Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-06-15
CHAPTER XXI.
An Ominous MESSAGE.

'Patlence. lie repeated the WORD to
himself a thousand times to deaden
his suspense and apprehension. Bust
ness affairs took much of his time,
but Mans situation took most of his
thought. For the first time he told
John Lefever the story of Mans find
ing him on Music mountain, of her
aid in his escape, and the sequel of
their friendship. Lefever gave it to
Bob Scott in Jeffries' office.
"What did l tell you, JohnT de-
manded Bob mildly.
mo matter what you told me-" re-
torted Lefever, "The question is:
What's he to do to get Nan away from
there without shooting up the Nor
gansW
De Spain had gone that morning to
Medicine Bend. He got back late asd,
after supper at the Mountain house,
went directly to his room. The tele-
phone bell was ringing when he I'M
locked and threw open his door.
as this Henry de Spain?" came a
voice, slowly pronouncing the words
over the wire.
"Yes."
II have a message for you from Mu-
sic mountain"
"Go ahead"
"The message is like this: Take me
away from here as soon as you cam"
'Whom is that message from?"
Il can't call any Names"
"Who are you"
81 can't tell you that. Goodby."
Hold on. If you're treating me
fair-and / believe you mean to
come over to my room a minute"
mo"
LET me come to where you are?"
"No."
'Let me wait for you-anywhere?
mo"
do you think that message means
what it says?"
II know it does
"Do you know what 1t means for me
to undertaken"
81 have a pretty stiff idea"
did you get it direct from the
party who sent it?'
II can't talk all night. Take it or
leave it just where it is"
De Spain heard him close. He
closed his own instrument and began
feverishly signaling central. This is
101. Henry de Spain talking" he said
bric GGVnt1 iy1ct nO1lo1 Ton
dollars for you, operator if you can
locate that call, quick !"
There was a moment of delay at the
central office, then the answer: at
came from 234-Tenison's saloon"
"Give me your name, operator.
Good. Now give me %, and ring the
neck off the bell"
Lefever answered the call on No.
%. The talk was quick and sharp.
Messengers were instantly pressed
into service from the dispatcher's Of
fee. Telephone wires hummed, and
every man available on the special
agents force was brought into action.
Livery stables were covered, the pub
| lie resorts were put under observation,
horsemen clattered up and down the
| street. Within an incredibly short
| time the town was rounded up, every
outgoing trail watched, and search
was underway for anyone from Nor
CAMS gap, and especially for the send
er of the telephone message.
De Spain, after instructing Lefever,
FASTENED to Tensions. His rapid
questioning of the few habitues of the
place and the bartender elected only
the information that a man had used
the telephone booth within a few min
utes. Nobody knew him, or, if they
did know him, refused to describe
him in any but vague terms.
Outside, Bob Scott in the saddle
waited with led horse. The two men
rode straight and hard out on the
sinks. The sky was overcast, and
speed was their only resource. After
two miles of riding, they refined up on
a ridge, and Scott, springing from the
saddle, listened for sounds. He rose
from the ground, declaring he could
hear the strides of running horse.
Again the two dashed ahead. The
chase was bootless. Whoever rode
before them easily eluded pursuit.
| Undeterred by his failure to over
take the fugitive, De Spain rode rap
idly back to town to look for other
clews. Nothing further was found to
throw light on the message or mes
senger No one had been found any
where in town from Morgans gap;
whoever had taken a chance in de-
livering the message had escaped I'M
detected.
Even after the search had been
abandoned the significance of the in
cident remained to be weighed. De
Spain was much upset. A conference
| with Scott. whose judgment in any