Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-13
An
Abduction
It Proved a Quicker Proc.
ess Than Extradition
By HELOISE BRAYTON

ssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Evelyn Wheaton lost her mother
when Evelyn was a baby, and her ia,
ther died when she was seventeen.
She was heir to large fortune, and
everybody knows that rich minor
without q natural protector Is an OBJ
ject of plunder on the part Of all un.
scrupulOus persons. Mr.. Wheaton had
| placed great confidence In one Peter
Whitbeck and his wife, Mary, and.
knowing that his days were number
ed, made will appointing the Whit
becks Evelyns guardians with the
management Of her property till she
should become twenty-One years old.
Mrs. Whitbeck was covetous wom-
an. 1t is quite probable that If 1t had
not been for her the incidents contain
ed in this story would not have taken
place. Wheaton's confidence In Peter
Whitbeck's Integrity might have been
| justified had not the latter fallen un-
der the influence Of his wife. AS 1t
was, no sooner had Wheaton passed
away than Mrs. Whitbeck began to
plot to get possession Of Evelyn's for
tune. The will gave her every oppor-
tunity. inasmuch as in addition to CIV
ing her husband the care Of the estate
it gave her the care Of Evelyn herself.
| for by its terms the heiress was to live
with the Whitbecks till she attained
her majority.
The residence Of these persons was
in Vermont. At the time Of her fa-
ther's death Evelyn was attending
school at Northampton, Mass, and de-
sired to finish the academic year there.
To this the Whitbecks made no objec-
ton. Mrs. Whitbeck was anxious to
get her bearings as to the will and
study out the best way Of getting the
fortune or as much Of 1t as possible
into her possession.
But, though Evelyn had but few
months left at school. that happened
which later gave her champion. She
met Arthur Pendleton, then law stu
dent, and the two became engaged.
Pendleton was not looking for for
tune by marriage. Indeed, he did not
know that Evelyn had any property
until some time after she had returned
to her home and written him concerning
some suspicious she had gathered as
to the disposition Of 1t by her guard
ian. From certain moves made by the
Whitbecks which Evelyn could not un-
derstand 1t was evident to Pendleton
that something was wrong with the
administration Of the estate
Evelyn had not been intimate with
the Whitbecks before her fathers
death and was not disposed to CON-
municate the fact Of her engagement
to them. At any rate. she put 1t Off
from time to time But certain well
filed envelopes coming to the home
addressed in Il mans hand made Mrs.
the paste on one Of them, she read
the inclosure to learn that Pendleton
was explaining to Evelyn that from
information she had given him he was
sure her guardian was acting contrary
to law.
Mrs Whitbeck resealed the envelope
and returned it as she had found 1t to
Evelyn. The former was In frequent
consultation with David Miller, law
yer who gave his services on prom
ise Of being well paid In case he could
secure the property for her without
subjecting her to criminal procedure.
After opening Evelyn's letter she went
to this attorney and told him what
Pendleton had said. Miller advised
her to change her residence to Can
uda. This would be advantageous In
case her husband or she should be
proceeded against criminally, and 1t
would also be Of benefit in enabling
her to keep possession Of Evelyn her.
self, for 1t might In time be necessary
for them to take the ground that the
heiress was incapable Of managing
her property.
When it was announced to Evelyn
that Mr.. Whitbeck's affairs needed n
change Of residence to Canada, and
that the removal was to be made at
once, she was appalled,. She refused
to 20, but was informed that by the
terms of her fathers will she must
live with the Whitbecks until she at
tanned her majority. This and the
fact that she had no other home won
her over.
The Whitbecks took up their resi-
dence In a small town not far north
Of the boundary line between the
United States and Canada. 1t was
not long before Evelyn learned that
they were giving out reports that she
had been acting queerly. She deter
mined to leave them at once and with
out communicating her design. made
her preparations for flight. But Mrs.
Whitbeck, who was watching her, sus-
pected her intention and. searching
her room, discovered concealed suit
case containing such articles as one
would need on a journey.
The town in which these persons
lived was in the province Of Ontario,
some ten miles from the northern limit
Of New York. 1t had been chosen by
the Whitbecks because 1t was the head.
quarters of a body Of the mounted
Canadian police, and should Evelyn at
tempt to escape them this force would
be available to prevent her doing so.
When Mrs. Whitbeck learned Of Eve
lyn's intended flight she notified the
police that the girl had shown symp-
toms Of insanity and she feared might
attempt to take her life. II they saw
her making for the st. Lawrence river,
which was but a mile or two distant.
they were to bring her back. The con-
sequence was that Evelyn had not got
out Of town before policeman stop
ped her and, not needing her protest,
took her to Mrs. Whitbeck, who. with
show of great concern and tender
ness, took her In and locked her up.
The villainy of the game that was
being played was now apparent to
Evelyn, and she was filed with con-
sternation. That which she most
dreaded was being put In a lunadc
asylum and kept there while her guard
knI hnr