The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1914-12-24

was money. The original note leIt Oh
the doorstep with Florence has been
lost. Trust me to make all these in
quiries."
Tomorrow night, then, immedi.
ately after dinner, a taxicab will
await her just around the corner.
Grange is the best man can think
of. He's an artist when it comes to
playing the Oldham parts"
Not too old, remember. Har.
greave isn't over forty-fve."
Another good point. I'm going to
stretch out here on the divan and
snooze for a while. Had devil of a
time last night"
When shall wake your"
AT six. Well have an early dinner
sent in. want to keep out Of every
body's way. By-by!"
In less than three minutes he was
sound asleep. The woman gazed down
at him in wonder and envy. II only
she could drop to sleep like that. Very
softly she pressed her lips to his hair.
At eleven o'clock the following
night the hall light in the Hargreave
house was turned OF and the whole
interior became dark. A shadow
crept through the lilac bushes with
out any more sound that cat would
have made. F1orence's window was
open, as the arch-conspirator had ex-
pected 1t would be. With a small
string and stone as q sling he sent
the letter whirling skillfully through
the air. It sailed into the girls room.
The man below heard no sound of the
stone hitting anything and concluded
that 1t had struck the bed.
He waited patiently. Presently a
wavering light could be distinguished
over the sill of the window. The girl
was awake and had lit the candle
This knowledge was sufficient for his
need. The tragic letter would do the
rest, that is. II the girl came from
the same pattern as her father and
mother-strong willed and adventu-
rous.
He tiptoed back to the lilacs, when
a noise sent him close to the ground.
Half a dozen feet away he saw
shadow creeping along toward the
front door, Presently the shadow
stood up as II listening. He stopped
again and ran lightly to the steps, up
these to the door, which he Rugged.
Who was this? wondered Braine.
Patiently he waited, arranging his pos
ture SO that he could keep a lookout
at the door. By and by the door
opened cautiously. A man holding
candle appeared. Braine vaguely
recognised Olga's description of the
butler. The man on the veranda sud-
denly blew out the light.
Braine could hear the low murmur
Of voices, but nothing more. The con-
versation lasted scarcely a minute.
The door closed and the man ran
GOWN the steps, across the lawn, with
Braine close at his heels.
Just rloment, Mr.. Hargreave,"
he called ironically; "just moment!"
The man he addressed as Hargreave
turned with lightning rapidity and
struck. The blow caught Braine
above the ear, knocking him fat.
When he regained his feet the rumble
of q motor told him the rest of the
story.
|, BY the dim light of her bedroom
Icandle Florence read the note which
had found entrance so strangely and
'mysteriously into her room. Her IA
Their! He lived, he needed her! Alive
but In dread peril, and only she could
save him! She longed to hy to him
at once, then and there. How could
she wait till tomorrow night at eight?
Immediately she began to plan how to
circumvent the watchful Jones sQd
the careful Susan. Her father! She
slept no more that night.
} my Darling Daughter: l must see
you. Come at eight o'clock tomorrow
night to 7S Grove street, third floor.
Confide In no one, or you seal my
death warrant.
"Your unhappy FATHER"
What child would refuse to obey q
summons like this?
A light tap on the door started her.
'Is anything the matter?'' asked
the mild voice Of Jones.
mo. l got up to get a drink of
water"
She heard his footsteps die away.
down the corridor. She thrust the
letter into the pocket Of her dress,
which lay neatly folded on the chair
at the foot of the bed, then climbed
back into the bed itself. She must
not tell even Mr.. Norton. !
Was the child spinning a romance
over the first young man she had ever,
met? In her heart of hearts the girl
did not know.
Her father!
1t was all so terribly and tragically
simple, to match a woman's mind
against that of child. Both Norton
and the sober Jones had explicitly