White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1914-11-08


much they would save out of his sal
airy. and a thousand and one other
things which would not interest you
at all If | recounted them in detail.
But they did love each other, and
they were going to be married, you
may be certain of that. They did not
care a snap of the finger what Jones
thought. They were going to be mar
ried. and that was all there was to 1t.
Of course. Florence couldn't touch a
penny of her fathers money. If he.
Norton. couldn't take care of her
without help. why. he wouldn't be
worth the powder to blow him up
with.
"But. my dear. you must be very
careful" he said. Jones and will
always be about somewhere. If they
really get hold of you once, God
alone knows what will happen. It is
not you, II is your poor father they
want to bring out into the open. If
they knew where he was they would
not bother you in the least
Have I really a father? Some
times I doubt. Why couldn't he steal
into the house and see me just
once?"
Perhaps he dares not. This
house is always watched, night and
day. though you'll look In vain to
discover any one. Your father knows
best what he Is doing, my dear girl.
You see. | met him years ago in
China; and when he started out to do
a certain thing he generally did 1t.
He never botehed any of his plans.
So We all must wait. Only I'm going
to marry you all the same, whether
he likes it or not. The will
try to impose upon you again; but do
not pay any attention to notes or
personals in the papers. You've been
through enough. And 1t was a lucky
thing that I was on that freigher that
picked you up at sea-. | shall always
wonder how that yacht took fire"
$50 shall l." replied Florence. her
brows drawing together in puzzle.
ment. Sometimes think | must
have done it. You know. people out
of their heads do strange things. |
seem to see myself as in a dream.
And this man Braine is a s~coundrel,"
Yes; and more than that, he is the
dear friend of the countess. But un-
derstand. you must never let her
dream or suspect that you know. By
lulling her into oyerconfidence some
day she will naturally grow careless.
and then we'll have them all. think
7 understand what your fathers idea
is; mo- to have them arrested for
blackmail, but practically to extermi-
nate them, put them in prison for
such terms of years that they'll die
there. When YOU see a snake. a
poisonous one. don't let it get away.
Kill it. must be off to work"
and YOU be careful. too. You are
in more danger than ! IN"
But I'm a man and can dodge
quick" ne laughed" picking up his
hat.
What a horrid thing money is,
II | hadn't any money, nobody would
bother me-"
Il would" he smiled. He wanted
to kiss her, but the eternal Jones
might be watching from the windows;
and so he patted her hand instead
and walked down the graveled path
TO the street.
1t was difficult work for Florence
to play at friendship. She was like
her father; she did not bestow il on
every one. She had given her
friendship to the Russian, the first
real big friendship in her life, and
she had been roughly disillusioned
But if the countess could act. so
could she; and of the two her acting
was the most consummate. She
could smile and laugh and jest. all
the while her heart was burning
with wrath.
One day. a week or so after her
meeting with Norton in the summe
house. Olga arrived, beautifully
gowned. handsome as ever. There
was not the least touch of the ad-
venturess in her makeup. Florence
had just received some mail. and she
had dropped the letters on the
library table to greet the countess.
She had opened them. but o yet
looked at their contents.
They were chatting pleasantly
about inconsequent things. when the
maid came In and asked Florence to
come to Miss Susan's room for a