Washington telegraph., 1920-09-24
aJed." she said with resOlute frank,

"Jed," she said with resolute frank
ness.
"Where is he7"
81 don't know"
where we're you when he did ltf
AT the edge Of the woods, | had
gone out for bit of air-just across
the lawn. Jed appeared"
"What did he sayf"
81 don't something incOher-
ent, violent; and he took me by the
sleeve. | was not frightened, but
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 or"
spent the evening with Mr.. Sidney
and told him that Jed was III. He was
concerned, and | made the lie a kindly
one.
at is Insignificant" l said. with
his habits he must occasionally pay a
price. A touch Of indigestion this
time"
To extemporlze 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 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-
tion later, and Mr.. Sidney accepted 1t.
This explanation seemed very lame to
me, but 1t served Mr.. Sidney did not
know Of any reason why Jed should
disappear. We offered him an expla-
nation OF the servants absence, ans
he accepted II.
1t was apparent that the Spaniard
and the lawyer had been two Of the
men concerned IN Jed'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 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 months
leave. Her mother was very sick, she
said. Mrs. Sidney agreed willingly, al
though dlsliking TO have an unfamiliar
servant in the house to fill this maids
place for the time she would be gone.
Anna, the maid, said tlht very close
friend Of hers would be glad Of an op-
portunity TO have II mOInh IN the Coun-
try. Mrs. Sidney took Annals recon-
mendatIon with s~ relief
The day Anna went away n 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 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
Mr.. Sidney liked attractive women
about him, and Agnes pleased him with
her bright, pretty appearance and good
humorcd scrviccabilty. In three or
fOhr days he was glad to have her as
signed to duties which Jed had done
for him. In little over IA 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 frIc-
plonod 'hat they had the lawyer NJ
Guirr was the dclcctiyc7supcr.ureud
ents name.
81 am not to understand what Is
back Of this case" he suggested, tele.
phoning.
ut is not necessary" I said "If he
is willing to come here in your Gus.
tody, that IL enough"
The next day Mcclure, the dc1ec-
tive, came with the lawyer, who ap-
parently was trying to keep from
looking as frightened as he felt
"Ill have you understand | came
of my own vOlitlOn," he said.
"With Mr. Mcclure representing
your volition," | suggested.
II think I'll look about the grounds
for while" said Mcclure.
"What do you expect to gain by
thisy' the lawyer asked when the de-
tectIve had gone.
"What did you fear to lose by not
comingT | asked. Suppose we make
our dealing plain. You were one Of
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. u came with your detective
because ! thought that at last this
horS'N''d "". p~"-Hn~r1 70 'nal rra-
~.naHE WITH u -a uu"IHr muu'
"Norrr Is l.dt' . asked
That's ruue of my business"
II will .u made yours"
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