The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-09-28

dli tue tlIu6 IL WAS Dluu dun
You know less than kitten. But
your numbers up now all right, you
D. 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 fettersi Why not let this
kind gentleman here cut my throat
without delayY'
"Garn," said Number IA unexpect-
edly. think we's as green as to do
you in here and have the police nos
Ing around7 Not 'alfl We've ordered
the carriage for your lordship tomor-
row mornin', but In the meantime
we're not taking any chances, seel
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 1t pos
slble that she had come to his help?
Suddenly he heard Conrad's voice {:
"Come out Of 1t, Annette. He
doesn't want any supper tonight"
"Oui, oui. je sails bien. But must
take the other tray. We need the
things on It,"
swell, 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.
Curse you"-Conrad had come to
the door-"why did you do that2"
| II always turn 1t out. You should
have told me. Shall relight 1t, Mon
sieur ConradT
mo, 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 well
heinz He is like a trussed chicken T
The frank amusement In her tone
Jared on the boy; but at that mo
ment, to his amazement he felt hel
hand running lightly over his bonds
and something small and cold wa.
pressed into the palm Of his hand.
'tCome on, Annette"
"Mais me VOLTA"
The door shut. Tommy heard Con
rad say:
Lock It and give me the key"
The footsteps died away. Tomm.
lay petrifled with amazement. The OBJ
ject Annette had thrust into his han,
was q small penknife, the blade open
From the way she had studiousl.
avoided looking at him, and her actor
with the light. lie came to the con
clusion that the room was overlooked
There must be q peephole somewher
In the walls. Remembering how guard
ed she had always been In her mar
ner, he saw that he had probably bee
under observation all the time. Ha
he said anything to give himself away
Hardly. True, his question to Annett
mad proved that he was personally VI
acquainted with Jane Finn, but h
had never pretended otherwise. Th
question now was, did Annette reall
know more3 Were her denials intent
ed primarily for the listenersf On tha
point he could come to no conclusion
But there was a more vital Questio
that drove out all others. Could h
bound as he was, manage to cut h
bondsf He essayed cautiously to ru
the open blade up and down on II
cord that bound his two wrists t
gether. II was an awkward busines
and drew a smothered "Ow" of pa
. from him as the knife cut into h
wrist. But slowly and doggedly ]
: went on saving to and fro. He c,
{ / the fiesh badly. but at last he felt Il
cord slacken. With his hands free, Il
/, rest was easy.
His first care was to bind up h
1 bleeding wrist. Then he sat on q
. edge OF the bed to think. Conrad hi
/ taken the key Of the door, SO he cou
> expect little more, assistance fro
Annette. The only outlet from q
!. room was the door, consequently
) | would perforce have to wait until q
! two men returned to fetch him. b
when they did Tommy slnile
: dark room. he found anx unhocked 4
I famous picture. He felt an economic
pleasure that his flrst plan would o
IN 2~~<0H H1hnrn urnn nmM mn1nlnN.