Was it a Serious Matter or Only a Practical Joie?
Most Chinese in Shanghai were mystified over the report—several days ago that, Prof. Cheng Chi-pao, dean of the National Southeastern University, had suddenly disayyea ed on the eve of his wedding. Con-stomation prevailed and' strenuous, but unsuccessful, efforts were made to discover his whereabouts, After an absence of four days, Mr. Cheng made his appearance a' local hotel on Saturday. He was met by his relatives and friends and reported that he had been kidnapped, According to his story, he was to have taken tiffin in. the Nav; Y.MC.A, on the 24th instant with some friends, Just as he was washing his hands, two men entered, neither of whom had he seen before, and presented pistols at him. They ordered him to keep quiet and fol low them. Any attempt to raise an alarm or resist, they said, would result in his beitig shot, My. Cheng, was #0 Scared, according to his own story, that he dared not call out and so he simply did as he was ordered, He was permitted, how-to write a note to his relatives saying that, owing to important ess, he had been called away for q few days, This having been done, he was ordered to leave the Navy "Y" and enter a motor car, which was standing outside, Blind: folding him, tha men drove for about 15 minutes until they came to a dark alleyway, He was led inside a small room in a two-storeyed house and astired that no hurt would befall him if he would keep quiet and do as he was told: He was then ordered to rest for a day or two and make no attempt to escape, or it would be worse for him. "Thuis he remained for two days, food being brought to him by a small boy. Sunday, the same two men re-appeared and told him to get ready to follow them." They led im into the ear, blindfolded, and drove off at full speed te a hotel, where he was met by his friends and relatives, who had been informed previously that he was about to return.
Whether the matter was a pra cal joke or an actual kidnapping has not been ascertained.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.