Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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*i'shaw! You have a bag fun of t tricks. You can easily manae to put him into an equivocal position out Of which he cannot possibly squirm 90 1 far as the gir is concerned. A litt I melodrama, arranged for the benefit of Florence. Fa into Norton's arms at the right moment, or something 1 like that." "I suppose I could. But if I failed "You're too damnably clever to fal in your own particular work. Some thing has got to be done to keep those two apart. I've often thought of raid- I ing the house boldly and carrying off the whole family, Susan and all. But I a wholesale afair like that would be too noisy. Think It over, Olga; we have gone too far to back down now. t There's always Russia; and while rm the boss over here they never cease I to watch me. They'll make me an swer for a falure like this." She eyed him speculatively. 'You 1 have money." "O, the money doesn't matter. It's the game. It's t'he game of playing fast and loose with society, of pilfer Ing ith it with one hand and making it kow-tow with thE other. It's the sport of the thing. What was your thought?" i "We could go away together, to South America." - "And tire of each other within' a month," he retorted shrewdly. "No; we are in the same boat. We could not live but for this never ending ex. citement. And, more than that,-We I never could get far enough away from the long arm of the First Ten. We'll have to stick It out here. Can't YOU seer "Yes, I can see." But In her heart she knew that she would have lived in a hut with this man till the end of her days. She abhorred the life, though she never, by- the slighest word, let him become I aware of it. There was always that abiding fear that at the first sign of weakness he would desert her. And t she was wise in her deductions. Braine was loyal to her because she held his Interest. Once that failed. he would be off and away. The next afternoon the countess, having matured her plans against the happiness of the young girl who trusted her, drew up before the Har greave place and alighted. Her wel come was the same as ever, and this strengthened her confidence. ' The countess was always gesticu lating. Her hands fluttered to empha size her words. And the beautiful diamond solitaire caught the girl's eye. She seized the hand. Having an affair of her own, It was natural that she should be interested In that of her friend. "I never saw that ring before." tess assumed a shy air which would have deceived St. Anthony. She twisted the ring on her finger. t "Tell me!" cried Florence. "Tou are engaged?" "Mercy, no!" I"No. Money should not matter when your heart is involved."~ As this thought was In accord with her own, Florence nodded her. bead sagely. "it is nothing serious. Just a fancy'. I shall never marry again. Men are gay deceivers; they always have been --t A.Llttie Melodrama Arranged for the' Benefit of Florence. and always will be. Perhaps I'm a bit wicked; but I rather like to prove my theory that almen are weak. If!I had a daughter I'd rather have her be I an old man's darling than a young t man's drudge. I distrust every man I 4 know. I came to ask you and Susan to go to the opera with me tonight. You will come to my apartments first. I You will come?" "To be sure we will!"1 "Simple little fool!" thought the Russian onthe way home. "She shalli see." "I believe the countess Is engaged to be married," said Florence to Jones. "indeed, miss?" ' "Yes. I couldn't get anything deft naite out of her, but she had a beauti ful ring on her finger. She wants Susan and me to go to the opera with her tonight. Will that be all right?"1 Jones gazed abstractedly at the rug. Whenever a problem bothered him he seemed to find the so'ution in the deli eate patterns of the Persian rugs. Fi nally he nodded. "I see no reason why you should not go. Only, watch out." -Jones, there Is one thing that will m,.~ake me brave and happy. Will you Subscribe na Mystery." Times. Get i jS paid up, o Mill el me If you are i obect O=Um dcation with my father?" "Yes, Miss -Florence," he awered romptly. "But do not breathe ts o a single soul, neiter taee at lorton." "I promise that. But, ah! hasten he day when he em eem. to me ithout fear." "That is my wish also." "You need not call me mb. Why hould you" "It might not be vise to. have any ne hear me call you thus famliAy," ae objected gravely. "Please yourself about that. Now I ruet telepbone JIm." "Jim?" the butler murmured. He caught the word whik ws not mtended for his ears. Det for ones 'ones had been startled ott of hita OIL "Is it wrong for me to call Mr. Mor on Jim?" she asked "with a t of anter. '"It Is not considered quite the prop tr thing, Miss Florence, to eall a 'oung man by his first name unless ou are engaged to marry him, or w up with him from childhood." ell, supposing I were engaged to ? haughtily. "That would be a very grave afair. Vhat have you to prove that he may tot wish to marry you for your money?" "Why, Jones, you know that I taven't a penny in the world I can al my own! There is nothing to orove, except your word, that I am Itanley Hsrgreaves daughter." . "No, there ti nothing to prove that ou are his daughter. But hasn't it iver occurred to you that there might e a purpose back of this? Might it tot be of inestimable value that your ather's enemies should be lef In loubt? Might it not be a means of olding them en the leash? There is roof, ample proof, my child; and rhen the time comes these wil be hown you. But meantime put all hought of marrying Mr. Norton out of your mind." "That I refuse to do," quietly. "I am at least mistress of my heart; .nd no one shall dictate to me whom shall or shall not marry. I love Mr. lorton and he loves me, knowing that may not be an heiress after all. And ome day I shall marry him." Jones bowed., This seemed to ap ear fnal to him, and nothing more ms to be said. Norton did not return to his rooms III seven. He found the telephone all and also a note In a handwriting muamillar. He tore off the envelope nd found the contents to be from the kuntess Perigoff. "Call at eight tonight," he read. "I ave an important news story for you. en no one, as I cannot be Involved rithe case. Cordially, Olga, Countess orgoff." Eumph! Norton twiddled the note a his fingers and at length rolled It ito a ball and threw it into the waste lasket. He, too, made a mistake; he hould have kept that note. He tessed, dined, and hurried off to the .partments of the countess. He arrived ten minutes before Floe soe and Susan. And Jones did some rapid telephon rig. "How long, how long!" the butler murmured. How long would this :trange combat last? The strain was errible. He slept but little during he 4ights, for his ears were always ratting for sounds. He had cast he chest Into the sea, and it would ake a dosen- expert divers to locate t. And now, atop of all these wor lea, the child must fall in love with he first comer! It was heartbreak rig. Norton. so far as he had learned, as cool and brave, honest and rell bie in a pinch; but as the husband if Stanley Hargreave's daughter, that was altogether a different matter. And se must devise some means of putting istop to it, but But he was saved that trouble. Mongoose and cobra, that was the game being played; the cunning of he one against the deadly venom of he other. If he forced matters ha would only lay himself open to the trike of the snake. He must have >atlence. Gradually they were break ng the organization, lopping off a >ranch here and there, but the peace >f the future depended upon getting a grip on the spine of the cobra him The trick was simple. The count ics had news; trust her for that. She exhbted a cablegram. dated at Gib -altar, In which the British authoui les stated definitely that no such a person as William Orts, aviator, had ,rrived at Gibraltar. And then, as he 'ose, she rose also and gently preeip tated herself into his arms, fat at he moment Florence appeared in the loorway. Very simple, indeed. When a wem in falls toward a man there Is noth ng tor him to do but extend his arms ;o prevent her from falling. Outward y, however, to the eye which saw nly the picture and eomprehended it the sause, It had all the hallmarks >f an affectionate embrace. Florence stood perfectly stIl te a noment, then turned away. "I beg your pardon," said the essa6 ss, "but a sudden fainting spellselsa h y heart is a bit weak.* 't mention It," replied the gab. ant Norton. He was as innocent as a babe as to what had sea)1y tae place. Mlorence weat baek hems. Bie irote a brief note to Nortoa and is losed the ring which she had seeret. Ly worn attached to a lile Eian round her neck. When Norton eamse the next day she refused to see him. ft was all aver. She nernr wished te se him gain, )W to The Tin Remember TI n the game ~ r you might b 1lon0I (CONTINUED FROM LAST W "He says there has been some cruel mistake," said Jones. "I saw him with the countess in his ams. I do not see any cruel mis. take in that. I saw him. Tell him so. And add that I never wish to see him again." - Then she ran swiftly to her room, where she broke down and erled bit terly and would not be comforted by Rusan. "In heaven's name, what has hap. pened?" demanded the frantic lover, "what has happened?" The comedy of the whole affair lay In the fact that neither of the two suspected the countess, who consoled them both. CHAPTER IX. The Leap In the Darkt So far as Jones was concerned, he was rather pleased with the turn of affairs. This was no time for love making; no time for silly. innocuous quarrels and bickerings, in which love must Indulge or die. Florence no 1 4 "I Never Saw That Ring Before." longer rode horseback, and Norton returned to his accustomed haunts, where no one made the slightest at tempt upon his life. In his present state of mind he would have welcomed it. "What's the matter with Jim? asked the night city editor, raisink his eye shade. "I don't know," answered the copy reader. "Goes around as if he'd been eating dope; bumped into the boss a while ago and never stopped to apologize." "Perhaps he's mapping out the front page for that Hargreave stuff," laughed the copy reader. "Between you and me and the gate post, I don't believe there ever was a man by the name of Hargreave." "Oh, there was a chap by that name, all right. He's dead. A man can't swim 300 miles In rough water, life buoy or no. They ought to have funeral services, and let it go at that." "But what was the reason for that fake cable from Gibraltar saying that Orts was alive? I don't see any sense In that." "The man who pulled it off did. I think, for my part, that both Orts and Hargreave are dead, and that the man picked up by the tramp steamer Orient was riding some other balloon." "You're wrong there. The descrip tion of It proved that it was Orts' ma chine. Oh, Jim probably has got a man's size yarn up his sleeve, but he's a long time in delivering the goods. He's beginning to mope a good deal. Woman back of It somewhere. Haven't held down this copy job for twelve years without being able to make some tolerable guesses. Jim's a star man. When he gets started nothing can stop him. He covered the Chinese Boxer rebellion better than any other corre spondent there. I wonder how old he is?" "0, I should say about 'thirty-one or two. Here he comes now. 'Lo, Jim!" "Hello! Where's Ford? He gave me a ticket to the theater tonight, and I want to punch his head. What's drama coming to, anyhow? Cigarettes and booze and mismated couples. Can't they find good enough things out of doors? Oh, I know. They cater to a lot of fools who believe that what they see Is an expression of high life In N~ew York and London. And it's rot, plain rot. It's merely the scum on the boiling pot. And any old house wife would skim it off and chuck It into the slops. Life? Piflel" "What's the grouch?" "Lgoking for the dramatic job?" "No. I've just been wondering how far these theatrical managers can go without slitting the golden goose." Norton sought his desk and began rummaging the drawers. He was not hunting for anything; he was merely passing away the time. By and by, when the pastime no longer served, he pulled his chair over to the window and sat down, staring at stars such as Copernicus never dre-amed of. Ships going down to sea, ferries swooping diagonally hither and thither, the clockwork signs; but he took no note e these marvels of light. "Not at home!" he muttered. He had called, written, telephoned. No use. The door remained shut, Jones answered the telephone, and the letters came back. He began to think vry deeply concerning the Perigoff woman. Had she played a trick? Had that fainting spell been buncombe for his benefit as well as Florence's? But he had not a shadow of a proof. The SIing that pussled him equally with Ls, and get th4 ie Pastime will nd win the $ e cut off in the )ollar EEK-LOOK FOR NEXT ISSUJ this was that all attempts against his life had miraculously ceased; no safes thundered down in front of him, and no autos tried to crve him In two. The only thing that kept him active was the daily call of Jones by wire. Miss Florence was well ;that was all Jones was permitted to say. Restlessly Norton spurned his chair and walked over to the. telephone booth. It was midnight He might or might not be able to get Jones. But almost instantly a voice said, "What is it?" "Jones?" "Yes. Who is itr" "Norton." "Why, you called me up not ten minutes ago." "Not I!" "It was your voice, as plain as day." "What did I want?" keen all at once. The reply did not come Immediately. "You are certain it was not you?" "Wait a moment and I'll call the editor. He will prove to you that I've been here for an hour, and that this is the first call I've made. Some one has been imposing on you. What did they ask you to do?" "You asked me to come down to the office at once, and I requested you to come to the house, and you said you could not. I declined to stir." "What did you think?" "Exactly what you're thinking-that they have come to life again." "Jones, is Miss Florence awake?" "No." "Do you think there is any hope of having her understand what really happened?" "I am here only to guard her. I can not undertake to read her thoughts." "You're not quite in favor of a reoe onciliation?" "Oh, yes, if it went no further. Young people are young people the world over." "What does that mean?" "That they would not create imagi r.ative heartaches if, they were not young. Better let things remain ex actly as they are. When all these troubles are settled finally, the lesser trouble may be talked over sensibly. But this is not the time. Thcre is no news. Good-night." Norton returned to his schair, gloom ler than ?ver. With his feet upon the window sill he stared and stared and dreamed and dreamed till a hand fell upon his shoulder. It belonged to one of the office boys. "Note f'r you, sir." Norton read it and tore It Into little pieces. Then he rose and distributed the pieces in the several yawning waste baskets which strewed the aisle leading to the city desk. "I'm not wanted for anything?" he asked. "No. Clear out!" laughed the night city editor. "The sight of you is put. ting everybody In the gloom ward." Norton went down to the street. At the left of the entrance he was quietly joined by a man whose arm was car ried in a sling. He motioned Norton to get into the taxicab. They were dropped In a deserted spot In Rivdr dale. On foot th-ey went forward to their destination, which proved to be the deserted hangar of the aviator', William Orts. "I want you to tell Jones that a tug and several divers are at work on the spot where he threw the chest. That's all. Now, doctor, rewind this arm of mine." The amateur surgeon made a very good job of it; not for nothing had he followded fighting armled to the front. "Did they find anything?" "Not up to date. But we might if we cared to. They have left a buo34 ver the spot they're exploring. But just now it floats a quarter of a mile to the east of the spot." "Who were the men in the motor boat that chased Jones." "Only Jones can tell you. Queer old codger, elh?" "A bit stubborn. He wants to handle it without police assietance." "And he's right. We are not aiming to arrest anyone," sinisterly. "There can't be any draw to this game. Here, no smoking. Too much gas afloat." Norton put the cigarettes back into his pocket. "What's the real news?" he demanded. "You would not bring me out here just to rebandage that arm. It really did not need it. Come, out with it." "You're sharp." "I'm paid to be sharp." "I've found where the Black Hun dred holds its sessions." "By George, that's news!" "The room above is vacant. A little hole in the ceiling, and who knows what might happen?" "What do you want me to do?" "Tell Jones. When the next meet, ig come around I'll advise you. I've stumbled upon a dissatisfied member. So, buck up, as they say. We've got two ends of the net down, and with a little care we'll have them all. Now let me have a hundred." Norton drew out a packet of bills and counted off five twenties. "Why don't you draw the cash your self?" "It happens to be in your name, "I forgot." said Norton. "But whiat a chance for me! Nearly five thou sand, all mine for a ticket to Algiers!" A grunt was the only reply. "I want yeu to tell me about the Perigoff woman." "I know only one thing-that Brr-ne Is there every night." "No!" "The orders are for you to play the game just as you are playing it. When we strike, it must be the last blow. All this hide-and-seek business may look foolish to you. It's like that Jap anese game called 'jo.' It looks sim lie, but chess is a tyro's game be a wonderful st< L show each chi 10,000. Be su midst of the s1 Myst side it. Can you find your way back all right?" "I can." "Well, you'd better be going. That's all the light I have, in this torch here. Got a lot to do tomorrow and need sleep." Norton stole away with great cau tiem. His first intention was to pro ceed straight to the city, but de spite his resolution he found himself within a quarter of an hour gazing up at the windows of the Hargreave house. "Not at home!" Quite unconscious of the fact, he was as close to death as any mortal man might care to be. The police man suddenly looming up under the arc lamp proved to be his savior. The lull made Jones doubly alert. Be was positive that they were pre paring to strike again. But from what direction and in what manner? He had not met the gift of clairvoyance, so he had to wait; and waiting is a terrible game when perhaps death is balancing the scales. It Is always easier to make an assault than to await it; and it is a good general who always finds himself prepared. But it made his heart ache to watch the child. She went about cheerfully -when any one was in the room with her. Many a time, however, he had stolen to the door of her bedroom and heard the heart-rending sobs, a vain attempt being made to stifle them among the pillows. She was only eighteen; it was first love; and first loves are pale, evanescent attach ments. It hurt now; but she would get over it presently. Youth forgets. Time, like water, smooths away the ragged places. The countess called regularly. She was, of course, dreadfully sorry over what had happened. She had heard something about his character; news paper men weren't always the best. This one was a mere fortune hunter; a two faced one, at that. She was never more surprised in her life when he threw his arms around her. And so on, and so forth, half lies and half truths, till the patient Jones felt like wringing her neck. From his vantage point the butler smiled ironically. He could read the heart of this Perigoff woman as he could read the page of a book. The effrontery! Ad all the Wfle he must gravely admit her and pretend when the blood rioted in his veins at the sight of her. But he dared not swerve a single inch from the plans laid down. It was a cup of bliter gall, and there was no way of avoiding the putting of it to his lips. She ema nated poison as nightshade emanates It, the upas tree. And he must bow when she entered and bow when she left! Still, she had done him an in direct favor in breaking up this love business. One afternoon Braine summoned his runabout and called up two physicians. When hie was ushered into the desert It Had All the Hallmarks of an Affec tionate Embrace. ed office of the first he sent his card in. The doctor replied in person. His face was pale and his hands shook. "Good afternoon," said Braine, smil ing affably. The doctor eyed him like a man hypnotized. "You . . . you wished to see me on some particular busi ness?" "Very particular," dryly. "My car is outside. Will you be so good as to accompany me?" The doctor slowly went into the hal for hishat and coat. Hleleft the house and got into the ear with never a word of protest. "Thinking?" said Braine. "I am always thinking whenever I see your evil face. What dev'ilment do you require of me this time?" "A mere stroke of the pen." "Where are we going?" "To call on andther physician of your standing." significantly. "It is a great thing to have friends like you two. Always ready to serve us, for the mere love of It." "There's no need of using that kind of talk to me. You have me in the >ry, 'The Mi] apter as it api re that your ory. :er y. hollow of yout hand. Why should I bother to deny It? I have broke thi law. I broka it bwnse I was stArf. ing." "It is better to starve itfreedom than to eat fat Joints up the river. Today it is a question of daity." "And you want me to assit in sign ing away the liberty of some person who is-perfectly sane?' "The nail on the head" urbandy. "You're a fine scoundrel!" "Not so loud!" wainingly. "As loud as I please. I am not for getting that you need me. I'm no coward. I recognize that you hold the whip hand. But you can send me to the chair before I'll crawl to you. Now, leave me alone for a while." The other physician had no such qualms of conscience. He was ready at all times for the generops, emolu ments whieh accrued from his dealings with the man Brains. The Countess Perigoff was Indis posed; so It was quite in the order of things that she should summon phy sicians. There Is a law in the state of New York-just or unjust, whichever, you please-that reads that any, person may be adjudged insane If the signa Florence and Susan Went ,Shopplng, tures of two registered physicians are affixed to the document. It ot say that these physicians . e been proved reputable. There were, bealdes the a motherly looking woman an man of benign countenance. Th faces were valuable assets. To gain an other person's confidence Is, perhaps, among the greatest human acbleve. ments. A confidence man and woman in the real sense of the word. In your mind's eye you could see this man carrying dhe contribution plate dofra the aisle on Sunday mornings, and his wife Kate putting her mite on the plate for the benefit of some poor, un tidy Hottentot. On Tuesday of the following week Florence and Susan went shopping. The chauffeur was a strong young fel low whom Jones relied upon. If you pay a man well and 'hold out fine promises, you generally can trust him. As their car left the corner another followed leisurely. This second auto mobile contained Thomas Wendt and his wife Kate. The two young women stopped at the great dry goods shop near the public library, and for the time being naturally forgot everything but the marvels which had come from all parts of the world. It is asnatural for a woman to buy as It Is for a man to sell. In some manner or other Florence became separated from ,Susan. She hunted through aisle after aisle, but could not find her; for the simple rea son that Susan was hunting for her. It occurred to the girl that Susan might have wisely concluded the best place to wait would be in the taxicab. And so Florence hurried out into the street, into the arms of the Wendt family, who were patiently awaiting her. The trusted chauffeuir had been sent around to the side entrance by the major dome. The young lady had so requested, so he said. Florence struggled and called for the polIceman, who came running up, followed by the usual idle, curious crowd. "The poor young woman Is insane," said the motherly Kate, tears in het' efs The benign Thomas looked s't heaven. 'We are her keepers." "It is not true!" cried Florence des perately. "She has the hallucination that she is the daughter of the millionaime Stanley Hargreave." And Thomas ex hibited his document, which was per fectly legal, so far as appearances went. "Hurry up gnd get her of the walk. I can't have the crowd growing any larger," said the policeman, convinced. So, despite her cries and prptesta tions, Florence was hustled into the automobile, even the policeman lend ing a hand. 'Poor young thing!" he'said to the crowd. "Come, now, move on. I can't have the walk blocked tip. Get a gait on you." He was congratulatin'g himself upon the orderliness of the afair when a ILa n-eyed young man in tife garb a'a chauffeur touched his shoulder. "What's this I hear about- an insane. woman?" he demanded. "She was insane, all righ~ They had papers to prove it. She ~pt erygn that she was Stanley l-argreav~e's daughter." "My God!" The young man struck .As forehead in despair. "You asjs, uthe was Sta,nley Hargreave's daughter, lion Dollar >ears in The sub scription COME TO SEE US The South Bend Ms uable Steel Range. The 0. K. and Rishmond Cook Stoie. The 0. K.Wood and Coal Heater. The Fireplace Grate and Trash Burner. The Perfection Oil Cook Stove and Heater. 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