The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-09-16

due to two widely different causes:
Accident and alcohol. Hope, detained
at the Preside longer than he had an
ticipateds was speeding cityward when,
in one of the most deserted stretches
Of Golden Gate park, at point remote
from street cars, taxicabs, or tele-
phones, one Of his rear tires exploded
with a bang. It was half past ten,
therefore, before he reached the hotel
and received C1eo's message. Thirty
seconds later he was back in his car
and, in defiance OF all speed ordi-
nances, was racing toward the Edge
mere road, sick with a nameless fear
at the thought that Cleo had gone
alone to see the man Stephanski-
Hooks excuse for failure to keep
his appointment with Cleo was a less
valid one, for, meeting in a resort on
the water front some comrades of his
seafaring days, he spent so conTiviai
an evening that it was only the de-
parture of his companions, who had
to return to their ship, which made
him aware of the lateness of the hour.
Filled with remorse, he telephoned to
the ST. Francis to tell Cleo that he
was returning, only to be informed
by the clerk that she had already left
for the EdgemeTe road-alOne. The
next moment a one-armed sailor
might have been seen running madly
up one of the streets in the lower
quarters Of the city shouting loudly
for taxicab.
Morton and Olga, having Temporal
riIy disposed Of Cleo and her friends,
discussed their plan of campaign.
1--WE know" said Olga, that the for
mula is hidden in one of the twelve
books, but we don't know in which one.
For that matter, neither does the
Burke girl. But even if we find the
right book it does not follow that we
will be any better of than we were
before, for the chances are a hundred
to one that Burke took the precaution
of putting it in the form of a cryptic
gram. In that case we would be IN
able to decipher it without the key.
am certain the girl knows the key"
Yes" agreed Morton, 81 think
you're right, countess But how do
you propose to make the girl give US
the key?"
Listen" said Olga. when they
come back at ten o'clock Stephansd
| will admit them We will lay the
book on the table and push the table
| close up against that curtain. You
and 1 will stand behind the curtain.
We will place the lamp so that, in or
der to examine the book, their backs
| will be toward US. When I give the
signal you will slip out behind the cur
| tain-you had better take OF your
| shoes so as not to make any noise
and put the lieutenant out of bust
ness; Stephanski will attend to the
seaman, and I'll look after the girl"
1t was ten minutes to eleven, and
the three conspirators had almost
abandoned hope of Cleo and her
friends returning that night, when
they were relieved to hear a motor
| stop outside. A moment later there
was timid rap on the door. Stephan
ski opened it while Morton and Olga
| slipped behind the curtain.
Has Mr.. Stephansh returned yet?'
| they heard Cleo ask
HE ISIS back" was the answer.
Won't you come IMP"
She's come alone" whispered Nor
ton, peeping through the curtains.
| This simplifies everything"
| AS Cleo stepped into the untidy
| living room the first thing to catch
her eye was the familiar leather
bound volume.
That's the book" she cried eager
/ ", and, bending over it, turned its
| leaves, one by one, from cover to
| cover. AS she completed her examina-
ton she gave a little exclamation OF
disappointment At that moment she
felt her arms suddenly pinioned from
behind, while a blanket was thrown
over her head, muf1ing her screams
eff you don't want to be hurt, stop
screaming" she heard a voice saying.
An instant later a gag was forced into
her mouth and her hands were tied
behind her with a strip Of linen
Nov, you can take OF the blanket"
said the same voice, and Cleo found
| herself confronted by two peculiarly
sinister figures, man and a woman.
whose faces were entirely concealed
by dark calico masks.
Now, Miss Burke" said the woman,
approaching until her face was within
a few inches Of CIeo's. Eve want you
to answer some questions. II you an
swer them truthfully you viii be re-
/ leased unframed. Do you know in
which book the formula Is hidden?"
Cleo shook her head.