The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-11-05
"Jed," She said with resolute frank

ness.
where is he?"
II don't know"
Where were YOU when he did it?"
AT the edge Of the woods. | had
gone out for a bit of air-just across
the lawn. Jed appeared"
what did he say?"
Il don't Know-somcthing incoher-
emf, violent; and he took me by the
sleeve. | was not frightened. but l
drew back suddenly. My sleeve ripped
out. We were at the edge OF the woods.
Three men appeared. Strangled Jed be-
fore he could cry out. picked him up
and carried him Off"
spent the evening with Mr.. Sidney
and told him that jed was i'll. He was
concerned, and | made the lie a kindly
one
1T is insignificant" I said. with
lis habits he nus occasionally pay n
price. A touch OF indigestion this
time"
To eXtemporiZe n few lies TO get
through the night was easy enough :;
but jed was not back in the morning.
and Mr.. Sidney had to be deceived in
more enduring fashion.
| explained - him that Jed had been
called away on an urgent matter.
which seemed 10 Mrs. Sidney to justi-
~ his going at once. Mrs. Sidney, at
my request, made the same e%Xplana-
ton later. and Mr.. Sidney accepted it.
This explanation seemed very lame to
me, but it served. Mr.. Sidney did not
know Of any reason why Jed should
disappear. We offered him an eXpla-
nation OF the servants absence. and
he accepted it.
1t was apparent that the Spaniard
and the lawyer had been two OF the
men concerned in Jcd'S plight, and |
thought it best TO telephone a discreet
detective agency and have the lawyer
put under scrutiny. Mrs. Sidney
thought this was a proper course-or
at least that no better II was avail
able.
Two days later the detectives report
ed that the lawyer had disappeared
from all his accustomed places and
that il might require some time TO get
trace of him.
Jed had been gone four days when
one OF the maids asked for a months
leave. Her mother was very sick, She
said. Mrs. Sidney agreed willingly, al
though diSliking 10 have an unfamiliar
servant in the house to fill this maids
place for the time she would be gone.
Anra. the maid, said that a very close
friend Of hers would be glad Of an OPP
portunity to have a month in the cOun-
try. Mrs. Sidney took Annals recon-
mendatiOn with some relief.
The day Anna went away a very
pretty girl was met at the train by the
chauffeur. She was the thirty-day
maid. | saw her as she came in. |
thought her manner did not indicate
domestic service, but afterward
found that in spite Of appearance she
was very deft and competent. With
Jed gone such Of his duties as could
be lone by the maids we're given them /;
and this new servant, Agnes, was SO
efficient in the dining room that she
took over what Jed had done there.
Mr.. Sidney liked attractive women
about him. and Agnes pleased him with
her bright, pretty appearance and good
humOred Serviceability. In three or
four days he was glad to have her as
signed to duties which Jed had done
for him. In little I've Il week Agnes
had fitted into the routine Of the house
perfectly.
Up to this time nothing had been
heard Of Jed, but on the ninth day Of
his disappearance the detectives tele-
phoned that they had the lawyer. Nc
CURE was the Observation-Disclosures
ent'S name.
Il am not to understand what is
back Of this case" he suggested, tele-
phoning.
ut is not necessary" | said. IF he
IS willing to come here in your Gus.
tody. that is enough"
The next day Mcclure, the detec-
tive. came with the lawyer, who APP
parently was trying to keep from
looking as frightened rs he felt.
"Tll have you understand | came
Of my own volitiOn," he said.
with Mr.. Mcclure representing
your volition." | suggested.
~ think I'll look about the grounds
for a while" said Mcclure.
What DO you expect to gain by
this?" the lawyer asked when the de-
tective had gone.
What did you fear to lose by not
coming?" asked. Suppose we make
our dealing plain. You were N of
a party of three that abducted the
servant Jed. We want him released
and returned here where he is needed"
"iOu are talking nonsense" said the
lawyer. Il came with your detective
because l thought that at last this
household was prepared to deal rea-
sOnably with q reasonable man."
"Where is Jed?" l asked.
That's zone Of my business"
ut will be made yours"
Barking Observation-Disclosures
to scare babies" said the little man.