Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-10-03


day, and at night you shall have
mattress to rest on. Three days hence
| shall appear again. There Is no hurr
ry about this thing. After my next
appearance the price OF your liberty
will be added TO ut the rate of f100 per
day. You can afford 10 pay and | can
afford to wait"
1t was o'clock i'm the afternoon
when the Hon. Charles Bingham was
left alone in the garnet room. lie did
not waste his energies by crying out
or tramping round. lie did not look up
at the skylight except at long intervals.
The American was no fool. lie had
taken his precautions before bringing
a prisoner to the house. At o'clock
the man Thomas came in. One look
at him was sufficient to prove that he
was loyal to his master He had n
frank and honest face. but he also had
keen eye and was stoutly built. lie
brought bread and water. He was re-
spectful in his demeanor.
"Sorry for your poor fare, your hon
or" he observed, but it only depends
on you to get better. The evening pa
pers may help you on bit I'll bring
in the mattress later. Also candle"
"A faithful servant is jewel of rare
value" replied the captive as he ate
and drank and seemed very much at
home
Later on the mattress and a light
were brought in, but not another word
was spoken. The Hon. Charles was
not man who jumped at conclu-
sions. That $4,000 could he paid with
out feeling the loss, but he wanted to
think things over bit. Was he worth
the ransom money to himself or the
public? Was the American prepared
to proceed to extremities in case he
did not get his money? The Hon.
Charles held that the London detective
was the sharpest man on earth. The
great man would be missed and a hue
and cry raised. Would the sleuths
strike the trail and follow it up?
The room was rather warm that
night, it being summer, but the cap
tive managed to put in a very comfort
able night. He was up and ready to
bow TO Thomas when the bread and
water AMI morning papers We're
brought in, and he was in fairly good
spirits at the end of the third day,
when the explorer called for his an
/ swer 1t was not ready for him. on
the contrary, the captive pleasantly
| observed
You see, my dear sir, this expert
ence is SO unusual with me that | must
| have little more time to think it over
At the end of another three days |
shall doubtless be prepared to give you
! definite answer"
He was told that the three days
would add 600 to his ransom, but
there was no argument over that. His
captor retired. the same food and old
mattress were brought in, and rs the
evening grew old the prisoner stretch
I asleep when he heard the Skylight soft
ly raised. Then he caught sight of n
/ head and heard voice asking:
lis there anybody down there
"Only me" answered the honorable
as he realized that the voice belonged
to Il young girl.
"Are you rich or poor, old or youngF'
Il am fairly rich, and am man
seventy years old"
"That won't do" said the. girl. Il
am an orphan, living with my aunt
in this row. ten doors below. If am
To rescue anybody. he must be young
and rich and ready To marry me, the
same rs il is i'm the books. I'm sorry
for YOU. but | must say good night"
but hold on Il minute" called the
captive. IL can't turn myself into n
young man. but | can give some nice
young man money to marry you on.
That will amount to the same thing,
won't itY''
why. yes: suppose so. Will you
give f5E'
Eyes Il hundred"
The girl ran away without another
word. but fifteen minutes later she
dropped rope down the opening. with
one end made fast To chimney, and
the captive soon stood beside her. He
found her girl Of only thirteen. but
he lowered her literally. He did not
go 10 the police. but straight home.
He did not seek the arrest OF the eX-
plorer but wrote him polite note to
say that. owing To unforeseen circum-
stances. il would he impossible IL
make any further appointments with
him regarding the Nile relies.