The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1921-04-14

scftltlhlZed every step or the way.
and now he disconsolately admit
ted to himself that he had really
reached the end.
He had been shut up in the
strange house nearly week. He
was most comfortably lodged and
fed, he had much reading matter
supplied for his perusal, though
none Of it was newspapers, and
kito offered to play parchesi
with him by way OF entertain
ment. The japanese was polite.
even kindly, but he was inflex-
Idle in the matter of obeying his
orders. And his scrl,pulous e.
deity precluded any possibility
Of Fibsy's getting away, or even
getting out Of the rooms allotted
to his use.
But, when the boy rose one
morning after a refreshing
nights sleep and had satisfy
ing breakfast and was at last
locked in his room for the morn
ing, he sat down on the edge OF
the bed and clinched his impo-
tent young fists in rage and de
spar.
II gotta make me bean woik
BETTER he groaned to himself,
the tenseness of the situation
causing him to revert to his use
of street slang II gotter get
outen here, an most likely it S
too late now. I'm a nice detec-
tive, [ am, can t get out the fust
time I'm in a hole! Gee! I'm
gonta get out! -
Followed a long session Of hard
thinking, and then a CLEAN Of
light came to him. But he needs
must wait till Kito brought up
his dinner.
And at noon or thereabouts
Kito came with the usual we'll APP
pointed tray Of good food.
Fibsy looked it over noncha-
lantly. Cali right, Kite he
said, "but say, | gotta toothache.
[ wish you'd. gimme toothDick
not quill--the wooden kind. y
Sympathetic and solicitous, the
japanese produced from his own
pocket a little box of his native
toothpicks, of which F'ibsy ac-
cepted a couple, and pockcted
them. And then came the strate-
gical moment. His purpose must
be effected while the Jap was
still in the room. And it was.
Siding to the half open door,
Fibsy called Kito 8 attention to
a dish on the tray, and then
thrust toothpick quickly in be-
side the bolt Of the lock, and
broke it off short.
In order to keep his jailer's at
tention distracted Fibsy then
waxed loquacious and dilated on
the glories of wonderful movie
show.
Kito listened attentively and,
though he said no word about go
ing to see it, he inquired care
fully where it was, and Fibsy's
hopes began to rise.
''But, if ever you go, Kite, he
said, you wanter see the very
beginnin' 'relse you lose all the
fun"
At last Fibsy finished his din
ner and the Jap took up the tray.
Breathlessly, but unnoticeably,
Fibsy watched him.. and as he
went out Of the door and turned
the key in the lock he didn't no
tice that the bolt didn't shoot
home as usual, but the door was
really left unlocked.
Fibsy's heart beat like a trip
hammer as he heard the catlike
footsteps go down stairs.
Unable to wait, he tried the
door, and found it was open. He
slipped out into the hall. Down
two flights he could hear the Jap
anese going about his business.
Warily, Fibsy crept down one
staircase. Then he stepped into
the front room on that floor. 1t
was evidently the room of q
grand lady. Silver trinkets were
here and there, but Fibsy,s quick
eyes noted that the bureau was
dismantled, and there were no
appearances Of actual occupancy.
Mrs. Auchincloss is away fer
this summer, he said sapiently.
J. Lessee furder.''
It was asrisk, but Kito rarely
came upstairs so soon after din
ner, so the boy went through to