The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-08-15

black. discolorcd. II In quite prob.
able that had there been no series
OF accidents" he would have drunk
cup--and died In mortal agony.
II contained hichloride OF mercury.
Very quietly he Sc, about TO make
Inquiries. This was really becom-
Ing serious. In the kitchens down.
stairs nothing could BE- learned.
The maid had set tho thernos bot.
tie before the door at 1880. Nor
ton had opened the door az 1870
three hours AFTER. Tho outlook was
not tho cheerfiiest. Hc knew PR
fectiy well why all thcse things
happened; he had interfercd
with tho plans OF the scoundrcis
who were making every possible
move to kidnap Florence Har-
grcays.
One afternoon he paid F1orcncc
visit. OF course he told her
nothing. They had become secretly
engaged the day after he had res
cued her from tho auto bandits.
They were secretly engaged be-
cause Florence wanted II 30. For
once Jones suspected nothing. Why
should hef He had troubles
enough As a matter OF fact. Nor
ton was afraid OF Jones. lie was
afraid Of him in tho same sense
as boy Ia afraid OF a policeman.
But on this day. when tho time
came. he accosted the butler and
drew him into the pantry.
Jones. they are after mo now"
Your Explain"
Norton briefly recounted the de-
liberate attempts against bis life.
You see. I'm not liar enough 10
say that I'm not worried. am.
deviiishly worried. I'm not worth
any ransom. I'm I'm the why. and
they seem determined 10 put me out
Of H."
ITO any other man would say
travel. But TO you | say when you
leave your rooms don't 20 where
you first thought you wouid-that
ia. some usual haunt. They'll be
everywhere. near your restaurants.
your clubs. your office. You're n
methodical young man: become err
ratio. Keep away from here for
at least three days. but always call
me up by telephone some time dur.
ing the day. Never under any cir
cumstances. unlels I send for you,
come here at night. Only ono man
watches the house during the day,
but five are prowling around after
dark. They might have instruc-
lions TO shoot you on sight. can,
spare You Just at present. Mr.. Nor.
ton. You've been n godsend. aud II
II seems that sometimes I did not
trust you fully. II was because
did not care to drag you In too
deep"
Deep7 Norton thought OF Flor.
ence and smiled inwardly. Could
anybody be In deeper than he was 7
Once It was on the tip OF his tongue
TO confess his love for Florence, but
the gravity Of Jones countenance
was an obstacle 10 such move: II
did not invite IT.
To be sure. Jones had no real
authority TO say what Florence
should or should not do with her
heart. 5till, from all points OF
view. II was better TO keep the AZ.
fair under the rose TIN there came
a more propitious hour in which
to make the disclosure.
Love. in the midst OF all these
alarmsl Sharp. desperate roguea
on one side, millions on the other
and yet love could enter the scene
serenely, like an actor who had
missed his cue and came on too
soon.
oddly enough. there was no real
lovemaklng such as you often read
about. A pressure OF the hand, a
7, glance from the eye. there was
seldom anything more Only once
that memorable day on the river
road--bad he kissed her. No word
OF love had been spoken on either
side. In that Wild moment all con
ventionalities had disappeared like
smoke in the wind. There had
been neither past nor future, only
the present In which they knew
that they loved. With her he was
happy. for he had no time to plan
over the future Away from her
he saw the Inevitable barriers pro
viding against the marriage be
tween poor young man and very
rich young woman. A man who
has any respect wants always to
be on equal terms with his wife
financially more than In any other
thing. It's the way this peculiar