The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-12-04
CHAPTER THIRTY-Two


Tell me where that confession
is hidden and III let you go" Fen
wick's voice rasped In Jnl's ears
as she squirmed in the chair to
which she was strapped. Leather
thongs held her arms firmly 10
the sides Of the chair. and two
others secured her feet TO the bot
tom rungs.
She could not move.
A mans hand extending over
her shoulder from the back was
holding up her chin. so that her
face looked directly into q blind
ing white light.
She tried to keep her eyes closed,
but they would blink open momen-
tarily and every time the light
seemed to scar the delicate men,
branes.
She was blinded by the glare of
the light, but she knew there were
four men in the room.
She had seen them when she
came in.
Fenwick was there. He was do
ing the questioning. Rothbury,
too. was there. 1t was his hand
which was holding her face so that
the binding light beat into it mer-
cilessly.
One Of the men was Frank, the
thuggish-looking chauffeur, and
the other man. big and powerful,
she had glanced at briefly when
she entered the room. His face was
brutal, and she knew she could
expect no mercy from him or from
any of her tormentors.
Fenwick Demands
"where did you get the confess
sion ?" Fenwick demanded.
II told you where I got it," she
answered, tensely. ut was sent to
me by my uncle, Thomas Mac
query. The man you tricked and
robbed-robbed not only of his
business and his property. but of
his good name"
"Shut up! didn't ask you that!
Fenwick growled. angrily.
But I'm telling you A sharp
slap across her cheek cut short
what she was going to say.
That's just sample, young
lady, what's in store for you I'M
less you do as say. Where is the
confession, now"
TRY and find it," she tainted.
Loosen Up
"Mebbe If we put the screws to
her boy friend, she might loosen
up, Chief" Jill couldn't see who
made the suggestion, but she
thought it probably was Frank,
That's an idea" Fenwick said.
81 have no boy friend" Jill said
stubbornly.
"Oh, yeah? Suppose you think
we don't know all about that little
love scene in the other room, Ell 3?
We heard every word of it. No boy
friend, eh?"
you keep Bob out of this ?" she
cried. frantic fear making her for
get his warnings for the moment
IN tell you what We'll do" Fen
wick bargained. Tell me where
you've put that confession, and
we'll see that both you and Brock
leave here alive. How about 1t ?"
How do l know you'll keep your
promise ?"
"You can trust me. My word is
good"
Hysterical Laugh
Suddenly she laughed, hysteric-
ally.
Your word is good" she
laughed. "As good as a bond"
A heavy hand flashed out, but
this time she anticipated the blow
and lodged it.
This was what Bob had meant
for her to do-stall them. Give him
time. She wondered how much he'd
had already.
Shed lost all track of the min
utes. It seemed she had been de-
family facing these men for an
hour or more, but she knew 1t
couldn't be that long.
"All right" Fenwick's voice
grated. "We'll bring Brock in here
and see IL we can loosen her up.
Light the gas burner, Joe, and start
heating that poker. Maybe the
smell of singed flesh will make this
young lady decide to tell us what
she knows"
mo- No. You can't do that"
Jill cried, wildly. IN tell, I'll
tell"
Fenwick Curses
Good. That's the way to talk
Where is-"Fenwick broke off his
rush Of questions with a curse.
What the devil is that?" he de-
manded.
There was a noise at the door,
and Jill heard one of the men run
over and open it.
She looked down at the floor
just as a man sprawled on all
tours. His head was caked with
blood. and it had streamed down
over his face. She recognized him
as the small man she had seen
when they drove up to the hideout.
What's the matter. Tim ?" Fen
wick demanded.
II, I was slugged." the man
-l..i.oa .,,t srAfxr rarfq Qona That