"Held in Ransom,"

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 December 1926, Page 7

"Held in Ransom,"

-BYGERALD CUMBERLAND. Author of • • The Cypress Chest,” : ‘Set Down in Malice,” “The Prisoner,” etc., etc.

(COPYRIGHT.)

CHAPTER A’—Continued. Put this was no mere boxing contest; it was a. terrible and desperate light between a. would-be torturer and his victim. The Imtisor advanced upon Prank with caution, intending to knock him out by a blow 'beneath the belt, when almost within striking distance lie lurched forward and, while making a feint with his left, aimed with his right at the pit of Frank’s stomach. Put the younger man had read the brute’s intention in his eye; lie was ■prepared for it; and, before the blow could reach him, he turned suddenly aside with the rippling motion of an eel, and brought the brass statuette down on ltis enemy’s forehead. There was a sound of breaking bone, and, after staggering and tottering for a few moments, like an ox stricken in the slaughter-house, he.fell prone upon the lloor.

There ensued a terrific struggle between the two deaf and dumb men and their victim. The criminals rushed upon him simultaneously, one from the front, the other from the rear. One tried to choke him to unconsciousness, while the other fisted him over the heart with all his strength. It was at this moment that the door opened and the Princess stood on the threshold. At the sight that met her eyes her cheeks assumed a deadly pallor, and her eyes became suddenly distended with horror. All the maternal and protective instincts of her nature were roused, and instinctively she tried to rush forward to Frank's help. But her trembling legs could scarcely support her body, and she found it impossible to move. The dreadfulness' of the scene was made greater by the short, aniiyal-like sounds that came from the three men; tlieir.breath seemed torn from their bodies. Put Frank was visibly weakening. 11 is struggles to free himsc.lf became less and less violent; the fierce pounding upon his heart was having its dire effect; suddenly, with « cry that was hall: a groan, he sank to the lloor. • The Princess, overcome with a. pity so intense that it seemed to stab at her verv vitals, turned from the sight, and left the room.

The struggle over, the two men went to work with business-like quickness. Having carried Frank to the ehair, they pressed the button, that released the steel arms, and in a moment he was imprisoned. They next turned their at-tention-to their fellow-criminal, who still lay motionless near the fireplace. - His head was covered with blood, his eyes were closed, and his breathing was so faint that it was scarcely perceptible. Having lifted him gently, they carried him from the room, and for a few minutes Frank was left alone with his thoughts. Tie had never entirely lost consciousness, and he quickly recovered complete possession of all his faculties. All bodily pain was forgotten in the llood of exultation that overpowered him. He enjoyed a fierce pride in his conquest of the bruiser. The result of the light with the three men had been inevitable; from the beginning it had been a losing contest; nevertheless, he had given better than he had received, and at least one of his antagonists would remember that night fo.r the rest of his life.

But though Frank know well he was about to undergo a soul-bearing ordeal, and though lie had steeled himself to endure -it, he had only a faint conception of what destiny was about to submit to. The two men entered. Tliev approached him released }m arms removed his coat, and turned up the shirt-sleeve of his left arm. A second later lie was again iirmly pinioned. Then, without the loss of a moment, they applied a white-hot iron to the flesh of his upper arm. At the sudden impact of excruciating pain something in his brain seemed to snap.

“You vile hell-hounds!’’ he groaned between his clenched teeth. “You devil’s spawn! .May you be damned

for ever!” It did not occur to him that they could hear no word he spoke. His spirit, indeed, was submerged beneath a sea of pain. At the end or a few seconds they had finished their foul, inhuman work. They had done it. impassively, as though executing any ordinary task of the day. Born and lb red in cruelty, impervious to the suffering of others, they felt no compunction in' earning their bread Iby so abominable a means.

But though Frank was in such terrible physical agony, he was resolved to reveal nothing of his suffering to the Princess. Jle would deprive her of any satisfaction she might; feel at seeing him brought to submission. Vet submit he must. He had, of course, intended from the very tirst to submit, for only bv writing, the letter demanded of him could he hope to make known his whereabouts to the police and thus secure Audrey’s and his own freedom. Calling all his powers of endurance to his aid and 'Summoning his last ounce of courage, ho tried to smile—and succeeded. Yes: lie could and would bear it. When she ajieared he would seem, indifferent. She should not be allowed to gloat over him. But when at length Princess Warenski arrived, her face showed no sign of satisfaction. Instead, it was pale and haggard. Since Frank !ad h.-t seen her, she .■.<■(>mt .1 to live been ilirocgh a world o" suffering. She gazed at him with large eyes of sorrow. The •smell of burnt flesh hung in the air and sickened her.

“Thank God that is over!” she said, moving to one side in order that he might not see her face. “I hope I killed that clumsy bruiser

"of - yours 7” he said amiably. ‘•He had to obey orders,” she said. “All of us are compelled to.” “He obeyed them very ineffectivelv.” said Prank,> with great calmness. “You should engage a more skilful iiia ii. ’' “ Y ol i will allow me to bandage your arm. 1 have brought ointments and linen.” He found it almost imposible to keep up his pose of indifference. He longed to pour out his anger and detestation upon her —longed to drag her in the dust and. trample upon her. But no! —he must not do that! For, to exhibit any depth of feeling would be merely an acknowledgment that she had power to hurt him. She came to his side carrying a small table on which she placed a i’oil of soft linen, pots of ointment, scissors and safety pins. The upper part of his left arm, still pinioned, was scorched almost black; it was terribly swollen, and the flesh was inflamed from shoulder to elbow. He looked at her with veiled hostility. “Don’t come near me!” he said. “Put —you must let me bandage you. What I^ have here will soothe you.” *‘Don’t come near me. Youj poison the atmosphere. If my arm may be bandaged, seipl one of your underlings to do it.”

“Put. I am skilful—” “I don’t want your skill.” “You don’t understand, Mr Mi-chol-le. I hale to see you in pain. I loathe myself for wluit -has happened. Put it has to happen —there was no other way. You believe that, don’t you.’ You believe that I had no choice —that I was compelled to order —to order —this. ’ ’

She pointed to his arm. “1 believe nothing —I know nothing.” he said. ,- l have no feeling for vou sa\e contempt.” I don’t even hate you, for you are too miserable and weak for hatred. At one moment you delibcrally commit a foul action, and the next moment you pretend to regret it. One may have a kind of respect for a woman who has the courage of her own wickedness, but when she comes whining round as you do— 7 oh!

you make me sick.” He saw her wince, and lie exulted at the pain ho was able to cause her. Yes —he had power over her. In her own tortured way she felt tenderness for him. lie could feel it; She wanted to gain his good opinion. She desired his forgiveness. He divined that she loved him —her eyes revealed her love, the very tone of her voice proclaimed it. He smiled, inwardly to himself — smiled grimly. He would use her love. Pat eron he would use it in order to gain his freedom; and he would use it in order to wound her. “Very well,” said she. “Put I have no one to send to you except, one of the men w;ho —who.hurt you.” “Send him. He is at least honest. And lie will not pretend to regret what he has done.” AYitli a gesture of humility, almost ot despair, she left biin. Put before she had readied the door she returned, and, having pressed the necessary button, roaleased him. He rose at once, and with a shrug of his -shoulders, walked as far away from her as the’limits of the small room would allow. He felt desperately weak, and lie tottered as he walked. Noticing this, she advanced him quickly, as though to support him, ’V- *% “Let me alone!” he shouted, angrilv. “Don’t touch me! 1 can’t bear vou near me! I will not be fouled by

your touch.” He had an almost ungovernable desire to scream with pain. .Fire burned in all his body. At his words she fell back as though he had struck her a blow between the eyes. She left the room, but in less than a minute she returned with one of the deaf mutes. Seeing that Frank was free, the man cowered near the door, lie was afraid. lie looked appealingly at the Princess, who moti ned him imperiously to come forward. Still cowering, lie came into the room slowly, Btep 1*- step. But, as he ministered to Frank, bandaging his arm expertly, his apprehensive glance darted hither and thither, as though lie feared attack. When lie had completed his task, the man departed. There was a long silence. A clock on the niantlepiece struck three. The Princess moved about the room restlessly. “Your arm is easier now?” she asked. But. he gave no answer. - She looked at him and saw that he was leaning back with his head against the back of the low chair. His fair hair was disordered, his eves were closed, his lips were slightly parted. (To bo Continued.)