The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-10-16

She Tried the Doors. They Were
| Locked.
Mendelssohn, Grleg ana Chaminade:
and she played them in surprisingly
scholarly fashion. He had expected
the usua, schoolgirl choice and execu-
ton; "Titania," the Moonlight So.
nata" (Which not half a dozen great
pianists have ever played correctly,
Monastery Bells" and the like. He
bad prepared to make a martyr Of
himself; instead, ne was distinctly
and delightfully."- entertained
"You DON'T" he said whimsically,
when she finally stopped. you don't.
by any chance, know The Maiden's
Prayer'?"
She laughed. This piece was a
standing joke at school.
Il have never played 1t. II may.
however, be in the music cabinet
Would you like to hear it?" mis-
chievously.
Heaven forfend!" he murmured.
raising his hands.
All the while the letter burned
against her heart, and the smile on
her face and the gayety on her tongue
were forced. "Confide in no one." she
repeated mentally, cor you seal my
death warrant"
why do you shake your head like
that?" he asked.
did shake my head?" Her heart
, fiuttered wildly. II was not conscious
of it."
| Are you going to keep your prom
ise?
! What promise?"
Never to leave this house without
Jones or myself being with YOU"
II couldn't if l wanted to. I'll wa
ger Jones is out there in the hall
this minute. l know; it is all for
my sake. But it bothers me-"
Jones was indeed in the hall, and
when he sensed the petulance in her
voice his shoulders sank despondently
! and he sighed deeply if silently.
At a quarter to eight Florence. being
alone for a minute, set fire to veil
and stuffed it down the register.
| Jones'" she called excitedly, 81
smell something burning!"
Jones dashed into the room. shifted,
and dashed out again, heading for the
cellar door. His first thought was
naturally that the devils incarnate had
set fire to the house. When he re-
turned, having. of course, discovered
no fire, he found Florence gone. He
rushed into the hall. Her hat was
missing. He made for the hall door
with speed which seemed incredible
to the bewildered Susan's eyes. Out
into the street, up and down which
he looked. Far away he discovered a
| dwindling taxicab. The child was
| gone.
In the house Susan was answering
the telephone, talking incoherently.
"Who is it?" Jones whispered, his
lips white and dry.
1.-THE princess. :" began Susan.
He took the receiver from her
roughly.
Hello, who Is it,"
This is Olga Perigoff. Is Florence
there?"
mo, madam. She has just stepped
out for moment. Shall / tell her
to call you when she returns?"
Eyes, please l want her and Su-
san and Mr.. Norton to come to tea
tomorrow. Good-by."
Jones hung up the receiver, sank
into chair near by and buried his
face in his hands.
What is it?" cried Susan. terrified
by the haggardness of his face.
she's gone! My God. those
wretches have got her! They've got
heri'
| Florence was whirled away at top
/ speed. Her father, She was actually
on the way to her father, whom she
had always loved in dreams, yet never
| seen.
Number rs Grove street was not an
attractive place, but when she ar
rived she was too highly keyed to
take note of it's sordidness. She was
rather out of breath when she reached
the door of the third fat. She knocked
| timidly. The door was instantly
| opened by man who wore black
mask. She would have turned then
and there and flown but for the swift
| picture she had of well-dressed man
at table. He lay with his head upon
| his arms.
'Fatheri" she whispered.
l. The man raised his careworn face.
so very well done that only the closest
scrutiny would have betrayed the
paste OF the theater. He arose and
staggered toward her with out.
stretched arms. But the moment they