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

1
ing the slightest trace! Goes to his
room at IL p. m, and some time be-
tween that and the next morning he
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 off, and not the slightest evil
dence of a struggle or of any VIC
| 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 it! Mr..
Dallas hated publicity and scandal
above all things"
l thought it 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 look at this" said l,
taking it out; sit 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 correspondingly numbered
cheques were missing!
That's queer" l thought. The
other item consisted in the half-con-
sumed stub of fat black cigar rested
ON a corner of the mantel, which i
carefully scrutinized, and then quiet
ly conflscated.
What do you think about 1t all?"
Kensett inquired, as we stood on the
terrace after their tour.
"One of two things is certain" I 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 I'M
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 l 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
If the man is on earth-and he can't
be very far away-I'll find him"
Now here is what actually happened
when Col. Biddle's pretty plot was
ripe:
Dandy Dallas was enjoying a before
bedtime cigar on a divan in his large
and softly-lighted sleeping apartment.
The clock in the stable turret had just
chimed the three-quarters after IL.
Presumably all the household were in
their little beds. Suddenly the mil
lionaire rose on one elbow, and turned
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 flawless ex-
panse of polished old oak paneling
reaching from floor to frieze had given |
place to yawning black cavity the |
size of an ordinary doorway. In this |
opnYfura Ctond fhrno man tho fOrn-
most of whom had him covered with |
a very business-like revolver of the
most approved pattern. The two fell |
lows in the background were similarly |
armed.
Hands up!" commanded the leader |
in the smoothest and silkiest of voices, |
a halfconsumed cigar poised between |
the left thumb and forefnger, as Dali |
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 flew above his |
shoulders, all ten digits extended.
What does this intrusion mean?"
sputtered the astonished millionaire, |
e"
Silence, If you please" commanded
our friend, Col. Biddle. Business
first; talk later" Then, stepping !
aside, he motioned his confederates
forward. saying:
Tie him up, boys!" Stoner and
Dragoo came into the room, produced
a cowboys lariat, with which they |
proceeded to deity and scientifically |
truse their victim by the ankles, ell
bows and wrists.
Gag him!" ordered Biddle, whereat
a folded silk handkerchief was secure
ly tied over the Dallas mouth. Then
a chair was placed behind the now
helpless man, and he was gently but
firmly pushed into a sitting posture.
so! All neat and shipshape," COM
mented. Biddle, as he slipped the re-
volver into his hip-pocket. deposited
his cigar on one corner of the mantle
piece, and drew up second chair, in
which he seated himself close to the
prisoner. Speaking very quickly, but
none the less distinctly, he said:
Now, Mr.. Dallas. we are going to
take you with us. No matter where
to or why--youl learn all about that
------------------