San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-03
Begin Here Today.

DtSu ttrfr AOuds.
Loring Ranger offers a hundred
thousand dollars reward for the re-
turn of his missing daughter Hope.
He is assisted in his search by his
attorney, Eustice Highly, and by his
lifelong friend Juarez Charlie, ad-
venturer.
Charlie tells Loring that he feels
certain that Hope is held prisoner
by a group Of criminals called the
Combine" A message comes to
Ranger telling him to buy hat
for Hope aud leave it at specified
place. Frank Bryan is Rangers
private secretary.
George Kelsey is detained at a
private sanitarium and he meets
and visits with girl who closely
resembles nurse named Copl'y.
DIR. Bristow is the superintendent
Of the institution. Now so on with
the story.
A responsive shiver passed over hec
| shoulders
There was no use acting as if l
hadn't taksa it all in" Kelsey re-
sumed; "and j didn't hesitate to ex-
press myself. / was leaving at once,
l told him; Gidn'tS care to be hooked
up with q. pnnch OF crooks. Bris 1"w
didn't buster any; just smiled in
flat maddening, superior way of his
and when I finished, condescended 10
explain. He had been humoring
lunatic, he said; my experience
should have taught me the necessity
| of sometimes doing that. The st,iy
OF the stolen jewels was pure demcn-
tia. but interesting as an example %
unusual conference.
"He made the thing plausible
enough. but it didn't sink in as he
expected. Id heard the two of them
| talk. There wasn't any make-beiieve
about IL; they were right down 20
business. Actual names and al
dresses were gwen and written down.
And the alleged patient was allowed
to depart free.
$50 l stood my ground, and blunt'y
told him that / didn't consider the
circumstances open to misinterpreta-
ton.
"Bristow began tapping on the
arm of his chair. but he was as cool
as ever. 1T looks rs il your useful.
ness here j. over he agreed. L re-
greet it. You would have been valu-
able man.
"Speak little lower" she eau.
toned.
"Thanks. forgot for the momeLt.
Well. i left h'm then. and went up to
my roor,. I've told you how | at
tempted 10 get awa7 and failed
After that | tried TO get 10 Bristow
again. but he wouldn see me. SO !
turned to Morton"
"Morton?' she repeated intcrroga
lively.
"Yes: the other house physician
He's a quiet. non-committal sort of a
fellow. I didn't 60 into the whole
thing with hin: just told him I'd
had n falling out with Bristow and
resigned. Tut that when attempted
to leave tna place, I'd been prevent
| ed. ~
"He didn't Glow any surprise. He'd
been primeu. Just listened. and said
now and then. I'm sorry or To
bad I didn'. get his attitude at the
time. Nv idea then was. that he
was too keen on his job to take side I,
But l gained a clearer light on him
when / finally talked TO Bristow.
"He was all ready for me. and
didn't waste any time in laying his
cards on TIE table.
"'It's Or your own sake that |
have tasan these restrictive mea-
sures,' he sdid in his best professional
manner. L m not easily fooled. yet
/ confess I had no suspicious of you.
But your violent outbreak and the
persistent way you have chung u
lyour delusions leave only one course
open 10 me. Do you remember any
great shock o. accident in your lifc:'
Il saw where he was heading, and
boiled over.
"'No shock like finding you a
scoundrei ami a thief! jumped up
from nv chair. of course see your
game, Doc,cr. 1 know too much for
| my health, and therefore you are