The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-10-30

attacked him, L went carefully
through his clothes and papers. But
found that he did not leave memo
randa of his business lying about.
The only scrap that could have a pos
sible bearing on 1t was sheet Of
paper in the coat he had changed
with me. 1t bore a rough map. show
ing a road branching thrice, with
crosses marked here and there upon
it. Underneath was written:
Third road-cockneyed barn-iron
cow"
Then followed some numerals
mixed IN drunken dance with half
the letters Of the alphabet-the ex-
PLANTATION OF the map, / suppose. in
cipher. and as II might prove a clue
to this dreadful business, folded the
sheet carefully in an envelope and
placed It in an inmost pocket.
The search having failed OF definite
results. sat with chair tilted against
the wall to consider the situation.
Turn 1t as / would / could make
nothing good Of it. There wsre des-
perate enterprises afoot Of which I
could see neither beginning nor end.
purpose nor result. l repented Of
my consent to mix in these danger
GUS doings and resolved that when
the morning came | would find other
quarters. take up the search for
Henry, and look for such work as
might be found.
1t was after midnight when I had
come to this conclusion, and. barring
doors and windows as we'll as | could.
l flung myself on the bed to rest. and
| sank into an uneasy slumber.
when l awoke it was with a start
End an oppressive sense that some
body else was in the room. The gas
light that had left burning had been
put out. Darkness was intense.
sat upright and felt for matches that
| had seen upon the stand.
In another instant l was flung back
upon the bed. Wiry fingers gripped
my throat, and voice Kissed in my
ear:
Give me your papers. or III wiring the
life out Of youl"
was strong and vigorous. and,
though taken at disadvantage,
struggled desperately enough to break
the grip on my throat and get hold
upon my assailant.
Where is the boy?" gasped the
voice once more; and then. as | made
no reply, but twined my arms about
him my assailant saved all his breath
for the struggle.
We rolled to the floor with a thud
that shook the house, and In this
change of base l had the luck to come
out uppermost. Then my courage
rose as found that could hold my
man. feared knife but II he had
one he had not drawn il. and | was
able TO keep his hands too busy TO al
low him to get possession Of it now.
Finding that he was able to accom-
plish nothing. he gave a short cry aud
called:
Conn.,"
l heard confusion OF steps outside.
and a sound as of a mufiled oath.
Then the door opened. there was a
rush OF feet behind me. and the fash
Of a bulls-oye lantern. released
my enemy. and spraLg back to the
corner where | could defend myself
at some advantage
l could distinguish four dark figures
OF men; but, instead Of rushing upon
me as / stood on the defensive. they
seized upon my assailant. looked
on painting. and hardly able to regain
my breath. 1t was not half a minute
before my enemy was securely bound
and gagged and carried out One Of
the men fingered.
Don't take such risks" he said
Il wouldn't have your job. Mr.. Wilton,
for all the old mans money. II we
hadn't happened up here. you'd have
been done for this time"
In Gods name. man, what does all
this mean?" | gasped.
The man looked at me In evident
surprise.
They've got fresh start, guess"
he said. You'd better get some Of
the men up here. Mr. Richmond sent
us up here to bring this letter."
He was gone silently. and left In
the darkness. struck a match,
lighted the gas once more. and, secur-
ing the revolver, looked to the letter.
The envelope bore no address. l tore
1t open. The lines were written In a
woman's hand. and a faint but pc
culiar perfume rose from the paper.
1t bore but these words:
Don't make the change until / see
you. The money will be ready in the
morning. Be at the bank at 1890"
The note, puzzling as 1t was. was
hardly an addition to my perplexities.
1t was evident that l had been
plunged into the center OF intrigue.
plot and counterpart. | was supposed
to have possession of somebody's boy.
A powerful and active enemy threar-
ened me with death. An equally ac-
tive friend was working TO preserve
my safety. People Of wealth were
concerned. / had dimly seen a frag-
ment of the struggling forces. and IL
was plain that only very rich per-
son could afford the luxury of hiring /