Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-10-13

| closed behind him, anu no one, neltner
the neIghbors nor the police, would be
a bit the wiser as to what MISCHIEF
was being worked inside.
1t took me just two hours to examine
the entrance gates Of every villa house
with stables In that road; In three
| Of them there were the new tracks Of
wheels marked plainly In the thick
lying summer dust. ] could not dis
cover which were the most recent, but
I carefully noted the numbers OF these
houses, meaning to put 9 watch upon
them all. .,..
i called up the boy Joseph Walls, a
very smart young squire. too, from
the office In Norfolk street, as soon as
/ could get q telegram through. By
the time he arrived had narrowed my
investigations to single point for
further observation.
The day had 80 far advanced that
the business of life was well begun. I
saw the blinds drawn up in two Of the
| houses. the front doors opened. the
women helps busy shaking the mats
and washing down the stoops. Pres.
entity some Of the young folks ran out
| into the gardens, and ] could gee the
family gatherings round the breakfast
tables. from which on lhe early morn
| Ing air came the smell Of hot coffee and
EngliAh bFeakfast bacon. with the
| temptatiop Of ,Tantalus for q starving
man who had been out all night ALL
! this while the third house remained
closed. hermstically scaled. It was
closed up, tight shuttered. not sign
Of life In 1t. When l reached my lodgi
! fngs in Norfolk street ] was pretty
Wen washed Out. But ! turned Ia fSr
an hour and at 10 a. u. woke much
refreshed. As I dressed with care l
poldered deeply over this business
aid tie course that should adopt,
w first and most urgent duty was to
secure the release Of Mr. Wood always
stpposing that my gentleman was the
| person actually carried OF in the cab:
at present l had no certainty Of this;
only a bit more than strong suspicion
Yet If could ascertain that be had
not returned home should be justi.
| fed In taking surmise for fact
First I went to Charges street. The
man there remembered me, but looked
strangely when Inquired for Cap
| tain Wood. 49,
"You have not heard the news, thenY'
he said. -
What IN thunder Is there to hear
more than have to tell your | asked.
nettled at thinking some one was be-
fore me.
why. that the captain has met with
an accident He slipped up somehow
last night or early this morning and
| hurt himself badly"
"Who fold you that story? Do you
believe itr'
I believe the captains own hand.
writing"
What did he say exactly?" was
quite taken aback. as you may sup
pose. but did not want to show It too
much.
Here. read it for yourself lt!s not
all his own. Of course. and you will IN
derstand why. But that's his name at
the bottom there sure enough"
1t was written on good gray note pa.
per IN fair running hand. and It said:
sayory. I've GONE to grief driving home. Horse
slipped upon the curb. and was, thrown out Of
| the cab. Some Kind people picked NE up and
ore taking good care OF me. But shan't be
able to move hand Or foot for some daya sepd
me BY bearer portmanteau Of things-shirts, dress
Ing gown. dittoes. checkbook. letters. papers and
| the rest. Yours. W. A Woop.
ia Labusnun Street. Harrow Road
"And you sent them? Howf"
by the cab that brought the letter."
"Why didn't you 60 with them your
selfY
81 thought Of it certainly. and wish
I had"
"You may well wish that And now,
II you will be guided by me, you'll 60
and find out TIA Laburnum street
right away, If there's any such place at
ALL"
"Oh. but there is. It's in the direct
ory."
lis that so? Well, If you come across
Mr.. Wood there III run you for next
president Of the United States. You've
got just the face for postage stamp"
What in the name Of conscience
dye mean? What's 'appened to him,
thenT
Its my opinion that Captain Wood
has fallen among thieves, brigands,
worse-rufhans. who'll hold him to ran
som for blackmail, rob. murder him,
God knows what, unless some Of US
can circumvent their blackguard ma
neuvers. And l am going to try.
don't believe in cab accidents and La
burnum streets. You may, so you'd
better 60 and Judge for yourself"
But he was not going to find him in
Laburnum street was pretty sure Of
that, but it was right to look there on
the off chance that this story was true.
For myself l was more than ever
persuaded Of foul play, and consider
I'd was bound to lay the whole matte
before the London police.
was not very well received at Scol
land Yard. They told me to get prope
credentials, certificate from th
American consul. was terribly roileG