The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-06

did Dou tell Mn. Gcdncv Of this vtstt?"
nosis was sonnambulism. Mr.. Mitche
had called at the house unusually late
for social visit. Did he find tho chilt
wandering about tho street and not rec
ognizo her until he had taken her to his
own homo, which wns only u fow blocks
away? Was that why no had called at
Gedney's house so lato2 The anony-
! nous letter was signed "M. e.. At
| first glance it seemed liko rather poor
effort at joke. the letters spelling
'mo. y But thoy were capitals Did
the "M'' Indicate "MitchcI" and tho
'E'' "Elinora?" Was this another little
plot Of Mr.. Mitchel's to test Mr.. Barnes
skill?
Thcro was one vital objection to this
line Of reasoning Why would Mr.. Mitch.
ell permit his friend to suffer 30 much
anxiety merely to crafty whim, II
hobby Of outwitting q dotcctivc? Such
an act would bo an outrage on friendship.
But then was it absolutely assured that
Mr.. Gcdnoy was not in tho secret?
Thus tho detectives mind was rackod
with argument during the day Ho
spcculatcd upon Mr.. Mitchcl's conncc-
ton with tho affair. Iio wondered why
the maid had retired so late that night.
Ho asked himself the meaning Of the
butlcr's caution in his interview, and
tho object OF bis casting q suspicion
upon Mr.. Mitchell. Lastly, ho found il
difficult to decide exactly whether Dr.
Donaldson and Mr.. Gcdncy had been
entirely honest with him. Did either or
both know moro than they had told or
tell moro than tho facts? Was tho whole
sleep walking theory merely a trick to
confuse him? Ilo wished that no could
certainly eliminate Mr.. Mitchell as a
factor III tho equation. Without him
everything seemed clearer.
At 10 o'clock on the following morn
ing Mr.. Gcdncy presented himself and
handed Mr.. Barnes the following letter:
Saw your advertisement and answer at once.
/ want $50. 600. Lot mo cmphnsizc tho fact that
l Will not take less. You will wish TO com.
municatc with mo. You cant catch me with
dccoy letters. Brrncs is helping you. ! know
that, you see. He's "a keen d"vil, but so am |.
One OF you DO Mt the public telephone in IIoff.
man House at O'Clock on the stroke. will
call you up. When yum answer, will say an.
r.. - Tou Will recognize the signal and do all
tho talking. Your detective shan't hear my
voice. may n"od his valuable nid myself in
tho future. incloso pcco OF tho girls cloth
dress and lock OF her hair. NJ
"Mr. Gedney," said Mr.. Barnes, "I
suppose this bit of hair and scrap of
cloth satisfy you that the scoundrcl
really has Jour child:''
Yes. am convinced of that. "
'Thcn 1 will recover her and without
ransom too. Mark that. Meet me at the
HOFFMAN House at the appointed hour. !"
During tho morning Mr.. Barnes wrote
tho following note:
DR.. Donaldson:
DEAR SIH-Tho person who ha8 tho child
wants q largo ransom. / am determined to ro.
covor her without payment Of money. 70 fol-
low clcw that have IT IS important to know
tho exact szo Of tho girl. As physician you
can guess this oven better than the father: also
INFORM mo OF any popularity or mark known
TO you by which could rocpgnizn her alive or
dead. say dead h"cnus" tn" part" at present
suspected would stop al nothing to shiold him
self from arrest. Please answer by hraror.
Yours truly. j. BAnEEY.
This no sent by messenger and re.
ccived tho following reply:
hopo you Will Hncr"cd. Elinora ia small
and slim. being IAth3. undcreizcd for her age,
should say about feet 10 inches know Of
no distinctive mark whereby her body could
bo recognized and hop1 that nothing OF he
sort Ruggcsted viii occur. Yours truly,
RoBEnP DONALDSON.