American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-06-06

den.
Again, the pipes filled with liquid
ammonia kept the temperature Of the
safe down to something like five de
grees below zero; so that, even II ne
were located, and a dynamite charge
used to break down the door, II was
long odds that by the time he was
taken out he would be frozen stift as
an iceberg.
He screamed and yelled; he kicked
and he hammered at the door; he
dashed himself bodily against It; he
wept, prayed and cursed, alternately
and then altogether.
Finally he lay on the floor quite
still. utterly worn out and moaning
like a dog caught In a trap.
His eyes gazed without sense Of
sight at the joints Of meat hanging
from the racks fixed below the ceiling.
Something suddenly jolted his brain.
A joint Of venison at which he had
been vaguely staring awakened his
mind TO feeble activity.
Back 10 his memory came the recol-
lection that he had purchased that
joint to be cooked In celebration Of
the birthday Of his daughter. His
daughter-little t~en-year-old Marjory
Why, he would never see her again.
Escape was impossible; he was as
sure Of death as II he were sitting In
the electric chair. He was actually
dying by inches,
The tears welled up in his eyes and
trlckled down his frozen checks, No,
by heaven, he would not diel or, II he
must, he would die fighting.
Fiercely he fought against the
lethargy and numbness that was
enveloping him. With an effort he
sat up and climbed stifiy to his feet.
He caught sight Of a number Of stout
oaken billets he had brought down the
previous day, intending to fix up sup
ports for another shelf. He recollect-
ed bringing a hammer, too.
Yes, there II lay In the corner.
Selling the tool, he once more beat
on the door. Perhaps someone would
come down TO the safe and hear the
sound OF his hammering. II was a
| pun Allhl'ff but lf MbNiAll I bliHN ~ .
anyway, he would die fighting death.
His vigorous efforts restored life
to his body. His blows became more
violent and presently the hammer han
die snapped short at the head. Then
n furious anger seized him. He called
down curses on the clever engineer
who had constructed the door and In
vented the patent lock, on himself, and
on all creation.
Selling one Of the oak blllets, he
beat at the door as II II were Mr..
Smart's ingenious head he was ham
mering. His arms ached horribly, but
still he continued.
Presently his frenzy-hlled eyes
seemed to see n faint crack In the
solid metal in front OF him,
The length OF timber spllntered and
broke In his hands, but snatching an
other piece he continued his furious
onslaught. His stralning eyes saw the
solid metal slab bullying outwards.
God in heavenl It was true, then
The steel had split. the crack was be.
coming wider before his eyes, a streak
OF white showed between the dark.
ragged edges.
No thought OF the smart eastern en-
cheering firm came Into Jacob Hick.
mans mind as he pushed his finger
into the gap and plucked forth soft
shavings, cotton waste and refuse wool
until his finger nails scratched on the
outside steel covering OF the door.
Inserting one end Of his piece OF
oak into the crack-alas for the du'
pllclty OF mankind. the iron was
no thicker than that OF a cooklng-par
Hickman showed inward and used II
ms n lever, Juggling and straining until
the sheet of metal ripped AWAY like 4
strip Of brown paper. Then using his
weapon as II hammer he stabbed at the
outside steel.
The sound of II human voice caught
his ears.
"What de hell's de matter?" II said
Some one %strolllng into the base
ment had heard the Internal row ant
come TO investigate.
lie screamed hOarse direction, ant
III " lew minutes INV NAlii AftlH "
n center bit was cutting into thu
iron.
A small hole wns soon made. Hick
man passed the key through It to hi
deliverer, and then promptly tainted,
There were wet bandagcs arount
Hickman's head when he came round
A duh ringing filed his ears; his hand
were enveloped in wrapplngs; he wa
In bed; and his whole body was s,
stlf and sore that when he moved h,
groancd with pain.
To Judge by the sensations In hi
feet. he had no toes at all but tn
stnmps burned and throbbed hor
ribly.
: The doctors bearded face was benz
ing over him when he opened his eyes
and his little daughter Mnrjory stoo
by the bedside holding his head.
'.Touch and CO." said the docto
eheerfully. II thought you wer
never coming TO. Looked like n cas-
for the coroner, Here, take a dro