The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-24


Maybe they've carried him into one
of these back-door dens, and maybe
they whisked him into a hack here,
and are mile or two away by now
But we must follow them. He may
be only wounded and can be rescued.
And these men can be caught
was almost hysterical in my eager
ness.
"Aisy, aisy. now" said the police
man. 60 back to your room, now.
That's the safest place for you. and
you cant do nothin' at all out here.
! I'll report the case to the head Office,
an We'll send out the alarm to the
force. Now, here's your door. Just
rest aisy, and they'll let you know If
anything's found"
And he passed on, leaving me dazed
with dread and despair in the en-
| trance of the fateful house.
Once more in the room to wait till
morning should give me a chance to
work, 1 looked about the dingy place
with a heart sunk to the lswest
depths. I was alone in the face of
this mystery. | had not one friend
in the city to whom l could appeal
for sympathy, advice or money. Yet
l should need all of these to follow
this business to the end-to learn the
fate of my cousin, to rescue him, IL
alive and to avenge him, If dead.
Then, in the hope that l might find
something among Henry's effects to
give me a clue to the men who had
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 it was a sheet of
paper in the coat he had changed
with me. 1t bore rough map, show
ing a road branching thrice, with
crosses marked here and there upon
it. Underneath was written:
Third road-cockheyed barn-iron
cow"
Then followed some numerals
mixed In a drunken dance with half
the letters of the alphabet-the ex-
cipher, and as it might prove a clue
to this dreadful business, folded the
sheet carefully In an envelope and
placed 1t in an Utmost pocket.
The search having failed Of definite
results, l sat with chair tilted against
the wall to consider the situation.
Turn it as / would l could make
nothing good of it. There were des-
perate enterprises afoot of which
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 l 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 well as l could,
flung myself on the bed to rest, and
[ sank into an uneasy slumber.
When I awoke it was with a start
and an oppressive sense that some
body else was in the room. The gas
tight that had left burning had been
put out Darkness was intense /
had seen upon the stand.
In another instant was flung back
upon the bed. Wiry fingers gripped
my throat, and a voice Kissed in my
ear:
Where is he? Where is the boy?
Give me your papers, or I'll wiring the
life out of youi"
was strong and vigorous, and,
though taken st a disadvantage,
struggled desperately enough to break
The grip on my throat and get a hold
upon my assailant.
Where is the boy?" gasped the
voice once more; and then, as | made
40 reply, but twined my arms about
him my assailant saved all his breath
TOR the struggle.
We rolled to the floor with a thud
hat shook the house. and in this