The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-12-25

II Was a Letter on the Back Of Which
Was Drawn the Fatal Black Mask,
laid down for himself. 1T is very
gloomy today, and perhaps we T a
little depressed by it, am sorry"
20, | realize, Jones, hat all this
amending mystery annd secrecy have
a set purpose at back. Only. it does
just seem as if / should go mad some
times with waiting and wondering"
And if the truth must be told, It
is the same with me. We have to
wait for them to strike. Shall ! get
you something new to read? I am
going down to the drug store and
they have a circulating library"
Get me anything you please. But
I'd feel better with a little sunshine
That's universal replied Jones,
gong into the hall for his hat.
Had the telephone rung again at
that moment it is quite probable that
the day would have come to a close
as the day before had, monotonously
But the ring came five minutes after
Jones had left the house.
Is this the Hargreave placer"
yes" said Florence. "Who is ito
This is Miss Hargreave talking?'
Yes"
This is Doctor Morse. l am at the
Queen hotel. Mr.. Norton has been
badly hurt. and he wants you and
MI. Jones to come at once. We can.
not tell just how serious the injury is
He is just conscious, Shall I tell hin
you will come Immediately 81
Eyes, yes!'
Florence snapped the receiver OF
the hook. She wanted to fly, fly. He
was hurt. How, when, where?
Susan Susan!" she called.
What is It, Florence" asked Susan
running into the room.
Jim is badly hurt. lie wants me tC
come at once. o. Susan! I've beer
dreading something all day long. Flor
ence struck the maids bell. MY
wraps. You will 20 with me, Susan"
Where. Miss A1rence," asked tn,
maid. alive to her duty.
Where? What is that to you?" de
manded Florence, who did not know
that this maid was a detective.
why not wait till Mr.. Jones re
turns?" she suggested patiently,
And let the man l love die?'
vehemently.
AT least you viii leave word wher,
you r going, Miss Florence
The Queen hotel And il you sa!
another word I'll discharge you. Com,
Susan"
There happened to be a taxioab con
veniently near Gas Vroon took carr
there should BEL, and Florence at one,
engaged Il. She did not see the MAJ
hiding in the bushes. The two younl
women stepped into the taxicab an,
were driven of. They had been gon,
less than five minutes when Jones re
turned with his purchase, to find thu
house empty of It's most valuable asset
He was furious. not only at the maid
who, he realized, was virtually help
less, but at his own negligence.
In the midst Of his violent harangu,
the bell sounded. In his bones he knew
what was going to be found there. !
was a letter on the back OF whicl
was drawn the fatal black mask. Wit
shaking fingers he tore open the en-
velope and read the contents:
Florence iH now In our power. Only tn
surrender OF the million will save her
Our agent viii call In an hour for an an
THE BLACK HUNDRED.
As a matter OF fact, they had wsnteI
Jones almost as badly as Florence
but her desire for a book-som
popular story OF the day-had save
him from the net, The letter haI
been written against this possibility
Jones became cool, now that h
knew just what to face. The QueeI
hotel meant nothing. Florence wOull
not be taken there. He called up MOI
ton. It took al the buffers patienc'