Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-11-04
Jed" -he said with resolute frank

"Where I'd he7"
II dO~'t know"
whore were you when he dld6it p
AT rne edge of the woods. had
gone ort for a bit Of alr-just across
the LEVIN. Jed appeared"
"What did he say?"
Il 4Ont KnOw-sOmething incJheI-
ent, violent; and he took me by the
slerze. was not frightened. hut
drew back suddenly. My sleeve ripped
ouS. 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 Ill. He was
concerned, and l made the lie a kindly
one.
ut is Insignificant" l said. "With
his habits he must occasionally pay a
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 Mr.. Sidney had to be deceived in
more enduring fashion.
I explained to him that Jed had been
called away on an urgent matter,
which seemed to Mrs. Sidney to justi-
fy his going at once. Mrs. Sidney, at
my request, made the same explana-
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 ar expIa-
nation Of the servants absence, and
he accepted 1t.
1t was apparent that the Spaniard
and the lawyer had been two of the
men concerned in JeG's plight, and l
thought 1t best to telephone discreet
detective agency and have the lawyer
put under scrutiny. Mrs. Sidney
thought this was 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 1t 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 OPP
portunity to have month in the C, I'M
try. Mrs. Sidney took Annals rectm-
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. l saw her as she came in. l
her manner did not indicate
domestic service, but afterward I
found that in spite of appearance she
was very deft 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
.oOk over what Jed had done there.
Mr.. Sidney liked attractive women
lbout him. and Agnes pleased him with
Ter bright, pretty appearance and good
serviceability. In three or
'ohr days he was glad to have her as
signed to duties which Jed had done
or him. In little over a week Agnes
lad fitted into the routine of the house
perfectly.
Up to this time nothing had been
heard of Jed, but on the ninth day of |
lis disappearance the detectives teIe- |
)honed that they had the lawyer. Nc
Iuire was the tive-superintend |
,nt's name.
II am not to understand what IL
Jack of this case" he suggested, tele-
'honing.
ut is not necessary" said. IF he
s willing to come here in your Gus
ody, that is enough"
The next day Mcclure, the detec-
i've, came with the lawyer, who APP
'arently was trying to keep from
ooking as frightened as he felt.
an have you understand / came
f my own vOlition," he said
with Mr.. Mcguire representing
our volition," l suggested.
81 think I'll look about the grounds
or WHILE" said Mcclure.
what do you expect to gain by
his?" the lawyer asked when the de-
ective had gone.
"What did you fear to lose by not
oming?" ! asked. Suppose we make
ur dealing plain. You were one of
party of three that abducted the
ervant jed We want him released
nd returned here where he is needed"
"You are talking nonsense" said the
lwyer Il came with your detective
ecause thought that at last this
ousehold was prepared to deal rea-
Onably with a reasonable man."
"Where is jedi" l asked.
That's none of my business"
1T will be made yours"
Barking dogs-moonshine-
} scare babies" said the little man.
Mcclure came back.