The Lamar register., 1917-09-19
WANTED--A KIDNAPER
BY JOHN BERRY.

her girl chums speak of her as n
daredevil, you'd have drawn a mental
picture and got an impression that
would have done her injustice. Miss
Mary Grafton didn't look n bit dare
devllish at n social function. She
looked md dressed and carried her
self like any young lady of good fam
fly who had had many advantages.
No sombrero-nO guns-no wild en-
vorts and Comanche yelIs. Devil?
Simple enough. It had happened to
come her way between the ages of
sixteen and nineteen to shoot and
wound n burglar in her fathers house.
There were alarming stories anoat
Mt Milton. They were that a new kind
Of Ralles had appeared. He didn't
rob houses, but he spooked around
nights, and whenever he found fair
maid wandering about by herself he
grabbed her up and bore her Off to his
lair. He hadn't played his little game
on any Of the fair maidens OF Milton
yet, but he had found victims . Chcs-
ter and at Dalcville and m Tcruclia.
Not one Of his victims had returned.
All attempts TO trap the kidnapef had
failed.
Miss May had her own theories
about that Hdnaper, and she could not
rest content until she had tested him.
Like all other things, this had just
happened 10 come her way without
seeking, and she would solve it with
out Boosting.
Behold n young lady going some
where at late hour Of night. The
street is deserted but for her. She
walks slowly. She Is not a bit afraid.
She huns to herself. Now and then
she takes revolver from the bag
she carries on her arm and briefly
inspects It.
The promenndcr has walked three
blocks twice over when her keen ears
detect the low chun chunf of an auto.
1t soon creeps into sight. 1t is n
small machine, built for two. There
is only one person in It now-the
driver.
Chunfl Chufi ChufI
The machine creeps along at
snail's pace. The young lady saunters
along and gives II no attention. though
she knows the instant the power is
shut OF and the driver has descended.
lie advances upon her on tiptOe. An
arm goes around her and he whispers:
IF you utter one scream I'll choke
you."
Then there was n kidnaper, after all,
and he had arrived
He had her in the spnre seat m n
iifIy. M screams-not a choBei Away
went the auto out on the country road.
and If the kldnnpcr grinncd he wasn't
the only one 10 indulge in that harm
less amusement.
The auto had gone about three miles
when the man ut the wheel woke up
TO the fact that there was something
rather queer about this adventure.
The girl hadn't struggled or screamed
or protested. He couldn't make it out.
BY all the laws on the statutes of the
state his victim should be weeping and
entrcating and biting and scratching.
"Are you dumbT he finally asked.
mo, slrr' came the prompt reply.
"Nor denf?"
my hearing IS excellent"
'But you haven't raised row."
"And I don't intend tor
perhaps you wanted to be abduct-
cd. ch?"
'Tcrhapsw
Don't even want to know where
you are golngT.
1--WE are going no further just at
present! Turn the machine aboutP
"Here-what-wh what"
ITS a revolver. sir, and the muzzle
is against your side! Turn! !"
There happened TO be space enough
right there, and the auto was soon
headed the other way.
''Now get ont and take n seat on
that log!" commanded the girl.
She was obcyed. The log was about
five feet from the halted auto.
'Evcry business has its drawbacks,
even the business Of making n fool of
ones self" said Miss May after a long
minute.
"Tm ready TO acknowledge it." re-
piled the man with n rucful laugh.
'You thought it would be a good
Joke to go around In this sensational
way, and you haven't the sense to see
that It is n prison ofrense. am sure
you are n young man Of good family,
md have been doing this work for
lark"
"You are right" he mumbled.
"If I had shot you the law would
have cleared me. I don't know your
name nor Won mine. but I am going to