The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-08-03

| You know less than a kitten. But
your numbers up now all right, you
b. swine"
Tommy lay silent. There was moth
ing to say. He had failed. Somehow
or other the omnipotent Mr.. Brown
had seen through his pretensions.
Suddenly a thought occurred to him.
"A very good speech, Conrad" he
said approvingly. But wherefore the
bonds and letters? Why not let this
kind gentleman here cut my throat
without delayY'
"Carn," said Number IA unexpect-
eddy. Think ives as green as TO do
you in here, and have the police nos
ing around? Not 'alf We've ordered
the carriage for your lordship tomor-
row mornin', but in the meantime
we're not taking any chances, see
Talking as though you were still at
the blooming Ritz, aren't your"
Tommy made no reply. He was en-
gagged in wondering how Mr.. Brown
had discovered his identity. He de
cided that Tuppence, in the throes of
anxiety, had gone to the police, and
that his disappearance having been
made public the gang had not been
slow to put two and two together.
The two men departed and the door
slammed. Tommy was left to his
meditations. They were not pleasant
ones. Already his limbs felt cramped
and stiff. He was utterly helpless,
and he could see no hope anywhere.
About an hour had passed when he
heard the key softly turned, and the
door opened. 1t was Annette. Tom
my's heart beat little faster. He
had forgotten the girl. Was it pos
sibIe that she had come to his helpi
Suddenly he heard Conrad's voice:
"Come out of it, Annette. He
doesn't want any supper tonight"
"Oui, oui, je sails bien. But l must
take the other tray. We need the
things on it,"
''Well, hurry up" growled Conrad.
Without looking at Tommy the girl |
went over to the table, and picked up |
the tray. She raised a hand and |
turned out the light.
Course you"-Conrad had come t.
the door-"why did you do that?'
Il always turn it out. You should
have told me. Shall relight it. Mon
;ieur ConradY
mo, come on out of IT.
LIE beau petit monsieur" cried An
iette, pausing by the bed in the dark
less. you have tied him up well
lein? He Is like a trussed chickenr
rhe frank amusement in her tone
AIRED on the boy; but at that mo-
nent, to his amazement, he felt her
and running lightly over his bonds.
nd something small and cold was
ressed into the palm of his hand.
Come on, Annette"
''Mais me VOLTA"
The door shut. Tommy heard Con
ad say:
Lock ii and give me the key"
The footsteps died away. Tommy
~ petrified with amazement. The oh
ect Annette had thrust into his hand
as small penknife. the blade open.
rom the way she had studiously :
voided looking at him. and her action
18th the light, he came to the con 9
usion that the room was overlooked. {
here must be a peephole somewhere
the walls. Remembering how guard
she had always been in her man O
ar. he saw that he had probably been I
lder observation all the time. Had
said anything to give himself away? I
ardly. True, his question to Annette b
Id proved that he was personally I'M
'quainted with Jane Finn, but he
I'd never pretended otherwise. The | II
Iestion now was. did Annette really
low more? Were her denials intend. s.
primarily for the listeners? On that G.
int he could come to no conclusion. N
But there was a more vital question II
at drove out all others. Could he. n
und as he was, manage to cut his al
nds? He essayed cautiously to rul
e open blade up and down on the hi
rd that bound his two wrists to- st
Their. 1t was an awkward business W
d drew a smothered low" of pain D,
I'm him as the knife cut into his VI
list. But slowly and doggedly he tn
mt on saving to and fro. He cut
, flesh badly. but at last he felt the RI
I'd slacken. With his hands free. the NJ
It was easy. na
His first care was to bind up his W,
eding wrist. Then he sat on the
&c of the bed to think. Conrad had nv
Ten the key OF the door, so he could Gs
)ect little more assistance from ri,
nette. The only outlet from the
IN was the door, consequently he ~
uld perforce have to watt until the
} men returned to fetch him. But rr
EN- they did Tommy smiled In
wing with infinite caution in the
k room. he found and unlocked the
nous picture. He felt an economical
assure that his first plan would not
,vasfad There WINS nn,r nothing 70 | M