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

1T is dreadful, horrible y he forced
himselg TO say. but certainly no harm
can come to the boy. No doubt in few
But he isn't strong and father is still
weak
She threw herself in chair and her
vars broke forth afresh. Wheaton stood
impo;ently watching her anguish. 1t is a
new aud strange sensation which a man
experiences, when for the first time he
see tears in the eyes of the woman he
loves, Evelyn sprang up suddenly.
Have you seen Warry?" she asked
has he come back YETI"
Nothing had been heard from them
when | came up town" He still stood,
watching her pityingly. Il hope you un-
delstand how sorry | am-how dreadful
| feel about it, He walked over to her
and she thought he meant to go. She had
not heard what he said but she thought
he had been Offering help.
"Oh, thank you, Everything is being
done, know. They will find him to-
night, won't they? They surely must,
she pleaded. Her father called her in his
ueakened voice to know who was there
and she hurried away to him.
Wheaton's eyes followed her as she
went weeping from the room, and he
watched her, feeling that he might never
see heI again. He felt the poignancy Of
this hours hiStory-of his having
brought upon this house a hideous wrong.
The French clock on the mantel struck
seven and then tinkled the three quar-
ters lingeringy. There were roses in a
vase on the mantel; he had sent them
to her the day before. He stood as one
dazed for a minute after she had van
ished. He could hear Porter back in
the house somewhere, and Evelyn's voice
reassuring him. The musical stroke of
the bell, the scent of the roses, the fa-
miliar surroundings of the room. wrought
upon him like a pain. He stared stupid
ly about. as if amid ruin that he had
brought upon the place; and then he went
out Of the house and down the slope into
the street, like man in a dream.
While Wheaton swayed between fear
and hope, the community was athrill with
excitement. Rewards for the boys return
were telegraphed in every direction. The
only clue was the slight testimony of
Mrs. Whipple. She had told and re-told
her story to detectives and reporters.
There was only too little to tell. Grant
had walked with her to the car. She had
seen only one of the men that had driven
up to the curb-the one that had in
quired about the entrance to Mr.. Por-
ter's grounds She remembered that he
had moved his head curiously to one side
as he spoke, and there was something un-
usual about his eyes which she could not
describe. Perhaps he had only one eye
she did not know.
Raridan and Saxton, acting independ-
emily of the authorities in the confusion
and excitement. followed a slight clue
that led them far countryward They
lost the trail completely at a village fif-
teen miles away and after alarming the
country drove back to town. Meanwhile
another message had been sent to the
father of the boy stating that the ran
som money could be taken by a single
messenger TO a certain spot in the coun-
try, at midnight, and that within forty
eight hours thereafter the boy would be
returned. He was safe from pursuit.
the note stated, and an ominous hint was
dropped that it would be wise to aban-
don the idea of procuring the captive's
return unharmed without paying the sum
asked. Mr.. Porter told the detectives
that he would pay the money; but the
meeting was set for the third
night after the abduction; the captors
were in no hurry, they wrote. The crime
was clearly the work of daring men, and
had been carefully planned with a view
to quickening the anxiety of the family
of the stolen boy. And so twenty-four
hours passed
This is queer game" said Raridan.
on the second evening, as he and John
discussed the subject again in Johns
room at the club. Il don't just make it
out. If the money was all these fellows
wanted, they could make a quick touch
of it. Mr.. Porter's crazy to pay any
sum. But they seem to want to prolong
the agony"
That looks queer" said Saxton.
There may be something back of it: but
Porter hasn't any enemies who would try
this kind of thing. There are business
men here who would like to do him up
in a trade, but this is a little out of the
usual channels" Saxton got up and
walked the floor.
Look here, Wary, did you ever know
one-eyed man? 1t has just occurred to
me that have seen such man since |
came to this part of the country; but
the circumstances were peculiar. This
thing is queerer than ever as | think of
it."
"Wen:"
1T was back at the Poindexter place
when first went there. \ fellow named
Snyder was in charge. He had made a
rats nest Of the house. and resented the
idea Of doing any work. He seemed to
think be was there to stay. Wheaton
had given him the JOB before | came.
remember that asked Wheaton if it
made any difference to him what | did
with the fellow. He didn't seem to care
and l bounced him. That was two years
ago and | haven't heard of him since"
who's at the Poindexter place now"
Nobody; l haven't been there myself
for year or more"
is it likely that fellow is at the bottom
of this and that he has made break for
the ranch house? That must be a good
lonesome place out there"
We'll. it won't take long to find out.
The thing to do is to go ourselves with
out saying a word to any one. Let's
make a still hunt of it. The detectives
are busy on what may be real clues and
this is only a guess"
Il F~1T