The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-04-13

Wh1te-headed butyoung-
looking special agent of
WSpWs Bullivants Limited, the
2ll=SS3g great inquiry agency,
!. !. !. !. !. !. ]. !. !.
xNIlIIllR1 Stretching the incep-
HYH ton of the plot as l
IHNYN pieeed 1t together aft
lKsA erWards otherwise
N4IIHIFh you'll never get clear
WIlInNIIW idea Of the cleVerness
lIIlIlInNlIH and cunning shown by
the conspirators.
Il had been over to Paris! on an
other job, and passing through Lon
don on the way back l naturally
looked in at the main works. There
they told me l was just the man
wanted to handle very peculiar
case-the disappearance OF one of our
leading American millionaires"
With this introduction Manley
shipped off the end OF fresh pane
tella, lighted the business end care
fully. and then reeled off the following
story:
Col. Appleton Biddle, bird-of-prey,
financial pirate, and freebooter, was
fiOundering In deep water. Latterly
he had bestowed the distinctive sun
shine of his presence upon the
moneyed circles of London, where he
was ostensibly engaged in an en-
deavor to float sundry and divers
American swindles disguished as cop
per prospects. silver mines and OH
wells.
But Col. Biddle's luck had failed of
late, and he found himself in financial
straits. Not that he was by any
means BROKE" he could still lay
Nevertheless grand coup was es-
sential-a killing" which would en-
able him to retire and live respect
ably thenceforth and forevermore.
Two confederates were needed and
found In the persons of Tom Stoner
and Sam Dragoo, a brace of Ameri-
can sharpers likewise down on their
luck. These worthless Biddle invited
TO quiet dinner on Sunday afternoon
at his little place" which was named
'"The Willows" near Marlow-on-
Thames The dwelling had formerly
been the dover house of a much
larger mansion, a quarter of a mile
away, known as NARROW manor, now
owned by Dandy Dallas, an expatriat-
cd American. In process of time the
smaller place had become sequestrat-
ed from the parent property, and was
now rented separately, though only
Just outside the park wall of the
manor. To his satellites Col Riddle
outlined his plot. In brief, he had
conceived the idea of kidnapping the
neighbor millionaire in his own house
and holding him for a stupendous ran
som!
Some time next week wen turn
the trick" said Col. Biddle, about
Friday or Saturday, according to cir
cumstances. To show you how easy
1T is, remove your shoes and follow
me-" The chief conspirator brought
forth pocket electric lamp, saying:
"You won't need your hats, boys"
At the end of the lower hall he
opened door. which led to the cellar
of the cottage. Proceeding to dis
used wine bin at one end, lighted by
the tiny spark in the torch he car
ned, the colonel pulled aside an empty
crate. seized rusty iron ring in the
floor. and raised wooden trap. There
was disclosed short flight of stone
steps, wet and cleaning with moisture
in the rays of the light.
IL stumbled on this quite accidental
iy." explained the colonel, "and after
a little exploring the idea came pat.
Old country houses over here are
full OF these forgotten things, some Of
'em dating back hundreds OF years.
Mighty handy this must have been
during the good old times to those in
the secret up at the manor yonder--
for that's where it leads to! Come
on, boys-Fll show you!" whispered
Biddle, setting forth at a good pace
into the dark void ahead. They were
in a narrow brick-lined and paved
tunnel, the trend of which was slight
ly downward for about half thou
sand feet; then the ascent began
again, until they came to a narrow
wiDuing stairway of stone, apparently
built into the thickness of some mas
sive wall Three flights of these steps
were traversed; then the leader
stopped before an apparently blank
partition. bit which was really a
cunningly fitted door.
Pointing to this, the colonel whis-
pered, with triumphant CLEAN in his
cold gray eyes:
THAT lets right into the sleeping
room of Dandy Ballast"
Now, when I came into the case
was told to see certain Sir George |
Kensett. who was engaged to marry
Danby's daughter. We met at his
club. and having been put inls pos
session of the main facts was en-
abled to at once proceed with my
questions
"Any developments?" I inquired.
mot morsel." declared Kensett
aisgustedly. Most mysterious thing
you ever heard of. Fancy! Dandy
Dallas, one Of the bcstknown men in
kwo continents. drops completely out