Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-11-25

has brought us some message, The
disappearance of the child, mysteri.
Gus as it is, does not seem to me
half go strange as that the william
who took her away could contrive to
communicate with us every year
sincey and always on particular
day=-the anniversary of that on
which. she was stolen--without our
being able to discover who he is. -
And a-still greater wonder to me is
what can be his motive. 1t seems
incredible. If 1t WIS stated in a
novel; many people would not be-.
lieve-it. But "truth is Stranger
than 6ction.
MRS. Preble drew from her hus.
bands breastpocket his note. book
Opened it to the proper page, and
presented it to the physician. .a
DR.. Hutton adjusted his specta.
cles,--glanced over the page, and
thea-,slowly read the group of en-,
tries~-aloud. The entry the first
yearis-as follows
"Ausust 0, 1865. Jessie ha, Aal Jessie ?"
| And-tir next vearh is
"Ana.asl. o, 1886. Your Jessie stu Nvesin
And-LAe hxt--
"Auaust ., 1857. She is IN good Aandsl'
AndIAe neXt--
0, 1888. She is aceA as ererr"
And the next
"August ., 1850. IsaW her yesterday"
And the next--
"August 8, 1850. She'sgrowino ,upidlyr'
Aud The ueXt-
"Augnst9 o, 1851. She continuest to do ueA ,"
AndtAe next
"August 0, 1882. Fue seen her agdini"
And the next
"AMgust o, 1863. She's becoming a ~o.
man 4"
An. the next
"Augusi 8, 1864. Your child is thirteen ~
And the next---
uAugust 0, 1855. She's locsiier n.as evesi"
| And The next
nAuxust 8, 1866. She's really eha,mingir
Aud last year 1t lS---'
"August 8, 1861. My rewa~d is at hand ~
And what shall We get to-day
The physician look up and fixed
his -thoughtful gaze upon the be.
reaved husband and wife.
''How did these messages come to
you?" he demanded.
"[nveriably by post" replied Mr.
Preble.
'Usaally to the house, but some
times to the Office ~
"AHd you have never seen their
author 2"
Never"
The last of them is dated, l see,
a year ago to-day !"
"Yes, yes" laltered the banker
'ana-the time has come for another
message. This is the 9th of August,
1862
81 see," said DR.. Hutton. "And
this is the secret of your terrible ex.
element You are expecting to
receive to-day another of these
strange messages 7"
There was brief silence. Mrs.
Preble,s hand huttered in its task,
and--her face grew very pale. The
banker breathed gaspingly. The
physician regarded them both in
friendly sympathy.
I'VE shall here OF her again to.
day said Mr.. Preble; "and what
will the message bel"
The mother averted her face
Her brave heart faltered as that
question echoed in her soul.
"The writer of these letters is un.
questionably the abductor Of your
child II said Dr.. Hutton.
"Have you any suspicion as to his
identity p
mot the slightest" said Mr.. Pre-.
Bile. 1--WE have puzzled over the
problem for many years, but we can,
not guess who he is.
"Think, " said the Doctor. "Have
you no enemy? do not mean peo'
ple~with whom you are not friendly
every stirring man has plenty Of
these---but downright enemy Is
there no man whom you knew in the
Eass-who hated you? No one against
whom you were called upon to testl,
ly--no one whom you possibly IN
iured?" 4a
The banker shook his head. He
had asked himself all these questions
repeatedly.
"lhave no such enemy Doctor" he
answered with sincerity OF voice and
manner.
,."And Mrs. Prcble 2" suggested
the doctor, turning to her. "llave
you no rejected suitor who might be
reyengeful enough to desoate your