The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1914-11-26

tsfl me II You are IN direct commu
nication with my father"
yes, Miss Florence" he answered
promptly. But do not breathe this
to single soul, neither Susan mol
Norton"
II promise that. But, ali! hasten
the day when he can come. to me
without fear"
That is my wish ALSO"
you need not call me miss. Why
should you?"
1T might not be wise to have any
one hear me call you thus familiarity "
he objected gravely.
please yourself about that. Now
must telephone JIM"
Jim" the butler murmured.
He caught the word which was not
intended for his ears. But for once
Jones had been startled out of him.
self.
rs 1t wrong for me to call Mr.. Nor.
ton JIM" she asked with a bit Of
banter
"It is not considered quite the prop
er thing, Miss Florence, to call a
young man by his first name unless
you are engaged to marry him, or
grew up with him from childhood"
well, supposing were engaged to
him." haughtily
THAT would be very grave affair.
What have you to prove that he may
not wish to marry you for your
money!"
"Why, Jones, you know that I
haven't penny in the world l can
call my own! There is nothing to
prove, except your word, that l am
Stanley Hargreave's daughter"
mo, there is nothing to prove that
you are his daughter. But hasn't it
ever occurred to you that there might
be purpose back of this? Might It
not be Of inestimable value that your
fathers enemies should be lea in
doubt? Might 1t not be a means of
holding them on the leash? There is
proof, ample proof. my child; and
when the time comes these will be
shown you. But meantime put all
thought of marrying Mr.. Norton out
Of your mind"
That I refuse to do" quietly. II
am at least mistress of my heart:
and no one shall dictate to me whom
shah or shall not marry. I love Mr..
Norton and he loves me, knowing that
may not be an heiress after all. And
some day I Shall marry him."
Jones bowed This seemed to an.
pear final to him. and nothing more
was to be said.
Norton did not return to his rooms
till seven. He found the telephone
call and also note in a handwriting
He tore off the envelope
and found the contents to be from the
Countess Perigoff.
Call at eight tonight" he read. T
have an important news story for YOU.
Tell no one, as / cannot be involved
In the case. Cordially, Olga, Countess
Perigoff."
AAPA' A>oAlOu IWlUOloU the note
in his fingers and at length rolled it
into ball and threw it into the waste
basket. He, too, made mistake; he
should have kept that note. He
dressed. dined, and hurried Off to the
apartments of the countess.
He arrived ten minutes before Flor.
snce and Susan.
And Jones did some rapid telephon.
ng.
How long; how long," the butler
nurmured. How long would this
strange combat last? The strain was
errible. He slept but little during
he nights, for his ears were always
waiting for sounds. He had cast
he chest into the sea. and it would
AXE a dozen expert divers to locate
t. And now, atop of all these wor-
les, the child must fall in love with
he first conner! 1t was heartbreak-
ng. Norton, so far as he had learned,
vas cool and brave, honest and reli-
'ble in a pinch; but as the husband
If Stanley Hargreave's daughter, that
vas altogether different matter. And
le must devise some means of putting
stop to it. but
But he was saved that trouble.
Mongoose and cobra, that was the
Jane being played; the cunning of
he one against the deadly venom of
he other. II he forced matters he
would only lay himself open to the
trike of the snake. He must have
'atience. Gradually they were break
ng the organization. looping off
ranch here and there, but the peace
Il the future depended upon getting
! grip on the spine of the cobra him
elf.
The trick was simple. The count
ss had news: trust her for that. She
Exhibited cablegram, dated at Glib
altar. in which the British authori-
les stated definitely that no such
erson as William Orts, aviator, had
rived at Gibraltar. And then, as he |
ose, she rose also and gently precip- I
lated herself into his arms, just at
he moment Florence appeared in the
norway