The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-23

| the narrowing day of suspense, up 60
the moment when little Billy WhitIa
walked into the outstretched arms of
his father at the Hollenden Hotel. the
plans of the kidnapers were carried out
with utmost fidelity 10 preaTranged de-
tail just as though the whole dramatic,
nerve-racking scene was being depicted
upon mammoth stage.
! The parents Of the stolen lad began
the fifth day OF waiting almost without
hope. Early in the morning, however
there came word from the abductors-
and word from Billy, too The oil
rections were brief. for the kidnapCrs
/ evidently cid not intend to divulge their
complete plans in advance. Like an &C
tor learning his part, Mr. Whitla read
them:
Mistake at AShtabula.
"A mistake was made at Ashtabula
Sunday night You come TO Cleveland
on the Erie train leaving Youngstown
at II 10 a. m. Leave the train at VIII
son avenue. Take a car to Wilson and
St Clair. At Dunbar's drug store you
will find a letter addressed to William
Williams. We will not write you again
on this matter If you attempt 70 eaten
US YOU will never see your boy again
! IncIosed was a note from Billy bear
ing testimony that he was as yet safe
and making all the more desperate the
father and mother. 1t, too, was short
and couched in words of childish sim
plicity, because he had never realized
that danger confronted him 1t read;
Dear Papa: Tell mamma not To wor-
ry. I will be home with her tomorrow.
/ am in a house that has many trees
around il. 1 am we'll now Your loving
son, BILL
Left in Secret
Nervous with apprehension lest mis-
plans become public and thus Illustrate
the rescue, as in the case at Ashtabula,
| Whitla left sharon a short time after
the recent of the letter. Only his wife,
| growing more hystericaI as hour after
hour passed, and the private detectives
in his employ were appraised Of Whitia 5
! secret intentions He insisted on going
alone. The stake was too great. for he
| knew the significance of the warning
I'VE shall not write you again on this
matter If YOU attempt TO eaten US you
viii never see your boy again.
| He followed Instructions infinitely lie
| found the letter, as promised and IL
gave instructions for the next step in
the tedious methods dictated by those
who held his son. A point was deslg-
mated at which he was 70 meet = ned y,
ily yelled woman, who would outline IN
detail what he must DO. With nm; ne
| was directed, he mt st have $4,000 IN
small bills, which was TO be paid 10 In Inc
woman. She WoNld name other supula-
tions: he had best agree to them
Woman of Mystery.
She was there-this woman Of mystery
in black. She met the distracted father
as though he had been a friend-and
TiiiU
safe Now 10 business. He had the
money? The father frantieally, Urem-
bling held ii before her.
The letter the kidnapers had written
four OF them-he must also give up.
Whitla did il. eagerly. Briefly, the
woman outlined the other terms she
! was TO be unmolested, and no attempt
must be made 10 apprenend the a pou
tors until the boy had been returned
| Then il was a game OF WITS. IT the
father or his detectives, sought TO eaten
her in a trap. the boy would be helu;
I Not until she returned and informed
! 0er co-conspirators that all was Wei
would little Billy be sent 10 the motel,
. In the meantime the father must so
Ithere-and wait. 1t would be after
nightfaU before he need expect Billy.
II was then early III the afternoon.
Did as Told
-, He took her at her word for, ne rea-
and the chance was worth the while,
Z Within half an hour he had reached the
/ HoIlenCen Hotel, his entrance being
- kent a secret. For a while he paced
the floor Of his room on the second
!, floor. After awhile he became more
, restless, and, hoping 10 be unrecognize3
! went down into the lobby Here he
! found Detective G. 3. Perkins, who
had sugerintended the search. Perkins
0 was tryif.g TO look uncOnCeTned-DOli
were nervous I'll at ease, nerve-racked
5 The tension increased as night ap-
2 proached and the hour for the boy
return came nearer
d The crowds had learned that Whitla
! was in the CITY and thrOngs Of curious
d ones filed in and out Of the lobby
. unconscious Of the fact that the
7 droopiI.s figure seated in larg'
= leather chair in one corner wa
y that Of Whitla Occasionally this
: man would mutter 10 himself and chew
: distractedly upon the end Of a Diacl
: cigar. Occasionally, he Wouid sIIo'
/ with quick uneven step about the lob
r by Perkins the detective, vainly en-
2 tdeavoreG 20 quiet and TeasSure him.
Finally he was recognized by seVeTa
4 newspaper men. They walked over an
- began to say something Whitla loOke'
4 IN Heavens name, men. do not sa'
anything TO me-" he pleaded. 4 am 81
expect the boy back tonight, wheJne
he will come or not 7 do not know
Don't ask me TO reveal the settlement
v n might ruin everything"
Talks With Friend.
And the little group that had sur
D rounded him drew away.
p Later Il friend came up and nc an
Whitla Withdrew to q secluded cOrne
in the hotel They talked a few mo
ments. the waiting parent replying Il
monosyliables, his eyes twitChlng, hi
lips quivering. At intervals he woul
= folds his hands across his breast O
clinch them tightly behind him.
N 1 Thus the father spent these hours tina
/ were to end i'm the return of his DO
= / or in another and more pitifUl disaI
IS continent II this was the concer
y and anguish Of the father. that Of tn
Q mother ia Sharon, unacquaintcd wit
the rapid-fire events Of the fateful da
/ and knowing that she must remain ]
- darkness until the message Of the fOun
II or lost came late at night, must hay
T, been Increased hundTedfOld. Tn
frantic pleading Of the mother that he
husband should hurry home with Bill
after she had heard that he was SAT
again, best evidenced the torture Of II
day TO her.
( D~arav,,o~