The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-10-14

to tell doctor he has changed mind
and will telephone him." His manner
was that of Il well-trained servant and
the unsuspecting maid handed him the
card without demur. Not until he was
out of sight of the house, however,
did Satsuma venture to examine it. It
was one Of Hopes visiting cards and
on it he had scrawled in pencil:
Dear Doctor Owen:
Am sorry to have missed you.
Should you return in time will
you give me the pleasure of dining
with Miss Burke and myself at
the Hotel Arbor at eight this eve
ning7 And may ] trouble you to
bring along Fitzmaurice's book,
regarding which ! wired you yes
terday. We will wait for you in
the Palm room
JARVIS HOPE.
When Satsuma, Fastening back to
the little hotel where he and Mahlin
had taken rooms, reported to his en-
plOyer that Hope and Cleo had, in
some unaccOuntable fashion, escaped
death on the island and that they
boro, AIahlin burst into a fit of pro-
family which impressed even the stOlid
japanese. The Japanese silently hand
ed him the note which Hope had left
for Doctor Owen. MahIin read it and
then reread it.
''Owen had better take the book to
the hotel tonight" he said, after a mo-
ment'S reflection. 1T will be dark By
eight and perhaps we will have an OPP
pOrtunity to knock him on the head
when he is on the way there"
what are you going to do with this
nOte?" inquired Satsuma.
You had better hustle right back
and leave it at the doctors office"
said Mahlin. Tell the maid that this
is another note that Hope has written.
She'll never know the difference
Did the maid say anything?" asked
Mahlin when, half an hour later, Sat
suma returned.
NO. She just took the note and
shut the door. She had on her hat;
guess she was just going out
Are there any other servants in
the house?"
II don't think so.''
THAT being So" said Mahlin, rising
and putting on his hat, I think I'll
take advantage of the households alb
sence to take look through the place
myself. If the doctor keeps the book
in the house 1 ought to be able to
find it"
1t was late in the afternoon when
Olga, for the second time that day,
assembled the steps of Doctor Owens
residence. There was nothing about
her to suggest the book canvasser who
had called a few hours before, for she
now wore 4 long dustcOat which COW
cred her from neck to ankle and Il
motor veil which completely hid her
features. She rang the bell, but there
was no answer. The maid, as Olga
had anticipated, had taken advantage
Of her employers absence to do some
shopping in the town. CHANGING up
and down the street to make sure that
she was unObServed, she quietly
opened the door of the waiting room
and walked in. The most likely place
to find the book, she felt, was in the
doctors desk in his consultation
AOOAAA- toANpBAAS SOANAS elNAOsoso NAAC AADOAF
her footsteps deadened by the heavy
rugs, she opened the door of the con-
sultatiOn room-and stopped on the
threshold with an ejaculation of alarm,
for, bending over the doctors desk,
engaged in rifling its drawers, was 4
strange man. His back was toward
her and he was so intent on his search
that he failed to hear the door open,
but, aroused by her stif1ed excIama-
ton, he whirled about and his hand
went instinctively to his coat pocket.
For a brief moment the two stared at
each other appraisingly. Olga was the
first to break the silence.
Il beg your pardon she said. 81
rang the bell, but no one answered.
so 1 walked in. wanted to see the
doctor"
MahIin, for it was he, had been do
ing some rapid thinking. He decided
to play bold game.
81 am Doctor Owen" he said. what
can do for your"
Il am having trouble with my
throat" lied Olga glibly, but he saw
suspicion in her eyes.
Il have been doing a little house
cleaning" said Mahlin, with a profes-
sional manner which ought to have
carried conviction. IF you Will ex-
cuse me, madam, until 1 wash my
hands, 1 shall be glad to prescribe for
you
Scarcely had the door closed behind
him before Olga was herself ransack-
ing the drawers of the desk. But the
book was not there. 1t must be in the
other part of the house. As she was
leaving the consultation room to con-
tinue her search elsewhere her eye
was caught by a card which was "
ing on top of the doctors engagement
book. She picked it up. 1t was the
card bearing Hopes message, the card
which Satsuma had obtained by a ruSe
and, by another ruse, had returned.
and which the maid had evidently
placed where the doctor would see it.
AS Olga was reading the message she
heard the sound OF a motor stopping
before the door. Doctor Owen had re-
turned sooner than she had expected.
She acted with promptness and de-