Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-12-08
By HESKETH PRICHARD.

for Joe to work any longer. We crossed
the lake with PLANK, and that night Joe
and I camped near the end Of Moose
shank lake, where a stream flowed
from it,
At dawn, while we were having
breakfast, Joe stood up and stared into
the trees that grew thick behind us. AS
he called out looked back and saw the
indistinct figure Of man in. their
shadow watching us. He beckoned, and
we approached him. l saw he was
young, with a pale face and rather
shabby town made clothes.
Don't you remember Walter Calvey,
November" he said. holding out his
hand. Il was with you and Mr.. PLANK
and-and-her last year in the woods.
Huh, yes, and what are you doing
here, Mr.. Calvey?" asked Joe, shaking
hands.
"I heard about Virginia. How could
1 keep away after that?" exclaimed
Calvey.
you've no cause to fret yet" said
Joe.
What? When they've killed her! I'll
go with you and If we can find those
Huh! She's not dead! Take my word
for it," Joes gray eyes gave me a
roguish look. why, I've got a thing
here in my pocketbook you'd give me
500 fort" He held the red gold hair
Nf icir
Calvey shook from head to foot.
"Virginias! You couldn't find its
match in Canada! Tell me-
Il can't wait to tell you and you
can't wait to hear. Light out now. Old
man PLANK could make it unhealthy for
you"
You're right! He hates me because
Virginia won't marry Schelperg of the
combine. He hasn't let us meet for
months. And more than that, he's
ruined me and my partner in business.
1t was easy for rich man to do that,
added Calvey bitterly.
"You go and start into business
again." advised Joe. "I'll send you
word first thing I know for certain" +"
But it was some time before he
could induce Calvey to leave us.
after he had gone I wondered wheth-
er Joe suspected him of having a
hand in spiriting away Virginia.
Presently asked him.
Joe shook his head. He couldn't
have done it If he wanted to. He's a
good young chap, but look at his
boots and his clothes-he was bred
on a pavement, but he's Miss Vir-
ginny's choice for all that. Well
start now, Mr.. Quaritch, just where
I found that bit of gold caught In a
branch that hangs over the little
stream up above there. You see, she
lost her hat, and she has a splendid
lot of hair. and so when I could find
no tracks. for they came down the
bed Of the stream, I searched bout
as high as her head. I guessed
she'd be liable to catch her hair in
a branch"
But we had hardly started when
we heard the voice of Plank roaring
in the woods below us. He was
coming along at an extraordinary
pace in spite Of his ungainly, rolling
stride.
"You were right, Joe; Virginia is
alive! 1t is a case Of abduction. See
what l have here"
He held a long stick or wand In
his hand. The top Of the wand was
roughly split, and a scrap Of paper
stuck in the cleft.
Eds just found this in the ca
noe on the lake." he went on. These
blackguards must have come back
in the night and put it there"
What have they said in the pa
per-" asked November.
"'You must pay to get your daugh-
ter back. If you want our terms,
come to the old log camp on Black
lake tomorrow night. No tricks. We
have you rounded up sure. Don't
try to track us or we will make it
bad for her."
Joe touched the ends of the wand.
Green spruce wood, cut near their
camp" said he.
There's plenty Of spruce like
that right here" objected Plank;
"why do you say it was cut near their
camp?"
Its cut and split with heavy ak,
such as no man ever carries about
with him. Well, we'd best do no
more tracking till we see the chaps
that has Miss Virginny. It's Black
lake tonight. them"
On the way Plank made known to
us his plan of campaign. 1t was a
simple one. He would get the men
into the hut and speak them fair. til
a favorable moment presented itself,
when he would demand the surren-
der of his daughter under threat OF
shooting the kidnappers if they re-
fused or demurred.
There are three Of us, and we can
fix them easy" said Plank
November Joe shook his head
They're not near such big fools as
you think them," he remarked.
We had stopped on some high
ground in the shelter of the woods
from which we could see the fishing
hut. Joe vanished with his silent
Indian-like glide, his movements as
inaudible as those of a ghost. In
about five minutes a light suddenly
sprang up in the hut, and Joe's voice
called us.
AS we entered the door I saw Joe
was pointing to a piece of paper
which lay on the rough hewn table.
THE same writing as before. Listen
Listen to this: If you will swear to
give us safe conduct we will come to
talk it out. If you agree to this
wave the lantern three times on the
lake shore, and that will mean you
give your oath to let us come and &c
freely"
II told you they were not fools,
said Joe. whats the orders now
Mr.. Plank"
1@., ,A1t.