The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1879-01-24
KIDNAPPED.


Ten years ago, the laws regulating ad
mission into insane asylums in some OF
the States were so lax, that sane people
were too frequently incarcerated in
them. Eleven perfectly rational per.
sons were at one time released by order
of court from one of these institutions.
1t was during this period that the fol-
lowing incidents occurred. Shortly af.
forwards the laws in the State in which
the events took place were amended so
that such abuses became practically i'm
possible.
In 1865, young lad named Walter
Dunbar arrived in Philadelphia, and
presented himself in the counting-room
of Mr.. George M'Cann, dealer In furs.
The boy was the son of one Of Mr..
M'Cann's old friends, Hugh Dunbar, a
planter in Maryland, who had died two
or three months before, leaving his
whole property to his son.
"In two years." said the lad, 81
shall be Of age. My father gave me a
commercial education. He advised me to
come TO Philadelphia and learn the
business of furrier with you il you
were willing to take me into your store.
odd Diogencs,' he said, would find no
more honest man than yourself, il he
searched the world over''
Mr.. M'Cann smiled, but his eyes grew
dim, "Hugh and have been friends
since boyhood," he said, quietly. II
shall be glad to help his son.
"My fathers plan was,r said young
Dunbar, if should like the business,
and you should be willing to take me as
partner, that when am Of age, that
should invest my capital with you.
My guardian, Col. Thorpe, opposes this
plan violently. But came on to fulfill
my father s Wishes
"Col. Thorpe Is your fathers half
brother, I think"
" Yes" young Dunbar added after
pause, "and heir to his estate IL /
should de-
I" Not much chance for the Colonel, .
said MIR. Mccain, laughing as he scan
ned the boys rudy face and broad
shoulders.
II hope not. mean to live as long
as can. As soon as am Of age, too,
mean to settle part Of my fortune on
my sister Jessy," said Walter, with .
sort Of logged obstinacy in his manner,
which had already impressed Mr.. Nc
Cam As y noticeable feature in his char
acter.
"Did your father leave another
childp" he said, surprised.
t" No. But he married q widow after
my mothers death. She was q tender
mother to me II she was q step-mother.
Jessy is her daughter. My step-mother
died year ago, and my father always
intended To provide for Jessy in his
will, but he neglected to do so. shall
not neglect It. promised him on his
dcath-6ed to be good to her."
ssAnd your uncle, the Colonel, does
not approve Of Jessy as dependentp''
shrcwdly guessed Mr.. M'Cann.
"No. / brought her here with me.
She Is Is years old. / thought you
would be good enough to advise me
where to place her 1t school. have
some ready money, and that, with my
allowance, will be enough for us both
until am Of age, II we economize.r
The end of the matter was that Mr..
M'Cann took the boy and his sister, who
proved 70 be bright, afiectionate little
girl. into his own house 20 board. They
needed home and that motherly care
which good Mrs. M'Cann, one Of the
kindest and strictest Of Scotch women,
was able to give them.
The arrangement was, too, in every
way pleasant TO the M'Canns. Young
Dunbar, though no scholar, was pos
sessed Of sound, shrewd good sense and
high principle, the best material for .
business man. Mr.. M'Cann looked for
ward with pleasure TO his partnership
In the firm. The business now was but
small one, for Mr.. MsCann was COM
paratively poor man.
/" But with your capital and my expe-
rience, Walter" he would say, 1--WE
can soon takc'a leading placs even here,