The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1920-08-06
Air Messengers


Copyright 1920. Western Newspaper Union
Gordon Meath tried To look the man
OH casual stroll as he passed the
home of Lemuel Todd. 1t held an at
traction he could not resist-the un-
married sister of the wealthy owner of,
the place, pretty. graceful Gladys Todd.
He had fiuttering hope that she
might be- In the roomy garden and OBJ
serve him, but as his eager eye
scanned the grounds he saw only the
baby carriage Of the infant son and
heir of the family just beyond the
hedge
AT some distance, coqucttishly con
versing with the gardener. the nurse
was temporarily forgetful of her
charge. An automobile stood mt the
curb. Gordon had known Gladys for
only few weeks. \ young man of
clean, clear reputation and promising
prospects in the legal profession. he
had been accepted as worthy guest
by the Todds and Gladys had made
him feel at home whenever he had
called. He now continued his walk.
with no reasonable excuse for ycntur-
ing "A late afternoon call. He had not
proceeded 20 feet when n sharp Missing
word startled and halted him.
Now
II proceeded from some high bushes.
ana following il two men arose. They
were swarthy, ilaShing.cAcd fellows,
suggesting the Italian type one of
them made II dash toward the baby
buggy. He snatchcd up the sleeping
infant, wraps and all. His c"mpan-
ion, plunging through the tibrouS
growth of the hedge and held il aside
so that IL formed IL free avenue Of
passage for the other. Both men ran
TO the waiting automobile. On. sprang
To the front seat and seized the wheel.
The other almost threw the babe up
on the rear seat for his arm had been
seized by Gordon who. in Hash dis
cerniug an act of kidnapping, had run
after him to the machine.
You villain, what are YOU up to-"
he shouted. and Grapplcd with the
man. He mt the wheel reached down
for II heavy wrench lying ut his feet,
swung il with II savage whirl and Cor
don fell partly within the car, help
less and stunned. The ether man did
not stop To push Gordon out of the
machine.
go" he ordered sharply To his con-
frcrc, and pulled Gordon clear into
the machine siamming shut the door.
1t was an hour or snorc later when
Gordon aroused to consciousness. II
was still daylight, the apartment I'm
which he found himself had hut one
small aperture up near the ceiling that
admitted light and air. His head felt
heavy and bruised. The room had II
door to which he staggered, hut found
no knob on its inside and il was mad.
of heavy timber. There WAS n queer
gaseous taint in the air, and this Cor
don traced To u mass of pipes ana Il
steel reservoir. Attached tu hooks in
the wall were Il dozen clusters OF toy
balloons. rs many as twenty in bunch
and fully inflated. Ii was easy tu sur
mise that the den in which he, and
little Marjorie, too. probably, were cap.
tiveS, belonged tn men who Eaade Il
business Of manufacturing or scilin;;
the red and blue globes.
From beyond Il partition he could
catch the Stridcnt tones of the two
men who had brought him hilhcr In
terminglcd with the low wailng cry
Of an infant. This latter aroused Linn
aS il 10y magic. Gordon thought of the
dcSolatcd father and mother of
Gladys, who fairly worshipcd thr little
child. Ii seemed that escape from his
prison place WAS impossible, but he.
could not he inert. He discovered II
stepladder placed il under the high
window, and ascending it could look
four stories down into IL noisy busy
street. A protruding roof extended
from the second story, hut the window
was too small for him TO crowd
through. The building nj one corner
OF the intcrsecting streets Gordon at
once recognized. and was able Ia de-
eide that the one he was in was 3Ol
Broad avenue.
A sudden inspiration came To him
He took out his card case. we'll stocked
with bits of pastcboard fastening
to take advantage of the waning day