The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-23

He began by drawing a most for
mida ble-looking bludgeon loaded with
lead from his pocket, and switching
it backward and forward several
times, as if TO test its weight and
strength. Then he placed it without
a word upon the seat beside him
Having done this he drew up the win.
dows on each side, and | found to my
establishment that they were covered
with paper so as to prevent my seeing
through them.
81 am sorry to cut off your view
Mr.. Melas,' said he. The fact is that
l have no intention that you should
see what the place is to which we are
driving. 1t might possibly be incon.
venient to me if you could find your
way there again
"As you can imagine, ! was utterly
taken aback by such an address. NV
companion was a powerful, broad
shouldered young fellow. and, apart
! from the weapon, | should not have
had the slightest chance in a struggle
with him
This is very extraordinary con
duct, Mr. Latimer,' stammered. You
must be aware that what you are do
| ing is quite illegal
ct is somewhat of 4 liberty. nc
doubt, said he, but we'll make it Ut
to you. l must warn you, however
: Mr.. Melas that if at any time tonight
| you attempt to raise an alarm or dc
anything which is against my inter
ests. you will find it a very serious
thing. | beg you to remember that
no one knows where you are, anC
| that, whether you are in this carriage
or in my house, you are equally in
my power
| His words were quiet, but he had
a rasping way of saying them which
was very menacing. sat in silence
wondering what on earth could be his
reason for kidnapping me in this ex
! traordinary fashion. Whatever q
might be, it was perfectly clear thai
there was no possible use in my re
sisting. and that | could only wait tc
see what might befall.
For nearly two hours we drove
without my having the least clue as
! to where we were going. Sometimes
| the rattle of the stones told of paved
causeway, and at others our smooth
silent course suggested asphalt; but
save by this variation in sound there
was nothing at all which could in the
remotest way help me to form a guess
| as to where we were. The paper ovel
each window was impenetrable Il
| light, and a blue curtain was draw
! across the glass work in front It was
a quarter-past seven when we left Pal
Mall. and my watch showed me thai
| it was ten minutes to nine when a.
last we came to a standstill. My com
| panion let down the window and
| caught glimpse of q low. archeC
doorway with a lamp burning above
! it. AS | was hurried from the car
+ riage ii swung open, and | found nv
self inside the house, with a vague
impression of a lawn and rees or
| each side of me as I entered Wheth
er these were private grounds. how
ever, or bona-fide country was more
than I could possibly venture to say
There was a colored gas lamp in
side which was turned so low that
could see little save that the hall was
| of some size and hung with pictures
In the dim light l could make out thai
| the person who had opened the dooI
was a small, mean-looking, middle
| aged man, with rounded shoulders. A
| he turned toward US the CLINT of the
| light showed me that he was wearing
| glasses.
rs this Mr. Melas. Harold?" sale
he.
/ Yes
| Wen done, well done! No ilI-wfII