The daily sentinel., 1909-06-11
A MESSAGE BY TELEPHONE.


I had had hard day with an OBJ
stinate case of patient whom had
pulled through with much difficulty
and was preparing for bed. hoping
that | would be allowed to sleep till
morning. when there was ring at
my telephone.
Are you DR. Murdock?' came a
child's voice.
Yes
Pm ." I couldn't make out
the name.
Who"
Again the name was a tumble.
Speak louder | said.
81 don't dare. They'll hear me 4"
well, what is it? Why do YOU
telephone me?'
You're my family doctor I've
called you up for mother often. This
afternoon ! was passing carriage
standing by the sidewalk Two men
pushed me in it and carried me OFF
Come here and get me out
"Where2'
81 don't know"
Cant you tell me something about
it?"
Il saw Washington street on
lamp post. The next street sign I
saw was Burnet-'
Repeat that"
"Burnet.'
"All right. Go on"
I'VE didn't turn out of Burnet l
kept looking at the street names. and
after we crossed Chestnut
That was the last word | got.
called again and again without any
reply, only the buzzing common in
telephones. 1t occurred to me at
a Eh ~ tal
from the voice whether it was a boy
or girl-had been kidnapped and had
got hold of telephone only to be
stopped in time to prevent my getting
definite information. | called up po-
lice headquarters and told my story.
and after a few minutes consultation
among them they requested me to go
with them for a search. A carriage
containing three men in plain clothes
soon. drove up to the house. and we
started for Washington street, turn
ing thence into Burnet. and. crossing
Chestnut, stopped to survey the To-
cality.
Meanwhile we had come to the CON
clusion that the kidnappers must
have taken the child to a house of
good class since it contained a tele-
phone. The houses near where we
stopped We're fine residences. 1t was
the month of August, and. while
there were lights in most of them. one
had evidently been closed. A police
man walked around it and reported
that ray of light came through a
crack in an upper story. | was re-
quested TO ring the bell and ask if a
doctor had been called for. rang.
but received no reply Again and
again | pushed the button. At last
the door was opened, and a woman
stood in the opening. ] asked her if
a doctor had been called for, and she
said NO
The policeman in charge of the
squad was with me, CARRYING my bag
of medicines. He pushed into the
vestibule. shall I strike a light,
doctor?' he asked. And without
waiting for a reply, he lit the hall
gas jet. We saw that the woman
was old and of forbidding appear
ance.
Say said the policeman, we've
been telephoned that there's child
sick in this house. and the doctor
must see him"
At the mention of the child and
the telephone the woman drew
long breath. This was enough for the
policeman. He ordered the house sur
rounded, and. directing the woman
to follow, went upstairs to al bed
room. where he found telephone
went with them.
81 thought So" he said, at seeing
the telephone.
Taking up the receiver, he called
up the nearest police station and in
a few minutes couple more men re-
ported. Then commenced a search
ing of the premises. We soon came
upon man in bed. who was routed
out, and both he and the woman
were taken along with us.
We went from garret to cellar
without finding anything. We were
looking about in the laundry when
1t occurred to one of the men to raise
the lid of stationary wash-tub. 1t
was fastened. The man called upon
the woman for something to pry it
open with. She turned pale. Two
men grasped the cover and lifted it.
There. lying in the tub, was a boy
about years old. He was insensi-
bic. having been given anesthetic to
prevent his crying out. | recognized
Eddie Thornton. the child of one of
my clients.
| took measures to revive the boy.
and he soon came to his senses The
man and woman on being questioned
SAID they had never suspected that a
boy Of would know how to use a
telephone, though they had forgotten
the telephone when they put him
where it was. The woman heard him,
as she supposed. talking to himself:
but soon, suspecting that he might
,fsy..I |f..f f,,ts