The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-03-11
Jacks Prisoner

have an enemy. Lay aside your Black
stone for a time and find out who this
enemy is, will your"
Jack laughed. 1t was so droll; this
kind-hearted, overindulgent, pocket
rxhaustless father Of his having an en-
envy.
"Where shall I look for your enemy,
pater?"
ssHe writes from Tabatha. Here Is
his third demand for money received
this week." and the "pater" handed
Jack crisp, neat letter that had trav-
eled over 1000 miles.
'sHave you answered any OF his de-
mands?" asked Jack, more seriously,
rs he read the threat on his fathers life
provided the demand for money was not
met.
"Of course not" replied Jacks IA
Their; "the man is nothing to me. Per-
haps / had better put 1t into the hands
of detective, and not bother you. Give
me the letter"
mo, no." said Jack; "a couple of thou
sand miles run won't hurt me; I'm a
little tired of boring at law, anyway.
There's train, an express, at six. III
take that, pater, and rest assured ii
man by this creatures name Is still
hanging out in Tabatha I'll have him
In not much over a week from to-day"
Jacks father smiled.
Don't run yourself into any special
danger on account of the crank, my
boy. There may be more danger about
1t than at first thought"
"Not bit of it," responded Jack. IF
he'll only have the kindness to hold on
In Tabatha till get there; that's all /
ask"
HE WILL" said the father, "for he
writes that he awaits my check there
till II is received or I'm corpse and"
"The mans fool or crazy!" ex-
claimed Jack. "Still, there was Carter
Harrison; there was Garfield. Better.
have yourself guarded, father, till trap
the game"
Mr.. Whittemore shook his head. "rm
not coward. Jack, and should detest
having a detective forever at my heels.
If I seriously believed there was so
much danger as that wouldn't let you
go. AS it is, catch the villain if you're
able and relieve me of an annoyance;
an enemy, as called him at first"
"All right, old man. Good-by. I'm
of to the bank and the ticket Office. /
may not get home to dinner. Drop me
a line every day and I'll do the same
by you," and, grasping his fathers
hand, he was practically off on his COM
mission, as his father knew.
Six days later Jack was quite at home
in one of the leading hotels ofTabatha
and preparing for his first sortie upon
the game. With the letter in hand that
had so threatened his father, he started
for the address which the letter con-
tanned. No such address was discover
able, and he turned his steps toward
the post office. As he did SO cab
dashed toward him, giving him no time
TO get out of the way. Reaching up, he
caught the horse by the bride and
forced it back from the crossing. The
horse was thin, overdriven creature,
or he could not have handled it so easily.
LET me by, sir!" shouted the cabman.
''It's matter of life and DEATH"
II should say so. and my life and
death, too." replied Jack. "Foot pas
sengers have the right of way on cross
ings. TIL hand you over to the police"
The "cabby" turned white and made
feint to drive on, while young wom-
an, much agitated, looked out of the cab
door and said: "Please let us go on;
my father has just been hurt in an acct
dent, the cabman says. and he is taking
me TO him."
Jack raised his hat and allowed the
cabman to drive on, the words "the
cabman says" repeating themselves in
his mind. Was 1t peculiar or not that
. cabman should inform the young
woman Of an accident to her father,
and wasn't it rather questionable that
the same cabman should now turn into
that hard Whitechapel part of the city
which he had just gone through in his
search for the address in the letter he
carried. He turned and followed the
cab.
It went slowly, for the spent horse
was limping now, and drew up in front
Of an old brick tenement that looked
In the second stories completely ADAM
doned. The young woman alighted,
asked two or three quick questions Of
the cabman, then entered the house as
the cabman fumbled the money into
his pocketbook that she had given him
and drove away. A tawny-haired boy
was swapping marbles in the middle Of
the street, and, seeing Jack, ambled
toward him.
SAY, mister, she war nice-looking
lady, want she? Ell was you I'd git
her out Of that there. I'm not sayin'