Putnam patriot., 1914-01-30

Ig eertain-Why, didn't ] ma JOhnr pipe under the table, where it hao rolled. and the thieves didn't notice it when they removed his things. o, can't yon belp me2 He has been Kidnapped, perhaps murdered, and I am alone
 The tears came into her eyes again.
 "Now. now. Mrs. Gray, said the consul soothingly. pray don't distress yourself. I am going to probe this mystery to the bottom. I-'
 He broke of as the sounds of a yio- lent struggle came from the adjacent room, and a moment later the lltlAe clerk appeared at the door.
 eMr. Sicheli Help!" he shouted tThere ic a crazed assassin wants to enter"
 He disappeared suddenly, and the sound Of the struggle was renewed An instant afterward the door burst open and there appeared wild-look- ing figure attired in a silk hat and pair of pajamas. to which latter the clerk clung desperately.
 With a cry Of rapture Doris Gray ran to the apparitiOn and. laying her head upon it's shoulder, sobbed from joy.
 "Johni Oh. Jthn, it's youi" she wept
 eIt's all right, Monsieur Jean. You can go now said the consul to his secretary. Perhaps l can offer you a suit of clothes" he continued to MT. Gray.
 "Thanksi Thanksl" panted the ap- partition. q had an oyercoat-tcok 1t from the jailer-but l lest 1t en route here. knew they wouldn't dare to follow me inside this office. over which floats the American eagle"
 "Johnl What happened?"
 Why" said John, more calmly, T hadn't got as far as the drug store before two men came up behind mo. pushed me inside, gagged me, tied me. opened the door again, and pushed me Into a cab that was waiting. It was all done so quickly that nobody saw anything except the drug store clerk. Then they put me down at the door Of d sort of big jail whisked me inside, and flung me into a private bedroom with barred windows. I lay there all night, except when the doctor came to feel my pulse. He tried to take my temperature too. but ] broke the ther- mometer. Tn the morning looked out and the first thing 1 saw was the Stars and Stripes floating from this build ing. l knew where I was then, so when the jailer, or whoever he was, came in, l got him into a corner, knocked him down, took his overcoat- they'd taken all my clothes away-and made for the door. Luckily it was un- locked, and so. after knocking down a couple of watchmen I reached you"
 Can such things be in a civilized eountry!" exclaimed Doris. MT. Sichel, you must cable to Washington at once. You must present an ultimatum to the Dutch government for MT. Gray's clothes and cane All In the con- spiracy; drug clerk, police, hotelkeep- CT, clerk, matron, housekeeper maids what does it mean? Is this nation of lunatics?"
 The consul elapped his hand to his forehead.
 T have itia he exclaimed delighted ly. You came from Zurieh2 Your bag gage was labeled zurich?"
 Yes. Welt-?"
 Wasn't there cholera at Zurich when you left?'
 That's why we left in a hurry. But"
 "This is the exposition year. A case of cholera in Maasdorf would ruin the show, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. You complained of head ache. Mr Gray The Dutch are a com mereial nation. Don't you see?"
 You mean they fixed all that be- tween them while Mir Gray was being Mdnaped?" inquired the girl.
 Not Kidnapped" said the consul. Why, that was only the quarantine station for this district No doubt the doctors know by now that Mir. Gray hasn't the cholera. Now If you take my advice"
 "A package for a Mir Gray, sir" said the clerk. entering. and Mrs. Gray opened 1t.
 "John!" she exclaimed. Your suit Your hat. Your shirt and collar. fresh from the laundry. Your shoes pol ished! And what's this?" she contin- ued, holding up a glittering baubla
 Why. that" said My. Sichel, that's the Order of the Blue Eagle. first class. given only to Hollands most distinguished men,"
 They must have telegraphed to The Hague!" said Doris Gray in awe.
 "Ah, well, the Dutch get in some quick work sometimes" said Mr. Sichel. You may dress in here. Mr. Gray. Good luck to you both. No, I'd let the matter drop and go back to your hotel Monsieur Jean!"
 "A gentleman's waiting to see you, sir. He says he is a college friend of yours and has been robbed"
 "Ahl Tell him I've just gone out of town for month" said the consul And say, Monsieur Jeanl I'm not see ing any more ladies this morning un- less Oh. we'll. send them all in. It's part of the days job"
 Copyright. 1918 by W. C. Chapman1
 Two women have filed petitions for aldermen in Chicago.
 Fire destroyed part of the exposi-