Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-03-18
CHAPTER NINE

THE SUN rose higher. My thirst
returned md grew worse. Still my
c.Ctor did not come back. No one
cane to work in the warehouse,
although distant factory whistles
told me it was o'clock.
/ tried to guess why l had been
kidnapped. and what MY captor in
tended to do with ME.
The usual aim of kidnapping was
ruled out. Certainly l wasn't being
held for ransom. l had no money
and no relatives. And, besides, the
big boatman who knocked me out
could have had no advance Enowl-
edge that I would be il the gar
den. I hadn't ev noWn It my
self.
MY CHIEF tear was that the po-
lice would think had run away.
but to credit the kidnaper with
deliberately trying 10 create that
impression was fantastic. 1t didn't
seem possible that he could con-
ceive such a complicated and at
the same time dangerous idea On
the spur of the moment.
/ tried. as best as my aching
head would DO it. 70 put myself in
his place.
What was he doing IN the gar
den at the Rio Vista club at that
late hour OF the night:
1t seemed unlikely he could have
been there for long; therefore he
must have sneaked up IN his boae
and hidden in the willows while
the police were ir the garden. He
was no lava abiding citizen. He was
there on dark business, and he
must have learned. from the con-
versation between Jerry and the
officer. that the police were look
ing for a murderer.
When I approached him in the
dark. he fearea he vas about to be
discovered, SO re had knocked me
down
Why hadn't - aet: alone? Why
hadn't he left me lying there?
The answer seemed 70 be that |
he was afraid l hal recognized |
him. He didn't want to be linked |
with murder; and 20 prevent me
from setting the police OF his trail
he had to take H.e with him.
What would he 10 with Ne now?
He wasn't sure whethc: I knew
him Or not. His only safe course OF
action would ne 70 put NE out OF
the way altogether.
I had heard Of people being bu-
ried in Cement ana dropped into
. river. There also was a way OF
unwanted persons disap-
pear thoroughly. in quicklime.
l struggled up 10 sitting posi-
ton, perspiring. l must try 70 set
loose from these rores,
My hands had lost their numb
ness because I had stretched the
fastenings by straining at them,
but the knots were tighter than
ever. My only hope was to cut the
rope. I looked at the windows.
Could I break the glass and then
rub the rope on one Of the Jagged
pieces?
1t seemed unlikely, but possible.
l discovered that by lying on
the floor l could move slowly, u.s.
ing my shoulders and knees. Part
ly wriggling. partly rolling. RI
gained the wall under the windows.
There I struggled in vain. unable
~ rise to my feet.
: lay still, listening. There vas
- sound OF activity II the build
ing. Apparently I vas alone, for
8 time at least Perhaps | could
get down the stairs to the lover
floor.
l rolled to the top of thu stairs
stuck my chin over the edge and
looked down. There was enough
night to show me it vas very steep,
Inc potto~l Of the stairw was in
gloomy shadow.
L started down. and there WAS M
stopping. The blood rushed to nv
mead. Bump, bump: | rolled. slid.
finally slipped under the
raining and dropped The last Few
rect with 4 crash. landing on one