Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-06-15


she instructed the clerk at the desk. 4
The failure of Cleo's two friends to
rejoin her at the hour agreed upon
was due to two widely different
causes: Accident and alcohol. Hope
detained at the Preside longer than
he had anticipated, was speeding city
ward when, in one of the most de-
serted stretches of Golden Gate park,
at point remote from street cars,
taxicabs or telephones, One of his rear
tires exploded with bang. 1t was
1880, therefore, before he reached
the hotel, and received Cleo message,
Thirty seconds later he was back in
his car and, in defiance of all speed
ordinances, was racing toward the
Edgemere road, sick with a nameless
fear at the thought that Cleo had gone
alone to see the man Stephanski. x
Hooks excuse for failure to keep
his appointment with Cleo was less
valid one, for, meeting in a resort on
the water front some comrades of his
seafaring days, he spent so convivial
an evening that it was only the depar-
ture of his companions, who had to
return to their ship, which made him
aware OF the lateness OF the hour
Filled with remorse, he telephoned to
the St. Francis to tell Cleo that he
was returning, only to be informed by
the clerk that she had already left for
the Edgemere road-alone. The next
moment one-armed sailor might
have been seen running madly up one
of the streets in the lower quarters OF
the city shouting madly for a taxicab.
Morton and Olga, having temper
arily disposed Of Cleo and her friends,
discussed their plan of campaign.
1--WE know" said Olga, that the
formula is hidden in one of the
twelve books, but we don't know in
which one. For that matter, neither
does the Burke girl But even if we
find the right book it does not follow
that we will be any better off than we
were before, for the chances are a
hundred to one that Burke took the
precaution of putting it in the form Of
cryptogram. In that case we would
be unable to decipher it without the
key. And | am certain that the girl
knows the key" q
YES" agreed Morton, Il think
you're right countess, But how do
you propose to make the girl give US
the key"
Listen" said Olga. when they
come back at 10 o'clock Stephanski
will admit them. We will lay the book
on the table and push the table close
up against that curtain. You and !
will stand behind the curtain. We will
place the lamp so that, in order to
examine the book, their backs will be
toward US. When / give the signal
you will slip out from behind the cur
tain--you had better take off your
shoes so as not to make any noise
and put the lieutenant out of business;
Stephanski will attend to the seaman,
and | will look after the girl. There
must be no shooting, remember. A
piece of lead pipe tied up in a stock
ing is just as effective as pistol, but
it doesa't kill. and it make no noise,
As soon as the two men are taken
care Of we can turn our attention to
the girl
1t was ten minutes to II, and the
three conspirators had almost aban-
doned hope of Cleo and her friends
returning that night, when they were
relieved to hear a motor stop outside.
A moment later there was tiInid rap
on the door. Stephanski opened ii,
while Morton and Olga slipped behind
the curtain.