San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-01
Becir Here Today.

IOring Ra ger offers Il hundred
thousand dollars reward for the re
turn of his daughter, Hope. who dis
appears after having luncheon at tn,
Plaza with her best friend, Luci;
Thornc. Ranger is assisted in hi,
search by his attorney, Eustice Highly
| who is a warm friend of the family.
Juarez Charlie, adyenturer. Is a life
long friend of Ranger. Charlie come.
to Rangers office and informs hin
that a message has been sent to hin
regarding the missing Hope. He tells
Ioring that he mistrusts Frank
Bryan, who is private secretary IL
Ranger
Charlie says that he has been in
structed through message TO tel
Ranger to buy a hat for Hope and
leave it in specified place. Now &c
on with the story.
"Not only in this city, but all over
the country" he declared. Don't you
| read the newspapers! Look at the
frequent robberies on n big scale, not
money and securities alone, but jewels
| silks, furs. merchandise in carload lots
How could plumber of that sort be dis.
| posed of unless there was an Organi.
zation to manage it? That's the Com
bine, and it runs the whole show
Ranger yielded to growing con-
viction that there was more in this
than mere imaginings or n fantastic
embroidery on a few unrelated facts.
Improbable as it seemed, there was
at least some basis for Charles reve-
lation-enough TO go on.
"And you Think" his voice trcm-
bled. that this inner group-this
Combine-have my daughter?"
I'm certain Of it. 1t isn't often
they pull anything on their own ac-
count. But after that message / re-
ceived-well, that settles it in my mind
that this is one of the times they've
done it,"
o.. CHAPTER vi.
Ranger reached quickly for the tele-
phone on his desk, but Charlie, antici-
pating his action. seized it first.
No, you DON'T He held the
instrument tight in both hands. Il
can see your mouth made up for
Spring, BOO as plain as if you were
already calling il. What I've told you
was for Jour own information. Loring.
, and not TO be passed on TO the police. -
Rangers success in life was largely
due to his habit of quick decision.
With scarcely pause he reached out
and gripped Charles hand in q clasp
that told more than he could have
expressed in an. hours speech.
Handle it your own way, old
man." he said heartily. 'Tm with
you. III back you with everything
I've got"
THAT will help--a little" said
Charlie, dryly.
You said awhile back" he remark
ed at last. that il looked to you, I.or-
ing. like we were, up against blank
wall. Well. We are; but there's one
opening in that wall. end it's through
the messages they'll send. Take this
hat we've been ordered to furnish.
Somebody's got 10 get il and carry il
TO them. Then. il that person is trail
ed and we find out where the.hat is
delivered, We'll be getting pretty warm
to the people we'-e after"
The suggestion seemed TO Ranger
an immediate solution of the whole
problem, and he was eager TO lose no
time in putting it into execution; but
Charlie checked his enthusiasm.
NO" he advised. They'll be on
the lookout. Let ono or two messages
go by. though. with just bungling
attempt to follow, and they'll begin
to grow careless. ThatIll be our time
to start trailing"
But how do you know there will
be further mcSsages!"
How do know that Christmas is
coming? You don't suppose they're
sending FOR that bonnet merely to doll
your daughter I'M. do you? As told
you, they'll send "a photograph of her
wearing 1t to prove TO you that she's
/ alive and well, and then they'll begin
to apply the screws"
demand money, do you mean? But
why haven't they done so before? II
is month today since Hope disap.
peared; yet. although have thrown
myself wide openI to an offer, this
communication through you is the first
word | have received either directly
or indirectly
Sure. They wanted to try the
cops and all the rest of il. and learn
lust how tight they had you tied IN,
Now that they think you're desperate,
they're ready to do business -
His alert glance caught sight of the
returning Bryan making his way to-
ward them through the outer office.
and, without altering his attitude. he
changed his tone to one of querulous
expostulation.
1T you'll quit your arguing and do
as l say, we'll soon see if there's any
thing in it or not. A hat isn't going
TO set you back more than 2J or IS
dollars, and you'd hand tina. out any
day to one OF your hiSi-pricek dicks
and think nothing ofcit."
| oh. come along. then" Ranger
took his cue in a way that even Charlie
had to approve. But mind you-''
he got up with the air of yielding
against his judgment-"I haven't the
slightest hope that anything will come
"Ah, Bryan with an assumption
of eagerness. You saw the girl at
headquarters? Did She No? Only
another disappointment, eh:"
Signing. he picked up his hat, AMI
he and Charlie left the office. Out.
side. he dismissed his chauffeur and.
driving the car himself. procee d to
a millinery shop on cross-street in
the Fifties.
When the odd pair entered this
feminine Mecca of cunningly arranged
mirrors and carefully tinted walls. the
strnyed princess who received ,'icm
gave the Sugared llnguor of ter smile