The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-09
THE MAIN CHANCE THoRoAY sToRY PEoIE

confusion and excitement, followed a
slight clue that led them far country
ward. They lost the trail completely
at village fifteen miles away, and
after alarming the country drove back
to town. Meanwhile another message
had been sent to the father Of the
boy stating that the ransom money
could be taken by single messenger
to a certain spot in the country, at
midnight, and that within forty eight
hours thereafter the boy would be re-
turned. He was safe from pursuit,
the note stated, and an ominous hint
was dropped that it would be wise to
abandon the idea of procuring the
captive's return unharmed without
paying the sum asked. Mr.. Porter
told the detectives that he would pay
the money; but the proposed meeting
was set for the third night after the
abduction; the captors We're in no
hurry, they wrote. The crime was
clearly the work of daring men, and
had been carefully planned with a
view Of quickening the anxiety of the
family Of the stolen boy. And SO
twenty-four hours had passed.
This is a queer game" said Rari-
dan, on the second evening, as he and
John discussed the subject again in
Johns room at the club. '"I don't
just make it out. If the money was
all these fellows wanted, they could
make a quick touch of it. Mr.. Por-
ters crazy to pay any sum. But they
seem to want to prolong the agony"
THAT looks queer" said Saxton.
There may be something back Of 1t;
but Porter hasn't any enemies who
would try this kind Of thing. There
are business men here who would like
n q jc a
little out Of the usual channels
Saxton got up and walked the floor.
Look here, Wary, did you ever
know one-eyed MANI"
I'm afraid not, except the tradi-
| tional Cyclops."
1T has just occurred to me that I
have seen such a man since came to
this part Of the country; but the cir
cumstances were peculiar. This thing
is queerer than ever as think of it,
"Well?" ...,
| eft was back at 2=the Poindexter
place when I first went there. A fell
low named Snyder was in charge. He
| had made a rats nest. of the house,
and resented the idea of doing any
work. He seemed to think he was
there to stay. Wheaton had given
him a job before I came. I remem-
| Der that [ asked Wheaton if it made
any difference to him what did with
the fellow. He didn't seem to care
and I bounced him. That was two
years ago and I haven't heard : of
| him since" ...... @7- go"
Raridan drew the smoke Of a Gig
arctic into his lungs and blew it out
| in a cloud.
''Who's at the Poindexter place
| now?" Y
Nobody; I haven't been there my
self for a year or more"
Us it likely that fellow is at the
bottom of this, and that he has made
a break for the ranch house? That
must be a good lonesome place out
there" .....~ -. :: ~...-,s--
well, it won't take long to find out
The thing to do is to go ourselves
without saying a word to any one
Saxton looked at his watch.
Its half past nine. The Rocky
Mountain limited leaves at ten o'clock
and stops at Great River at three in
the morning. Poindexter's is about
an hour from the station
Lets make a still hunt of it, said
Wary. THE detectives are busy. on
what may be real clues and this is
only "a guess" ,.i41.., .-
They rose. .s-, -...
'I can't imagine that fellow Snyder
4 doing anything so dashing as carry