Boy from the Ranch; Or, Roy Bradner's City Experiences

by Frank V. Webster

  CHAPTER XXI

  A DANGEROUS DESCENT

  When Roy regained his senses again, he felt much better. He was stilltied down on the bed, and Wakely was sitting near him.

  "Well, you were quiet enough," remarked the man with a sneer. "I'vegot something here to eat. You can take it, if you don't raise a row."

  "Oh, I'll take it," said Roy. He knew if he was to make an effort toescape, which he fully intended to do, he would need all his strength,and food was necessary.

  "Then, I'll loosen the ropes a bit. But, mind now, no funny work, orI'll tackle you."

  Roy had his own opinion as to how he would fare in a tussel withWakely, but he said nothing. The ropes were loosened and the boypartook of the food. He felt better after it.

  It was now dark, and Wakely lighted the gas in the room. Roy wonderedwhether it was the same day he had been taken from the hotel, orwhether several had elapsed. It was the same day, as he learned later.

  "Now, I'm going to sleep in the next room," went on the man, "and Iwarn you I'll awaken at the slightest sound. If you try anytricks--well, it will be better if you don't. As I said, no harm willcome to you--if you're quiet."

  Roy did not answer. He wanted to think out a plan of action. He waspuzzled over the queer situation, and wondering who could have anyobject in keeping him a prisoner. He did not associate Caleb Annisterwith it.

  After the meal Wakely again adjusted the ropes about the boy on thebed, and Roy offered no objections. He was sure when the time came hecould undo the bonds. For what Roy did not know about tying ropes, tohold anything from a bucking bronco to a wild steer, was not worthknowing. He was in a situation now where his life on the ranch waslikely to stand him in good stead.

  "You can go to sleep whenever you want to," said Wakely. "Butremember--no tricks!"

  Roy did not answer. He wanted to think, and he knew he could do itbest in the dark. Presently Wakely turned off the gas, and withdrew,again locking the door.

  It did not need much listening on Roy's part to show that the man hadspoken the truth about the noises near the tenement. There sounded thewhirr of dynamos, the puffing of steam, the rattle of coal and ashesdown chutes--in short it would have taken a loud voice to make itselfheard above the racket. A better place to keep a prisoner, in themidst of a great city, could not have been devised.

  Nevertheless Roy did not give up hope. He resolved to attempt nothingthat night. He wanted daylight to work by, and he felt that Wakelycould not be with him all the while.

  "But if I stay here more than a day or so there's going to be trouble,"thought the boy. "Dad will write or telegraph me, in answer to myletter telling about Annister's game, and, if I can't answer him, he'llget worried. I wish I could understand what this is all about. Maybethey take me for another person. Well, I can't do anything now. Imust try to sleep. That stuff he gave me makes my head ache. Thisshows how foolish I was to trust too much to strangers. When he got meto look around at that handkerchief he must have put something into mysoda."

  Thus musing, Roy fell into a doze. From that he passed into a heavysleep, and Wakely, peering in the door a little later, noted withsatisfaction that his prisoner was deep in slumber.

  "That's good," he whispered. "I can get some rest myself now. It's nojoke--being on guard all the while. Some of the others of the ganghave got to help out. I must send word to Baker. He's got to take hisshare."

  Roy felt better the next morning, and ate with relish the breakfastWakely brought in, though the meal was not a very good one.

  A little while after this his captor went out, and Roy resolved toattempt to loosen his bonds. It was a hard task, for he could not workto advantage, but to his delight he found he could gradually undo someof the knots.

  But he did not cast off the ropes. That was not his plan. As long ashe knew he could loosen them at will, he decided to remain as thoughbound. This would make Wakely think he was in no position to escape,and the man would not keep such close watch.

  Soon after this voices were heard in the outer room, and Roy knew someone was with his guard. They did not come into the apartment, and theboy saw nothing of any one until, at noon, more food was brought tohim. He deemed it inadvisable to attempt to escape now, and resolvedto wait another day.

  Night came, supper was brought, and again Roy was locked in. He wasbeginning to be very uncomfortable, lying in bed so long.

  "I'll slip out the first chance I get to-morrow," he thought. "Rightafter breakfast will be a good time."

  Fortune favored him. Soon after Wakely had brought in the morningmeal, he went out, locking the door after him. Roy heard another doorclose, and guessed rightly that his captor had left the building.

  "Now's my chance!" thought the boy.

  Putting into operation his knowledge of ropes and knots, and, by usinghis strength, which was not small, he managed to loosen his bonds. Ina few minutes he was standing in the middle of the room free.

  "Now for the door!" Roy murmured. "I wonder if I can break it open, orwork the lock?"

  A moment's inspection served to show him that to open the portal wasout of the question. The lock was a heavy one. The door itself wassolid, not one with panels, and, after trying it cautiously, for Roydid not want to make a noise, he decided he could not escape that way.

  There was only one other means,--the window. He went to it and lookedout. It was fully sixty feet from the ground, and there was nothing,in the shape of a lightning rod, or a rain-pipe leader to cling to.Nothing but the bare tenement house wall, broken here and there withother windows.

  Roy leaned far out. He knew it was useless to shout, as the noise fromthe electric shop drowned all other sound. Nor could he see any onewhose attention he might attract.

  It was necessary for him that he work quickly, for Wakely, or one ofhis friends, might return any moment. Yet how could Roy get out of thewindow and to the ground?

  He looked about the room for something to aid him. His first thoughtwas of the bed clothes. He had read of persons tying sheets together,after tearing them into strips, and so making a rope. But there wereno sheets on his bed, merely a small blanket, for it was warm weather.There was nothing in the shape of a rope in the room. It looked as ifRoy would have to remain a prisoner.

  Suddenly an idea came to him as he looked at his large valise which,with his trunk, had been brought to his room.

  "I have it!" he exclaimed. "My lasso! It's long enough!"

  It did not take a minute to get it from the valise. It was a long thinlariat, strong enough to support several pounds, and he knew it wouldreach over a hundred feet.

  "Lucky I thought to bring that with me," he said, "though Billy Carewlaughed at me, and asked if I expected to rope any steers in thestreets of New York. I guess he didn't figure on this."

  It did not take Roy two minutes to fasten one end of the lariat to thebed, which was the heaviest article in the room. Then he tossed theother end out of the window, noting that it touched the ground, withseveral feet to spare.

  "Now for it!" murmured the boy. "It's a dangerous climb, to go downhand over hand, but I think I can slide it!"

  Testing the lasso to make sure it was securely fastened, he put one legover the window sill, grasped the lariat with both hands, and swunghimself off.

  As he did so he heard the door of his room open, and some one rushedin. There was a cry of alarm.

  "That's Wakely," reasoned Roy. "He's discovered that I'm gone."

  An instant later the face of Wakely appeared at the window. He shoutedto Roy:

  "Come back here!"

  "Not much!"

  "Then I'll cut the rope!"

  Wakely drew out his knife, but, before he had a chance to use it he waspulled back, and the face of Mortimer De Royster replaced that of Roy'slate captor.