The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-23

friendly, Jack. The things you were
doing seemed to place Pearl In
danger, and OF course they lost
nothing Of the risks she ran when
Mrs. Richards told them to me by
cable or by letter. I finally became
so nervous that I Joined the cruise
in Japan. The first thing ! found
out when / arrived there was that
you had shot down the Baron
Toko's double. He was not my valet,
as I had told you. But I had been
told by Mrs. Richards TO- get in touch
with him as soon as I landed. and
put you In q bad light with me, at
once: Besides, I thought you were
holding Pearl for ransom"
Evil Genius Of the
Golden Key
But don't you see, sir" I ven
tured, that Mrs. Richards was be-
hind that, too? She probably wanted
the money to pay some OF those
foreign devils in her employ"
"Yes-she might have" Dare
agreed. I'm fact, I began to get
restless as she called it. soon after
that incident. It seemed to me
that Pearl was getting involved In
too many accidents. I believe now
that Mrs. Richards began to see that
Pearl would never marry Thorn
Il couldn't, Daddy" Pearl broke
a~-N Y loVx konv, ruhot there waa
about him. but he seemed Shiny.
"That's the way / figured it." Dare
continued, "but by that time there
were 50 many people involved that
I had q hard time, keeping up with
Mrs. Richards Vaccinations. And
every time I criticized her she
threatened me with exposure. The
captain Of the Andy Gorton. had
been, I discovered, the husband that
she talked about when she first met
me. He was still in love with her.
poor fellow, and of course had joined
the Order of the Golden Key. The
others were all members.
when Pearl disappeared while
We were in Alaska, and was nearly
killed BY those barbarians. and again
when she was within an inch OF
death at the volcano in Hawaii, I
was nearly mad with fear. I be-
gan to see that Mrs. Richards would
sacrifice even Pearl to gain her own
ends. She was after the money
and she had enough ON me then to
make me keep quiet and pay her,
even with Pearl out Of the way.
Since Pearl was getting suspicious Of
both Thornton and her, they
thought that was the simplest way.
I had no intention Of following them
to Yucatan. Pearl and I were 60
ing to slip away in the morning to
Dare stopped talking, his face
worn and pale. He looked up at
Pearl, as II asking for forgiveness,
and she gave him q long kiss that
granted It, without further words.
Then she turned to me, the same
love light shining in her eyes that I
had always known. Without speak
ing. she came toward me, and I en-
folded her In my arms, conscious
only OF the nearneSS and sweetness
Of her.
know. but Pearl finally disengaged
4SCASCAH WIFI AttAC 1SU&Q 8u0
turned toward her father.
Daddy" she said, her face flushed
and happy, won't you at least shake
hands with my future husband?"
Dare heaved himself out Of his
chair, and came across to me, his
hand outstretched. / took Il in
mine. and with that gesture We
wiped out all unfriendly feeling be-
tween rs. There sprung up an UNI
spoken bond to protect Pearl, against
every one.
What q lovely little reconciliation
scene" came In silky tones from the
doorway, everybody happy?"
We swung around sharply. There
like two evil spirits. stood Mrs.
Richards and Thornton, grinning
maliciously at our establishment!