The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-01-02

that Is, he came down from the roof
on rope to one of the other windows.
thought of that and got ready to
knock him off with broom or throw
pepper In his eyes If he tried that trick
on me. And at last felt ] was safe
so long as | stayed in, Of course!
All the time I'd been working, my
mind had pounded out DULY the ques-
tion. what had I better do next?"
and the only answer seemed to be
must get help from some one-I had
passed the point where could play
lone hand In the game and save the
diamonds. / had tried to telephone
several times without getting an an
swer, which at the moment didn't as
tonish me. 1t provoked me, though
that | could not order something from
the grocer and the butcher for my din
ner. | go out to dinner, but tonight,
even had been so minded, dared
not leave the fiat.
Outside the drizzle had settled to
steady downpour, 1t was dark and
gloomy and my feelings were the same
as opened some canned stuff and got
as much of meal as could with what
was in the house. think 1t was the
skimpiness of the larder at the time
that showed me as much as anything
else how important it was for me now
to get help--I had food enough to last
for couple of days, and after that-if
things kept on this way-how was / to
get it?
Billy Rivers was, of course. my
logical resource. He had seen the fiat
the night before-he could start all
the protective machinery in the city
for me. With this resolution, l went
| to the telephone. 1t was "dead"-my
! connection was severed! didn't need
to be told that monsieur had cut my
| wires! "a. t
The full magnitude of my calamity
| burst upon me and / sat down on the
nearest chair with a flop The bitter
| fact OF the whole situation struck me
like blow on the head-rd let every
chance for protection or flight 60 by
me; the one remaining chance was
letter entrusted to my spy. Well, I'd
try that, anyway. ..
spent an hour In composing mis-
stve to Billy that would tell him
great deal and monsieur nothing-if II
fell into his hands--and this is what
came out of it.: ...t. ~.
Dear Billy: I'm ready to sell YOU
that story promised. 1t is now near
~ finished, but shall need some helm
from you in arranging the climax.
Don't waste time telephonlng-the
telephone is out of order-but attend
to 1t personally. This is an ambulance
call"
1t all hinged on the words "ambu-
lance call" and If Billy would read
Them hurry up" and then, taking
them in connection with what he'd
seen of the fiat robbery, read, "NIy life
is in danger"
AND would monsieur see it If the let
ter Tell into his hsndsf That was nv
risk--and there YOU are!
made three copies. / directed one
to Billy at his oflice--T inclosed one In
a letter to Philadelphia to nv brother
asking him to mail 1t there tlropned
the third, carelesSly, into the mann.
| script of a short story. sent to maya.
zine, hoping the editor would think II
an accident and kindly mail 1t for me
IL was half past ten and was fagged
out, My last chance had come "Wonld
george maa the letters2" l got a quar-.
ter out for him--I was afraid to rive
him more and make him think the Lot.
tiers were important and not the sort
OF thing he mailed for me almost every
| night.
| dragged one weary foot after tba
other along the hall hated to LET tho
letters out Of my hands now that
had them ready. "Well, he's sot n a.,
az !" said firmly, and took hold Of tho
door knob and the Yale latch.
turned and pulled; turned the
other way round and pulled again
was locked In from the outside and tho
key was In the lockl was hard and
FAST prisoner In my own flatI
The immediate effect ON me Of tb,s
discovery Is hard to describe, NV
mead swaFa and the room went round
anu everything was all mixed IN, and
! Kept repeating; Fire! If thera,s !
nre tonlgl'SHii be burned ike a rat ii
a trapp - =
And with that | went 10 bed--tbere
was nothing else to do.
was nearly as much astonlshed In
me mornlng % find the key gone from
me lock as had been 10 find /, there.
Apparently wns free to TAKE that
eieYen O'Clock train for Philadelphia
J that me fake telegram FROM NJ,