Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-30

NH~u ~ NtAAeIDAHS AAe Hve w
sr.rs below zero: 80 that. even II be
were located. and a dynamite charge
used 10 break down the door. u wss
long odd. that by the rime he was
taken out he would be frozen stin as
en- iceberg.
He screamed and yelled: he kicked
and he hammered at the door. he
dashed himself bodily against IL: he
wept. prayed and cursed. alternately
and then altogether.
/ Finally he lay on the floor quite
stIlI, utterly worn out and moaning
Ike q dog caught In a trap.
His eyes gRZed without sense Of
sight at the Joints ot meat hanging
from the racks fired below the ceiling.
Something suddenly ioIted his brain.
A joint of yenison at which he had
been vaguely staring awakened his
mind 10 feeble activity.
Back 10 his memory came the recoi-
lection that he had purchased that
Joint IN be cooked IN celebration Of
the birthday Of his daughter. His
daugh'er-li'tle ten-year-old Mariory,
Why. he would never So" her again
Escape was impossible: he WIS a.
sure OF death a. II he were sitting in
the electric chair He Vas actually
dying by inches
The tears welIed up IN his eyes and
,rickled down his frozen cheeks. No.
by heaven. he would no, die or II he
must. he would die fighting
FIerc.ly he fought against the
le'hargy and numhncss that was
cnyeloplng him. with an effort he
sat up and climbed stIffiy 10 his feet
He caught sight Of a number Of stout
oaken bIllets he had brought down the
previous day. intending to fr up sup
ports for another shelf. He recollect-
ed bringing a hammer, too.
I 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
poor chance but he wouldn't miss Il:
! anyway. he would die fighting death.
| His vigorous efforts restored life
I to his body. His blows became more
violent and presently the hammer han
die snapped short at the head. Then
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.
SelzinE one OF the oak billets, ne
beat at the door MS II II were Mr..
Smart's ingenious head he was ham
mering. His arms ached horribly. but
still he continued.
Presently his frenzy allied eyes
, seemed to see d faint crack IN the
solid metal In front OF him.
The length OF timber spllntered and
broke In his hands. but snatchlng an
other piece he continued his furious
onslaught. His stralnIng eyes saw the
solid metal slab hulgIng outwnrds.
God In heaven! II 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 though, of the smart enstern en-.
glneering firm came into Jacob Hick-
mans mind as he pushed his finger
into the gap and plucked forth soft
shavings. cotton waste and refuse WOO,
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-
pllcity Of mankind. the iron was
Hickman showed inward and used II
as n lever, tugging and straining until
the sheet OF metal ripped away like a
strip Of brown paper. Then using his
weapon as rammer he stabbed at the
outside steel.
The sound of human voice caught
his ears.
what de hell's de matter7' II said.
Some one strolllng into the base
ment had heard the Internal row and
come TO investigate.
He screamed hoarse direction, and
In a few minutes the sharp teeth Of
center bit was cutting into tine
i iron.
A small hole was soon made. Hick-
man passed the key through 1t to his
deliverer. and then promptly tainted.
There were wet bandages around
Hickman's head when he came round.
A dull ringing filed his ears: his hands
were enveloped in wrappings; he was
In bed; and his whole body WAS so
Atifr and sore that when he moved he
kroaned with pain.
To Judge by the sensations In his
| feet. he had no toes at all; but the
stumps burned and throbbed hor-
ribly.
The doctors bearded face was bend.
ing over him when he opened his eyes,
and his little daughter MarJory stood
by the bedside holding his head.
Touch and CO." said the doctor
cheerfully. II thought you were
never coming to. Looked like . case
for the coroner. Here. take q drop
Of this"
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