IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT, and after strangling with a POISON BELT, THE FOX
TERRIER, asleep BEHIND THE SCREEN, and then removing his BOOTS, the
INTRUDER, Martin Dhragnet, keeping well within the SHADOW of the CANDLE
LIGHT, stealthily approached the couch, upon which the girl, Marjorie,
had thrown herself, but a short time before, to read for a fifth time,
the LETTERS OF HORACE WALPOLE as she had become much interested in THE
CASE OF DR. HORACE; but five times are too many to read, no matter whose
LETTERS they are and she was soon IN THE CLOUDS, and SLEEP overcame her.
Dhragnet gave the figure a LIGHT touch, at the same time muttering, "MY
CAPTIVE, LITTLE NEMO IN SLUMBERLAND:" but THE LAW OF LIFE at once
asserted itself, for THE HUMAN TOUCH awakened the girl, but chloroform
soon silenced her, and throwing one of the ORIENTAL RUGS over the form,
and leaving his boots behind, and which fortunately for him, did not,
later, give a clue to the owner, THE INVADER carried his burden to THE
ONE WAY OUT, down THE CIRCULAR STAIRCASE, out INTO THE NIGHT, where THE
ACCOMPLICE, one of THE GANG, awaited him, and taking THE MIDDLE COURSE
across the YARD AND GARDEN, the TWO SINNERS passed out upon THE COUNTRY
ROAD, THE ROAD made famous by JOHN GILPIN, and none too soon, for THE
TENANTS OF THE TREES were BEGINNING to announce the approach of DAWN, the
end of THE LONG NIGHT, THE MORNING OF TO-DAY.
Marjorie was indeed KIDNAPPED BY PIRATES, as the TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES,
had there been any, later on, would have proved. A short walk along THE
DRUID PATH brought THE GENTLEMAN with the KIDNAPPED girl and CHERRY, his
pal, to DEEP MOAT GRANGE, where a motor awaited them.
"Now, PICCADILLY JIM, don't ask any FOOLISH QUESTIONS," said Dhragnet,
THE DAREDEVIL; "don't stand there as if you had been STRUCK BY LIGHTNING:
this is not A FOOL'S ERRAND: we've not COME OUT TO PLAY: GREAT SNAKES, I
LITTLE KNEW what a HANDICAP the girl was going to be, an' I never have
much SUCCESS WITH HENS, an' she must weigh a ton, I GUESS: but WHEN THE
HOUR CAME, and IN SPITE OF THE HANDICAP, I had to grab her ROYAL HIGHNESS
and skip; but THE DANGER MARK is passed, an' we'll soon have POLLY
PEACHUM, IN CHAINS, aboard our merry captain's leaky OLD CIDER MILL:
grind your engine, LADDIE, and get away from this DESERTED VILLAGE, for
this may be a ZEPPELIN NIGHT, an' you know only innocent people, like
ourselves, are killed on those nights, an' don't get twisted up in your
untied SHOESTRINGS, an' don't SOUND your horn."
And THE MAN AT THE WHEEL soon had the motor ON SIXTH SPEED, rushing in
FULL SWING, along THE ROMANTIC ROAD.