Evening star., 1927-09-08
LADY SLIPPER
Bv Ella Mister Hdiltes
Author of MYSTERIOUS SWEETHEART"
Copyright. 1926. Thompson Feature Service. Inc.

! Iteifnef nau unCON req that some time
ago. but We thought they would take
/ it down-wouder what they are try
ing now-I never knew such a tanglt
- he frowned fiercely. and the
young man, observing his chief said
1T seems to- me that nothing mat
! ters so much as the recovery Of Miss
| Morris, chief. There is something ter
! rihly wrong about her loss 1t cannot
! he an accident 1t is part of this
| diabolical plot, of course She's to he
used as a decoy to trap us all! The
worst of it is that Dahlgren's a
mighty clever chap. He may get toe
close and be done away with before
we can prevent further disaster"
He mustn't he allowed to get off
without us, Mac, Our man went right
, to the dock. he'll either stop him on
go with him! Id have sent you. but
| couldn't spare YOU until I'd heard
your report. What do YOU want 10
do now? | agree with YOU that Miss
Morris IS of first Importance. We can
watch the Russian woman when she
lands from the Hope. and Helmer has
gone after the messenger who took
the slipper We can't so far wrong
there. Now, then where shall we look
for Miss Morris first? Wait. let's see
if Sweeney has anything from Bal
boa >"
Again Sweeney was called, report.
ing:
They haven't a thing over there.
chief, not a soul has come through
the canal. and their men can't un-
cover anything in town. Miss Morris
is not in any hotel or lodging house
and nobody has seen a strange red
/ headed girl anywhere around! I'll
keep right on. sir--let you know the
minute anything comes in. The Hope
is answering, sir; everybody on board
safe The wrecking tug has reached
them and is getting her off; they
ought to be in the harbor by dawn"
Very well, Mac you had better
get after Helmer now, and see what
he has uncovered. l want to call Bal
boa myself. Report back as soon as
YOU can! I'm going to send YOU out
after the Morris girl the minute day
breaks
I'm make sure that Dahlgren
hasn't started first" Winston said,
realizing how much time had elapsed
since an officer had gone in search Of
him but still confident that Chris had
not been allowed to leave Colon.
For once, Winston was wrong. how
ever. for Chris had sailed out of Colon
harbor in leaky old launch. more
than an hour before. bound for the
Cha "reS river and before he had set
sail he had cabled to Anne's father:
"Anne has disappeared with Straine.
Making thorough search. viii keep
You informed
Christopher had not gone to the
docks for his launch. During the
afternoon he had noticed small
landing place not far from the Wash
ington Hotel. and had seen several
launches and small boats anchored
near it. And now that he needed a
boat this place came into his mind,
and. hurrying there. he was fortunate
in finding man still lingering about
his wharf. man only too glad to
render service for the sum named.
IN give YOU hundred dollars if
you'll take me where ] want to go
and bring me safely back here" Chris
said eagerly, and the man complied so
readily that they were on their way
in short order.
Christopher did not have hun
dred dollars in his possession. but he
knew that Mr.. kean would cable him
any amount of money he needed. No
sum would he too much to pay for
the recovery of Anne,
The thought of her now, as once
more he sailed out Of Colon harbor
made his heart ache afresh. and added
to his own suffering he pictured the
despair of her poor father when Chris
topher's cable should be received
Prof Morris and the keans will
he on Their way by the next boat" he
thought Il wonder when one sails?"
The brilliant moonlight. making that
wonderful tropical harbor so gorgeous
beneath its silver glow, was lost upon
Christopher Dahlgren tonight. Its
beauty made him shiver, recalling. as
ii did. that first night on shipboard
when all his present troubles had be
gun.
III never have any use for the
moon again as long as l live" he re-
fiected gloomily. neither will Anner'
Anne. Where was she now?
Not at the tiny hamlet of Chagres.
he was to learn before morning dawn
Cd Every hut was visited every ma.
tive questioned, and only when day.
light appeared did he find the first
ray of hope which had come TO him
since he had landed in Colon
IT came from an old. old woman,
living in an outlying cabin, who APP
peared to know something, and who.
after being literally rewarded and en-
couraged, finally admitted that a man
and young woman. "she with much
red hair had gone up the river the
afternoon before in a canoe.
Where did they go?" Chris could
not restrain his eagerness as this
slender thread was dangled before
him.
ITO Gatun" the old hag assured
him. aided by the Interpretation of the
captain of the launch. She go to
look for her young man. she say: you
find her there now.'
Chris turned away to hide his dis
appointment. Anne was not in Gatun,
he was sure, for had she been there a
message would long since have been
received at headquarters. Still. there
was nothing to do but follow this clue
and the owner OF the launch, eager
for more money. Immediately agreed
10 fad canoe and paddle Chris up
the chagres River. declaring:
II know every inch of that spill.
way and lake. Mr.. Dahlgren, and if
anybody's lost there | can find EN-.
Something's happened to stall them