The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-11-25

Gee Wilkins ," exclaimed the sail
or. $50 Miss Cleo amt Doctor BUrke's
daaghter at ala WAL, now't you
come to speak Of it, I've often said
to myself that she didn't resemble her
paw
The Fletcher residence, where Cleo
was employed as governess. proved to
be a handsome place In the colonial
style, set well back from the street
in beautifully kept grounds. which
swept down to the banks Of the river.
els Miss Burke at homer" inquired
Hope of kindly faced lady who was
seated on the verandah sewing.
81 think Miss Burke is in the gar
den somewhere" said the woman
pleasantly. cit is her afternoon to
go out. but she rarely leaves the
grounds. If you will be seated viii
send a servant for her"
"Please don't trouble" said Hope
ST will find her"
Passing around the house to the
garden in the rear. he strobe through
a long pergola. fragrant with roses.
pushed his way through a screen OF
shrubbery. and emerged upon a stretch
of lawn, so smooth and beautifully
tended that it looked like a piece Of
green velvet. which swept UnbrOkenly
TO the low stone wall which bOrdered
the river. Standing beside the wall.
her back toward him, staring intent
" into the swirling water was Cleo
a slender and pathetic figure in her
black gown. His footballs deadened
by the turf. Hope stole forward soft
l. Re T,.n bod n oh
apparently came to a decision, for she
| stepped onto the low parapet and her
I figure stiffened. as does that Of a
1 swimmer who is about to dive And
at that instant Hopes arms closed
| about her. Taken completely by sur
/ prise, she gave q startled scream;
I then, glancing over her shoulder, she
| found herself looking into the face OF
| the man she loved With great sob
of relief and happiness she snuggled.
! like a lost child, into his protecting
arms.
Hook, remembering that there are
occasions when two are company but
| three are a crowd whiled away an
hour before he Joined them. As his
| smiling face appeared above the
! bushels. Cleo. TRANSPORTED by love and
| joy, rushed forward and threw her
| arms about his neck.
ST reckon you amt goin' to waste
much time in gettin' spliced, then"
said Hook.
eve are not" said Hope emphatical-
| ". eve have wasted quite enough
time already. We are going to be mar
ried tomorrow"
When the three reached San Fran
cisco late that afternoon. Hope took
Cleo to the quiet residential hotel
where she had stayed on previous
occasions.
'T will be back in time to take you
out to dinner. dear" he said, as they
stood waiting for the elevator. 81
must let Mr.. tombstone know that
| have found you. and" he added hap
PLY. ''I must hunt up a minister"
Don't be gone long, dearest" she
replied, clinging to his hand 81 shall
count the minutes until you are back
with me-"
It'll be hack within a couple Of
hours at the most" he called, as the
elevator shot her upward.
The last words were spoken loudly
enough to reach the ears of a man
who was seated in the lobby, appar-
emily immersed in a newspaper A
close observer might have been struck
| by the fact that he was careful to
keep the newspaper in front of his
face, as though he did not wish TO be
seen. And he had good reasons for
not counting recognition. 1t was Nah
lin
=
| When Morton. after his spectacular
escape from the bandits, reached San
Francisco, he did not return to the
hotel where he had formerly stayed,
but instead rented a room in an OBJ
scure boarding house In an unfashiOn-
| able part of the city It was here
that Olga, after a weeks search. found
| him.
swell, what is 1t that you want?''
Charming quarters you have here. "
she sneered. $50 quiet and exclusive.
| I had indeed some difficulty in Iocat-
ing you. One might almost suppose
that you did not wish to be found.
want that book that you stole from
me-"
"And that you stole from Carrillo."
he tainted.
"Are you going to give 1t to mel" she
demanded menacingly.
"I am not he snarIed.
ST think that you had better change
| your mind" she said, and her tone
| was deadly ''You will regret It If
you don't"
''What do you mean?" he asked
sullenly. but there was a hint Of IN
easineSs in his voice.
st mean" she answered steadily,
looking Morton straight in the eye,
''that if you do not give up that book
shall go straight to the police and
tell them you are the man that kid
mapped the Burke girl. The penalty
for kidnapping in California, if I re-
member rightly. is fifty years. You
would be quite an old man when you
got out, wouldn't you? Cropped hair
and a striped suit and
fifty years in San Quentin
wonder how you would like II, Mr..
Gerald MOrtOn?"
'T wonder how you would like being
hnn0S0 he demanded T7aaniuCIr