Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-08-13

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not heard what he said. but she thought
he had been offering help.
ooh, thank you Everything is being
done. I know. They will find him to-
night, won't they? They surely must"
she pleaded. Her father called her in his
weakened 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 hel again. He felt the poignancy OF
this hours history-of his having
brought upon this house a hideous wrong.
Tho French clock on the mantel struck
| seven and then tinkled the three quar-
tiers lingeringly. There were roses in a
vase on the mantel; he had sent them
to her the day before. He stood as ons
| dazed for a minute after she had vau-
ished. He could hear Porter back in
the house somewhere, and Eyelyn's voice
reassuring him. The musical stroke OF
the bell, the scent of the roses, the IA
miliar surroundings Of the room, wrought
upon him like "A pain. He stared stupid
ly about, as if amid a ruin that he had
brought upon the place and then he went
out of the house and down the slope into
the street, like a man in a dream.
While Wheaton swaycd between feat
and hone, 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 mad 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
rs 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. q,
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 ff-
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
elgnC hours thereafter llie 10y WOulu De
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 unframed without paying the sum
asked. Mr.. Porter told the detectives
that he would pay the money but the
proposed meeting was set for the third
night after the abduction; the captors
I, in mo hurry fhny Urptn Tho crip,n
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 n queer game said Raridan,
on the second evening, as he and John
discussed the subject again in Johns
room at the club. 81 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 Ssxton.
''There may be something back of il 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 his is a little out of the
usual channels" Saxton got up and
walked the floor.
"Look here, Wary, did you ever know
a one-eyed man? 1t has just occurred to
me that l have seen such a man since 1
came to this part of the country but
the circumstances were peculiar. This
thing is queerer than ever as l think of
it."
"Well?"
ut was back at the Poindextcr place
when | first went there. A 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 he was there to stay. Wheaton
had given him the job before l came. |
remember that I asked Wheaton il it
made any difference to him what l did
with the fellow. He didn't seem to care
and I 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 a year or more"
us it likely that fellow is at the bottom
| Of this. and that he has male a break for
the ranch house? That must be a good
lonesome place out there"
We'll, it won't take long to find out.
Inc tnlnS TO 90 Is 10 go OURSELVES VII
| 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"
~ can't imagine that fellow Snyder
doing anything so dashing as carrying
off a m%illionaire's son. He didn't look
to me as if he had the nerve
Its only q chance, but It's worth try
ing"
In the lower hall they met Wheaton,
who was pacing up and down. He was
afraid Of John Saxton: Saxton, he felt,
probably knew the part he had played in
the street railway matter. 1t seemed to
him that Saxton must have told others !;
probably Saxton had Evelyn's certificate
put away for use when William Porter
| should be restored to health. This went
| through his mind as John and Very
stood talking to him.
wheaton" said Saxton, "do you re-
member that fellow Snyder who was in
charge of the Poindexter place when l
came here?"
"What-oh yes :" His hand rose quick
ly to his carefully tied f~our-in-hand and
he fingered it nervously.
you may not remember it, but he had
only one eye"
Yes. that's so.' said Wheaton, as ii re-
calling the fact with difficulty.
sand Mrs. Whipple says there was
something wrong about n of the eyes of
the man who accosted her and Grant at
/ Ar pnrfor-s Dote What hnca mo Of that