The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-25


laid down for himself. ct is very
gloomy today, and perhaps We are 4
little depressed by 1t. am sorry"
20, I realize, Jones, that all this
unending mystery annd secrecy have
q set purpose at back. Only, it does
just seem as if should so mad some
times with waiting and wondering"
And if the truth must be told, it
is the same with me. We have to
wait for them to strike. Shall I get
you something new to read? I am
going down to the drug store and
they have a circulating library"
Get nae anything you please. But
I'd feel better with little sunshine"
That's universal" replied Jones,
gong into the hall for his hat.
Had the telephone rung again at
that moment 1t is quite probable that
the day would have come to close
as the day before had, monotonously.
But the ring came five minutes after
Jones had left the house.
"Is this the Hargreave place?".
EYES," said Florence. who Is it?"
"This Is Miss Hargreave talking?"
YES"
This is Doctor Morse. I am at the
Queen hotel Mr.. Norton has been
badly hurt, and he wants you and
Mr.. Jones to come at once. We can
not tell just how serious the injury is.
He is just conscious Shall tell him
you will come immediately"
Yes, yes!"
Florence snapped the receiver on
the hook. She wanted to fly, fly. He
was hurt. How, when, where?
Susan SUSAN" she called.
What is it, Florence?" asked Susan,
running into the room.
Jim is badly hurt. He wants me to
come at once. o, Susan! I've been
dreading something all day long Flor
ence struck the maids bell. My
wraps. You will go with me, Susan.
Where, Miss Florence" asked the
maid, alive to her duty.
Where? What is that to your de-
manded Florence. who did not know
that this maid was detective.
Why not wait till Mr.. Jones re-
turns?' she suggested patiently.
And let the man I love die?"
yehemently.
"At least you will leave word where
you are going, Miss Florence
The Queen hotel And if you say
another word I'll discharge you. Come
Susan
There happened to be taxicab con-
veniently near (as Eroon took care
there should be), and Florence at once
engaged it. She did not see the man
hiding in the bushes. The two young
women stepped into the taxicab and
were driven off. They had been gone
lc1c than Ave minutes when Jones re-
turned with his purchase, to find the
house empty Of its most valuable asset.
He was furious, not only at the maid,
who. he realized, was virtually help
less, but at his own negligence.
In the midst OF his violent haTangue
the bell sounded In his bones he knew
what was going to be found there. 1t
was a letter ca the back OF which
was drawn the fatal black mask. With
shaking fingers he tore open the en-
velope and read the contents:
Florence is now in our power. Only the
surrender of the million will save her.
Our agent will call in an hour FOR an an
swer.
AS matter Of fact. they had wanted
Jones almost as badly as Florence,
but her desire for a book-some
popular story Of the day-had saved
him from the net The letter had
been written against this possibility.
Jones became cool, now that he
knew just what to face. The Queen
hotel meant nothing. Florence would
rot be taken there. He called up Nor
ton. 1t took all the buffers patience,