The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-12


 break off the engagement between Olive and Hanc. Biackmailcrs approach Lianc at a night club, demanding. $fO,OOO. At hcr wits end, she goes to SHANE McDER- MID, police officer who once be. frtended her. Hit puts an end to the blackinailing. Plans for the wedding proceed. McDcrmid warns Lianc she has an enemy. At . ball given for the PRINCE OF SLAVARIA, Liane disappears. Give. Chuck Desmond and the Prince himself start search for her.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XXVI
 After Hugo, Grown Prince of Slavaria, had left her Liane stood quite still for moment. The music from the ball room came to her in little muted grasps. She thought, "I ought to run back to the box and see Give for 6 mo- ment. He'll wonder where I've vanished" She wondered how the Prince would find her wrap. She had not told him what 1t was like.
 With one foot on the bottom stair she stood irresolute. As she turned a quiet, commanding voice said, Don't move, girl. We've got you covered"
 Lightning like, she wheeled in time to get dim flash of two grim men in evening clothes. One was armed. This she saw before the black silk scarf was slipped over her eyes.
 Grab her. Len" one of the men said gruffly. A hand clamped itself over her mouth. Strong. unkindly arms lifted her. She kicked violently. one silver pump fell off, unnoted. Strug- gling still. she was lifted up. An, a car seat. The smell of Russian leather, of cigarets. The thrum of an expensive motor. Those iron hands still ciamped her wrists. Her face was utterly yelled in that black silk. She heard the engine slide into sec ond, into high. Smoothly the car glided over the ruts of the entrance--yes, that was a remem- bered bump! She knew they were skimming along the turnpike. But whether the road led east or west she could not say.
 The man on the seat beside her released her hands. He said with ironic politeness, Do you no good 10 scream now. miss. Better be quiet and make no trouble"
 Liane bit her lips to keep from weeping. "If it's my pearls you want" she said tremulously. you may as well have them now and let me go. I'v nothing else of value"
 The mans laugh grated. wen have them too. But later"
 Where are you taking mel" the girl asked in terror. What can you possibly want? You've mistaken me for someone else. have no money to give you.'
 We know you right enough. Names Barrett. ain't it?"
 She nodded and felt fresh terror at this disclosure.
 shut your trap now and don't bother me-" the man said with engaging frankness. "You can have your say after a while"
 They role thereafter in silence broken only by the grunt of the man in the front seat. Right here?" Liane heard the man be- side her ask as the car slowed. A grunt from the front seat was the reply. The car seemed to turn.
 For a few minutes they traV- eled under branches bending so low Liane could feel them scrape the tonneau. Then the car bumped over a deeply rutted lane and came to a standstill.
 "Out here." commanded the surely voice. Liane felt herself lifted, carried. No use, she thought, to cry out now. She was in the hands of the enemy.
 The man carrying her went up three steps that creaked under him. A door swung on protesting hinges and the fetid air of an overloaded, underventilated room assailed Liane's nostrils.
 Clumsy fingers fumbled at the tight knot of the black silk scarf which bound her eyes. The girl gasped with relief as the fasten- ings gave way. She was shiver- ing all over now. Even the hot air of that fusty room did not serve to warm her. Her teeth chattered as with 'ague as she glanced around. It was a boxlike room in a cheap house. Two mis- sion chairs with collapsing springs stood in front of gas grate. A bright green carpet of furious pattern adorned the floor. Every thing was very dirtry--windows, limp curtains, the floor itself. All this Liane took in in the split second before the man spoke.
 "Sit down." he growled at her.
 Because her knees would no longer obey her the girl did as her captor commanded. An in- congruous figure she was in that sordid place. with her frills, her bare shoulders.
 She stared at the man who had carried her. The other one could be heard in the hall outside, shouting orders at some unseen henchmen.
 The man returning Lanes stare was iron gray. loosely built. His mouth was a thin, cruel line :. Hands in pockets, he lounged against the iintel. regarding the girl with n bitter. sardonic gaze.
 "You're the smart kid who popped Ginny Weisman over the head down at the gold coast movies" he accused Liane. The girls heart gave a wild leap. Did this explain the strange adven- ture in which she now found her self? Were these men friend oi that captured bandit who had tried to hold up the box office ai the Willow Stream theater?
 But the mans next words be- lied this.
 "Dent get me wrong," he ieered. "Ginny's no pal Of mine I just remembered seein' youi picture in the paper at that time.
 "You talk too much." growied s voice from the doorway. Linne glanced LID to see the first mans