The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-23
REVELATIONS or A WIFE
ADELE GARRISON

The sound of footsteps on the stairs
stealthy, furtive. even though there
was no danger of their being over
heard, warned me that / must resume
my stertorous breathing and prepare
to face Otto's critical inspection OF the
bonds and gag Nine. Hofer had put
upon me.
1t was comparatively easy task for
me now, for / was no longer hopeless
| sick with terror as had been when
was carried upstairs and dumped into
this room to wait for the arrival OF
the man with the SCARED hand.
My heart was warm with gratitude
to that strange woman, Nine. Hofer,
who had arranged my bonds so that
could easily unite them, and had put
the tiny pistol inside my coat. True,
she had not known i was conscious
while she was thus making it possible
for me to escape the horrible fate
awaiting me. but she had counted upon
my having shrewdness enough to dis
cover the looseness of the knots when
I should awaken from the drugged
stupor in which they supposed me to
be lying.
Otto InspeEtS The Bonds.
Every nerve was vibrant with the
determination neither to fail her nor
myself guessed what the discovery
of her laxness would mean to her-and
I settled trifle deeper into the couch,
as a drugged person naturally would,
and began again the heavy breathing
which had deceived the conspirators
before.
Otto strobe into the room and over
to the couch, Nine. Hofers lighter
footsteps following his.
st wanted you to see for yourself"
she said, her voice expressing nothing
but meek submission, but had sud-
den psychic vision of the malicious
mischief dancing underneath. Il have
tied her UP the best knew how, but,
of course, you are wiser than 1 about
those things, and / wanted you to look
at her"
He put out huge hand, and lifting
my hands bound together, dropped
them again carelessly.
you have done very WELL" he said
indifferently, too indifferently, I said
to myself with a little contraction at
my heart. Then, still with an elabor-
ately careless air, said: you are go
ing soon, are you not?"
Madame ls Determined.
Yes, as soon as I put a few things
together. We are all going except
Ernest, and"
Me" the giant finished for her sue
cinctly. 81 am to wait with Ernest. So
will just take the key to this room
while we are here, then you won't need
to have it on your mind any more"
I heard Nine. Hofer's quickly smoth-
cred little gasp of dismay.
but I was to give 1t to Ernest"
"And can I not give it to Ernest,
you, Sophie?"
His voice held menacing suspicion
as he turned on her.
There is nothing the matter with
me-" she flared, except that will not
have this murder you are planning
oh, yes, you can't deceive me, Otto, you
are planning to put her out Of the way
in spite of what Ernest said. And
while I don't care a pfennig what
happens to the little pig, yet do care
what happens to my own neck. And
/ want to be away from this place at
least "a hours before you kill any
body. Then I'll be out Of it."
/ heard Otto take step toward her,
and then a sound Of quick. running
footsteps.
"I am not afraid Of you," she shrilled
from the doorway. And If you don't
want me to leave this room unlocked
you go downstairs first. I am goins
to give this key to Ernest myself. Oh,
Ernest" she called loudly, as Il she
had Just caught sight Of the ferret
faced youth.
Whether her call was ruae or not
I didn't know, and am sure Otto
shared my uncertainty. But it made
him obey her, and / heard him swear
ing suIlenly az he made his way to the
door and down the stairs past her.
Then Nine. Hofsr hurried noiseless-
ly to my SIDE thrust something GOLD
and hard down my neck, and went out
Of the room. again locking the door
behind her.
TT 80 e. good thing Tor me this lock
is an ordinary one" she solicquiEed.
And it is perfectly natural thing for
a service woman to have a skeleton
key, And-if I die, die. That Is
ali"