. golden
west up beyond the city somewhere,
her thoughts cleared. The time was
nearing when she must Act IL act ~
all. And now she knew what she
would do. It was ave o'clock by the
little watch that she wore. She knew
Mr.. Stevens would have left the Of.
Ace by nowe II the letter had reacli-s
cd him at all, something would bo
coming, soon. Also the darkness
would. 10 dropping down and then
the airnian would be g0ne and sha.
With him! @s IS ,7.7 7577..s
Softly she stole across the room
ana pulled the mattress from the bed.
punching It carefully. Yes Il wa
straM. gtraw would burn! Hut she.
50ughta t. haye mors than That 5ho
dra@ged It 70 flfe bIoken window and
stoGd II up agAtnst the ukaAe rs that
y lkaned against the window fran1e.
!lsa h1phle4e ffeYh u b ~ a1 80 krs
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