The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-02
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Lester appeared as usual the
next morning, ready for the days
work. Eight o'clock came, but no
fishermen. When an hour went
down the clock, Lester began to
think maybe Mr.. Crawford was i'll.
Sc he sought the hotel clerk.
Go wake him up advised the
clerk.
There was no response to his
knocking; gentle at first, then
firmly, then irritably. He re-
turned to the office and asked that
the clerk 60 up and open the
door.
The clerk raped soundly on
the door and waited. Then he
called Crawford by name. Hear
ing nothing, he inserted key and
opened the door. He stood trans
fixed, and Lester stared over his
shoulder. eyes apop.
The bureau-drawers, the draw
ers of the washstand, the suit
cases-emptied and flung care
lessly aside! The mattress lay
twisted over the footboard of the
bed, the pillows, crushed. clothes
Uttered the chairs and the floor.
Lester was the first to move.
He pushed aside the clerk, ran
into the room, and looked under
the bed. Then he peered into the
closet. He shook his head.
I'll hunt up Uncle Billy. May
be he can tell something"
DO it, said the clerk, locking
the door. "I'll tell the maid not
to touch anything. I'll call in the
sheriff.
Lester found Uncle Billy seated
on soap-box inspecting a felt hat
he held in his hands.
Billy, where's Mr.. Cranford?"
81 dunno, Lester. l found this
hat O. his'n in tn middle o. tn
road as | started out t. tn farm
this mornin'."
Ibid you go to the farm"
Yes; but he want there. He
left there bout 8 las night.
Why?"
Wasn't in his room last night,
Billy; but some one else was.
Everything turned upside down"
"Y' don't say!" Uncle Billy
got up slowly. Suddenly he shook
the hat in the air. 81 know!
Sumpin' t. do TIL that d inged hun
dred dollars, r my name amt
Bill"
1t is doubtful If Uncle Billy had
ever read a novel, much less a de-
tective story; but he knew all the
earth-signs.
He had gone out early that
morning to inquire after Miss
Wynne's health. When he picked
up Cranford's hat his mind was
occupied with the girls grim
earnestness out there at Pidgin,
the hundred dollars; he had not,
therefore, observed things. But
now he had reason. He found the
spot and studied the ground thor
oughly.
An automobile had stopped an
backed and gone on again. Many
footprints, close together, and one
long slip which trailed over the
lip of the road.
This had been made by Gran
ford, for he recognized the rubber
spikes of the tennis shoes. There
had been a scrimmage.
Shaking his head, he plodded
back to the boat-house. Mr.. Gran
ford had been abducted. Most
amazing! How should he tell
Miss Wynne? Hadn't he best say
nothing till she was up and
about? She'd worry.
Cranford's prison was acircu-
lar affair, windowless, whose sole
entrace and exit was a trap door
some five feet beyond the reach
of his fingers. Briefly, an empty
cistern in a deserted farm house,
four or five miles-inland.
For nearly 48 hours. two days,
he had been incarcerated in this
close cell. Several times during
the day he had heard automobiles
passing, but none ever stopped.
The water in the pail was getting
low and the bread was gone.
At length he heard the purr
of an automobile. 1t paused. Then
came the muffled closing of a
door. They had come at last.
The trap door opened and a
ladder came slithering down.
| "Come up" said a voice.
Crawford climbed out of the
cistern and stood blinking in the
light of detached automobile
lamp. Then he saw Hanchett and
Dennison, and, in the gloom of
a corner, third man.
Crawford, we shan't waste time
beating about the bush. II doesn' I
matter how or when you learned.
We want what you took from
Pidgin island" said Hanchett.
what was 1t I took?"
Hanchett smiled. you can't
pass your hand up like that.
Clever idea of yours to have that
telegram delayed. We found II
Tout, however"
Crawford held his surprise in
check.
| What a woman! Not a detail
had escaped her.
/ ano vnu want che truth op