The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-09-23

turned, having, of course, discovered
no fire, he found Florence gone. He
rushed into the hall. Her hat was
missing. He made for the hall door
with a speed which seemed incredible
to the bewildered Susan's eyes. Out
into the street, up and down which
he looked. Far away he discovered a
dwindling taxicab. The child was
gone.
In the house Susan was answering
the telephone, talking incoherently.
Who is it," Jones whispered, his
lips white and dry.
"The princess. . :" began Susan.
He took the receiver from her
roughly.
Hello, who Is it,"
This is Olga Perigoff. Is Florence
there?"
mo, madam. She has just stepped
out for a moment. Shall l tell her
to call you when she returns?"
eyes, please. I want her and Su-
san and Mr.. Norton to come to tea
tomorrow. Good-by."
Jones hung up the receiver, sank
into a chair near by and buried his
face in his hands.
What Is it?" cried Susan, terrified
by the haggardness of his face.
"She's gone! My God, those
wretches have got her! They've got
her!"
Florence was whirled away at top
speed. Her father! She was actually
on the way to her father, whom she
had always loved in dreams, yet never
seen.
Number 7S Grove street was not an
attractive place, but when she ar
rived she was too highly keyed to
take note Of it's sordidness. She. was
rather out of breath when she reached
the door of the third fat She knocked
timidly. The door was instantly
opened by a man who wore a black
mask. She would have turned then
and there and flown but for the swift
picture she had of a well-dressed man
at a table. He lay with his head upon
his arms.
"Father!" she whispered.
The man raised his careworn face,
so very we'll done that only the closest
scrutiny would have betrayed the
paste of the theater. He arose and
staggered toward her with out
stretched arms. But the moment they
closed about her Florence experienced
a peculiar shiver.
my child!". murmured the broken
a They caught me when I was
about to come to you. I have given
up the fight" A sob choked him.
What was it? wondered the child,
her heart burning with the misery Of
the thought that she was sad instead
Of glad. Over his shoulder she sent
a glance about the room. There was
a sofa, a table, some chairs and an
enormous clock, the face Of which was
dented and the hands hopelessly tan
gled. Why, at such a moment, she
should note such details disturbed
her. Then she CHANGED to look into
the cracked mirror. In 1t she saw
several faces, all masked. These men
were peering at her through the half
closed door behind her.
"You must return home and bring
me the money" went on the wretch
who dared to perpetrate such a mock
cry. ut is all that stands between
me and DEATH"
Then she knew! The insistent daily
warnings came home to her. She un-
derstood now. She had deliberately
walked into the spiders net. But in
stead of terror an extraordinary calm
fell upon her.
Very we'll, father, ] will 90 and
get it" Gently she released herself
from those horrible arms.
Wait, my child, till l see If they
will let you go. They may wish to
hold you as hostage"
When he was gone she tried the
doors. They were locked. Then she
crossed wei to the window and looked
out. A leap from there would kill her.
She turned her gaze toward the lamp,
wondering.
The false father returned, defect
eddy.
1T Is as I said. They insist upon
sending some one. Write down the
directions l gave to you. l am very
weak"
Write down the directions yourself,
father; you know them better than
l." Since she saw no escape, she was
determined to keep up the tragic farce
10 longer.
II am not your father"
$50 l see," she replied, still with
the amazing calm.
Braine, in the other room, shook his
head savagely. Father and daughter;
the same steel in the nerve Could
they bend her? Would they break
her? He did not wish to injure her
bodily, but a million was always a
million, and there was revenge which
was worth more to him than the
money itself. He listened, motioning
to the others to be silent.
Write the directions" commanded
the scoundrel, who discarded the
broken man style.
81 know Of no hidden money"
Then your father dies this night.
-.~ IL H.