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Show I tii'-'w be A Great Mystic Story by Harold McGrath Copyrilht, '91 4. by Harold McGrath . . . .. - - -.-.-..- - - ---. -. .-. - - - j - fcfcirfci-rr-----'---riir-fc-i"i'H"'ri jjjM.'rMTfiinrTf---ri---nr-r-i--rr-rTrTi--i 1 A I SYNOPSIS. . I Zudora Is left an orphan at an early sge. Her fattier Ig Killed In a gold mine. ' Zudora and the fortune from the mine, ' which grows to be worth laj.000,000. nro left In the Kuardlanhlp or Frank Kceno, Ztldorn's tnother'i brother Zu-ora, gly Ing prendre of Bleat beauty, tenches the - nge of eighteen. The untlo, who has set himself up us a Hindu mystic and Is known ns flussam All, decides thnt Zudora Zu-dora must die before she can have a chance to come Into possession of her money, so that It may no left to him. the next'of Kin. Il-tsam All' sees or obstacle to tils scheme In the person of John Storm, a joung lawyer, for whom Zudora Zu-dora has taken a' funcy, and he commands com-mands the Girl to put the man out of her 'mind. Zudora Insists that If ahe cannot marry Storm she will marry no one "Well, well," says Hassam All, "If you take such a atand I'll compromise. Solve my next twenty caaea and you can marry him; fall tn a single case and you must renounce him." Zudora, using the knowledge gained from years of association with her uncle, unravels a baffling mystery and wins her first case a case In which John Storm Is saved from being convicted of a murder instigated by Hassam All himself. Zudora and Hassam All visit Nabok Shan' house, where steep overcomes every ev-ery one whenever Nabok attempts to marry mar-ry a princess. Storm, seeking Zudora, Is mado a prisoner, Zudora foils Nabok Shan, restores the princess to her original lover and saves Storm from doath. A maker of diamonds tolls Hassam All his secret. Btorm Informs Zudora that his life Is being attempted frequently Storm suspects Hassam All. Btorm Is arrested for stealing the diamond maker's gems, but Zudora discovers tha real thieves a pair of mice. The negro help employed on Storm's father's farm are fleeing because a great koleton hand appears at night upon a hill near by. Storm la baffled In his Investigation, In-vestigation, but Zudora learns that her uncle has employed Jimmy Dolton, a half wltted man, thus to annoy Storm's par-nta. par-nta. Zudora finds Bolton operating a big magic lantorn and Is attacked by him. Storm opportunely appears and savea her from Dolton. Hassam All aska Zudora to find a gem lost by two mysterious old men. Zudora gets a photograph of tha gem and It burns In her hand. An old house Is mined by Hassam All and the old men. Storm and Zudora are lured there and narrowly escape es-cape destruction when the house blows up. John MoWlnter, endeavoring tn trap and kill George Smith, la killed himself, and Smith' Is charged with murder. Hassam All conspire to have John Storm meet the same fate aa McWInter, and he and Storm are overcome by powerful fumes. Zudora saves them, proves that McWInter. McWIn-ter. own dog trapped and klllod him and saves Smith from n band of lynchers. An Inventor blows up a submarine with a powerful heat ray which he sends ,. through water. Hassnm All sends Zudora Um to a photographer directly beneath the In- si' ventor's laboratory and orders the In ventor to kill her Zudora gets a warning, and her life Is saved. The heat ray machine ma-chine Is destroyed, and the photographer, after a quarrel with Hassam All. Is found dead In the river. Wu Chang prevents Zudora' elopement with John Storm by hypnotizing her, and he and Hassam All attempt to smugglo hor out of the country. This plot Is frus-lratedy frus-lratedy Storm. CHAPTER IX. I Tha Missing Heir. THEBES was something strange about ttila man Hassa'nV Alt Tlicro- were- times- when- he-i he-i seemed young, times when he seemed old, careworn, broken. Zudora thought nothing of these subtle changes, however, tier mind was occupied oc-cupied with other affairs. But Hassan) Has-san) All's servant knew what It signified, sig-nified, nnd ho boarded his savings against thnt day when bo would have no master. For a long tlmo be know that It was not Haasam All who went forth from tbo mystic room, bnt Hassam Has-sam All's double, and very dangerous danger-ous double, bnd Hassam All known. Tbo man was fond of money, though be was not qulto the miser Hassam was. Hut often, while In tbo mystic room, going through the mummery bo disliked nnd despised, be could bear the real Hassata counting bis gold, Brk"$' rL'S' 'P mtiU 'v tiit v'' "' !lr KVI i2k 'bs!!PPsjP MNil?.v 'jt f ?v "?" H Qtj&xf " V vs 9 w p ! w jf n ;:H- yim' ' j&M PSII ' ! ! Zudora Was an Extremely Attractive Yru-s; Woman. which Bulrd determined some day to get hold of, lie lived In the house directly di-rectly back of Hie my silo house, nud there wits h secret tunnel between the two houses. In the beginning he hnd followed nut ilusam All's (inters without ntiy pur-tlctilnr pur-tlctilnr notice or the victim, nut nrter Hie nffitlr or Wu Cluing. Hnlrd invoke to the fact Hint Zinliirn wns ti it extremely ex-tremely attractive young wiiiiiiiii, Thus Ids Interest In doing iiwny wit li .Icilin Storm begun to luivp something more Hum n negligible Interest. Hut Zu-ilorit! Zu-ilorit! Tliitt wns itnuiiiei mnttei nrter he began to recognize Hint Ills heart boat fitHtt'l whenever she ninie Into Ills presence. It was fortunate Hint Hnssnm All wns hy tutttire cold nnd undemonstrative In the tuntter of bestowing be-stowing ulTectloii. Hnlrd longed tu touch tier, but. knowing his part, dared not. Hassaui All's lout; lilm-k lutlr wns. its Ztldoru very well know, nothing bin n wig. Except Hint HiiIiiI'h skin ivms it little fresher, be it ml tlnssaui All.mlght easily have posed as twins. There was no occasion for Zudorn, then, to look upon this substitute for tier uncle with suspicion. She began to suspect seriously Ills attitude, but not bis personality. per-sonality. So I l.i I id hanked the 1 1 res In bis eyes and endeavoied to think of her ns little aa possible. Hut thoughts nre muster-, uiul they lead us whither they will. One day he entered the secret clintn ber ut the foot of the shaft to eotifer with tbo real Hassam All, who lay upon a cot. "How do you feel today?" "Badly," said Zdorn uncle. "You have failed three times." "I hnvo dono no better, no worse, tbnn you. If that Is what you menu," said Balrd without much humility. "1 have -told you that Zudora bears a charmed life. I, nek Is always with her, and John Storm stands ut present In the light of this luck." "You nre n fool, Ilatrd!" snarled the sick man. "You nro falling lu love with Zudora. 1 may be 111. but I am not blind. She Is not for you. Don't wasto your valuable time with any thought llko that I tell you she must die. I bate ber!" "You have promised that If you should diu what you have would become be-come mine." said Hnlrd. "You have promised to make me your heir. I have seen thnt will, but wills can be torn up nud rewritten." Unssntn All rubbed bis bands together. togeth-er. "So they can." he said, "so they can. 1 don't quite like the tune you use today. Do you think I am moribund? mori-bund? Are you looking speculatively at my shoes? Jim, if you mitko tbo least misstep I'll break you us easily as I could a church warden pipe Amed knows and my attorney knows. If 1 disappear mysteriously and don't return" Hassuni All drew his' finger around bis throat suggestively. "But If 1 rid you of this girl what are you going to do with all that gold-millions? gold-millions? You're a miser, nud we both know It" "Perhaps I want the gold to play with," grinned Hassnm All. "I had no playthings when 1 wns a child; 1 was too poor. Go along, 1'vo talked enough," peevishly, "There Is another llttlo secret." said Balrd. "Ob, there Is? And what might It ber "Diamonds." Hassani All sat up stiffly. "What tho devil do you mean?" "Zudora 's fatlicr onco bnd n partner who went to Brazil. This partner found brilliants of a high order. Sho has a half Interest In this mtno without with-out knowing such a thing exists." Hassam All lay back. "I have warned warn-ed you. Now go und send Ahmed with my ten." Balrd returned to tho mystic room, bis mind uwhlrl with a thousand schemes. Ho played his little comedy with Zudora, saw sotno patients, und later took tbo erenlng paper. Upon tbo, front pago bo read a bit of news that' Interested blm, Tbo Van Wick child, belr to tbo Van Wick millions, bad been kidnaped dcsplto all the precautionary precau-tionary measures to prevent such a catastropbe. "So thcy'ro dono It!" bo mused nloud, unthinkingly. "Douo what?" nsked Zudora. "Kidnaped the Vau Wick child. Tbcro may bo u llttlo work for us, my chlld-a llttlo work for us. I think that I'll go downtown nnd make a fow Investigations beforo tboy come to us." For ono thing, he wanted to get nway from Zudora. All these thoughts of her were crowding dnngcrour.ly nenr action, A misstep at this tlmo would briug bis house of cards tumbling nbout his head. lie proceeded to n house situated In u ficmlfashlonublo district nnd rang for admittance. The servant nil ml tied htm without ques tlon, This house was I ho residence of a woman who called herself SI me. Du Val. The full of her late confederate. Wu Ctinng, tho hypnotic opium smuggler, smug-gler, hnd uot Implicated ber. She had mado her escape beforo tbo police bad bivUered their way Into tbo Chang k - bouse. She come Into the drawing room tn And Balrd. suns wig and makeup; In fact, himself. He was In the middle thirties, und cettnlu kinds of women would call him fascinating. "J I in?" "Yes. So you've un-umpllslicd the feat In spite of Hie private ilelecthesV "What do j ou mean?" Iiiuoceiiti.i. "Come, conic. Norn: between juu anil me there should be no secrets, I menu the Van Wick child You've got liliu. "So we huvu.viAhd It will take u linn dred thousand to uot mm hack. I'm getting a little tiled ol this catcer. 1 want enough to Iho In simple com Tort lu I' ranee. Du you know, Jim, that you are ti line looking man?" Ilalrd shrugged. "And that If you'll listen to me this girl Zudora shall vanish so completely that she'll be ns hard to find as a puff of smoke; And when that Is done by by to Hassam All. whom I've nl-Trays nl-Trays tinted. He's as cold lilondod us n llsb. .Millions, boy, for both ot us! Travel nud luxury!" She sat down beside Hie man, She wns undeniably handsome, but Ilalrd had soon titers ciunll, as handsome. And even as he gued upon hot the dreamy face of Zudora hectnet to lilt past. "But there Is one mnn we must pet rid of absolutely before we inake any attempt upon the girl," ho said. ''Storm V You will never ire! him except through Zudora. With Hie girl as u luro you can bring Storm Into any kind of a spider, web." Ilalrd felt himself pulled lu two wnys. To even hint to this woman that bo desired to shield Zudora for purposes of his own would be tbe signing sign-ing of Zudora's death warrant. And yet he needed Mine. Du Val. for she bud control of tin organization whose ramifications reached across the continent conti-nent He wanted John Storm out of tbo way, and Mine. Du Val was tho one ultimately to accomplish this. "Well, what Is your plan In rcgnrd to Zudora?" he nsked curiously. "1 could very enslly send Zudora oil on tho sumo train with tho Van Wick child." "Ah, yes. Thnt Is easy enough to sny. But how to get her to the trnlu?" "She docs not know me. At least I don't think sho snw me nt Chicago. I will giro n ball. Oh, you need not smile. I llvo two lives. If you will. In my own home I am u woman of ?om-fortublo ?om-fortublo Income, who Indulges In mystics mys-tics ns it pastime. .Many noted people come to my house. And I've nn Idea of ono way of bringing Zudora. 1 will scud her nu Invitation. You will urge ber to eotue, but uot Insistently. She will then receive an anonymous note saying that If she wishes to know what has become ot tho Van Wick boy she will II nd the Information ut my bouse. Oh, nothing will point to mo. 1 know my business." "Ill buve to admit that" said Balrd. listening. Wheu bo bad these chats with Mine. Du Vnl he was not always sure that tbcro wns not'a third person somewhere near. Bnt bo never committed com-mitted himself, never confessed thnt bo was uot Hassam All. In certain degrees ho admired this bandsomo woman, wo-man, but there wns always a bit of fenr of ber. "Your Idea isn't a bnd one." "I'll give tbe ball on a chance, any: bow. It Is up to you, Jim, If you wish to mako use of tbe Idea." Alone, tbe woman smiled. It was not n pleasant smile. There was no mnn In tho world who could fool her, Hnlrd wns falling In loro with Zudora, Zu-dora, und woo to the little fool for crossing her path, even If unconsciously. unconscious-ly. She wanted Jim Hnlrd for her own, nnd sbc wns determined to clear the path of nil obstnelcs In bis direction. direc-tion. Zudorn off the scene, sho wns quite confident thnt her own powers of attraction would not fnll upon barren bar-ren ground. Tho Van Wick family wns distracted. distract-ed. Despite precautions that bnd cost thousands, tho boy hnd becu stolen. 1'bo father knew that to recover the boy he would have to dig deep Into 'bis purse. That be wns willing enough to do, but what be wanted to bo sure of was thnt the payment should be final, flo did not wish to be hounded and pursued by thut terror of uncertainty, uncer-tainty, of suspense.. He was willing to pay In pride and money, but he wanted security and pence In return. The police were scouring tbo city, but they found nut the slightest clew to tbe whereabouts of the boy or of the character of the nlxlnctors. After n week of misery some friend suggested suggest-ed that the services of ono Hassan) All. the mystic detective, or tbe services serv-ices of his niece should be secured. The father wns reluctant, for be bold nil these mystics us contemptible mountebanks who thrived upon the credulity of fools. But the metropolitan metropoli-tan police hint fulled, nnd be wns not it man to leave any stone unturned to recover bis boy, tho upplo of bis eye. So be nnd Mrs. Vnh Wick decided to pny UasHuiii All it visit. They sum. nioned the ear und started out for Hnssnm All's bouse. Zudorn Impressed Impress-ed them both far mure than Hie mystic himself. "Do you think you can help usT "My ulecu will see what she can do." said nnssam All. or rnther Has-ram Has-ram Alt's double. "But u young woman!" suld Van Wick doubtfully. Hassani All laughed. "She may look fragile, but wire looks fragile." "Hut these ineu nre dcseriite elinrnc-ters." elinrnc-ters." "And will lie the Inst people In tbo world to ntmK'ot a fragile young wo mnn of being on their trail." "Don't worry over the fnet Hint I nm n woiimn." snld Zudorn. smiling. "I enn take euro of tnyselr. 1 have been 7lbIo to do ho thus fnr. IT It Is possl bio to Unit the buy I'll do It." "And remember." wild tbe father, "there Is no depth to my pocket book so far as that boy Is concerned. But (Sod help those dastards If tboy nro cruel to lit tn : Well, we'll trust the ease to you. Miss Mlss"- "Kcene," said Zudorn. "Zudora Kceno." "Good luck, nnd Hod bless you. Zudorn Zu-dorn Keene," said the mother. "I'oor thing!" cnld Zudora. when tho parents had gone. "The most despicable despica-ble iH'Ing In the world Is n kidnaper. It Is n vile giitno: and these men should suffer the exact fnto of murderers. Think of tbe little liy. suddenly bereft of mother love, surrounded by strange, menacing faces! It Is horrible!" The psiiedo uncle looked nt her with strnuge llros lu Ids eyes. He admitted that kidnaping wns a low crime so fur ns taking children away from their parents nud holding them for ransom, with threats of mutilation ot death lie did not add, howeier, that between kidnaping and abduction there was u wide dllToivnce lu slgiilllcauce. The truth Is, Hnlrd was wearying of this game be was playing He wanted to be himself, to play a game of his own: he was young, and lie wanted tbe III) erty that wont with youth There was mi doubt In his mind that Keene, tho rent Hassam All, was dying. He might j8h Zudora Waa Warmly Welcomed by Mm. Du Val, llvo for scvernl months, but nevertheless neverthe-less be had his ticket for tbo long Journey. Balrd determined to play tbo gamo out to tbo end; for Hassam All had promised blm a handsome bit of money for bis loyulty. Ho bad seen tbo will, but not without a certain doubt Wills could be destroyed quite us easily as they could bo made. When Zudora received tbe Invitation to Mmo. Du Vol's bull sho was puzzled. puz-zled. She bad among ber acquaintance acquaint-ance no woman of tbut name. But she found ber namo In the bluo book and decided to attend out of were curiosity. cu-riosity. Sbo called up Storm and asked bis advice nud was surprised to learn thnt he bad becu Invited also. "1 think we'd better Iguoro It" ho advised. "Hut I hnvo so little nmuscmcntl" she pleaded. "And It will be n lark for both or us ' "All right, sweetheart; we'll go. Indeed, In-deed, I'd like to tint) out why wo both were Invited." Zudora went nbout the house next ilny hiiiymlug. So long as John was going she was bound to have a good time ut the Du Vnl ball. It would be as she hud said, n lark. Then came the myhterlous note warning her to keep n way from the Du Vnl bouse, and this note was signed, "From one who knows where the Von Wick hoy Is.'' Nothing. Zudora determined, could keep her itwny now. Kven lu this short lime It was evident that the kidnapers had heard that her services nnd been engaged, nud It looked ns If they feared she would pick up some Information ut the Du Val ball. Or this note she said nothing to either Storm or her uncle. On the night or tlw ball she was rather surprised In lenru Hint Unssntn All, wns also going, "Bui were you Invited, uncle?" "1 wns. Indeed. I wrote und nsked for nn Invitation," said Hnlrd blandly. "Is Storm going to call here for you?" "lie Is" "In spite of my protests?" "lie will not be accepting your hospitality. hos-pitality. He will merely wall until I come down. And It would be n very h'rncloiis net on your part. Uncle Frank, to go with us." "And have it tlulcult In the cab!" Iroulcnllv. '-T'-a- "Suit yourself, then. The sootier you .understand Hint I mil determined to marry Storm, lu spite or all your objections, ob-jections, the sooner peace will come to this bouse." Balrd had good control out llliusell It was very dllllcult lo resist the charm or this high spirited girl. He slleutly etin.Hl the real llassatn All for outlining a cold aloofness toward this girl. Well. In a little while he would be free of this damnable wig and tbo iMiliitcd line- ou his ,ncc and the stoop In hi shoulders. Neither Zudorn tior Storm saw any ono they knew well, but tbe music waa gtiod. und they enjoyed the dune-lug. dune-lug. Zudora was warmly welcomed by lime. Du Vnl. They snw Hassam All nt tbe lcglniilng of the festivities, but after tbe first dunce he vanished. And with good reason. He hnd dodged dodg-ed Into n dressing room und removed tils Hnssnm All makeup, determined to meet Zudora under bis own colors, lie bad plnyed a bard but clever game, controlling both his facial muscles und the tone or Ids voice, lie wns reasonably rea-sonably positive that Zuilora would not have the least bleu what or who he was. Ho Immediately sought Mine. Dn Vnl. "1 want nn Introduction to Zudora," be said. "An Introduction to Zudorn! flood heavens, I forgott Of course she will not rooogiilzu you. So you want an Introduction? You shall hnvo It And now listen carefully. The men nre bnek of the wnll lending to the conservatory. con-servatory. The wnll has n secret door. At 10 o'clock promptly you must maneuver ma-neuver ber over tbcro. At the samu time I will occupy John Storm, keep blm busy. When be llnally misses Zu- 'dora be will not be able to iioltit In ' any way to me." i "I get the point. Hut If she begins to usk questions, due to that inysterl- 'oils note of yours about tbo Isiy Van Wick?" Mine. Du Vnl smiled. "Leave nil the .details to me. my friend. Tomorrow your Zudorn will be Just where you want tier.'' Under her bioath she added: add-ed: "Perhaps!" "Very well; Introduce mo" And under un-der his breath lie added: "You tiger cut! You menu some trickery that I shan't be lu on. But If you harm one hair or ber head!" Still, his lips were smiling all the while. i Tbe Introduction took place. That Instinctive warning as of old did not stir Zudora. This rather agreeable young man In no wise creatisl any suspicion sus-picion In ber mind. And when she accepted nu Invitation to dunce she wns pleased to tlud a nimble tbincor. Storm, however, did not take to this new man. As u umttct of fact be did not take to any young mini where Zudorn Zu-dorn was concerned. So lie fretted and fumed during the dance and icgrcltcd thnt he hnd been persuaded to come. Mine. Dn Vnl talked, but lie never could recall what she talked about. Finally Ilalrd brought Zudora back, bowed and made off elsewhere, rnther patlslled that be bnd made some Impression Im-pression upon bis whilom tileio. "Come." said inadnme to both Zudorn nud Storm, "let us go id' the conservatory. conserva-tory. I have some remarkable orchids." or-chids." She led tbe way. and It occurred to her that this moment would Is- as good as any. She rnilior wauled I In ml out of the way while disposing of Zudora, In the corridor there was a wall seat. Tbo entrance to the conservatory was at tlie other end of Hie corrldot. "Let us nit here ror u moment." said tho hostess. "Mr. Storm will get us an Ice, und then we'll take a look at tbo orchids." Ttio two women sat down nnd Storm hurried off townrd the supcr room Mme. Du Val leaned buck und nhdciit-ly nhdciit-ly tapped tbe wnll with ber fan. "Walt Just a moment," sho .aid, rising. ris-ing. "1 will get you an orchid beforo Mr. Storm returns." Zudora wntcbed her complacently. Sbo sensed no danger whatever. Perhaps Per-haps ber mind was too busy wltb this problem of tbo Van Wick boy. Rome ono In this bouse knew; soma ono bud warned ber to keep away. She wondered won-dered If sbo dared toll Mmo. Du Val. who seemed to be nn agrecablo crea ture. Sqo heard a slight sound and turned. Immediately rIio wns seized by strong arms. A bnnd covered her mouth nnd sho wns drawn swiftly behind tho wnll, which closed Instuntly Into place Agntu. She felt her hands nud ankles being tied, nnd she wns blindfolded nnd gngged. No ono spoke. Sho wns WV,Ui1?'v Ti W 1 ' "Tomorrow your Zudora will be just where you want her." lifted up und carried through a secret pnssngoway. Then sho sinoiled the r.k'Ulsh odor or chloroform, nud after ihnt-blniiliiiPHS. When she enme to she wns In a small room. She was silll blindfolded, but ber ears were alive, nud sho could hear Hie plaintive sobbing sob-bing of a child! Mcuutlmo Storm returned with tbe Ices to Hud tbo lieiich deserted. Uesnf i down the dlsbi-griimbliiigl) mid went -IH out to the ballroom. Ho saw Mine. Du -! Vnl and tills struiiger Ilalrd talking J' pleasantly. , H "Madame, when- Is Miss Keene?" ' H "Why, didn't kbe run after you to (ell , H you to bring coffee Insicad of Ices'.' I ' H left ber JiUI tu she dop.utcd ror Ibe l'!H refreshment loom,. Doubtless you will H hot H Storm rushed nwu, not at 'H pleas iH ed wllh event-, I'lier? was d-j Zudora iH in the supper room; tbeie was no Zu- jH doni niowhero tu he round. I hen Ids jjl suspicions were fully aroused. Ho 1 H know now, Ilasaam All wits back ol ' H lie apprnHchfd Mine. Du Val. "Whore ' H is .Miss Ivcciic uncle, Hassam All?"' ''1 "Ilussani All?" she repented. il "Oh, bo left shortly nrter the llrst Jl dance," said Ilalrd. "lie seemed III 1 He I limed tn Mmo. Du Vnl. "What jH made you Invite that contemptible old IH Storm found that his dislike for Balrd lH was not so strong as at the beginning jH fjvev &&6!l r (fr'' tsI Ki 1,4' ' Mjr S vf t rJr9H J i II 'rf flll9l 'JilHI tW. ,H lf'TE ! fcBMBBBBBHI H To the Arms of John Storm. Auy one who called Hassnm All eon- H temptlblu bud at least sumo attribute H lu common with himself. "1 will liiqulre ir the young lady bus ; H becu tu the dressing room," said .Mine. H Du Val, moving off. H But Zifduru'ri cloak and scurf were H still on tbe bed In the dressing room. That was enough tut Storm, lie left : the house Immediately aud drove to ''1 police headquarters. Upon tils departure from the Du Val house Balrd resumed Ids Hassam All disguise aud returned Home. Zudora was Ids. llu concluded to make bis patron a visit. Tho real llussnui All H was evidently sinking. To llaird's ' eyes the mask or dentil already lay ':l upon the pinched features; tlie mind alone was vlgiuous. IH "Keene, you nro on your deathbed." "1 "Am I Indeed';" Ironically. A tit ot coughing tolluwisi, una Hut-sum All writhed upon uis cot. "r1! The Uassiiiu All standing oer him v "Wheru Is the will?" lie asked. H "Do you wish to inurdei me':" "In Hod's inline, no; Hut you nro fl dying, und Pre done all your work on ' promises of the future, ion know H thnt you nro dying." H "Where Is Zudora?" "Shu Is In the blinds or Mme. Du "You will be a pauper, my man, It you fall thin tlmo. Sho must die, H "No, sbo sbnll not die. You nre not a bumnu being; you are a tleml! Zu- dorn shall not die for tbe slmplo fact that I bavo grown tu love her!" "(Jrowu to lovo her." Kceno fell H back, looking as If he were really dead this time. H Ilalrd left tho chamber, nngry wltb himself for having given tho old scoundrel a glimpse of his heart. But H bo was dying, there wns no doubt or It at H Zudorn, together with tho Van Wick H boy, were taken away from tbo base H ment where they bnd been con lined. und from tho whispers floating nbout 1 Zudorn understood that they were to bo conveyed to a ship of some sort. Sbo understood (or thought site dldi now; she bad been lured to the Du Val place for the purpose of nbdiictlon. The scoundrels who had kidnaped tbe Van Wick child feared her. Whether H Mme. Du Vnl hnd any place In the H iitrulr she wns not ready to determine. but it wns rnther odd thnt ti good wo- man should live In u house with secret ; rooms jl It was through a simple country- ll man's alarm that Zudora nnd tliu child were brought back to tbo world ngalti. ' H The old man bad read nbout tbe lib H iluctlon. and tlie sight of a pathetic H little boy being carried n hoard it cu boose ou u siding was enough to set 1 ills suspicion Into lively action, Ue HI telephoned the police, who In turn B warned the metruolltnu force And Hl Hint Is bow Storm and tbe detectives SB arrived lu time to prevent tho catns- EH The kidnapers put up n strenuous '9fl battle, and nourly nil of them were cup-' Sli lured, Hnlrd ulouo esrnplng. But jl ttrunge to relnte, Hnlrd bad taken sides Ifll with tho police, lu reality It slgnltl.d HH that the turn In tho road hnd taken H5 place. Balrd wanted to bo good, want- Bv9 rd to go buck to tho world again with HH clean hnnds nnd guard the woman be l had grown to love. It dug Into bis B9 very soul to turn this woman over to HBjfl the arms ot John Storm, but be did so. u9l Thnt night Hassam All died lu his HH Mile cell, and with liirn died bis clou- H He, for never again would Ilalrd dnu that black shilling wig w lilch hu lintcd. HH I TO IIECO.NTI.NUED.I H v ;H " l |