r barn, or
both; the shooting of Rennick from among the hillside boulders as the
artist sketched; of waylaying him on his walk to the post-office, by
night, and crippling him for life; and other suggestions equally dear
to the hearts of rural malefactors.

But one plan after another was vetoed. To burn any of the property
would cause Rennick nothing worse than temporary annoyance; as he
merely rented the farm. Daylight shooting was a dangerous and uncertain
job; especially since automobiles had opened up the district to
constantly passing outsiders. It was Schwartz himself who decided
against waylaying his foe by night. He had too recent memories of
Rennick's physical prowess to care about risking a second dose of the
same medicine. And so on with the other proposals. One and all were
rejected.

Then it was that Mrs. Schwartz hit upon an idea which promised not only
punishment, but profit. She had done washing for the Rennicks and she
had access to the house. She proposed that they steal the Rennick baby,
on the first night when opportunity should offer; carry him to a car
the brothers were to have waiting; and thence take him to her sister in
Paterson.

There, the youngster would be well cared for. In a family of not less
than seven children, the presence of an extra baby would not excite
police query. Her sister had more than once taken babies to board with
her, during their mothers' temporary absence in service or in jail. And
the newcomer could pass readily as one of these.

Negotiations could set in; and, if care were taken, a reward of at
least two thousand dollars might be extracted safely from the frantic
parents. Thus, the Rennicks could be made to sweat blood and money too,
in payment of the injuries wrought upon the aching frame of Schwartz.
At first, the three men sheered off from the plan. Kidnaping is a word
with an ugly sound. Kidnaping is a deed with ugly consequences.
Kidnaping is a crime whose perpetrators can hope for no atom of
sympathy from anybody. Kidnaping is perilous, past words.

But, deftly, Mrs. Schwartz met and conquered the difficulties raised.
In the first place, the baby would come to no harm. Her sister would
see to that. In the second, the matter of the reward and of the return
could be juggled so as to elude detectives and rural constables. She
had known of such a case. And she related the details;--clever yet
utterly simple details, and fraught with safety to all
concerned;--de