San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-17
Begin Here Today.


Hope Rangfer is held prisoner il
a sanitarium conducted by grouI
of criminals called the Combine.
DR.. Kelsey is detained in the same
hospital because he knows of Grim
inal dealings of the superintendent
DR.. Bristow.
Hope and Kelsey escape in Bris
tow's car. The two take refuge il
an abandoned house,,
While Kelsey sleeps Hope hears
Bristow's voice and knows that ht
has followed them. Hope surren
ders to Bristow and tells him that
Kelsey has abandoned her.
Bristow goes to consult with his
partner, Nurse Copley, and, with
Alderman Higgins, the real head OF
the Combine" Juarez Charlie, adj
venturer and friend of Ranger, is
following on motorcycle clew
leading to the sanitarium. Now 60 on
with the story.
Higgins considered this, but. hav-
ing neither objection nor suggestion
to offer, turned to another phase of
the situation.
"How about this cockroach with
the motorcycle" he demanded.
What's he up to, since he got
turned out of the calaboose?"
Saving his hide, l fancy. He
knows enough to have a very whole
some respect for that message you
sent him. They said he went to pieces
badly when he saw it. and he tot /
Simonds that this part of the coun-
try wouldn't see him soon again"
Bristow thought minute.
"The whole point is this" he said
finally. what Juarez Charlie may
know or suspect is immaterial; we
can take care of him, if necessary.
But what he may have told Ranger
is another kettle of fish. l hold.
though, that every indication points
to his having said little or nothing. :"
Hobo Bill pondcrcd this, thought
fully rubbing his great, protuberant
knuckles.
"You want to be Master Mind y"
He poured out stream of\obscene
abuse. what did you do. when you
ketchcd that Kelsey gettin' an ear
full on you?- If I'd "a been here,
he'd have been joltcd off so quick,
'twould have made his hair curl.
Anita saw it was the only thing to
do. But you wouldn't listen to her.
You was running things. You
wanted to try an experiment, ana
handle the matter on smoother.
more scientific lines. a nice mess
your scientific handling has got us
into"
He choked. unable to go on. His
face was purple. his great, sagging
body shaking and quivering, his arms
beating on his chair.
Anita Copley was at his side.
Bending over him. she tried to quiet
him. Bristow stood aloof, white
faced and very stiff.
The gust of fury subsidized rs sud
denly as it had arisen. Higgins.
after catching his breath. 10y back in
his chair. The purple slowly recedcd
from his face. and left it gray and
impressive once more. His hands
ceased shaking, and again rested
motionlcss on the arms of his chairl
When he spoke at last. it was in
his usual grating monotone: but the
settled. impervious quiet of his voice
was more alarming than his outburst
of anger.
"Wc can't take no more chances.
he said. well end this Hope Ran
ger Job tonight"
"You mean" Anita Coplcy asked
sharply.
"Therc won't be no such person to-
morrow"
Chapter XIV.
One could have heard pin drop.
There was dead silence in the room.
but it vihratcd with the clash of OPP
posing wills.
Anita CoDley had dropped her lids.
but the glitter of hcr eyes showed
beneath her lashes. She was watch
ing Bristow.
They were waiting for him. Hic-
gins ready to negative anything he
said. Anita longing for him TO ex-
postulatc. that she might have the
satisfaction of deciding against him.
But oven in this pass. h. took pleas
IRE in thwartinC them. in following
the opposite tack from the one they
cxpccted.
"Ah? Extreme measnres?' He