The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-22

Hofer's passionate declaration that she
would not tie me up like a calf for
the butcher" was of short duration. For
when the ebullition of emotion caused
by my real or fancied resemblance to
some one she had known and loved
had passed her natural craftiness and
very real fear Of her associates re-
turned.
After all, I am a fool" she solilo-
quized. '"The woman is nothing to me,
and their hands will be heavy"
She paused, and with her eyes bent
upon the floor, evidently threshed out
the problem Of my treatment with
herself, while with hopes sliding the
gamut from hope to despair-watched
her helplessly.
At last she threw up her head with
a gesture of determination, her fea-
lures fixed in resolve. Whatever de-
cision she had arrived at was unalter-
able.
"I shall have to tie her up, that is
certain" she muttered, "but I'll give
her what those cursed English call
sporting chance If she has any
brains she can unloosen herself, and
can guess what the little toy shall
leave her is for. And if she is so inn
beetle as not to know these things she
is better dead. AS it is 1 am risking
my own neck just because she has
eyes like Olga"
She went to a trunk in the room, I'M
locked it. and took from it a coil Of
stout cord, a bit of wood and another
object which made my heart leap with
excitement. If the glimpse of it had
caught through my half-veiled eyes
didn't deceive me the thing was a
small silencer pistol such as had seen
in Lillian's possession. 1t seemed in
credible that Nine Hofer would put
such a deadly little weapon in my
power, but I long ago have learned
that the evolutions of the Teutonlc
mind, especially of the emotional, neu-
rotic, feminine type, are beyond ordln-
ary understanding.
Fresh Hopes.
She came over to me, and with ex-
traordinariIy deft hands wound my
wrists with cords and tied them to-
gether. She did the same to my ankles,
and then, wrapping the piece OF wood
in cloth, she pried open my mouth and
inserted the impromptu gag. tying the
ends of the encircling cloth behind my
neck.
7 gathered fresh hope from the null
tiulicity of cords she used, ana the
fact that the cords nearest my wrists
were comfortably loose. The knot be-
hind my neck also was a mere apology
for one. I thought that could almost
work it loose by moving my head from
side to side.
When INNS. Hofer had finished she
stepped back and looked me over
carefully. Then she gave low laugh
in which / was sure / detected a note
of malicious mischief.
"There!" she said triumphantly, IF
old Otto can detect anything wrong
about those he Is more clever than
take him for. Now for the other"
She bent over me, opened my coat,
which, fortunately I had slipped on
when 1 had my service moved to the
and felt around the lining I'M
til she found an inside pocket
Laying Strange Plans.
ST thought there would be one in
fhis make of coat" she muttered, and I
made a mental note OF the minute
knowledge Of trivial facts the remark
betokened.
Into the. pocket she thrust the tiny
pistol. arranged the loose folds OF the
coat so they concealed the form Of the
nistol and fastened the coat again.
"so-o!" she exclaimed. Now think
z,,a are ready for even Ottos eyes. He
: verv wise, but Sophie Hotter has
-,,,ipzied out of too many bonds not to |
De able to match him."
felt a little tingie OF excitement.
evidently this woman, whom had
,e,,,,, on1v as tho efficient, somewhat |
sto1;a hausfrau of the inn, had his
.orv and a personality worth ones
study. -
,ora she turned the key she raised ner
,ands above her head YEARLY.
aAb Olga, liebchen!" she nurmured
I do this for you
she went downstairs. locking the
loor after her. and relaxed the