Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-11-24
his thoughtful gaze upon the bereav-

his thoughtful gaze upon the bereav-
ed husband and wife.
"How did these messages come to
you?" he demanded.
I" Invariably by post" replied Mr.
/ Prebble. Usually to the house, but
sometimes to the office"
q And you have never seen their
author?"
" "Never!"
"The last of them is dated, l see, a
year ago today
- Yes. YES" faltered the banker,
! "and the time has come for another
message. This is the 9th of August,
/ ISGSI'
81" | see," said DIR. Hutton. And
/ this is the secret OF your terrible eX-
element! You are expecting to re-
ceive to-day another OF these strange
messages!
There was a brief silence. Mrs.
| Preble's hand fiuttered in its task,
and her face grew very pale. The
| banker breathed gaspingly. The ply
| sician regarded them both in friendly
sympathy.
We shall hear of her again to-
| day." said Mr.. Preble; land what
will the message be?'
The mother averted her face. Her
brave heart faltered as that question
echoed in her soul.
"The writer of these letters is IN
questionably the abductor of your
childw said DIR. Hutton. Have you
any suspicion as to his IDENTIFY
mot the slightest" said Mr.. Preblc.
ave have puzzled over the problem
for many years, bat we cannot guess
who he is"
Think said the doctor. "Have
you no enemy? | do not mean people
with whom you are not friendly-ev-
cry stirring man has plenty of these
but downright enemy! Is there no
man whOmyOu knew in the East who
hated you? No one against whom
you were called upon 10 testify-nO
one whom you possibly injured?'
The banker shook his head. lie had
asked himself all these questions re-
peatedly.
q have no such enemy, doctor"
he answered with sincerity of voice
and manner.
And Mrs. Preble?" suggested the
doctor, turning to her. " Have you
no rejected suitor who might be re-
vengeful enough 10 de50late your
hOme?"
mo" said the lady. 81 was mar
ried early. Morton was my first
lOver!"
This is strange-VeFy strange"
mutteTed' the doctor. " You are not
conscious of having an enemy in the
world, and yet you have an enemy-a
hidden fOe-a tiend in human form
who is working out against yQu fear
full hatred! And you have not the
slightest suspicion as to whom he is?'
Not the slightest" declared the
banker.
"Not the slightest!' echoed Mrs.
Prebie. Ny husband had a step
brother who might have been capable
Of this inlamy-but he is dead!"
The handwriting is not familiar"'
Z" No. 1t is merely a rude scraWl,
as you see" said the banker. " Ii
suggests nothing that it is
evidently disguisedu'
Again there was a profound silence.
"Our child is seventeen years old
nOW," at length murmured Mrs.
Preble, her voice trembling. She is
Dll lii- liA4 iihAtt Va " GollEtlul lONh- NJ &
doubt, Turing all these years, she has
yearncd for Us, wherever she may be,
As we have ye1rned for her!"
" But where is she?' asked the
physician-and now his voice was
broken by his deep sympathy with
the agOniZed parents. Where can
she he?"
" Heaven only knows" answered
the mother. " Perhaps in San Fran
ciscO-perhaps in some rude hut in the
interior, with some obscure farmer,
and uuder a name that is not hersl /
think her abductor would have car
ried her to some lonely region Of the
interior, among the valleys and noun
tains. Yet / never see a young girl
in the streets without turning to look
at her. ] never hear a Siriishvoice
without listening eagerly, half fancy
ing that it may prove the voice of my
lost Jessie"
"Oh, plying heaven!' sighed DIR.
Hutton, dashiug a food Of tears from
his eyes. " Willthis long agony never
be over?'
ave hope so, and even believeso,"
answered Mrs. PUeble, with the fiTIa-
ness of an uufaltering trust in Gods
mercy. The last message we receiv-
ed from our enemy seems to point to
some kind of a change"
True" assented Hutton, looking
at the message in question. " 1t is
unlike the others. 1t says that his
reward is at hand He means either
that he intends to marry your daugh-
ter, or that he intends to demand
money Of you for bringing her back
OF both"
We shall soon know" said Mrs
Preble, with forced calmness. "TO- /
day we shall have another message,
no doubt. What Will it be?"
The banker turned reStleSsly on his |
sofa, and his face grew even paler.
Whatever it is, let it comer' he
murmured. Anything can be borne
better than this awful suspense. Let
it come"
AS if his impatient words had pre-
cipitated crisis, a step was heard on
the walk at this moment, and ring
at the front door followed.
Another meSSageW breathed the
banker.
A servant soon entered, bearing a
letter, which he extended to Mr.. Pre-
Dle, saying:
"The bearer is in the hall"
With an eager gaze, the banker
glanced at the suPerscriptiOn Of the
missiVe.
"Itis from him!n' he faitered.
He tore the envelop open.
1t contained a slip of paper, of we'll
known shape and appearance, upon
which was Scrawled a single line, in
an equally well-knOWn handwriting,
which the banker exhibited to his
wife and the physician.
This line was as follows:
August 9, 1s6S. Al sir ,cU eaY'
A shock of wonderland horror shook
the three simultaneously.
Will call!' said Mr.. Preble, start
ing to his feet, and glaring wildly
around.
ais coming here?" cried Mrs.
Preble, also arising.
d" 1t seems so, - said DIR. Hutton, his
eyes again Fever,ing to the sage.
4" He Will be here at six o'clock, anu
see! it's six alreadyW
Even as he spoke, the clock on the
mantei-piece commenced striking the
appointed hour, and at that instant
heavy footsteps resounded in the hall,
approaching the library.
at is herr cried the doctor, also
arising.
AS the last stroke of the hour re-
sounded, the door leading from the
hall again opened.
nro lo,,cr ord bovrieoI ,rl,nno oo..t