The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-03-25
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER l.

CHAPTER l.
There was IL heavy humping noise
on the stairs as Jcnscns huge body
struck. Then several lesser bumps
as he rolled down the remaining
steps and, finally. utter stiffness.
Dor the life Of him, Jimmy couldn't
move. He was paralyzcd with the
fear that Jensen might get up and
choose to enter that room where
Olga sat and Divis lay, instead Of
coming back. He might even take
time to find the revolver Jimmy had
kicked downstairs.
Still, knowing this, he was unable
to stir. He was leaning heavily
against the wall, just where that last
desperate push against Jensen had
left him. and he was sucking the
breath into his lungs in great, gasp
ing s0bs.
Jensen had crushed it out Of him.
had almost crushed the very life out
of him with those gorilla-like arms
Of his. A sharp. shooting pain in
his side---an agonizing stab-told of
a broken rib,~and deadly nausea had
descended on him. He fought against
fainting, with straining eyes fixed
on the broken banistcr rail in front
Of him.
It seemed ages before his dead
.. cned, reluctant muscles would obey
the messages Of his brain. Finally
he was able to move. and then, lean
, ing heavily on the railing for sup
port. he painfully descended. his eyes
| watchful for any movement in that
shadowy. still form at the bottom OF
| the stairs. -
/
Olga sat where Jimmy had left
her. the pistol held nervelessly in hcl
shaking hand. not daring to take hel
burning eyes off the ontstretchcd
figure Of Divis lying on the floor.
| Her head ached and throbbcd; he,
tattered nerves seemed to be scream.
ing at her to relax.
TO relax, to find relief in blessed
Inconsistencies. But. she darct
not. She knew for a certainty thai
if she but closed her eyes and lait
her head on her arm, she woult
faint. And Jimmy Rand hat
told her to watch Divis, to keep thi.
pistol pointed at him m case h
should move. .
Would she dare TO pull the trigger
If he. should suddenly lean up a
her? She shuddcrcd. She would tr,
but she did not know;
Why had Jimmy left her to z,
upstairs--with Jensen up there
Why had he not first taken her on
some place and then. if he chose
taken the pistol himself and gon,
npstairs? Even that was foolhard!
Ien0ugh, for Jensen was armed.
/ And she, hadn't told Jimmy that
She had forgotten She shivcrcd
and with difficulty suppressed I
scream. y.
| Her cars achcd as she stfainc,
them against the silence that ha,
envcloped the whole house.
Then she heard footfalls-th'
heavy tread of Jensen crossing TIL
room. And then voices loud ant
angry.
| Jensen had discovered. him! II
agony she waited for the sound Of
shot. But 1t did not come, Instead
the stairs. thcn--it seemed ages late
the slamming Of a door, anothe
shuttle of feet and deep, full throat
cd laugh that could only be Jenscn's
/ She was trembling violently now
the pistol shaking loosely in he
grasp. She turned her head towar
the door, as IL that would someho,
bring the sound nearer. And sh
knew some how she didn't want I
hear what was about to happen. /. ;.
With =, sudden start she turne
back to the unconscious Divis. Sup
lpose he had moved. Suppose he ha
come to and seen her with her, hea
turned-and leapcd at her. !.
Desperately, she frightened her fin
gers on the pistol. Divis Law j
death like stiffness, and blood slowl
trickled from cash behind his cal
She sickened.
Voices again. A deep rum
bling voice that was Jensen's. An
theh--thank Coda low. stead
voice that told her Jimmy Was a
, least alive.
But what could they be doing ? He
imagination conjured up thousan1
fates for Jimmy-in that room wit
the torturing. bone-breaking Jensen
There flashed through her mind tina
Jensen might be saving, Jimmy 70
some refined cruelty he might wor
i at his DEMONSTRATING with him, q
q cat plays with q helpless mouse.
i She listened and visited for wha
seemed ages-apd the silence wa
broken only by the cultural voice 0
lJenssn, and his lAugh-theta toneles,
|heartless lsuGh.
And agaihxh her nerves .wsFe scream
g. :. ~ Il = ~