Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1921-04-07
THE KIDNAPER
BY JACK LAYTON

Hight. His brother had suns Y
him there, and he obeyed ~.
obeyed when Robert ordered ~
mating spirit ruled them All ~.
this errand Douglas was driven ~ &,
unusual motive Of pity, unusnal {. =
Robert was concerned. II wss ',.s
that, following closely on the as.s
his wife, his brother must loso
his child. For though Lfly bas s
been taken by death, her loss 80,
almost as final Detectives ~.
faithfully, failed to find a Clan
the disappearance OF Robert Hss.1
little girl. She had disappears
evening, several weeks before =
her nurse had put her to bed fos I
night.
The nurse, whom Robert Harsn
tanned, must have been sitting
opposite room when the chlls
taken, yet she had heard no sound n.
had any person entered the roor
was supposed that Lily had been
moved through the window ans Y,
mouth mufled from outcry pos.-
Hartell was a wealthy man ans n
kidnapping was believed to Be 4 go.
for money. Yet no demand Yor 4,
som had been received. The mr..
GUS case filed the papers and thsn
Their, wearied by II all, had gone i Il.
car to an old rambling farm Aa@
which had been his parents ana :.
now his Own-still kept that he !, K
family might spend sunamer An
there as it pleased their fancy. M
for months, and sometimes yeaFs n
great house remained vacant cav. n
the old married servants VIA N
known service there in years goos n
Robert had telephoned his bro.ss
that he was tired Of the silent nsdl,
ton which led nowhere, and intsnta
to start that night for New York n
wished his brother during his sbsms
to continue the search for MS dM
and 1t was to consult with Robert IA
Douglas resignedly left his city "a
and made his way out to the looss
house on the hin.
Robert, discouraged, was more Id
turn and disagreeable than ever
the pity for him still filed DOusa
heart and he realized that perhaps u
the first time he was seeing benaa
his brothers thorny disposition i
tent tenderness.
Suddenly, as he sat, a light shm
from an opposite wing Of the ramblhl
building; then, plainly outlined 10 ii
far window, was a woman's slim e
ure. Even as Douglas looked, ii
woman stopped to pick up In her an.
a small golden-haired girl. The It'll
girl was Lily, of that he was sun
the fair hair, the tininess Of hRg
At least he would learn ii me
what the unknown woman was dola
in the house which, but an hour a
his brothers housekeeper had ABSURD
him was untenanted save By thet
selves. With his pocket searehlighl 3
traversed the dark unfrequented hab
and as he paused at the end Of the is
one, before him, like a vision sAom
through the open door, stood beauh
full young woman and a clinging child
The child was Lily. In a moment j.
had entered the room. The wOmaas
face turned white and her air
clasped the child closer.
'Who." she asked breathlesslE 4ia
you? Why do you come herelP
II nm Douglas Hartell," be D
swered promptly. "and / came to clalH
that little girl. She is my brOthai
child You must know that The q
pers have been filed with the case
her kidnapping. / must return p
question: Who are you and how g
you happen to be here?"
The girl considered her questions
her luminous eyes studying his tag
Then quietly she replied.
a." she said, "am the kidnapef
stole the baby from her cot-thFous
the balcony windOw-and / bid beg
because l knew that it would Be
last place Robert Hartell would 1Lll.
of searching"
Douglas tried TO speak; he eal
close to the culprit, as though tOfeal
to detafn her; but the softness o. 2
eyes was strangely dlsconeefIls
while the child caressed Lovingly
jailer.
"You," he stammered, confess
me
ITO you" the girl answered caln
because l am going to ask y0a
help me In cOncealing Lily"
Douglas stared. It was eli e
belieVable dream, the old bare req
the lovely unknown girl. her ST..
confession and the unexpectea e
Of his search.
Listen" she said eagerly
Jane Ware, the sister Of your DFela1,,
dead wife. You may have heafe
me. though never saw you.
II came to the city to care TOT
sister before she died, and 60
how that hard, soulless money m. .si..
man had treated her. Slowly -
with his exactions and tndLhels.e
And promised her then that hefp- y.
should never be under the same !
trol. So. when Robert Hartell Eei
70 give lily to me. ! stole her. q