The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1908-07-24
CHAPTER discontinued.

unight explain his strange mission.
CHAPTER III.-Continued.
Then followed some numerals
mixed in a drunken dance with half
the letters of the alphabet-the ex-
PLANTATION of the map, | suppose, in
cipher, and as it might prove a clue
TO this dreadful business, l folded the
sheet carefully in an envelope and
placed it in an inmost pocket.
The search having failed of definite
results, l sat with chair tilted against
the wall to consider the situation.
Turn it as | would | could make
nothing good of it. There were des.
perate enterprises afoot of which |
could see neither beginning nor end,
purpose MOI result. l repented of
my consent to mix in these danger
.ous 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 | had
come to this conclusion, and, barring
doors and windows rs well as | could,
Il flung myself on the bed to rest, and
I sank into an uneasy slumber.
When | awoke it was with a start
and 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. l
sat upright and felt for matches that
4 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 cur papers, or I'll wiring the
life out of you!"
1 was strong and vigorous, and.
though taken at a disadvantage,
struggled desperately enough to break
the grip en- my throat and get a hold
upon my assailant.
Where is the hoy?" gasped the
voice once more; and then, as l made
no reply, but twined my arm about
him my assailant saved all his breath
for the struggle. .......a A. -
We rolled to the floor with a thud
Tag oHC1A tIC bOuoN, AN III WIS
nge of base l had the luck to cone
rppermost. Then my courage
rose as l. found that | could hold my
man. l feared a knife, but if he had
one he had not drawn it, and l 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 and
called:
z Conn" :
heard a confusion of steps outside.
and a sound as of a mufled oath.
Then the door opened. there was a
1fush Of feet behind me, and the flash
sof a bull's-eye lantern. released
lrpy enemy, and sprang back to the
corner where l could defend myself
At some advantage.
Il 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
II wouldn't have your job, Mr.. Wilton
for all the old mans money. If we
hadn't happened up here, you'd have
been done for this time"
'In Gods name, man, what does al
this mean2" l gasped.
The man looked at me In eviden'
surprise.
They've got a fresh start, l guess,
ne said. You'd better get some o
the men up here. Mr.. Richmond sen
aus up here to bring this letter."
He was gone silently. and / left ii
the darkness. l struck a match
lighted the gas once more, and, secur
ang the revolver, looked to the letter
The envelope bore no address. ! tori
at open. The lines were written in
'woman's hand, and q faint but pc
Salliar perfume rose from the paper
1t bore but these WORDS:
Don't make the change until l SCI
you. The money will be ready in thu
snorning. Be at the bank at 10: 3d.,
The note, puzzling as it was, wa
rifardly an addition TO my perplexities
II was evident that | had BEEF
'uInnged into the center of intrigue