The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-11-30
GnAPTER u.

"come in. dear Jce.r
- Or visitors hesitated outside the
door There are only two OF
them.- whispered PLANK.
As he spoke short. bearded
man In u thick overcOat stepped into the
light followed By a tall and strongly
built companion. Both wore black visor
masks. with fringe covering the mouth
l noticed they were shod IN mecca
sins
.Evenin.r said the tall man. who
was throughout the spokesman MY
partner and me IL come to make you
an offer. Mr.. PLANK. We've got your
daughter where you'll never lind her.
where you'd never dream OF looking
for her
Don't be too sure of that" growIed
PLANK.
IF we agree on bargain she shall
be returned to you unhurt three days
from the time the price Is paid over.
and that price is 100000.
Those are our terms The question.
for you Is do you want your daughter
or do you not?"
The next incident was as swift as 1t
was unexpected
Il conjecture that Is something Of an
easy question to answer" said PLANK
IN his slow tones. "In fact, H.
On the word he slipped out a re-
volver. But quick as was Planx's
hand to carry out the impulse Of his
brain. Joe's was quicker. He knocked
the revolver from Planx's grasp.
you treacherous dog. Plank cried
the kidnaper. us that how you keep
faith? Well. we have reply to that
too. We offered to give up the girl
for 100000. now we make the price
$15oOo0r.
"I'll never pay a cent of it.'' shouted
PLANK.
when you come to change your
mind" replied the kidnaper quietly.
.'just hang white handkerchief on
one of the trees at the edge Of this
wood. Then put the money in notes in
that tin on the shelf Leave us two
clear DAYS and you'll get your girl back
safe. But If you monkey it will be the
worse for her"
Without more words the two masked
men left the hut. and. like the explo-
sion OF a thunderstorm. PLANK opened
upon Joe.
November faced the storm will an
entirely placid aspect until began to
wonder at his patience. But wheii at
last he spoke the other fell dumb as If
Joe had struck him.
.sThat's settled. Mr.. PLANK. You've
d0le with me and I've done with yen.
Now quiet down and out"
PLANK opened his lips as ii to speak.
but. seeing ices face. he changed his
mind and rnshed from us into thp
darkness
AT once Joe put out the light. we
can't trust PLANK just at the moment
He's fair mad. but Vel have him back
in half an hour to show him the way
back to Wilshere's.' he remarked with
chuckle.
And in fact this was exactly what
happened. 1t was subdued but still
a very resentful PLANK whom we es-
corted through the dark woods. On
our way back to our camp Joe made
a detour to examine the tracks Of the
kidnapers by the light of the lantern
| which he had carried with him.
As had been the case by Mooses hank
! lake, so now we found the trails very
clear near the waterside. Joe studied
them for a long time.
We'll. you're out of it now, at any
! rate" said l.
And what about my promise to
CaIvey?" be rejoined- I'm deeper in
1t than ever. I've got to find Miss vir
| ginny sure"
You can't track her because of that
| threat in the letter to PlanxY
That's so. but I'll be speaking to
Miss Yirginny before tomorrow night"
said Joe quietly. nor. having made this
| dramatic announcement. would he say
more.
The next morning Joe was early
astir
What are you going to do today p
said L
I'm going to find out the name OF
the man that has Miss Virginny hid
away. II you'll wait here, Mr.. Quar-
itch. I'll come back as soon as I've
done It You've got your rod and
there's plenty OF fish in the lake"
With that l had to be content Be
fore starting Joe had laid bet with
me that he would come back with the
name OF her abductor. and was won
dering what clew he had to 60 upon
Hardly any that ! could think of-the
trail Of the two men and the COLDER
hair. very little more.
About O'Clock heard Novembel
| hafI mo