The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-03-26
THE KIDNAPER
By JACK LAYTON.


him there, and he obeycd. Everyone
obeyed when Robert ordered; his dom
mating spirit ruled them MI. INT n
this crrand Douglas was driven by N,
lununnal motive OF pity. unusual wher,
Robert WIS concerned. II was hard
that, following closely on the death II
his wife. his brother must lose. also,
his child. For though Lily had not
been taken by death. her loss seemed
almost ms final. Detectives. working
faithfully. failed 60 find n clew M %
the disappearance Of Robert Hartell's
little girl. She had disappeared one
evening. several weeks before. after
her nurse had put her TO bed for the
night.
The nurse. whom Robert Harteli re-
talned. must have been sitting In nm
opposite Don when the child wns
taken. yet she had heard no sound. nor
had any person entered the room. II
was supposed that Lily had been re-.
moved through the window. and her
mouth muRlcd from outcry. Robert
Hnrtell was n wealthy man aud the
kidnapping was believed to be n scheme
for money. Yet no demand for run
som had been received. The mysfcrl.
Gus case filled the papers and the "a
Their. wearied by II all. had gone In his
car TO an old rambling farm house
which had been his parents. and was
now his own-stlll kept that h. or his
family might spend summer days
there as II pleased their fancy. while
for months. and sometimes years. the
great house remained vacant save for
the old married servants who had
known service there In years gone by.
Robert had telephoned his brother
that he wa tired Of the silent mediia-
lion which led nowhere, and Intended
TO start that night for New York. lie
wished his brother during his absence
10 continue the search for his child.
and II was TO consult with Robert that
Douglas reslgnedly left his city Office
and made his way out to the lonely
house on the hill.
Robert. discouraged, was more tacI.
turn and dIsagreeable than ever. but
the pity for him stIll filled Douglas'
neart and he realized that perhaps for
the first time he was seeing beneath
his brothers thorny disposition a la
tent tenderness.
Suddenly, as he sat, a light shone
from an opposite wing of the rambling d.,
building; then. plainly outlined In the
far window, was a woman's slim fig
lre. Even as Douglas looked, the
Woman stopped to pick up In her arms !
| small golden-halred girl. The little
,lrl was Lily, Of that he was sure I
ne fair hair, the tlniness of her. ,
At least he would learn at once
What the unknown woman was doing
n the house which, but nm hour ago. ,
lis brothers ~housekeeper had assured ,
was untenanted save by them
ieives. With his pocket searchlight he !
the dark unfrequented halls. Z
ma as he paused at the end of the last
me, before him. like q vision shown {
through the open door, stood a beautI- I
III young m and a cllnglng child. ,
child was Lily. In a moment he :
entered the room. The woman's '
ace turned white and her arms L
lasped the child closer.
Who she asked ~breathlessly, fare Y
our Why do you come here?' a
Il am Douglas H~artell," he an t
wered promptly, land l came to claim v
nat little girl. She is my brothers r
hid. You must know that. The pa :.
crs have been filled with the case of
kidnapping. l must return the
uestion: Who are you and how do D
happen to be heref"
The girl considered her questloner,
luminous eyes studying his face. ~
hen quietly she replied. G;
IL" she said, lam the kidnaper. 4,
tole the baby from her cot-through !,
lie balcony wIndow--and I hid here
ecause | knew that 1t would be the ''
lst place Robert Hartell would think Ell
{ searching" pt
Douglas tried to speak; he came di
-ose to the culprlt, as though forcibly We
detain her; but the softness Of her
yes was strangely disconcerting,
lille the child caressed lovingly her
al
YOU" he stammered, confess to l'
e."
ITO YOU the girl answered calmly,
| am going to ask you to vi
Zip me In concealing Lily" :,
Douglas stared. 1t was all an un- "
'lievable dream, the old bare room. ri
e lovely unknown girl, her strange NJ
nfession and the unexpected ending
his search.
Listen" she said eagerly, II am
ne Ware, the sister Of yonr brothers (.
ad wife. You may have heard of
though | saw you.
Il came to the city to care for my |
'ter before she died. and | learned
W that hard, soulless money making
IN had treated her. Slowly killing
tn his ex%actions and Indifference.
ID | promised her then that her baby
ould never be under the same con
i. SO, when Robert Hartell refused
give Lily to me, l stole her. And
do it again. Your old servants 4
have been brave enough to har-
: us. They loved Lily's mother, and
knew well her father. When
bert Hartell shall have his lesson.