La Junta tribune., 1907-01-12

you bread and water three times .
day. and at night you shall have .
mattress 10 rest on. Three days heDrs
shall appear again. There Is 40 hur-
n about this thing After my next
appearance the price of your liberty
will be added to at the rate of floO per
day. You can afford to pay. and can
Afford TO wait"
1t was o'clock in the afternoon
when the Hon. Charles Bingham Was
ieft alone in the garret room. He did
not waste his energies by crying out
or tramping round. He did not look up
at the skylight except at long intervals.
The American was no fool He had
taken his precautions before bringing
. prisoner to the house. At q O'Clock
the man Thomas came in. One look
at him was sufficient to prove that he
was loyal TO his master. He had
frank and honest face. but he also had
. keen eye and was stoutly built. He
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
pers may help you on a 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 light
were brought in, but not another word
was spoken. The Hon. Charles was
not man who jumped at conclu-
sions. That t5.OC0 could he paid with
out feeling the loss, but he wanted to
think things over n bit. Was he worth
the ransom money to himself or the
pubncy 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 he missed and 4 hue
and cry raised Would the sleuths
strike the trail and follow II up?
The room was rather warm that
night. II being summer. but the cap
tive managed to put in very comfort
abb night He was up and ready to
bow TO Thomas when the bread and
water and morning papers were
brought In, and he was In fairly good
spirits Mt the end OF the third day.
when the explorer called for his an
swer II was not ready for him. On
the contrary. the captive pleasa ntly
| Observed:
"You see. my dear sir. this expert
enre is so unusual with me that must
40, tnE 4
At the end OF another three days ]
shall doubtless be prepared to give you
. definite answer"
He was told that the three days
wouh add t3o0 to his ransom. but
there was no argument over that. His
cap,or retired. the same food and old
mattress were brought In, and as the
evening grew old the prisoner stretch
| ed out for n rest He was falling
ssleep when he heard the skylight soft
6 raised. Then he caught sight of q
head and heard voice asking.
~ there anybody down therey
Only me-" answered the honorable
as he realized that the voice belonged
TO young girl.
Are you rich or poor. old or youngf
Il am fairly rich. and I am mai
seventy years old"
That won't do said the girl. Il
ail an orphan. living with my aun'
IN this row, ten doors below. III an
to rescue any body he must be yo,inI
I aui rich and ready t. marry me. th'
81 ne ~ IL il in the books. I'm sorr,
Zoe YOU. bnt I must say good night.
But hold on minute" called th'
oaptive. Il can't turn myself into {
lung man. but I can give some nlc'
lung man money TO marry you ON
Ihat Will amount to the same thing
W mt IT.
why. ycs; suppose so. WIN yo'
I've l5g'
-.Yes-a hundred
The girl ran away without anothel
,rori. but fifteen minutes later sh'
dropped a rope down the opening. viii
one end made fast to a chimney, an'
lie captive soon stood beside her. III
fpund her girl Of only thirteen. bu
he lowered her literally. He did no
20 10 the police. but straight home
lie did not seek the arrest OF the ex
plorgr. hut wrote him n polite note q
az that. owing to unforeseen circum
stancr>, IL would be impossible q
make any further appointments witt
linn vxyardipg the Nile relics