The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-12-18

-uru you "a tuuh III VAIN ~ uAsNOFSA 1
~ one. Your father knows best what
e is doing. my dear girl. You see,
met him years ago in China; and
when he started out to do a certain
hing he generally did it. He never
botched any Of his plans. So we all
must wait, Only I'm going to marry
you all the same, whether he likes Il
or not. The rOgues will try to impose
upon you again: but do not pay any
attention to notes or personals in the
papers. And it was a lucky thing that
l was on the f~reighter that picked you
up at sea. l shall always wonder how
that yacht took Are"
$50 shall l." replied Florence, her
brows drawing together in puzzle
ment Sometimes think | must have
done It. You know, people out Of their
heads do strange things. l seem to
see myself as in a dream. And this
man Braine IS q scoundrel!"
Yes; and more than that, he is
the dear friend of the countess. But
understand, you must never let her
dream or suspect that you know By
luiling her into O~verconldence some
day she will naturally grow careless,
and then wen have them all. l think
] understand what your fathers idea
is: not to have them arrested for
blackmall. but practically to extermin-
ate them. put them in prison for such
terms Of years that they'll die there.
When you see a snake, a poisonous
one, don't let it get away. Kill 1t.
Well, | must be off to work"
And you be careful, too. You are
in more danger than l am
But I'm a man and can dodge
quick he laughed, picking up his hat.
What a horrid thing money is! If
I hadn't any money, nobody would
bother me-,
Il would. he smiled. He wanted to
kiss her, but the eternal Jones might
be watching from the windows; and
so he patted her hand instead and
walked down the %graveled path TO
the street.
1t was difficult work for Florence
to play at friendship. She was like
her father; she did not bestow it on
every one. She had given her friend
ship to the Russian, the first real biz
friendship in her life, and she had
been roughly disillusioned. But if the
countess could act. so could she; and
Of the two her acting was the more
consummate. She could smile and
laugh and jest, all the while her heart
was burning with wrath.
One day. a week or so after hel
meeting with Norton in the summer
house, Olga arrived, beautifully
gowned. handsome as eyer. There
was not the least touch of the adyen
turess in her makeup. Florence hat
just received some mail, and she haC
dropped the letters on the library tabi,
to greet the countess. She had opene'
them, but had not yet looked at thei.
contents.
luGy WtlC bAhbNAhb bASoDohNiJ opNNt
i-nconsequeHt things, when the ma!t
came in and asked Florence to com
to Miss Susan's room for a moment
Florence excused herself, wondernI
what Susan could want She forge
the mail.
AS soon as she was gone the count
ess, certain that Jones was not iurk
ing about. picked up the letters ant
calmly examined their contents AM
among them she found this remark
able document: Dear daughter
have never seen: must turn tn
treasure over to you. Meet Ese a
eight in the summer house. Tell m
one as my life Is In danger. Your low
ing father"
The countess could have iaughet
aloud. She saw this man Paron'
hand; and here was the chance TO be
fool and humIliate him and send hin
of packing to his cold and miserable
country. She had made up once a
Florence. and she could easily do N
again. The only thing that troubles
her was the fact that she did moi know
whether Florence had read the lettei