The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-10-07

|
fully, slowing away in his mind every
detail. lie might be worrying about
nothing; but go many strange things
had happened that It was better 10 be
OIL the side CT caution than OF the
side OF carelessness. He left the
house and ran across Jones carrying
basket Of wine.
Here. Norton; take this to the
party. I want to reconnoiter"
All right, m'lud! Say. Jones. how
much Go you think I'd earn at this
job?" comically.
Get along with you. Mr.. Norton. It
may be the time to laugh, and then it
may not"
I'm going back into tho house and
hide behind q secret panel. I've got
my revolver You go to the stables
and take try at my car; see if she
works smoothly. We may have to do
some hiking. Where is the countess
in this?"
Leave that to me, Mr.. Norton" al
the butler with his grim smile. De
OF; they are moving back toward the
| house
So Norton carried the basket arouG3
to the lawn. where II was taken from
his hands by the regular servant. He
sighed as he saw Florence, laughing
and chatting with 4 man who was
stranger and whom be heard ad
dressed as count. Some friend OF the
countess. no doubt. Where was all this
ta1glc going to end? He wished he
! knew. And what yarn lie was going
TO write some day. 1t would be read
IKE one Of Gaboriaus tales. He
turned away to wander idly about the
| grounds, when beyond clum2 OF ce-
dars he saw three or toUT men cOnveEs-
iEg slowly. He got as near as possible,
for when three or four n. n put their
heads together and whisper animated
II, it usually means poker game or
something worse. lie caught & phrase
Or two as 1t 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 cid draw
ing room" and that was enough.
He scurried about for Jones. 1t vas
pure luck that he had had old Meg
show him through the house. other
wise he would have forgotten all about
the secret panel IN the wall and. the
painting. Jones shrugged resignedly.
Were these men Of the countess
party? Norton couldn't say.
Norton made his hiding place In
safety; and by and by he could hear
the guests moving about in the room.
Then all sounds ceased for while. \
door closed sharply.
NO; here you must stay, young
lady" sail a mans voice.
What do you mean. sir?" demanded
! the beloved voice.
1T means that no one will return to
this room and that you will not be
missed until 1t is too late.
The sound Of voices stopped alb
ruptly, and something like scuffling
cnsued. Later Norton heard the back
Of e chair strike the panel and some
ono 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 & moment to
Nberate her.
1T is I, Jim. Do not speak or make
the least noise. Follow me-
Greatly astonished, Florence obayeG;
and the panel slipped back into place.
The room behind the secret panel had
barred windows. To Florence it ap-
pcared to be q real prison.
How did you get here?" she asked
breath!css!y.
Something told ne 10 folio" you.
AID something IS always going to tell
ne to follow you, Florence
! She pressed his hand. Il was to her
as II one Of those book heroes had
! stepped out OF book; only book he
rocs always had tremendous fortunes
and did not have to work for liv-
! ing. Oddly enough, she was not
afraid.
Who was the NAM ho asked.
! The Count Norfeldt. Some oae
! has imposed upon the countess"
DO YOU think so?" with strange
look in his eyes.
What do you nean9"
Nothing just now. The !aea is 70
get out OF here just as quickly as We
can See this patntns?" He touched
q spot in the wall ard the painting
! slowly swung oIt like door. Come:
We make our escape to the side lawn
! from here
at the stable they were confronted
with the knowledge that Norton's car
was out Of commission; Jones could do
/ nothing with it. Then Norton suggest
/ ed that he make a effort TO COM
mandecr the limousine OF the count
esa; but there were men about. So the
limousine was out Of the question.
"l!orses." whispered Jones. There
arc several saddle horses, already 5sd-
died. How about t:.c2e r1o?le, the
: oHrers?"
! "Oh. they arc beyond repToac!i. They
have doubtless been imposed upon.
: But let US get aboard first. There viii
I be time to talk .>ltec. III have to do
) some explcininE. taking these nags of
Ike this. We wo?.'t have TO ride out
! in front wbe.e tho pichnickcrs are.
! There's O lane back Of the stable, and
slight detour brings Us back into the
main road"
The three mounted and clatteTed
away To Florence 1t had the cir OF
prank. She was beginning TO haro
such confidence IN these two inventive
men that she felt as II she was never
going to bo afraid any more.
When the Countess Oig2 aaH. TO
three horses It wcs CT c:Tor; BOT g
fly Into g rage. But secret: she