The Prescott daily news., 1915-04-13
ZudOrd

Tue hIleW tudt tO tCNoNCA NhS boy he would have to dig deep into his purse. That he was willing enough to do, but what he wanted to be sure of was that the payment should be final He did not wish to be bounded and pursued by that terror of uncer- tainty, of suspense He was willing to pay in pride and money, but he wanted security and peace in return.
 The police were securing the city. but they found not the slightest clew to the whereabouts of the boy or of the character of the abductors. After a week of misery some friend suggest ed that the services of one Hassam Ali. the mystic detective, or the serv- ices of his niece should be secured. The father was reluctant. for he held all these mystcs as contemptible mountebanks who thrfved upon the credulity of fools. But the metropoli- tan police had failed. and he was not a man to leave any stone unturned to recover his boy, the apple of his eye.
 So he and Mrs. Van Wick decided to pay Hassam All a visit They sum- moned the car and started out for Hassam Ali's house. Zudora impress ed them both far more than the mystic himself
 "Do you think you can help usY'
 My niece will see what she can do," said Hassam Ali. or rather Has, sam An's double.
 But a young womanr' said Van Wick doubtfully.
 Hassam Ali laughed. "She may look fragile. but wire looks fragile"
 But these men are desperate charac- ters"
 And will be the last people in the world to suspect a fragile young wo- man of being on their trail"
 Don't worry over the fact that am woman," said Zudora. smiling q can take care of myself. 1 have been able to do so thus far. If 1t is possi- Dle to find the boy I'll do it."
 And remember" said the father. there is no depth to my pocketbook so far as that boy is concerned But God help those dastards if they are cruel to him! Well, we'll trust the case to you. MiSs-Miss"-
 "Keene." said Zudora. "Zudora Keene"
 Good luck. and God bless you. Zu- dora Keene," said the mother.
 Poor thing" said Zudora, when the parents had gone, "The most despica- ble being in the world is a kidnaper It is vile game; and these men should suffer the exact fate of murderers. Think of the little boy. suddenly bereft of mother love, surrounded by strange. menacing faces! It is horribler'
 The psuedo uncle looked at her with strange fires in his eyes. He admitted that Kidnapping was low crime so far as taking children away from their parents and holding them for ransom. with threats of mutilation or death, He did not add. however. that between Kidnapping and abduction there was a wide difference in significance The truth is, Baird was wearying of this gane he wus playing. He wanted to be himself, to play game of his own; he was young, and he wanted the lib erty that went with youth. There was no doubt in his mind that Keene. the real Hassam Ali. was dying. He might live for several months, but neverthe- less he had his ticket for the long journey. Baird determined to play the game out to the end; for Hassam Ali had promised him a handsome bit of money for his loyalty. He had seen the will, but not without certain doubt Wills could be destroyed quite Ss easily as they could be made.
 When ZudOra received the invitation to Mme Du VaPs ball she was pug zled She had among Der acquaint. ance no woman of that name. But she found her name in the blue book and decided to attend out of mere GU rioSity. She called up Storm and asked his advice and was surprised to learn that he bad been invited also.
 ''l think we'd better ignore it." be advised
 But have so little amusement for both of us
 All right sweetheart; we'll go h. decd, I'd like to find out why We both were invited"
 Zudora went about the house next day hnmming. So long as John was going she was bound to have a good time at the Du Val ball It would be the mysterious note warning her to keep away from the Du Val house and this noue was sgned.- From one