Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-01-01

organ, and the organ being shifted to
the mans back, was carried from its adj
miring hearer, Johnny, it was a greater
disappointment than that young man
could bear, and without pausing to re-
member his promise not to stir from the
door where he had been left he moved
on after the organ, and was uncon-
sciously lured into side street utterly
new to him. It was not until Johnny,
at last wearied of the monkey shines and
the cracked melodies to which they no "
danced, that he started to return to the
building which the clerk had entered,
and realized for the first time the mis-
take he had made In leaving that
particular spot and door. Where it was
he knew no more than the man in the
moon, and up and down he ran, turning
here, and turning there, until finally the
poor little fellow was in despair, and had
to acknowledge that he was fairly lost.
NPlease can you tell me where that
high building is that has windows bound
with redga he asked of passer-by.
The gentleman answered, in haste,
eyes, sonny, three blocks down there,
you mean the - building, l think, {"
and on he went having unintentionally
misdirected poor Johnny, owning to the
unfortunate fact that buildings with red
silled windows were rather common in
that part Of the city. Meanwhile, man
having overheard Johnny's question,
followed close at his heels, as. the little
boy started eagerly of still further away
from where the clerk was looking in vain
for him, and presently said: "You're
lost, | reckon, my little gentleman. I
know the place where you want to go.
Come along with me, I'll take YOU"
AS he spoke he eyed Johnny's velvet
suit greedily, and there was an express
sion in his face which, had the child
been older he would surely have noticed
and feared. However, he thanked the
man joyously, and walked beside him.
After they had turned into somewhat
lonely side street. still nearer the docks
than before, the man pulled out hand
kerchief from his pocket and saying,
'1Hello, what's that smooch on your
cheek, young sir?-let me wipe it off p
he pressed the handkerchief close to
Johnny's little pug nose, and when he
removed it Johnny felt dazed and sleepy,
and wondered what made the handker-
chief smell SO strangely, and his feet felt
50 heavy all Of a sudden. And while he
was wondering about it, he didn't notice
that he was being led INTERESTINGLY to-
ward canal-boat, and that presently he
was lifted down some steps and laid
upon dirty bed, where he finally slept
heavily. And up on the deck of the
canal boat two men were holding a low
toned conversation, during which had
any one listened they might have heard
the words, "Big sum for him, | bet you'll,
''Sell the suit" "Try the experiment,
anyhow' "Can smuggle him back if
we get in scrape!'' s.If he cries give
him thrashing to teach him betterln
and many more disconnected SEN
tences, which would have proven
that poor Johnny had fairly fall
len in the hands Of kidnappers. To
do the men justice they didn't want to
really harm the boy; they wouldn't have
killed him, nor have held him long
enough to bring serious trouble upon
themselves, But they wanted, if posi-
Bile, to pretend to find the lost child, for
whom big reward would be offered, no
doubt, and they meant to sell the little
suit in another city if they could.
So the canal boat was freed from the
dock, and at 6 o'clock when Johnny's
household were frantic about him, and
the police were being notified in all di-
rections, went up the river, towed by the
putting tug, whose captain never sus-
pected that he was helping to carry
small boy far from home.
After supper, the men sat just outside
the cabin door to discuss Johnny again,
and Johnny himself having aroused from
his sleep, and just about to call out in
alarm at his strange position, chanced to
hear the voices, and being quick witted
enough for boy twice his size, sat up in
the berth to listen before he called.
though his little heart was throbbing
with fright. Do you think he did nst
very soon comprehend matters, and re-
alize that kidnappers, of whom he had
heard many times, had gotten possession
Of him.
While they formed their plans, he
formed his, and looking from round
hole intended for a window, just at the
side of his berth, he saw row boat bob
bing about in the water, fastened by a
rope to the stern of the canal boat. He
was SO thoroughly frightened that he
could scarcely keep from screaming He
knew he was being carried far from home,
and he had heard how kidnappers treated
children. Every nerve of his little body
quivered with fear, but all the sturdiness
Of his nature came to the surface now,
and he knew he must in some way get
free from these men.
While be was sobbing quietly to him
self in the darkness, he heard the men
rise and come down the steps. Johnny
made believe sleep, and heard one say to
the other:
'sThe chap'Il sleep the distance
4Iz-o,,,-Ix 1.1-<I -.