The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-11-23

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his hands. Mentally and physically
exhausted, he threw himself upon the
! bed, aud despite the fears and ankle
ties that ussulled him, was almost In.
stnntly asleep. So sOundly did he
sleep, indeed. that II was nearly noon
when he was awakened by someone
| pounding at his door II proved to he
n bellboy with special delivery let
| ter.
"if you wish to see Miss Burke
alive" II ran. "come to ll2l Pnnuco
street mt nine o'clock this evening
bringing with you the work on metal.
lurgy which formerly belonged to Doc.
tor Burke. The door will be unlocked
Enter without ringing. ascend three
flights of stairs and give four short
| rnps on the door nt the left. n you
communicate with the police or bring
anyone with you. IL will result In
| Miss Burkc's death. The only way
you can save her Is to follow these
directions to the letter"
No neighbOrhood In San Francisco
has n more evil reputation than Panu
co street No. 1921 Hope found was
II narrow, four-story building which
In days long passed. had evidently
been II residence of considerable pre-
tension, but which had now fallen into
n sad state of neglect and disrepuir
As Hope nscended the steps, there
came, from an areaway across the
street, II shrill whistle, twice repeat
ed. The kldnapers were on the watch
and the two whistles were signal to
those within the house that he was
unnccompuuied. Swinging open the
door, Hope found himself in such inky
blackness that he had to strike a
match IN order to find the stairway.
Lighting his way with matches. Hope
| cautiously uscended three flights of
stairs and gave four brisk raps on the
door on the left, which instantly
swung open. In the doorway, his face
lighted by the lamp that he held above
his head, was Mahlin.
"lla," said Hope, recognizing his
former antagonist. II rather suspect.
ed It was you | had to deal with.
Where's your Jap slde-partnerT
Just behind you" replied Mahlin,
and Hope, listening, heard on the
stairs the footballs of person stealth
lily ascending. A moment later Satsu.
ma Joined them.
"NOw," said Mahlln brpsqnely,
when Satsuma had closed tire door,
"We've no time to waste, so let's get
down to business. Did you bring the
book?"
"Yes," replied Hope.
"Good-let's see It,"
"Not quite so fast. my friend" re-
piled the officer. "You don't get the
book until Miss Burke has been re-
leased"
Miss Burke will be released as
soon as you hand over the book" de-
clared Mahlin. "On my honor"
You haven't any" sneered Hope.
II intend to keep the book until you
release Miss Burke. don't have to
trust you and I'm not going to-"
III you don't hand over the book I'll
take IT," snarled Mahlin. and raised
his hand as though giving n signal.
Hope, who had come prepared for
treachery, whirled about with the
qulckness of thought. Nor was he an
instant too soon, for, not pace away,
was Satsuma, In his upraised hand a
knife. Hope launched an uppercut
which caught the Japanese squarely
on the point of the jaw. His legs
struck the low window-sill, and, too
dazed to save himself, he plunged out
ward and downward to the stone
paved court, four stories below. So
quickly did II occur that before Mahlin
| fully realized what had happened,
Hope was again facing him and he
was looking into the muzzle of the
officers weapon.
Hands up" ordered Hope curtly,
| and Mahlin, recognizing the futility OF
resistance, sullenly obeyed.
81 am pressed for time" said Hope,
taking out his watch, $50 l can only
give you three minutes In which to
decide whether you are going to tell
me where Miss Burke ls."
"Will you let me go II tell you
where the girl is7" asked Mahlin,
visibly weakening. "Will you give me
your word not to turn me over to the
policeT"
"If Miss Burke is unharmed I shall
not mention your name to the police
but II you've injured hair
of her head I'll send you to San
Quentin for life.'
"You hold the winning hand"
growled Mnhlln. captivating. "Do you
know where Suisun bay is?'
"Yes."
"On the south shore, about half way
between Martinez and Cornwall
there's an abandoned pier, At the
end of II there's an old storehouse
She's In there"
Picking his way down the stairs
in the darkness, Hope gave sigh OF
relief as the door Of the empty house
closed behind him and he found him
self in the open air again. fastening