The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-09-26
Kidnapped.
.1..33:3.3.s.s.3$244
LOriginal.l

Mamma, SAID WI1e ASche, can
go out into the street to play?"
The mother pondered. Willie was a
very attractive boy, just such boy
as kidnapers would like to get hold
Of. His parents lived in terror Of kid
napers and had given Willie instruc-
tons never to go willingly with any
one who might invite him.
You may go for awhile" she said,
but first let me put on your belt"
Il don't want it on. It's too heavy"
But the mother insisted and put a
broad leather belt on her boy with a
peculiar massive buckle. Then. Civ
ing him a kiss, she let Ii =,
Now, it happened that " Ia; tie par
ents had so long dreaded ovr":red at
this very time. Pete Dugan ::ni Cen
tleman Mike, who had not been long
out of Jail, had seen the boy and upon
Investigation discovered that his par
ents We're we'll to do. The men were
laying for him this very afternoon
They approached him. Each took a
hand and between them hurried him
away. Willie cried and resisted but
the few who passed did not suspect
what was going on. and the kidnap-
ers soon got him into a carriage and
drove him to a house in a quiet street,
putting him in room upstairs. Later
he was given something to eat and
placed on dirty bed. where, still cry
ing, he fell asleep.
Now. Pete" said Mike, you watch
the night, and I'll spell you tomor-
row"
".AIl right. Mike, but you'd better
keep sharp eye out. We may be
tracked
Rats, There's no danger of that
yet"
Mike departed, and Pete threw him.
self on 4 carpet covered lounge. An
hour passed, and he was falling into
doze when he started up. He heard
Willie say:
Tin Willie Ashe. l live at 1903 Cen
ter street"
The kids talkin in his sleep" he
muttered and lay down again, but not
for long.
you won't get any plumber from
me-" said the boy again. I'm an imp
O Satan. I'll keep you in purgatory
for thousand years"
Pete. who had been brought up a
| Catholic, shuddered and crossed HIM
self He got up and looked at the boy,
who was sound asleep
Half an hour passed. The watcher
was again doing when he was star
tied by very different voice from
Willies a mans rough voice:
| Come. git in there!"
| Then there was a clang and turn
ing of bolts such as he had often heard
in prison.
| A cold sweat started out all over
| the kidnaper That voice never could
have come from a boy five years old
But where did it come from? Pete
sat on the lounge shivering. All was
quiet The boy slept on, and afte'
awhile Pete lay down, but not to sleep
He was appalled,. He lay trying t.
think out some cause for what he haC
last heard, waiting for another voice
When it came it was different from the
rest and far louder than anything tina
had been said:
"Police! Policev'
Pete jumped up. made a dash for thu
window and was about to jump dowl
twenty feet to the roof Of neighbor
ing building when, recovering some
thing of his equanimity, he paused
Willie's voice followed the cry for thu
police:
"Say, you're poached on. One O tn
gangs told. He gets thousand"
This information interested Pete in
tensely. He could not understand II
coming from his captive. What wa
meant by one Of the gang? No on
was interested but himself and Gen
tleman Mike. He wondered If Mix
had turned traitor.
The next heard Of these strang
voices. some of which had come fron
the sleeping child, others from h
knew not where, finished the kidnapel
He heard distant call, "This way,
then nearer "Here. here-where ar
you going?' then plainly sound h
knew only too well, the rapping OF
policeman's club on curb. All thi
was followed by the sound of heav
boots climbing stairs. Pete ran agai
, to the window, jumped to the roof be
low and gained the street by means
a water pipe.
Willie was awakened early the mex
morning by the sun shining in hi
eyes. He sat up and looked about hin
+ He didn't know where he was. He &C
up. opened the door and went down
+ pair Of stairs to the street. Wanderin
awhile he was picked up by police
:, man and taken to station. All SIT
tons had been notified that Will
6 Ashe was missing, and telephon
message soon summoned his father
\ come and identify the child. In te
e minutes Willie was in his fathers an
= mothers embrace. Then the fatht
took off Willie's belt and examined tt
bulky buckle.
Bully he shouted. ITS run dow
Worked all right. Captain turning
the man at the desk, I've made wo'