The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-11-28
Ihts 1913. by
 Heakem PdGhard


 ----------~----~>@-~---~ masks, with fringe covering the ulo1lgl.. noticed they were shod in mocca~ sins.
 ..Evenin',. said the tau man. who vas throughout the spokesman. .'hEy partner and me is come to make you an offer, Mir. Plank We've got your daughter where you'u never ind her where you'd never dream of looking for her,
 Don't be too sure of that" grOW4ed Plank.
 If we agree on bargain she shalI be returned to you unhurt three day8 from the time the price Is paid oyer. and that price is $1OO.O00.
 Those are our terms. The question for you is do you want your daughter or do you not
 The next incident was as swift a8 sf was unexpected.
 sI conjecture that is something of an easy question to answer" said Plank 1n his SsIow tones. tsIn fact, r.
 On the word he slipped out . re- volver. But quick as was Planxas hand to carry out the inapulse of hIs brain, Joe's was quicker. He knocked the revolver from PIanxss grasp.
  the kidnaper s'Is that how you keen tafth2 We'll we have reply to that too. We offered to give mp the gil for $1O0O00, now we make the pracs $150OO0y'
 srn never pay cent or itg' shouted PIanx
 s'When you come to change your mind," replied the kidnaper quietly, "just hang q white Handkerchief on one of the trees at the edge of thig wood. Then put the naoney in notes iu that tin on the shelf Leave us two clear days and you'n get your girl beck safe. But if you monkey it will be the worse for her.
 without more words the two u1asfzsd men left the hut, and, like the eoSpla- sion of a thunderstorm, Plank oPened upon Joe.
 November faced the storm with an entirely placid aspect until began ts wonder at his patience. But when Rt last he spoke the other fell dumb as ie Joe had struck him.
 taThat's settled Mr Plaaz YOQsVo done with nae and I've done with yen. Now quiet down and out!''
 Plank opened his lips as if to sps, but, seeing Joe's face, he changed hig mind and rushed from us into the darkness
 At once Joe put ont the light. tsWe can't trust Plank just at the moment. He's fair mad, but we'll have him back in half an hour to show him the way back to WiIshere's,'' z he remarked with 9 chuckle. ! And in fact this was exactly what happened. It was a subdued but stilI 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 laHterH which he had carried with him.
 As had been the case by MeGseshRule lake, so now we found the trails VsrV clear near the waterside. Joe studleo them for a long time. [ teWen, you're out of it now, at any rate" said I.
 4And what about my promise ts CalveyT' he rejoined. ~I'm deeper ia 1t than ever. I've got to find Miss YiF- ginny sure"
 esYou can't track her because of Chat threat in the letter to PIanxy'
 That's so, but I'll be speaking t0 Miss virginny before tomorrow night, 9 said Joe quietly, nor. having made this dramatic announcement, would he say more.
 The next morning Joe was eatiy astir.
 .What are you going to do todaygg said l.
 esPm going to find out the name oE the man that has Miss Virginny hid away. If you'll wait here. MT. Guar 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 I had to be content. Be fore starting Joe had laid bet with me that he would come back with ths name-of her abductor, and I was wons derfng what c1ew he had to go upon Hardly any that could think of-ths trail of the two men and the golden hair, very little more.
 About 2 o'clock heard November hail me.
 What about the bet2' I called on sightsof him. f'Who pays?"
 ''You pay, MT. Quaritch." said Joe.
 'fWhy, who is it, then ?"
 'ttA fellow called Hank Harper
 ''Why, I've heard of him. He paas- es for a rnan of high character
 (To Be ContInued.l 
 Let Us Fill Your FeFnery
 IAesA kxE6sK 8 GfRA