Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-08-01

car; see " sne works smoothly. We may
have to do some hiking. Where Is the
countess in this?"
Leave that to me, Mr.. Norton" said the
butler with his grim smile. =" Be OF: they
are moving back toward the house"
So Norton carried the basket around to the
lawn, where It was taken from his hands BY
the regular servant. He sighed AZ he saw
Florence, laughing and CHATTING with a man
who was stranger and whom he heard ad-
dressed as count Some friend Of the countess.
no doubt. Where wa all this tansls going
to end? He wished he knew. And what q
yarn he was going to write some dayi II
would be read like one Of Gaboriau's tales.
He turned away to wander Idly about the
grounds. when beyond q clump Of cedars he
saw three or four men conversing lowly. He
got as near as possible. for when three or
four men put their heads together and
whisper animatedly, II usually means poker
game or something worse. He caught a
phrase or two Us 1t came down the wind and
then he knew that the vague suspicious that
had brought him out bore had been set In
motion by fate He heard Florence and
the old drawing room; and that was
enough.
He scurried about for Jones' II was pure
luck that he had had old Meg show him
through the house, otherwise he would have
forgotten all about the secret panel In the
wall and the painting Jones shrugged
resignedly. Were these men OF the countess
party2 Norton couldn't say.
Norton made his hiding place In safety;
and BY and by he could hear the guests NOV.
ing about In the room Then all sounds
ceased for a while Norton strained his ear
against the panel. A door closed sharply.
No; here you must stay, young lady"
said a mans voice.
What do you mean, sir2" demanded the
beloved voice.
1t means tnat no one will return to this
room and that you win not be misseS .ntil
II IL too late"
The sound Of voices stopped aksuptly, and
something like scutfilng ensuei Later Nor.
ton heard tho back Of a chair strike the
panel and some one sat heavily upon 1t. He
waited perhaps FIVE minutes; then he gently
aid back the camel Florence sat bound and
gagged uEsier his very eyesl II was but the
r>orE Of a moment to llberate her.
1t Is I, 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 1t appeared to be a real prison.
How did you get hereY she asked
breathlessly.
Something told me tc follow you And
something is always going to tell me to fol.
low you, Florence"
She pressed his hand. 1t was to her as
II one of those book heroes had stepped out
Of book; only book heroes always had tre-
mendous fortunes and did not have to wol for
living. Oddly enough, she was not AFRAID.
Who was the maj. y he asked
The Count !'orfeldt Some one has i'm.
posed upon the countess."
DO you think sop with a strange look
In his eyes.
What do you meanr
NotnlnB just now. The idea is to get
out of here just as quickly as we can. See
this palntingr He touched spot on the
wall and the painting slowly swung out like
door. Come; we make our escape TO the
side lawn from here"
At the stable they were confronted with
the knowledge that Nortons car was out Of
commission; Jones could do nothing with H.
Then Norton suggested tnat he make an ef
fort to commander the limousine Of the coun-
tess; but there were men about, so the lin
cuisine was out Of the question.
Horsesg whispered Jones. There are
several saddle horses, already saddled How
about these people, the ownersY'
20, they are beyond reproach. They have
doubtless been imposed upon. But let US get
aboard first. There will be time to talk
later Ill have to do some explaining, tax.
Ing these nags cf like this. We won't have
to ride out In front where the picnlckers ara
There's lane back OF the stable, and a
slight detour brings US back into the main
road"
Toe three mounted and clattered away
10 Florence IL nad the air OF prank. She
was beginning TO have such confidence Ia
these two inventive men that she felt ss IL
she was never going to be afraid any more.
When the Countess Olga saw the three
horses It was an effort not to fly into rage
But secretly she warned her people, who
presently gave chase In the limousine, while
she prattled and Tested and laughed with her
company, who were quite unaware that a
drama was being enacted right under their
very noses. The countess, while she acted
superbly, tore her handkerchief into shreda
There was something sinister In the way all
their plans fell through at the very momen,
Of contamination; and that night she deter
mined to ask Braine to withdraw from this
wa ar{ara which rralnallx Aaeinnatod Ahal-