The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, May 06, 1897, Image 1
AMLARABOOCTION
By BODRIOUE3 OTTOLEHOUL
[Copyright, I'Al, by the Aathor.]
Mr. Barnes was alone in hia aanotum
when an elderly man of cultured man
ners was ushered in. The visitor sank
Into a seat and began his appeal at once.
"Ob, Mr. Barnes,” said Jio, “I am in
great distress. I hardly dared to hope
that assistance werapoaaible until I met
my friend Leroy Mitcbel. You know
him?" Mr. Barpes assented, with a
smile, and the old man continued, "He
told rae tbirt yod eduld" surely hW iae. H
"I will certainly do all that is in my
power to serve a friend of Mr. Mitch-
era,’’ said the detective^
"You are vegy kind. My last hope is
dependent upon your success. But let
me tell you the story. 1 am Richard
Gedner, the broker Perhaps you bars
beard the name." Mr. Daipt* nodded.
"I thooghtfak. Old Dick they call tna
on the utrtt-l and sometimes Old Nick,
bat that is otty thsu Utils jobs ahrn
tbs market goes against them I do not
think that they really disliks me. though
1 bars made my fort ana 1 hats asm
cheated any sae act beta bard mi a
ft lead daring all my rarer Bui that
ta Immaterial, emeeps that II makes II
hard to aadsaaiaad bass aay asm aahld
hate deSM m* so great aa tajary as
my dsaghier
yam
>>ilmti mf
a girt «# II »asg fe s» Its fsthee 'a
taken our mats at breakfast in the serv
ants’ ball when tba ball rang. That ta
how I fix the hour. Wa are regular
about meala in this houae. Wa have our
breakfast at 8, and the master eats at 9. V
"What occurred when you admitted
the doctorf"
"He asked for Miss Nora, and I said
die was not down yet. He said he sup
posed he could go up, aud I said I sup
posed he could, and he went.”
“What did you do next?"
"I went back to my breakfast.”
"Did you tell the maid that the doo-
tor had called?’’ -.i. '
"No, sir.”
"Why not?”
“Well, partly because I did not
think Unnecessary, and partly; Psup-
poae, because abe had not come into the
bseakfast room yet" Moulton smiled a
little as though he thought that be had
mid something cfever.
"Did the doctor find the maid in her
mistress’ room?"
"No, sir. I heard the doorbell again
and went up. The doctor was ataoding
in the hall. Ha said be rang the door-
ball because be did not know bow alaa
to cell me. Then be aaid Mim Norm had
left her room, which waa again#! the
orders ha gave the sight before, aad
that 1 wae lo tell the maid to have her
hark ta bed at owea. aad ha wooM rail
agate la aa hoar I weal bark la the
break fat foaaa. aad Ale Warn th#
mdfr
I ga*e her the
■Whs* the derm fcnM yew that Mtas
Sera waa aal A har ram. warn yaw
“Put her to sleepf” repeated Mr. Barnet.
rr I don't know anything, air. ‘Indeed
I don’t. I—I—I—well, I waa later than
I ought to have been going up stain on
account of company So I just put my
head in Mias Nora’s mom, and as every
thing waa quiet I went on to my owa
It waa Dearly t o'clock. ’*
do sol really know that
your misuses wae is her room at that
hear?"
**110, air 1 ought A know, bwt I
don't **
**!t ia yewr dafy to artrwd har A
■mrs.eg. la M m t?*
• «•. ess. hat ahWASBA wakae
I «*<b*V aad the <Vrm toSd ms
dwtarh her ttll I
him Mr. (iedney was not at home, be
said it was' of ho oonsequenoe, and I
needn't mention that he had called.”
“Did you toll Mr. Gedney of this vis
it?”
"No, air, though I did think it odd to
be asked to keep it a secret." The but
ler uttered the last word in a very sug
gestive tone, bat the detective appeared
not to notice it. ——•—~
"I’ll just step back and speak a word
with Mr. Gedney,” said Mr. Barnes
after a brief pause. Finding that gen
tleman, he asked: —
"By the way, Mr. Gedney, «ben you
spoke to Mr. Mitohei about this matter
what did he think of iti Did he express
amr omnion?” '
Yes. He said the doctor wns most
likely correct, and that he thonght that
Nora had merely wandered away in her
sleep!! that she waa not really abducted
at-all. He told me to cheer up and not
lo wony about the girl; that she would
soon M at home again. Then be set: me
to you, saying you could find her with
out difflculty. ”
"Me baa faith in my abilities,” mut
tered tba detective, then added aloud. "I
will eodoaTV to deeerve Mr. MitobaTl
optuioa, ” and oare —*—• r
OB his way Uo—< Mt llaroee revolved
aa idea in Lit suiod, trying to deride
its p: Ability The maid had left
the girl A tad early ta the
■Ull
At I o'clock Mr. Barnes and Mr~bed-
nay met at the Hoffman Houae. The de
tective received permission to conduct
the converaation. The signal waa receiv
ed promptly, and Mr. Bafnee thus ad
dressed “M. E. ” over the telephone
"We will pay the amount demanded
if the girl is restored unharmed. Notify
us immediately when and where the ex-
ohauge may be made. ’'
Leaving the hotel, the detective aaid:
"You must obtain |20,000 in cash,
Mr. Gedney. We will need it, but if my
plana are successful Ishali be able to re
cover the money as well as the girl. Are
you satisfied?” t —
a nave perfect confidence in Jyour
skill, Mr. Barnes,” was the reply.
‘rnpo the next day the following letter
was received by Mr. Gedney:
So you ■cct-pt wy twraiS" 1
:terlstig lo
II is wsort
save
aaked more, but will deal Kjaarely and not
ralM you. Tb» matter can be aettled at once.
That you may be sure your girl haa aufferod
ao harm, which I understand la the condition
Of your Bceeptane#. let your embassador be
yonr friend. Dr. D»natdann. He knowa her and
can judge of her physical condition. Let him
leare hi* houee at midatfht and drive up Mad
lens avenue slowly until hailed by the signal
'‘M.g." If ha la alone, aad ao one la follow
lag him. ha will he stopped If yovr detect!vs
tries any trick*, he wilt merely hare hu drirv
' r aothlag. I will ha Is hiding with the gtrt.
aa 1 tf yoa been faMb the traaearVton wtU ea-
aapy At a axasenl I will
At tss Iks gtXL. JNt (
Will
nnpBoawary caution in anawsring qoas
tiona. Later I concluded that it WM
merely a personal characterist
make nonooumilttal replica,
of requialtewith good mrvants to evade
oktochiam^. Tha clew came to me with
the reply to pur personal. The envelope
was postmarked the night before, and
thua waa actually mailed before the
newspaper was printed, an oversight on
the part of the writer. No one knew of
the advertisement except ourselves and
Dr. Donaldson, unless yon hsd men
tioned it, Mr. Gedney. As yon might
have done so, and as the butler was atill
tyider suspicion, as well as the maid who
was up so late when she should have
been oaring for the young mistress, I
bad _to look farther for convincing
proof. ’ The letter itself was written is
Typewriting, and I observed a oar too*
error ill the spelling of two words. I
found ‘emphasise’ and ‘recognise.’ In
each, instead of the ‘a’ there waV« rep
etition of the ‘i,’ that letter being dou
bled. The watermark on the paper was
•Caligraph, ’ the name of a typewriter,
a mark which is on all the pnper sold
by the company mntrnlling that instru
ment In that machine the bar which
earriaa tbo latter T is next to that which
sarrtea the letter ’a* It U not aa
common thing when a typewriter is oat
of order f r two kora to fall to paaa a
sootbar. Tbot. ta writing ‘smpfcaeti
a rapid writer waold strike the V key
hefiev the T har had tally
TW ■*' bar. name woo Id sank* Ao T
Ae lattes *1* tastemt of wnuag *ta
Aol A* msrhioa was fealty f
Bite of Haasor and 1ft
fbr the saaliltodo. .
—Smiles ara smiles ooly whaa tbo
heart pulls tbo wiras.
—If monty is tight, avoid it—It
ought to know better.
—Malice tucks up the greater part
of her own venom, and poisons herself.
—lAgrbat Is said be not to the par-
pom, a'siogle word is already too
much.
—Puring the year 1897 there will ha
no eclipse of the moon, a vary unusual
thing.
—"Faith," said the little boy, after
weelTe study, “faith ie believing
Homething that you know can’t be
true;"—= - ~
—A man who will deny bis old
mother Haftib reason to complain if
people believe him capable of almoet
any
—The only States In which capital
punishment ta forbidden by Taw ara
Michigan. Wisconsin, Colorado, Rhode
Island and Maine.
— Doctor—" My gdod woman, does
your son stutter all the time?" Par
rot—" Not ail the time, eir. Ooly when
ne attempts to talk. 1 *
—The wonderful progreee made In
.• • r ■ - 0 from the fact that
only afa« par cent, of all oporaitoaa ta
amputation arv fatei
- Dua l sot a rbsumaUsm trap by
ta yowraklrtel—vis »k sis
wbor- Wbal Uaeyaoa/m*"
li e a word yaa eon ene to Aa
of nnaahar wbao yoo dnet howw
It* ++ * • • mm
M mmmm pi
it
bmm tmi km km
i kb*
**Yaa any A Too AtnBM tsneMsnr'
"Mas os fast. Mr Undaeg. ’ | saamad
An ara yet. This iattes h wrtiten
aa a typewriter, nod |bn mayurtty at
oprrntoev are w < own Bat we aka 11 ana
OUkt details most A gathered sad
■todied 1 «iU follow thit np prremal-
ly Camel We will begin work nt ooea ”
They proceedrd flies so Mesnld square
nod left Ibo following to A inserted in
the next day’s Herald: a
“M E."—CommonicaUat one*, stattnr krw-
aat term* Osmist.
Thence thsy went to Mr. Gedney’s
bonse. Seating himself in a comfortable
chair in the library, Mr. Barnes asked
that the butler should be summoned.
The man entered the room, and it was
apparent at ojioe from his deferential
manner and attitude that he was a good
servant of the English type. At the
same time be eyed the stranger keenly,
and throughout the interview answered
with a deliberateness which showed
that he weighed his words and wonld
be very careful not tap,say anything
which might be used against him, a
irase better known than understood,
short, whether or not be had any
thing to conceal, the butler was cautious
because speaking to a detective.
“Moulton,” began Mr. Barnes, “I am
• detective."
"Bo I thought, sir," answered
too.
"And why. pray, did you think no?"
" Well. air. I sboold my we
•ad yoo*!* • stranger tom* to*. I
"Tbal to yoor omly
‘"Tbns's oik tot **
pbr
In i
■f Wo mil ten nnarefy bow oho wan
nn Mimdny otgM o wo yoo namt tor An
gorten."
TW girl rtenpamd bwonlf wlA nn
•ff< m, null lading It diMrmit to tod
yropw words wlA which to nddrens a
dotectivo. - ,
"Miss Norn knted odd all Mimdsy and
was melancholy litf. Bhv’d sit and stern
woo id accuont f
qo'OHoos sad
when tv r i
pot her tol
1 It la |*MS!t
nd m
L kti
that
replying to
wing no rvMsioncv
her clothing to
I, it Is merely s gome
arose in the night
oot of the windovn'nod not answer when ‘ and wandered out «4 the house. I only
I spoke to her. JT t hohgbt perhaps some-
thing had bothered her, and so I left
her alone, meaning to speak to Mr.
Gedney nt dinner time. But he eeut a
telegram that be was going out of town.
And so when Miss Nora wouldn't come
down to dinner and wouldn’t answer
or look at me, but just kept staring ‘out
of the window, I got scared a little and
thought best to send for Dr. Donaldson.”
"What did he say when he examined
your mistress?”
"He talked to her, but she wouldn’t
answer him either. He patted her on
the head and said she was sulky. Then
be told me perhaps she was angry be
cause her father wouldn’t come home,
but that she must not A allowed to
brood over trifles. He said I must put
her to bed, and A left soine medicine
that he said would put her to sleep. ”
"Not her to sleep?” repeated Mr.
J v/*s **-» «■ • . maw w now nnmsvmgr
’ready, siren though her eyes were oot
closedf 1 ’ *
"No, tor. it didn’t But^pow yoo
of It it woolda'I eorprtoe as ta
ftbs csrtetaly di lu't not as
venture ths snggmUun ns s vague clew
for yon to work from. ”
"Whet do you think of this letter?”
ssked Mr. Barnes, handing him the
anonymous communication signed ”M.
E.”
The doctor read it twice over and then
■aid:
"Looks more like somnambulism than
ever. Don’t you see? She must have
dressed herself in the night and wan
dered off. Someone found her and has
taken her home and now tries to make
capital out of it Will you notice this?”
" We have already inserted an adver
tisement in The Herald, ” said Mr. Ged
ney, "asking for terms.” -V.
"I suppose that was the .yrisest
course,” said the doator, "and I hope
yon' will soon recover little Nofa. J
trust, thoagh, that Mr. ^arues may A
able to save yon paying out anything to
Dr. Donaldson left the house.
Mr. Barnes promised Mr. Gedney to
tone no time in his search and was leav
ing the bouse, when, nt the door, the
bailer slopped tom by enying:
s aoe thing, perhaps, tor. that
I oogM to toll job. ikoogh it may not
ta
pg_
kwitov's oooteeo la IU tatftor
li-s tjv-t / i .# i **' Lg e i
OffBB Mr M tehei Lately, A fnwnd It
dMtowN to toeriite stately whsthar Ur
DuonidsoB nod Mr Gedney had keen
aattrsjy htoast with hta* Did either or
both know More than they bad told or
tall more tfaau tbs facto? Was IA whole
sleep walking theory Merely a trick to
coo fuse him? Ho wished that A could
eertataly eliminate Mr. MitcAl as a
factor in the equation. Without him
everything seemed clearer.
At 10 o'clock ou the following morn
ing Mr. Gedney presented himself and
handed Mr. Barnes the following letter
8swyouradvftrtlMment and answers! once
I want f&.OUO. Let me stnpbasiM the fact that
I will not take less. You will wish to com
municate with me. You can’t catch me with
decoy letter* Bernes ia b< Iping you. I know
that, you see* He’s a keen devjl, but ho am I
One of you be at the public telephone in Hoff
man House at 8 o'clock on the stroke. I will
call you up. When you answer, I will say "M.
E." You will recognize the signal and do all
the talking. Your detective shan't hear my
voice. I may need bis valuable aid myaelf in
the future. I inclose a piece of the girl’s cloth
diBss and a lock of her hair. __ M. E.
“Mr. Gedney,” said Mr. Barnes, "I
sqppoee this bit of hair and scrap of
cloth satisfy you that the scoundrel
really has yonr child?”
"Yea I am convinoed of that.”
^Hoffman House at the appointed hoar.”
During the morning Mr. Barnes wrote
the following note
Dr
pasaBta—Tk* _
ksv wtBvMil pay sal to meosf Te Is*
• stew tote I tore IS la
OB to Ms girt As a
to As Aas in igtag wteh Aa
has poiteWB
■Bosydy *1
Ate Mote" obvsoBgaB (A
•stead An daoeov awd Aid Ate da-
spits kts strugglso
Wkoi dons this ootraga mvaaT*
srn smsd A - dorter. figbuag
ly lo lltoyute hlmsrlf
"Pot on (A
Ml Barnte qnitely, aad whila this was
being done A daftly roaoved a pistol
from the doctor’s pocket
“There, now," continued the detect
tve, “we can talk without rislf*"
"I suppose you have the right m«B?”
said Mr. Mitcbel, "or you would'nbtgo
to such extremes. Give ns the details.
How did yoq solve the riddle?"
"Riddle?” said Mr. Barnes. “Well,
do yon know, I thought it a riddle, and
one created by yon, until a very few
moments ago. It was only when you
came in awhile ago that I eliminated
you from the case. ” 1
Mr. Mitchel laughed heartily.
"Fie, flel” said he. "You are fighting
windmills. Yon must not look fpr my
hand in oil criminal cases that come to
you. But why should my coming Are
affeot your views?”
“You wopld nevei; have left the most
important part of the job than assistant.
You did that onoe, you know, and I
Integrity, hot
sowasdtea. They faoi
BB oppavtaaity which Mate* teito Any
rvodily follow ttoir enaiasl beat Baa-
oswUy, abdwquaa to a nuo otIbo fur sw
seal rvasoos. Il to difficult to ohtala
proseteioa of tA child, it to risky te
carry on the aecasaary cosnmonlratlaaa
which mast ensu«, nod it ia very hard
to find a way of receiving tbs ransom
without detection. All of th«a* points
this man thought be could overcome.
The temptation came to him daring tA
night after his first visit He recognised
the catalepsy and knew that no resist
ance would A made to his carrying the
child off, aud that she would not tell
where she bad Acn daring the tranoe,
even after her recovery. The opportuni
ty came on the following morning, when
he found the girl unguarded. He oould
not resist it. He cleverly muiAgsd the
oommnnioations by telephone and by
writing with a typewriter, which wnnM
not ordinarily have Atrayed him as it
did. Lastly, as ho was commissioned to
take the ransom to himself, detection
seemed impossible."
"Yet despite all his cleverness, ” mor
alized Mr. Mitchel,* "the rogue made
two fatal slips, aud these bropgbt him
his doom. Good night, Mr. Barnes.”
• * TUX ESP. ■*—
—* 4 Hiram," sold Mrs. Corntossel,
" I hate ter say aavthlng thet ain't ex
actly good nalured ; but It 'peorp ter
that yoo gla't Bakin’ ex good use
o' yer ttmo as you might.” " Moody.’’
was tha reply. " I think I'b doin'
good. I’vo Aob doin'o
la Ao way of Improvin' my mlod
loiofj” *• Thot's jte* tl, Hirom They e
m. to — ’ * l^to .-J tawifom 1 m • fos*
— U¥ mml
Wkat to
kBBBtoBtol
wsmmmh
ovory ovuoiog te
mo. nod now ho soys A’s
n# c-ua t tehe m« A tA Us
out bruuktug hto word."
wlA-
—A loiter was received la Now Or*
caos directed M To Aa biggest fool ta
New Orisons." Tbs poilmo
absesi, and on bis rotara owe of
voueger clerks informed him of
letter. ” Aad wbat became of It f In
quired the postmaster. ** Why,” ro-
plied As slerk, "I did oot know who
the biggest fool in New Orleans
«o 1 opened the letter myself.”
what did you find in It ?" " Why,” re*
ipooded the clerk, “nothing but tbo
words, ’ Thou art the man !’ ”
-A?d
Is JlDGE SlMONTON CONVERTED ?
—The Charleston correspondent of the
Columbia Register says that Judge
Slmonton Is evidently a thorough con
vert to the claims of the Dispensary
oystem as a moral institution—or nt
least to the moral features of Ae system,
taken by themselves. In his charge to
the jury yesterday in the Beokroge
case his Honor said :
” The great feature of the Dispen
sary law,- the < destruction of Ae
saloons and the political influpncee of
saloons, preventing drinking liquor in
placet where liquor is sold, requiring
the Hquor establishments to A Apt
open during certain hours, the destruc
tion of the habit of treating aad the
protection cast around minors
habitual drunkards, these feature#
will oot A Injured or protected 1
verdict you may render. No
qsostioa eaters this caw at all.
"Bet ia addition t> these great
•f Ae Dispea—ry law, aad I
that 1/ Aey were tba
tavaived. If yoer verdict
i ♦
L'# 4 *
I’h