Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-23
KIDNAPERS GET
$4,000 RANSOM


detective were beating anxiously. The
agent of the kidnapers promised that
the boy would. be started toward the
Hollenden shortly after nightfall.
AS the hour for the appearance OF
the child approached Whitla became
nervous.
He disregarded the advice of the de-
tective. who had told him to keep out
of sight of the newspaper men and
the crowds of curious people who had
learned he was in the city.
Emerging from his room he walked
up and down the hall on the second
floor with hands clasped across his
breast. Then. unable to stand the sus-
pense longer, he went into the lobby
and seated himself. A few newspaper
men walked over to talk to him. but
he refused to converse.
Pleads to Be Left Alone
"In heavens name, men, do not say
a word to me; l am on the verge of
nervous prostration," he said. 81 ex-
pect the boy will be back tonight, but
l cannot state positively whether he
will be returned safe and sou:-d. Do
not ask me to reveal the settlement.
That might ruin all of the plans"
For more than an hour Whitla wait
ed in the lobby smoking cigars and
muttering to himself In the meantime
Willie Whitla, the kidnapped boy feel
ing comparatively safe in the l--.nds of
his kidnapers, was being prepared for
his return to his father. The woman
at the candy store had done her duty.
She communicated with the captors
of the boy and told them the father
had made no attempt to trace them.
The kidnapersa were satisfied. But
Whftla, sr., declines to name the
woman in charge of the confectionery
store and almost dares the police to
locate her.
So the boy was brought from his hid
ing place-where it was no one knows
to a car line in the east end of the city
which would bring him into town.
kidnaper Cheerful
The kidnaper. according to Willie,
was cheerful enough. The mysterious
man and the youngster skipped in
schoolboy fashion toward the trolley
line, testing in the meantime.
A few rods from the car line the man
stopped the boy. Pulling a pair of
smoked glasses from his pocket, he
adjusted them to the lads head with
the remark
you'll look better in these
The sides of the black yarn cap were
pulled carefully over the boys ears.
A slip which Willie was to hand to
pocket. 1t read;
Send this boy to the Hollenden ho-
tel double quick
With all arrangements made and his
tracks apparently well covered, the
kidnaper took the boys right hand in
his brawny one and they continued
briskly along toward the car line. The
lad skipped gaily enough with his com.
panion, the promise of seeing his dad
and his ina" urged him forward.
They chatted with each other. Willie
saws the man told him that if anybody
asked him who took him to the car
line to tell them it was mr. Jones'"
Child Consents to Name
Just tell them your name is Jones,
too, if you want to-" said the kid
naper,
lie.
presently a car came into view and
the mysterious Mr.. Jones drew the boy
closer to him.
"Well, Willie, you're going down
town now and you Will see your papa
pretty soon,' he said.
This delighted Willie. He swung onto
the car quickly, according to the con-
ductor. Mr.. Jones paid the boys fare
and then got off the car and disap-
peared after waving a friendly adleu
This farewell salute was continued
until the car had disappeared into the
inky darkness of the night
The boy gazed about the car for
familiar face. He saw no one he knew.
Presently Ed Mahoney, 17-year-old
boy of jolly visage, came into the car.
He sat down in the seat with the boy.
Recognizes Stolen Child
Mahoney, like most every other per
son in Cleveland, was looking for Will
lie, and when his eyes lighted on Willie
he started a conversation.
Whats your name?" he asked.
Jones'" answered Willie, true to his
kidnaper friend.
But Mahoney was not to be fooled.
He called his friend Ramsey over from
another part Of the car and showed
him Willie. He suggested that 1t
might be the missing child. Then Will
lie showed him his transfer slip, say
ing he would be put off at the Hollen-
den hotel, and they were soon con-
WINGED they had accomplished more
than all the sleuths in the country.
The boys, now willing companions.
took Willie to the hotel. He skipped
through the doors ahead of them and
into the lobby,
The boys partly lost track of him in
the crowd, so anxious was the young
AMUSE