The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-09-02

| AS he was striding brisk1y past line
of stores, barber shops, saloons and
pool rooms, which comprise Valda-
Was business district, he felt a hand
| fall suddenly on his shoulder, while
a hoarse voice doomed:
''Avast there, Mr.. Hope. Stand by
minute and pass the time OF day
with an old shipmate, won't ye?"
The young officer whirled about to
confront a figure SO quaint, so pic
turesque, so redolent Of the sea that
he might well have stepped from the
pages OF Treasure Island" The man
was Of such tremendous girth that he
looked shorter than he really was.
| Protruding from his right coat sleeve,
where his hand should have been. was
a crudely fashioned iron hook. For
moment, Hope stared at him coldly,
then the light of recognition came
over his face.
Hook Barnacle, as I'm alive" he
exclaimed, grasping the old sea-dog's
single hand. ''Why, Hook, haven't
seen or heard OF you since you got
your discharge from the old Decatur
back In '9S. You've grown SO fat since
those days that didn't know you at
first"
'You could get as fat as 1ellyf1sh,
Mr. Hope, sir, and I'd know you any
where. It's going on seventeen years
since you jumped overheard in Pago-
Page harbor, and yanked me out of
the jaws of that shark, but I remem-
Der it as clear as If it happened yes
terday. And what brings you out to
the coast, if might make so bold's
to ask, sir?"
Tive been detailed to see man
named Burke-Dr. Ralph Burke-an
inventor. He lives here in Valdavia.
Ever hear of him?"
'Hear o. Doctor Burke?'' chuckled
the sailor. why, Lord love you, sir,
I've been doing odd jobs for the doc
tor ever since he and his daughter
came here to live. And when he heard
that / used to be in the navy he gave
me charge o putting the engine in that
old submarine hull he bought a while
back. By the jumping Jehosaphat, I'll
bet that's what brings you to Valda-
via, lootenant- get the secret o. the
submarine!"
Hook laughed the officer, your
deductions would do credit to Sher-
lock Holmes. I've come out to have a
look into Doctor Burkes invention.
Now suppose you show me where he
1ives.'
At the very edge Of the town, where
the street became q country road,
stood a weatherbeaten two-story frame
house. AS Hook swung open the
breaking gate a young girl suddenly
| darted around the corner Of the house
and then, catching sight OF Hope,
stopped dead, like startled fawn.
She was a very beautiful girl indeed:
straight and slender as a boy, with a
skin like creamy satin and a great
crown CT rudy hair which turned to
molten gold when the sun struck upon
it. So lovely was she that Hope stood
staring at her; stared until a rosy
wave of confusion swept over her
from brow to bosom.
Miss Cleo, permit me to introduce
Lcotenant Hcpe," said Hook. LOO
tenant, this is Miss Cleo Burke, Doc
tor Burke's daughter. You've hearn
me tell O. the lootenant before, Miss
Cleo, an how he saved my life in
Pago-Pago.'
mot the Mr.. Hope who dove into
the harbor and saved you from the
shark" she exclaimed breathlessly,
open admiration in her eyes. Hook
| has told US that story a hundred times,
| Mr.. Hope. Why, it was quite the
bravest thing have ever heard Of"
Believe me, Miss Burke" said
Hope, embarrassed in his turn, 81 did
nothing that any man would not have
done In my place. Hook greatly over
rates my services to him. It would
never do to let as good seaman as
Hook become breakfast food for
fishes
"You-you haven't come to see my
fathers invention, have you? You
haven't come in answer to his letter
to the secretary of the navy?"
THAT is precisely why I have come,
Miss Burke" said Hope. I'm order to
see it I have travelled three thousand
miles"
ooh. Mr.. Hope" she said anxiously,
81 pray with all my heart that the
government will take it. It has been
4 4AJ AaIACA 4tA0 HOEA 4GS 1CSOp(6ACO
will mean so very much to him-to
me-to both OF us. It would be q
dream come true. I'll tell him that
you are here
The room into which she led Hope
was stacked from floor to ceiling with
books. AS he was idly turning over
the pages Of a treatise on chemistry
the door opened to admit Doctor
Burke. The inventor was a small,
wiry, nervous man, whose quick, ex-
citable gestures plainly showed the
strain under which he had been work
ing.
you are very welcome. Mr.. Hope,
said the old man, peering at his Wis
itor through 3 huge pair OF horn
: trimmed spectacles.
Il 81 am thoroughly familiar with the