The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-10-12

You know less than a kitten. But
your numbers up now all right, you
D. swine"
Tommy lay silent. There IA 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'
"Garn," said Number IA uneXpect-
eddy. Think we's as green as to do
you In here, and have the police nos
ing around2 Not 'alf! We've ordered
the carriage for your lordship tomor-
row mornln', 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 q little faster. He
had forgotten the girl. Was it pos
sible that she had come to his help?
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 q hand and
turned out the light.
Course you"-Conrad had come To-
the door-"why did you do thatT
II always turn II out. You should
have told me. Shall l relight 1t, Mon
sieur Conradr'
"No, come on out Of It."
lie beau petit monsieur" cried An
nette. pausing by the bed in the dark
ness. "You have tied him up we'll,
helm? He Is like a trussed chicken -
The frank amusement In her tone
Jared on the boy; but at that mo-
ment, to his amazement, he felt her
hand running lightly over his bonds.
and something small and cold was
pressed into the palm of his hand.
Come on, Annette"
"Mais me VOLTA"
The door shut. Tommy heard Con
rad say:
Lock 1t and give me the key"
The footsteps died away. Tommy
lay petrifed with amazement. The OBJ
ject Annette had thrust into his hand
was a small ~penknife. the blade open.
From the way she had studiously
avoided looking at him, and her action
with the light, he came to the con-
clusion that the room was overlooked.
There must be a peephole somewhere
In the walls. Remembering how guard
ed n had always been In her man
ner, he saw that he had probably been
under observation all the time. Had
he said anything to give himself away?
Hardly. True, his question to Annette
had proved that he was personally un-
acquainted with Jane Finn, but he
had never pretended otherwise. The
question now was, did Annette really
know more2 Were her denials intend.
ed primarily for the listeners? On that
point he could come to no conclusion.
But there was a more vital question
that drove out all others. Could he,
bound as he was, manage to cut his
bondsf he essayed cautiously to rub
the open blade up and down on the
cord that bound his two wrists to.
gether. 1t was an awkward business,
and drew a smothered low" Of pain
from him as the knife cut into his
wrist. But slowly and doggedly he
went on saving to and fro. He cut
the flesh badly, but at last he felt the
cord slacken. With his hands free, the
rest was easy.
lis first care was to bind up his
bleeding wrist. Then he sat on the
edge Of the bed to think. Conrad had
taken the key of the door, so he could
expect little more assistance from
Annette. The only outlet from the
room was the door, consequently he
would perforce have to wait until the
two men returned to fetch him. But
when they did Tommy smiled!
Moving with infinite caution In the
dark room, he found and unlocked the
famous picture. He felt an economical
Dlnac~ th.k III A..k 49, -u-.l -