The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-10-30

maybe she's in danger"
Danger? What about?"
"The Lord only knows. But show
me about the house. I've not been
here in so long I've forgotten the run
of 1t. I remember one room with
the secret panel and another with a
painting that turned. Have they
changed them?"
mo: It Is Just the same here as II
! used to be. Come along and I'll show
/ you"
| Norton inspected the rooms care
/ fully, slowing away in his mind every
detail. He might be worrying about
nothing; but so many strange things
had happened that it was better to be
on the side Of caution than on the
! side of carelessness. He left the
house and ran across Jones carrying
basket of wine.
Here, Norton; take this to the
party. want to reconnoiter."
"All right, MUD! Say. Jones. how
much do you think I'd earn az this
| iob?" comically.
Get along with you, Mr.. Norton. II
may be the time to laugh, and then 1t
may not"
I'm going back into the house and
| hide behind secret panel. I've got
my revolver. You go to the stables
and take a try at my car; see If she
works smoothly. We may have 20 dc
some hiking. Where is the countess
in this?"
Leave that to me, Mr.. Norton" said
| the butler with his grim smile. BE
| off; they are moving back toward the
| house"
So Norton carried the basket around
| to the lawn, where il was taken from
! his hands by the regular servant. He
sighed as he saw Florence. laughing
and chatting with man WHO was
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 yarn he was going
| to write some day! II would be read
like one of Gaboriaus tales. lie
turned away to wander idly about the
| grounds, when beyond a clump Of &c.
| 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
ly, it usually means a poker game or
something worse. He caught phrase
| or two as it came down the wind. and
then he knew that the vague suspi-
cion that had brought him out here
had been set in motion by fate. He
heard Florence" and "the old draw
ing ROOM" and that was enough.
He scurried about for Jones. Il was
pure luck that he had had old Meg
show him through the house. other.
wise he would have forgotten all about
he secret panel in the wall and the
,ainting. Jones shrugged resignedly.
We're these men OF the countess
)arty? Norton couldn't say.
Norton made his hiding place in
,afety; and by and by he could hear
he guests moving about in the room.
Then all sounds ceased for a while. A
| ioor closed sharply.
NO; here you must stay, young
lady," said mans voice.
What do you mean, sir?" demanded
| the beloved voice.
1T means that no one will return 60
this room and that you will not be
! missed until it is too late
The sound OF voices stopped alb
ruptly, and something like scufling
ensued. Later Norton heard the back
of 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 C
liberate her.
1T is l, 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 Il ap
peared to be a real prison.
How did you get here?" she asked
| breathlessly.
Something told me to follow you
And something is always going to tell
me to follow you, Florence"
She pressed his hand. II was to her
as If one of those book heroes had
stepped out of book; only book ne
roes always had tremendous fortunes
and did not have to work for a liv.
ing. Oddly enough, she was not
| afraid.
Who was the man? he asked.
THE Count Norfeldt Some one
has imposed upon the countess"
do you think SOP" with a strange
| look in his eyes.
What do you mean?"
Nothing just now. The idea Is 60
get out of here just as quickly as VI
can. See this painting?" He touched
a spot in the wall and the painting