San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-18
Begin Here Today.

Hope Ranger is made prisoner il
a sanitarium conducted by groul
of criminals called the Combine" 4
letter is written to Loring Ranger
Hopes father, telling HIM where t,
leave hundred thousand dollar
worth of bonds. He acts according t,
| instructions.
Juarez Charlie. adventurer an,
! friend Of Loring, follows a clew lead
ing TO the sanitarium. Hope and DIR
Kelsey, another prisoner, escape in 8
machine belonging to DR.. Bristow, tn,
superintendent.
Bristow follows them to an aban
doned house. Hope hears Bristow's
voice in the yard and. while Kelsey
sleeps, she surrenders and swears that
Kelsey has abandoned her. Alderman
Higgins, head Of the Combine" tell;
Bristow that the girl must be killed
Now 90 on with the story.
"Thcn I'm to be her escort?" Bris-
tow asked bitterly. He knew that he
was defeated.
Higgins looked at him with smile
of wintry derision.
NO; | guess we'll leave you out
of this, Doc. We can't afford to have
no mistakes made. I'll go along with
the little lady myself. Kind o. bad
for my rheumatism TO have to lay
there. in the road. when the car goes
off the bridge; but l don't see NJ
other way"
The superintendent Strengthened ui
as If to defy this show Of authority.
For long minute he and Higgins
faced each other. Then, overturning a
chair as he went, he left the room.
As he flung out of the door, he col
lided with Morton who was crouching
at, the key hole.
With one hand he caught the house
physician by the throat, choking off
even sound from him.. With the
other hand, he closed the door behind
him.
Chapter XXVI.
Pushed backward from the door,
still with that cOnstraining clutch on
his threat, Morton's popping eyes were
fixed Oh Bristow's face. His amaze
ment was even greater than his fright.
But there was quality in this
summary and violent capture which
prevented him from following his
primitive impulse to struggle and
kick. The hand that choked him
seemed also to hold him up. Bristov
was pale and certainly determined
but there was nothing of the no,
anger that Eis action would indicate.
On the contrary. he conveyed to Nor
ton by some electric telepathy that
his assault was necessary and entire
ly friendly.
At the head of the stairs he re-
leased his victim with low. Ssh. :"
his finger laid against his lips, and
giving the house physician mo-
ment to gain his breath. threw an arm
about his shoulder and lei him. stumb-
ling and still purple and gasping, down
the steps TO the office.
Bristow stood on the hearth rug,
strengthening cut his cuffs, and sur
veyed Morton reflectively.
You needn't be afraid of me. Nor
tom lie sad earnestly. I'm only
TOO grateful TO you. too utterly CRATE
full"
A shattered faith is not easily re
stored. Still, Morton remembered,
Bristow had fought to save the girl
although his merit was counterbai.
anced in his mind by Miss Copley's
accusations.
How much of the conversation ur
there did you overhear!'' Bristow
asked, without betraying too much
interest.
GA good deal of it," Morton
stammered Enough TO know that
you were against them"
Bristow rubbed his hands.
Suppose" he said. before we go
deeply into this matter. you tell me
just what you were doing up there:
Listeing. of course. But WHY
Norton twid'llei his thumbs, and
looked confused.
Il have felt for some days that
there some something wrong in the
matter of this girl. IL read the
papers. | suspected
Bristow waved his hand, and smiled
commiseratingly.
Don't go on trying to invent.
You've not adroit enotigh. You'd be
helping that girl far more by telling