Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-11-27
t0opyright 1914, By Hasold Macarathl

Leave that to me, Mr. NOfLOn, Salo
the butler with his grim smile. BE
of; they are moving back toward the
house"
So Norton carried the basket around
to the lawn, where It was taken from
his hands by the regular servant. He
sighed as he saw Florence, laughing
and chatting with q man VINO was a
stranger and whom he heard adj
dressed as count. Some friend Of the
countess, no doubt. Where was all this
tangle going to end? He wished he
knew. And what a yarn he was going
to write some day! 1t would be read
like n OF Gaboriau's tales. He
turned away to wander idly about the
grounds, when beyond a clump of ce-
dars he saw three or four men convers-
ing slowly. He got as near as possible.
for when three or four men put their
heads together and whisper animated
", it usually means a poker game or
something worse. He caught a phrase
or two as 1t came down the wind, and
then he knew that the vague suspi-
cion that had brought him out here
had been Q In motion by fate. He
heard Florence" and "the old draw
ing ROOM" and that was enough.
He scurried about for Jones. 1t was
pure luck that he had had old Meg
show him through the house. other
wise he would have forgotten all about
the secret panel In the wall and the
painting. Jones shrugged resignsdly.
We're these men Of the countess
party? Norton couldn't say.
Norton made his hiding place in
safety; and by and by he could hear
the guests moving about in the room.
Then all sounds ceased for a while. A
door closed sharply.
mo; here you must stay. young
lady" said a mans voice.
What do you mean, sir?" demanded
the beloved voice.
1T means that no one will return to
this and that you will not be
missed until 1t is too late
The sound of voices stopped alb
ruptly, and something like scufling
ensaed. Later Norton heard the back
of a chair strike the panel and some
one sat heavily upon it. He waited
perhaps five minutes; then he gently
slid back the panel. Florence sat
bound and gagged under his very eyes.
1t was but the work Of a moment to
nberate her.
1T is I, Jim. Do not speak or make
the least noise. Follow me-"
Greatly astonished, Florence obeyed;
and the panel slipped back into place.
The room behind the secret panel had
barred windows. To Florence 1t ap.
| peared to be a real prison.
How did you get heref" she asked
| breathlessiy.
Something told me to follow you.
And something is always going to tell
me to follow you. Florence"
\. She pressed his hand. 1t was to her
as If one OF these book heroes had
stepped out of a book; only book he
roes always had tremendous fortunes
and did not have 10 work for q liv-
ing. Oddly enough, she was NOT
afraid.
Who was the man?' he asked.
THE Count Norfeldt. Some one
has imposed upon the countess"
aDo you think so?" with a strange
look In his eyes.
What do you mean?"
Nothing just now. The idea is TO
get out of here just as quickly as we
can. See this painting?" He touched
a spot in the wall and the painting
slowly swung out like a door. Come;
we make u escape to the side lawn
from here
At the stable they were confronted
with the knowledge that Norton's car
was out of commission; Jones could do
nothing with it. Then Norton suggest.
ed that he make a effort to com
mandaer the limousine Of the count
ess: but there were men about, so the
limousine was out Of the question.
aHorsest" whispered Jones. There
are several saddle horses. already sad.
died. How about these people, the
| owners?"
"Oh, they are beyond reproach. They
have doubtless been imposed upon
But let US get aboard first. There will
be time to talk later. I'll have to dc
some explaining. taking these nags of
like this. We won't have to ride out
in front where the picknickers are
There's a lane back OF the stable, ant
a slight detour brings us back into ths
main road"
The three mounted and clatteret
away. To Florence it had the air o
a prank. She was beginning to hav.
such confidence in these two inventiv,
men that she felt as IL she was never
going to be afraid any more.
When the Countess Olga saw tn,
three horses it was an effort not t,
fly into a rage. But secretly sh'
warned her people, who presently CAV
chase in the limousine, while sh,
prattled and TESTED and laughed wit
her company. who were quite unawar
that a drama IA being enacted RICH
under their very noses. The countess
while she acted snperbly, tore be
handkerchief into shreds. There wa
something sinister in the way al
their plans fell through at the yer
moment of contamination; and tina
night she determined to ask Brain