The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-27

But I'm man and can dodge qHsek,. -
laughed" picking up his hat.
What horrid thing money is. II ! HADN'T
any money, nobody would bother me-"
81 would" he smiled He wanted to ki0
urr, but the eternal Jones might be watching
rom the windows and he patted her hand
stead and walked down the graveied path u
TIC street
1t was difficult work. for Florence to play at
friendship. She was like her father she dill
aot bestow it on every one. She had given her
friendship to the Russian, the first rsal big
friendship in her life, and she had been roughly
disillusioned. But If the countess could act
- could she: and of the two her acting was
lie most consummate. She could smile an
laugh and jest all the while her heart was
burning with wrath.
One day, q week or 20 after her meeting
with Norton In the summer house, Olga ar
rived, beautifully gowned, handsome an ever.
There was not the least touch Of the adven-
turess in her makeup. Florence had just ~
ceived some mail, and she had dropped the let
tiers on the library table to greet the countess
Il. their contents
They were chatting pleasantly about in
consequent things. when the maid came in and
asked Florence to come to Miss Susan's room
for a moment Florence excused herself.
eondering what Susan could want She for
got the mail.
.is soon as SIZE was gone the countess, cef-
lain that Jones was not lurking about, picked
~ the letters and calmly examined their con
tents and among them she found this ~
markable document: Dear daughter I have
never seen: must turn the TREASURE over
to you. Meet me at in the summer house.
Tell no one as my life is in danger. Tour
loving father"
The countess could have laughed aloud. She
saw this man Paroff's hand; and mere was
the chance to befool and humiliate him and
send him OIL packing to his cold and mis-
cradle country. She had made up once a.
Florence, and she could easily do so 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 it. She first thought Of chang
letter exactly where she had found it and
trust to luck
When Florence returned she explained that
her absence had been due to some trifing
household affair.
Said the Russian: 81 come primarily to
ask you to tea tomorrow, where they dance.
IL ynn like. you may ask Mr.. Norton to 30
along begin to observe that you two are
rather fond of one another
40, Mr.. Norton is just Variable friend,
returned Florence with a smile that quits
deceived the other woman :" shall be glad
to go TO the tea. But I shall not promise
to dance"
Not with Mr.. Norton?" archly
Reporters never dance themselves; they
make others dance instead"
Il shall have to tell that" declared tne
countess: and she laughed quite honestly.
Then have said something witty"
Indeed you have: and it is not only witty
but truthful. I'm afraid you're deeper than
the rest Of rs nave any idea or
Perhaps I am thought Florence; "at
least deeper thaa Eou- believe, y
When the countess huttered down to her
Observation-Disclosures hated the sight OF IT.
and drove away Florence remembered her
letters And when she came to the one pur-
porting to s., from her father, she read Il
carefully, bent her head in thought, and fnaI.
" destroyed the miAive, absolutely confident
that 1t was only = trap, and not very wen
conceived at that. Norton had given her
plenty of reasons for believing an SUCH let-
tiers to be forgeries. Her father. if he really
wished to see her, would enter the house: ~
would not write. All, when would she -
tnat father Of hers. SO mysterious, always
towering near, always unseen?
It must have been an amusing adventure
for the countess To steal into the summe
house and wait there, not knowing II -
renee had advised Jones or the reporter.
caught, she had her excuses. Paron, fN
confident, however, appeared shortly aftss,
My child" whispered the man. ssa
And Olga stiAed laugh: but to hin III
sounded like sob.
a am worn ont" he said, ~ am 6fe11s
Of the game Of hide and seek" sa
You will not have to play the game L.
thought Olga. ssa
The money is hidden in my Office doss
town. And we must 80 there at once.
we return We win pack mp and le4ve
Europe. I've longed to see ron 70!
!" You poor fool! And they sent y0
snpersede Leov sne mused. sSS
She played out the farce to the very
She permitted herself to be pinione1
logged: and for what Unnecessary Nu1
she suffered 1t the hands Of Pxro6 II