The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-29
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&c MlLllON OIIAp MYSTTPY BrHaold Mac mi

0e -
ear: ses II sas works smoothly. We mas
have 10 do some hiking. whsrs = 49,
eoantess II tAis7
Leave that 70 me-. Mr.. Norton" said H.
butler With hi grim smile. Be on: they
N. moving back toward the house"
80 Norton carried the basket around to he
lawn. where 1t was taken from his hands b
ths regular servant He dghed - - ~
Florence. laughing and caatting with m0
who was a stranger and whom he beard id
dressed ~ count. soms hisnd Of ths countssa
NO doubt Where VA an this tansls seane
to end1 He wiahsd hs knew. And what .
yarn he was going to write some dayi IL
would be read Ike one Of Gaboriau's tales.
He tGrned away to ~ander idly about u
grounds, when beyond dump Of csdans b
saw three or four men converting lowly. He
rot as near as possible. for when three os
four men put their heads tosethsR ana
whisper animatedly. It usually means pokss
game or something worss. He caught .
phrase or two 40 It came down the wind. and
then he know that the vague suspicious that
had brought him ont bcrs had bssn sst IN
motion BY fats. He hoard Tlorsnes" and
= the old drawing ROOM; and that was
enough.
He scurried about for Jones. It was pure
luck that he had had old Meg show him
through the house. otneFwise he would have
forgotten all about the secret panel In the
wall and the painting Jones shrugged
Fesignsdly. Were these Den ox tie eountess'
pary1 Norton eouldn't say.
Norton made his hiding place IN safety:
and By and By he could hear the guests NOV
ing about in the room. Then al sounds
ceased for . whils. Norton strained his eAe
against the panel A door closed sharply.
mo: here you must stay. young lady"
said q mans voice.
"What do you mean, sir9" demanded the
beloved voice
1t means That NO one WIN return to this
room and that you WIN not b misses .ntil
Il II too late"
The sound Of voices stopped abruptly, and
somsthing like scuhing snsusd. Later Nor
ton heard the hack oe chair strife tie
PANEL and some one rat heavily upon II. He
waited perhaps I'VE minutes: then he gently
aid hack the camel Florence sat bound and
gagged urzer his very eyssi It WA but tie
,>ork Of q moment to liberate her.
1T II I, Jim. Do mot speak or make the
least noiss. Follow me-"
Greatly astonishsd. Florence obeyed: and
the panel slipped back into place. The room
behind the secret panel had barred windows
To Florencs It appeared to Be a real prison.
How did you get hersT' she asked
breathlessly.
Something told - t. follow you. And
something u always going to tell me to fol-
Y IcsaxsQx leeas e .As-~S.sss.
She pressed his hand. It was. to her a.
IL one Of those book heroes had stepped out
Of book only book heroes always had Ire
mendow fortunes and did not have 70 work for
living. Oddly enough, she was not afraid.
Who was the maj p he asked.
The Count .'orfeldt Some one has I'M
posed upon the countess.''
DO you think sof' with . stranse look
in his eyes.
What do you msanf
Nothing just now. The idea Il TO ret
out Of here just A. quickly - We can. See
this paintingT He touched . spot ON toe
waIl and the painting slowly swung out like
. door. Come: we make our escape to the
side lawn from here"
At the stable they were confronted with
the knowledge that Norton's car was out OF
commission: Jones could do nothing with f.
Then Norton suggested tsat he make IN ee-
fort to commander The limousine Of lie conn
tess; but there were men about, 70 the lim-
CUISINE was out At the question.
Horsesw whispered Jones "There m.
several saddle horses, already saddIsd. How
about these people, the ownersr'
O, they are beyond reproach. Thsy have
doubtless been imposed upon. But let M nat
aboard hrst. There win b time Ia taIh
Later. I'll have to do some explaining. TAX.
Ing these nass c6 like this. We won't h
to ride ont In front whore tho picnickeeu N.
There's Q lane back Of the stabIe. ana !.
slight detour brings NJ hack into the M. 4.
road"
The three mounted and elattessd avsvl
To Florence it had the air Of 4 prank m.
was beginning to have such con6denr. =.
these two inventive men that she felt :. !,
she was never going to be afraid any more.
When the Countass Olga saw ths th,..
horses it was an effort not to nv into /. -.
But secretly abe warned her peopIe II.
presently gave chase in the limousine. Mn.
she prattled and TESTED and laughed Win -.
company. who were quite una war; <h.< :