The Washington times., 1914-10-25

important discovery. We must be off
at once. Come with me"
Florence, without the least suspicion
N tn, world. followed him llp the broad
staircase. What with the many sounds
IT was not to hc wondered at that the
difference in the quality of voices did
rot strike FlorCnCe'S ear as odd. The
result of her confidence was that upon
reaching the upper halls, oppOs .te the
dressing rooms, she was suddenly thrust
into room and made prisoner. When
the light was turned up she recognized
with horror the woman who had helped
to kidnap her and take her away on
the George Washington weeks ago She
could not have cried out for help #
she had tried.
Meantime Jim got up and began to
wander about in search of Florence.
braine played clever game that
ni:;ht. He and the Russian. still DOM
n0Cd like Norton and Florence. ordered
the HargreaVe auto, by number, en-
tered il and were driven up to the
porte cccherc Of the ITargreave house.
The two alighted. the chauffeur sent
tic car toward the garage. and Braihe
and his companion ran lightly down the
path to the street where the cab which
had followed picked them up.
1t grew more and more evident to
Jim that something untoWard had taken
place. He could not find Florence any
where, in the alcoVes, in the side rooms.
the supper or card room. Later, 10
his utter amazement, he was informed
that the Hargreave auto had some time
since been called and its owner taken
home. Some ono had taken his place.
His first sensation was impotent fury
against Jones, who had permitted them
to play with fire. He ffdung out of
the mansion unCeremoniOusly, COM
manded a cab, and flew out TO River
dale. And when Jones came to the
door he was staggering with sleep;
whats the matter with you? de-
manded Jim roughly. where's Flor
enCe?"
isn't she with you?" cried Jones,
making an effort to dispel the drowsi-
ness. What time is it?'' suddenly.
Midnight, Where is she?"
Midnight? I've been druggedI' With
out word Jones staggered off to the
kitchens, Jim at his heels.
There was always hot water. and
within five minutes Jones had drunk
two cups of raw strong coffee.
"Druggedl' he murmured. some
one in the house! III attend to that
later. Now. the chauffeur!
But the chauffeur swore on his oath
that he had left Jim and Florence on
the steps of the porte Cochere.
Get in.' said Jones to Norton, now
fully alive. He could not set it out of
his head that some one in the house
had drugged him.
The events which followed were to
both Jones and Norton something like
series Of Nightmares. In the new
home of the Princess ParioVa a bomb
exploded and fire followed the explosion.
From pleasure to terror is only step.
The widest confusion imaginable en-
sued Most of the guests were of the
opinion that some anarchist had at
tempted to blow up the house of the
rich Pole. Jones and Norton arrived
just as the smoke began to pour, out
from the windows. A crowd had al
ready collected.
Then Jim overheard a woman mas
uuerader say: "The fool made the
bomb too strong. She is in the room on
the second floor. The game is up if she
suffocates-'' The voice trailed off
and the woman became lost in the
crowd. But it was enough for the re-
porter, who pushed his way roughly
through the excited masqueraders and
entered the house. The rescue was one
Of the most exciting to be found in the
newspaper files of the day.
So Brane in his effort to scare every
body from the house had oVerreached
himself once more.
(TO BE CONTINED)