The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-11-25

81 Saw You Draw Dagger and Stab
HIM"
laboratory window and climb in
crept up to the window and watched
you I saw you turn on the light and
start TO search the desk for the
formula. I saw Burke surprise you
while you were at work. And Nor
toms voice rose triumphantly, - saw
you draw q dagger and stab him."
Its lie a damnable lie
whispered Olga but the truth Of Nor
tons accusation was written unmistak-
ably in her blanched and haggard
face.
And So" continued Morton, his face
distorted by a sheer, you're not going
to give me away to the police. And
you're not going to bother me any
more about the book. And you are
going to give up the search for the
formula In fact, you are going 10
clear out of California altogether, IN
less you prefer to be hung"
IF I don't get it, you won't either
screamed Olga, and. drawing a stilettO
from the folds of her dress, she sprang
at Morton with the ferocfty of pam
ther. So utterly unexpected was her
action, so Iightning-quick. that he was
taken of his guard and, before he
could defend himself, the long. keen
blade, descending in a glittering arc.
laid open his shoulder. Selling her
appraised arm before she could strike
again, Morton. with a savage wrench.
gained possession of the weapon.
Then, grasping her by the throat with
his free hand, he drove the knife deep
into her bosom. As. with a moan. she
crumpled to the floor. a man who. I'M
observed by either, had cautiously
opened the door, bolted down the
street corner, idly swinging his stick,
a policeman was standing.
"Quick, Officerr" the man gasped;
there's been a murder A mans just
stabbed a woman in that house over
there =" and he led the way back TO the
boarding house on the run. with the
policeman at his heels. So quickly
was the warning given that Morton
had scarcely come TO a realization that
Olga's wound was fatal and that he
must make his escape. when the pO-
Iiceman burst into the room. An in.
slant later and he had his prisoner Sc
curely handcuffed-
The man who had given the alarm
| had followed the policeman into the
room. and, while the officer was en-
gagged in Handwriting Morton, he had.
unobserved by anyone. slipped into his
pocket a small. leather-bound volume
which was lying on the dresser.
''Here, YOU" called the policeman.
''just run down to the drug store. viii
you, and telephone for an ambulance?
This woman is dying"
"AII right" said the man with
aIacrity. and disappeared down the
stairs. 1t was the japanese, Satsuma
To obtain a marriage license. to en-
gage the services OF a clergyman for
| the following morning. and to find
| tombstone and notify him that Cleo
| had been found took Hook somewhat
| longer than he had anticipated. so
| that 1t was nearly eight O'Clock when.
| accompanied by the lawyer, he re-
| turned to the hotel
please tell Miss Burke that Mr..
tombstone and I are here" he said to
the clerk
The man looked at him in surprise.
''But Miss Burke has already gone
out to meet you, lieutenant" he an
/ swered.
Hope stared at him fncreduIous1y,
his heart chilled by a nameless fear.
"What on earth are you. talking
! about?" he demanded
''Why." replied the mystifed clerk.
mot half an hour after you. went out
| someone telephOned here TO say that
you had been detained and that you
wanted Miss Burke to meet you at
| the Cliff house for dinner and that you
were sending a car for her. 1 took
| the message myself. It was a man
speaking There Is no telephone In
Miss Burke's room. so I sent the mes
sage up by a belIboy. and a few min
utes later she came down and got into
a closed car that was waiting
I hope there isn't anything wrong.
HeutenantT'
Wrong" grOaned Hope, white to
the lips. "WrongI should say there
was. Miss Burke has been kidnapped
Rgain-under our very eyes. She is
In the hands OF the most INSCRIPTIONS
gang Of seoundrels in America -
] CTO BE CONTINUED