Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-02

eAAOFAlSs
Lieutenant Jarvis Hope Ia detailed by the
United States naval board to investigate
and report His findings on the invention OF
Or. Ralph Burke, which serves to hring the
submarine TO state Of perfection. Thn
lieutenant arrives In NAldavia and IL wei
coined by the inventor and his daughter
Cleo, on the trial trip OF the inventors
boat y Japanese helper Is surprised in the
act Of examining the mechanism OF tho VEN
tiating device.
Because he was accustomed to
work far into the night, and in order
that he might not disturb Cleo, who
slept upstairs, Doctor Burke occupied
a ground-Aoor bedroom which com
munieated with his laboratory De-
spite his age, the faculties Of the in
vcntor were unimpaired, so that when,
in the silent hours that precede the
dawn, a dim figure pried up the win
dow opening on the veranda, Burke,
always light sleeper was instantly
awakened For some minutes he sat
upright in bed, intently listening, but
as the sound was not repeated he de
eided that he had been mistaken.
Just as he started to settle back, how
ever, he heard distinctly, on the un-
carpeted floor Of the laboratory, the
sound Of cautious footsteps. Slipping
noiselessly out of bed, he wrapped
himself in a dressing gown and
slipped his feet into pair OF slip
pers. Then, holding back the knob
so that the latch could not click, he
silently opened the door leading into
the laboratory. Bending over the
desk stood a man holding an electric
torch. The circle Of light which II
cast showed that he was hastily but
systematically going through the in
ventor's papers.
What are you doing there@ called
Burke sharply Instantly the light
was extinguished and the room was
plunged in sudden darkness, Burke,
whose years had not Slapped his cour-
age, advanced into the room There
was a patter OF quick footsteps, the
sound Of heavy blow, and the old
man sank 10 the floor without a
groau. For a long moment the in
truder stood silent in the darkness
listening. Then he flashed on the
torch again. Standing out from the
surrounding darkness as in a spot
light. was the face OF Satsuma HF
bent over the inert heap on the floor
II stirred ever so slightly, Burke.
though unconscious from the blow Of
the Japaneses life preseryer, was liy'
ing. Returning to the desk, Satsuinia
resumed his interrupted search, hastl,
" examining paper after paper and
then tossing them aside impatiently
He was evidently unable TO find that
which he was after. Suddenly ht
again snapped out the light HI
keen ears had heard, in the rear Of thu
house, the tinkle OF key IN lock an.t
the creak Of door cautiously opened
Then the sound Of stealthy footsteps
al the latest intruder, evidently feel
ing his way in the darkness entered
The sitting room Satsuma retrea
was cut of. Straight from the do.ol
IL the laboratory came the footballs
Then dim shape, blaeker even thar
the enyeIoping darkness, appeared II
The open doorway, within a yard 9
where Satsuna crouehed, waiting
The Japanese swung mp his revolver
hut IN the darkness his hand came II
contact with a shelf holding row 2
test tubes and IL came crashing TO tn
| aoor. Al that instant the man q
the doorway sprang. Had his blo'
reached its mark Satsuma would, 10
The time being. at least, have fade'
from this story, but as the Japanes
was much shorter than his opponeh'
i went harmlessly over his shoulder
aud the next moment the two wer
locked in each Others arms.
The struggle in the dark was say
ACE one Each OF the intruders sup
nesed that he had been surprised b
member OF the household an
fought desperately to get free Roun
and round the laboratory swayed IN
tao 6gures. so intertwined that the
wv - t5sa - Each tried TO gt