The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-08-15
BY Harold
MacCrath

him up he was not to be found.
She left word. however. for him 10
call after the opera and escort her
home.
Norton did not return to his
rooms TIL Z. He found the te.e.
phone call and also note In a
handwriting unfamiliar. He tore
off the eneyelope and found the
contents 10 be from the Countess
Pcrigof.
Call at s tonight" he read. Il
have an important news story for
you. Tell no one. as cannot be
involved In the case. Cordially
Olga. Countess Perlgoff."
Humph, Norton twfddled the
note In his fingers and at length
rolled II into n ball and threw II
into the wastebasket. He, too.
made a mistake: he should have
kept that note. He dressed. dined,
and hurried off TO the apartments
OF the countess.
He arrived 10 minutes before
Florence and Susan.
And Jones did some rapid tele.
phoning.
How long. how Iong," the butler
murmuref How long would this
strange combat last, The strain
was terrific. He slept but little
during the nights. for his ears we're
always waiting for sounds. He had
cast the chest into the sea. and 1,
would take n dozen expert divers
TO locate II. And now. atop OF all
these worries. the child must fall
In love with the first conner, II
was hcartbreaking Norton, so far
as he had learned. was cool and
brave. honest and reliable In a
pinch: but as the husband OF Stan.
ley Hargreave's daughter. that was
altogether different matter. And
he must devise some means OF put.
ting n stop 10 II. but
But he was saved that trouble.
Mongooge and cobra, that was
the game being played: the Gun.
ming OF the one against the deadly
venom OF the other. II he forced
matters he would only lay himself
open 10 the strike OF the snake. He
must have patience. Gradually they
were breaking the organization.
looping off "A branch here and there.
but the peace OF the future depend.
ed upon getting a grip on the spine
OF the cobra himself.
The trick was simple. The count
ess had news: trust her for that.
she exhibited cablegram. dated
at Gibraltar. In which the British
authorities stated definitely that no
such n person as William Orts. av.
iator. had arrived at Gibraltar. And
then. as he rose. she rose also and
gently precipitated herself into his
arms. Just at the moment Florence
appeared In the doorway.
Very simple. indeed. When n
woman falls toward a man there Is
nothing for him TO do but extend
his arms to prevent her from fall.
ing. Outwardly. however. to the
eye which saw only the picture and
comprehended not the cause. II had
all the hallmarks OF an affectionate
embrace.
Florence stood perfectly still for
moment, then turned away
81 beg your pardonl" said the
countess. but sudden fainting
spell seized me. My heart is bit
weak"
Don't mention IT," replied the
gallant Norton. He was as inno-
cent as a babe as to what had really
taken place.
Florence went back home. She
wrote a brief note to Norton and
inclosed the ring which she had
secretly worn attached to a little
chain around her neck.
When Norton came the next day
she refused to see him. II was all
over She never wished TO see him
again.
HE says there has been some
cruel mistake" said Jones.
II saw him with the countess in
his arms. do not see any cruel
mistake In that. | saw him. Tell
him so, And add that | never wish
to see him again"
Then she ran swiftly to her room,
where she broke down and cried
bitterly and would not be comforted
by Susan.
In heavens name.' demanded
the frantic lover. what has hap.
pened?"
The comedy of the whole affair
lay In the fact that neither of the
two suspected the countess, who
consoled them both.
Ito Be ContInued.)