The Carlisle independent., 1917-03-29

ordered the man to drive her to 1485 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 ad- dress. Thus it happened that, as the touring car which he had engaged was speeding out California street, Olgas taxicab, recklessly driven by 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 a shout of warning, the squeal of brakes suddenly applied and, with a crash of splintering wood and break ing glass, the heavy touring car struck the taxieab squarely amidships. So rapidly was Morton's car travelling that the lighter machine was hurled bAAC NAdNAi CA Ai4C Sli COl bg tliC fAOAC1NC of the collision and collapsed against the opposite curb, shattered almost beyond recognition. A crowd collect ed as though by magic. The driver of the taxicab blood streaming from an ugly gash in his head, and grooming wreckage and carried into a nearby drug store, while Olga, very white and shaken, but quite uninjured, was helped from the shattered machine by a score of willing hands. Morton hur- ried to her, profusely apologetic. When he saw her striking beauty he became more apologetic.
 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, No. 14S5."
 Morton stared at her in sheer amazement
 Why, that is where I 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 i'll a remote suburb of the city. should collide with a 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 a copy of the list. "A tall, dark. foreign-looking woman" the auctioneer had said. There was no room for doubt the woman of the auetion-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 tic- tion, the mysterious woman whom he was so anxious to meet had been thrown almost literally into his arms. Morton's mind worked rapidly.
 T take it that you must be acquaint- ed with Mr. Stephanski," he began, feeling his way cautiously, Tor are you, too, on the trail of the Burke books?"
 What do you know about the Burke books?" she demanded incredulously.
 T 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 oth- CT, dear lady. It is always more sat isfactory and saves much misunder- standing. I am going to Stephanski's to get 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 tOuld plODdDly fSly 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 will be enough in it to satisfy us both. What do you say?"
 While he was speaking. Olga's mind had been working like lightning.
 Very 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 a matter of fact, she had not the slightest intention of sharing the se- cret with anyone. For that matter, neither had Morton.
 Good" he exclaimed heartily. Now that we are to be partners, per init me to introduce myself. My name is Gerald Morton"
 And r. she replied. gTavely ac, knowledging the introduction, am the Countess Ivanoff"