Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-04-08
A SINGULAR ABDUCTION
By RoDaIGUEs oTTOLENGUI.

"Oh, Mr. Barnes, said he, II am in
great distress. hardly dared to hopo
that assistance were possible until met
my friend Leroy Mitchell. You know
him?" Mr.. Barnes assented, with a
smile, and the old man continued, "He
told me that you could surely aid me. +"
II will certainly do all that is in my
power to serve friend Of Mr.. Mitch
els" said the detective.
"You are very kind. My last hope is
dependent upon your success. But let
mo tell you the story. l am Richard
Gedney, the broker. Perhaps you have
heard the name" Mr.. Barnes nodded.
II thought so. Old Dick they call mo
on the street, and sometimes Old NicA,
but that is only their little joke when
the market goes against them. do not
think that they really dislike me, though
have made my fortune. I have never
cheated any one nor been hard on q
friend during oil my career. But that
is immaterial, except that it makes it
hard to understand how any one could
have done me SO great an injury as to
steal my daughter.
''Steal your daughterl" interrupted
Mr.. Barnes. "Abduction?'
Abduction. I suppose, is your tech
nical term. I call it plain stealing. TO
take girl of IA away from her fathers
home is stealing, no more, no less. F"
"When did this occur?''
''Two days ago. Tuesday morning we
missed her, though she may have been
taken during the night. She was slight
ly sick on Monday evening, and her
maid sent for the doctor, who ordered
her to be put to bed and kept there
When he called again on Tuesday morn
ing, he went to my little girls room
and was astonished to see that she was
not there A search was instituted un-
der the supposition that in the absence
Of her maid. she might have wandered to
some other part of the house. But tho
child could not be found 1t almost
seemed as though she had vanished.
"Had you seen her yourself that
morning7"
81 cannot too much condemn myself.
You see am an old whist player, and
the temptation to play made me linger
so late with some friends on Monday
night that preferred to remain in New
ark, where l was, and SO did not reach
home until after 10 o'clock Oh Tuesday
morning. By that time the misfortune
had occurred.'
"Have you discovered no clew to her
whereabouts?"
"None. We have sent to all of our
friends in the vain hope that she might
have a risen early and gone out, but no
one has seen her. She has disappeared
as thoroughly as though she had been
swallowed by an earthquake Here,
however, is letter which reached me
this morning. cannot decide whether
it is important or merely cruel joke
perpetrated by some crank who has
heard of my misfortune
He handed the letter to MIR. Barnes,
who read as follows:
Your daughter is safe IL you are sensible.
II you want her back, bid for her. Make your
offer high enough, and she'll be with you. l
will answer II you put personal in The Her
aid addressed to "M. e.
"Mr. Gedney," said Mr. Barnes,
''this is serious affair, but if this let
ter is genuine-as think it to be-we
can recover the girl, though we may
have to pay ransom. That depends on
whether we are shrewder than the per-
petrator of this crime, and he is no fool.
Thus far he has proceeded with consum-
mate skill
"You say he. You think it is man?'
'Not so fast, Mr.. Gedney. I cannot
judge the sex yet. This letter is written
on typewriter, and the majority of
operators are women. But we shall see.
Other details must be gathered and
studied. will follow this up PERSONAL
ly. Come! We will begin work at once" "
They proceeded first to Herald square
and left the following to be inserted in
the next days Herald:
"M. E."-Communicate ut once, stating low
est terms. GEpNEY.
Thence they went to Mr.. Gedney's
house. Seating himself in comfortable
chair in the library, Mr.. Barnes asked
that the butler should be summoned.
The man entered the room, and it was
apparent at once from his deferential
manner and attitude that he was good
servant of the English type. At the
same time he eyed the stranger keenly,
and throughout the interview answered
with q deiiberateness which showed
that he weighed his words and would
be very careful not to say anything
which might be used against him, q
phrase better known than understood.
In short, whether or not he had any
thing to conceal, the butler was cautious
because speaking to detective
"Moulton, began Mr. Barnes, "I am
a detective"
$50 thought, SIR answered Moul-
ton.
"And why. pray, did you think so?"
Well, sir, I should say we need one,
ant 7oure stranger to me, sir. know
all l. masters friends.
''T.uat is your only reason for suspect
Ing my profession?"
"That's all, sir"
''Moulton. / am going to find out
where your mistress has been taken. "
Mr.. Barnes said this suddenly and
watched the man closely. Moulton
seemed impassive, and his reply was
noncommittal.
II hope SO, sir.
"Very well," said the detective.
"Answer few questions explicitly and
you may give me great assistance On
Tuesday morning you admitted the doc
tor. At what time was it?''
SIT was about o'clock. We had just
taken our seats at breakfast in the serv-
ants hall when the bell rang. That is
how I fix the hour. We arc regular