Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-02-25


rectiy back OF tine mystic house. and
there was q secret tunnel between the
two houses.
In the beginning he had followed out
Nsssatn Alrs orders without any par.
Ocular notice OF the victim. bot after
the anair Of Wa Chang. Baird awoke
10 the fact that zudofa was an ex-
tremAIy attractive young woman. Thus
t,is tntArest In doing away with John
storm began to have something more
than q negligible interest. But Zu-
dora. That was another matter after
he bexan TO recognize that his heart
beat faster whenever she came into
his presence. Ii was fortunate that
Hassam All was by nature cold ana
uademonstrativ IN rne matter OF DC
slowing affection. Baird longed to
touch her, but, knowing his part, dared
not.
Hassam Airs long black hair was,
as Zudora very we'll knew. nothing but
a wig. Except that Baird's skin was
little fresher. he and Hassam All might
easily have posed as twins There
was no occasion for Zud0ra. then. to
look upon this substitute for her uncle
with suspicion. She began to suspect
seriously his attitude. but not ms per-
sonality. So Baird banked the nres
In his eyes and endeavored to think OF
her as little as possible. But thoughts
are masters. and they lead us whittier
they will.
One day he entered the secret cham
Der ut the foot of the shaft to confer
with the real Hassam ALI, who lay
upon a cot.
How do you feel today?
Badly" said ZudOra's uncle. "fo"
have failed three times"
II have done no better, no worse.
than you. Ii that Is what you mean.
said Baird without much humility. u
have told you that ZudOra bears
charmed life. Luck Is always with her.
and John Storm stands ut present IN
the light of this luck"
You are fool, Baird!" snarled the
sick man. You are falling Ia. love
with ZudOra. may be i'll, but am
not blind. She Ia not for you. Don't
waste your valuable time with any
thought like that. tell you she musk
die. ! bate lAer!" -
You have promised that IL you
should die what you have would be-
come NINE" said Baird. "Y0n have
promised to make me your heir.
have seen that will. but wills can Be
torn up and rewritten"
Hassam ALI dubbed his hands tOgeth-
er. $50 they can" he said. 80 they
can. don't quite like the tone y0u
use today. Do you thiuk ! am mort
bundy Are you looking speculauvely
at ms shoes? Jim. u you make EaAe
least misstep IN break you as easily
an 4 could church warden pipe.
AIMED knows and my attorney knows
IL disappear nAystertously ana don
return"- Has&sam An drew hls Finger
around his threat suggestiveay.
But IL l rid you Ut this girl ~AAI
are you going o. do with Nil tEat tsOe@-
millions: YOMt4. Unset. and We OSEh
know It.
"PerlnDs l want the gold to play
with" grinned Hass'itn All y had n"
Ola ythings when ! was child; WAS
too pOor. TO along. Ave taIk*'0
enough. peeviShly.
There IL another little secret. saAA
Baird.
..Oh. there Is? And What might q
beg
"TDinnOnds.'
aassam All sat mp stifiy. What
the devil do yOu mean!
"Zudoras father once had partner
who went to Brazil. This partner
found brilliants of high order She
has a half interest In this mine with
out knowing such thing exists
Hassam All lay back. II have warn
ed you. Now go and send Ahmed with
my tea"
Baird returned 20 the mystic room.
his mind awhirl with thonS;'ho
schemes. He played his little comedy
with ZudOra. saw some I'atlehts. al1
later took the evening paper AiH'h t"+
front page be rend bit ut news that
interested MIN. The van Wick child
heir to the van Wick millions. mad
l,epn KIDNAPPED despite Ill the precau
tionary measures to prevent such
catastrophe. a.
40 they've done IT," he unused aloud.
unthtnktngly.
"IIone whatY" asked Zudora.
kidnapped tue Van Wick child.
There mag De little work for us, my
chiId-a llttIe work for us, think
that I'll GU downtown and make
few Investigations before they come
TO us"
For one thing. he wanted to get away
from ZudOFa. All these thoughts OF
her were crOwding dangerously near
action. a mtsstep 1t this time would
bring his house Of cards tumbling
about his head. He proceeded to q