The Argosy, April 1912 — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

30 THE ARGOSY. “No. Her father was most particular in his will to make provision against her getting it before she was old cnough to appreciate its value.” “T see. Evidently he had not thought of her being married so early.” “Evidently not. He did not refer to the possibility of her marrying. He supposed, of course, that her mother would guide her selection as to a husband.” “And did she?” “J may say that Mrs. Temple approves of me,” proudly replied Huntly. “And Miss Temple?” ‘She loves me devotedly.” The sheriff studied him for a moment, but made no reply. “We are extremely congenial,” continued the young man. “We like the same things. She is a girl who appreciates the very best in everything.” “And you are prepared to give her all the fine things she likes?” “T will do the best I can,’ answered Huntly. “Of course, I cannot provide for her in the style of a millionaire, but I will do the best I can.” “Until she inherits her fortune?” sug- gested the sheriff. “Why, yes. After that, she has nothing to worry about. But what makes you think that ransom was the motive in this case? ” “There’s nothing else to think,” replied the sheriff. “Some one who knew about her fortune decided to make a lump sum of easy money. It’s as plain as the nose on your face.” We had hardly finished speaking before one of his men entered with a white en- velope, which he had found under the door. Border tore open the cover quickly. “What do you think of this?” he ex- claimed. ‘It’s just as I said.” He handed the paper to Huntly, who read the folowing: : Miss Mildred Temple will be returned home safe and sound on payment of $20,000 to be placed in the blasted tree by Silver Creek Bridge. No tricks, or the death of the girl will be the answer. CHAPTER VIII. AN IMPORTANT DECISION. “Wat did I tell you,” triumphantly ex- claimed Border, pointing to the note. “Was I right or wrong?” Huntly did not answer the sheriff’s ques- tion. He was busy reading the communica- tion over again. “The man in the black mask didn’t lose much time in making his wants known, did he?” went on the sheriff. “Seems to be pretty much in a hurry to get his money. This is the quickest demand I ever saw, and I know something about the ransom busi- ness, too. This ain’t the first one that’s come under my notice.”’ : “Why?” asked Huntly. “Do they usually wait a while before asking for the cash? I don’t see anything very precipi- tate about the affair.” “You don’t, eh?” ce No.” “Well, generally the abductor keeps the stolen person—usually a child—long enough to make the parents sufficiently wor- ried to be willing to pay the demand with- out hesitating. This time the man seems to have known his parties pretty well.” “What do you mean?” “Just this; the fellow in the black mask knew exactly what he was doing, and who he had to deal with. No doubt, he knew that there was only the mother to battle against, and that she would fall an easy prey when it came to a reward. Any mother with a fortune would gladly give up a big part of it to get her child back un- harmed without delay. The man who sent this note figured all that out.” “Oh, he’s clever, all right,” granted Huntly. ‘““He’s a brute,” declared Border, facing Huntly and stared straight into his eyes; “and Heaven help him, if I find out who he is.” “I—I think I would better inform Mrs. Temple of the latest development,” said the young Easterner. “One moment,” interrupted Border, lay- ing a restraining hand on the other’s arm. “We haven't finished yet. There’s still a few details to be talked over.” “Very well, then, only I thought that the sooner she knew the better.” “That ain’t half as important as what I’ve got to say to you right about now,” rejomed the sheriff. “Go ahead,” said Huntly coolly. “It’s this. I want to know where you stand in this affair?” “Where I stand?” repeated Huntly, opening wide his eyes. “I don’t see why that question should comicaoolkks CO