CHAPTER IV Enid’s Story

The girl on the floor rolled over and groaned. She raised her head and tried to speak, but only succeeded in making choking noises in her throat.

“Oh, you poor thing!” Madge cried, trying to lift her up. “I’ll have you free in just a minute. Who left you here like this?”

Realizing that her friend could not reply, she quickly slipped the gag from her mouth. Even then, Enid made no attempt to speak other than to murmur an incoherent, “thank goodness.” She leaned weakly against the wall and watched as Madge tried to release the ropes which bound her.

“There’s a pen knife—in the desk,” she managed, but the effort left her spent.

Madge failed to find it, but flew to the kitchen where she did locate a sharp paring knife. Quickly, she severed the ropes and helped Enid to her feet. She could not stand alone for her limbs were temporarily paralyzed from being too long in a cramped position. Madge supported her and half carried her to the bed.

“Water,” the girl pleaded.

Madge ran again to the kitchen, returning with a pitcher filled with water. Enid gulped down one glass and would have drunk another had not Madge thought it best to restrain her. She was shocked at the girl’s appearance. Her face was streaked from tears, and deathly white. Her parched lips were twisted as though from pain. The white silk dress she wore, had been torn in several places. Her reddish brown hair, usually so nicely groomed, hung in wisps about her face.

“I’ll be all right in a little while,” she insisted. “I feel better now.”

Madge had noticed that Enid’s wrists and ankles were swollen and bruised from the ropes so she searched the bathroom for bandage material. As she poured iodine into the cuts, her patient showed the first signs of returning vivacity.

“Good grief, Madge! Have a heart!”

“Stop wriggling, or I’ll spill this stuff all over you. I know it hurts.”

By the time she had finished bandaging, Enid was more like her old self. Not until then did Madge try to learn what had happened.

“It’s too dreadful to tell,” Enid murmured brokenly. “Father’s been kidnapped!”

“Kidnapped!”

Enid nodded forlornly.

“It happened last night. I’ve been locked up in that closet ever since. I thought I’d die before someone came!”

“What became of your father?”

“Oh, Madge, if only I knew! Those horrible men took him away! I’m afraid they’ve murdered him! I’m afraid—”

“Now, now,” Madge comforted, slipping her arm about Enid, “don’t take on so. It won’t help matters to become hysterical. Try to tell me as calmly as you can just what took place.”

Enid made an effort to steady herself. She gripped her friend’s hand tightly as she began her story.

“Father and I were alone last night here. We had given the three sailors and our cook forty-eight hours shore leave, for we had decided not to sail until tomorrow morning. Father had gone to his cabin to read. I idled about the deck for an hour or so. It was after eleven when I finally went to bed.” She paused and seemed to lose herself in unpleasant thoughts.

“Go on,” Madge urged gently.

“It was sometime later—I’m not just sure what time it was, when I was awakened. I heard a boat grate against the side of the yacht and then someone called out. Father answered but I couldn’t make out what he said. However, I gathered that some men wanted to speak to him in the cabin.”

“You don’t know who they were?”

“No, they must have given their names, but I couldn’t hear well enough through the porthole. At any rate, they seemed to have convinced Father that they were all right, for after some discussion, he permitted them to come aboard.

“I don’t know why I didn’t go back to sleep. I had a queer feeling that I can’t explain. I sensed that something was wrong. After a minute or so I got up and opened the door. I couldn’t hear a sound in Father’s cabin. I decided to dress.”

“You turned on the light?” Madge inquired.

“No, I didn’t, and I made as little noise as possible, although up until then I really had no reason to be afraid. It was just a feeling—”

“I understand. Then what happened?”

“I had just finished dressing when I heard a commotion in Father’s cabin. It sounded as though they were throwing the furniture around. I ran there as fast as I could. As I threw open the door I saw that two men were trying to overpower Father. He was fighting desperately, holding them at bay with a chair. I screamed and just then the light was extinguished.”

“That was the last you recall?”

“Very nearly. I do remember that Father shouted for me to get away. But before I could act, something struck me on the back of the head.” Enid raised her hand and tenderly felt the bump. “I didn’t know anything more for several hours. When I came to, I found myself in that closet, bound and gagged. I’ve been there ever since.”

“It was horrible of them to leave you like that,” Madge declared angrily. “Why, you might have suffocated. Or starved to death!”

“I did think I’d die before help came,” Enid confessed with a wry smile. “I really don’t believe those men would have cared. They’re heartless! That’s why I’m so worried about Father. They’ve taken him away somewhere.”

“We must get the police after them instantly. Is there any way we can reach shore?”

“Why, yes, we have a motor boat. If you’ll help me now I think I can walk.”

“Don’t you want something to eat first? You’re not very strong.”

Enid shook her head.

“No, I’ll not feel like eating until I know the police are on the trail of those men.”

She insisted that they start at once, and with Madge supporting her, managed to reach the deck. Peering down over the railing she uttered a startled cry.

“What’s the matter?” Madge asked.

“The motor boat! It’s gone! Someone has cut it from its moorings!”