IN THE TENEMENT
When Roy awakened, after what seemed like a very long sleep, he found
himself in a poorly furnished room. At first he could not understand
it--everything was so different from his pleasant apartment at the
hotel.
He thought it must be a dream, but when he saw his trunk and valises
near the bed, he knew he was not asleep.
He sat up and looked about him. The room he was in contained, besides
the bed, a table, a few chairs and a small cupboard. As Roy roused a
man, seated in one of the chairs, approached the bed.
"So, you're awake, are you?" he asked.
"What's the matter--what has happened, Mr. Wakely?" asked Roy,
recognizing the man who had treated him to ice cream soda.
"Oh, you're all right. You're just staying here for a few days."
"But what happened? Did the hotel catch fire? Did I get hurt? Did
they bring me here?"
"I brought you here, but the hotel did not catch fire."
"Then why am I not there--in my own room?"
"This is your room for a while."
Something in the man's smile roused Roy's suspicions.
"What do you mean?" he asked quickly.
"Now keep quiet and you'll be all right," spoke Mr. Wakely, in what he
meant to be a soothing tone. "You can't help yourself. You're here,
and you're going to stay."
All of Roy's energies were aroused. He believed he had been brought to
the place for the purposes of robbery. But how had it been done
without his knowledge? He started to leave the bed.
"No you don't!" exclaimed Mr. Wakely. "You stay right there."
"What's that?" cried Roy, a sudden fire coming into his eyes, and his
hands clenching themselves ready for a fray. "I must say you've got
nerve to do this. I'm going to get up, and you and I are going to have
a tussel! I guess I haven't roped wild steers, and ridden bucking
broncos, for nothing!"
He threw off the covers, noting for the first time that he was fully
dressed. But, as he attempted to approach Mr. Wakely a dizziness
overcame him, and he sank back, trembling on the bed.
"You see I am right," went on the plotter with an evil smile. "You had
better stay where you are."
It seemed to Roy as if all his strength had left him. He had never
felt so weak before, save once, when he was recovering from a severe
fever.
"Where am I; and what do you want?" he managed to ask.
"Now if you'll promise to lie quietly, I'll tell you," went on the man.
"I guess I'll not take any chances though. I'll tie you in bed, and
you can listen then."
It did not take him long, in Roy's weakened condition, to fasten the
boy securely in the bed, by means of ropes which he took from the
cupboard.
"There," remarked Mr. Wakely when he had finished. "I think you'll
stay there for a while. Now listen. You have been brought here for a
certain purpose. I can't tell you just what it is, but, if you behave
yourself, no harm will come to you."
[Illustration: "I think you'll stay there for a while," said Wakely]
"But what right have you got to bring me here?"
"Never mind about that. You're here, and you're going to stay."
"I'll call for help, as soon as I'm able."
"And a lot of good it will do you. You are on the top floor of a
tenement house, and there are no tenants except on the first floor.
You can yell until you are hoarse, for there is a big electric light
plant near here. It runs night and day and it makes so much noise
constantly that all the yelling you can do won't be heard above it.
Besides, if the tenants should happen to hear you yelling, they'll pay
no attention to you, for you are supposed to be crazy. I told 'em so.
Now you see how helpless you are."
Roy felt stunned. Why had this man gotten him in his power?
"But I can't see what you want of me," went on Roy weakly. "If it's
money, why take what I have, if you mean to rob me."
"No. I'm not going to rob you."
"Then are you kidnapping me, and holding me for a ransom?" Roy had
read of such things.
"Not much! Kidnapping isn't in my line. I am acting under orders for
a friend of mine. He wants you kept out of the way for a while, and
I'm going to do it.
"Now understand. I'm on guard here, or in the next room all the while.
If I'm not there some one else will be. If you try to escape it will
go hard with you. If you behave you'll be well taken care of, and fed.
In a short time--that is, in a week or so--you will be allowed to go.
Now, if you'll promise to lie quietly, I'll take off the ropes."
"I'll not promise you anything!"
"Very well, then you stay tied up. I'm going out for a few minutes,
but you needn't think you can escape."
The man left, locking the door. As soon as he was gone Roy tried to
loosen the bonds, but they were tied too tightly, and he was too weak
to accomplish anything.
"I wonder what his object is?" thought the boy from the ranch. "He
must have put some drug in that soda to make me partly unconscious. I
remember now it had tasted queer. Then he brought me here. But what
for? I can't understand it. I wonder if I can escape?"
Once more Roy tried to loosen the ropes, but the effort was too much,
and his head, which was not tied down, fell back. He was unconscious.