The evening world., 1914-02-18
Nt HESkETH PRlCHAROM

at last he spoke, the othsr fell dumb,
as II Joe had struck him.
That's settled. Mr.. PLANK. You've
done with me, and Two done with
you. Now, quiet down and OUT"
Plank opened his lips as II to speak.
hut, seeing Joe's face. he changed
his mind and rushed from us into
the darkness.
At once joe put out the light. I'VE
can't trust Plank Just ut tho moment.
He's fair mad. But we'll have him
back In half an hour TO show him the
way to Wilshere's." he remarked with
q chuckle.
And in fact this was exactly what
happened. Ii was o Subduod but still
a very resentful PLANK whom We
escorted through the dark woods. On
our way back to our camp Joe made
a dctour to examine the tracks OF tho
kidnappers by tho light Of tho lantern
which he had carried with HIM.
A. had been the case by Moose.
shank Lake. 10 now We found the
trails very clear near the waterside.
ZOO studied them for Q long time.
what do you make OF themT'
asked he. at last.
"Moccasins-there arc tho foot
prints Of one of tho same men a. wo
saw before. ] think" I answered.
:Weii. you're out Of it now At any
rate" said I.
and what about my promise TO
Calvey?" he reioinsd. I'm dseper In
It than ever. I've got to md Miss
Virginny sure"
"You can't track her because Of
that threat In tho letter to Plank"
THAT'S no. and have another rea-
son aRtn' It,"
what 10 tt?"
"That I'll he speaking to Miss Vir.
ginny herself before Tomorrow
night" said Joe quietly. nor. having
The next morning Joe was early
astir.
What are you going to do to-
I'm going TO md out the name OF
the man that has Miss Virginny hid
away. II you'll wait here. Mr.. Qua
rltch, I'll come back a. soon as I've
done II. You've got your rod and
there's plenty Of fish In the lake."
With that I had to be content.
Through the pleasant morning hours
I fshed, but my mind was not on
the sport. Instead, I was pushing
over the facts OF tho disappoarancs
Of Miss Virginia PLANK. Before start.
ing, Joe had laid bet with mo that
hs would como back with the name
Of her abductor. and was wonder
ing what clue he had to 90 upon.
Hardly any that could think of--ths
trail Of tho two men and the golden
hair, very little more. Yet November
had committed himself In tho matter,
and he was not a man to talk until
he could make good bis words.
must own the hours passed very
slowly while the sun reached ana
then began TO decline from the senith.
About 2 o'clock I heard November
hail me.
What about the bet"" ] called on
sight OF him. who pays?"
"You pay. Mr.. Quaritch." said Joe.
why. who 10 II. then7"
"A fellow called Hank Harper.
"Why, I've heard OF him. He passes
for man Of high character"
Joe laughed. IAN the same. he's
the chap who done H." said he. II
expect he's got her up at his cabin on
Otter Brook"
Look here. November" said.
you tell me Hank Harper 10 In tho
kidnapping business. and ] believe
you. because I've never known you
TO speak without solid facts behind
you; but ] think you owe me tho
whole yarn"
Joe pulled out his pipe. IAN right.
Mr.. Quaritch. We've some time to put
In. anyway. before we need start 10
20 10 Harper's. and III spend the time
in showing you how III on Hank. To
begin at the beginning. There are
two Of them. Ones this man Harper.
] don't know who the other In. and 1t
don't much matter. II We ind Harper
we find his partner
well. Miss VirGinny was fishing
when they stole down upon her and
carried her OF. I've already told you
what happened until they took 10 the
canoe. They padded across the lake
ana the two men got out. leaving
Miss Virginny in the canoe 10 paddle
herself round and land elsewhere"
But surely she could have e.
capped" ! cried.
"She was under their rthes. and
had to do exactly what she was or
dsred. found where she'd landed.
and followed her tracks 20 that little
waterfall stream. and It was there