TWICE-A -MONTH MAGAZINE SECTION
CHAPTER VIII.
"Trapped.
I reached him, gripping his collar
with one hand, and driving my fiat
twice into his face, hurling him back
against the tonneau. Vet they were
three to one, the chauffeur springing
from his seat to help, while Franzen
clung to the girl. Swigert's arms
jerked me back, someone kicked me
xavagcly in the Bide, and then 1 felt
the muzzle of a revolver pressed against
my cheek. Dark a it was I could
see a gash across lirandt's chin from
which Wood dripped.
"1 marked you anyway," I jeered
up at him, unable to move, "you
brute."
"You'll find out what I am noon
enough now," he answered, panting
slightly from exertion. "That blow
won't make thing any easier for you.
I pay my debts, Monsieur. Come on
now, unless you prefer to be shot."
I got to my feet slowly, but not at
all frightened by his threat.
"There are too many of you for
me," I acknowledged, rubbing my
knuckles, and endeavoring to dis
tinguish the presence of the girl,
"but I am not afraid of your shoot
ing." "You mean 1 do not dare?"
"Well, partly that; rather, however,
there would be nothing for you to
gain I am worth more to you alive."
" You would be as valuable wounded."
"Yet you will not risk it. Where
is Miss Probyn ?"
"Out of your way. But this is
enough talk until we are inside. No
one is going to injure the girl if she
will behave herself. That you, Fran
zen ? Safe, hey ? All right, now I
guess the two of us can handle this
French cockerel. You stay with the
car, Eisenbarth. Come, Lieutenant,
you may as well go along quietly, un
less you enjoy being hurt."
The basement door had been left
open, and between them 1 was shoved
into the dark passage lieyond. Some
one closed and locked the outer bar
rier and then switched on an electric
light, revealing a flight of stairs.
Realizing my inability to resist, and
more impressed now with the fact
that Helen Irobyn was also being
held prisoner in this house, than with
my own danger, 1 olcyed instructions
without a word, and ascended to the
second story. The great hall we tra
versed, as well as the rooms into which
I was ushered, gave evidence that this
waa a private home, the residence of
someone possessing both wealth and
refinement. The rugs on the floor,
the furniture draped in denim, the choice
pictures on the walls, revealed in the
dim light, all combined to make this
evident. The double shades at the
windows were drawn closely, and
Brandt turned on sufficient light so I
could perceive something of my sur
roundings. We came to a halt in
what was apparently a music room,
as it contained a grand piano as well
as a harp, and I was thrust down into
a chair. Brandt muttered some words
of instruction to the others in German,
and they disappeared, leaving us
alone together, the captain remaining
between me and the door. He did
not speak, although 1 noticed his
right hand was hidden in his pocket,
and his eyes watched me closely.
For some moments I also remained
silent, staring about the room, but the
silence became oppressive, and my
curiosity overcame my contempt.
"I presume I am to consider my
self a prisoner."
"For the present yes. How long
that state of affairs may continue will
depend entirely upon yourself."
"You mean'when I am prepared to
reveal the secrets entrusted to me
by my government ?"
He bowed, nursing the cut on his chin.
"You have our offer, Monsieur."
My face flushed.
"Apparently your conception of the
honor of a French officer is not high."
"This is not the first time I have
put it to the test," he said lightly,
"and think you will learn to see the
, value of freedom."
"But you cannot expect to hold
me here indefinitely? I am not an
unknown gutter rat.
"You might as well be, Monsieur,"
he replied, apparently quite at ease.
" Do not deceive yourself as to any
chance of rescue. 1 am too old at
the game to be caught in that way.
1 presume you have no conception
as to where you are at present."
"No, except that 1 am still in
Chicago."
"A rather indefinite description, as
Chicago is a large city, and hence one
of the best hiding place in the world.
You are in a private home, unoccupied
for a year, and your whereabouts are
unknown except to those connected
with our secret service. The care
keeper is in my pay Swigert. Mean
while who is table to be particularly
interested in your disappearance? the
French Consul, and a couple of me
chanics. The police, bah I" and he
smiled genially, waving his hand.
" "lis easy enough to steer them
wrong, Monsieur," leaning forward,
and lowering his voice, "If you never
came back, I do not believe it would
create such a great stir there could
be reasons given, most plausible rea
sons, whispered here and there."
"That 1 had sold out?" I asked.
ripping the arms of my chair. "That
liail been untrue to r ranee T
" Why not ? Who could tell other
wise ? You would be neither the
first, nor the last, Monsieur. We
Germans get what we go after."
1 drew in my breath sharply, per
ceiving in an instant the predicament
in which this suave villian had placed
me. It was true if 1 disappeared,
and these men, through force, or
finesse, succeeded in learning the
secrets of my monoplane, the con
struction would be obvious. No one
would believe I had died in honor;
no one would ever know.
"You perceive, Monsieur," Brandt
went on calmly, grasping my thought.
" 'Tin why we brought you here to
this lonely house, that you might
think over my liberal offer of recom
pense. It was dollars, not francs,
Monsieur, and, they tell me, the West
offers opportunities to energy, and
means, is not life and money more
to be sought than death and dishonor ?
'Tis to be considered, Monsieur."
" You threaten that 1 What would
my death gain you?"
"Nothing at present, tonight," his
voice cold and deliberate. " We nat
urally prefer to deal quietly with you,
yet there are other methods available.
It would not be impossible, I imagine,
to even find a way into your hangar
without discovery. You smrle I We
Germans study everything, Monsieur;
we are patient, diligent. The guard
pah I it is less money than we offer
you for a guard, and, as for your own
men, Ramon id a drunken fool, and
De Vigne; there' are ways of dealing
with Le Vigne. I tell you this that
you may see just how you are situated.
Not that 1 threaten oh, no; but they
know me in Europe for what 1 am
1 do not fear the extreme measures,
when all else fails."
He leaned back, his eyes looking
frankly into mine, his shoulders squared.
There was no doubt as to his exact
meaning, his intentions. Something
about the cold insolence of the mau,
coupled with memories of his reputa
tion, caused me to shiver. He was
like a wild beast on the trail, merci
less, unyielding, hungry for the smell
of blood. Ami 1 recognized now he
possessed the power; he had played
his cards well.
"Possibly, Herr Brandt," I sug
gested at last, holding myself firm,
"you may have overlooked Made
moiselle Probyn."
"No harm will be done her, except
a slight detention. We are not inter
ested iu any story she might care to
tell afterwards. Whatever her sus
picions, she knows practically nothing."
"True; yet she must have friends to
be alarmed at her absence."
He laughed.
"Which remark serves us rather
than yourself. 'Twas a point I had
overlooked. Fritz, come here." Fran
zen appeared so suddenly that I com
prehended he had been on guard in
the hall without. "Is not Monsieur's
room ready yet? No; it should have
been prepared liefore we came. Keep
watch here a moment while I tele
phone." He crossed the room, disappearing
if to an alcove at my left, while the
newcomer leaned watchfully in the
doorway. I heard the click of the
receiver as it was taken down.
"Give me Main 782 yes, the Prti
office; hallo, is this the t'rtt editorial
rooms ? can you connect mo with the
City-Editor's desk? Yes, it is im
portant thank you. Who is it speak
ing ? All right, Schmitt; 1 recognize
the voice now this is Brandt never
mind where I am the less you know
the better yes, everything in all
right what I called you up for is
this, if anyone inquires for your young
lady reporter just tell them she is on
an assignment out of town, will you
may be gone a week.. Never mind
the reason: you do as I say. Uh, she's
safe enough, but there might be friends
who would inquire. Yes, that is all
good-by."
He pauntered carelessly back into
the room, whistling softly.
"A ghost easily laid," he said, "and
do you still rpquire time in which to
consider, Monsieur?"
"No; you already have my answer."
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