Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-04-18
CHAPTER lll.-Continued.


CHAPTER lll.-Continued.
Thea followed some numerals
mixed in 4, drunken dance with half
tho letters of the alphabct-the eX-
planetiou uf the map, | suppose, in
ciaher. and as It might prove clue
20 tais dreadful business, folded the
sheet carefully in an envelope and
placed il in an jnmost pocket.
TIE search having failed of definite
results. | sat with chair tilted against
thn wall 30 consider the situation
Terra il rs I would | could make
nothing good of it. There were des
petatc enterprises aioot Of which /
cpMd see neither beginning nor end
purpose nor result. ! repented of
my Cousauy to mix in these danger
lns doinss aud resolved that when
tie mornina came 1 would find other
quarters. take up the search for
Henry, aud looi, for such work as
might he found
Il was after midnight when | had
cone tn tails conclusion, and, barring
dpOIs AID windows as well as | could,
auu. wtSelf nu She bed to rest. and
sauk into IA uneasy slumber.
Wbea I awokc it was with a start
aud az oppressive sense that some
body else was in the room. The gas
light that had left burning had been
pat Out. Darkness was intense.
sat upright and felt for matches that
had seen upon the stand.
I 10
upon the bed. Why fingers Gripped
uy throat, and a voice Kissed in my
CaJ,
Where is he? Where is the boy?
Give ne your papers, or I'll wiring the
lie 0ut Of YOU"
1 was strong and vigorous, and.
though taken at a disadvantage,
struggled desperately enough to break
the erip GA my throat and set a hold
upoU my a,Saiant.
Where j. The bOy?" gaspcd the
vote" once more and then, rs | made
10 lcoly. but twincd my arms about
HAN nay assailaut saved all his breath
Tor thc struggle.
We rolled TO the floor with a thud
that shook the house, and in this
change Of base | had the lack to come
out UppermGst. Then my courage
rose Is found that could hold my
man. | feared 4 knife, but if he had
one he had not drawn it, and l was
ah.e TO keep his hands too busy to al
lGW h;m ~ get possession of it now.
Finding that he was able to accom-
pliah noth.ns, he gave short cry and
called:
Coma"
heard confusion Of steps outside,
and q sound rs OF mufled oath.
Then the door opened. there was a
rush OF feet behind me. ana the flash
Of juii's-cye lantern. | released
my enemy, and slNang back TO the
corner whore | could defend myself
al some advantage.
could distinguish four dark figures
q men; but, instead OF rushing upon
p,e rs [ stood on the defensive, they
seized upon my assailant I looked
oa pauting, and hardly able TO regain
ny breath. J. was not half a minute
before mr on"my was securely bound
aud gagged and carried out. One OF
tho men fingered.
"D0nt take such risks" he said
81 woUljn't nave your job Mr.. Wilton
f3r oil the old mans money. IL We
ttdn'- h1pucucd NJ here. you'd have
been doue for hi, time
In Goes name, man, what does all
this mean" | Sasped
The man looked 1T me in evident
surprisc.
They've GOT fresh start, ! guess,
le said. You'd better get some Oh
tic mon M here NJ. Richmond sent
Us up here "a bring this letter.
lie was gone silently. and left in
the darkness. struck match
lighted the gas once more, and, sccur
ing the revolver. locked to the letter
The envelope bore no address. | tore
H. open 'yhe lines were written in &
woman's hand, and a faint but pc
oniiar perfume rose from the paper
j. bore mt these words:
"Dont make the change until | sec
you. The money will bc ready in Tho
morHing. Re at the bank at 1890"
Thp note. puz2ling as it was. was
hardiy aa addition to nay perplcxities
ir vas evident that | had bcer
plunged iato the center Of intrigue
plot and couuierplot. | was supposed
90 have possession OF somebody's boy
A powerful aud active enemy thrcet
ened nue. with death. An equally &C
tive iricud was working 70 preserve