The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-09-30
Chapter %
ABrutaI CriIIilng

4 HEN he was ready, the man
turned Neill over on his face
a cut the bonds on his wrists.
ne turned Neill again and, smoth-
erlng him under his full weight,
pulled his arms forward and tied
them in front. He tied a second
rope to the first one and, standing
NELL on his feet, started pulling
on the other end drawing Neill's
arms above his head and higher
until his feet began to leave the
ground. He then fastened the rope,
leaving Neil dangling, his toes
Just touching the ground.
The nan then came close and,
with his foul breath in Neill's face,
Started going through his pockets
and through his clothes t. the ski.
He even unlaced his boots, and felt
inside his socks. He took out
NeiliS wallet, examined it and
put II back. This was no ordinary
robber He was after some partieu-
lar thing. When he failed to find it.
he started low. savage cursing.
Where is the stuff" he NUT
tered.
"You damn fool" Neill said,
knowing that meaningless grunts
were the only sounds he could
make.
The tapes were pulled off his
lips. Neil instantly shouted with
his full voice. The man laughed.
Shout your lungs out, he said
There's no house in a mile"
Neil shut his mouth.
where's the stuff? -. Come
across or I'll kill you"
''What stuff" answered Neill.
Il don't know what you're talking
about"
The mans reply was a blow that
almost jerked NeilPs arms out of
their sockets. He spun around
helplessly.
where's the stuff" growled the
man.
NELL knew he had been watched
from the beginning. Evidently it
was thought that ne had secured
something valuable on. the yacht.
Some loot of Fanning's. 1t was
.rs1seless to protest that he didn't
have Il. He stalled for time.
Loose me and I'll talk to you
about It,"
The man laughed. what kind
of fool do you think am"
"You can come with me and III
take you to it" said Neill.
No, you don't! You tell me
where il is and if find il, I'll loose
you. If don't find it, I'll come back
and kill you with my fistl"
Buried Treasure
NELL thought: If had an hour,
y I could release myself. It's
worth trying. He said: do you
know the wooden beacon that
stands on Absalom's Point?"
Eve seen il. =
Il buried it near there.
The man growled in pretended
indifference: Which direction?"
He's biting! Neill thought. and
went on: 'Stand with your back
against the beacon and face the
big locust that grows in the field
Take six full steps toward the tree,
and dig in the sand. It's not buried
deep. ! didn't have time"
The man was silent, and Neill
held himself tense for the outcome.
"All right" he said at last. God
help you il you're lying!'
Nell relaxed.
He pasted the tapes back on
>Eeiil's lips. They didn't stick so
4 hrmly this time. He then pulled
himself up on deck and leaped to
abe shore. Neill heard his steps
crunchis.g away.
Neill, blind, Speechless and
bound, took stock of his situation.
Unnoticed by his captor, the rope
had stretched somewhat and his
feet were now planted firmly on
the ground. The strain had loosen
ed the bonds on his wrists also.
He rubbed his mouth against his
arm until he got rid of the loose
tapes. His eyes were more firmly
fastened shut. and he let them go
for the present
He Unanswered his hands until
he got hold Of the rope from above.
Il was q coarse hempen rope that
afforded a good grip. With endless
patient working. he drew himself
up on Il an inch az a time. The
croSS-beam was only a foot or so
above his hands. He struck against
Il, and after several failures was
able 10 hook his fingers over 1t and
hang there.
He now caught the dangling
rope between his upper arm and
bis teeth and. holding Il there.
started gnawlnE. II seemed Ike q
hopeless job. Minutes passed BE-
tore he could feel even one fere
narting between his teeth. = e7r-
While his strained fingers Scet'>9