Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-11-17


! 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 thought occurred to him.
"A very good speech, Conrad" he
| said approvingly. But wherefore the
bonds and fetters7 Why not let this
kind gentleman here cut my throat
without delayY'
"Garn," said Number II unexpect-
edly. Think ives as green as to do
you in here, and have the police nos
ing around7 Not 'alfl We've ordered
the carriage for your lordshlp 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
medltations. 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. II was Annette. Tom
my's heart beat a little faster. He
had forgotten the girl. Was 1t pos
sible that she had come to his helpT
Suddenly he heard Conrad's voice:
"Come out Of II, Annette. He
doesn't want any supper tonight"
"Oul, oul, je sails bien But I must
take the other tray. We need the
things on It."
"Well, hurry up" growled Conrad.
without looking at Tommy the girl
went CtC. 10 the table, and picked up
the tray. She raised a hand and
turned out the light.
Course you"-Conrad had come to
tie do1r-"why did you do thatT"
Il always turn 1t out. You should
have told me. Shall relight It, Mon
sieur ConradT
mo, come on QUE of It,"
lie beau petit monsieur" cried An
nette, pauslng by the bed In the dark
ness. you have tied him up well
heinz He Is like a trussed chicken Y
| 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 Oh
ject Annette had thrust into his hand
wah small penknife, the blade open
| From the way she had studiously
avoided looking at him. and her action
with the light, lie came to the con
| clusion that the room was overlooked
There must be a peephole somewhere
In the walls. Remembering how guard
ed she had always been In her man
ner, he saw that he had probably been
under observation all the time. Had
he saii anything to give himself away
Hardly. True, his question to Annette
mad proved that he was personally un-
/ acquainted with Jane Finn, but he
had never pretended otherwise. The
| question now was, did Annette really
/ know more? Were her denials intend
/ ed primarily for the usteners7 On thar
point he could come 10 no conclusion
But there was a more vital question
| that drove out all others. Could he
| bound as he was, manage to cut his
| bonds? He essayed cautiously TO rul
the open blade up and down on the
cord that bound his two wrists to
gether. II was an awkward business
and drew smothered COW" Of palp
from him IS the knife cut into his
wrist. But slowly and doggedly he
went on saving to and fro. He cut
the flesh ba lily. but at last he felt the
cord slacken With his hands free, the
rest was easy.
His first care was to bind up his
bleeding wrist. Then he sat on the
edge Of the he'd 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 an unlocked the
| famous picture He felt an economical
| pleasure that his first plan would not