Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-19
Auther &-The Best MAJ

down with an impatient sigh Of relief
when the telephone on his desk rang.
He hesitated. Should he answer 1t
and be hindered again, or call his
secretary and let her attend to 1t while
he slipped away to his w~ell-earned
respite? A second insistent ring.
however, brought him back to duty
us this Mr.. Sidney Graham? Long
distance is calling!"
, 2 The young man frowned impatiently
ana wished he had sent for his secre-
tary. 1t was probably another tire
some confab onsthat Chicago matter,
and 1t really wasn't worth the trouble,
anyway. Then a small scared voice at
the other end Of the wire spoke:
this is Carol. Say, Mr.. Graham. I'm
afraid something awful has happened
to Shirley! ! don't know what to do,
and ! thought I'd better ask you.''
Her voice broke of in a gasp like q
sob. ~
A cold chill struck at the young
ans heart, and a vision OF Shirley
battling with the ocean waves was in
stantly conjured up.
Shirley! Where is she? Tell me,
quick!" he managed to say, though
the words seemed to- stick in his
throat.
She's down at Washington" an
swered Carol. "Mr. Barnard phoned
her last night. There was something
special nobody else. could take notes
about, because 1t was for q govern
ment contract, and has to be secret.
Mr.. Barnard asked her to please go
didn't like her to 60, but she ad-
dressed a lot Of postal cards for her
to write back, and one came. post
marked Baltimore in this afternoons
mail, saying She was having a nice
time. But just now a call came for
mother to go to the telephone. She
was asleep and George was Grabbing
so I had to come. 1t was a strange
man in Washington. He said he had
road addressed to mother, that all
said Help! Quick! Two men were
carrying off Shirley and please to
phone to the police He took the
postals to the police station, but he
thought he ought to phone us. And,
oh, Mr.. Graham, what shall I do?
can't tell mother. 1t will kill her.
and how can we help Shirley"
Don't tell mother" said Graham
his horror. BE a brave girl, Carol.
A great deal depends on you just
now. Have you phoned Mr.. Barnard?
Oh, you say he's in Washington? He
was to meet your sister in Baltimore?
He did meet her you say? The postal
card said she had met him? Well,
the next thing is to phone Mr.. Clegg
and find but II he knows anything.
I'll do that at once, and unless he has
heard that she is all right l will start
for Washington on the next train.
Suppose you stay right where you are
till half-past five, / may want to call
you up again and need you in a hurry.
Then you go back to the cottage as
fast as you can and talk cheerfully.
Say you went to take = walk. Isn't
Elizabeth with you? Well, tell her
pectins. anything. Above all things
don't cry! 1t won't do any good and
1t may do lots Of harm. Get George
off by himself and tell him every
thing, and tell him I said he was to
make some excuse to go down town
after supper and stay at the telephone
office till ten o'clock. I may want to
call him up from Washington. Now
be a brave little girl. I suspect your
sister Shirley would tell you to pray.
Good-by"
81 will" ga~sped-Carol. "Good-by!'
Graham pressed his foot on the bell
under his desk and reached out to
slam his desk drawers shut and put
AWAY hts papers. His secretary ap-
peared at the door.
Get Barnard and Clegg ON the
phone! Ask for Mr.. Barnard, or, il
he isn't In, Mr.. Clegg. Then go out
station. Find out what's the next ex-
press to Washington. Tell Cromwell
to be ready to drive me to the station
and bring my car back to the garage
He was working rapidly ds he
talked; putting papers In the safe,
jotting down a few notes for the next
days work. trying to think Of every
thing at once. The secretary handed
him the phone. quietly saying, "Mr.
Clegg on the phone."-an went out OF
the room.
Excited conference with Mr.. Clegs
brought out the fact that he was but
just in receipt of a telegram from
police headquarters in Washington
saying that a book with Barnard and
Clegg's address and an appeal from a
young woman nmed Shirley Hollister
who was apparently being kidnapped
by two strange men In an auto, had
been flung n q passing car and
brought to them. They had sent forces
in search of the girl at once and would
do all in: their power to find her.
Meantime they would like any infor-
nation that would, be helpful in the
search.
Mr. clesg was much excited. He
appeared to have lost his head. He
seemed glad to have another cooler
mind at work on, the case. He 'splut-
ance Of the cas- and the necessity for
secrecy. He said he hoped 1t, wouldn't
get into the papers, and that it would
be Barnard and Clegg's undoing IL II
did. He seemed more concerned
about thatsand the notes that Shirley
probably had. than about the girl's
situation. When Graham brought him
up rather sharply he admitted that
Ard that he would be detained over
night probably, but he had attached
no Significance to that. He knew
Rarnard's usual hotel address In
Washington. but hadn't thought to
phone him about tho telegram from
police headquarters. Graham huns
up 1t last in . panic OF fury and dis
may. ringing violently for his secre-
taxy again.
"The next train leaves at S o'clock
she said capabIy. az she entered.
ss"Bromwell has gone after the carr
told him to buy you . mileage book
and saye your time at this end. You
have, forty minutes and he will be
back In plenty Of time. 4
Good" said Graham. Now call
up long distance and get me police
headquarters in Wilmington. mo!
Use the phone In fathers once. please,
Tn have to use this while you're get
ting them"
As soon - she had left the room
hh called up the shore aSain and wa
fortunate IN getting Carol almost inn