The Carlisle independent., 1917-05-17

sider it privilege"
 q have reason to believe, MT. Romero" said Cleo, that you can be of very great service, indeed" and she proceeded to tell him the story of her fathers mysterious death, of the lost formula and of how much depended on its recovery, of the clue given in the letter which she discovered in her fathers desk, of the diseouragements and perils which they had encountered in their search for the book which she had found in the cabin on the ledge.
 ''So have my fathers word for it." she concluded, that tine formula Is hidden in the philosophy and that 1t can be deciphered by reading every seventh word on page sixty-two. And l believe, Mir. Romero that the phi losophy which you bought at Dawson's auction rooms contains the secret"
 My dear child" said Romero, who had listened to the long recital with the utmost sympathy and interest. you must prepare yourself for great disappointment. It is true that I bought a philosophical work at the sale of your fathers library-but, un- fortunately I have lost It."
 Hope and Cleo, their high hopes thus suddenly destroyed, uttered exclama- tions of Encouragement and despair.
 'It was small book" continued the naturalist, ''so last week, just as 1 was starting on a camping trip, I slipped it into my pocket, intending to read it that night in camp. But when night came 1t was gone It had evi- dently fallen out of my pocket some where on the trail. To have searched for it in the | untains would have been hopeless task, even had I real ized its value, which, of course, did not"
 Do you remember the title of the book?" Hope asked eagerly. "Who was the author? Or the publisherY'
 Tt sounds absurd, I know" con- fessed the naturalist, "but I don't know the title of the book or who wrote it. Indeed, my chief reason for bidding it in was because it had be- longed to my old friend. Doctor Burke. They wrapped it up for me at the auction rooms and 1 did not take the trouble to unwrap it before slipping 1t into my pocket when I started on the trip. All that can tell you about it is that it was quite a small book and, from it's condition, evidently an old one. It is indeed a great sorrow to me, Miss Burke, that you should have suffered so great loss through my carelessness."
 I'm afraid, dear" said Hope, as, having taken leave of Romero, they were riding down the trail which led to the railway. that this puts an end to our hope of finding the secret, at least for the present. If we only knew the title of the book that Romero lost we could obtain a duplicate copy. but, as we don't know it, the only alterna- tive we have left is 10 apply the key to all the philosophical works we can find in the hope that we may eventu- ally strike the right one. It may take us a long time, though.''
 'I won't have you worry any more about that old book,n said Cleo "You told me the other day that I would be very rich when the secret was found =. but I am already very rich in having your love, dear heart. Believe me, Jarvis. secret or DO secret, I am perfectly content"
 'If you count my love as wealth." said Hope, then you are quite the richest person in the world. for I know no one ever loved a woman as much as I love you. And if I can't give you many luxuries, dear, can at least make you very, very happy"
 "I'm the happiest girl in the worid, already" Cleo told him.
 It Has with singing hearts. there fore, that, the loss of the book already forgotten, they boarded the train fos San Francisco.
 As they entered the hotel Cleo was chatting gayly about her plans for the wedding, which was to take place tha first of the following week.
 of course,' she was saying, "now that the secret of the submarine Is probably lost forever, we will have to live on your pay, Jarvis, so we must uaNe a very SlHpie wedding. I'm going to married in a dove-gray suit do you think you will like me in a dove-gray suit, JarvisT' Like you?" he repeated: '.why, dearest, you're the world and the sun and the moon and the stars to me; you're"
 Beg pardon, Lieutenant Hope" in. terrupted the clerk, but here's a special delivery letter for you. ii came in this morning"
 Glancing with some surprise at the superscription, which was in dashina hand, Hope tore open the envelope and drew out the sheet of crested and scented note paper. At first he glanced curiously at the closely written sheet; then, as though he could not credit the evidence of his eyes, he read it again. As the significance of the mess sage dawned upon him he turned deathly pale; the hand holding tho letter dropped lifelessly to his sidel