Dangerous Deeds; Or, The Flight in the Dirigible

e impulse and stared at the man lying bound and gagged on the cot. Although they studied him curiously, they found not a sign of flin

to my taste. I have killed before, but to bump a man off in cold blood and

. Now we can't let him go and save our own skins. He is too wise. I don't care, anyhow. Let h

vered a little. "Let's have a drink,"

puffed up under h

h forbade it," sai

he bottle. "There is only enough for three good drinks in there, and I am cold." Again he looked at O'Brien and shivered. It was evident t

him?" demanded the man

hey called John hastily. "One yip

said the other, watching O

n. "It won't hurt him any after

r. "If I was going to die at three I would just

held O'Brien's hands tightly bound behind his back, bent them in front of him and fastened them in

drink," said the man wh

rd!" war

am going to have a drink! Didn't Smith tell us to put the empty bottle in his p

and weakened. Hoping, praying, watching, yet seemingly with nothing in his eyes but apprehension, O'Brien watched the three dra

d John suddenly, "it is as well that we should

. "Smith is a fool. A glass apiece couldn't hurt a flea. Not a flea! An

st thread, he did not want to get a dose of drugged whiskey! But

ohn coldly. "Perhaps where he is going

ortion for each. The division filled the glasses pretty well, and O'

men looked

e of waiting? Let's give him the shot

ded the other. "You have got to catch th

get a little snooze. That is w

delight that his was the largest share. Drops of perspiration stood like beads on O'Brien's forehead as he lay there bound and gagged, waiting to see if the powder in the whiskey was going to work. What if it should taste and rou

d and quarrelled about the exact time of administering the poison. But John stood firm. Smith had said three o'clock, and not one moment earlier

ny," he sai

sat stari

seats and slid to the floor. For a few moments the air seemed full of the sound of breathing rough and irregular; then slowly the brea

red what he would do next. If there was one thing he wanted, it was to avoid making a noise that might alarm the people who were cheerfully quarreling in the flat below. Not yet was his own head out of the noose, and he wanted to get help so that he could have the three unconscious men arrested. But there he was, still bound and, worse still, gagged! At

a match in his hand and striking it on the box. As the match flared up, he bent far back and held the flame close to the rope that bound his ankles and legs. Twisting his head painfully around, he saw that the scheme was working. The little flame for a moment bit into the strands of the rope. Another and anoth

seemed as though he could feel the fibres giving, yet they held. As he paused to rest, he saw a single match still clasped in John's fingers. Rolling over and over, with the empty box in his hand, he secured the match, lighted it, and held i

elbows. A series of twists and wriggles and he slipped out of the coils and stood a free

his way and not daring to use his flashlight. Every few steps he would stop and listen. He was shaken by the narrow escape he had just had, in spite of his coolness and courage. It was not pleasant to lie bound and gagged with what seemed to be certain death staring him brutally in the face. O'Brien was braver than most,

e wagon came tearing up. O'Brien was ready for them. Three senseless forms were hurriedly bundled into the wagon, a couple of officers were left to watch the entrance of the build

were still at large. A hasty telephone to the house of Mr. Ridgeway was answered by one of the servants, who said that Mr. Ridgeway and his guest were no

d laws in a mad dash for the Field. Arousing a couple of the best men, he open

realized what they were doing, the big car rose into the inky blackness of the morning sky. O'Brien,

s of tumbled timbers that had been the hangar. O'Brien would have liked to know whether the dirigible had sailed up

gave a quick glance over his big car. He knew that it was in the pink of condition, a

wrence, the state papers and the crown jewels, sailed swiftly. And behind it, instead of the guardian dirigible from their own

nswered with a burst of speed. His men, moving carefully about, were lookin

e did not think that he was far behind, so he settled to a

him to keep up the speed and the direction indicated, he went back, and lying down on the floor of the tiny cabin went instantly to sleep. His jaw was sore, and every muscle ached. In his

'Brien has been doing these last few hours," sa

but those two red welts stretching out from each corner of his mouth. I never

'll bet he has been in some close c

o, so there are no takers

ould sort of bring the conversation around to scraps and gags a

the first question some gazaboo puts about O'Brien's own private affairs, there will be another gagg

to ast him anything,