The Washington times., 1914-09-06

she was not without certain strength.
In the meantime Norton revived and
! looked about IN vain for Florence. He
searched among tine crowd of terrified
passengers. the hurt and the unharmed.
but she was not to he found. He ran
back to the princess and helped her
out of the broken car.
Where is Florence" she asked
dazedly.
God knows, Here. come over and sit
down bv the fence till see If there is
a field telegraph
They had already erected one. and his
message went off with a batch of 9TH
ers. This time he was determined not
to trust to chance. The shock may
have brought back Florence recent
mental disorder. and she may have
| wandered off without knowing what
she was doing. on the other hand she
may have been carried off. And against
such contingency he must be forti-
| field. Money. The curse of God was
upon 1t: it was the trail OF the serpent,
spreading poison in its wake.
BY and by the princess was able to
walk: and. supporting her, he led her
TO the road. along which they walked
slowly for at least an hour. They mignt
very well have waited FOR the relief
train. But he could not stand the
thought of inactivity. The princess had
her choice of staying behind or going
with him. He hated the woman, but he
could not refuse her aid. She had q
cut on the side of her head, and she
limped besides.
Tney stopped at the first farmhouse.
explained what had happened. and the
mistress urged them to enter. She.
! she had seen no one. and certainly not
young woman. She must have wan
dered off in another direction. She ran
into the kitchen for o basin and towel
and proceeded to patch the princess
hurts.
She was extremely uneasy. That she
should be under obligation to Norton
CALLED her. There was spark of con-
science left in her soul. She had tried
to destroy him. and he had been kind
to her. Was he a fool or was he deep.
playing a game as shrewd as her own?
She could not tell. Where was Vroon?
Had he carried Florence off?
'Hullo, More folks from the wreck"
Where's the horse and buggy. Jake?"
his wife asked
Rented it to a man whose daughter
was hurt. He went to the village
Will you describe the daughter"
asked Norton.
The princess twisted her fingers
The farmer rudely described Florence.
Have you another horse and
saddle"
What's your hurry
'I.ll tell YOU later. What want now
is the horse
What is to become Of me-" asked
the princess.
You will be In good hands," he
out what has become Of Florence. Is
there deserted farmhouse here
aboutsc" he asked OF the farmer.
Not that ! recollect."
that old hut about two miles up the
fork volunteered the wife. Where
the Swede died last winter"
BY jingo, I'm going into the village
and see II that man brought in the rig.
''Rut get my horse first My name
Star in New York. Which way do
co?'
First turn to the lett Como one:
I'll get the horse for you"
Once the horse was saddled. Norton
set off at run. He vas ur" -n"d:
he forgot all about this fact. His ore
thought was to find the woman he loved.
He was not afraid Of meeting a dozen
mon. not while his present fury 1"~.o1
And he fell into an ambush within
hundred yards Of his goal. They
dragged him off the horse and buffet
ed and mishandled him into the hut.
Both of them" said Vroon. rub
bling his hands.
cried Norton. And II ever get out
of this I'll kill you out of hand.
"oh. yes: talk. talk; but It never
hurts any one" jeered Vroon. You'll
never have the chance to kill me out
of hand. as you say. Besides, do you
know my face?"
II do. The mask doesn't matter.
You're the man who had me shang-
haied. The voice is enough"
Very good. That's what ] wished
to know. That's your death warrant.
Well do like they used to do II at the
old Academy: tie you to the railroad
track We shall not hurt you at all.
II some engine runs over you heaven
is witness we did not guide the en-
gine. Remember the story Of the boy
and the cat" with sinister amiabil-
ity. THE boy said he wasn't pulling
the cats tail. he was only holding it:
the cat did the pulling. Bring him
along. men. Time is precious. and we
have a good deal to do before night
The tsack Is only a short distance"
Jim. Jim" cried Florence in an
guish.
Never you mind. girl: they're only
bluring They won't dare"
you think so2' said Vroon. Walt
and see" He turned upon Florence.
He is your lover. Do you wish him
to die"
mo. mo-"
I'VE promise to give him his free
dom twelve hours from now on con-
dition that you tell where that money
"FIorencew warned Norton.
NrOon struck him on the mouth.
Pc silent you scum
1T is in the chest Jones. the butler.
threw into the sound she said
bravely. And so IT might be. for all
she knew.
Vroon laughed. I'VE know about
where that is"
"Florence. say nothing on nv ac-
count. They are not the kind OF men
wh" keep their word"
"F.h?" snar'ad Vroon. Wen see
about that" He glanced at his watch
"Tn half an hour the freight comes
alcnr. u may become stalled at the
wreck But It will serve"
Norton knew very we'll that I: need
said must thev would not hesitate to
execute a real dramatic plan OF this
they had to make crime abnormal In
order To enjoy IT, Thev could very well
have knocked him on the head then ard
there and have done with him. 5ut the
time used in conveying him to the rail
road might prove his salvation. Nearly
four hours had passed since the sending
of the telegram tn Jones.
They bound Florence and LETT her
seated In the chair. As soon as thev
verc rono she rolled to the floor She
was able 10 right herself to her knees.
and after torturouS Eve minutes
reached the fireplace. She burnt her
hands and wrists but III" blaze WIS the
only knife obtainable. She was free.
Jones arrived with half a dozen po-
IiCa~ncn Nronn alone escaped.
The butler caught Florence in his arms
el,nI Ia