Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-01-26
PLANK paused and presently condn-

PLANK paused and presently condn,
aed:
I'VE went round the lake and found
On the far side the spot where they had
beached the canoe. Leading up into
the woods from that point, we again
struck the trail Of the two men, but
my daughter was no longer with them.
When they left the canoe they were
going light They must have drowned
her In the lake. It's clear enough.
Presently l saw something floating on
the water. 1t was her hat"
Had Miss yirginny any jewelry on
herr" asked joe
"a watch and necklace"
"What value?"
"Seven or eight hundred dollars"
"Huh," said November renectively.
"And what did you do after finding her
hatT
I'VE trailed the two villains until
they got on to some rocky ground. 1t
was too dark then to do more, 80 we
returned. Five thousand dollars II you
lay hands on them," he said.
By the river the traces were so plain
that any one could read them-the
slender feet Of the victim and the
larger footprints Of the two men. The
fishing rod. snapped of toward the top
Of the middle Joint, had been left
where 1t had fallen. 1t seemed as II
the girl had tried to defend herself
with 1t. Next we went to the lake.
November literally nosed his way
along The moccasined tracks Of the
two men showed family herSand there
on the softer parts Of the ground.
Looks as If they was toting some
thing" said Joe. '"They must "a car.
ried her. Stop! They set her down
here for a SPELL"
Another moment brought US over the
rise and in sight Of Mooseshank lake
I halted involuntarily. The place seem.
ed created for the scene Of tragedy.
November had pushed on to the spot
where footprints and other signs show.
ed where the men had entered the Ca
noe. The deep slide Of q moccasined
foot in the mud seemed to tell Of the
effort 1t required to get the girl EN-.
barked.
"They took her out on the lake and
murdered herr groaned PLANK. Drag.
ging? There's no use dragging, that
water goes plumb down to the root of
the world"
After that we went around to the
other side of the lake and saw the
beached canoe. The two sets Of moe.
casined tracks showed clearly on the
strip Of mud by the water, but were
soon lost in the tumbled debris Of
two-year- old stony landslip over which
trailing appeared quite impossible. No
vember was busy about this landing
place for longer time than I expect.
ed, then he crossed the landslide at
right angles and disappeared from our
view. Soon he came hurrymg to-
ward US.
"She isn't dead"
"WhatY
Anyways. she wasn't when she
passed here. have proof here that
you will think mighty good" He drew
out little leather case had given
him and extracted from 1t long hair
of a beautiful red gold color. Look
ut that! found 1t in the spruces
above there"
PLANK took IT gently in his great
fingers. He was yisibly much moved
For few seconds he held 1t without
speaking. then. "That grew on Vir'
ginia's head, sure enough. Joe. Is 1t
possible my girl Is alive"
"She Is. sure! Don't be afeared.
You'll soon have news Of her. can
promise you that, Mr.. Plank. This
wasn't no case of murder. It's just
IN abduction. They'd never be such
fools as to kill her. They're cutter
than that. Isn't she your daughter?
They'll hold her to big ransom. That's
their game"
An ugly look came into Planx's eyes.
That's their game, Is it2 I'm not n
man that 1t Is easy to milk dollars
FROM" said he.
BY this time 1t was growing too
dark for Joe to work any longer. We
crossed the lake with Plank. and that
night Joe and l camped near the end
of Mooseshank lake, where stream
flowed from 1t.
At dawn, while we were having
breakfast, Joe stood up and stared
into the trees that grew thick behind
US. AS he called out looked back
and saw the indistinct figure Of u man
In their shadow watching us: He
beckoned, and we approached him. |
saw he was young. with pale face
and rather shabby town made clothes
"Don't you remember Walter Cal
vey, November?" he said. holding out
his hand. II was with you and Mr..
PLANK and-and-her last year In the
woods"
Huh, yes. and what are you doing
here. Mr.. Calvey" asked Joe. shaking
hands.
81 heard about Virginia. How could
keep away after that?" exclaimed
Calvey.
you've no cause to fret yet" said
Joe.
what? When they've killed herl
I'll 60 with you and If we can find
those
Huh! She's not dead! Take my
word for itg Joe's gray eyes gave me
a roguish look why. I've got thing
here in my pocketbook you'd give me
500 for" He held the red gold hair
up to the light Of the rising sun.
Calvey shook from head to foot
"virginia's! You couldn't find its
match in Canada. Tell me-
81 can't wait to tell you and you
can't wait to hear. Light out now.
Old man PLANK could make 1t un.
healthy for you"
You're right! he hates me because
Virginia won't marry Schelperg Of the
combine. He hasn't let US meet for
months. And more than that, he's
ruined me and my partner in business.
1t was easy for rich man to DO
that" added Calvey bitterly.