Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-05-05

In the Cosmic club Mr.. Algernon
Spofford was a figure of distinction
Amidst the varied, curious. eccentric
brilliant. and even slightly unbalanced
minds which made the organization
unique, his was the only wholly solid
and stupid one. Hence it was with
misgiving that the Advisor opened
the door of his sanctum to Mr. Spot
ford, on harsh December noon. But
the misgivirgs were supplanted by
pleased surprise when the caller laid
ia his hand clipping from a small
country-town paper, to this effect:
RANSOM = LOST LAD FROM HAIR
wick not drowned nor harmed. Re
tanned for ransom. Safe and sound "a
parents for $50 Coz. Write, Mortimer Nor
ley, General Delivery. N. Y. Post Office.
Average Jones looked from the adj
vertisement to the vacuous smile of
Mr.. Algernon Spofford
@Algy, who sent this to your"
Cousin OF mine up in Harwick. l
used to visit in Harwick, so they asked
me to get you interested in Bailey
Prentice's case. He's the lost boy
You've done it, Now tell me all
you know"
Spofford produced a letter which
gave the outlines of the case. Bailey
Prentice's disappearance, it was set
forth, was the lesser of two simultane-
Gus phenomena which violently Jared
the somnolent New England village OF
Harwick from its wonted calm The
greater was the "Harwick meteor. !"
AT ten-fifteen on the night OF Decem-
Der IL. the streets being full of people,
coming from the moving picture show,
there was a startling conclusion from
the overhanging clouds and the as
founded populace saw ball of fame
plunging earthward, to the northwest
of the town and waxing in intensity
as it fell. Darkness succeeded But,
within a minute. lurid radiance rose
and spread in the night. The aerial
bolt had gone crashing through an old
barn on the Tuxall place, setting it
af1re.
Bailey Prentice was among the very
few who did not go to the fire. Taken
in connection with the fact that he
was fourteen years old and very thor
oughly boy this, in itself. was phe-
nomenal In the excitement of the oc-
casion, however. his absence was not
noted. But when, on the following
morning. Rev. Peter Prentice, 60
ing up to call his son, found the boys
room empty and the bed untouched,
the second sensation of the day was
launched. Bailey Prentice had, quite
simply, vanished.
On the afternoon of December IA a
coat and waistcoat were found on the
seashore a mile north of the village
Rev. Mr. Peter Prentice identified the
clothes as his sons. Searching par
ties covered the beach for miles, look
ing for the body. Preparations were
made for the funeral services, when
new and astonishing factor was in
1ected into the situation, An adver-
tisement, received by mail from New
York, with stamps affixed to the copy"
to pay for its insertion, appeared in
the local paper
And here's the advertisement" con-
cluded Mr. Algernon Spofford, indicat-
ing the slip of paper which he had
turned over to Average Jones.
Average Jones took train for Har-
wick, and within few hours was rub
bing his hands over an open fire in
the parsonage, whose stiff and cheer.
less aspect bespoke the lack of WON
ans humanizing touch. for Rev. Mr..
Prentice was widower. Overwrought
with anxiety and strain. the haggard
clergyman, as soon as he had taken
his visitors coat. began a hurried, in.
consequential narrative, broke off,
tried again, fell into an inextricable
confusion Of words, and, dropping his
head in his hands, cried;
Il can't tell you. 1t is all hopeless
tumble"
Comet" said the younger man en-
couragingIy. Comfort yourself with
the idea that your son is alive, at any
rate"
But how can be sure, even OF
that?"
Average Jones glanced at a copy of
the advertisement which he held. II
think we can take Mr.. Morley's word
80 far"
Even so; fifty thousand dollars ran.
som!" said the minister, and stopped
with a groan.
Nonsense!" said Average Jones
heartily. you can dismiss the adver
tisement as blind; the second blind
in fact"
THE second?"
Certainly. The first was the cloth.
ing on the shore. 1t was put there to
create the impression that your son
was drowned"