The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-25

nurse came told her of the incident She
was as much amused as before.
You certainly have a mind fer mys-
teries." she laughed, 'but If you become
too interested you viii develop a fever and
have pullback. When you are able 10
leave us you can tell the police about the
man, who will probably turn out to be a
shadow"
| gave the windows but little attention
in the daytime after that. The face ap-
peared on the third evening at the same
hour, and felt so sure that confederate
made signals from the sidewalk that I
took a convalescent into my confidence
! He was an old soldier who was being
treated for an old wound and was allowed
the run Of the place. / told him OF the
face and the confederate, and he was in
terested at once. II was arranged that he
should be in front OF the hospital at half
past and watch for the confederate. ard
luck attended him. He saw a well-dressef
but evil-looking man make signals 20 the
man at the window. The signals were
made with a folded newspaper and would
not have been noticed by any one not on
she watch for them.
Now, then" said the old soldier as he
returned and reported. I'VE have a mys-
terry on hand. Luck has thrown ID In our
way that we may make a few gold pieces.
Let us work ii out together and share the
reward"
None Of US In the ward had seen a news-
paper for a week. They we're not inter-
dicted. but none OF the patients seemed to
care for outside news. Next morning the
soldier went out and purchased the jour
mails for the previous five or six days,
and as we looked them over we struck a
sensation. A boy ten years old. the sen
OF a rich iron founder. had been kidnapped
and spirited away. and It was stated tia,
the whole police force OF Paris was on the
qui yive. The Kidnapping had taken place
three days before I saw the face at the
window, and was arguing that our mys-
terry could have nothing TO do With IL,
when the soldier said
1T Is as least twelve miles from here
where the lad was picked up. He was
probably hidden somewhere else for a day
or two, but the scent got so hot that he
was moved. Don't you fear that he ls
not In the old house opposite az this very
moment"
Then We should inform the police"
Pooh. We must wait for a reward =,
be announced. Never slap luck In the
face"
On the fourth nlgh. and ffsh night the
face appeared at the window a, the usual
hour, and the same man made the usual
signals. AS the police were yet az fault
those signals must have meant that things
were all right for the kldnappers. II vas
now eight days since The boy was taken
and as no trace could be had OF him Il
was believed that he had been killed or
taken out Of the country. The papers gave
il 70 the police pretty hot, and IL was IN
timated that the father vas ready 10 pay
almost any sum 20 have his child restored
Nov We are coming nearer TO L." szld
the old veteran. What the kidnapDers
have been waiting for ls the reward, bat
We must be ahead % them. You have
some money. but have none You must
give me enough % take me across Paris
20 the father"
Il had come 20 be understood IN our
corridor that xe had some scheme. but
We refused 20 answer any questions Ths
soldier started OF one morning. and be.
fore noon he MAS holding an interview
with the father Of the abducted boz The
distracted naa was willing TO give hls
las. franc. bet the soldier stopped al 80
francs. lie got a promise In writing that
he should be paid that sum when the boy
was delivered Up, and then se weat 10 the
police % find II there was a reward for
any particularly desperate character
There was. II was rNsisyed in police cir
cles that the kidnappsrs we're two escaped
eonvicts and taeTe xaz reward ef 1850