Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1920-02-05

sure uoWn 10 something ike nNe ue-
grees below zero; so that, even IL he
were located, and Il dynamite charge
used TO break down the door, IL was
long odds that by the time he was
taken out he would be frozen stiff 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 iolted his brain.
A joint Of venison at which he had
been vaguely staring awakened his
mind TO feeble activity
Back to his memory came the recol-
lectlO@ that he had purchased that
Joint to be cooked in celebration Of
the birthday of his daughter His
daughter-little ten-year-old Marjory
Why, he would never see her again
Escape was impossible; he was as
sure of death as If he were sitting in
the electric chair. He was actually
dying by inches.
The tears weled up in his eyes and
trickled down his frozen cheeks. No,
by heaven, he would not die or, II he
must he would die fighting.
Fiercely he fought against the
lethargy and uumbness that was
| enveloping him. With an effort he
sat up and climbed stlfiiy to his feet,
He caught sight OF a number of stout
toaken billets he had brought down the
previous day, intending to fix up sup
ports for another shelf He recollect-
ed bringing n hammer, too
Yes there 1t 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 hammerng. 1t was
poor chance, but he wouldn't miss It;
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
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 If It were Mr..
Smart's ingenious head he was ham
merlng His arms ached horribly, but
esill he continued
Presently his frenzy-flled eyes
seemed to see a faint crack in the
solid metal in front of him.
The length of timber splIntered 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
shavlngs, 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-
plicity OF mankind, the iron was
no thicker than that of cooking-pan
Hickman showed inward and used II
as lever, Juggling and straining until
the sheet Of metal ripped away like a
strip of brown paper Then using his
weapon as a hammer he stabbed at the
outside steel
The sound OF human voice caught
his ears.
"What de hell's de matteri" It said
Some one strolling into the base
ment had heard the internal row and
come to investigate.
He screamed hoarse direction, and
in q few minutes the sharp teeth Of
center bit was cutting into the
iron.
A small hole was soon made. HEX
man passed the key through II to his
deliverer, and then promptly tainted.
There were wet bandages around
Hickman's head when he came round.
A duh ringing filed his ears his hands
were enveloped in wrappings; he was
IN bed and his whole body was so
stiff and sore that when he moved he
groaned 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 go" said the doctor
cheerfully. Il thought you were
never coming to. Looked like a case
fer the coroner Here, take drop
Of this
where am II" whispered Hlck-
man when he had swallowed the
brandy.
AT home. You've been lying here