Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-09-23
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CHAPTER w.

Wheaton sat in his room the next
evening, clutching a copy of a Gazette
extra in which a few sentences under
long headlines gave the latest rumor
about the mysterious disappearance of
Grant Porter. Within fortnight he had
received several warnings from his broth
er marking his itinerary eastward. Sny-
der was evidently moving with a fixed
purpose and, as Wheaton had received
brief notes from him couched in phrases
OF amiable irony. pos marked Denver, and
then within a few days, Kansas City, he
surmiSed that his brother was travelling
on fast trains and therefore with money
In his purse.
He had that morning received a postal
card, signed Nv. W." which bore a few
tauntiug sentences in handwriting
which Wheaton readily recognized. He
did not for an instant question that Will
lam Wheaton, alias Snyder, had abduct-
ed Grant Porter, nor did he belitte the
situation thus created as it affected him.
He faced ii coldly, as was his way. He
ought not to have refused Snyders ap-
peals, he confessed to himself; the debt
be owed his brother for bearing the whole
burden of their common youthful crime
had never been discharged. The bribes
and subterfuges which Wheaton had en-
ployed to keep him away from Clarkson
had never been prompted by brotherly
gratitude or generosity, but always by
his fear OF having so odious a connection
made public, He was face to face with
the crucial moment where concealment
involved completely in crime. His duty
lay clear before him-his duty to his
friends the Porters--to the woman whom
he knew he loved. Was he equal to it?
If Snyder were caught ne would be sure
to take revenge on him; and Wheaton
knew that no matter how gulltless ne
might show himself in the eyes of the
world. his career would be at an end he
could not live in Clarkson; Evelyn Por-
ter would never see him again.
The Gazette stated that district tele-
graph messenger had left at Mr.. Porter's
door a note which named the terms on
which Grant could be ransomed. The
amount was large-more money than
James Wheaton possessed it was not a
great deal for William Porter to pay.
1t had already occurred to Wheaton that
he might pay the ransom himself and
carry the boy home, thus establishing
forever a claim upon the Porters. He
quickly dismissed this the risks of ex-
posure were too great He turned all
these matters over in his mind. Clearly
the best thing TO do was to let the climax
come. His brother was a criminal with
q record. who would not find it easy to
drag him into the mire. His own ca
reer and position in Clarkson were unas-
sailable. Very likely the boy would be
found quickly and the incident would
close with Snyder's sentence TO a long
Imprisonment He would face it out no
matter what happened and the more he
thought of it the likeIier it seemed that
Snyder had overeaped himself and would
soon be where he could no longer be a
menace.
He went down to dinner late, in the
clothes that he had worn at the bank
all DAY and thus brought upon himself
the banter of Caldwell, the Transconti-
mental agent. who sang out as he entered
the dining-roOm door;
whats the matter, Wheaton? Sold
or pawned your other clothes? Come on
now and give US the real truth about the
Kidnapping" said Caldwell with cheerful
interest. You'll better watch the bank
or the same gang may carry II OH next.
guess tAe odhh sale enough
w heatou answered. ana don know
anything except What read IN the pa
pers. lie Aoped tAe oiners would not
think linn Indifferent; Dut they were
busy discussing various rumorS and theo-
Tles as 70 the route taken by the kldnap-
ers and the amount OF ransom. lie threw
In his own comment and speculatlons
from time to time.
"Raridans out chasing them, said
Caldwell. Il passed him and SaXtOn
driving Ike mad out Merriam street al
noon" The mention Of Raridan and
Saxt0n did not comfort Wheaton. He re-
fected that they had undoubtedly been TO
the Porter house since the alarm had
been sounded. and he wondered whether
his own remissness in this regard had
been remarked ar the Hill. His fingers
were cold as he stirred his coffee: and
when he had finished be hurrIeIly left
the room.
He felt easier when he got out into
the cool night air. His dav at the bank
had been one long horror: but the clang