The Pulaskian., 1920-10-21

ness.
 Where is heY'
 T don't know"
 "Where were you when he did it?"
 "At the edge of the woods | had gone out for bit of rjust across the lawn Jed appeared.
 What did he say?"
 "I don't something ineoher- ent violent; and he took me by the sleeve. was not Frightened but drew back suddenly. My sleeve ripped sout. We were at the edge of the woods Three men appeared, strangled Jed be fore he eoull cry out. picked him up and carried bim off"
 I spent the evening with AIr. Sidney and told him that Jed was ill He was concerned and l made the lie kindly one.
 It is insignificant I said With his habits he must occasionally pay price. A touch of indigestion this time"
 To extemporize a few lies to get through the night was easy enough :; but Jed was not back in the morning. and Mir. Sidney had to he deceived in more enduring fashion.
 explained to him that Jed had been called away on an urgent matter which seemed to Mrs. Sidney to iusti- fy his going at once Mrs. Sidney at my request, made the same explana- tfon later, and MT. Sidney accepted it. This explanation seemed very lame to me, but it served Mir 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.
 It was apparent that the Spanard nRd the lawyer had been two of the men concerned in Jeds 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 one was avail able.
 Two days later the detectives report ed that the lawyer had disappeared from all his accustomed places and that it 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 to have an unfamiliar servant in the house to fill this maids place for the time she would be gone. Anna. the maid, said that very close friend of hers would be glad of an op- portunity to have month in the coun- try. Mrs. Sidney took Annals recom- mendation with some relief.
 The day Anna went away very pretty girl was met at the train by the chauffeur She was the thirty-day maid. I saw her as she came in. I thought her manner did not indicate domestic service, but afterward I found that in spite of appearance she was very delft and competent. With Jed gone, such of his duties as could be done by the maids were given them; and this new servant, Agnes, was so efficient in the dining room that she took over what Jed had done there 
 Mir. Sidney liked attractive women about him, and Agnes pleased him with her bright, pretty appearance and good humored serviceabil:ty In three or four days he was glad to have her as signed to duties which Jed had done for him. In little over a 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 teIe- phoned that they had the lawyer. Me Guire was the detective-superinten ent's name.
 q am not to understand what is back of this case" he suggested, tele phoning.
 "It is not necessary" I said. If he IS willing to come here in your ous- tody, that is enough"
 The next day Mcclure, the detec- tive, came with the lawyer, who ap- psrently was trying to keep from looking as frightened as he felt
 'Tn have you understand I came of my own volition." he said.
 With Mir Mcclure representing your yolition,' I suggested.
 q 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- tcctive had gone
 What did you fear to lose by not comingT' I asked Suppose we make our dealing plain. You were one of q party of three that abducted the servant Jed. We want him released and returned here where he is needed"
 You are talking nonsense" said the lawyer. T came with your detective because I thought that at last this household was prepared to deal req sonably with a reasonable man."
 "Where is Jed?' l asked.