The Detroit times., 1914-09-17

| tam thing he generally did II. hi
never botched any OF his plans. Sc
we all must wait Only I'm going tC
marry you all the same, whether he
likes IL or not The rogues will try e
Impose upon you again; but do not
pay any attention to notes or person
ais in the papers. You've been through
4 enough And it-Ss4--i q Lucky thing thai
4 / was on that freighter that picked
you up at sea. shall always wonder
how that yacht took fire."
4 $50 shall H. replied Florence. heI
brows dragging together in puzzlement
Sometimes think ] must have done
lit. You know, people out of their
heads do strange things. | seem tc
see myself as in dream. And this
man Braine Is q scoundrell"
yes; and more than that, he Is the
dear friend OF the countess. But un
derstand. you must never let her
dream or suspect that you know BY
tlulling her into overconfidence some
I day she will naturally grow careless
and then we'll have them all. | think
/ understand what your fathers idea
4 Is: not to have them arrested for
blackmail, but practically 10 extermin-
ate them, put them In prison for such
terms Of years that they'll die there.
When you see snake. a poisonous
one, don't let II get away. Kill II.
Well, must be OF TO work"
"And you be careful. too. You are
in more danger than | am"
But I'm man and can dodge
quick" he laughed, picking up his hat.
What horrid thing money Is, II
hadn't any money, nobody would both
er me-"
II would" he smiled. He wanted to
kiss her, but the eternal Jones might
| be watching from the windows and
so patted her hand instead and walk.
ed down the graveled path to the
street
play at friendship. She was like her
father; she did not bestow II on every
one. She had given her friendship To
the Russian, the first real big friend
ship in her life, and she had been
roughly disillusioned. But II the
countess could act. so could she; and
OF the two her acting was the most
consummate. She could smile and
laugh and Jest. all the while her heart
was burning with wrath.
One day. q week or so after her
meeting with Norton in the summer
house. Olga arrived, beautifully gown
ed. handsome as ever. There was not
the least touch of the adventures In
her makeup. Florence had just re-
-ceived some mail, and she had drop
ped the letters on the library table to
greet the countess. She had opened
them, but had not yet looked at their
contents.
They were chatting pleasantly
about inconsequent things, when the
maid came in and asked Florence to
come to Miss Susan's room for mo-
ment. Florence excused herself. won
dering what Susan could want. She
forgot the mail.
As soon as she was gone the coun-
tess, certain that Jones was not Turk
ing about, picked up the letters and
calmly examined their contents; and
emong them she found this remark.
able document: Dear daughter have
never seen: must turn the treasure
over to you. Meet me at In the sum-
mer house. Tell no one as my life Is
in danger. Your loving father"
The countess could have laughed
aloud. She saw this man Paroff's
hand; and here was the chance to be-
fool and humiliate him and send him
OF packing to his cold and miserable
country. She had made UP once az
Florence, and she could easily do sc
again. The only thing that troubled
her was the fact that she did not
know whether Florence had read the
letter or not. Thus, she did not dare
destroy II. She first thought of chang
ing the clock: then she concluded tc
drop the letter exactly where she had
found II and trust to luck.
When Florence returned she ex
planned that her absence had been due
to some trifiing household affair.
i Said the Russian: II come primar
| lily to ask you to tea tomorrow, where
they dance. II you like, you may ash
Mr.. Norton to go along. / begin to OBJ
serve that you two are rather fond Of
one another" 1890, 60. =
"Oh. Mr.. Norton Is just a. valuable
friend" returned Florence with q
smile that quite deceived the other
woman. II shall be glad to 60 TO the
tea. But shall not promise to dance"
Not with Mr.. Norton ?" archly.
Reporters never dance them.
selves; they make others dance In,
stead"
II shall have to tell that" declared
the countess; and she laughed quite
honestly.
Then ] have said something wit
Indeed you have; and It is not only