Books › Blue Book v57 n04 [1933-08], 1933 › scan 139
Scan 139
Blue Book v57 n04 [1933-08], 1933
78 lines. Read by computer on 18 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1both of them gone—those empty rooms on either side of me—no, no, I’ll stay right here!”
3“But there’s no good in just sitting here,” Nat protested.
5Between them, they finally persuaded her to stay in David’s room again. David took her upstairs. The man who had been posted in the hallway was on duty, as was the guard on the balcony. When he came downstairs again, his father was standing by the door.
7“I—I can’t be alone,” he said. “Come, David, we’re all going to wait in the cottage. At least we can—try to plan what to do. Tell the operator to switch any calls that come for either of us to the cottage.”
9David went to the telephone and made that request. Then the four men went silently across the lawn, through the garden. The cottage was in darkness. Tyler opened the door and reached for the light-switch. They heard Ruth’s voice in the darkness: “Father?”
11“Yes, darling,” he said, and turned on the light. She was lying on the couch in the living-room. On the table at the end of it lay her violin, beside its case. She sat up as Tyler went to her. He put an arm about her.
13“Did—did you find her?” she asked.
15“No,” said her father.
17“Oh, I was afraid of that!” she said. “I—right after you left, I played. . . . And I—I got something.”
19Gordon stared at her.
21“It—it was as if some one—some one were laughing,” she said.
23Gordon groaned. He sank into a chair, buried his face in his hands.
25“There was nothing about—Mrs. Gordon?” Tyler asked.
27The girl shook her head.
29“Nothing about anybody,” she said. “Just—laughter—satisfaction.”
31Gordon sprang to his feet. His son took hold of his arm, urged him to sit down.
33“I can’t stand this!” Gordon cried. “Ruth, you’ve got to get through! You’ve got to find out!”
35“I’ll try,” the girl said. She reached for the violin. Her father stared at her, anxiously. Hurrying footsteps sounded on the gravel path. David opened the door. It was Nelson, carrying an envelope in his hand.
37“This just came by a motorcycle messenger,” he said. “The boy said a man left it at the village telegraph-office for immediate delivery.”
39Gordon hurried to his son, took the letter. His name was typewritten on the envelope—nothing else. With shaking hands he ripped open the envelope, stared at a sheet of typewritten paper.
41“Gaudio!” he cried.
43David took the letter, the others crowding about him. The letter read: “I’ve got your wife. You know what will happen if you crack to the bulls. Instructions will be sent you tomorrow. Sweet dreams.” It was signed, “Lovingly, Gaudio.”
45“That means ransom!” said Nat.
47“Oh, thank God, thank God!” Gordon cried. “She’s unharmed. Phone Kilrane, Tyler. For God’s sake, have him call off his men! I can’t take the slightest chance. I’ll do anything they want!”
49He turned pleadingly toward Tyler, then stopped, hushed. Ruth had placed the violin to her shoulder, and now she drew the bow across the strings, slowly. She blanched, dropped the bow to her side.
51“Hélène!” she said, her voice rising almost to a scream. “It’s Hélène!”
53She began to sob. Tyler put his arms about her. Nat ran to the telephone. “What’s the phone-number of the sanitarium?” he cried. Gordon, half-dazed, told him. Nat called the number. He could hear the operator ringing and ringing. But there was no answer. Impatiently he jiggled the hook.
55“Operator,” he said, “that’s the hospital. They must answer!”
57“They’ve had some trouble out there,” said the operator. “They called the police.”
59“Trouble?” said Nat. “Please try them again. Try them till they answer!”
61The ringing sound continued. Finally there was an answer.
63“Hello?” a voice said.
65“I’m calling for Paul Gordon,” said Nat rapidly. “His daughter—”
67“We’ve been trying to get you,” the voice said. “Just a minute.”
69Everyone in the room was staring at Nat and the phone in his hand. He recognized Dr. Peters’ voice on the wire.
71“This is Peters,” he said. “A terrible thing has happened. Two sedan-loads of armed thugs held up the sanitarium awhile ago and took Miss Gordon away!”
73“ Took her away!” Nat cried.
75“Kidnaped her!” said Dr. Peters.
77This thrilling mystery continues in the forthcoming September issue.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.