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ASINGIMK ABDUCTION RODRiaUE3 OTTOLENGUI. [Copyright, l '.'-. by tho Author.] Mr. Barnes was ulono in Iiis sanctum when :ui elderly Ulli II of cultured man ners was ushered hi. 'J'lic visitor Riiuk into ti Bout and began his appeal at onco. "Oh, Mr. Barnes," said ho, "I am in gront distress, I hardly dared to hopo that ussistnnco wore possible until I mot my frioud Loroy Mitohol. You know him?" Mr. Barnes nssontod, with a Mini ?, und the old man continued, "Ho told mo that you could Biiroly aid me." "I will certainly do all that is in my power to servo a friend of Mr. Mitch* el's," said the detective "Von arc wry kind. My last hope, is dependent upon your success But let iuo tell you the story. 1 am Richard Qodnoy, the broker. Perhaps you havo hoard tho nom?." Air. Barnes nodded. "1 thought bo. Old Dick they **.-* 11 mo Ott tho street, and sometimes Old Niel;, but that is only their little joko when the mar!.i t goes against tin in. I do nut, think thai 11 icy r< ally dislike im-, though j I have uitido my foituno. I havo never j cheated any tino tu r been hard on a frioud timing all my career. Hut that is immaterial, except that it makes it hard to understand how any one eould ' have (tone me so great an injury as to steal my daughter. "Steal your daughter 1" interrupted Mr. Barnes. "Abduction?" "Abduction, 1 suppose, is your tech nical term. I call it plain stealing. To take a girl of 14 away from her father's home is stealing, no more, no less." "\Vh; n did this occur?" "Two days age. Tuosduy morning wo missed her, though she may have been taken darin;: the night. She was slight ly sick on Monday ov< ning, and her maid sent for the doctor, who ordered her to bo put to bed mid kept there. When 1)0 called again on Tuosduy morn ing, he went to my little girl's room and was astonished to see that she wad not there. A search was instituted un der the supposition that, in tho absenco of hor maid, she might have wandered to somo other part of the house, but tho child could not bo found. It almost seemed as though she had vanished." "Had you seen her yourself that morning?'" "I cannot too much condemn myself. You see I am an old whist player, and tho temptation to play made mo linger so late with some friends on Monday night that I prcforred to remain in New ark, where 1 was, and so did not reach homo until after in o'clock on Tuesday morning. By that timo tho misfortuno had occurred." "Haw you discovered no clew to her where.i! nits?" "X. tie. Wo havo SCUt to all of our friends in the vain hope that she might have a risen early and gone out, hut no one has seen l.i r. She has disappeared M thoroughly as though sin? bad been swallowed by :.n earthquake. Here, however, is u letter which reached me this m< ruing. I cunn< t d< cido whether it is important or merely a cruel juke i perpetrated by some crank who has heard of my misfortune." 11. 1 .. led the Utter to Mr. Barnes, who lead as follows: Vom' ilnughtor la safo i' you uro scnslblo. If you v.'ai.t lior b?U)k, bid for bur. ,Makoyi>ur offer high cuough, unit Bho'll bo witb you. 1 will nitfiwor if yon t at a personal in Th? Hur uhl a'idrcsaod to UM. B." "Mr. Gedney," said Mr. Barnes, "this is a serious affair, but if this let ter is genuine?as I think it to be?wo can recover the girl, though wo may have to pay a ransom. That d< ponds on whether we two shrew 'er than tho per petrator of this crime, mid be is no fool. Thus far ho has procbeded withconsum inato skill." "You say ho, You think it is a man?" "Not so fast, Mr. Godney. I cannot judge the sex yet. This letter is written on a typewriter, and the majority of operators aro women. But we shall sco. Other details must be gathered and studied. I will fellow this up personal ly. Comol SVo will begin work ot once." They proceeded first to Herald square and 1. ft the following to bo inserted iu the in xt day's lit raid : "M. E."?Coinmunlcato at onco, stating low est terms. ?F.nsT.y. Thonoo tluvy went to Mr. Gedney's house. .Seating himself in a comfortable chair in the library, Ir. Bartlos asked that tho butler should be summoned. The man entered tho room, and it was apparent at ouco from his deferential manner ami attitude that be was a good servant of the English type. At tho same timo ho eyed tho stranger keenly, and throughout the interview answered with a deliborateness which showed that Im weighed his words and would bo very careful not to say anything which might bo used against him, a phrase better known than understood. In short, whether or not ho had any thing to conoeal, tho butler was euutioua because speaking to a doteetive. "Moultou," began Mr. Barnes, "I am a detectivo." "?o 1 thought, sir," answered Moul ton. "And why, pray, did yon think so?" "Well, sir, I should say wo need ono, and you'ro a stranger to mo, sir. I know all my master's friends. " "That is your ouly reason for suspool ing my profession?" "That's all, sir." "Moniten, I mn going to find out whero your mistress has been taken." Mr. Harnes said this suddenly nnd watched the iuhu closoly. Moulton scorned impassive, and his roply was noncommittal. "I hopo so, sir. " "Very well," wild tho detectivo. "Answer a few questions explicitly and you may give mo great assistance. On Tuesday morning yon admittod tho doc tor. At what tune was it':" "It was about 8 o'olook. Wo had just taken our simIm at breakfast in tho serv ants' hall when the boll rang. That is how I fix tho hour. Wo are regular about mnola lu thin house. Wo havo our breakfast at 8, and tho master cats at 0." "What occurrod when you admitted tho doctor?" "Ho asked for Miss Noro, and I said eho was not down yet. Ho said ho sup posed he could go up, and I suid I sup posed bo could, and ho wont. " "What did you do next?" "I went back to my breakfast." "Did yon tell tho maid that tho doc tor bad called?" "No. sir." "Why not?" "Well, partly brause I did not think it ueocssary, and partly, I sop pose, bccuuso bIio hud not couio into (ho breakfast room yet." Moulton smiled u little as though ho thought thut ho had Said something olovcr. "Did thu doctor And tho lunid in her mistress' room?" "No, sir. 1 In :ir?l tho doorboll again und \v( nt up. The doctor was Btuudiug in tho hull. Ho suid ho raug I ho door bell because ho ?1 i<I not know how olso to t all mo. Then ho said Miss Nora hud left hor roonii which was against tlio onU rs ho gavo tho night before, and thut 1 was to tell the maid to have lirv bnck in bed at OUCO, and ho would cull Uguhl in an hour. I went, buck to thu breakfast room, and this timo tho maid was there, and fright* nod Bho was w hen I gave her (ho message." "Win ii tin- doctor told you that Miss Nor it was not in hot room, were you Burprisi d?" "No, dir " ("i on (his admission Air. Barnes ask* od quickly: "You know already thut she had boon stol< ii?" li'i' Moulton readily avoided a direct answer. "Why, how should I know that, sir':" ho asked quiotly, Mr. Barnes obsorved him for a mo ment in silence and then asked to have the maid called. Ho told Moulton that ho had finished with him "for thu pres ent," and the butler retired, with n sat isfied smile upon his face. Whilo waiting for the maid Mr. Barnes nddrossod M ^idnoy. "Mr. Qednoy," b? . >io, "you havo not told mo tho name of tho doctor." "His name is Doraldsou?Stephen Donaldson.'' "Has ho served you long?" "Ever sinca ho camo into thin neigh* borllOOd, about three years ago. He Qr8t OUniO to US at the time of my wife's death. I liUTO retained him siuco that time. Ho is i\ good, kind man, and I think ho is quite as fend of Klinoia as I am myself. This explains his solicitude about her and his early call. He has u rather curious theory. Ho thinks sho may havo wandered off in hor sleep during tho night." "Why, has sho ever exhibited a tend eney toward somnambulism?" "Ye:?. At least we havo found her asleep out of her own room, hut nothing of the sort has happened for over two years, and I supposed that sho had out grown her sleep walking habit. " "This adds U most interesting phase," said Mr. Barnes. "I would liko to speak to Dr. Donaldson about it. Do you think ho will bo hero today?" "I expect him, na ho promised to conic nt about this hour. Here is Bron son, my daughter's maid." This directed tho attention of Mr. Barnes to a young woman who had just entered. Sho was evidently dreadfully alarmed at being summoned to moot a detective, and her eyes showed that she had been wt oping. "Come, my girl," said Mr. Barnes reassuringly, "you need not bo fright* Olli d. 1 only wish to ask you a few quCB ti> ns. You uro willing to help mo to lind your mistress, uro you not?" "Oh, indeed, indeed, yes, sir." "Then ti ll mo exactly how sho was on Monday night when you sont for tho doctor." Tho girl composed herself with an effort, still finding it difficult to find propor words with which to address a detective. "Miss Nora acted odd all Monday and was melancholy like. She'd sit and staro out of tho window and not answer when I spoko to her. 1 thought perhaps sonn thing had bothered her, mid m> I left her alone, mottiiillg to Spouk to Mr. Gednoy at dinner timo. But In* sent a telegram that ho was goiug out of town. Ami so wh u Miss Nora wouldn't come down to dinner and wouldn't answer or look at me, but just kept- staring out of t:.'- window, I got scared a lntlo and thought best to send for Dr. Donaldson." "What did he say when ho examined your mistress?" "Ho talked to her, but sho wouldn't answer him either. Ho patted he" on tho head and said sho was sulky. Vhon ho told mo perhaps she. ,,ti.h angry be causo her father wouldn't como homo, but that ehe must net bo allowed to brood ovor tri ties. Ho said J must put her to bed, and ho left somo medicine that ho suid would put her to sleep." "Put her to sleep?" repeated Mr. Barnes thoughtfully. "Did it occur to you that perhaps sho was asleep al ready, ovoii though her oyos wero not closed?" "No, sir, it didn't. But, now yon speak of it, it wouldn't surpriso mo in tho least. Sho certainly didn't not as though sho was awake." "Did you havo any trouble toput hor to bod?" "No, sir, though that was strange Sho just stood still and letnui do every thing. Sho did not help me, and sho did not prevent me. " "When did you see her after that?" "I novct saw hor uftor that," tho maid cried softly. "Was it not yonr duty to go to hor room again before retiring yourself?" "Yes, Kir. But?but?hut"? Sho scorned confused and stopped. "Go on." said Mr. Barnes. "Toll ull Iii at you know. " "I'ut her to sleept" repented Mr. linrium. TtI don't know Anything, sir. Indeed I don't. I?I?I?-well, I was later than I ought to have boon going up stairs or account of company. So I just put my bead in Miss iNoru sroom, and 119 every thing was quiet I went on to my own room. It wus nearly ~ o'clock." "Then yon do not really know that your mistress was Its her room at that hour?" "No, sir. I ought to know, but I don't." "It in your duty to attend he in tho morning, is it not?" . "Yos. sir, but sho novor y/fk*? tefpro ! 8 o clock, and the doctor told UiC uot to disturb hor till he ctuuo. Mo suid ho Nvutitcd to wuko her himself und see how sho acted.'1 "But you woro not in hor room nor IS'tlSQ brcukfasi room ul 8 o'clock." Mr. Burnos sorutinizod her closoly. "Whoro wen' you'.'''' Tim girl turned orimsou and stammered a few words innudibly. "ComO, tell mi' where you woro,'' said Mr. Barnes sharply, " You woro souie whero, you know. Whero woro you?" "I was in tin down stairs hallway," sho said slowly. "Doing what?" "I was talking to tho polio man," sho roplied reluctant ly. "Your hoau?" suggested Mr. Bnrnos significant ly. "No, sir. Ho is my husband." Sho lossi 1 h< r head defiant ly now that her socret was divulged. "V'inr husband?" said Mr. Barnes, slight y surprised. "Why, then, did you hesitatO to speak of hint?" "Bccuuso?Ix cnuso"?she stammered onco moro and seemed troubled?"bo ouuso mnybo if I had not been talking to him Miss Morn wouldn't iiavo been carried off. Ho might have soon tho thief. " ".lust so," said Mr. Harnes, and a tho doctor was announced ho allowed tho maid to go. Dr. Donaldson appeared to Ik; a gon ial, elderly medical man of tho old school?ouo of those who bring an at inosphoro of convalescence ami hope into sick chandlers. Mr. Godney introduced him to Mr. Harnes, and he advance,! and shook the detective cordially by th i hand. "I ava delighted, Mr. Barnes, that my old friend (Jodticy has been s, nsible enough toongago you to unravel this af fair rather than call in the police. Tho police are bunglers, who depend for sue coss upon publicity ami newspapor aid. This affair can be managed without pub licity, eh? You llUVO looked into the matter: What do you think?" "That is precisely the question, doc tor, which 1 was about to ask you. Mr. Gl duey tells mo that you think somnam bul ism. " "dust so. Hut I only said it might he that. Doctors, you know, me as careful as detectives in forming conclusions. You havo heard that I was called in to see tho dear little girl on Monday night? Well, I found her in a strange mood. Thinking it over, 1 havo almost con vinced myself that what we took for stubbornness?sull.s, I think I called it ?was somnambulism?that, in fact, she was asleep when I saw her. That would account for hor not re]dying to questions and offering no resistance when her maid removed her clothing to put her to bed. Still, it is im rely u gucSS. It is possible that sho uroso in tho night and wandered out of the house. I only venture the suggestion as a vaguo clow for you to work from." "What do you think of this letter?" asked Mr. Harnes, banding him the anonymous communication signed "M. E." Tho doctor road it, twice over and then said : "Looks more likosomnambulism than ever. Don't yon see/ She must have dressed borself in the night ami wan dt red oil'. Somo one found In r and has taken her homo and now tries to make eajtital out of it. Will you notice this?" " We havo already Inserted an adver tisement in The Herald," said Mr. Gcd my, "asking for terms. " "I suppose that was tiio wisest course," said the doctor, "and 1 hope you will soon recover little Nora. I trust, though, that Mr. Barnes maybe a' ',' in save you paying out anything to thu scoundrel. Well, other pcoplo are waiting for me," with which romark Dr. Donaldson left the house. Mr. Barnes promised Mr. Godney to lose no timo in his search and was leav ing the house, when, at tho door, tho butler stoppod him by saying: " 1 hero's ouo thing, perhaps, sir, that I ought to tell you, though it may not amount to anything." "What is it?" asked Mr. Barnos. "Well, sir, as you know, tho master WOS out on Monday night. It was near 10 o'clock when tho doorbell rang, which surprised inc. I answered tho bell, and it was Mr. Mitehel." "Mr. Beroy Mitehel?" asked tho de tective, much interested. "Yes, sir. Ho comes hero often, though not so late at night. Ho said he was passing, and, seeing a light, in the library, thought he'd drop in and have n cigar with tho master. When I told him Mr. Gedney was not at home, fie said it was of no consequence, and I needn't mention that ho had called." "Did you toll Mr. Godnoy of this vis it?" "No, sir, though I did think it odd to bo asked to keep it a secret." Tho but ler uttered tho last word in n very sug gest ivo tone, but tho detective appeared IlOt tO liol ire it. "I'll just Btop back and speak a word with Mr. Qeduey," laid Mr. Barnes after a brief pauso. Finding that gen tlomun, ht/'a-kf d i "By tho way, Mr. Gedney, when yon spoke to Mr. Mitehel about this matter what did ho think of it? Did he express any opinion?" "Yes. Ho said tho doctor was most likely correct, ami that ho thought that Noro had merely wandered away in her Sleep; that sho was not really abducted at all. Ho told mo to cheer up and not to worry about tho girl; that sho would toon be at home again, Then ho set mo to you, saying you could find her with out difficulty." "Ho luts faith in my abilities," mut tered tho detectivo, then added aloud, "I will endeavor to deserve Mr. Mitchel's opinion," and onco moro withdrew. On his way home Mr. Barnes revolved an idea in his mind, trying to decide upon its probability. Tho maid had left tho girl in bed early in tbo evening and oonld not bo sure that sho was still there when sho visited the room again at 3 o'oloek. As a child she had walked in hor sleep. The fa'nily physician's diag nosis was somnambulism. Mr. Mitcliei had called at tho hous > unusually lato for a sooiftl visit. Did he find the child wandering about tho saeet and not reo ognizo her until ho had taken hor to his own homo, which was only a fow blocks away? Was that why ho hod oalled at Godnoy's houso so late? Tho anony first glance it BOO mod like a rather poor effort at a joke, the letters spoiling "m0." But tbey were capitals. Did tho "M" indicate "M?ehol" and tho "H" "Klinora?" Was this anothor little plot, of Mr. Mitchel's to test Mr. Barnes' skill? Thoro was ono vital objection to this lino of rouKoniug. Why would Mr. Mitoh i rmit Iiis friend to ?uhw Sv ?nuoh _I '^^^^^K'' "Did von tell Mr. Oedneu of this vtsitf" ? ? " ? ; to ........... ii whiui, n hubby of outwitting u doteotiva? Such nu aol would In? an outrage o:i friendship. But then was it absolutely assured that Air. Gedney was not in the secret? Thus tho dotootivo's lllilld was racked with argument during the day. IJo speculated upon Mr. Mitchell connec tion with the affair. He wondered why the maid had retired so late that night. He asked himself the meaning of tho butler's euution in bis interview, and tho object of his casting a suspicion upon Mi. Mitohel. Lastly, he found it difficult to decide exactly whether Dr. Donaldson and Mr. Godney had been entirely honest with him. Did either or I both know more than they had told or tell more than the facts? Was the whole sleep walking theory merely a trick to Confuse him? He wished that be could certainly eliminate Mr. Mitchol as a factor in the equation. Without him everything seemed (dearer. At 10 o'clock on tho following morn ing Mr. Gcdtioy presented himself and handed Mr. Barnes the following letter: Haw your ad vor tts< meat mid answer nt onco. I want $20.000. Lot mo emphtisUe the tact that 1 will not tnka less. You will wish to coin* ID till lento with me. You can't catch mo with docoy letters. Dnrnos l-t In Iplng you. I knew that, you BOO. lie's tt keen dovll, but BO am I. One, of yon bo et tho public tolephono in Hoff man liOUHO t.t i o'clock en tie- stroke. I will call you up. ?'ll n you answer, I will say "M. E." Yon will rccognlzo the signal und do nil tho talking. Your dotoolIvo Bhun't hoar my voice I may neod his valuable aid myaolf In tho future I lncloso n pioco of the girl's oloth dress and a lock of her hair. M. E. "Mr. Gedney," said Mr. Barnes, "I suppose this bit of hair and scrap of cloth satisfy you that tho scoundrel really lias your child?" "Yes. I am convinced of that. " "Then I will recover her and without ransom too. Mark that. Mco! moat ?ho Hoffman House at tho appointed hour." During tho morning Mr. Barnes wroto tho following note: Dr. Donaldson: DBAK Silt?Tho person who has thy child wants n largo ransom. I nm determined to ro cover her with' tit payment fit money. To fol low a clew that I have it is ini| ortant to know the exact fil'/.o of tho girl. As a physloliUI you can gUCSS thisOVOn liottor than the father; nlso Inform >no of any peculiarity or mark known to you by whloh I could rccognl'/a hor nlivo or dead. 1 say dead because tho party at present suspected would Mop nt not hi Ii K lo Bhlold htm nelf from arrost. Ploaso answer by hearer. Yours truly, J, BaRNKS. This ho sent by messenger and ro ceived tho following reply: I hopo you will succood. l'.liuorH is small und Hilm, being rather undi rslzcd for her ax?. 1 should say nliout -i fe? t 10 Inolies. I know of no dlstinctivo mark wlioroby her body could ho recognized mid hopo that nothing of tho sort suggested will occur. Yours truly, ROUEIIT Donai.i.son. At 3 o'clock Mr. Barnes and Mr. C3ed ney met at the Hoffman House Tho de tective received permission to conduct the conversation. The signal was receiv ed promptly, and Mr. Harnes thus ad dressed "M. B," over the telephone: "\V^ will pay tho amount domnndod if tho girl is restored unharmed. Notify us immediately when and whore the ex change may he made." Leaving the hotel, the detectivo said: "Yon must obtain 920,000 in cash, Mr. Godnoy. Wo will need it, but if my plans are successful I shall be able toro cover tho money as well as tho girl. Aro you satisfied?" l nave perfect confidence in your skill, Mr. Barnes," \v:u* the reply. On tho next day tho following letter was received by Mr. tJcdney: Ho you Accept my terms. I ouuht to havo asked more, but will deal squarely nild not ralso you. Tin- matter can he si ttlcd nt onco. That you may he sure your k'irl has BUfforcd no harm, which 1 understand is tho condition of your acceptance, lot your ambassador hu yourfrlond, nr. Donaldson, lie knows hor and ran judge of her pliysloul condition. Let him leave his house at midnight and drive up Mad' Ison avenue Slowly until hailed hy the signal "M. E." If he is alone, and no one is follow* in? htm, he will hi- stopped. If your detectivo tries any tricks, he will merely hnve his drive for nothing. I win he in hiding with the girl, mid if you keep faith the transaction will oo oupy hut a moment. I will take tho cash And deliver tho girl. Hut I tihnll ho armed, und trfaehery will mean death. I Wln n Dr. Donaldson was approaobed np'in this subject, he offered many objoc tiono, but was dually prevailed upon to ! undertake tho delicate mission. I Shortly after midnight Mr. Barnes and Mr. Gedney woro awaiting tho re turn of tho doctor when Mr. Mitohel i was announced. Mr. Harnes had invited him to bo present, hut was in douht whether ho would accept or not. If ho bad the girl in his possession, it seemed improbable, unless indeed Dr. Donald son were in the secret. "Well, Mr. Barnes," said Mr. Mitoh el after itn exchange of greetings, "so you have unraveled this oaso?" " Well, not entirely. There are still a few knotty skeins. But wait awhile, and you will sen whether I succeed or fail." It was nearly 1 o'clock when at last a carriage stopped at tho house, and a few minutes Inter ?he doctor entered, hearing Klinora in his arms. "My daughtorl" exclaimed tho lather excitedly. " Thank heaven, BhO is re stored to inel" "Yes," said tho doctor, "she is safo enough, but I think she hits been drug ged, for she has slept ever sinco I ro OOivOd her." "Did yon havo nny difflonlty?" nuked Mr. Barnes, enterinc nt this moment. II.. had lingered outside long enough to exchange t word with the butler. "No troublo at all," replied tho doc tor. "1 drove slowly as far t.s Ono Hun dred and Second street, when I hoard the signal and drew up near the ourb. A man cnum out of tho shadow of a building and asked if I had tho oash. I replied affirmatively. He went Lack to the doorway nnd returned with tho girl Jujilo^urayi, bujb. withj? niatol noinua mo. I banded biui tho packet of bills, and lie passed nn< the girl. Ho stood with Iiis pintol pointed in my direction until 1 drove away. So thcro was nothing that I could do. He will un doubtedly escape punishment for this villainy." "I cannot agree with you, doctor," said Mr. Farnes calmly. "I think ho will be fully punishi d.'' "In what way?" asked tho doctor amazed. "Oh, I see! You mean by his conscience?" "Partly," said Mr. Barnes. "Excuse mo a moment, and I will explain moro fully." Ho went, to tin? door and admitted tho butler ami tho same policeman who had been oil his beat talking with the maid. Boforo his purpose was comprehended Mr. Barm s said sharply, "Officer, ar rest that man," whereupon tho police man seized the doctor and held him de spite his struggles. "What does this nutrago mean?" screamed the doctor, lighting desperate ly to liberate himself. "Put on tho mapaolcs, officer," said Mr. Harnes quietly, and while this was being done he deftly removed a pistol from tho doctor's pocket. "There, now," continued tho detect ive, "we can talk without risk." "I suppose you havo tho right man?" said Mr. Mitehel, "or you would notgo to such extremes. (Jive us tho details. Mow did von solve tho riddle?" "Kiddle?" said Mr. Barnes. "Well, do you know, I thought it a riddle, and one created by you, until a very few moments ago. It was only when you came in awhile ago that I eliminated you from the case. " Mr Mitehel laughed heartily. '?Jfic, Hol" said he. " You are lighting windmills. Yon must nut look for my hand in all criminal cases that ootno to yon. But why should my coming hero off cot your views?'' "You would never have left the must important partof the job to an assistant. Y'ou did that once, you know, ami I "What does this outrage meant" beat you. But let nie explain how I solved this puzzle. At one timo I sus pected tho butler hero because of his unnecessary caution in answering ques tions. Bator I concluded that it was merely a personal characteristic to make noncommittal replies. It is a sort of requisite with good servants to evade catechism. The clew came 'o mo with tho roply to our personal. Tho envelope Was postmarked tho night before, and thus was actually mailed before the newspaper was printed, an oversight on the part of tho writer. No one knew of the advertisement except ourselves and Dr. Donaldson, unless you had men tioned it, Mr. Gednoy, As you might have dune so, and as tho butler was still under suspicion, as woll as tho maid who was up so lato when sno should have I boon caring for tho young mistress, 1 had to look farther for convincing proof. Tho letter itself was written i? I typewriting, ami I observed a curious error in the spelling of two words. I found 'emphasize' and 'recognize.' In each, instead of the 'z' there was a rep etition of tho 'i,' that letter being dou bled. Tho watermark on the paper was 'Oaligraph, * tho name of a typewriter, a mark which is on all the paper sold by the company Controlling that instru ment. In that machine tho bar which carries tho letter 'i' is next to that which oarrioH tho letter ' It is not an un common thing when a typewriter is out of order for two bars to fail to pass ono another. Thus, in writing 'omphasizo' a rapid writer would strike tho 'a' key before tho 'i' bar had fully descended. Tho '/.' bar, rising, would striko tho 'i' and carry it up again, thus doubling tho lotter 'i' instead of writing M z.' Tho ropotition of such a mistake proved that tho machine was faulty. I wroto to Dr. Donaldson asking about tho 'size' of tho girl and for marks whereby her body could be 'recognized.' I used the words 'size' and 'recognize,' hoping to tompt him to repeat them in replying. My letter was also worded so that, ho would imagine that I already suspected some ono other than himself. In his answer I found tho Word 'recognize' and a similar one, 'undersized ' In both, the double 'i' error reappeared. Thus I Was sure of my man. When wo rooo'vod tho proposal that ho himself should bo our ombassador, tho trick was only too transparent. But not yet entirely satis fied, I sot another trap. I secretly placed a cyclometer on tho doctor's carriage. IIo says that tonight he drove to Ono Hundred and Second street and buck here, a total of r ight miles. Tho butler obtained tho oyeloineter for mo when tho carriage stopped, and it shows that ho drove less than a mile. Ho simply wnited at his honso until tho proper time and then camo ov?r. " "Bravo, Mr. Barnes!" exclaimed Mr. Mitehel. "You aro certainly improv ing." "But how did ho get Elinora?" nsked Mr. Gednoy. "I am afraid that your daughter is ill," said Mr. Barnes. "I judge from the description given by the maid that her condition was not somnambulism, as the dOOtOr suggested, but that she is suffering from an attack of catalepsy. When ho called in the morning, finding the maid absent and the girl still in n trance, ho quickly dressed her and car ried hor down to his carriago. Thoro was no risk, for had he been scon, though balked in his purpose, ho could havo explained that sho needed froBh air, and thut ho was taking her for a drive, and, as tho family physioiun, no wrong would havo been apparent. I promised tO teOOVCI your duughlot OUd youv money, Mr. Gednoy. Wo will find tho money at tho doctor's office, I sup pose. "^This proved trno. Mr. MitOllOl walked with Mr. Barnes when they left the house, and ho asked I "How do you account for the singular circumstance that a prominent man liko Donuldson would stoop tosuoh u orimo?" "That is an interesting auory." re? plied thu dotective. "In tho first place, many men uro honest not fl'OU) any in herent integrity, but rather through cowardice. They fear the Jaw. Given an opportunity which Booms safe, they readily follow their criminal bent. Sec ondly, nbduotiou is a rare crime for sev eral reasons. It is difficult to obtain possession of tho child, it is risky to oarry on the necessary communications which must ensue, and it is very hard to find a way of rveeiving the ransom without detection. All of these points this man thought ho ?mild overcome. The temptation came to him during tho night nfter Iiis first visit. Ho recognized tho catalepsy und knew that no resist ance would bo made to his carrying the Obi Id off, and that she would not tell where she had been during the trance, oven after Ik r recovery. Tho opportuni ty came on the following morning, whou ho found tho girl unguarded. Ho could not resist it. He cleverly managed tho Communications by telephone and by writing with a typewriter, which wnnlH not ordinarily have betrayed him as it did. Lastly, as be was commissioned to take the ransom to himself, detection Boomed impossible " "Yet despite all his cleverness," mor alized Mr. Mitohol, "the rogue made two fatal idips, and tllOSO brought hiiu his doom. Goodnight, Mr. Barnes." Tu? ?Nu. I'KKDINt; THK CHOPS. Tho Ittifltt Kind of Kootl as Ncccs wary for Crops as for Farm Ani mals. John K, Head in Practical Pa nier. If crops uro tobe grown, food mis' bo supplied for their nourishment, A plant can no more live without food than can an animal. And if it is to be profitable to the grower tin re must bi as v.'ise an adaption of tho fond to the wunts of the plant as '.here, is in the ease of Lho animal. Tho food must he bUlllolont In quantity, suitable in quality, and must be supplied when needed. Too many crops are not given the food that is needed for their perfect development. To a large, extent tin y are left to forage for themselves. This, too, in a groat many ca-es, by men who uro careful to feud their animals well. These men believe that it pays to keep a gootl supply of food for their animals, and keep it where it can bo obtained with but liUle difficulty. They do not make tin if animals work all Jay to get a baro subsistence. Yet it would hardly bfa more unprofitable to do tins than it is to (ail to provide amp o stores of food for their cultivated plants, it is true that plants can ob tain a gootl deal of footi for thcinsc'vcs. They grow in waste places anil un cultivated Holds without help from man. lint they do not attain anything ltko the vigor and development that ttiey would nave if the conditions were mure favorable. The same is true, though to a less extent, of the culti vated i 1 mis that arc suuplied with only.??ma.1 quantities of food. Scanty feeding dues not bring the farmer i either largo or profitable crops. The quality of food is us important as is- 11 ^ quantity. This is as true ')t plants as it is of animals. .Sonictimes crops are small upon land that receiv ed a considerable quantity of fertilizer and that brand, .nut, perhaps, com mt rolftl fertilizers in general, may he condemned by the man who had thus bt eo disappointed in the result of his efforts to obtain a large yield. Hut the fault may not have been with the fertilizer. Iranian gives his animals food that is not at all suited to their wants be cannot expect goad results to follow. Hut plants are just as partic ular about their food as are animals. No one would t'.ink of keeping his noises and bis hogs on the same kind of footl Yet there are men who will buy a fertilizer tor some special crop anil use it. not only for t! tit crop, bill for several 'other crops. Tho mixture may have been tl.e best that could liavo been made for the crop for which it was recommended, and yet have been of comparatively little use for Borne of the other crops upon which it was used, for these crops there may have hern a great deficiency of one of the elements needed to make a suit able fertilizer and an excess of other elements. But the excess of the latter cannot atone for the dciiclency of the former. The old rule in natural philo tonhy holds good here : " A chain is no stronger than it weakest link." It is not the average quantity of the. needed elements that determines the value of a fertilizer, but the smallest quantity of any one of the more im portant kinds. The quantity of ferti zer, such as it is, may be. large, and there, may be a great deal more nitro gen and phosphoric acid than is needed, and yet the. plants may be half starved because of a lack of potash. Or, there may bo an abund nee of potash and a deficiency of some of the other elements, in which case the re sult will be equally unsatisfactory. With the plants, as with the animal, if the food is to he properly utilized it must bo supplied at th right time. It docs nt t answer to keep an animal on short rations during the early period of its existence and feed it heavily after it h is hocoino stuute I by lack of Sufficient footl. Neither will it do to feed wi II at some times and give but little food "at Other periods. Liberal fei ding must 00 constant if it is to be successful. The same rule applies to plants. If the best results are to bo ,-eeuied the plants inu-t he amply sup plled with the kinds of 'ood which they require, and that supply must be maintained from the time tbo seed gi rininatOS until the proper stage for harvesting has been readied. It is right at this pdnt that many failures are made. Often manure is applied just before the seed is put. into the ground. 1'erhaps it is used in suf ficient quantity to make a line crop, but it t ik. s some time for much of it to become available, and so the. plant does not git a sufllclont quantity of food during one of the critical times of its life. If a little fertilizer had been user1 to give the plants a start, tho manure would havo carried them out in a vigorous growth. Not infre quently tho trouble comes at the other ond of the line. The supply of availa ble food mat ?rial- ifl <> nearly exhaust ed before tho points are mature that they are not nearly as pro! lie as they otherwise would have been. The crop, n such a case, is small, because at a certain poriod, and perhaps a brief one, tbo supply of food for tho plants was inadequato. " Hiram," said Mrs. Corntosscl, " I bate tcr say anything thot ain't ex : aotly good-natured , but It pears '.. ;' me. tbet you ain't makin' i z gootl U80 o' yer time cz you might." Mandy," was the reply, " I think I'm doln' pretty good. I've been doin' a good deal in the way of Imprnvin' my mind lately." " Thai's jes' it, Hiram. Tbey's I. hull lot of folks In tho agricultural j erlesslon thet keeps puttin' improve i f.racnt* out neu- mluds whon thoy ortor I bo puttin' repairs on the farm." SHAVING ALL THE HLAOS IN THE TOWN. A BAItBKll'S CLIPPER AT WORK. Every Man in iho village Hail ?<? sui> luit?Clipping and Shaving Douu iv)i" N?ilIiIiik?Tho Uurber Had a l,ong Rest, A correspondent of tho Augusta Chronlolo tells tho following story about a whole town Doing clipped anil shaved whether they desired It or not. The i neiden? located at Sly van la, Ga., ten years ago, soon after the rail i oad roaohed that point : It was a quiet morning in July whetl three uruy young mon ol tho town con cluded that they would break the monotony ol the village and at the same time make everybody fcol more comfortable, by clipping everybody's hair, and in addition shaving those who wore beard of any description. They llrst went up stairs to the ton sorlal sauotuin and saw ROSS, who readily entered into tho scheme ami offered to do all tho work for nothing. Tho clippers were brought out and sharpened and also screwed up SO they would take the hair oil a few days under the scalp, and the razors were i put in good trim. To prepare til Olli m Ivos more fully for their work, tho committee decided to let the barber do them up Urst. l'bey wire quickly shorn ol i verythiug that tho clippers or razors could reach from the neck up. and then felt ready ami anxious to do up the town. The Urst man t.hey met was a young fellow by the name ol Tompklns, who was to have bei tl married the next week, and who had come to town that moraine to sco the. preacher and buy his license. The boys told him what tin y wantt d. and at the same time one grasped hi in by each arm and the other walking behind, they began gently but firmly to lead him up the steps. At Ii st Tompklns 1 lughcd and thought it was ji good joke, but us they went further, his smile bccuim less mirthful and be asked them what they wero really going to do. They told him agalu, and he then begged them to let him oil. He said he was to be married the uoxt week, and in vited them i-.ll out to tin- wedding, Hut the invitation came too late. Hy this ti.no they were in the barber's -aiictuni. and the fatal clippers were in ful vi w. Tompklns then lost his tem per, and swore mat he would prosecute In em, but they gently forced him into tho chair, ami told tho art if t to do bib work. Then the young man thought of U sweet maiden who was anxiou-ly awaiting the return of her lover, anu he begged their pardon for what he had bald and hoped they would desist Irom uuylbing further. I Hit the die had been cast by fate, and it was uguimt Tompklns. The clippers and razor did ttielr work well, and when he looked in the glass the young man .-iinp.y sighed anil walked badly away lie did not realize who it was that In had gazed on. The Tompklns wed ding didn't come olf the next work, nor ha.- it eumo off yot. In the lir.-i place, when he went back his girl ,-aul she didn't believe it IVUS Touip kins that it was an impostor; and in the second place, if it was Tompklns .-he said she bad iost all affection for him. Sivor.il young men of the village wore next taken up and put through the. muchino, and eaeb one, however much he may have kicked before hand, after ttie magic (dippers hail passed over his head was always will ing anil eager to j ?ill the company. So the gang hourly increased. Thi' crowd was vory anxious to got their hands on the mayor, but for awhile he successfully avoided, finally, however, he was caught while ? oine through the fields from his ollico to his home, anil threats of lines an woll as pious for mercy fill alike in vain upon the ears of bib captors?and his honor was soon as slick-beaded as the rest, and anxious to help catch some b dy. Uno town marshal hud been among ttie first victims of the morn ing, and it was useless for anyone to can on him for protection. The on tire town council hail followed in rapid succession, and looked as white and cool as the drifting snow. The boys were going it. for municipal reform with a veugcanco. The sheriff of the county bad submitted gracefully to the im vit.ib.e, ami afterwards gave valua ble aid in bringing in those who were inclined to bo reb llious. A dignltiud lawyer of the village for a long time escaped all the snares that wero laid for his feet, or more properly ??peakiiig, for his head. But time and a pair of barber's clippers will at last set all things even, and late in tin afternoon tho aber ill got straight be hind him down tho principal street Such a race the town had never seen before. He was at last headed otf and ctught. He put in all kinds of pleas, but they were promptly overruled, lie then threw himself on the mercy of the court, till y decided inasmuch an In had tried to escape, he shou'' have the full penalty. And he got it. There was a merchant in the town of good, jolly disposition and consider able avoirdupois, lie found out what tin boy.- were up to early in the nay, ami to nave his hair and moustache, closed up his StOl'O and would not VentureOUt. When one id them knock ed on bin door ami asked to bo admit ted, he tolo th m til it i joke aside.'' he iimn't want any foollslinss like thai The clan was hastily called together, and after a short discus-ion of the case he was numbered with the elect. Hut the trouble was to got him. 11; slept in an upstairs room over the &tore, to after he had retired that night, one of the boys, armed with tho clippers, gained access by sonic means ami started up the steps. But the mer chant heard him, und jumping out of bed be rushed out on the veranda and determined to ulldt down one of the posts to tho ground. It was a rather bold i roe< eding, for it WttS u bright moon igllt night, and he was very Bcantly Olud, having, as before stated, I retired to bis slumbers. But the man with the clippers was at hand, and so he launched bravely out. lie was not a whit too soon, for as ho clutched tins post, with bunds and feet and start* d downward the dreaded instrument gi n/, -d his scalp. Down, down he slid, and lin.illy landed?right into tho arms of a wl.oie. poSHQ of the boys who llftd boon waiting for him underneath the Shade of tho piazza. H is needless to say Unit he w a- soon one of the clan. The < xporienco of a farmer who liv ed about a mile from town was the I most humorous and at the samo time the most WOful of them all. He wore, a long, luxuriant beard and splendid hair. That is to say, beforo ho was Initiated. After that ho wore nothing ?tin metamorphols was complete. UM..., tho Committee waited on bin. he did not resist, but marched like, a stoic 10 the fatal chair. In a few mo ments they asked him to look at him bclf in the mirror. He did so, but no look of con80iOU8ness came to his face, he did not realize, that It as his own Image upon which ho gazod. Uo vow ed It was an optieal illusion they had , producod ; but, aias ; he soon found it I was a stern reality. Slowly ha wend cd bis way hotu ward. Iiis wifo was standing at the door when ho came up, and when he s-t irted to ascend tho steps .she inquired what tie wanted. Ho only laughed, and was coining on up, when bho ordered biin to halt, and wanted to know his business. Still laughing, he managed to say : " Why wife, oon't you know nu '.-'' 11 You miserable tramp," Bbocried, " what do you mean by calling me your wife. I believe you are crazy. Now, sir, you had hotter make double quick tracks away from this bouse," and with that she reached buck and drew forth his shot gun which he bail loaded up heavily the day before. The farmer grew serious and once more tried to convince his spouse ? of his iden tity, but she whistled for tho dog. It was a large, splendid-looking croa ture, and ho felt 6Ut'0 tho faithful ani mal woaid know him and .spring to him with a cry of joy. Me was right. Tho dog sprung for him but Micro was blood in bis eye, and he came with a savage growl. The lady interfered and saved him, and the fond but despairing man hastily retreated from his own domicile and BCCrctod himself in a neighboring wood. That night ho again approached his homo very cautiously, and calling to bi.s wifo beg ged for admittance : but her shrioks for help aroused the neighborhood, and in Iiftoon minutes there was a determined posse armed with shot guns in pursuit of him, whilo several dogs, bis own in the lead, WOI'O baying on bis track. Heran Into a thick branch and barely had time to escape by climbing up a large tree. The men surrounded tho place and determined to wait there'till morning. Whou daylight broke, tho ?finer offered to surrender uncondi tionally if they would promise not to lynch him. Tho terms were accepted, and under cover of two guns he de scendod. After recounting tho story o1 bow he had been clipped in the,vil lage, and showing the marks on bis clothing and other cor oborative proof, he dually convinced ins captors that ho was not an Impostor. Thoy escorted him home to his helpmeet, who, after he had shown his familiarity with cer tain matters of a domestic nature, re ceived him back Into the family fold. Scarcely a man in the whole town escaped the clippers in fact a census of tho placo the next morning would have revealed only two, the minister and the physician. The following day being Sunday, there was preaching at the, Methodist church. The opening hymn was "Jesus Lover of My Soul, and when the six young men who com posed the choir, stood up all in a row, without a single strand of hair upon their facoor skull, ami, sung that fa miliar line, ''Cover my defenceless liead," there, was a litter all through the congregation, and tho preacher himself smiled. The barber who entered so heartily into the fun the day of tho clipping, had time to repent at leisure?for it was three months before he cut any hair again, and bis ollico became a hermitage. how TO LI VIS CHEAP. Grain, Nuts, Fruits ami Vegetables is the Diet?The Cost Is Two Cents a Day. What ilo you think of living on less than half dollar a week and living well'} The universal an-wee will bo that this i.-, an impossibility. An evangelist known as Miles Grant re cently brought ridicule upon himsolf by slat ing that hccouhl live on eighty sevon and a half cents a week. If Mr. Grant has done nothing else, he has brought to light a more frugal man than himsolf, and that is something. Mr. A. II. Krank is the frugal man who yielded to tbo temptation to dis close; his identity and his manner of life when he road of Mr. Grant's state ment. Mr. Krank is a line looking old gen iIonian, with thoughtful eyes, a lofty forehead, Ilo wing gray hair and luxuri ant patriarchal heard. He has a kind y face anil a substantial llgui'0. Ho is m arly seventy-four years old, and is a manufacturer ol wood-working ma chinery in Buffalo, X. Y. "In regard to my diet. ' he writes, "1 will say that my food consists in Hie main of grains, fruit and nuts. I eat a few VOgOtablcs, such as potatoes, boots,cabbtlgOS, turnips, etc. The cost of vegetables is about three times as much as the grains. I consider tho grains preferable. '? I eat fruit largely. Nuts I grind and use the meal as a substitute for butter. Nut- arc much cheaper than butter and more healthful. It re quires a peculiarly constructed mill to grind nuts, owing to the amount of oil they contain. I constructed one, for my own use. I have regular times for eating, and do not cat a nut or an apple or other kind of fruits between meals. '?Corn by the bushol is worth twenty-six cents, or half a cent a pound. Wheat is worth a third of a cent a pound, and ryo two-thirds of a cent. " A quarter of a pound of any one of these grains is sullioiont nutriment for the average individual for one meal. A little fruit is usually oaten with it. I generally cat apples at this timo of year. '? A meal of apples an.l corn pre pared in different ways cost three eighths of a cent. A meal of unleaven ed graham bread ami ground peanuts costs onocent, When I eat two ounces of corn and the same amount of gra ham Hour the cost of the meal is throo i\darters of a cent. " I first grind the corn and then make johnny cake, nothing but water and meal, or else make a porridge. The sweet corn I parch in a corn popper and then grind and oat dry with apples or other fruit. "The vegetarian diet is very con venient for one who is traveling and wishes to )??' saving of expense. I have made ten trips to San .Vand'CO and as many as twelve to Florida, whore I have sevoral small groves of oranges and other fruits. On my last trip I was three days on tho road and bad eight meals on the way. Thoy cost me in all six cents. My food was one pound of rolled oats and a pound and a half of graham Hour, made into unleavened gems. "In traveling, twelve or fifteen years ago, food to last noo from Multalo to San Francisco ui utllly coat mo a dol lar. Now, with my present way of living 'a n or twenty cent., would ho BUilh lent for my rations it I prepared them before 1 left tioin*>." - 1 . ? ? tmi - ?A letter was received in Now Or leans directed "To the, biggest fool in Now Orleans." Tbo postmaster was . absent, and on his return one of tho younger clerks informed him of tho letter. " Anil what became of if." in ? ? i ? ... ... H VIM,.. " nA. i|oii<.i Hit pOSWUH ? *??-.>. rr plied the clerk, " I did not know who the biggOSl fool in New Orleans was, so I oponod the letter myself.'' " And what did you find in it ?" "Why," re Bpondod the clerk, "nothing but the words, ' ThOU art the man !' " - If what Is said bo not to tho pur pose, a sluglo word 1b already too 1 muoh.