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

'Is this Mr.. Stephanski?" Morton
inquired politely.
1T iss," was the none too gracious
answer. ''vot ISIS 1t dot you vish?"
'1 have learned from Mr. Dawson"
said Morton. that you bought a work
on chemistry at the auction this
morning. am collector OF scien-
tiflc books, and II this book is what
think II is. would like to make
you an offer for 1t. Could l have a
look at it?"
1T ISIS true dot / haf such a book
this morgen purchased" was the an
swer. II will It to you show gladly.
But first must der room more pre-
sontable make" and he closed, the
door in their faces. Could they have
looked within they would have seen
Stephanski throw back the thread
bare carpet which covered the floor
OF his little dining room and raise
a trapdoor which evidently gave &C
cess to the cellar. Then, moving al
ways with the utmost caution, he took
from a work bench in the living room
round metal object. about the size
Of q grapefruit, descended through
the trapdoor into the cellar, and
placed 1t gently on q shelf upon which
reposed number of other globes
precisely similar. Ascending to the
dining room again. he closed the trap
door and drew the carpet over 1t.
Now" he said, reappearing at the
front door, der room more present
able looks. VIII you come in?"
This" continued Stephanski, "iss
der book"
With undisguised eagerness Morton
threw It open, while Olga leaned over
his shoulder. There was no trace of
the lost formula. Meanwhile Stephan
ski watched them narrowly. Olga.
glancing up, happened to catch his
eye. For q moment she stared at him
unbelievingly; then:
'Ivan! Ivan Stephanski!" she
cried; don't you know me?"
For q long minute the old man re-
turned her stare. searching her every
feature; then recognition suddenly
dawned.
"Olga! Olga!" he exclaimed, and.
dropping on ono knee. as a courtier
kneels to q queen. he pressed his lips
to Countess Ivanoff's hand. There
ensued between the two an excited
dialogue in q language which Morton
though unable to understand II, rec.
ognized as Russian.
She broke off suddenly and stood
listening.
There's q motor stopping in front"
Morton stepped across to the win.
dow and. shielding himself behind the
curtain, peered out. He swore softly.
TITS the Burke girl. with her friend
the naval ofIlcer and that one-armed
sailor. They certainly didn't waste
much time in getting here. They
mustn't know that we're here. Tell
your bewhiskered friend to tell them
that Mr.. Stephansk Is away and
won't be back until ten o'clock. That
will give US time to decide what to
do"
The old Russian went to the door
lis Mr.. Stephanski at homer Hope
demanded.
"Nein, he iss away" was the curt
answer. He will at ten o'clock re.
turn" and the door was abruptly shut
There's nothing left to do but
to return to the city and have din
ner." said Hope as he rejoined his
companions.
81 hate to leave you alone. Cleo,
said Hope, as they were finishing their
coffee. but | must run out to the
Preside on some official business.
won't be away much more than an
hour. though. and I'll surely be back
to start for Stephanski's by ten"
For Cleo, whose entire girlhood had
been passed with her father in the lit
tie Valdavia cottage, 1t was no hard
ship to be left for an hour or so in the
hotel. The hustle and excitement OF
the great lobby proved 30 entertain
ing, indeed, that it was with astonish
ment that, happening to glance at the
great clock above the stairs, she saw
the hands pointed to twenty minutes
after ten. And neither Hope nor Hook
had returned. What could have de
tanned them? What should she do
Stephansh was to return at ten
o'clock. And already 1t was twenty
minutes after. She would keep the
appointment herself.
When Lieutenant Hope and Mr.
Barnacle return, please be sure and
tell them that could not wait for
them and have gone TO Edgemere road
and that they are to follow me-" she
instructed the clerk at tho desk
The failure Of Cleo's two friends to
rejoin her at the hour agreed upon was