Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-27
The Dailv
Short Story
KIDNAPPED.
BY Jessie Ethel sherwin

~ my observed Viueerf
Well, mate, its always better ~
laugh than cry. but as to the ami
ing-it's really grinning and no..
ing II. | try not to think Of Iosir.
clerical position ! held for A.
years through failure Of the how, nv
| couldn't lie idle and eat a.
took what offered this"
81 thought SOL"
The exordium was proyokaa -
the appearance OF a man besr,,.
all the evidence Of wealth IT,.
bright intelligent face OF Vincs,.
seemed to capture him. He gs-.
Vincent an address and away ina
spun.
You are TO wait for me- a,
nounced bis pretenrious passenTs,
as they reached a handsome msr
sion. It had extensive ground,
Casually Vincent noticed a bsbv
carriage in the shade Of 4 sres,
spreading lilac bush. His face r..
appeared, placed a leather uortto.
lilo on the seat and named a dovT-
town Office building.
you wait here he advised 81
want to send package back homs
My office boy will bring It TO Won p
and five minutes later Vincent wss
speeding back the way ne had ire.
Yersed. Arrived at his destinstlor
he delivered the package and -.
turned TO his auto.
He had gone perhaps 80 fes-
when a young woman near the Ion
garden hedge lifted her hand in q
pretty, peremptory way.
DO you wish to make fast speed
for a mile and earn ten dollarsr
she inquired in a quick, business
like way. His clear-cut, intelp-
gent face attracted her. Vlncep,
nodded assentingly.
Then keep your eyes straigh.
ahead"
That's queer" muttered Vincent
Strange, too, all at one spot.
wonder"
Co" spoke the same expressive
voice, as from the movement Of
the vehicle Vincent traced 1t out
that his new fare had spruhg
quickly into the rear seat. He
sped up and turned the corner with
the terse query: Address
She named a street and number.
Just then there proceeded from the
rear seat a faint waiIing CRY.
Ssh" came from the lips of the
girl. Vincent turned Held in her
arms was a babe. In a fash Viz
cent realized that il must be the
infant lie had seen in the garden
of the house whence they hal
started. With a shock he brought
the machine TO a halt and facet
mis- fare.
Il can't go on" he announced
tersely
Why not?' imperious. almost
saucy was the information Of the
girl.
THE child-you-"
kidnapped it? Yes If you are
a man with one spark Of humanity
in your sould you will not delay.
Listen to me" Aud somehow Vim
cent thrilled before the appeal and
earnestness of those magnet,
eyes. The mother of this little
mite, poor, abandoned, dying, Il
wearing her soul away in longing
to see her only child wTested, stoi-
en- from her by the rich, the schem-
ing, the powerful. / swear to you
if you will take Us TO the address
have given you, and the lit;ls
one rests in the arms Of her Gu
guished mother a brief time, will
return the child TO the place
whence | took her, if you say so"
For only a moment Ralph Vim
cent hesitated Unhinchingly me
clear eyes of the girl met his
glance. He turned to his vince.
and within a few minutes reached
a modest cottage.
You will trust me% questioned
his fare, preparing to alight
Can / resist your appeals: BE
replied simply. She disappeared
within the house and came out IN
burdened.
AT the point Of death IN that
house. but in raptures over her re-
stored darling, is my sister, Myrtle
Two years ago she eloped VIE
Rodney Wayne, the nephew OF Lev
Blaine, the owner OF the mensVI
where you took me up. Poor SOU
her husband died. He LEFT 3 faiF
fortune. Blaine, the schemer, =
secure Il for himself got hold o.
the papers OF his nephew ainoet
Them the marriage ceruneAe
Myrtle could not recall the tosa
where they were married OF VI
name OF the clergyman who ps.
formed the ceremony, Blame
formed her that there was no Iesa,
Hts emissaFies wFessa
her babe from its crushed h1o'i'''
Shall I return the chlldP -
For reply Ralph Vincent sLarsea
lp the machine. He did not hhVa
what might come OF his paH "
bold abduction exploit, Ths -
had impaired 70 htm somerhinS
Ter own dominant sense OF IasnsN
As he turned into the garage Wv
,ent made a startling discovess
He found slipped down oehIna y.
seat cushion the portfolio hlalla
his previous passenger, had 60
led, and when he opened u iuan-
he papers OF dead Rodney Wa wa,
md among them the eertincSls =
.t
He had q close friend, youns
awver. II WAS we'll that ne g.
ided 10 his expert charge the ~
ire AFFAIR, Two days later u.
bafffed, Levi Blame h' y
,ver TO Mrs, Wayne the fortune
would have stolen, And her -. -
edna Denversi With shining "
he came TO Vincent TO tell hIh
he marvellous recovery or neF
er under the influence or neF
urned child. and Ralph V ln =