OCR Text |
Show Gfte 5EGl5T(T 3ffZ.MexcivcleY Powell . Author of "The End 6fthe Trail?':, .Y "Fighting in Flanders,' ' "The Road to Glory" .. "Vive la-France," etc. - Novelized from the Motion Picture Play of. thi Same 'Name by the American FUm Manufacturing Company. ' -' ;f.;S.?-?s CifyrtjH. I9H, E. AltxmJtr Powl. " '," .".-i.---.--l . 'L -ii L . , , I l&Sy-, 'SYNOPSIS. ,' '' "Lieut. . Jarvts Hope reports findings on the Invention of Dr. Ralph Murke. On' the' trial trip -of the iny.ont(r's boat; a Japa nese lielier is surprije-1 in ti.c ;ct of-tx-Rnlimrig the mechanism". Attempt- to burirla rize Burke's 1:1 -H-irarory '-rilrls ; later" his Oausrhter Cleo .rimls-iiim '-muilerei1 In his bedroom. Cieo sells her l'auier's books; she finds a note from which sf-.e learns' they contain secret formula.' Ol.ua IVan-" oft'- and G.erald Morton-, epies iii s-arc-h of formula, attempt to capture Cleo. Hope- rushes to her aid. '- Hope and Cleo escape and attend ball it-Jifs. I'elmar's. whose, nephew ha two -missin.E: books. Mahiiii, a spy, attempts, to .steal .h'oks. Hope and Cleo fake '-boat fp'r an island.' After -a ioleat storm Heipe and CK?o arrive ar-rive on.stran.ee island and discover man they hunt is there. Mahlin and Japanese also ' reach the island. ' Tl-ev es'cape' Hope but return and dynamite the shacK.-Hcpe shacK.-Hcpe and Cleo- manai;e to reaclt. Samls.-, boro. where Doctor Owen -has one, .of the books. Tie arranges to meet Hope af the ' hotel wjth books. Mor.toh poses' as ir&fie' and but for an earthquake would -luive. possessed the volume. Cleo. is captured by -Morton' and taken to cabin -fn the mountains. She funis' . there ' bock 'for' which ahey. search. Fortunatelv she ge-ls--note'to HoRe; 'who. with Hqokj. starts to' rescue. As he crosses vhas'nr'ln-swinir-: ins basket ; Mahlin- steals -.op: and -'chops, at cable with an ax. Hoak... appears -in, tln? to save Hone. He reaches the "oth'ec cide and is greeted bv C6: she' swfeft-S'. her love to -him.-- Tlrev -are--forrrrwed bv Mahlin and Jap who. Stlempt, to. kidnap. Cleo. She swings kersel-r- over" fVe 'can--yoti. : Oli-io. ,ari Morton; pre dashed to earth in an aeroplane. Hope and Cleo are pulled from qi;r"T;sario.s bv Hook and a srrapevine. . Maolin ana'-S'a. sut-'a ' are cal:ed before .the Black - Council. :- .t)r-fjie-track' of another book, iliev find jhv own- I er has lost it. Hr-ne receives" a'T-t'er' dem.-n jing- .his - rraVMire'.-to a : girl- whs claims l-.e compromised her.- Ho is: fvrof) to Comply by Cleo". Ac-: Jcmlv t-.A.. fircs. that it is- a p!-n to 'rop !:rin In;- "Ifi Is" la:er 5.:m::;:vnecr. to Wa':irrL2-.n.n: :Mnrt:v-end :Mnrt:v-end pig.; ate cared f -r. bv a ra :;c': . f . st,-;o warns IhMri 'asamst Ca'riilo il,e Jvi-Oil!! I They ve-.t jre too far from rTe" r"a'r-irr::S-r ! are captured--by-the o-.itlaws: -vnrillo offer; of-fer; ."'.l.-r.tort l.'i. free ,:n ..for ra'-..-.-m, 0.U:-m-ls- o-,e i--f.tr.e beoi's i::T!.e cr.Mh." -?::e' kills Carillo and es.r.pes-. bu; Morton takes . t:.e b.ik f !-:u and; il-ys. v.. FC U HTEZn T K --I NSTALL M NT Horip, ' ronlixthg thrit tlip-fritpfnri-tlonnl Ki-ttiatiun -nwiwt le-prjivo'indwd " to eatisp ihc htifctvir of inf-'lliiroric'i? to ! send him so urgent a smiinfon. v.ithfn' nn hour-n-aS on bU war to! "Wasiuhg-ton. "Wasiuhg-ton. ' ; . ' i ' '.'..',' "Admiral 'Durns; jc;ft instrnctilw,-;-' that lie was to ho noti'fit'd as siiop,. a you"? rrl ved," the seort-uiry wlio too.!;. Hope's .c;-:n Infuruic'l. llini. "I'll let-liim let-liim know that tihi are here." Almost . immediately he rettK-hed. ''The adiniral wNht-s voir to nrnoar he'"7 fore the hoard, si!-.'" roprrrrc-d. a'tl-'l Intr in ponf:-!otitial . undorTorie.-' "They're loohlns tiiiL-Tif y j-Vi.t.-d ' ... I hope. you li:fvq o'o'j he.vs Jor'i them.'; . . ..' .. .. . '. : ."v ' 1 Tli.li:n -roum liw.i.yt-iiivli Hone. .v:v.--lishorod was .the s:inie in. Which, ton-' v.eelrs heft.re. (tlnnrrh in those" ..ten-weeks- so iptieh had happeiifid' tfirlr they seetiK'l to hitn H';e tTi -ear'sj" he had received the Instructions' which , started ' him on his quest of the secret se-cret of the' sri'-'inarino. The oITicers seated nhotit the Jong tahfe" were tlie same who had hei-n pro.opt op 'the; previous occasion, htit It. sirtick . hjm that they had ased perce.HldV, thtit they were graver, more worried... "I'm gl.'t'l to see you back;, XJotiten-'. nnt Hope." said Admiral I'.jirnwifJcJ-kintlly. I'.jirnwifJcJ-kintlly. "You come at a vrry opportune oppor-tune time. I trust yon can -give us Hnmp enfotiragemetit as td'tlie chnricef r of findiirj; Doctor Ilurke's invention." ; 'Tm'nfraid I can't sir," replied Hope'. I "I'ftar that there is only a 'slight, charjce.of finding tlie -formula." - "Be seated," sidd the admiral, "and ' r -' ." -V ' ': '-'ir "i ' V ';v;' ". - : i With a Savage Wrench Morton Cain;d Poc,scion of the Weapon. let !ii-nr Hi'1 story. Your r'poiis have hei-n very brief ami wo have had none of Hi'; d'-tnilx." V. ,-n -upon Hope briofiy ski-tchi-d (lie extraordinary .'.lory of Hie search f,,r I he lo I. formula. Thi'omdioUt llii'i iimazln:: narrative II,,. hard ln-ad- d old s, a li;-l ..rs iihoul the table Hat jipi-llbouiol. . . "I'.y (li ori;o '" one of thein hurst out r,H. Mope com hid.-d. "Il'.t Hi" most In-ter-diiiir flory I ever II :li-m-d lo. It IvenlM a novel by OppeiilK-lm." "Jl r Indeed h inoi.l. liil'TeslInu nar- I ratiyo, Lieutenant Ilepe," said the 'hai'nnan, "and I can assure you that your services iii"this matter will not be .forgotten. 1'oilly wish that you had met :witj,better-.sticcessi-. fop-if .there was ever, atbjie in .our-history, when we -stootf In .need -of such . a weapon as ' -this 'invention of Doctor Burke would place in our hands, it is now. I will Th .frank with you, Mr.-Hope. The nation - finds itself today, in a grave, .not to say perilous, situation. A for-.eign for-.eign ppv.er, whose name there is no need' to mention, Taking advantage of the Mexican imbroglio, has presented -to... this si.ver,nniont. certain dem- ids which. arev to ..nil Intents and purposes, :an ujtiihfitan):. Qur national honor will not" 'p'e'rmif 'Ji's" to.tjgree to these demand's. de-mand's. VHTcfi are. humiliating In the extreme, yet to errtoT- into a war with a firstla.ss power at. the present time, withourr.jiyv! sadly, deficient in ships ,iuid .men and, o'ttf "army engaged in Mexfcb. ; would only invite disaster. Th" OTiry flirn'1tliaf would -save the situation for us would be the discovery discov-ery o,rrrrctor Jiurke's invention. With Sucti.p'. j.-eapon in our. hands, the safety., safe-ty., o-f;- our 'coasts., and ..harbors would be,,virtually asuroij," for under .such circumsttirteiTS,. I ..'lo.ub if any" pnwer "wotild expose its navy to the risk of Jjf&VirrWm by'a'ttnci'ting us. ' Ton see. 'tljefrfire? how'"mucii depends 'on find-. find-. Jilsf.'tTits foKiinla."- Xiny that you are ai'ijithiiilVir with' the sltuljtiiTn that con-froa"is.Vti.".n,ra. con-froa"is.Vti.".n,ra. yotj. sjlll of the opinion . h:.itjtii",ris... useless", to', continue the sexHiJt?" , - '. ;"The formula has not.Jieen. destroyed." de-stroyed." said Hope. "At least we ha.-'e''r.Yes1ip''fo T'elieve tlrat it has. Alif'tv Joig a,s it. fs.l.rf txistenee there Is always", a cluiiice' even though a :-Vei'.v-H'tix,, otie, f. "its, being found." .'. lirft- yon '.willing to- resume the ( searc h?"- ask-d-ihe chairman. "I am not: girving. you-an order; Lieutenant Jlopei Lam linking yoU a question." '. -Hope rose and saluted. -''"With yiur t fierMLssion. :.-ir.'L.he . said brielly. "I i-" will; start for.he.- .coast.- tonight." . -. . p . J . , . Thptrsrir Hope lia'l received no an-,i;w-er lo -the wire-w-liich he litid setit frfrf'frrirti Xi' "York," Informing her-thaf'.Ijr; her-thaf'.Ijr; h! li.rrilt.of) Jlis engatroment to Jn-.-V I:y'l';.n a'r.d 'that he was; retttrn-- retttrn-- In.fii- Cali :"j iriua-to niaVry her. he ron-. ron-. .e.;i'tJJK- 1J i:kt r the ..iQ,ci.r.a.ge. "mlgitt: have betin sl; l;t'i;o,l Ja rea' liing her. '.' .'U'l-'nm'-fin -rioii'r after his-arrival la Fan Francisco he was crossing the hny-i hny-i y ferry o'.Vafd;i';ia.. "NVver had the California "sk"y veetnod s'r, lilue; never )iad tiie flowers "seemed So fragrant; .p. '.V-'-h;r.l" t1i--1lr-tK1 Jnlrn eenn d so ntrrhtlvi?. v. - Yet "as he ('.row- nearer to-:-tlie Millie . hpiisf? . there was in Its appearance :.. .something . which ' hroppUt iifiinldyn pi!U to . his heart. Tlie shutters were close, ; the. wall: was overgrown Willi weeds; the lawn, in :Iioe'appea'r'aticp Hook had taken .Sncli priilo.'hail not heen cut for weeks. KwifK-'iifg o"f"'ni "the ". old-fashioned. j,ri,if:tlg -gate, over which he and Cleo hatf k-ajted .w. ofl'-n, he hastened up the 'graveled, pa-i-h.. jind. rapped loudly :nt JUe., ihjor. lier.e was no answpr. He rapped again ; ihei'i tried the door, hut It was locked. The house' was deserled.-Jt-;."t- o.TO-was'(iugh.t by -a slip off yllw :jr:t(-r-Avhieh- -hud ey-idenlly been -ptiifhefl. under I lie door. He drew it put., It was a ikiI ice from the tele- prqiih if.nnta.ny ,,th.a t h. im-ssag" .was be-Iri be-Iri 'ijeld at "(lie, otljce for' Miss I'.urke, as there' was- ho ' One to accept de-iivery".'1 de-iivery".'1 That explained, nt least, why he'bnd ecived Ho answer to his wire. " f Fr '-hirrrid to the neltrest neighbor's. neigh-bor's. ' x - -' ? ' ' ' - - "f'an-ytt-' tflj.-mn where Miss Ilurke has jfiiiyW, -Iw a.skejl . tlie woman who 'answered the bell. ... haven't the, k'ii.sL .liba," she answered. an-swered. "I saw her leaving (he house (iirly one lnoTfiftrL'. 'Sh(- was dressed .for tniveljiki.' and tl,y.t old .sailor. Hook, who' wiis'w'ith her, Was carrying her -bag.-'" "Whet) was that?" ' "LlMiuie see," sabl. the woman. "I 'jhiuK. It.-, must Imve bei.ti a couple of weeks ag yes. it was two weeks ago yesterday. I remember, liV j-riuso ' I h:i t sit trT. afternoon nilolher genileiiian was here' asking for Miss Ilurlw.", . "Another gentleman?" echoed Hope. "Who was he? ;.- What, did he look like'?'' ' ' !'H.e.'v(is n lawyer. I think," Raid Ihe woman. "He said (hat lie had come all Ihe wuy from Xi-w York to vee Mlts -.I'.urke ninl thai, be had very imporliint news for lier, and thai, If I lenmeil where die' ,:'id gone. I was lo lej J j j iii know nl once, lie left his card Willi mi', so I 'would know where lo reach lil in. I'll wt It Tor you." Xh'o -di'iippi-ared lo return In a moment, mo-ment, wllh a card on which was en-gni en-gni vd; . ' ' ' H. Chalrners Johnr.tone JOHNSTON E, ftOWLINQ A JOHNSTONE JOHN-STONE Attorney r,-at-Lnw 121 Droad Street. New York. Underneath was scrawled in pencil, "Palace hotel, San Francisco." "He asked me to be sure and telephone tele-phone him at the Palace if I was able ro learn where Miss Burke had gone," the woman explained. "I will go back to the city and see this Mr. Johnstone," said Hope, and, with a few words of thanks he hurried away. Consumed with anxiety, he hurried back to San Francisco and, going straight to the Falace hotel, sent up his card to Mr. Johnstone. The lawyer, law-yer, a white-haired, ruddy-faced old gentleman, immediately received him. . To this deeply interested auditor the young officer told briefly of the mission mis-sion on which he had originally come to California, of his' acquaintance with Doctor Burke, of his friendship with and love for Cleo, of their long search for the lost formula, and of her mysterious mys-terious disappearance. "It Is quite evident, Mr. Hope, said the lawyer, when the recital was finished, ."that you are as anxious to find Miss Burke as I am though," and he smiled, "for somewhat different reasons." rea-sons." "I speak of her as Miss Burke," he nddeu', "but her real name Is Miss Montgomery." "Miss Montgomery !" exclaimed Hope incredulously. "What on earth do you mean?" "The young woman for whom we are both jooklng," said the lawyer quietly, "Is not the daughter of Dr. Ralph Burke, as she and. indeed, everyone ev-eryone else, supposed. Her father was the late Calvin Montgomery." "Xot the New York financier?" gasped Hope, unable to credit the evidence evi-dence of his ears. "The same," said Johnstone. "If seems," he continued, "that Mrs. Montgomery Mont-gomery died when Cleo was- born, .whereupon Doctor and Mrs. Burke, who were old friends of the Montgomery's, Mont-gomery's, offered to adopt the child and bring it up as their own. Mr. Montgomery was a poor man In those days, and, as his business kept him much of the time in the tropics, he accepted the offer. - Mrs. Burke died a few years after Cleo's adoption, but Doctor I'.urke kept his promise to his old friend and brought up the child, i giving her his own name. Mr. Mont-1 Mont-1 gomery was a man who was extremely j reticent concerning his private affairs. ! so it was only upon his will being j opened that It became known that he packed with people, whom the police were energetically pushing tmck so as to form a broad lane of asphalt. "What's going on today?" he listlessly listless-ly inquired of the waiter who was serving his breakfast. "Circus in town?" "Preparedness parade, sir," the man answered. When, an hour later, the blare of music signaled the approach of the marchers, Hope, interested in anything that concerned national defense, took up n position on the sidewalk, his height enabling him to see over the heads of the crowd. Preceded by a banner bearing the legend, "Xaval Reservists Tlie Men Who Would Man Our Ships in Time of War," Hope saw approaching a column of sun-tanned, weather-beaten men, marching with tlie trained precision of veterans but with the unmistakable roll of tlie sea in their gait. These were the old sailors, the ex-man-of-war's men. As they tramped by amid a hurricane hurri-cane of cheers, Hope, peering above the heads of the spectators in front of him, caught a glimpse of a familiar face in the first rank of the passing seamen. He looked again. Yes. There was no mistaking that seamed and sun-tanned face with its ever-pres.ent smile. It was Hook: Diving through the crowd, regardless of the indignant protests of those whom he unceremoniously unceremoni-ously pushed aside, nope seized Hook by the arm and, before the astonished seaman realized what had happened, he had dragged him out of the ranks, through the wall of spectators, and into in-to the lobby of the hotel. "Well, I'll be hornswoggled, looten-nnt looten-nnt !" gasped Hook, staring nt the officer of-ficer with bulging eyes and open mouth. "I thought you wuz married an' in Xoo York." "Where is Miss Cleo?" demanded Hope. "Where has she gone?" "I can't tell you. lootenant." said Hook nervously, "nonest to Cod. I can't. Miss Cleo made me promise that I wouldn't." "You've got to tell me. man," cried Hope, seizing the seaman by the shoulder shoul-der and shaking him until his teeth rallied. "I've come three thousand miles to find her and marry her." "To marry her?" cried Hook, incredulously. in-credulously. "But I thought as how you wuz already married to that Maehin gal." "Well. I'm not." nope answered impatiently, im-patiently, "and I'm not going to be, .; I..' . r'v. ' ' ; -y .'...J ' : - V . ' -i . -.. . .' . - - '-' - t . r. : : - v. .- '-.--,-v-.. : ' '"'Z-- : - ' .- ' '. . .,'-"- ..;.; . . - .... . ' ' , , ' " '" ' .".-: -ss ' . ' . .''-' ' . k: , - - - j7"- .' : At That Instant Hope's Arms Closed About Her. was the father -of the young woman known as Cleo I'.urke and thai she Inherited In-herited his entire fortune. As I was Mr. Montgomery's legal adviser and am on- of Ihe execulors of his will, I came to California to satisfy myself as to Miss Burke's Identity and to epprise lier of her good fortune, for II Is scarcely necessary to say that she is a very rich young woman. And. from all I have been able to learn about her, a very beautiful and charming one. Though I have utilized every possible means lo locate her, and have even put a private detective agency on the case. I have thus far been wholly unsuccessful. I only trust, Mr. Hope, that you will meet wllh heller luck." "I shall give up everything else In order to find her," said Hope. "You can be sure of that. By the way, Mr. Johnstone, who would Inherit Mr. Montgomery's fortune If If," and his voice trembled, "if anything should have happened to his daughter?" "The estate would go to his nephew, Herald Morton," said the lawyer, and Hope fancied that In ids tono then' was a lone of dislike. "Herald Morion!" Hope exclaimed. "That explains a good many things that have puzzled me," mid he relaled lo Ihe deeply Interested lawyer how Morion bad kidnaped Cleo and Imprisoned Im-prisoned her In the cabin on the ledge and of his attempt to Intimidate- her into marrying him. "lie's a dangerous fellow," he concluded. "Yes," agreed Johnstone, "lie had a bad reputation when he lived In New York. lie was concerned In several sev-eral unsavory affairs. Do you think Unit he Is responsible for Miss Montgomery's Mont-gomery's disappearance?" "II be has harmed her," said Hope savagely, "he will never II vo to enjoy bis uncle's millions." During the next three days Hope seiirched the city as with n liue toolli comb. (In Ihe morning of the fourth day, plaining from the window of his hotel, he nolleeil that the streets wero either. That's all off. I'm going to j marry Miss Cleo If she will have me. . And I've great news for her. Hook. She has been loft a fortune. She is a rich woman." : "Seeiu' ez.you'v come to marry her." said Hook. "I-reckon she'll forgive me If t (ell you where she Is. She's got a Job as a nurse with a, faultily In Sacramento Sac-ramento riotehcr, the name Is. She seen an advertisement In the paper for a gal what could take care o' children an' she " But Hope, without waiting to hear more, had hustled him Into a taxlcab. Cleo's anxious perusal of Ihe "Help Wanted" columns, had finally been rewarded re-warded by an advertisement for " a young woman of refinement and good family" as a children's governess with a prominent family of Sacramenlo. Here, at last, was an opening which she fell that she was confident to fill, A telephone conversation with her prospective employer and she was tentatively ten-tatively engaged. But when she Informed In-formed Hook of her determination he protested violently. "Now, looky here. Miss Cleo," he had said persuasively, "(here ain't no call for yon to do anything foolish. I'll get a Job In a day or two an' then evi-ryllilng'll lie all right. Don't you worry tio more 'bout the money we'll get along some way." "You're n perfect old dear. Hook," she hud answered, "but we can't go on this way any longer. My money Is almost gone. Besides, T want to do Ibis. I simply must have something to occupy my mind. If I don't, I think I shall go lnad. And T want you to give me your word of honor. Hook, Hint you won't let anyone know where I have gone. If you won't give me your word I won't glte you my ad-ilrcs. ad-ilrcs. Do you promise?" "I reckon I got to," the old sailor grumbled. In the train, on tlm way to Sacramento, Sacra-mento, Hope briefly outlined to the astonished Hook the story which the Inwyer bud told lilni of Cb'o' parent age, which sharpened Hook's curiosity. "Gee wllliklns!" exclaimed the sailor. sail-or. "So Miss Cleo ain't Doctor Burke's daughter at all? Waal, now't you come to speak of it, I've often said to myself that she didn't resemble h-er paw," The Fletcher residence, where Cleo was employed as governess, proved to be a handsome place in the colonial style, set well, back from the street in beautifully kept grounds, which swept down to the banks of the river. "Is Miss Burke at home?" Inquired Hope of n kindly faced lady who was seated on the verandah sewing. "I think Miss Burke Is In the garden gar-den somewhere," said the woman pleasantly. "It is her afternoon to go out, but she rarely leaves the grounds. If, you will be seated I will send a servant for her." "Please . don't trouble," said Hope. "I will find her." Passing around the house to the garden in the rear, he strode through a long pergola, fragrant with roses, pushed his way through a screen of shrubbery, and emerged upon a stretch of lawn, so smooth and beautifully tended that it looked like a piece of green velvet, which swept unbrokenly to the low stone wall which bordered the river. Standing beside the wall, her back toward him. staring intently intent-ly into the swirling water was Cleo a slender and pathetic figure In her black gown. His footfalls deadened by the turf. Hope stole forward softly. soft-ly. Just "before he reached her she apparently came to a decision, for she stepped onto the low parapet and her figure stiffened, as does that of a swimmer who is about to dive. And at that instant Hope's arms closed about her. Taken completely by surprise, sur-prise, she gave a startled scream; then.' glancing over her shoulder, she found herself looking Into the face of the man she lovod. With a great sob -of relief and happiness she snuggled, like a lost child, Into his protecting arms. nook, remembering that there are occasions when two are company but three are a crowd, whiled away an hour before he joined them. As his smiling face appeared above the bushels. Cleo, .transfigured by love and joy, rushed forw-ard and threw her arms about his neck. "I reckon you ain't goin' to waste much time in gettin' spliced, then," said nook. "We are not." said Hope emphatically. emphatical-ly. "We have wasted quite enough time already. We are going to be married mar-ried tomorrow." When the three reached San Francisco Fran-cisco Jate that afternoon, nope took Cleo to the quiet residential hotel where she had stayed on previous occasions. "I will be back In time to take you out to dinner, dear," he said, as they stood waiting for the elevator. "I must let Mr. Johnstone know that I have found you, and." he added happily. hap-pily. "I must hunt up a minister." "Don't be gone long, dearest." she replied, clinging to his hand. "I shall count the minutes until you are back with me." "I'll .be back within a couple of hours nt the most," he called, as the elevator shot her upw-ard. The last words were spoken loudly enough to roach the ears of a man who was seated in the lobby, apparently appar-ently Immersed In a newspaper,. A close observer might have been struck by the fact that he was careful to keep the newspaper in front of his face, as though he did not wish to be seen. And he had good reasons for not courting recognition. It was Mahlin Mah-lin ! When Morton, after his spectacular escape from the bandits, reached San Francisco, he did not return to the hotel where he had formerly stayed, but Instead rented a room in an obscure ob-scure boarding house in nn unfashionable unfashion-able part of the city. It was here that Olga. after a week's search, found him. "Well, what is it that yon want?" "Charming quarters you have here," she sneered, "so quiet anil exclusive. I had Indeed some difficulty in locating locat-ing you. Cue might almost suppose that you did not wish to be found. I want that book that you stole from me." "And that you stole from Carrlllo," he taunted. "Are you going to give it to me?" she demanded menacingly. "I am not," he snarled. "I think that you had better change your mind." she said, and her tone was deadly. "You will regret it if you don't." "What do you mean?" he asked sullenly, but there was a hinf of uneasiness un-easiness In his voice. "I mean," she answered steadily, looking Morton straight In the eye, "that If you do not give up that book I shall go straight to the police and tell them you are the man that kidnaped kid-naped the Burke girl. The penalty for kidnaping In California, if I remember re-member rightly. Is fifty years. You would be quite an old man when you got out, wouldn't you? Cropped hair . . . and a striped stilt . . , and fifty years In San Qnentln ... I wonder how you would like It, Mr. Ccrald Morton?" "I wonder how you would like being bung?" he demanded meaningly, thrusting his face forward until It was within a few- li-hes of her. "Hung?" she stammered, recoiling. "What would 1 be hung for, pray?" "For the murder of Doctor Ualph Burke !" said Morton, It was ns though he had struck her between the eyes. Her face turned to the color of ashes; she reeled, and, had she not caught a chair to steady herself, would have fallen. "Pr. Burke , , , murder , , , abinrd," she managed to articulate. moistening her parched Hps. "I ne-rw saw him." "There's no use lying to me, Olga," he said sternly. "You're clever, but you're not nearly as clever as you think yon are. Listen. The night that Doctor Burke was killed we were staying at the hotel in Valdavia. I heard you leave your room about midnight. mid-night. I suspected something was up, so I followed you. You didn't know that, did you? I followed you to the Burke house. I saw you raise the 1"-. .- psfl "I Saw You Draw a Dagger and Stab Him!" laboratory window and climb in. - I crept up to the window and watched you. I saw you turn on the light and start to search the desk for the formula. I saw Burke surprise you while you were at work. And," Morton's Mor-ton's voice rose triumphantly, " I saw you draw a dagger and stab him I" "It's a lie ... a damnable lie,"-, whispered Olga, but the truth of Mor. ton's accusation was written unmistakably unmistak-ably in her blanched and haggard face. "And so." continued Morton, his face distorted by a sneer, "you're not going to give me away to the police. And -you're not going to bother me any more about, the book. And you are -going to give up the search for the-formula. the-formula. In fact, you are going to clear out of California altogether, unless un-less you prefer to be hung." "If I don't get it. you won't either," screamed Oiga, and. drawing a s:iletto-.;-fror.i the folds of her dress, she sprang at Morton with the ferocity of a panther. pan-ther. So utterly unexpected was her action, so lightning-quick, that he was taken off his guard and, before he could defend himself, the long, keen blade, descending in a glittering arc, laid open his shoulder. Seizing her upraised arm before she could strike again. Morton, with a savage wrench, gained possession of the weapon. Then, grasping her by the throat with his free hand, he drove the knife deep into her bosom. As, with a moan, she crumpled to the floor, a n,;ia who, unobserved un-observed by either, hae cautioasly opened the door, bolted down the stairs and into the stress At the street corner, idly swinging his stick, a policeman was standing. "Quick, officer!" the mat, gasped; "there's been a murder. A t .n's just stabbed a woman in that ht.use over there!" and he led the way bark to the boarding house on the run. 'rlth the policeman nt his heels." So quickly-was quickly-was the warning given that Morton had scarcely come to a realisation that . Olga's wouud was fatal and tpat he must make his escape, when tne policeman po-liceman burst Into the room. An instant in-stant later and h$ had his prisoner securely se-curely hnndeun'l. The man who had given the tlarm had followed the policeman Into the room. and. while the officer was engaged en-gaged in handcuffing Morton, he hsd. unobserved by anyone, slipped into his pocket a small, leather-bound volume which was lying on the dresser. "Here, you." called the policeman, "Just run down to the drug store, will you, nnd telephone for nn ambulanc? This woman Is dying." "All right." said the man with alacrity, and disappeared down th stairs. It was the Japanese, Satsumal To obtain a marriage license, to engage en-gage the services of a clergyman for the following morning, and to fine) Johnstone and notify him that Cleo had been found took Hook somewhat longer than he had anticipated, so that It was nearly eight o'clock when, accompanied by the lawyer, he re- ' turned to the hotel. "Please tell Miss Burke that Mr. Johnstone and I are here." he said to the clerk. The man looked at him In surprise. "But Miss Burke has rlready gone out to meet you. lieutenant." ho answered. an-swered. Hope stared nt him Incredulously, his heart chilled by a nameless fear. "What on earth are you talking about?" he demanded. "Why." replied the mystified clerk, "not half an hour after you went out someone telephoned here to say that you had been detained and that you wanted Miss Burke to meet you nt Ihe Cliff house for dinner nnd that you were sending n car for her. 1 took the message myself. It was a man spenklnii. There Is no telephone til Miss Burke's room, so I sent the message mes-sage up by n bellboy, nnd n few minutes min-utes later she came down nnd got Into n closed car that was waiting , . . I hope there Isn't anything wrong, lieutenant ?" "Wroni;!" groaned Hopr. while to the lips. "Wrong! I should say thcro was. Mix Burke hns been kidnaped again-under our -i ry eyes. She I In the hands of the most nnsonipu'!l gatig of scoundrels In America!" (TO BIO I'ONl'INITP.i |