Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-09-24

perfectly.
Up to this time potnilg had beef
heard of Jed, but on. the ninth day ot
his disappearance the detectives tele-
phoned that they had the lawyer. Nc
Guire was the detecuve-super.ntend-
ent's name.
II am not to understand what IL
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 ap-
parently was trying to keep from
looking as. frightened as he felt.
"I'll have you understand 1 came
of my own volition," he said.
"With Mr.. Mcclure representing
your volition," 1 suggested.
"I think I'll look about the grounds
for WHILE" said Mcclure.
what do you expect to gain by
this?" the lawyer asked when the de-
tectiye had gone.
"What did you fear to lose by not
coming?" l asked. Suppose we make
our dealing plain. You were one of
a 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. 81 came with your detective
because l thought that at last this
household was prepared to deal rea-
sonably with a reasonable man."
"Where is jedi" 1 asked.
"Thats none of my. business
"It will be made yours"
Barking dogs-moonshine-t things
to scare babies" said the little man.
MCGUIRE came back.
81 guess I've seen all 1 want of the
grounds" he said, land there's a train
back in half an hour. We've our rig
waiting"
I'm not going back" said the law
yer. 81 stay at Hartley"
"What is he to do?' asked Mcguire.
Merely leave the house." said, and
rang for a maid.
"Tll not be bulldozed," said the
lawyer.
"You are not being" I suggested.
''The maid will show you out"
| He was at loss but had nothing
else to do but go when the maid came.
held Mcguire for only a moment and
asked him to have operatives watch
the lawyer constantly, with an idea
that he actually would remain in Hart
ley, and to continue to search for Jed.
/ Mr.. Sidney, Isobel and had a cheer
! full dinner that evening. Worried as
Mrs. Sidney was by Jed's disappear
ance, she was relieved by his absence.
l had pleasant two hours with Mr..
Sidney, and after that the night pro-
duced an occurrence.
Ever since Jed had disappeared ]
Ad been accustomed to taking certain
responsibilities with regard to the
house. The element of security en-
tered as a question. l knew we were
In circumstances which demanded-at
least asked-precautions. SO / went
about the house at night to see to
locks, in a supervision of the duties
the servants performed in closing the
place-one took on myself without
saying anything about it.
Hartley house was large, with many
wings. 1t was nearly a half-hour's
work to visit all the entrances and see
to bolts. Many of the halls and cor
ridors were dark, and 1 carried ar
electric flash to use when needed.
1 did not say anything of my as
sumed duties, but suggested to Mrs
Sidney that, considering the state Of
the house. it would be wise to tell the
household that all doors would be lock
ed at ten o'clock. Mrs. Sidney thought
this good policy and the servants were
so informed.
The night which had our new
phenomenon as a development 1 start
ed through the house at midnight.
had gone from Mr.. Sidney's room to m!
own, had put on. smoking jacket anC
slippers, put my revolver in my poke
and had laid my watch on the dresser
/ went downstairs and examined tn,
bolt, lock, and chains on the doors a
the main entrance. In the halls lead
ing from these doors there were elec
tric buttons, and the house being pre-
sumably closed for the night and dark
ened, I went from hall to hall, from
door to door, lighting my way by push
ing the buttons and turning off tn,
lights when had satisfied myself. Il
two wings, one to the north and on,
to the south. there was no electri
wiring. In the halls of these wings
went along easily enough with an oc
casional flash of the little light car
ried.
Jed's room was In the south win
on the second floor. The windows d
the han toward the east showed tn
waning moon just rising above
grove of oak mixed with larch, and
stopped at one of the windows to ad
mire the quiet scene. 1 was attracte
mot startled but turned-by a nois
at the farther end Of the hall. At tina
end of the hall were the stairs to tn
: second floor, where Jed had his room
. There were no windows at that enc
and 1t was in complete darkness, a
though three faint rays of moonligh
! traversed the hall from the window
i. nearer me.
: 1 listened, and it seemed that th
soundlI heard was the creaking of oil
:, stairs under light and stealthy stel
That interested me, and / went 9
quietly as / could toward the sount
I must have made some noise. Th
: creaking stopped. stood still-in on
of the shafts of moonlight. There wa
! an instant of silence. I took anothe
= step toward the stair and hit my fot
against chair, almost losing my ba
u ance.
There was scurry Of feet and
rustling Of skirts from the bottom {
the stairs across the dark hall.
: flashed my electric light, and within II
u rays saw a CLINT of white which il
u stantlv diSapDeared down n side 90