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In the Alleghany Mountains by Stella M. Francis, Chapter twenty
Twelve Girls in the Mountains. Ethel Zimmermann and Ernestine Johnson fainted.
All of the rest of the twelve girls, who had
been decoyed into the Buckholg's house by the sympathetic Missus Eddie,
(00:22):
were thrown into a panic, and the terror of the
situation was not mollified in the least by the sudden
appearance on the scene of five men. Where the men
came from so suddenly was not at all clear. Undoubtedly
they had been hidden somewhere, but that place could not
(00:43):
be determined, for none of the girls remembered from what
direction they had made their appearance north south, east, west,
up or down. They were just there, and that was
all there was to it. The men did not looked
like Ruffians exactly, although they were not clad in gentlemen's clothes.
(01:06):
The girls were huddled together in the dark, scantily furnished
front room, which at some time probably had served the
purpose of a combined parlor and reception room. The next apartment,
probably designed as a living room, was lighted by a
single gas jet turned low. Ethel and Ernestine fainted in
(01:29):
the midst of the address of warning and command from
the spokesman of the plotters. This was a signal for
a rally to their aid on the part of the
other campfire girls. Best gifted with presence of mind. Marion
led this move and was quickly assisted by Ruth Hazelton,
Julietta Hyde, and Marie Quismore. No objection was offered by
(01:55):
the men to this proceeding, as they were intelligent enough
to realize that the success of their plot depended largely
on a careful guard against a noisy panic that would
attract attention from without. Somebody get some water, quick, Marian directed,
as she proceeded to go through the reviving formula in
(02:18):
which all of them had been thoroughly drilled. I'll get some, missus,
Eddie volunteered, indicating by her offer and actions that she
was an efficient ally of the kidnappers. She hastened into
the kitchen and soon returned with a large dipper of water.
Marian took it from her and sprinkled some of the
(02:41):
liquid on the faces of the unconscious girls. The latter
quickly recovered and sat up, but meanwhile the five men
were not idle. The leader addressed the girls again with
more gentle words and manner, realizing, as only an intelligent
criminal may do, that a confidence man's method is the
(03:05):
best method for producing a desired illegal effect. In a degree,
he was successful attempting to reassure the captives in the
following manner. Now, girls, you have nothing to fear from
us if you were a orders. We don't wish to
harm a hair on any of your heads. We are
(03:28):
merely determined to get what we have said out for,
and we are going to use you to help us
get it. If you try to balk our purpose, you
must take the consequences. Otherwise you will suffer only such
inconveniences as go naturally with the experience of being kidnapped.
(03:50):
And try to realize this, that being kidnapped isn't such
a terrible thing if you are in the custody of
gentlemen kidnappers, that what we are, gentlemen kidnappers. All we
ask of you is that you prove yourselves to be
what gentlemen kidnappers prefer above all others, namely, real ladylike prisoners. Now,
(04:16):
he added, after a pause during which he surveyed his
audience as if to determine the effect of his words.
As soon as the two young ladies who were so
unfortunate as to make the mistake of connecting a tragic
prospect with this affair, have fully recovered, we will proceed.
(04:38):
That fellow is disguised, declared Marian in a whisper to
the girls nearest her. In fact, all of them are
observe that every one of them wears a beard, mustache
or short side whiskers. Watch their eyes and mouths, and
every expression on their faces, so that we may be
(04:59):
ab to identify them if we are ever called upon
to do so. Now, girls, said the spokesman, with well
simulated gentleness, No more of that. We don't want to
be unduly rude with you, but if there is any
more whispering, we'll have to resort to measures that we
(05:21):
will make it impossible. Now I think you are all ready,
so just follow the leader, and some of us will
bring up the rear. We will proceed first into the basement. Trembling,
the twelve camp fire girls followed two of the men
down the cellar steps. It was evident to them that
(05:43):
resistance would be worse than useless. A single blow from
the fist of one of those powerful men would stun
any of the girls if it did not knock her unconscious.
In fact, their captors could make quick work of them
if necessary, and cooped up as they were in this
(06:04):
isolated prison, they could scarcely hope to send forth an
effective cry of distress before they were rendered physically incapable
of sounding further alarm. All of the gentlemen kidnappers were
supplied with electric flashlights, with which they illuminated the cellar
(06:25):
and revealed to their captives a hole three feet in
diameter in the ground floor and seemingly a flight of
steps leading downward. Don't be scared, young ladies, advised the
gentlemanly leader of the gentleman kidnappers softly. That whole is
merely the mouth of an old coal mine. We will
(06:48):
conduct you through the mind to the other end, which
is concealed from public view at a distance, and there
we will find four automobiles waiting for you. Lead the way, comrade, kidnappers.
The two head men descended into the hole, and the
girls followed indian file. The spokesman and one other man
(07:12):
descended last as a rear guard. One of the men
remained in the cellar with missus Eddy, and together they
hurriedly replaced the old door over the mouth of the mine,
shoveled some loose earth over this, and then covered the
earth with eight or ten thicknesses of scrap lumber, loosely
(07:34):
tossed in a heap. Meanwhile, the girls, guided by the
lights ahead and aided by the two lights behind, which
were directed helpfully along their path, made their way laboriously
down the slope and along the many angle gallery to
the opening at the other side of Holy Hill, as
(07:56):
the high rounded elevation on and around which the city
was built was cooled. Under different circumstances, undoubtedly they would
have been much interested in this experience as a subterranean exploration,
and they had all the time they might need for
(08:16):
such exploration, for the dusk of evening had not yet
developed into darkness, and they had to wait in the
mine over an hour before it was deemed safe to
venture out. With the captives near the opening at the
foot of the bluff behind the abandoned flour mill, gags
(08:37):
were tied tightly over the girl's mouths, and their hands
were bound in front of them, and they were assisted
one by one down a gradual but rough incline and
into the waiting machines, snow falling in millions of huge flakes,
a fact that evidently caused the kidnappers more worried than
(09:00):
the possibility of detection by persons in the vicinity. For
remarks escaped some of them relative to the importance of
haste before the roads became impassable to automobiles. But the
storm served them one good purpose if it menaced them.
In another respect, it rendered the darkness of the night
(09:25):
more impenetrable and kept the streets almost free of pedestrians. Moreover,
the plotters were well supplied with means and methods of
guarding against escape or rescue. The gags and cloth manacles
were so well made that one might have expected them
(09:45):
of being products of a manual training school of burglars wives.
During the passage from the mind to the automobiles, each
of the girls were ashorel thrown over her head, and
pinned close in the front, thus concealing both the gags
and the manacle condition of their hands. At last, they
(10:08):
were all in the machines, each of which was in
charge of a driver. Three of the girls were put
into each automobile, and one of the men got in
with them to see that their conduct was as per
schedule program. Then the start was made on They went
(10:29):
out into the country and along a road that Marion
knew led into the heart of the mountains. She could
see the dim, shadowy form of high peak in the distance. Meanwhile,
as she peered out eagerly into the darkness with an
irrational longing for rescue from some miraculous source, for this
(10:52):
was the only kind of rescue that seemed possible under
the circumstances, she kept working at the bonds about her
wrists and the gag in her mouth slyly and without
obvious effort, until with joy she realized that she was
at least partly successful. I am certain I could shove
(11:14):
that thing right out of my mouth and give the
most piercing scream ever heard, if anybody would only come
along and hear me, she told herself. The snow kept
on falling heavily, much to the alarm of the kidnappers
and the joy of the kidnapped, but the automobiles reached
the mountains before there was any serious delay. It looked, indeed,
(11:40):
as if the trip would be successful. From the point
of view of the captors of the camp fire girls.
But at last the snow became so deep that the
girls could feel that the automobiles were laboring under almost
insurmountable difficulties. Marian heard said several curses uttered by the chauffeur,
(12:02):
and the men inside the car echoed them once or twice. Finally,
the automobile came to a full stop and the driver
could force it along no further. A consultation, with all
three of the men taking part was held. In the
midst of their debate, something happened to change the aspect
(12:25):
of things, almost as completely as might have been accomplished
if Marion's dream of a miraculous rescue had been realized.
Other persons were on the scene, and they were talking
to the driver, inquiring if they could be of any assistance.
Where a patrol a boy scouts, one of the new arrivals, said,
(12:48):
we've lost our way, but that doesn't need hinder our
helping you out of your scrape. Maybe you can direct
us how to find our way back. Marian never felt
a more intense thrill in her life than she felt
at the sound of that voice. She looked out of
the window and saw a group of eight or ten boys,
(13:11):
each of them carrying a gun, close to the automobile.
With an effort that had behind it all of the
power of the most joyous impulse of her life, she
swung her bound clinched fists right through the pane of glass,
pushed the gag from her mouth, and shouted, clipper clipp it.
(13:31):
This is Marian. All of us girls are being kidnapped
by these men. Shoot these rascals, and shoot to kill.
End of Chapter twenty
In the Alleghany Mountains by Stella M. Francis, Chapter twenty
Twelve Girls in the Mountains. Ethel Zimmermann and Ernestine Johnson fainted.
All of the rest of the twelve girls, who had
been decoyed into the Buckholg's house by the sympathetic Missus Eddie,
(00:22):
were thrown into a panic, and the terror of the
situation was not mollified in the least by the sudden
appearance on the scene of five men. Where the men
came from so suddenly was not at all clear. Undoubtedly
they had been hidden somewhere, but that place could not
(00:43):
be determined, for none of the girls remembered from what
direction they had made their appearance north south, east, west,
up or down. They were just there, and that was
all there was to it. The men did not looked
like Ruffians exactly, although they were not clad in gentlemen's clothes.
(01:06):
The girls were huddled together in the dark, scantily furnished
front room, which at some time probably had served the
purpose of a combined parlor and reception room. The next apartment,
probably designed as a living room, was lighted by a
single gas jet turned low. Ethel and Ernestine fainted in
(01:29):
the midst of the address of warning and command from
the spokesman of the plotters. This was a signal for
a rally to their aid on the part of the
other campfire girls. Best gifted with presence of mind. Marion
led this move and was quickly assisted by Ruth Hazelton,
Julietta Hyde, and Marie Quismore. No objection was offered by
(01:55):
the men to this proceeding, as they were intelligent enough
to realize that the success of their plot depended largely
on a careful guard against a noisy panic that would
attract attention from without. Somebody get some water, quick, Marian directed,
as she proceeded to go through the reviving formula in
(02:18):
which all of them had been thoroughly drilled. I'll get some, missus,
Eddie volunteered, indicating by her offer and actions that she
was an efficient ally of the kidnappers. She hastened into
the kitchen and soon returned with a large dipper of water.
Marian took it from her and sprinkled some of the
(02:41):
liquid on the faces of the unconscious girls. The latter
quickly recovered and sat up, but meanwhile the five men
were not idle. The leader addressed the girls again with
more gentle words and manner, realizing, as only an intelligent
criminal may do, that a confidence man's method is the
(03:05):
best method for producing a desired illegal effect. In a degree,
he was successful attempting to reassure the captives in the
following manner. Now, girls, you have nothing to fear from
us if you were a orders. We don't wish to
harm a hair on any of your heads. We are
(03:28):
merely determined to get what we have said out for,
and we are going to use you to help us
get it. If you try to balk our purpose, you
must take the consequences. Otherwise you will suffer only such
inconveniences as go naturally with the experience of being kidnapped.
(03:50):
And try to realize this, that being kidnapped isn't such
a terrible thing if you are in the custody of
gentlemen kidnappers, that what we are, gentlemen kidnappers. All we
ask of you is that you prove yourselves to be
what gentlemen kidnappers prefer above all others, namely, real ladylike prisoners. Now,
(04:16):
he added, after a pause during which he surveyed his
audience as if to determine the effect of his words.
As soon as the two young ladies who were so
unfortunate as to make the mistake of connecting a tragic
prospect with this affair, have fully recovered, we will proceed.
(04:38):
That fellow is disguised, declared Marian in a whisper to
the girls nearest her. In fact, all of them are
observe that every one of them wears a beard, mustache
or short side whiskers. Watch their eyes and mouths, and
every expression on their faces, so that we may be
(04:59):
ab to identify them if we are ever called upon
to do so. Now, girls, said the spokesman, with well
simulated gentleness, No more of that. We don't want to
be unduly rude with you, but if there is any
more whispering, we'll have to resort to measures that we
(05:21):
will make it impossible. Now I think you are all ready,
so just follow the leader, and some of us will
bring up the rear. We will proceed first into the basement. Trembling,
the twelve camp fire girls followed two of the men
down the cellar steps. It was evident to them that
(05:43):
resistance would be worse than useless. A single blow from
the fist of one of those powerful men would stun
any of the girls if it did not knock her unconscious.
In fact, their captors could make quick work of them
if necessary, and cooped up as they were in this
(06:04):
isolated prison, they could scarcely hope to send forth an
effective cry of distress before they were rendered physically incapable
of sounding further alarm. All of the gentlemen kidnappers were
supplied with electric flashlights, with which they illuminated the cellar
(06:25):
and revealed to their captives a hole three feet in
diameter in the ground floor and seemingly a flight of
steps leading downward. Don't be scared, young ladies, advised the
gentlemanly leader of the gentleman kidnappers softly. That whole is
merely the mouth of an old coal mine. We will
(06:48):
conduct you through the mind to the other end, which
is concealed from public view at a distance, and there
we will find four automobiles waiting for you. Lead the way, comrade, kidnappers.
The two head men descended into the hole, and the
girls followed indian file. The spokesman and one other man
(07:12):
descended last as a rear guard. One of the men
remained in the cellar with missus Eddy, and together they
hurriedly replaced the old door over the mouth of the mine,
shoveled some loose earth over this, and then covered the
earth with eight or ten thicknesses of scrap lumber, loosely
(07:34):
tossed in a heap. Meanwhile, the girls, guided by the
lights ahead and aided by the two lights behind, which
were directed helpfully along their path, made their way laboriously
down the slope and along the many angle gallery to
the opening at the other side of Holy Hill, as
(07:56):
the high rounded elevation on and around which the city
was built was cooled. Under different circumstances, undoubtedly they would
have been much interested in this experience as a subterranean exploration,
and they had all the time they might need for
(08:16):
such exploration, for the dusk of evening had not yet
developed into darkness, and they had to wait in the
mine over an hour before it was deemed safe to
venture out. With the captives near the opening at the
foot of the bluff behind the abandoned flour mill, gags
(08:37):
were tied tightly over the girl's mouths, and their hands
were bound in front of them, and they were assisted
one by one down a gradual but rough incline and
into the waiting machines, snow falling in millions of huge flakes,
a fact that evidently caused the kidnappers more worried than
(09:00):
the possibility of detection by persons in the vicinity. For
remarks escaped some of them relative to the importance of
haste before the roads became impassable to automobiles. But the
storm served them one good purpose if it menaced them.
In another respect, it rendered the darkness of the night
(09:25):
more impenetrable and kept the streets almost free of pedestrians. Moreover,
the plotters were well supplied with means and methods of
guarding against escape or rescue. The gags and cloth manacles
were so well made that one might have expected them
(09:45):
of being products of a manual training school of burglars wives.
During the passage from the mind to the automobiles, each
of the girls were ashorel thrown over her head, and
pinned close in the front, thus concealing both the gags
and the manacle condition of their hands. At last, they
(10:08):
were all in the machines, each of which was in
charge of a driver. Three of the girls were put
into each automobile, and one of the men got in
with them to see that their conduct was as per
schedule program. Then the start was made on They went
(10:29):
out into the country and along a road that Marion
knew led into the heart of the mountains. She could
see the dim, shadowy form of high peak in the distance. Meanwhile,
as she peered out eagerly into the darkness with an
irrational longing for rescue from some miraculous source, for this
(10:52):
was the only kind of rescue that seemed possible under
the circumstances, she kept working at the bonds about her
wrists and the gag in her mouth slyly and without
obvious effort, until with joy she realized that she was
at least partly successful. I am certain I could shove
(11:14):
that thing right out of my mouth and give the
most piercing scream ever heard, if anybody would only come
along and hear me, she told herself. The snow kept
on falling heavily, much to the alarm of the kidnappers
and the joy of the kidnapped, but the automobiles reached
the mountains before there was any serious delay. It looked, indeed,
(11:40):
as if the trip would be successful. From the point
of view of the captors of the camp fire girls.
But at last the snow became so deep that the
girls could feel that the automobiles were laboring under almost
insurmountable difficulties. Marian heard said several curses uttered by the chauffeur,
(12:02):
and the men inside the car echoed them once or twice. Finally,
the automobile came to a full stop and the driver
could force it along no further. A consultation, with all
three of the men taking part was held. In the
midst of their debate, something happened to change the aspect
(12:25):
of things, almost as completely as might have been accomplished
if Marion's dream of a miraculous rescue had been realized.
Other persons were on the scene, and they were talking
to the driver, inquiring if they could be of any assistance.
Where a patrol a boy scouts, one of the new arrivals, said,
(12:48):
we've lost our way, but that doesn't need hinder our
helping you out of your scrape. Maybe you can direct
us how to find our way back. Marian never felt
a more intense thrill in her life than she felt
at the sound of that voice. She looked out of
the window and saw a group of eight or ten boys,
(13:11):
each of them carrying a gun, close to the automobile.
With an effort that had behind it all of the
power of the most joyous impulse of her life, she
swung her bound clinched fists right through the pane of glass,
pushed the gag from her mouth, and shouted, clipper clipp it.
(13:31):
This is Marian. All of us girls are being kidnapped
by these men. Shoot these rascals, and shoot to kill.
End of Chapter twenty
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