South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-12

had a scheme for collecting that
ransom without danger OF being
caught by counterplots that ought 10
commend itself to professional kid
nappers. The tree under which the
answer was 20 be left-and the
answer later on-was close 20 the
road fence with big bare fields on
all sides. II a gang Of constables
should be watching for any one 10
come for the note they could see
him a long was of crossing the
fields or in the road. But no, stree,
At $40 I was up in that tree as well
hidden as a tree toad, waiting for the
messenger 20 arrive.
Exactly on time. a half-grown boy
rides up he road on a bicycle, To-
Gates the pasteboard box at the foot
OF the fence-post. slips a folded piece
OF paper into II and pedals away
again back toward Summit.
I waited an hour and then con-
cluded the thing was square. slid
down the tree. got the note. slipped
along the fence till I struck the
woods, and was back at the cave IN
another half an hour. I opened the
note, got near the lantern and read
/. TO Bill. 1t was written with a pen
in grabbed hand. and the sum and
substance Of IL was this:
Two Desperate Men.
Gentlemen:-I received your let
ter today by post. in regard 70 the
ransom you ask for the return Of
my son think you are a little high
in your demands, and I hereby make
you a counter-proposition which 1
am inclined TO believe you will ac-
cept. You bring Johnny home and
pay me $3.50 dollars in cash, and
agree to take him off your hands
You had better come at night, for
the neighbors believe he IS lost, and
1 couldn't be responsible for what
they would do to anybody they saw
bringing him back. Very respect
fully,
EBENEZER DORSET.
Great pirates OF Penzance!" says
/; "of all the impudent-"
But I glanced at Bill. and hest
/ tated. He had the most appealing
look in his eyes 1 ever saw on the
face Of dumb or a talking brute.
Sam" says he. whats $3.50. after
all? We've got the money. One
more night OF this kid will send me
to bed in bedlam. Besides, being
thorough gentleman. I think Mr.
Dorset is a spendthrift for making
us such a liberal offer. You amt
going TO let the chance go. are you ?'
Tell you the truth, Bill" says I.
this little eve lamb has somewhat
got on my nerves too. Wen take
him home, pay the ransom and
make our getaway"
We took him home that night. We
got him 10 go by telling him that his
father had bought a silver-mounted
rifle and a pair of moccasins for
him, and we were going TO hunt
bears the next day.
IL was just IL o'clock when we
knocked at Ebenezer's front door
Just at the moment when L should
have been abstracting the $1,000
from the box under the tree. accord
ing to the original proposition, Bill
was counting out $3.50 into Dorsets
hand.
When the kid found out we were
going TO leave him at home he start
ed UP a howl like calliope and fas-
tened himself as tight as a leech TO
Bills leg. His father peeled him
away gradually. like a porous plas-
ter.
How long can you hold him ?"
asks Bill.
I'm not as strong as I used to be, I"
says old Dorset, but I think / can
promise you 10 minutes.
Enough" says Bill. Tn 10 min
utes 1 shall cross the central, south
ern and middle western state, and be