The Washington times., 1909-05-13
The Hand of the Unknown


And I. too-poor boy"
And this lad Alton seemed TO have
a remarkable influence over her. why,
even tonight, not an hour ago, she cried
out for him to come TO her and take
her 90 the child. Man, you don't know
what it is to see one you love like that
and not give her any relief you can
and Alton. with his gentleness, which
deceived me completely-was that re-
/ lief"
Il see," came from the tall man, but
the hardness OF his face told the story
of his absolute failure to understand
But tell me why he returned here at
all-or rather came here when he was
connected with the abducticng
The hardest part of the tale had come,
and the old man could not Danish from
his sight the picture of the light-haired
youth as he stood by the side of the
girl. strong In the strength he gave her;
boy almost in years. almost woman
in gentleness
He was evidently a messenger from
the principal in the affair. and came to
bring a communication. which he
would undoubtedly have delivered had
1t not been for his meeting with you.
! And presume that when he seemed to
join in our plan he still intended to
carry out his mission, but-being very
| young, and perhapS-impresslon ne
delayed his negotiations. But tonight
Mrs. Graham carelessly gave him
| hint Of the discover of the chain, and
he at once saw that in some way this
clue was in our possession and that ne
would be connected with the abduction,
SO that"
He ran away
Eyes, and as 1 was sitting here after
telephoning to you l saw there by the
| Il II. H.. raft for
Something must have blown it TO the
| floor from the table where he probably
placed it-at any rate, here 1t IS, and
l want your advice and belp in getting
back the baby. With tt-s recovery Of
the child will perhaps come the mother s
reason. Here, read ii"
Really thrilled in his colo way. Black
| took the slip, and as the old man had
done, carried it to the lamp for perusal
The effect on him of the words was in
stantaneous.
Why" he cried, its enough to con-
| yict Alton before the most idiotic jury
/ In the world"
Il should think So
But don't you remember-206S Bow
\ cry Is Atoms homer"
| What? 1 didn't know that"
Didn't you notice the address Of the
letter he wrete?"
| mo, / usually don't notice to whom
| letters given me to mail are addressed.
| Did you?"
mo, of course not-blyt you see 1 got
/ his address when I first saw him-and
he said something in my bearing about
| posed 1t would be sent to his own
| home"
"Oh, I see,'' replied DR. Jordan.
Anyway it is a pretty iamning fact
almost too damning. 1t doesn't seem as
though he would be quite as bold as to
| give his right address in a case like
| that"
''oh, they're all in with the police
down there, and besides he could dis
| claim any connection with the name
Bixby, to whom any communication
| would be sent"
| Yes"
| TO get look at the people so that he
would be able to tell If any messenger
| appeared to be o. K--no police from
here or anything like that"
| II guess you're probably right"
There can be no question absut il.
| Doctor Jordan, and now let me think
what's best TO be done. It's luck you
called me in to help YOU"
slow, dragging steps on the porch out
| side; the opening and closing of the
! front door; more deadened footballs,
and dirty, ragged and worn, Jim Alton
| stood before them in the shaded light.
! And at that point, for the second
time that night, from above came the
/ piercing cry which had proved tbs last
straw TO the old mans burden o. care
Jim, listening a moment, lost all Ia
ug1e, disappeared up the broe stairs
and as he took the suffering grl in his
arms the life OF the wall was gone.
Jim, Jim,' she sobbed. "Gn, J have
Downstairs the two men, staring al
each other, noted the peaceful silence.
The Continuation OF This Story VIII
BE Found In T0mOrrOyT's Edi-
ton of The Times.