The Dolores star., 1923-11-23

| all the time II WIS dun tIuU
You know less than 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 approyingly. But wherefore the
bonds and fetters7 Why not let this
kind gentleman here cut my throat
without delay
"Garn," said Number IA uneXpect,
edly. Think we's 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
medtations They were not pleasant
ones. Already his limbs felt cramped
and stih. He was utterly helpless,
and he could see no hope anywhere
About an hour mad passed when he
heard the key softly turned, and the
door opened. 1t was Annette. Tom
my's heart beat a little faster. He
sible that she had come to his hplpt
Suddenly he heard ConradS voice
Come out OF Il. Annette. He
doesn't want any supper tonight"
"Oul, 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 u hand and
turned out the light.
Curse yOu"-Conrad had come tw
the door-"why did you do thatf"
Il always turn It out You should
have told me, Shall I rclight it. Mon
sieur Conrad"'
No come on ont of It."
lie beau petit monsieur" cried An
nette, pausing by he bed in the dark
ness. you have tied him up well
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"
Mails ne VOLTA"
The door shut. Tommy heard Con.
rad say:
Lock 1t and give me the key"
The footsteps died away. Tommy
lay petrified with amazement The Oh
1ect Annette had thrust into his hand
was a small penknife. the blade omen
From the way she had studiousIv
avoided looking at him, and her action
with the light, he came to the con.
cIusion that the room was overlooked
Ihere must be peephole somewhere
ID the walls. Remembering how guard.
ed she had always been in her man
her, 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
mad proved that he was personally un-
acquainted with Jane Finn, but he
mad never pretended otherwise. The
question now was, did Annette really
know moret Were her denaIs intend
ed primarily for the listeners? on that
point he could come to no conclusion.
But there was more vital question
that drove out all others. Gould 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 n smothered "Ow" 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
His first care was to bind I'D 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
pleasure that his first plan would not
| be wasted. There was now nothin~ n