Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-01-03

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 l felt / was safe
so long as l stayed in, Of course!
All the time I'd been working. my
mind had pounded out duly the ques-
ton, What had better do nextT'
and the only answer seemed to be
must get help from some One-T had
passed the point where I could play a
lone hand in the game and save the
diamonds. | had tiled to telephone
several times without getting an an
Swer, which az 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. I go out to dinner, but tonight,
even had l been so minded, l dared
not leave the fiat.
Outside the drizzle had settled to a
steady downp0ur. 1t was dark and
gloomy and my feelings were the same
as much of meal as I could with what
was in the house | think it was the
skimpiness of the Harder at the time
that showed me as much as anything
else how important it was for me now
to get heip-I had food enough to last
for couple of days, and after that--if
things kept on this way--how was to
get it? 1
Billy Rivers was, Of course. my
logical resource. He had seen the fat
the night hefore-he could start all
the protective machinery in the city
for me. With this resolution, / Went
TO the telephone 1t was "dead"-my
connection was severed! didn't need
to be told that monsieur had cut my
wires
The full magnitude Of my calamity
burst upon me and l sat down on the
nearest chair with flop. The bitter
fact of the whole situation struck me
like blow on the head-Td let every
chance for protection or fight go by
me; the one remaining chance was
letter entrusted to my spy. Wen. I'd
try that. anyway.
spent an hour in composing q mis-
sive TO Billy that would tell him
great deal and monsieur nothing-if 1t
fell into his hands-and this is what
came ont of it.:
Dear Billy: I'm ready to sell you
that story promised 1t Is now near
~ finished, but shall need some help
from you in arranging the climax.
Don't waste time telephoning-
telephone is out of order-but attend
TO it personally. This is an ambulance
call"
It 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 fat robbery, read, My life
is in danger"
And would monsieur see 1t If the let
ter fell into his his nds? That was my
risk-and there you are!
made three copies. l directed one
to Billy at his office-l inclosed one in
letter to Philadelphia to my brother
asking him to mail it there dropped
the third. carelessly. into the manu-
script Of short story, sent to O maya.
zine, hoping the editor would think it
an accident and kindly mail ii for me.
1t was half past ten and was tagged
out. My last chance had come. ''Would
George mai the Ietters?" got a quar-
ter out for him--I was afraid to give
him more and make him think the let
ters were important and not the sort
of thing he mailed for me almost every
night.
/ dragged one weary foot after the
other along the hall--I hated to letthe
letters out of my hands now that
had them ready. well, he's got to do
it !" said firmly. and took hold of the
door knob and the Yale latch
I turned and pulled; turned the
other way round and pulled again.
was locked in from the outside and the
key was in the lock was hard and
fast a prisoner in my own fat!
The immediate effect Oh me Of this
discovery is hard to describe. My
head swan and rhe room went round.
AID everything was all mixed up. aud
! Kept repeating: "Firel II there's q
fire tonight I'll be burned like a rat IN
a trap"
And with that went to bed--there
was nothing else to do.
] was nearlv as much ast0nished In
tire morning 10 find the REV gene from
the lock as J had been to find IL there
Apparently I was free to take that
eleven o'clee'k train for Philadelphia
hat She fake telegram f~atn my