The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-14

them something D keep her"
 This action way taken on Wednesday,,
 and the dreaded Black Hand did not
 wait long before striking at the cho-
 chems club. The members gathered Fri
 day, expecting to have their usual ses-
 sion with the cards and chips, but their
 dismay was great when Ignatz Fluegel-
 mann, who was the last to arrive, rushed
 in with pale face and wild manner
 He held a small piece of paper in his
 .arhey have got mel They have got
 mel
 Nobody has got you" said Moshe
 saltpeter What ails you, Ignatz7 What
 are you talking about? Been you shick- err"
 was.'' cried Mir. F1uegelmann. The Black Hand has took my young boy Moe from me Read that letter. He handed MT. Saltpeter a note, say ing that the writers had captured hls boy and held him prisoner. If F1uegel-
 mann would deposit s1OO0 in the place
 mentioned in the earlier warnings the
 boy would be restored to him. It was
 signed by the sinister name. ''The Black | Hand"
 Horror was in MT. saltpeter's face. and l reflected in the faces of the other Cho- l chems when he read it aloud Levi Blau-
 
 us," he said. "and that will be more than
 hundred each, and I only got a couple 1 of hundred and need 1t for poker" After much lamenting the Chochems, | according to their agreement, collected 1 the 5000 and gave it to MT. Fluegelmann. | Weeping. and with loud expressions of 1 gratitude, he went away. At the foot of the stairs he met his brother and said to him with a gratified manner:
 Its great game, and beats poker" These words were overheard by a keen, sharp-eyed man standing close by the
 entrance. He made mental note of Fluegelmann's words This man was Ignatz Einstein, the de- tectivel
 week passed away and while the Chochems had not ceased to lament the
 thousand the fears of the Black Hand had gradually died away. MT. Fluegel-
 mann had secured his child, who had been mysteriously returned the day after the money was collected. The regular meeting day of the Cho- chems had arrived again: they were all | present except MT. F1uegelmann. Moshe 1 Saltpeter said:
 Such a relief Those kidnappers have | got their bit out of us; now I guess 1 they will leave us alone and go to some | one else.'
 "Nu, I hope so, with sincerity" said 1 MT. Blustein.
 ] Then there was crash at the door and Rachmil Ffuegelmann. brother of Ignatz, rushed in gasping: They got Ignatz!" he shrieked "Ig- natz is In the clutch of the Black Handr' l He handed a paper to MT Saltpeter l It was one of the Black Hand letters | and demanded S1400 for the ransom Of 1 Ignatz Fluegelmann. If it were not giv- en within a hours his ears would be cut off. Also his nose, said the paper. "Himmel," said MT. Saltpeter. -Four l teen hundred dollars. It looks as if they 1 figured on us, don't it, for that's just | S200 each I suppose We got to redeem Ignatz. Oy. oy, but 1t is hard" They all felt the same way but with many ejacuiations the money was col i lected and given to Ignatz's brother to be used in ransoming the Kidnapped man. Tt is queer" unused MT. Saltpeter to 1 himself, that these Gonoffs should have assessed us just exactly s200 apiece. It l looks as they knew us, and 1t Is very | strange" And deep and dark suspicion crept Into the heart of MT. Saltpeter, a suspi- cion that he would hardly admit to
 himself. and yet which he knew existed. l The next day the ransomed F1uegelmann | appeared at the Chochems Club room I with a big story about his Kidnapping ] They seized me in the open street." I he said, gagged me, threw me into 8 | carriage and carried me far away, some where up north. think, and hid me in a cave. Gloomy 1t was, too. They were l getting ready to vivisect me when the l captain of the band brought your mon- l ey. Brueder Leben. I'll never forget I what you did"
 Neither will l." said MT. Saltpeter, afh Tn hi I that caused MT. Fluege1mann to take a | long look at him.
 One week later when the Chochems were gathered in their rooms. Fluegel- | mann rushed in with another one of | those ominous pieces of paper In his I hands. Again he had the wild air and l husky tone.
 My troubles never end' he said "Who they got this time" said MT. 1 Saltpeter, your grandmother" | The others thought he spoke rather | nippantly. "No," said MT. F'luegelmann, they have Kidnapped my beloved wife. | Here is their letter" This document, which was read aloud by MT. saltpstsr. demanded s24oo for | her ransom That Is just $500 apiece" | said MT. Fluegelmann in voice of an- | guish. rOy, oy, my beloved wifer' l MT. Saltpeter said 1t seemed as if the Black Flanders figured on just the | dIHOuuC lIdy Coulu Scl lTOIH lHe CHO- | chems, dividing 1t up in a most extra l ordinary way, he thought l Get your money ready he said to | the others, while I go out and raise
 some. I haven't got quite enough. Walt 1 here everybody"
 MT. sahpeter went straight to the of | flee of Ignatz Einstein, the detective, on l Long Acre square. He told him the l whole story of the letters which he had received how they had formed asso- citation to ransom each other, and of the 1 kidnaping of the various Fluegelmanns. Ignatz Einsteins eyes gleamed. What | do you make of this yourself?" he asked. | Mir. Saltpeter.
 'l got my own ideas" said Moshe, I but I like to have you look Into this l for me- I got to pay $500 to redeem his | wife. and if you can save me that money | I'll give 1t to you"
 It's as good as mine now" said the | astute sleuth.
 l MT. Einstein and MT. Saltpeter walked | over to the Chochems Club. Levi Blau- l stein did not know the great detective | by sight, but only by reputation "Who is this man?" he asked | "Ignatz Einstein, the detectiveI' said | MT Saltpeter Mr. Fluegelmann looked | at the keen eyes of the sleuth he noted | how those eyes seemed to look right l through him, and a cold fear stole into | his heart.
 Those Black Flanders said if We em- | ploysd the police they'd kill their cap l tive" he said. MT. Einstein, I like to have you do me the favor; go away, l please. We don't want you"