Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Tbc Black Hundred begin to fear Norton and pla?! to dUnone of him. Again the unnoticed butler shows his hand by rescuing Norton and defeat lng Bruine. 4 And still the golden tinted bank notes repose tranquilly In their hid ing place! (Copyright. 1914, by Harold Mar--' Grath.) . CHAPTER XVIII. THE MASKED BALL. About this time;-that is to say, about tho time the Black Hundred was stretching out its powerful secret arms toward Norton-there arrived in New York City a personage. This per sonage was the Princess Pariova, a fabulously rich ^jllsh Russian. She leased a fine house near Central park and set about to conquer (social New York. This was not very difficult, for her title was perfectly genuine and nhe- moved in tho most exclusive dip lomatic circles in Europe, which, as everybody knows, is tho moot brilliant in tho world. When the new home was completely decorated ?he gave an elaborate dinner, and that attracted tho newspapers. They began' to talk in the Sunday editions. She became about her highness, printed portraits something of a rage. One morning it was announced that the Princess Par leva would give a masked ball to for mally open her Ironie to society; and it was this notice that first brought the Princess Pariova under Bralne'o "eyes. Ho was at the Pcrlgoff apartment at the time. "Well, well," he mused aloud.. "What ls it?" asked Olga, turning away from the piano and ending ono of Chopin's mazurkas brokenly. "Hero Is the Princess Pariova In town." . *And who is she?" "F.ho ia thc real thing. Olga, a roal princess with vast estates in Poland with whloh tho 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 for mally open her house on tho west side. And lt's going to cost a pretty penny." "Woll, you're not telling mo this to make mo want to know the princess," said Olga, petulantly. / "No. But I'm going to give you a lofc tor of introduction to her highness." "Ol" "And you are going tb ask her to irivito two particular friends of yours to this wonderful ball of litre." "Indcod," Ironically. -''That sounds all very easy." "Easier than you think, my child." "I will not have you call me child;" "Well, then, Olga." . "TlmtB hotter. No?.', hov/ vrlll it tc easier than I think?" "Simply this, thc Princess Pariova is an oath bound member, but has not boen active for years." GU'"' Olga was ail anlui?tion now. "fio on!" ' "You will go to her with a letter* of Introduction-no! Better than that, you will make a formal call and Bhow her his ring. You know the ring," he said, pressing the talisman to tho At The Palmetto A Wore that tim?, g?< By Harold countess. "Show this to her and she will obey you In everything. She will havo no alternative." "Very good." replied Olga. "And then tho program is to insist that she invite Fioreuco and that fool of a re- I porter to this ball. Then what?" "You can leave Uiat to me." "Haven't all these failures been a warning?" "No. my dear. I was born optimistic, but there's a jinx somewhere in one of my pockets. Time after time I've had everything Just where I wanted it, and then-poof! It's pure bald luck on either side, but sooner ur later the wheel will turn. And any chance that offers I am bound to accept. Somehow or other we may bo able to trap Flor ence and Norton. I want both of them. If I an get them snugly away Jones will be forced to draw in Hargreave." "Is there such a man?" "You saw him that night at the res taurant" . "I have ?often though* that perhaps I just" dreamed lt." Si 0 turned again to tho piano and began humming idly. "Stop that and listen to mo," said Rraine, not in quite ,the best of tem pers. "I'm in no mood for whims.". "Music does not soothe your soul, then?" syn i eal ly. "If I had one it might. You will call on the Princess Pavlova tomorrow af tornoon. It depends upon you what my plans will be. I thluk you'll havo little trouble in getting into the pres ence of her highness, and once there she will not be able to resist you." "I'll go." , . And go she did. The footman in green livery hesitated for a. moment but tho title on the visiting card wa3 quite sufficient He bowed the coun tess into Hie recoption room and went" in search, of his distinguished mis-, tress. Tho Princess Parlova was a hand some woman verging upon middle "age. She was a patrician; Olga's koon eye discerned that instantly. Sho came Into the reception room with that dig nified serenity which would have im pressed any one as genuine. She held the card in her fingers and smiled ln juiringly toward her guest *T confess," sho began, "that I re call neither your face nor your name. [ am sorry. Where havo I had the lonor of meeting you before ?" "You have never met mo bofore, irour highness," answered Olga sweet ly. "You come on a charity errand, hen?" "That depends, your highness.' Will irou be so good as to glance at this?", 31ga ached, holding ont her palm upon which the talisman lay. The princess sh.-ak back, paling. "??here ??? you get thati" sne pant F.-om the head," was the answer. And., you li ave followed me from Russia?" whispered the princess, her i-ror growing. "O, no. The Black Hundred is as trcngly organized here as in St Pe ersburg. But we always keep track f the old members, especially when hey stand so high in the world as ?'ourself." theatre Monday N P ROP above 8 cents we-will LLAR Ml "MacGrath "But I was deceived and betrayed! ' exclaimed, the princess. "They urged I me to Jota on the ground that the or ganization was to attempt to bring ?about the freedom of Poland." Olga shrugged. "You were rich, highness. The Black Hundred needed i money." "And you need It now?" eagerly, be lieving that ehe Baw a loophole. "How much? O. I will give a hundred thou sand rubles on your promise to leave me alone. Tell me:" f "I am sorry, your highness, but I have no authority to accept such an ; offer. Indeed, my errand is far from being expensive. All thc Ulack Hun dred desirc-s is four invitations to this ball which you are soon ti give. That should, not cause you auy alarm. We shall not interfere with your sojourn in America in any way whatever, pro vided these invitations are issued?" "You wouid rob my guests?" horri fied. "Positively no! Here is a list of four names. Invite them; that is all you bavo to do. Not so much as a sliver spoon will be found missing. Tl-ls is on my word of honor, and I never break my word, if you please." . "Give me the Hst," said thc prin cess, wearily. "Who gave you that ring?" "The head." . "In Russia?" "No; here in America." Olga dipped into ber handbag and produced a slip of paper. This she handed to the princess. "Here is the list, highness." I "Who is Florence Hargreavo?" "A friend o? mine," evasively. "Does she belong to tho organiza tion ?" "No." '.'Then you have some ulterior pur poee in having mo invite her?" "I have," answered Olga sharply; f*but that does not concern your high ness in the least" rThe princess bit her lips. "I sec your nama here also; a man named Bralne and another, Norton." "Say at once that you do not care to execute tbe wishes-the commands of the order," said Olga coldly. "I will do as you wish. And I beg you to oxcuBe ma. But if anything happens to any of my personal Crionds-" "Well?" haughtily from Olga, "Well. I will put tho matter In tho hands of the police." "But so long aa your personal friends aro not concerned?" " "I shall then of necessity remain dear and blind. It Is ono of the penal ties I must pay for my folly. I wish you good-day." "And also good riddance." mur mured Olga under her breath a? ?he rose and started for the hallwav. Thus lt was that-when Norton went to the. office the next afternoon lie found a. broad white envelope on his desk. Indlfferenty he opr-cS the sams and his eyes bulged. "Princess Par iova requests" and so forth and so on. Then he shrugged. The chief had prob- ' ably asked for the invitatio., and he would have to write up tho doings, a phase of reportorial work eminently : distasteful to hun. He went up to I he ' city desk. I * Can't you find some one el3e lo do i Lhls stuff?" he growled to tho -lty Dditor.' * Thc city editor glanced nt tbe card and crested envelope. "Good Lord, thant Nobody Vt this office had any- < thing to do witt; that What luck- Our 1 Miss Hayes tried all . manner >f < ichemes, but was rebuffed on all aides. ' How tho deuce did you chanco to get ' jneTT' "Search me," said the bewildered I Morton. "It I were you I'd sit tight and take ? It all in," advised the editor. "It's go ng'to be .the biggest splurge of its 1 kind Vo*ve had in years. We've been i working every wire we know to get Miss Hayes inside, but lt was no go. J This princess is not onto tho game 1 "Goody! I've read about masked . jails and have always been crazy to i 50 to one," said Florence wi??. eager- J less. 11 "Suppose we go at once and . pick )ut some costumes?" suggested Nor- i .on. . I ".Tastes soon aa I can get mr hat x in,", replied? Florence, happy as a 1 Ark,... "But mind," warned Jones; "be euro i hat you see the costumer alone and hat no one else 'is about" ' i ' I'll take particular care," agreed t ??orton. "We've got to do some hust- ' ling to find something suitable. For 1 i big affair Ilka thia the town will be t ransacked. All aboard! There's room i for t*vj iu that car of mine; and we 1 (an have a spin besides. Hang work I" -\ Florence laughed, and even Jones 1 {tenanted a smile (which was not 1 rrlm this time) to Btir his lips. ? A happy person is generally un ob- 1 -errant Two happy persons together 1 ire totally inobservant of what passes < ?.round idem, in plainer terms this lack is called love. And being frankly i in love with each other, neither Nor? < ton noe Florence observed that a tax- 1 icab followed! them lato -town. Jones, 1 tot being In love, waa keenly observ- < mt;, but the taxicab took un the trail 1 wo blocks away, ec the ma Var: whol-1 ly escaped Jones' eye. 11 m ?min an i! tl ill itv? WE ? 1 WA.? Furth give y ou the benefit o? The two went Into several coslum cr8\ but could not find what thc/ wanted. They eventually discovered a Hhop v>n a side street that had been overlooked by those invited to the masquerade. They had a merry time rummaging among thc comphory smelling boxes. There were dominoes of all. colors, and at length they agreed upon two modest ones that were evenly matched in color and de sign. Florence orefcred them to be sent home. Then the two of them went up to the RlU-Carleton and had tea. The man from thc taxicab entered the costumer's displayed a detective's should and demanded that the pro prietor show him the custumes se lected by the two young people who bad just left. The man obeyed won deringly. "I want a pair exactly Uko these," said the detective. "How much?" "Two dollars each, rental; seven apiece if you wish to buy them." "I'll buy them." The detective paid the bill, nodded curtly, and returned to his taxicab. "Now I wonder," mused the eas terner, "what the dickens those inno cent looking young people are up to?" He never found out. On the night of the hall Norton din ed with Florence for the first time; and for once in his life bo experi enced that petty disturbance of col lective thought called embarrassment. To talk over wa? plans with Jones was one thing, but to have Jones serve soup was altogether another. AU through dinner Jones replied to questions with no more and no less than "Yes, sir," and "No, sir." Norton was yet. In this country you get into society or you don't through the Sun days." "Hanged if I know who wished this thing on me." "Take it philosophically," said the editor sarcastically. "The princess won't like you. She may 'even have aoen your picture-" ''Get out!", grumbled Norton, turn ing 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 who vms helping tho woman out suggested his name. It was the only way he could account for it. ? But when he learned that Florence had an invitation exactly like his own and that sho received it that morning he became suspicious. "Jones, what do you think of it?" he questioned. , . "I ihic-k It waa very kind of the; Countess Perlgoff . suggesting your name aud that of Flnmneo " M M ????: butler-urbanely. , : "Olga?" cried Florence, disappoint edly. "It is-the only ,>7glcal deduction I cen make," declared Jones. "They are both practically Russians." "And. what would you advise?" ask ed Norton. "Why. go and enjoy yourselves. Forewarned ls forearmed. The thing ls. be very careful cot to acquaint any ano with tho character of your dis guise, least of ali the. Countess Perl-: goff. Besides." Josee added smiling, "porhaps I may go jiiyBelf." "How strong you are-" . The splendor of the rooms, tho daz tllng array of jewels, the kaleido scopic colors, the perfume of the hanked .'flowers, and the music all combined to put Florence into a pleas urable kind of trance. And it was or*'v : when the first waits began that mh* became herself and surrendered to the arms of the man she loved. And they were walting over a vol- : za.no. She .knew and he knew lt. From what direction would, the blow come? Well, they were prepared for all man ier of tricks. * In any'alcove off the ballroom ret Sraine and Ol*ra. both dressed exactly [ike Norton and Florence. Another ! tutu ana woman entered presently lad Brelhe spoke to-them for a -mo neat, ? U giving Instructions, which sras indeed the case. - The band crashed- into, another lance, and the masqueraders began twirling hither and thither and yon. V gay cavaldier suddenly stopped^ in j fcr/.t ot. Florence, "Enchantress, may I have the pleas ire of this dance?" Jim. touched Florence's hand. But me turned laughingly ' tbwarjl the Sangen What difference did it make? e man would never know who abe aaa ncr would she know him. It waa i lark, that was all;, and desplt Jim's earning ? touch she was np- and away like the mischievous sprite that ?bo trae. Jim remained in his chair, twist? Ag bia fingers and wondering whether jo laugh or grow augry. After all, he ?outd not blame her. To him an affair Ike thia wa? an ancient story; to her it was the door of fairyland swung ?pen. Let her enjoy herself. Florence was having -a - snlendld ?imo. Her partner was asking ail sorts >f question* and she waa replying in kind, when ont of the crowd came Sf orton (as abe suppos?e), who touch- ' td her arm. Tho cavalier stopped, ?owed, and made off. - Norton whispered: "I have made an important discovery- We mast be off 1 ..li, II ' i,r ' iii. 11 i i' ict to withdrawal witho WILL TAKE COT ter, we Will hold cotton -it. tifizer C HMOOBBsfe laWaWBBBHBHBHH v - / Ht once. Come-witU me.''.... Florence, without the least suspi cion in the world, followed him up thc broad staircase. What with tho many sounds it may not be wondered at thai the difference in the. pallty ot voices did not strike Florence's ear as odd. The result of her confidence was that upon roaching the upper halls, opposite the dressing rooms, ?he was suddenly thrust into a room and j made prisoner. When the light was Iturned up she recognised with horror ?the woman who had helped to kidnap I her and take ber away on. the 'George . ashington weeks ago. She could not I udvfl cried out for help if she had I tried. I Meantime Jim got up and began to ?wander about in search of Florence. Draine played a clever game that i night. He and tho Russian, still dom inoed like Norton and Florence, or dered the Hargreave auto, by number,! entered it and were driven up to the porte cochere of the Hargreave house. The two alighted, the chauffeur sent Ute car toward thc garage, and Draine ? and his companion ran lightly down tho path to the street where tho 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 Flor ence anywhere, in the adcoves, in the side room-J, the supper or card room. Later, to his utter amazement, he was informed that tho Hargreave auto had some time since been called and Hi owner taken home. Some ono bsd taken his place! I His first sensation . was impotent fury against Jones. He flung out of the mansion unceremoniously, oommand ered a cab, and flew, out to Riverdale. And when Jones came tn the door he was 6Taggering with sleep. '?What's thc matter with you?" de manded Jim rqughly. "Where's Flor ence?" "Isn't sho with you?" cried Jones, j making an effort to dispel tho drowsi ness. "What time is it?" suddenly. "Midnight! Whero is Bhe?" "Midnight? I've been drugged!" Without a word 'ones staggered off j to the kitchen. Jim at his heels. Thero was always hot water, and within, five minutes Jones had drunk two cups of raw Btrong coffee. "Drugged!" he murdered. "Somo ono ] in the home!" I'll attond to that later. Now, the chauffeur! But the chauffeur sworo on his oath that he had left Jim end Florent? on the. steps of the poi te cochero. "Clot In-" said Jones to Norton, now : fully alive. He could not get it out cf j his head that .some ono in the bouse had drugged him. : Tho events which followed were to bath Jones and Norton something like a series of nightmares. In the new homo o? the Princess Par lova q bomb exploded and firo followed the explo sion. From pleasure to terror is only a step. Tho wildcat. confusion imag inable ensued. Most of tho guests were of the opinion tbat some anarchist had attempted to blow up the house of the rich Pole. Jones and Norton arrived Just OB tho smoko began to pour out from the windows. A crowd and al ready collected. Then Jim overheard a woman mas querader say: "Tho fool made the I bomb too Btrong. She ls In tho room on tho second floor. Tho game ls -up If she suffocates-" The voice trailed [ off and the woman became lost In tho crowd. But It was enough for tho re r arter, who pushed his way roughly I through tho excited masqueraders and entered the house. The rescue was one of the most exciting to be found In tho newspaper files of the day. So Draine in his effort to scare ev erybody from tho house had over reached himself once more. , - (TO BE CONTINUED.) -!-! ROT. J. T. .Mann's Appointment. nov .}, TV Mann will preach at Slr \ and Twenty church on tho 2nd Sunday morning at ( leven o'clock, and at | Friendship on same day at 3:30 p. m. . MrB. >y. I. Bailey. Miss Mary Snow, I Miss Sephenson and Bucker Halley of Hartwell, Ga., spent yesterday In the city. I Notice H ; LEGAL j NOTICES i -4-----,-i Delinquent Road Tax Notice. All dlnlenquent road tax collectors n ?re provided with an official receipt v book with oambes, and stub numbes v attached. Pay no money to collectors unless you get the official receipt as above provided or. J. MACK KING, II County Supervisor. L - 1 ?? . u? ?ot??? Wri?t&? the fi TON ON NOTES ? thus taken in until Jan 3o. M. on re Wien There's a :* .? iii? 'I*, af** ii The Up-toD DOOOOOOOOOOOOO *, - o DSIX AND TWENTY o DOOOOOOOOOOOOO WILL.TAMSTON. Oct. 28 -Tho first Ml li D'; frost of the season visitoil us Wednesday morn in g AP'violation is j ?il*tl ?u? immy fear mat late- i"</l An ls damaged th T very r,i#a? .. vte:it. ihd there is hhudredsof a/re* here liid in neighboring cOmmuAilfc* if nt lave never hw) e hou picked in them, in fact, fully /.ne-half ?the. ^ton cr .jp ias hardly '..??an to open.- Homo few who had late corn' will ht o ?uifor lovoroly fr rm tlu froet. Shelton school opened last Monday norning under very EAvorcol* coi?di ions, with Prot Meredith mid 'his isHisiant. Miss "ann, in charge. A little child of Mr. r.nd Mrs. An Irew kassey, formerly ot inls section, mt now of Pl*,rxh,'3lcd ut i lu: Lome >f its parents ms:. Sunday and was turied here on ;ho day following. Tho >aronta havo many friends ant run. ives here who deeply sympathise : vit h them in their bereavement, i This section was shocked last Vednesdav to loam nf the 'Je?th cf I. C. Mul?ikin of Boaverdent Mr. Mul ikin was well known here; having islted Mason and Woodmen and his amalas were interred with Masonic rders on Thursday in Bea verdant erne te ry of which church ha was a aember. 5 W. L. Link a/id family of McElmoyle rere visitors at the home ot J. D. Jooro last Sunday. Misses Evie and Lolo Richey visit-, d at the home of A. Z. Bryson last , iaturday night B. P. Whittaker, one of our most1 iromlnent farmers, says that it ia his - n t unt ion to quit raising - cotton and - urn his fania into a stock farm He ecently sold .twenty-two pigs. from ! i; \ ?a- if ;T* ?in'. . We have for ?ale SOO I Dats (graded seed) at When ginned on Our S premium extra length sta Dalrymple and Texas $t( worth a premium. We buy f or dash or exel >eed, or sell meal and hulls ROBERT 1 General T allowing proposition t\ND ACCOUNTS uary 1st., and it the pi ' jai WayofKpwiog? 'hat'wa*' is the Tribblei ray-the way of Clothes Quality, Clothes Style? nd Clothes Value--the ray that most Anderson len are taking. Ve wish we could think >f the proper words to npr?ss you with our arnestness and sinceri y, regardin the quali y, style and value of the :all clothing now await ig you here. Priced From $iO to $25 'he clothes themselves ( re the best proof-come ! ee them, and be con-' inced of the '.li ate Clothier two BowH for $110. At pr?tent he has nine hog? fattening for thia winter's killing. Mr. Whittaker raises only Da rocs and proposes to keep them up to? the standard. A. M. Martin and family spent Son day with the family of Dolphns Mur phey of Hubbard.. Everybody who attended the Belton Pair carnet beek highly pleased, es pecially A. B. Pickens, whose horse won in every, contest i in which abe was entered with tbs exception of one, .that cf light draft animals. < Dr. Jay Hollis of : Pendleton waa a visitor here last Tuesday. Mrs. P. Mi Mah alley spent this week with relatives at Pelxer. C. W. MHipkOiHft aaa ot oar most | ruocessfol. young farmers. Chea, ia a > frequent, visitor to An der sftn some times making- two trips a -week, any woy. Every tune he makes a tris ae carries with him enough produce such as butter, eggs, chickens, potatoes, etc te pay him for his time. By doing this he has run' his farm this year on a cash basts and haa s nice balance to . his credit, Why can't. others do aa well? ? j . .~W. C. Bennett. When most of the imported goods we buy are grown and put up right In our own United States, the war hadn't ought to affect us very much. suchet* Haneroft Prolific 00 per bushel. pedal Gin?, we buv at a pie cotton. Good stvle Drm Proof are general* v 1 ? ^?rrtmz?i and hillls for for cash. 6. LIGON Ii?'.'ii *? AT 8c POUND fice at that time? or Brident