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

the names and addresses Of all with
whom we have had dealings, and
here" running his finger down the
page, ARE the names Of those who
bought the books which you are seek
ing You viii notice that the twelve
books comprising Lot 90 were sold
separately, so I'm afraid that it will
require considerable time and trouble
for you to run down all Of them"
81 see that the leaves Of this ledger
are detachable remarked Olga "As
we are greatly pressed for time won
der if you could not let me take the
page which has the names we wish. I
will have them copied and return the
page to you in the morning"
'I am very sorry, madam said Mr..
Dawson respectfully. but the city or
dinances require US to keep list Of
those to whom We have made sales
always in our possession. The police
are very strict about this, as it often
assists them in tracing articles that
have been stolen Not that we are
accustomed to deal with thieves he
added, smiling. IF you viii wait but
i've minutes, madam, my secretary
will copy the names for you"
Within a quarter Of an hour after
Olga and Sextus left the auction
rooms with the list in their posses
sion, a second taxicab drew up before
Dawson's door. Gerald Morton en-
| tered.
81 am a friend of Miss Cleo
Burke's," he explained to the auction
eer ''As she has been detained In
Valdavfa she asked me if I would drop
in here and get the names of the peo-
pie who bought some books about
which she te1ephoned you"
But some other friends Of Miss
Burke's have just been here after the
same list" said Dawson. They left
with it not fifteen minutes ago.
"Other friends Of Miss Burke?" ex-
claimed Morton, plainly startled.
''Who were they? What were their
names?"
at never occurred to me to ask
their Names" said Dawson There
were two of them; a slender, foreign
looking man and a tall, dark, hand
someIy dressed woman. 1 imagine
that she was foreigner, too
"a tall. dark woman and a foreign
looking man." repeated Morton, max
ing no effort to hide his perplexity.
Il haven't the vaguest idea who they
could be. Perhaps someone to whom
Miss Burke telephoned after left Val
daTia. I'm afraid I've a reputation
for being very careless and she was
probably afraid that would forget all
about the list. Still, you had better let
me have a copy of it so that 1 can
prove to her that I'm not as forgetful
as she imagines.'
When he departed few minutes la
! ter, with the list in his pocket, Ger
aid Morton was a much-puzzled man.
Who could they be, these foreigners
who had SO suddenly obtruded them
selves?
At five minutes to six there stopped
before the Dawson establishment a
snorting motorcycle. Entered Satsu-
ma, dust-coYered and perspiring.
81 have come to inquire about some
books belonging to Miss Burke he
began, in the precise speech Of an ed
ucated Oriental, when Dawson inter
rupted him.
You're another friend Of Miss
| Burke's, l suppose?' he shouted. 81
suppose you've come to tell me that
Miss Burke has been unavoidably de-
tanned and that she has asked you to
obtain the names of the purchasers of
the books, Ell? I've stood for that
story twice this afternoon but you
can't come in here and put it over on
me a third time"
What do you mean?" asked Satsu-
ma, in undisguised establishment, Il
do not understand"
81 mean exactly what I say" shout
ed the exasperated auctioneer. Half
an hour ago in come girl and man
who say that they are friends of Miss
Burke and that she's sent them to get
the names of the people who bought
her fathers books. 1 give them the
names. Ten minutes later a young
fellow arrives in taxi and IN a tear
ing hurry and tells me the same story.
So give the names to him. Now you
come along and try to give me the
same song and dance. It's too thin,
my friend, it's too thin
81 am not a friend of Miss Burke, -
said Satsuma quietly, "and 1 know
nothing of these other people. 1 wish
! to obtain the books for private rea-
sons. If you will give me the names
OF the people who bought them am
quite willing to pay you for your trou
bIe,'' and he displayed twenty-dolIa1
bill.
well, money talks" said Dawson
abruptly altering his tone, "and hanged
: If 1 can see what harm there is in
giving you the names. Sit down g
minute while copy them"
When Satsuma left he was so alb
sorbed in his speculations as to the
identity of the mysterious strangers
who had preceded him, that he failed
to put out his cigarette-stub which he
absent-mindedly tossed into the waste
basket standing beside DaEson's desk
? And, it being closing time, Dawson fol
/ lowed the japanese out, and closed
the door, and locked it, and betool
himself homeward without noticing
r that from the wastebasket rose a thin
4 faint Wisp Of smoke.
D
: Though the ca7 in Ul7feh C7oo Hon.