Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 19, 1924 — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

COLOSSUS OF THE RADIO, waited, puzzled what to do. She listened and—presently an intent look came into her eyes. She had heard something. Yet— the place seemed to be empty. Wasit? She thought she heard something move. She heard it again. Behind her. She turned around quickly. She saw a man come out of the space between the thrown back door and the wall. An expression of fear came into May’s pretty blue eyes; she shrank back. It was daylight; a bright, sunny morning; but the man would have been enough to startle a stronger nerved person than May. ‘His at- titude was suggestive of threat. “Keep still. Don’t try to scream or run.” | May put her hand to her mouth. For the moment she was as helpless as a bird fascinated by a snake. She could see noth- ing but the man’s eyes. The man’s head and shoulders were cov- ered with an ugly, white mask. Two black holes were cut in the mask. His sinister eyes fixed on the girl, the man came toward her. Afraid to move or speak, May’s hips went dry; her tongue became parched. When he was quite close to her, the masked man pointed to a door at the back of the garage. 7 ‘Go in there,” he ordered. The girl made one step back, then she stopped. An idea had come to her. Maybe it was all a joke. She tried to laugh. ‘“ Are—are you Nick?” she asked. “ If so, please—please stop fooling or—VU—I'll call for help.” “ Better not,” said the masked man. “I am not Nick. Go into that room at the back there and—keep your mouth shut, and —move.” “ But—” ‘“Move. Do as I tell you.” As he spoke, the man’s hand darted out - and he took a hard grip on the girl’s arm. He pushed her to the door in the partition at the rear of the garage. ‘Open it,” he said when the girl was near the door. ‘‘ Open it and go in quietly. Stay quiet for an hour or more. It will be —safer. Better for you and—the other party. Safer for the two of you to keep your mouths shut.” d03 Pushing the girl into the dark room, the masked man shut and locked the door. Ready to cry with fear, May leaned against the door. She heard the man move away. Then—the sound of the shutting of the heavy, big doors of the garage. After that, silence. For a short time May kept close to the door. Her hands were covering her face. She was trying to think clearly; to make up her mind what she ought to do. She want- ed to get out of that room. To find Nick. Call the police. How was she to get out? What was the first thing to do? Try to break down the door or—force her way out of the window? How soon could she try to make her escape? The masked man had said: “Stay quiet for an hour or more.” ‘I won’t. Jl get out as—as soon as I can,” decided May, and tried the doorknob. She shook it gently; then harder. The door scarcely moved. Nick had had that door and partition made to keep strangers out; to keep everybody out. Now it made a prison for May. Knowing that she could not break open the door with her empty hands, May turned and looked across the dark room to the window. The heavy shade was down, At the edge of it showed a thin line of light. May went to the window and pulled at the shade. It flew up. The light was full in the girl’s eyes, but through the dirty glass she saw—bars! She was caged in. May’s throat constricted. She could break the glass, but she would not have strength enough to force those iron bars. Outside the window was an empty lot. There were no houses near. Even if she broke the glass and called for help, it might be hours before any one would come near enough to the garage to hear her. Yet, something must be done. What? Could she get out through the door? Near the window was a table. It was covered with tools and parts of machinery. Was there an ax or chopper there? Some- thing—anything which would quickly break down the door? She ran to the table. Her eager eyes darted over the scattered tools and bits ef metal. Then—she heard her name called. The voice seemed far, far oO cide EPS AGE Pie ak 2 oS ANNE Na i Wee »* date AAS ‘ ended ile Aan bee vaio tes g448 dite g 3 Zh YW2e* TaN A ast ater’ , tevty Ewe ot J be sWal $7.4 val hy ( ; vt Eomichbooks-co is