The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-11-23


well. lie tried to ask the Greek
Vlnsto his name ls--'bout her. but he
don't understand much English. When
he said she was II good-looker and had
awful light-colored hair. II kind o re-
minded me o. the description o the
Montgomery girl"
'Talnt likely" said Hook pessimis-
tically. "Ignncio must he all q thirty
miles from the place where Miss Cleo
Disappeared"
"Stlll." persisted the other, "she
might've been picked up by u fisher
man"
"Waal" nssented Hook. at won't do
no harm To run owes to lgnacio ana
see tlir fellow vlusto. We could get
there in your boat in couple Of
hours. couldn't wer'
sure" said the other. "and remem-
bcr. Hook. that II II turns out 10 be
the girl. come In on the reward"
Upon reaching Ignacio, Hook ascer'
taincd. after considerable question
ing. thL; there was indeed Greek
fisherman named Vlasto who lived
Will his wife In small shack on the
beach. several miles from the town.
Landing at the rickety little wharf and
crossing the strip of sandy beach on
which nets were drying. he approached
the miserable dwelling. The tiny
doorstep was shaded by vines, and
seated under them was girl. A pale
and pltifully wasted girl, but Mt sight
Of her Hook gave n shout of JOY. IL
was Cleo. For moment she stared
at him as though he had been a
stranger; then the light of recognition
showed In her great, tired eyes, and,
with sob of relief and happiness she
threw both arms around his neck. like
child who has been lost and found.
by dint of careful questioning he
was able to gradually piece together
the strange story of her disappear
ance. For twenty-four hours after
Muhlin's departure she had waited,
without food or water, for his return.
At last the darkness, thirst and hun
ger had their effect on nerves already
overstrnlned her habitual coOlness de-
serted her and she gave way TO the
hysterla of blind, unreasonlng fear.
During the long hours of her impris-
onment she had discovered in the floor
of the storehouse trapdoor. which
had evidently been overlooked by
Mahlin. and this she raised, intending
to use It as last resort. AT last,
when her highly strung nerves were
at the breaking point. she heard
motor car stop Mt the end of the
wharf and the sound Of men rapidly
approaching. Never pausing to think
that they might be friends instead OF
that Mahlln was returning to carry out
his unspoken threat, she hurriedly
threw off her coat and hat, kicked OFF
her slippers, and. lowering herself ST.
lentl" through the trap-door into the
water, struck of in the darkness In
what she supposed to be the direction
of the shore. But she lost her bear
ings, her strength failed her, and, with
cry for help, she lost consciousness.
When, after many days, she returned
to a realization of things, she was in
! bed. evidently In a tisherman's hut,
tended by an old Greek fisherman and
his wife. The shock of her abduction.
her fear of MahlIn and Satsuma, and
her narrow escape from death by
drowning had resulted in long and
alarming nervous breakdown. from
which she was gradually recovering.
The official trial of Doctor Burke's
invention had surpassed Hopes great
est expectations. 1t had done every
thing that he had claimed for 1t and
more.
And now, with the submarine run
ming awash as it sped back to Mare
island, Hope stood on the deck beside
the coming tower, staring out across
the waters of the bay, turned momen-
tarily crimson by the setting sun. The
secret of the submarine had been
found at last. 1t had proved an un-
qualified success. The acceptance by
the government was virtually assured.
He had accomplished his mission and
would doubtless receive commendation
and promotion. But of what avail was
it all now? With Cleo gone his sue
cess was not worth having. Tears
blinded him at the thought Of how,
had she been alive, they would have
reJoiced together.
SO engrossed was he In his melan-
choly thoughts that he failed to OBJ
serve the dingy power boat which ran
alongside as the submarine slowed
down to approach its moorings. Stand
ing In the stern was Hook, waving his
hat dellghtedly. He had evidently
come out to offer congratulations.
But, as the fishing boat came closer.
he stepped aside and the young off,
Ger. looking down with staring. in
credulous eyes, saw, seated In the
stern amid pile Of pillows, a girl,
white and fragile as u flower. who
smiled up at him happily. For a mo-
ment he continued to stare as though
|