The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-03-24

1NillHIIlIR idea of the cleverness
MIMI and cunning shown by
eRi13R the conspirators.
i 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 was just the man
wanted to handle a very peculiar
case-the disappearance of one of our
leading American millionaires."
With this Introduction Manley
shipped off the end of a 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
floundering In deep water. I,atterly
he had bestowed the distinctive sum
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 OF,
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
hands on a few thousand dollars
Nevertheless a grand coup was es-
sential-a killing" which would en-.
able him to retire and live respect
ably thenceforth and forevermore.
Two coufederates 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 a quiet dinner on Sunday afternoon
at his little place" which was named
1.-THE Willows" near Marlow-on.
Thames. The dwelling had formerly
been the dover house of a much
larger mansion, 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. Biddle
outlined his plot. In brief, he had
conceived the idea of kidnapping the
neighbor millionaire in his own house
and holding him for stupendous ran
som!
Some time next week we'll turn
the trick" said Col. Biddle, about
Friday or Saturday, according to cir
cumstances. To show you how easy
It 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 a dis
used wine bin at one end, lighted by
the tiny spark in the torch he car
ried, the colonel pulled aside an empty
crate, seized rusty iron ring In the
floor. and raised a wooden trap. There
was disclosed short flight of stone
steps, wet and cleaning with moisture
IN the rays Of the light.
II stumbled on this quite accidental
~ explained the colonel, land after
! little exploring the idea came pat
Old country houses over here are
,ull Of these forgotten things, some Of
EN- dating back hundreds of years.
Mighty handy this must have been
Turing the good old times to those In
he secret up at the manor yonder--
'or that's where it leads to! Come
On, boys-Ill show you!" whispered
Biddle, setting forth at good pace
INTO the dark void ahead. They were
n a narrow brick-lined and paved |
unnel. the trend Of which was slight
Y downward for about half thou
,and feet; then the ascent began |
again, until they came to narrow
ylnan.g stairway Of stone, apparently
,uilt into the thickness of some mas
i've wall Three flights Of these steps
we're traversed: then the leader
stopped before an apparently blank
partition. but which was really
fitted door.
Pointing to this, the colonel Whis-
,ered with q triumphant CLEAN in his
:old gray eyes:
THAT lets right into the sleeping
DOM of Dandy Dallas!"
Now when came into the case |
vas told to see certain Sir George
zensett who was engaged to marry
1anhy,s daughter. We met at his
.lub and having been put into pos
ession at the main facts was en-.
,bled to at once proceed with my
luestions.
ANY developments" ! inquired.
"Not q morsel!" declared Kenyett
|,ssustedly. most mysterious thing
,ou ever heard Of. Fancy! Dandy
DALLAS. one Of the best.known men IN
wo continents. drops completely out