The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-10-09

/ cred up by mis- nalr.
That's battened down, my lad. Go
on"
Say that you saw him enter yonder
warehouse, and later depart without
his packet"
Easy as dropping my mudhook."
That's ALL" Norton gave the cap
tain the money. "Good-by and many
thanks"
Don't mention it,"
Norton left the slip and proceeded to
the office of the warehouse. He ap-
preached the managers desk.
Hello, Grannis, old top!"
The man looked up from his work
surlily. Then his face frightened.
Morton? What's brought you here?
! o, yes; that balloon business. Sit
down"
What kind of man is the captain
of that old hooker in the slip?"
"Shifty in gun running, but other
wise as square as a die. Looks funny
to see an old tub like that fixed up
with wireless; but that has saved his
neck a dozen times when he was run
ming it into a moose. Not going to in
terview me, are you"
mo. I'm going to ask you to do me
a little favor"
They always say that But spin
her out. If it doesn't cost me my job.
it's yours"
well, there will be person max
ing inquiries about the mysterious
aeronaut. All I want you to say is,
that he left a packet with you, that
you've put it in that safe till he calls
to claim it."
Grannis nibbled the end Of his pen.
Suppose some one should come and
demand that I open the safe and de-
liver?"
Cali you've got to do is to tell them
to show the receipt signed by YOU"
The warehouse manager laughed.
Got a lot of sense in that ivory dome
of yours. All right. But IL anything
happens you've got to come around
and back me up. What's it about?"
THAT / dare not tell you. This
much, I'm laying trap and I want
some one don't know to fall into It,"
ION your way, James. But If you
don't send me some prize fight tickets
next week for this, I'll never do you
another favor"
In reply Norton took from his pocket
two bits of pasteboard and laid them
on the desk. Il knew you'd be want
ing something like this"
"Ringside!" cried Grannis. you re-
porters are lucky devils!"
I'D go myself if there was any
earthly chance of real scrap. You
make me laugh, Gran. You're always
going, always hoping the next one will
be a real one. But it's all bunk. The
pugs are the biggest takers on top the
sod. They've got us newspaper men
done to a FRAGILE"
Il guess you're right. Well, count
on me regarding that mysterious
bundle in the safe"
"At three o'clock this afternoon I
want you to call me up. If no one has
called, why the game is up. But If
some one does come around and make
inquiries, don't fail to let me know"
'I'll be here till five- I'd better call
you up then"
Then Norton returned home and
idled about till afternoon. He went
over to Riverdale. Five times he
walked up and down the front of the
Hargreave place. finally plucked up
his courage and walked to the door,
After all, he was lucky mortal. He
had a good excuse to visit this house
every day in the week. And there was
something tantalizing in the risk he
took. Besides, he wanted to prove to
himself whether it was passing fancy
or something deeper. That's the way
with humans; we never see a sign
Fresh Paint" that we don't have to
prove it.
He chatted with Florence for
while and found that, for all she might
be guileless to the world, she was a
good linguist; fine musician, and
talked with remarkable keenness
about books and arts. But unless he
reused her, the sadness of her position
always lay written in her face. 1t was
not difficult for him to conjure up her
dreams in coming to the city and the
blow which, like a bolt of lightning
from a clear sky, had shattered them
ruthlessly.
You must come every day and tell
me how you have progressed" she
said.
I'll obey that order gladly, when.
ever can possibly do it. My visits
will always be short"
THAT is not necessary"
NO" said Norton in his heart, "but
it is wise"
Always he found Jones waiting for
him at the door, always in the shadow.
"Well?" the butler whispered.
81 have laid neat trap. Whether
this balloon was the one that left the
top of this house don't know. But if
there were two men in it, one Of them