Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-10-13

the traces OF her hurried trip from
Valdavla, she re-entered the car and
ordered the man to drive her to 1885
Edgemere road. Had Il not been for
her woman's vanity. the entire course
of this story might have been altered,
for in the half hour which had elapsed
Gerald Morton had called upon Daw-
son. had likewise obtained a copy of
the list. and now, like Olga, was on
his way to the Edgemere road ad-
dress. Thus Il happened that, as the
touring car which he had engaged was
speeding out California street, Olga's
taxicab, recklessly driven by a chauf-
feur who had had several drinks more
than were good for him, came whirl-
ing down one OF the steep grades
from Mob Hill and swung into the
main thoroughfare squarely in the
path of Morton's machine. There
was a shout Of warning, the squeal
OF brakes suddenly applied and, with
crash OF splintering wood and break
ing glass, the heavy touring car struck
the taxicab squarely amidships. So
rapidly was Morton's car travelling
that the lighter machine was hurled
the width of the street by the violence
OF the collision and collapsed against
the opposite curb. shattered almost
beyond recognition. A crowd collect
ed as though by magic. The driver OF
tho taxicab, blood streaming from an
ugly cash in his head, and groaning
horribly. was lifted from amid the
wreckage and carried into q nearby
drug store. while Olga. very white and
shaken, but quite uninjured. was
helped from the shattered machine by
a score of willing hands. Morton hur-
ried to her. profusely apologize. When
he saw her striking beauty he became
more apdsogetic.
I'm terribly sorry" he said, offer
ing her lbs arm, for 1t was evident
that she was still suffering from the
shock, but your car appeared so sud
denly that we didn't have time to turn
aside. Won't you at least permit me
to make amends by taking you home?
My car seems to be still in running
order"
Thank you" replied Olga.
Where do you wish to go?" he in
quired, taking the seat beside her in
the tonneau.
ITO Edgemere road" she answered,
consulting a paper which she took
hax
Morton stared at her in sheer
amazement.
why, that Is where was" he be-
gan, and then checked himself. or oil
the extraordinary condolences of
which he had ever heard, surely this
was the strangest. that he. hurrylng to
an obscure house in remote suburb
of the city, should collide with taxi
cab carrying beautiful woman to the
same destination! What was taking
her to the house In Edgemere road,
he wondered. Suddenly he recalled
Dawson's description of the woman
who had called at the auction rooms
and obtained q copy Of the list "A
tall. dark. foreign-looking woman"
the auctioneer had said. There was
no room for doubt; the woman of the
auction-room episode and tho woman
of the taxicab accident must be one
and the same. BY one of those coin
cidences which are stranger than nc
ton, the mysterious woman whom he
was 80 anxious to meet had been
thrown almost literally into his arms.
Morton's mind worked rapidly.
II take 1t that you must be acQuaint-
cd with Mr.. Stephanski." he began.
feeling his way cautiously. "or are
you, too. on the trail of the Burke
books?"
What do you know about the Burke
books?" she demanded incredulously.
II know all about them" replied
Morton. now convinced, from her agi-
tation, that his surmises were correct.
And happen to know" he con-
tinued, that you are after them. too.
Let us be quite frank with each 9TH
or, dear lady. II 10 always more sat
isfactory and saves much misunder-
standing. am going to Stephanski's
to get look at that book which he
bought at Dawson's auction sale this
morning; you are going there for
the same purpose. II we tried we
could probably make things very un-
comfortable for each other-but
what's the use? Suppose we join
forces instead? II we succeed In get
ting what we're after there will be
enough In 1t to satisfy us both. What
do you say"
While no was speaking, Olga's mind
had been working like lightning.
very WELL" she assented, II can
see no harm in our working together.
AS you say. the secret, IL we discover
1t. Is big enough to satisfy US both"
AS a matter of fact, she had not the
slightest intention Of sharing the Sc
cret with anyone. For that matter,
neither had Morton.
Good" he exclaimed heartily.
Now that we are to be partners, per-