The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1879-04-24

y
J and myself-and the boy. Of course"
: There wculd seem TO be no danger
, then. unless they can intimidate tn
4 boy"
r Il have tried TO provide agains
= that" said Jacob MeSsner. Il hayl
. employed a private detective, who is t
watch the canal-bOat, to see the boy a
= he arrives, and TO bring him to me. i
=. they should make amy attempt Z
= scare or corrupt him, they will b
pOunced upon and arrested at once"
There was a knock at the door, and ;
T. man entered who huTriedly whispere,
TO Mr.. Messner. That gentleman
= jumped up and put On his hat.
Come, Mr.. White" he said. 1t secIni
they have been sharper than we were
and have got ahead Of US. Come; ther,
is not a moment to lose. We will picl
up policeman or two on the way
This is the detective Of whom i JUS
spoke to you
II was 10 more than half-past nin'
at night when Nick Pepper left thu
General BuTHSilLe. He had not gOnC
far from the wharf, whistling as h6
went. when he was accOsted by two
men, one middle-aged and the Other
considerably younger. They were
well-dressed, and in appearance very
gentlemanly.
Good evening" said the elder Of the
two. MAY | ask if you came from the
lcanal-bOat General Burnside"
That's where i came FROM" Tepliel
Nick, who had a slight suspicion that
they might be confidence men,"
And is your name Nick Pepper?"
That's my name, said Nick, wonder,
ing how they got hold of it.
~Then YOU are looking for Mr.. Jacob
Messner. He has been anXiOusly ex-
lpecting you, and has sent us to meet
YOU. We are two of his confidential
clerks"
That's all right then" said Nick his
suspicious vanishing at once. "Just
take me straight to Mr.. MessneT, and |
will be obliged to YOU"
perhaps that will hardly be worth
| while" said the spokesman. "He is All
old gentleman and doesn't like to be
disturbed. lie said that you had some
| figures to tell him, and that you might
tell them to us"
Joe" said Nick, quite abruptly.
| "Whaty"
"JOe," repeated Nick.
my name is not Joe. What do you
meanI"
81 mean that you don't get no figures
| from me. MT. MeSSner is the man /
want to see"
"CUme on, then"
The two men stopped in front of Il
saloon and invited the boy to walk IN
and drink with them.
mo, thank you" replied Nick. l
never drink.
wont you stop in, then, and see us
take sOmethingY
81 would rather wait out here"
well, never mind. We don't care
30 drink. We only wanted to be polite
90 you us a stranger. We will 60 now
and see Mr.. MesSner, and we will be
likely TO find him in his downtown Of
flee, as he has had some troublesome
settlements TO make lately, and has
been going through his books at
night"
After walking a few blocks further
they turned into 4 narrow street which
seemed to he deserted, as there was
nothing ia it but warehouses, in
which no business was done at that
hour.
They stopped at 2 warehouse on the
corner of AN alley, and the elder of the
two men took key from his pocket
and opened the door, first looking
around to make sure that no one was
watching him. lie probably did not
see Il man who had followed the party
at a short distance, and who ran off in
another direction as they entered the
warehouse.
As soon as the three were within, the
elder man inserted akey in the in side of
the lock, and locked the door.
"The old gentleman is afraid OF rob |
bers," he said, "and always insists in |
keeping the door locked"
The place was dark As it Is possible |
for darkness to be, and it was not un-
til one of the men had touched a |
match and lighted lantern that Nick |
Pepper was able to look about. He |
then saw that he was III q long room |
which was entirely empty, with the |
exception of 4 broken counter and an |
old hnX,
This is Il queer place" saiG Nick,
as he accompanied his conductors to
the rear end of the room. at don't |
look as if any business"
Before he could finish the sentence, h e |
was was seized around the body by the |
elder man, and the younger one tied |
his hands behind his back with hand
kerchief.
The attack WAS 50 Sudden and start
ling that he did not think to scream be
fore their object was accomplished.
soon as he opened his mouth,a
cooked pistol WAS thrust into his face,
and he was threatened with instant
death if he should make an Outcry.
What is the matter with yOu| he
asked. What do you meanY
ave want those numbers" said the
elder man, land we mean to have
them. Give them to us and you may
90 free. IfnOt | will blow You brains
out"
"YOu don't get no figures from me-"
replied the boy.
The man hesiIated. and then laid
down his pistol.
"Give me that cord, SAM" he said,
=We will sec how he likes to be strung
up"
The young man produced long
stout cord, and the elder made a slip
moose in one end, which he placed
around the boys neck, throwing the
other end over beam.
''Give US the numbers he said, ''Or
up you 60"
'See you in Halifax first" mUttered
Nick.
The next instant he was in the air
hanging by the cord around his neck.
When he was let down, the numbers
again demanded, he could only refuse
by signs.
Run him up again" said the elder
man, and this time he was let down
limp and breathleSs.
As he sunk on the floor, side door
was burst in with a crash, and Jacob
MeSSner's detective rushed in, followed
by two police men, Mr.. Messner and
Mr.. White. Nick's two tOrmentorS
were at once seized and handcuffed,
and the cord was lOOSeEed from the
boys neck.
Il am afraid the scoundrels have
killed him" said Jacob Messner. "Run
for a dOctOrr
The detective hurried out, and AIr.
White took the boys head on his knee,
while Mr. MesSner famed him Vigor-
1usly with his hat. Soon Nick opened
his eyes and mouth, breathed audibly
md family whispered the name of
.MeSSner."
Mr.. Messner kneeled down by the
boy and placed his ear near his lips.
"JOe,' whispered Nick.
king, replied Jacob MeSSner, with
/ sob in his voice.
That's right. Thirteen, eighteen, ,,
Tell Aunt Sarah there
vas one thing l knew how to do"
Then his head fell back OF Mr..
Whites knee.
II seemed to be long time, although S
{ was not many minutes, before the {
lOctor arrived.
"Any fee you may ask shall be
-Ours," said Jacob MeSsner, IF you can
ave the boys life"
The physician felt his pulse and his !
leaTt.
1T was 4 close shaYe," he said; but '
We will save him."
A. a D,aofinC of tho diractorS of fha