The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1909-09-22
-
CHAPTER XZ


extra In which few sentences under
long headlines gave the latest rumor
ABOUT the mysterious disappearance of
urant Porter. Within fortnight he had
received several warnings from his broth
er marking his itinerary eastward. Snv-
der was evidently moving with a fixed
purpose; and, as Wheaton had received
Drlet notes from him couched In phrases
Vi anlaDle irony, postmarked Denver. and
then' within few days, Kansas City. he
surmised that his brother was travelling
on tast trains and therefore with money
In his purse.
He had that morning received nostal
card, signed "W. w." which bore q few
taunting sentences In handwriting
winch Wheaton readily recognized. He
ald not for an instant question that Will
lam Wheaton, alias Snyder, had abduct-
ed Grant Porter, nor did he belittle the
situation thus created as 1t affected him.
lie faced 1t coldly, as was his way. Rs
ought not to have refused Snyder's An
peals, he confessed to himself. the debt
ne owed his brother for bearing the whole
burden or their common youthful crime
mad never been discharged. The bribes
and subterfuges which Wheaton had en-
ployed to keep him away from Clarkson
mad 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?
II Snyder were caught he would be sure
TO take revenge on him; and Wheaton
knew that no matter how guiltess he
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 note which named the terms on
which Grant could be ransomed. The
amount was large-more money than
James Wheaton possessed; il 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 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
record, who would not find 1t 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 1t out no
matter what happened; and the more he
thought Of 1t the likelier it seemed that
Snyder had overleaped 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 it off next"
II guess the banks safe enough"
Wheaton answered. "And | don't know
anything except what l read in the pa
think him Indifferent; but they were
busy discussing various rumors and theo-
ries as to the route taken by the kidnap-
ers and the amount of ransom. He threw
in his own comment and speculations
from time to time.
'Raridan's out chasing them," said
Caldwell. II passed him and Saxton
driving like mad out Merriam street at
noon" The mention of Raridan and
Saxton did not comfort Wheaton. He re-
hected 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 at the HILL His fingers
were cold as he stirred his coffee; and
when he had finished he hurriedly left
the room.
He felt easier when he got out into
the cool night air. His day at the bank
had been one long horror; but the clang
of the cars, the lights in the streets, gave
him contact with life again. He must
hasten to offer his services to the Porters,
though he knew that every means of as
sistance had been employed, and that
there was nothing to do but to make in
quiries. He grew uneasy as his car near
ed the house, and he climbed the slope Of
the hill like one who bears burden. He
had traversed this walk many times in
the past year, in the varying moods of
lover, who one day walks the heights and
is the next plunged into the depths; and
latterly, since his affair with Margrave,
he had known moods of conscience, too,
and these returned upon him with fore
bodings now. If Porter had not been III,
there would never have been that inter
view with Margrave at the bank: and
Grant would not have been at home to be
kidnapped 1t seemed to him that the trou.
bles of other people rather than his own
errors were bearing down the balance
against his happiness.
Evelyn came into the parlor with eyes
red from weeping. "0h, have you no
news?" she cried to him. He had kept
on his oyercOat and held his hat in his