The Raymer enterprise., 1911-03-16

vanishes-bed evidently untouched,
never an article OF clothing or jewel.
ry missing except what he Is known
to have been wearing, the lights
switched of, and not the slightest evi.
dence OF struggle or Of any vio-
lence! That's three days ago. and
we're not a bit wiser now than we
were then. It's a most confounded
mystery. however you look at 1t. Mr..
Dallas hated publicity and scandal
above all things"
thought 1t advisable to look over
the ground in person at NARROW
manor. All over the house went, up.
stairs. downstairs. and in my gentle
mans chamber-the suite occupied by
Dandy Dallas. Result, nil. The trail
was positively and absolutely blind.
save for two curious facts which
might or might not possess any sig
nificance. Dallas desk stood open, its
pigeon-holes crammed with papers
and letters, large cheQuebook in
full view.
I'll have a look at this" said l.,
taking 1t out; "it may give us a
clew."
turned to the last strip OF used
stubs-there were five to a page-and
noted the number. The next series OF
five stubs were completely blank. but
all the correspordingly numbered
cheques were missing.
That's queer" | thought. The
other item consisted in the half.con.
sumed stub Of a fat black cigar rested
on corner Of the mantel, which /
carefully scrutinized, and then quiet.
ly confscated.
What do you think about It all?"
kensett inquired, as We stood on the
terrace after their tour.
One of two things is certain" an.
swered. Either Mr.. Dallas walked
out OF the house of his own accord,
and has left the neighborhood for
some particular private reason, desir-
Ing his whereabouts to remain un.
known: or else he had been lured
away or abducted, and Is being for.
chilly detained for some nefarious OBJ.
ject!"
He'd never do such thing" ex-
claimed kensett 1T must be the 9TH
er thing-he's been kidnapped But
how, and by whom"
That's what propose to find out"
was my answer. Those missing
cheques. with no stub entries, look
suspicious to me-your prospective ia
ther.in'law was most methodical
man. 1t may spell blackmail But
II the man is on earth-and he caht
be very far away-I'll fnd him"
Now here is what actually happened
when Col. Biddle's pretty plot was
ripe:
Dandy Dallas was enjoying before
bedtime cigar on divan in his large
and softly'lighted sleeping apartment
The clock in the stable turret had just
chimed the three-quarters after II.
Presumably all the household were In
their little beds. Suddenly the mil.
lionaire rose on one elbow, and turned
his head. He had been aroused by a
sudden draft Of cold and damp air
which invaded the pleasant warmth of
the room. and sent the smoke.wreaths
from his cigar whirling ceilingward.
And this Is what he saw: Beside his
bed, the usual smooth and fawless ex-
panse OF polished old ok paneling
reaching from floor to frieze had given
.pkaSe to yawning black cavity the
lEt9e OF an ordinary doorway. In this
aperture stood three men, the fore
most OF whom had him covered with
very business.like revolver of the
most approved pattern. The two fel.
lows in the background were similarly
armed.
Hands up" commanded the leader
in the smoothest and silkiest OF voices,
half.consumed cigar poised between
the left thumb and forefnger, as Dal.
las sprung to his feet In amazement.
Hands up. Mr.. Dallas! I've got
you covered" Every American knows
the meaning OF those two magic
words His hands few above his
shoulders, all ten digits extended.
, What does this intrusion mean?"
sputtered the astonshed millionaire.
4"
Silence, II you please" commanded
our friend. Col. Biddle. "Busines.
first; talk later" Then stepping
asldesthe mNioned his confederates
forwk$d, saying: -
Tile him up. boys" Stoner and
Dragoo came into the room, produced
a cowboys larlat, with which they
pr6cesded to deftly and scientifically
truse their victim by the ankles. el'
bows and wrists.
Gag HIM" ordered Blddle, whereat
a folded silk handkerchief was secure.
ly tied over the Dallas mouth. Then
chair was placed behind the now
helpless man. and he was gently but
firmly pushed into sitting posture.
80! All neat and shlpshape," com.
mented Biddle. as he slipped the re.
volyer into his hippocket, deposited
his cigar on one corner Of the mantle.
piece. and drew up a'second chair. in
which he seated himself close to the
prisoner Speaking very quickly, but
none the less distinctly. he said:
NOV. Mr. Dallas we are going to