The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-04-10
A CHERISHED KISS
BY MIRAREL LEE.



A series of rapid occurrences
aroused Walter Adsit from the hum
drum career Of an average young man,
and within week tested ingenuity,
courage and the timber he was made
Of in a signally exciting way.
He had dallied In the train shed of
big railroad to wave a departing
adieu to friend just as another train
pulled in. He stood for a moment,
casually watching the passengers
alight.
"Oh, Harryi am so glad!" and
from the hand Of daintily dressed
miss a suit case dropped impulsively,
pair of arms encircled his neck, and
right on his lips a kiss was imprinted.
Then, with a dismayed cry. the be
slower Of the precious favor flushed
scarlet and incoherently stammered:
st thought it was my brother-I-"
Her embarrassment was relieved as
man approached her, and Walter
started away, lifting his cap, not one
bit sorry for the mistake, but too much
of a gentleman to remain and further
confuse the young lady.
''This is Miss Ward" he heard the
man say, as he rendered a card to the
young lady which she glanced at casu-
ally and listened closely to an evident
explanation. She picked up her suit
case and with the man walked through
the gates and out upon the side depot
platform. He signaled a cab and
helped the young lady into it. She
dropped something white as she
crossed the platform. Walter picked
it up. 1t was a printed card, bearing
the name, ':Harry Ward" and an ad-
dress.
A shrek echoed out. It was followed
by a crash. As the vehicle whizzed
around a corner there was clatter Of
glass as the pane in the door was
pushed through.
Walter ran to the corner. The cab
was proceeding more rapidly. As it
passed under an electric lamp he
caught a full view Of the face OF the
driver.
I'D know him again." soliloquized
Walter, and "and I wonder what this
all means?" Within half an hour he
was at the address given by the card
respectable boarding house.
'sMr. Ward? Yes, sir" spoke the
maid who answered his summons. HE
is i'll, but think he can see you" She
led Walter up q fight of stairs, tapped
at a door and left him to his own de-
vices.
"Come H." spoke masculine voice.
"Who is -it?''
The moment Walters eye rested on
xHo
close resemblance to the girl on the
train.
"YOu will pardon me for intruding,"
he said, shut an incident has trans
pired that has caused me some alarm
and has led me to seek you out" and
briefly but clearly Walter narrated the
circumstances of the hour.
Harry Ward looked curious, suspi-
cious and then deeply alarmed. His
face grew pale and troubled.
ST must get up at once" he spoke
excitedly. "Estelle, my sister! Oht
see it all. She has been kidnapped to
preVent-but you are a stranger and it
cannot interest you. met with bad
fall today and one foot is crippled.
That was why was unable to meet
my sister. counted on her being safe
to come here alone"
''You mistake If you think am not
sufficiently interested to wish to be Of
some practical help to yourself and
your sister," observed Walter, earnest
~. cit is plain to me that mystery,
villainy is involved. You are helpless
to pursue the man who has seemingly
deluded Miss Ward into believing that
you sent him TO represent you. Tell
PIE as little or as much as you choose,
but let me try to aid you"
It was a somewhat remarkable story
that Harry Ward recited. He was en-
gagged in prosecuting a claim Of his
dead father. The opposition had
fought the case. A final decision In
court was now pending and the evil
dence of Miss Ward, her brothers law
yer had told him, would win the case.
The other side in some way had as
certained this. Bold, INSCRIPTIONS,
they had intercepted the star witness,
doubtless intending to hold her as a
captive until the case was ended,
which would fall fiat without her evi.
dence.
The memory of kiss impelled Wal
ter Adsit to put in three whole days |
watching everywhere for clue he had |
in mind. One day he came to a sud- |
den standstin at a cabstand. A newly |
glazed window in a cab gave him hope |
A little later the driver appeared.
In twenty words Walter satisfied |
this man that if he did not give the |
details of the abduction of Miss Ward |
and her whereabouts he was headed |
for the penitentiary. The cab driver /
was, in fact, only hired tool, but he |
knew enough to post Walter as to the /
best course for him to pursue.
An hour later, armed with names
and details the cab driver had given /
him, Walter rushed unceremoniously /
in upon an old bag in a wretched tene-
ment house.
''From DevoneyI' he exclaimed.
1.-THE police are on the track of the
girlAget her, quick must hurry her
TO better hiding"
The alarmed woman acted on the
An ho17r