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


myself-when this kidnapping idea
kITuck Us. II was. as Bill afterward
expressed 20. during a moment Of
Temporary mental appartion," but
We didn't find that out III later.
| There was a town down there. as
fiat a. flannel-cake, and called
summit. OF course. Il contained in
habitants OF as undeleterious and
seif-satisfed class o. peasantry as
ever clustered around "A Naypole.
Bill and me had a joint capital Of
about $500. and we needed just
$4,000 more 90 pull OF a fraudulent
town-Iot scheme In western Illinois
with. We talked II over on the front
steps OF the hotel Philoprogenitve-
ness says we. Is strong Ia semi rural
Communities. therefore. and for
n other reasons. a kidnapping project
ought 20 do better there than IN the
s adius OF newspapers that send re-
bortcrs out in plain clothes 90 stir
~ talk about such things. We knew
that Summit couldn't get after US
with anything stronger than con-
stables and maybe. some lackadaisi-
cal bIoodhounds and a diatribe or
two IN the Weekly Farmers Bud
get" So. 90 looked good.
We selected for our victim the
only child Of a prominent citizen
named Ebenezer Dorset The father
\ was respectable and tight. mort
1 gage fancier and a stern. upright col
lection plate passer and forecloser.
i lrhe kid was a boy OF 10. with bas-
UreIief frecsles. and hair the color OF
81
at the newsstand when YOU want 70
catch a train. Bin and me inquired
- that Ebenezer would melt down for
4 a ransom OF $4,000 TO a cent. But
wait till I tell you.
= Abou two miles from Summit was
a little mountain. covered with
I dense cedar brake. on the rear eie-
walton OF this mountain was a cave.
There we stored provisions.
One evening after shutdown, we
y drove in a buggy past old Dorset's
house The kid was IN the street,
throwing rocks at a kitten on the op-
poslte fence.
Hey. little boy" says Bill,
would you like 20 have a bag, Of
| candy and a nice ride?"
The boy catches Bill neatly in the
eye with a piece OF brick?'
That will cost the old man an ex-
ira $500" says Bill. climbing over
the wheel
That boy puts up a fight like a
welterweight cinnamon bear; but, at
= last. we got him down in the bottom
OF the buggy and drove away. We
: took him up 20 the cave. and hitch
ed the horses in the cedar brake.
After dark / drove the buggy TO the
little village. three miles away, where
I had hired it. and walked back 20
the mountain.
Bill was passing court plaster over
the scratches and bruises on his fea-
lures. There was a fire burning be-
hind the big rock at tho entrance OF
the cave, and the boy was watching a
pot OF boiling coffee. with two buzz
Yard tail-feathers stuck in his red
hair. He points a stick az me when
/ came up. and says:
"Hal cursed palefaCe, do you dare
to enter the camp OF Red Chief. the
terror OF the plains?'
Hes all right now" says Bill.
rolling up his trousers and examin-
ing some bruises on his shins.
, Were playing Indian. We're max
ing Buffalo Bills show look like
magic-lantern views Of Palestine in
the town hall I'm Old Hank. the
Lapper. Red Chiefs captive. and
YIN 10 be scalped at daybreak. BY
Geronimo. that kid can kick hard.'
Yes. sir that boy seemed 10 be
having the time OF his life. The
fun OF camping out I'm "a cave had
made him forget that he was cap
tive himself He Immediately chris
tened me Snake-eye. the Spy. and
announced that when his braves re-
turned from the warpatf, / was 20
be broiled az the stake ~ the rising
of the sun.
Then we had supper; and he nlled
his mouth full Of bacon and bread
and gravy. and began 20 talk He
made a during dinner speech some
thing like this.
Il like this fine. I never camped
. out before. but had pet 'possom
once. and I was nine last birthday. 1
hate 70 go 90 school Rats ate up
, Is Of Jimmy Talbots aunts speckled
hens eggs. Are there any real In
dams I'm the woods? I want some
more gravy. Does the trees moving
make the wind blow We had fly
puppies. What makes your nose SO
red. Hank2 Ny father has lots OF
money. Are the stars hot? I whip
ped Ed Walker twice. Saturday.
don't like girls. You dassent catch
toads unless with a string. Do oxen
make any noise? Why are oranges
round? Have YOU got beds TO sleep
on In this cave? Amos Murray has
got six toes. a parrot can talk. but
monkey or a fish can't. How many
does Il take 20 make 1872"
Every few inmates he would re-
member that ne was a pesky re dskin.
. and pick up his stick rifle and tiptoe
; 20 the mouth OF the cave 10 rubber
for the scouts OF the hated paleface.
. Now and then he would let out a
war-whoop that made Old Hank the
Trapper shiver. That boy had Bill
terrorizcd from the start.
Red Chief" says I 10 the Kid.
n would you like 20 go homer"
"Aw. what for" says be. Il don't
have any fun at home. I hate TO so
10 school I like 90 camp out You
WON'T take me back home again
Snake-eye. viii you 2"
Not r1ght away says T. Well
say here IN the cave while
All right" says he "Thatu be
fine. I never had such fun in my
life"
: We vent 10 bed about Il O'Clock
We spread down some wide blankets
and quilts and put Red Chief be-
fv-ear 10 We weren't afraid he'd