In fact their captors could make quick work of them if
necessary, and, cooped up as they were in this isolated prison, they
could scarcely hope to send forth an effective cry of distress before
they were rendered physically incapable of sounding further alarm.
All of the "gentlemen kidnappers" were supplied with electric flash
lights, with which they illuminated the cellar and revealed to their
captives a hole three feet in diameter in the ground floor and
seemingly a flight of steps leading downward.
"Don't get scared, young ladies," advised the "gentlemanly leader" of
the "gentleman kidnappers" softly. "That hole is merely the mouth of
an old coal mine. We will conduct you through the mine to the other
end, which is concealed from public view at a distance, and there we
will find four automobiles waiting for you. Lead the way, comrad
kidnappers."
The two head men descended into the hole, and the girls followed
Indian file. The spokesman and one other man descended last as a rear
guard. One of the men remained in the cellar with "Mrs. Eddy" and
together they hurriedly replaced the old door over the mouth of the
mine, shoveled some loose earth over this and then covered the earth
with eight or ten thicknesses of scrap lumber loosely tossed in a
heap.
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