The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-06-13
Kidnapped
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS
Copyright 1910, bylAmerlean Press
Association

Il WY HAANNtNA AuE HuhAhNM DtENhAe no
one else would take II. Besides hav.
ing nothing but the house he lived 10,
he needed the pluful salary attached
to the Office.
One night a citizen Of the place was
waylaId. sandbagged and robbed A
man named Fletcher was suspected and
arrested. Fletcher's wife went to Mrs,
wilkins with d piuful story Of her
husbands innocence and persuaded her
to beg the sheriff 10 let Fletcher on.
When wilkins came home be found
Mrs Fletcher nc his house. She told
SO straight a story and begged 80 hard
/ that Wilkins. since be had no power 10
let bis prisoner 80 free. agreed to fur
nish bail for bis appearance IN court
wilkins signed bail bond for $4,000.
and Fletcher was released from jail
I Fletcher disappeared II was evi-
dent that It was his purpose to jump
bis bail, and 70 pay the bond would
I take an wilkins bis home He
heard Of Fletcher's flight a few days
after It occurred, and, setting a watch
on Mrs Fletcher, she and her bus
band were traced 70 q Canadian VII
lage dozen miles beyond the border
Something must be done to save
what little wilkins possessed. Be
sides, the sheriff was very wroth at
having been tricked lie thought over
the different ways BY which the crinii
nal might Be brought buck and deter
mined that he would thy to kidnap
him This be preferred 70 using the
4 process Of extradition, which be con
sidered hopeless.
Wilkins Interested q friend Of his
named Parker. who agreed to help
him. Unfortunately for their plan the
village where Fletcher lived was the
heaquarters Of troop Of mounted po-
lice. TO 40 into town right under
the noses Of these men, capture a man
protected by British law and carry
him twelve miles was risky under
taking.
At nightfall the two men. having
hired the fastest team they could 1nd
crossed The St Lawrence river 81 fer.
~. They agreed to pay the ferryman
a good sum to be 90 the Canadian
bank at the time Of their return and
be ready 70 push or at q moments
notice, They hired another team at a
village midway between the river and
their point q attack. This team was
to be ready and waiting for them Ia
the road on their return
wilkins and Parker drove into the
town where Fletcher lived soon after
bedtime. Fietcher's house had been
located, and. pulling UP before the
door. wilkins alighted and knocked
Presently Fletcher 10 aiehtelothes
opened the door. wilkins cowed BIN
at the point II pistol then threw bis
strong arms around him and literally
carried him. Kicking and struggling. to
the wagon with ropes ready they
bound their prisoner and were driving
Of when Fletehers wife appeared at a
window. screaming loud enough to
wake the whole village. As they dash
"a through the streets sashes were
thrown up and people put out their
heads to see what was the matter.
lights appeared. there were cries 81
stop emm and presently a church bell
began 70 sound an alarm that reused
the police force
BY this time they had reached the
outskirts OF the village and were clat
tering southwark along the turnpike
wilkins kept looking backward. but
could see DO followers until they had
covered mile Then the sound 81
horses hoofs on the stones told him
that the mounted police Ind started On
their pursuit Down came the whip 90
che horses launches. and they nearly
doubled their pace.
For i've miles It was a steady chase
Their team was good one, and the
police were mounted on Indifferent
horses. Nevertheless the latter had
gained little at every milestone
when they drew near the village where
they expected to end their relay team
their pace was considerably diminish
ed Looking ahead. there stood the
team ready beside the road. Their
pursuers were not q quarter Of a mile /
away. Pulling up beside the relay, they
hustled their prisoner from one team
to the other and were Of before their 1
pursuers came UP,
The sergeant OF police, seeing that the I
kidnapers had secured fresh horses, /
sent several Of bis best mounts 70 make |
a dash for them. Wilkins horses,
though fresh, had load to pun, and /
this made an even race. Bullets be- I
gan to whistle past them, but they /
galIoped on. their puFsuers maintain
ing their distance behind them. Then I
bullet pierced one Of the horses.
This looked as though the game was
up. but the animal seemed goaded to /
gallop the faster.
Finally from rise in the ground /
the kidnapers could see the dim out 4
lines OF the river. It was an incline (
straight down to the ferryboat. which !
they could see on the near shore. The
horses had been obliged to walk up the
rise. which had brought their pursuers
dangerously near them. Now wilkins
pushed them down the incline IN spite
ST the danger 81 their stumbling and
falling. the sound horse now dragging
the wounded one Pulling up beside
the ferryboat, they hurried their man
into It, the ferryman pushed off. and
the police appeared on the TOP q the
rsies an stffhFh af a milo nNVuW
When the court met to try Fletcher