Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-03-31
Help Wanted"
By T. B. ANDERSON
Copyright. 1919. By Western Newspaper uni0n.l

Copyright. 1910. By Western Newspaper Union.)
1 had spent my last cent for a news.
paper and was turning over its pages
to find the "Help Wanted" column.
The narrow street l was on was de-
serted, a lonely locality given over TO
warehouse structures. My eyes were
fixed upon the paper, my mind abb
sorbed with the hope Of finding work.
[ minded not my feet. Suddenly. as
they rested on one side Of a large coal
cover, it tipped. AS nlftily as might
q Humpty Dumpty harlequin disap-
pear through a stage trap, straight
down / went.
The glints of light where the cover
fitted In showed that I must have
dropped fully fifteen feet. l struggled
to my feet, fiared a match and sur
vcyed my surroundings.
My means If entrance was not to be
reached. ! was In a grewsome prison.
Feeling my way across a stone-fiagged
space, I anne up against a closed door.
This yielded to my touch. Just be-
yond a stairway began. / assembled 1t.
Another door, another stairway and
yet another, and I found myself In a
corridor. I CROPPED along until 1t
turned; then a CLINT Of light. 1t pro-
ceeded from a Dom the inside door
of which was slightly ajar. Its out
side door aroused a sense Of mystery,
for 1t was composed of heavy iron
bars.
1 stumbled slightly. A slight cry
fell upon my ear. CHANGING into the
room beyond lighted by a 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 strangeri" she uttered with In
tense excitement of name Quick!
Take this letter. See that 1t Is mailed,
ami I will bless you for the rest Of
my life"
The strangeness OF the presentation,
my unusual environment, the fervent
appeal Of the girl, a ems Of having
int-uded upon guarded and forbidden
ground held me speeches..
"Oh, do not deny mel" pleaded the
girl. 1.-THE letter bears an address.
believer II, and you will be richly re-
warded. besides bringing to Justice
the inhuman plotters who hold me q
captive"
A ringing shrek ended the SEN
tence. I was seized from behind. My
arms were pinioned h~elplessly in an
iron grasp. I was pushed, led, forced
from the spot up a flight Of stairs.
and then. besides my captor. 1 was
aware Of the presence Of a fitting
feminine form which brushed by me,
opened a door and I was forced into a
llgrted room and thrown bodily across
O couch.
Ny captor. huge. swarthy. a man Of
exceptionally pow full build. glowered
down upon me The woman was fair
and graceful. ut there was n piercing
steely glow to her eyes that told Of
an evil spirit within. a vivid contrast
to the innocent girl captive.
How came you keref" demanded
the man and I told him the simple
truth. The woman had snatched the
letter from my hand. Now she and
the man eonversed In whispering
tones. She left the room He faced
me grimly.
II believe you have told the truth"
he said. -You have stumbled into q
bad situation, however, and there is
only n thing for you to do Are
you willing to remain q prisoner In
this room for q week, living on the
hest, keeping your ears and mouth
shut and at the end Of that time re-
ceive a hundred dollars. go your way
and forget the poor demented creature
you saw In the room below your
why notf" I challenged casually.
Il am out OF work. yout affairs are
not mine. your liberal financing will
place me on my feet-yes."
I was treated sumptuously. The
l occupied had a barred door.
AMI one iron-shuttered window look
ing out upon q dreary court. The
shutters were strongly p~adlocked. but
old and rusted. and through a break
In their surface I could make out an