The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-09-16

the traces Of her hurried trip from
Valdavia, she re-entered the car and
ordered the man to drive her to 1885
Edgemere road. Had it 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 adj
dress. Thus it 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 shout of warning, the squeal
of brakes suddenly applied and, with q
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. 4 crowd collect
ed as though by magic. The driver Of
the taxicab, blood streaming from an
ugly cash in his head, and groaning
horribly, was lifted from amid the
wreckage and carried into a nearby
drug store, while Olga, very white and
shaken, but quite untnjured, 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 apologize.
I'm terribly sorry," he said, offer
ing her his arm, for it 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
from her purse, mo. 1885"
Morton stared at her in sheer
amazement.
why, that is where was" he be-
gan, and then checked himself. OF all
the extraordinary condolences Of
which he had ever heard, surely this
was the strangest, that he, hurrying to
an obscure house in remote suburb
Of the city, should collide with taxi
cab carrying a 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 copy of the list. "a
tall, dark, foreignIooking woman"
the auctioneer had said. There was
no room for doubt; the woman of the
auction-room episode and the woman
Of the taxicab accident must be one
and the same. By one of those coin
cidences which are stranger than fic-
was so anxious to meet had been
thrown almost literally into his arms.
Morton's mind worked rapidly.
81 take it that you must be acQuaint-
ed with Mr.. Stephanski,' he began,
feeling his way cautiously, cor are
you, too, on the trail of the Burke
books?"
What do you know about the Burke
books?" she demanded increduIously.
81 know all about Them replied
Morton, now convinced, from her agi-
tation, that his surmises were correct.
"And I happen to know" he con-
tinued, that you are after them, too.
Let US be quite frank with each 9TH
er, dear lady. 1t is always more sat
isfactory and saves much misunder-
standing. I am going to Stephanskfs
to get a look at that book which he
bought at Dawson's auction sale this
morning; you are going there for
the same purpose. If we tried we
could probably make things very IN
comfortable for each other-but
what's the use? Suppose we join
forces instead? If we succeed in get
ting what we're after there viii be
enough in it to satisfy US both What
do you say?"
While he was speaking, OIga's mind
had been working like lightning.
every WE'LL she assented, T can
see no harm in our working together.
AS you say, the secret, if we discover
it, is big enough to satisfy US both. :"
AS 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
NIT me to introduce myself. My
name is Gerald Morton
"AnG l." she replied, gravely ac-
knowledging the Introduction, am
the Countess Tvanoh'
Morton was obviously impressed by
her title, her distinction of manner,
and her undeniable beauty, but his re-
Elections were interrupted by the car
stopping in front Of a tumbledown
house which stood back from the road
in a lot overgrown with grass and