Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-02-18
ZUDORA
A Great Mystic Story by Harold MCCrath
Copyright, 1914 by McGrah

Dut THIS corpse was mute evidence of
long and desperate illness. But she
never solved this puzzle: she was nev-
er given the time to. That night the
mousse caught fire, and very few things
were saved.
One day shortly after the fire she
dragged the battered old trunk out into
Inc center of the room and proceeded
To explore its contents. The first things
she came across We're her mothers old
circus costumes, and she sat dreaming
ABOUT them for some time. A knock
upon the door aroused her.
Come in"
Storm entered with bouquet.
"Oh. how pretty! Wait until / put
them into vase. There Flowers al
ways make room look cozier.'
And what's going on here?" asked
John. pointing to the trunk.
why. John. that trunk is about the
only thing they rescued from the house.
Do you know, I'm happier in this room
than | have been in years Uncle
Frank was always cold and repellent:
he just wouldn't let me love him"
Good riddance Of bad rubbish
why, John Storm"
81 don't care. I'm positive of the
fact that he attempted to make way
with both of us half a dozen times.
And I'm equally again positive that
he was hand in glove with some Of the
most dangerous criminals in the coun.
try Well as you say. he's dead But
as for me, feel deal easier in walk.
ing about these days. And yet that
man was your uncle, flesh and blood.
Have you gone through the trunk yetW
NO"
well, then, let's take an inventory"
The two Of them knelt down together
and dug out the ancient circus trap
pings. Far down In corner they came
upon little box, and ZudOra opened
II curiously.
"a diamond" exclaimed Storm. "And
mighty good one, too, If don't miss
my guess. Look, there is a part of
letter under It! Let's see what II says"
The contents-or the half contents
Of that burned sheet Of paper affected
them strangely. II had originally been
letter TO Zudora's mother from her
father, and brokenly 1t stated that he
had struck 1t rich in Brazil. He. or
his partner, had stumbled upon an ex-
ceedingly rich deposit Of diamonds and
some day they would have plenty. To
Zudora it was evident that this had
been written a few days before her
fathers death. after he had made the
strike In gold.
And Hassam Ali kept this a secret
from yOn!'
Never mind now; It Is no longer "A
secret" replied Zudora. She put the
little box aside and once more gave
her attention to the interior of the
trunk. She next resurrected locket
This contained the likeness of her par
ents. My father and mother" she
said. her eyes 6lling.
"YOu poor little chicken" He put
his arms around her. Wed better
see what can be done about this dia
mond mine. I'm sure there must be
lot of gems somewhere. But you
don't need diamond mine so far as
I'm concerned, sweetheart; you're pre-
cious enough gem for any man.
THANK yOu, John"
Almost mt this same moment a great
liner plowed its way westward acros:
the Atlantic. And on board this linel
was handful of diamonds which right
fully belonged to Zudora Keene.
There was n passenger who went by
the name of Bruce He was SNUG
suave individual. but was far deeper
far more cunning. than he appeared
outwardly. He was iu his stateroom
The door was locked. The bed wal
pulled from the wall. The man him
self was between the bed and th
ships side. saving hole in the vain
scOting. From time to time he pauset
to listen. for sounds In the adjacen
stateTOOms. but he was quite satisfied
that the occupants were all on deck ii
their chairs. When the job was com
pleted he lifted ont the square piec
of board and laid it aside. Then h
drew bamboo cane toward him. ii
swiftly unscrewed the top and dumpe
something into the palm of his hanC
Minute flashes of red and blue fam
darted up into his eyes. These 6ashe
came from diamonds of the pures
white. He chuckled inaudibly. Mex
he poured the gems into little chamoi
bag and thrust the bag into the hol
in the wall. With extra ordinary def
ness he replaced the square of wair
scoting. and only the closest scrutin
would have told any one what ha
taken place.
After that Mr.. Bruce went up to tn
smoke room and INDUCED I'm stii
whisky and soda. Then he playe
bridge until the second bugle call 70
dinner and in that period of time NOR
than made his expenses for the triI
Mr.. Bruce enjoyed his dinner, enjoye
his wine. the coffee and partiga. TIL
secret agents could hear what the
pleased, and they could search him an
all his belongings, and he would sub
NIT with the utmost complacency
Only fools were caught these days b.
the agents OF the United States Gus
toms. He had made some twenty voy
ages. and what had they ever foun,