Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-09-12

thick and slippery. He was conscious
Of agonizing pain. One Of his fingers
had been bitten almost through. Ye
turned sick, but hung on 10 the throat
that choked and gurgled He knew he
could not hold On much longer. His
strength was almost spent. But sud
denly the figure under him grew limp
he was prepared for more trickS
he knelt on his antagonists chest and
dug his fingers deeper into the throat
taking advantage Of the respite 70 I'LL
his own lungs with air. But there
was something reassuring about the
continued limpness and Stiffness Of the
sprawled thing under him. After a
brief watt he took from one Of his
pockets some Of the light, strong cord
with which he had provided himself
and bound the figure where Il las.
When he has finished It he rose.
Strengthened himself, drew a few more
deep breaths, and shut his bedroom
door. Then, turning on the lights, he
surveyed his prisoner.
The man lay face downward, as he
had been turned during the binding
Obviously, he had worn q combined
mask and light headplece. Their tat
tered remnants strewed the floor The
garment that had looked and felt Ike
hair was a one-piece affair OF some
fuzzy material that covered the wearer
from neck 10 ankles Combined with
the mask and headpIece, the outfit
would have served very well as a mas
querade costume representing a man
ape. To heighten its effect. tonights
masquerader had blackened his hands
and arms; bur the back OF hts neck
was white where It was not becoming
black and blue. Renshaw turned over
the trussed figure, looked into the
eyes, that we're now conscious. and
nodded slowly.
jerks" he affably observed. Il
thought So
For long moment jerks did not
speak, Apparently he could not. His
eyes stared up at Renshaw duly, as II
he had not yet taken in what had hap
pehed. He tried to move, and the
effort made him groan.
you've - broken - my-arm-d--n
you !" he brought out al last.
wen have II reset, and It Will heal
nicely In Sing Sing" Renshaw drew
a chair close to the PROSTATE form.
and, sitting down, regarded 1t with
warm interest
$50 all this little masquerade was
for my benefit" he unused aloud.
what was the idea?"
jerks dld not answer. Renshaw
prodded him with his foot.
Speak up" he urged. "What was
II forT
'To get rid OF you, d-n you'll What
else did you think It was for?" growled
the captive.
Renshaw shook his head at him
! You're not acting at all like a sport
jerks he austerely pointed out. "You
/ played for big stakes. and lost them.
Why don't you take your medicine like
/ a mani" His voice changed. $50 the
idea was to get ria OF meY' he said
/ brlskly. "Why7 Speak up, jerks.
Masquerade little longer. Be a
sport"
The man was silent.
so we had the thumps and the
crawling sound and the climbing sound
and the locked doors and the black
hand and the closet episode. Did you
do all that yourself?"
annie shut that closet door. d-n
bert She might Of killed Miss Camp
bell"
"And you didn't want that?"
"Of. course didn't"
why not7 You seemed TO be ready
for anything
jerks was weary OF the converse.
ton. He gave the inqulsitive gentle
man another rude bit Of advice which
that serene individual quietly Ignored.
so you did II all yourself. aided by
the bundle Of bricks | Just fell over
I in the closet. ! understand. But how
about that internal lIght-the blue cir.
cle7 Flashlght effect. of course, but
where were your"
Tree"
/ "oh, that would be It. BY Jove,
jerks, you're thorough. I'll say that
for you. Nothing was too much
trouble, was It? And ali to get rid
OF husky six-footer who hadn't any
nerve left but might have been incon-
yenient TO have around In a crisls!"
jerks remained silent
and as soon as was out OF the
way The gang OF you were going 90 take
Camp5ell's ready money and the jew
elry Of the ladies' and skip That was
what Eou were after. Il would have
been q big haul"
/ For the frst time. the face Of jerks
changed
"NoJh'n like T." he snarled.
"Oh, PES. Edward Edwards. alias
+ Joe Stevens, alias the Ourang outanG
/ alias Joseph Jenks You weren't doing
a]l this merely to Get nd OF new
/ conner you disliked bid you imagine
/ | didn't know your
jerks muttered a word that was
lnaudIble His face had turned TO a
pasty gray
GRO BE coNTrNUED)
B
Awokens Neto Hope
Some enterprising California citiEen