Arizona republican., 1915-09-12

seeing Esther again. Esther, who had se- creted the note and the money at Fih's knock, asked the maid to place the flowers in the window. It was the signal for Quabba, and when that faithful soul stole through the street on the watch for some sign from his young mistress, he saw the signal, and Clarence, the monkey, was g n, up the wistaria for Esther's message
 Clarence clambered down again with half the money that had been in the rnysts- riously placed envelope, and with it a scrlb- bled message requesting Quabba to go a: once to Los Angeles to locate Arthur. where Esther had last directly heard of him. Quabba smiled. kissed his hand, and doffed his cap to his fair young mistress at the window and hurried away.
 But much was to happen ere QuaSba left Richmond Some teasing boys al a street corner annoying Clarence, the mon',ey, and Quabba. the master. caused the latter to step in the path of a trolley ca Imme- diately he was struck and tossed aside. hurt but not badly.
 Blair Stanley had seen Olabba turn round the corner of the Randolph mansion and had followed him at 9 .:icta ,.e. won- dering what might be the hLnch packs req son for lettering where Esther was. Blair, the trailer intent upon his own quarry, did not notice that he in turn was tra1led by a bootblacl. well grown youth
 
 the trolley and bruised and dazed Blair was among the first to come to his assist ance. QuaOba was able to give the address of his lodgings and to refuse to go to a hospital. He and Clarence, the monkey. were placed in a taxi and were driven off to the cheers of the multitude. who re- garded them in the light of heroes for the dangers they had passed.
 It was Blairs perverse nature that saw n the accident reckless way to trap Esther and search her for the Stanley document his mother believed that Esther always carried with her. He scribbled a note and seeking a messenger. his eyes lit upon the bootblack. The note was to Esther and was written though by a stranger wit messing the accident to Quabba. It gave the address Quabba had given after the ac- cident and it requested Esther to come to the injured man, reading as though Quabba had asked the stranger to ~nnd the word.
 The bootblacl1 bore the message pro:nntl' to his employer, Blake. the detective. That astute man behind the scenes calmly as- stunned the bootblack's guise and delivered the note in person.
 Mrs. Randolph p1aintively objected to Esthers going alone to such a part of town as the address of Quabbas lodgings. But is was broad day and Esther laughed at her fears. Meanwhile Bar Stanley had proceeueu 10 the IodglkS house and. aided by the convincing argument of a s10 bill, had no trouble n convincing the landlady that he a detective expecting to trap woman shoplifter.
 Blair proceeded to Quabba's room and, finding Quabba dazed with pain. bound and gagged him. It was an adventure just to Blair's liking. He had slipped a mask before surprising and overpowering Quab- ba, and when Esther's light step was heard at the door directed by the landlady on the landing below. Blair. still masked, opened the door and dragged Esther within.
 If Blair hEd expected an easy victim he found he had caught a Tartar Esther fought like a little tigress and every ef- fort Blair made to search her for the Stan ley document repulsed. Blair's per verse nature rejoiccd in this vigorous de- fense of the slight but wiry girl. Quabba struggled to free himself to assist Esther but just then, still disguised the boot black, Blake, the detective. joined in the fray. He owed Blair something on an old score. and right morriiy he proceeded to pay 1t off.
 Blair fought like nadman. And then Quabba tore himself loose from his bonds