The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-07-29

with 1t.
When the sinister envelope was
opened, a large cartridge for "A
caliber revolver fell into Mrs. Mac
Gregor's lap. She recoiled in hor-
ror, and tremblingly opened out
the carefully folded sheet of heavy
wrapping-paper which the envel-
ope contained.
The note, written in an ignorant
hand with mussy lead pencil,
read as follows:
1--WE have kidnap your boy and
we xii him unless you get one hum
dred thousand dollars in hundred
dollar bills and be ready for notice
where to put them. No monkey
bizness now. The bullet means
death and we have more of them
for your boy Cord"
Beneath that was a scrawl in
the same hand which read:
81 am all right, mamma, but
like to be back wit you.
CORD"
The second note bore in addition
a mark which the fearful mother
readily recognized as Geordie's
drawing of a bird, which he had
printed all over his childish pos
sessions.
Throwing down the sheet, Chris
TOPPER Poe ate a hasty breakfast, and
hurried out of the house. When he
was within block or two of the Mac
Gregor mansion, his pace slackened,
and he sauntered slowly, looking about
him like gentleman taking morn
ing walk Outwardly he seemed like
a person perfectly at home in the
neighborhood, and only idly interested
in the MacGregor house. So well did
he play his part that two detectives
lettering in the vicinity took only pass
ing notice of him.
Twice he strolled past the house on
the opposite side of the street, swing
ing a modish Piccadilly stick, and
sauntering leisurely. He stopped to
drop coin in the hat of a black-spec-
tacled blind beggar sitting with crossed
legs on the sidewalk, his back against
the park fence as he drawled out plain
tive tunes on a wheeZy accordion.
Then he crossed the street, and went
up the steps to the MacGregor man
sion. The two watchful detectives
followed quickly, seeming a devel-
opment.
The man was recognized by Andrew,
the butler, who opened the door. A
minute later he was shown into the
living-room, where Mrs. MacGregor
lay on a couch, Rose rubbing her head.
ooh, I'm so glad you came, Mr.. Poe, "
she cried, half rising, and extending a
limp hand.
81 hope / can help" replied Chris
TOPPER Poe. Il have never known the
time when l wouldn't give up the silly
business of banking for an interesting
criminal study, and when l may serve
an old friend the pleasure is doubled.
But must make secret of anything
I may do in that line. The servants
will remember me as an old family
friend. l am to appear here only as
a buffer between you and the outside
world. To everybody but the servants
] am Mr. Hardy"
81 understand You speak so calm
ly. 1t is so encouraging. You think
there is chance to get Geordie back?
1t isn't the money, only the police;
they won't let me meet the terms OF
ransom and am SO afraid something
will happen to"
"The police are quite right. We all
have duty toward each other. If you
accede to the ransom terms, you in
crease the criminals chances against
the law. But don't anticipate much
trouble. Geordie Is somewhere, and
you can be quite sure he is safe from
harm while his abductors have hope of
getting money" He smiled reassur-
ingly. Turning to the nurse, he said
quickly:
II read in the paper this morning,
Miss McDermott, that you vaguely
heard Geordie calling 'Ponto.' Is the
account true, and can you be quite GER
tain it was Geordie's voice?"
'Oh, Ira not at all sure about any
thing, Mr.. Poe" cried the woman,
numb, fixed stare of pain in her faith
full eyes as she raised them fully to
Poe's. II should have awakened.
felt SO sort of strange"
Might the whispered word have
been Pronto?" asked Poe.
Eyes, but / can't see why Geordie
should say that. / never heard the
word, and .Ponto' is the name of his
pony"
And you are not sure that it was
Geordie's voice at all?"
Not at all, sir. 1t is all so hazy.
must have dreamt it"
I'm afraid not. / only wish you
were more sure of the voice"
He turned abruptly to Mrs. Mac
Gregor, who lay back with eyelids
closed quiveringly. She twitched nerv-
ously, and tossed in an endeavor to
find comfort on her couch.
Does that wheeling accordion
I,0fhnr VIZ, 2O asknd Poe az a garhI0d