The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-11-04

every ounce OF MS three nunOreQ 4
pounds into his pull, while at the same |
time Cleo struggled franticaIly to free
herself. Slowly, Sullenly, reluctantly, |
the marsh monster released its prey |
and Hook dragged her to the banks |
and to safety. To extract TIope was
not so easy, for, owing to his greater
weight, he had sunk into the bog al
most to his armpfts, but at last, after
repeated attempts, Hook and Cleo sue
ceeded in effecting his rescue
Late that afternoon a mob OF cheer
ing townsmen surged up the main
street OF Santa Eulalia bearing on its
shoulders a weary, very mud-stained
but very beautiful girl and two equally
weary and mud-stained men, Cleo
Burke. whose mysterious disappear
ance had aroused the whole country
side, whose pictures and description
were on the walls OF every police sta
ton and post Office in the state, had
been found.
The repeated and utter failures Of
Mahlin and Satsuma to gain posses
sion of the secret of the submarine
finally drove their employers to ex-
ASPIRATION, and harsh measures were
decided upon The spies were sum-
moned before the black council, the
executive body Of the secret service OF
their government The meeting was
held In the council chamber amid black
trappings and CHASTITY reminders Of the
fate that awaited treachery or failure.
A grave assembly OF masked figures
listened coIdly while their chief, the
only one whose identity was not hid
den behind a black mask, questioned
MahIin and Satsuma regarding their
activities in pursuit of the much-de-
sired secret. Their explanation failed
TO satisfy. The decision OF the coun-
ell was announced coldbloOdedly and
emphatically by the chief. They must
secure the secret within the next four
weeks or death would be the penaltyl
Upon their return to San Francisco,
Hope found awaiting him at his hotel
an official envelope bearing the fami-
liar heading of the navy department
The letter it contained, which was
marked 'StrictIy Confidential" was
signed by an official high in the bureau
of naval intelligence.
"As you are perhaps aware" the
letter concluded, there exists at the
moment between the United States
and a certain power whose name it is
unnecessary to mention, a situation Of
the utmost gravity. This power is con-
WINGED that we have permitted our navy
TO deteriorate to such an extent that
hOstilities could be inaugurated against
US with a reasonable chance of sue
cess. It is no exaggeratiOn, therefore,
to assert that the discovery of Doc
tor Burke's formula may save this ma
ton from invasion. Under these cir
cumStances there is no need for me
to urge you TO prosecute the search
with the utmost energy. The safety
OF the United States may well depend
upon your success"
I'VE mustn't lose a minute in con-
tinuing the search" said Cleo de
cisively when Hope showed her the
letter.
But thought we were to be married
this week, dearest he demurred-
THE wedding can wait for a few
days" she answered. 'sThere is too
much at stake for us to think of any
thing but the discovery of the secret"
But it will only take a few hours
for US to obtain a license and find
clergyman" urged Hope. Surely we
can wait that long"
''You don't think that I'm going to
be married without a wedding gown
| and trOusseau. do yOu?" she demand
/ ed. Because If you do you are sadly
mistaken I only expect TO be married
once and I've set my heart on having
the things that other girls have. Our
/ happiness can wait for a few days,
dearest she added persuasively. "Our
/ country comes first"
you're perfectly right, dear"
agreed Hope. secretly applauding her
| patriotic stand. 1--WE will take up the
| search again at once. There are only
| five books still to find and the missing
philosophy must be one of them"
''Whose name is next on the list?'
she asked.
joaquin Romero" he answered.
''Not the poet and naturalist?'' she
eagerly inquired.
1.-The same"
1.-The man who writes those wonder
/ LUZ pOe1uS dUOul TIE 1OIeSl anu tAC
/ flowers and the birds?"
That's the man.
'He has a cabin, I understand, in
the High -Sierras. He lives there so
that he can Study nature at first hand !"
eve will pay a visit to Mr.. Romero, -
she announced 81 love his poems and
I've always wanted to meet him.
To reach Romero's Sierran home
took them a day by the train and an
other day on horseback, but when at
last they reached it they understood
why the famous poet-naturalist had
chosen such a remote location, for the
long, low building OF logs which he
modestIy referred to as his "cabin"
was shaded by a magnificent group
OF giant redwoOdS, and its flower
| smOthered veranda commanded a
panorama OF forest, mountain and
stream unequaled in all the world
Nor did they need to be assured of
the identity of the tall. eagle-faced
old man with the keen blue eyes and