The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-09-02

Identity by Showing Me Seal With
the Imperial Cipher"
have already learned, who will let
nothing stand in their way If they see
a chance Of getting possession OF It"
They viii never get it." said Burke.
"I am taking no chances. II is well
hidden"
That night Burke worked at the
desk in his laboratory until after mid
night Cleo, as had been her custom
since the night Of the attack. sat in
the room, bent over her sewing. At
last, with a sigh Of WEAKNESS, Burke
completed his writing Leaning back
In his chair his gaze wandered about
the room until If rested on a narrow
shelf, Just aboxe his desk, which held
a small and much-thumbed Bible and
a dozen pondercus volumes on various
scientific subjects. Though the study
was filed from floor to ceiling with his
extensive library, these dozen tattered,
| dog-eared volumes were his most
precious possession They formed. as
he had often told Cleo, his earliest
library; as a young man he had made
many sacrifices in order to buy them.
anu LOI Dl1 llLlE6 SdhCs LIZ dAh
kept them by him. They possessed,
moreover, because Of their age and
rarity. an intrinsic as well as senti-
mental value. Now Burke took one OF
the worn volumes down and caressed
it lovingly.
81 want you to remember, Cleo" he
said, more solemnly than was custom
airy with him, that If anything should
happen to re there is fortune wait
ing for my little girl in these old
books
Hush, daddy, hush" she cried.
dropping her work and perching her
self on the arm Of his chair. 81 won't
have you talk So You give ne the
shivers Why. daddy, dearest, you're
/ going to live for years and years and
years"
But" the old man continued. tax
ing from the end of the row the
much-used Bible, this is the most
| precious Of all. Il was my mothers
parting gift when I left home as boy
/ to make my fortune. II has never left
me. I want you to promise. my child.
that you will keep # always"
"Of course I'll keep It always. dad
dy darling Cleo exclaimed, throwing
her arms about the old mans neck
Because It has meant so much TO you
It will be doubly precious to me And
| now you must GO to bed, daddy.
| You've worked quite long enough, and
I'm so sleepy that can scarcely keep
my eyes open"
It was late when Cleo awakened the
I q
only q Californian sun can shine: birds
/ warbled their mathis in the garden;
from the roses which chung to her wall
outside her window came a wave OF
fragrance. No wonder that she sung
happily as, seated before the mirror.
she brushed her spun-goId hair and
twisted 1t on her head into a golden
crown. It was morning 10 make any
one sing Slipping into the little
Bingham frock which she wore about
the house. she sped lightly down the
stairs, still singing
'Time TO get up, daddy" she called
gayly, rapping at her fathers bedroom
door. ''T1ls have breakfast ready in a
minute"
But there was no answer.
OoudS 10 SASSpAAS SOAAoAy NAAS
morning" she said to herself. and
raped again
Stin there was no response Chilled
with sudden foreboding she entered.
The room was empty. The bed mad
not been slept in The door leading
into the laboratory was ajar- She
opened it. Stretched on the floor, in q
pool Of crimson, lay Dr. Ralph Burke.
Buried in his heart was an IVORY
handled dagger.
(TO BE CONTRUED.l