Tombstone epitaph., 1915-08-08

 3urns. said Christopher Poe one Sun lay. as he was leaving his brothe 'anker after dining with him.
 You'll be lucky if you get one. ol' nan. You've had no less than a dozel ough things to work out in the pas our months," answered Burns. ant most of them came when you were try ng to get away for a vacation"
 oh, I'll fool them this time Tn yoing to get away to New Orleans thii week, and if l can't get a rest ther, I'm going abroad"
 Il hope you succeed" smiled Burns You've certainly earned a day of. Bu lon't get too far from New York W, night need you"
 That evening Poe superintended th' lacking of his white flannels and light st clothes. But, in spite of his inten ion, the following in the morning pa Ter compelled him to instantly chang, lis plans:
 Between one and two o'clock this morning. as near as can be as- certained, Geordie MacGregor was stolen from his ivory inlaid bed which stood next to the one his mother was occupying at the time.
 Mrs. MacGregor herself missed the boy, and telephoned the po- lice at two o'clock this morning.
 Mrs. MacGregor. suffering with hay-fever. had slept but ftfully since retiring with her son at nine o'clock last evening At one o'clock she noted her son was sleeping sweetly and sound.
 At two o'clock her asthmatic trouble again awakened her. She arose from bed to get a fresh handkerchief from her bureau. In doing so she passed Geordie's bed, and found it empty.
 As her four-year-old son was not in the habit of rising during the night, she few into great alarm. and hurried into the small room adjoining. where Rose McDermott. Geordie's old nurse, slept The nurse was on her feet almost the moment her mistress passed through the open doorway be- tween their rooms.
 Its Geordie!" she cried.
 Yes. Where is he?" Mrs. Mac Gregor turned on a light above the faithful old nurses head. and f.k s,, density.
 T thought I heard something" cried the nurse.
 Tell me. Rose, what?"
 'T was just uneasy. I thought l heard Geordie whisper for his horse, Ponto: I'm sure l heard the word" cried Rose.
 She rushed at once to the but ler's quarters.
 Since Brian MacGregor. the Mad Millionaire, finished his life as a raying maniac in the padded cell he had built as a chess-room in the top turret of the house. the serv- ants have been given all the rooms on the third floor. Andrew was awakened from a sound sleep, and hurried back with Rose at once. All lights were turned or. the four other servants called from their quarters in the basement. and a general search was instituted
 The strangest part of the case Is that nothing was found out of or der. Not a window was unlatched. Not a door had been tempered with. The police came, and un- hesitatingly called it an inside job. The servants are now all un- der suspicion, though old Rose is thought to be innocent.
 Of course. particular significance should be attached to the fact that Geordie MacGregor is the richest boy in the world, and it would be quite worth the while of any man to prepare an elaborate scheme and steal the boy. It is hardly thought, however. that if the usual method of Kidnapping is employed the criminals will be able to con ceal their victim, for with the mass of money Mrs. MacGregor has at her command she will be able to put every detective in New York city on the case.
 A slight shiver ran through Chris opher Poe as he looked at the accom- ,anying Illustrations of the MacGreg 1T mansion; that grim, mysterious old tone pile, sprawling amply on Fffti venue. across from the park, in thu sixties" He shuddered on seeing ; ,icture of little Geordie in gold bro .ade walkjsgeuit, and another O seordie in his inlaid ivory crib. Ther' were photographs, too. Of the oeauti uI Mrs. MacGregor and Geordie's mat ancestors, who Poe had known inti Even the stern face of thu i'd family butler appeared in uncon ,ronising print
 Sending out his man for later pa ,ers, the banker dressed, called up -xilroad office to ccuntermand a reser ration for New Orleans, and. when thu ,apers arrived. eagerly read the lates .eport. spread across the top half O he paper in high headlines:
 M'GREGOR BOY SIGNS NOTE
 TO MOTHER.
 At seven o'clock this morning ore of the maids of the MacGreg5r househoId was sweeping the front porch when . thick square en- yeyope bearing on the outside a
 hnnns faIt