Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Boar I MM I By HAROLD I Illustrated from Scenes t 1 Same Kame by the Tha (Copyright, 1014, b This, the eighteenth episode of the interesting story tlf// Aa /-it- fA/> /icin#v (V(li l/C O/ll/lVM Ul IKV VxUOt/IL/ Theatre Thursday night CHAPTER XVin. The Masked Ball. About this time?that is to say, about the time the Black Hundred was stretching out. its powerful secret arms ;toward Norton?there arrived in New York city a personage. This personage was the Princess Parlova, a fabulously rich Polish Russian She leased a fine house near Central park and set about to conquer social New York Thie \vn c nnt vorv fnr h/ir title was perfectly genuine and she moved in the most exclusive diplomatic circles in Europe, which, as everybody knows, is the most brilliant :in the world When the new home was completely decorated, she gave an elaborate dinner, and that attracted the newspapers- They began to talk about her highness, printed portraits of her. and devoted a page occasion ally in the Sunday editions. She became something of a rage One morning it was announced that the Princess Parlova would give a masked ball to formally open her home to society; i and it was this notice that iirst brought the Princess Parlova under Braine's eyes He was at th? Perigoff apartment at the time "Well, well!" he mused aloiul "What is it?" asked Olga. turning away from the piano and ending one of Chopin's mazurkas brokenly. "Here is the Princess Parlova in town." "And who is she?" "She is the real thine Ole-n* n rent princess with vast estates in Poland with which the greedy Slav next door has been very gentle." "I haven't paid much attention to the social news lately. What about her?" "She is giving a masked ball to formally open her house on the West side And it's going to cost a pretty penny." "Well, you're not telling me this to make me want to know the princess," said Olga. petulantly. "No Rut I'm going to give you a letter of introduction to her highness." "Oh!" "And you are going to ask her to invite two particular friends of yours to this wonderful ball of hers." "Indeed." ironically. "That sounds all very easy." "Easier than you think, my child." ?<T 11 1 - - i x v\m nut xiiivt? you call IOG C111U1! "Well, then, Olga." "That's better. Now, how will it be easier than I think?" "Simply this, the Princess Parlova is an oath bound member, but has not been active for vears." "Oho!" Olga \v*-s all animation now. "Go on!" "You will go to her with a letter of introduction?no! Better than that, you will make a formal cali and show her this ving. You know the ring," he said, passing the talisman to the countess. "Show this to her and she will obey you In everything. She will have no alternative." "Very good," replied Olga "And then the program is to insist that sho invite Florence and that fool of a reporter to this ball. Then what?" "iou can leave that to me." "Haven't all these failures been a warning?" "No, my clear. I was born optimistic; but there's a jinx somewhere in one of my pockets. Time after time I've Vio/1 nvnm'U.lnnr Cnat urVtora I Ti'Q r?tor! a ? vy A A t?. U V ? V/ A (? J UMW ft ** v^? \y * ? It, and then?poof! It's pure bald luck on their side, but sooner or later the wheel will turn. And any chance that offers I am bound to accept. Somehow or other we may be able to trap Florence and Norton. I want both of them. If I can get them snugly away, Jones will be forced to draw iln Hargreave." "Is there such a man?" "You saw him that night at the restaurant." 1 "I have often thought that perhaps I Just dreamed it." She turned again to the piano and began humm4ng idly. "Stop that and listen to me," said ;Bralne, not in quite the best of tempera. "I'm In no mood for whims." "Music does not sooth your soul, then?" cynically. | "If I had one it might You will call on the Princess Parlova tomorrow fafternoon. It depends upon you what my plans will be. I think you'll have little trouble in getting into tho presence of her highness, and once jthere she will hot be able to resist you." ! And go she did. The footman in 'green livery hesitated for a moment, l but the title on the visiting card was Quite sufficient. He bowed the count (Mystery MAC GRATH fn the Photo Drama of thm ntiouser Film Company y Harold HaoUraiU) ess into the reception room and went J in search of his distinguished misI ?? r? r? litres. The Princess Parlova was a hand- j some woman verging upon middle age She was a patrician; Olga's keen eye discerned that instantly. She came into the reception room with that dig- j nilied serenity which would have inv j pressed any one as genuine. She held I the card in her fingers and smiled in-j quiringly toward her guest. "I confess," she began, "that 1 re-: call neither your face nor your name, j 1 am sorry. Where have 1 had the honor of meeting you before?" "You have never met me before, your highness," answered Olga sweetly. "You came on a charity errand, i then?" "That depends, your highness. Will you be so good as to glance at this?" Olga asked, holding out her palm upon which the talisman lay. The princess shrank back, paling. "Where did you get that?" she panted. "From the head," was the answer. I "'And you have followed me from ! Russia?" whispered the princess, her terror crowing. "Oh, no. The Black Hundred is as strongly organized here as in St. Petersburg Rut. we always keep track of old members, especially when they stand so high in the world as yourself ' "But 1 was deceived and betrayed!" exclaimed the princess. "They urged me to join on the ground that the organization was to attempt to bring : about the freedom of Poland." Olga shrugged. "You were rich, mgnness. i ne uiacK nuntirea neecie.u , money." "And you need it now?" eagerly, i believing that she saw a loophole, j "How much? Oh, 1 will give a hundred thousand rubles on your prom' ise to leave me alone. Tell me!" "I am sorry, your highness, but I have no authority to accept such an i offer. Indeed, my errand is far from being expensive. All the Black Hun dred desires is four invitations to this ball which you are soon to give. That should not cause you any alarm. We shall not interfere with your sojourn in America in any way whatsoever provided these invitations are issued " . "You would rob my guests?" horrified. "Positively no! Here is a list of i four names. Invite them; that is all you have to do. Not so much as a silver spoon will be found missing This-is on my word of honor, and I never break that word, if you please.' "Give me the list," said the princes*, wearily. "Who gave you that ri&sf "The head." "In Russia?" . : "No; here in America" Olgadipped into her handbag and produced a slip of paper. This she handed to the princess. "Here is the list hi^hnoea " "Who is Florence Hargreave?" "A friend of mine," evasively. "Does she belong to the organization." "No." "Then you hf.ve some ulterior purpose in having me invite her?" "I have," answered Olga sharply: "but that does not concern your highness in the least." The princess bit her lips "I see your name here also; a man named I3raine, and another, Norton." "Say at once that you do not care to execute the wishes?the commands ?of the order," said Olga coldly. "I will do as you wish. And I beg | you now to excuse me. But if any! f i n rv I^rtr*AA?*n ? " ? ? ~ 0 I iuuif) nn|i|jcua iu any 01 my personal friends?" 44\\i r*l 1 0" Y)onchH]v frnm Hloro t V?? UMUQii V??; * V?*? "Well, I will put the matter in tho hands of the police." "Put so long- as your personal friends are not concerned?" "I shall then of necessity remain deaf and blind It is one of the penalties 1 must pay for my folly. I wish you good-day." "And also good riddance," mur, mured Olga under her breath as she I rose and started for the hallway. II Thus it was that when Norton went to the office the next afternoon he found a broad white envelope on his desk. Indifferently he opened the , same and his eyes bulged. "Princess Parlova requests" and so forth and so on. Then he shrugged. The chief had probably aeked for the invitation and he would have to write up the doings, a phase of reportorial work eminently distasteful to him. He went up to the city desk. "Can't you find some one else to do , this stuff?" he growled to the city j editor. The city editor glanced at the card and crested envelope. "Good Lord, man! Nobody in this office had anything to do with that. What luck* Our Miss Hayes tried all manner of , schemes, but was rebuffed on all THE HORRY HERAL 6iaes. How the deuce did you cMnce j to get one?" "Search me," said the bewildered Norton. ^ ! "If I were you I'd sit tight and take j It all in," advised the editor. "It's going to be the biggest splurge of its 1 kind we've had in years. We've been working every wire we know to get Miss Hayes inside, but it was no go. | This princess is not onto the game yet. In this country you get into society or you don't through the Sundays." "Hanged if I know who wished this tMng on me." "Take it philosophically," said the editor sarcastically. "The princess won't bite you. She may even have seen your picture?" "Get out!" grumbled Norton, turning away. He would go out and see Florence. On the way out to Riverdale he came to the conclusion that the list of the princess fell short and some friend of his Vho was helping the woman out; suggested his name. It was the only way he could account for it. Hut when he learned that Florence had an invitation exactly like his own and that she received it that morning he became suspicious. "Jones, what do you think of it?" he questioned. ! "I think it was very kind of the F Countess Porigoff suggesting your name and that of Florence," said the g butler urbanely. b "Olga?" cried Florence, disappoint- I' edly. "It is the only logical deduction 1 fc can make." declnrerl .Tnnoo "rv.ov .> , ? ? ? vr?. v. A II VJ UI II both practically Russians." "And what would you advise?" \> asked Norton. h "Why, go and enjoy yourselves. Forewarned is forearmed. The thing is, be very careful not to acquaint ' any one with the character of your c< disguise, least of all the Countess Porigoff. Resides," Jones added siniling, "perhaps I may go myself." "Goody! I've read about masked balls and have always been crazy to 11 go to one," said Florence with eager- ? ness. "Suppose we go at once and pick ' O n f" cnmo riAclnmnc 9" " ww v wutuv v^voiuaigo iNUI " ton. ".lust as soon as T can get my hat a j on." replied Florence, happy as a lark. "Hut mind," warned Jones; "be sure ' that you see the costumer alone and !i that no one else is about." n "I'll take particular care," agreed d Norton. "We've got to do some bus- 1 tling to find something suitable. For u a big affair like this the town will be -\ ransacked. All aboard! There's room 5 for two in that car of mine; and we \ can have a spin besides. Hang n work!" Florence laughed, and even Jones ,j permitted a smile (which was not grim this time) to stir his lips. j s A happy person is geher'allv un- ( s observant. Two happy persons to- I a gether are totally unobservant of w what passes around them. In plainer ; h terms this lack is called love. And j a I being frankly in love with each other, i neither Norton nor Florence observed J that a taxicab followed^ them into j town. Jones, not being"Tn love, was ' ' keenly observant; but the taxicab took up the 11 two blocks away, so the matter wholly escaped Jones' eye. The two went into several costurners', but eventually discovered a i shop on a side street that had been overlooked by those invited to the masquerade. They had a merry time rummaging among the camphory j smelling boxes. There were dominoes j all colors, anrl nt inno-ta -? , ? ? ? ivmqvu mcjr ct&I Ut'U I ) : upon two modest ones that were evenly matched in color and design. Florence ordered t.liem to be sent I hems. Then the two of them sallied ! up to the Uitz-Carleton and had tea. The man from the taxicab entered the eostumer's, displayed a detective s shield and demanded that the proprietor show him the costumes selected by the two young people who " had just left. The man obeyed wonderingly. "1 want a pair exactly like these," s said the detective. "How much?" "Tlfrt Tl.rv11~ V- ' * ' i v?w uunara eucn, reniai; seveu apiece if you wish to buy them." "I'll buy them." 1 The detective paid the bill, nodded * curtly, andreturned to his taxicab. l "Now, I wonder," reused the cos- * turner, "what the dickens those ir.no- J cent looking young people are up to?" He never found out. * On the night of the ball Norton ( dined with Florence for the first time; and for once in his life he experienced j that petty disturbance of collective thought called embarrassment. To 1 talk over war plans with Jones was one thing, but to have Jones serve 1 soup was altogether another. All 1 through dinner Jones replied to questions with no more and no less than 1 "Yes, sir," and "No, sir." Norton was ' beginning to learn that this strange < man could put on a dozen kinds of * armor and always retain his Individ- 1 uality. And tonight there seemed * something vaguely familiar about 1 the impassive face of the butler, as if he had seen it. somewhere in the 1 past, but could not tell when or where. As he and Florence were leaving for the automobile which was i to take them to the princess', the truth \ came home to him with the shock ot ] a douche of ice cold water. UndU r j his breath he murmured: "You're a l wonderful man, Jones; and 1 take m.v i ' hat off to you with thsf deepest adm.ru j j tion. Hang me!" j ' I "What are you mumbling about?" asked the happy girl at his tide. i ^ V .D, -CONWAY, S. 0. ^1 ^'y ;-'-.l^|/^ 'rincess Parlova Attired for the Ball. "Was I mumbling? Perhaps I was oing over my catechism. 1 haven't een out in society in so long that ve forgotten how to act." "I believe that. We've been in here )r five minutes and you haven't told le that you love me." "Good heavens!" And his arms rent around her so tightly that she egged for quarter. "How strong you are!" The splendor of the rooms, the dazling array of jewels, the kaleidoscopic olors, the perfume of the banked owers and the music all combined put Florence into a pleasurable ind of trance. And it was only when le first waltz began that she became erseit and surrendered to the arms f the man she loved. And they were waltzing over a'volano. She knew and he knew it. rom* what direction would the blow ome? Well, they were prepared for 11 manner of tricks. In an alcove off the ballroom sat raine and Olga, both dressed exactly ke Newton and Florence. Another inn and woman entered presently nd Rraine spoke to them for a molent, as if giving instructions, which as indeed the case. The band crashed into another ance, and the masqueraders began wirling hither and thither and yon . gay cavalier suddenly stopped in x>nt of Florence. "Enchantress, may I have the pleasre of this dance?" Jim touched Florence's hand. But he turned laughingly toward the t ranger. What difference did it lake? The man would never know ho she was nor would she know im. It was a lark, that was all; nd despite Jim's warning touch she \ Invite Them In; That Is All You Have to Do." vas up and away like the mischievous iprite that she was. Jim remained n his chair, twisting his fingers and vondering whether to laugh or grow mgry. After all, he could not blame ler. To him an affair like this was an indent story; to her it was the door >f fairyland swung open. Let her enoy hers elf. Florence was haying a splendid ime. Her partner was asking all sorts >f questions and she was replying in dnd, when out of the crowd came Nonon ias sne supposed), who touched ler arm. The cavalier stopped, bowed ind made off. Norton whispered: "I have made an important discovery. We must be off it once. Come with me.'* Florence, without the least suspicion in the world, followed him up the broad staircase. What with the many sounds it was not to be wondered at that the difference in the quality of voices d'.d not strike Florence's ear ?.s odd. The result of her confidence was that upon reaching the upper hafts, opposite the dressing rooms, she was suddenly thrust into a room and made prisoner. When the light was turned up she recognized with horror the woman who had helped to kidnap her and take her away on' the Qeorge Washington weeks ago. She could not have cried out for help U she had tried. Meantime Jim got up and tfegan to wander about in search of Florence. Braine played a clever game that He and the Russian, still dom-, o ? lno'ed lik? Norton and Florence, ordered the Hargreave auto, by number, entered it and were driven up to the porfe cochere of the Hargreave house. The two alighted, the chauffeur sent the car toward the garage, and Braine and his companion ran lightly down the' path to the streey \khere the cab which had followed picked them up. It grew more and more evident to Jim that something untoward had taken place. He could not find Florence anywhere, in the alcoves, in the They Agreed Upon Two Modest Ones. side rooms, the supper or card room. Later, to his utter amazement, he nvub informed that tt\e Wargreave auto had some time since been called and Its owner taken home. Some one had taken his place! His first sensation was impotent fury against Jones, who had permitted them to play with fire. lie flung out of the mansion unceremoniously, commandeered a cab, and flew out to Riv erdale. And when Jones came to tho door he was staggering with sleep. "What's the matter with you?" demanded Jim roughly. "Where's Florence?" "Isn't she with you?" cried Jones, making an effort to dispel the drowsiness. "What time is it?" suddenly. "Midnight! Where is she?" "Midnight? I've been drugged!" Without a word Jones staggered off to the kitchens, Jim at his heels. There was always hot water, and within five minutes Jones had drunk two cups of raw strong coffee "Drugged!" he murmured. "Some one in the house! I'll attend to that later. Now, the chauffeur!" n..i -1 fc? ? ' ? --'i i'ut me ciiuuiiciir swure on ms oaui that he had left Jim and Florence on the steps of the porte coehere. "Get in!'* said Jones to Norton, now fully alive fie could not get it out of life head that some one in the house had drugged him. The events which followed were to both Jones and Norton something like a series of nightmares. In the new hofne of the Prince3s Parlova a bomb exploded and Are followed the explosion. From pleasure to terror is^ only a step. The wildest contusion imaginable ensued, j\Tr>st of the guests were of the opinion* that some an archlst had attempted to blow up tho house or the rich Pole. Jones and Norton arrived just as the smoke began te? pour out from the windows. A crowd had already collected. Then Jim overheard a woman masquerader eay: "The fool made the bomb too strong. She is in the room on the second floor. The game is up if she suffocates " The voice trailed off and the woman became lost j in the crowd. But it was enough for the reporter, who pushed his way roughly through the excited masqueradcrs and entered the house. The rescde was one of the most exciting to be found in th?e newspaper files of the day. So Braine in his effort to scare everybody from the house had overreached himself once more. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK To Drive Out Malaria And Build Up The System Take the Old Standard GROVE'S TASTELESS chill TONIC. You know what you are taking, as the formula is printed on every label, showing it is Quinine and Iron in a tasteless form. The Ouinin? Hrivoo nut " ^ ?- v?v uiomi m, xne Iron builds up the system. SO cents APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR Vacancies in Several County Positions N Are Filled. Gov. Manning has announced the following appointments: N. L. Brunson, Magistrate for Edge field county to succeed C. E. Quarles, resigned. Lewis McCravy, commissioner of State election, Laurens county, to succeed E. Y. McQuowen, resigned. Arthur Briggs Pinewood, commissioner on annexation of part of Clarendon to Sumter county to succeed P. B. Hodge, resigned. S. A. Nettles, Kingstree, commissioner State election, Williamsburg county, to succeed J. C. China, resigned. I ? o The weather was cooler last Friday and Saturday. * W- ^b H. H. WOODWARD, jB Attorney and Counsellor at Lli|f S CONWAY, s ~ a ??^ i H HAL L. BUCK, [1 Fire Insurance rl Office Conway National Bait || Conway, S. C. I I ?{I R. B. SCARBOROUGH ! I A A A * B Aiiorney at Law, CONWAY. S. C. I LUM JUNG LAUNDRY, || CONWAY. S. C, p Beginning July 1st. 191?| JI All persons must take tickets!for j I work left here. Positively to I work delivered until ticket is pre. B sented. Laundry Dot called for 30 days will be sold for charges. nl LUMgJUNG P "M WILLIAM EUGENE KING. M Physician and Surgeon I Office in Piatt Drug* Co. I AYMHD - ~ rviiuv/lly. ~ i)i J. M. JOHNSON, I CIVIL ENGINEER I Marion, S C. I Railroad, City and Land Surveying; S aud Drainage. Road-building an B Sewem Draughting and Iilue Priming ? fl W C SINGLE!I N I ATTORNEY AT LAW I Conway, S. C. | Oftice^up St its Buck Building I I D A Spivey & Company. I ^ On -THE CORNER" B i'EOy ES NATIONAL BANK BL'Dq.H Bonds t^.^H Life ^ Other I INSURANCE. 1 O. A.? SPIVEY. W. B. hi KG II | ^ CHAS. R. SCARBOROUGH | I | Conway, ft, C. H Complete Waterworks, Steam, HohrQ. II ter and Hot Air Heating Plaau I INSTALLED ANYWHERE M I Only Plumbing and Heating gooda *m4 II material of highest quality uaed? I Full line of Tub, Toilet, L&Aurj Sink and other Bathroom II and repairs on hand at all ^ff' B Plumbing and Heatfe ^| ; Bh HaPUT WATER AND! BEAT I , ^ IN YOUR HOUfll ' ? it * ^1 S. P. HAWES * . Auto Supplies, Fancy Groceries H Ajax Tires, guaranteed 500C II miles. H PHONE 57. 9 QUICK DELIVERY. I o T. B. LEWIS, Atty. and Councellor at Law CONWAY, - - - S. c l ?o H DR. J. D. THOMAS ^ I Physician and Surgeon H loris, s. o. P53sa^&3&3^i3l3&3i3 0I 5 HORRY COUNTY gl | TRUST COMPANY ! [0j L. D. Magrath $23 Manager. si M Real Estate ^ H v* Real Estate Loans 53 Bonds v, 53 53 Insurance * ?' IBBBBBBDBBBtfl