lackmail

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

All was going well for the Baron and Lilliland Castle life was content. Lady Angela of Alpine Castle was engaged to marry the Baron soon and they both looked forward to that day. Lady Angela kept her horse, Daisy, in the Baron's stables next to the Baron's horse, Ridgeway. They would both take early morning rides together along the bridal trails next to Castle Lake or up into the Alpine Mountains.

The quiet enjoyment of the season was abruptly broken when a letter arrived for the Baron. The letter was identified as a blackmail threat. The letter said that he could tell Lady Angela of the affair the Baron was having with one of the young women who worked in the stables tending the Baron's horses. The note also said that a request for ransom would be sent in a few days.

The Baron was not having any relationship with anyone other than Lady Angela, whom he loved dearly. The Baron quickly and quietly consulted with Professor Hamblin, his chief advisor.

Professor Hamblin began his investigation by quietly observing whom the woman in the stable had been seeing.

The following day the blackmailer sent the ransom note that demanded $20,000 and the Baron's prize horse, Ridgeway.

Professor Hamblin continued the investigation and quickly discovered an important clue. The woman who worked in the stable was seeing a man who looked somewhat like the Baron in size, build and hair color. At night this person could easily be mistaken for the Baron by the blackmailer.

The Baron and the professor set a trap by putting the ransom money in a saddlebag on Ridgeway and moved him to the area of the lake as directed in the blackmail note. Ridgeway was to be in position in a very dark place by the lake, by midnight. The blackmailer appeared at the spot and mounted Ridgeway and started to ride away. The Baron whistled for Ridgeway who promptly turned around and carried the blackmailer directly toward the Baron and the police where he was arrested.

The Baron and the professor told Lady Angels of the event. She praised Professor Hamblin for his very fine work in solving the mystery of the blackmailer.

The woman from the stable and her suitor, who resembled the Baron, were married the following year and they moved to France to raise horses.