The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-09-19

any OF his plans. So we all must
walt. Only I'm going to marry you
all the same. whether he likes II
or not The rogues will try TO i'm
pose upon you sgain: but do not
pay any attention 10 notes OF per
sonals In the papers. You've been
through enough. And II was a lucky
thing that ! was on that freighter
that picked you up at sea. ! shall
always wonder how that yacht took
fire"
so shall I. replied Florence. her
hrows drawing together In puzzle
ment Sometimes think ! must
have done g. You know people
out OF their heads do strange things.
| seem TO see myself as In a dream.
And this man Braine IL a scoun-
drel,"
Yes. and more than that. he Is
the dearest friend OF the countess.
hut understand. you must never let
her dream or suspect that you know.
Iiy luliing her into oyerconfidence
some day abe will naturally grow
careless. and then wen have them
all think | understand what your
fathers idea Is. not TO have them
arrested for blackmail. but prac-
tically 10 exterminate 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. XIII IL. Well.
must be off 10 work"
And YOU be careful. too, You
are In more danger than I am"
But I'm man and can dodge
quick" he laughed. picking up his
hat.
What horrible thing money Is,
n hadn't any money. nobody would
bother me.
II would" he smiled. II, want
cd TO kiss her. but the eternal
Jones might be watching from the
windows, and so he patted her hand
instead and walked down the gray
elod path 10 the street.
IL was difficult work for Flor
ence TO play at friendship. She was
like her father. she did no, bestow
II on every one. She had given
her friendship to the Russian. the
first real big friendship in her life.
and she had been roughly disil-
lusioned But II the countess could
act. so could she. and of the two
her acting was the most consum-
mate. She could smile and laugh
and Jest. all the while her heart
was burning with wrath.
One day. week or so after her
meeting with Norton In the sum.
mer house. Olga arrived, beautiful.
ly gowned. handsome as ever. There
was not the least touch OF the ad.
venturess IN her makeup. Florence
had Just received some mail and
she had dropped the letters on the
library table TO greet the countess.
She had opened them. but had not
yet looked ut 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
a moment. Florence excused her
self, wondering what Susan could
want. She forgot the mail.
As soon ms she was gone the
countess. certain that Jones was
not lurking about. picked mp the let
tiers and calmly examined their con.
tents. and among them she found
this remarkable 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.
Your loving father"
The countess could have laughed
aloud. She saw this man Paroff's
hand, and here was the chance TO
befool and humiliate him and send
him off packing to his cold and mis-
cradle country. She had made up
once as Florence, and she could