The Lexington intelligencer., 1914-11-13

NoEton Fut MS ATnO Around Her.
hours. When he took the stopper out
and poured forth cup It looked oddly
black, discolored. It is quite probable
that had there been no series of "ac-
cidents' he would have drunk a cup
and died in mortal agony. 1t con-
tained bichloride of mercury.
Very quietly he set about to make
inquiries. This was really becoming
serious. In the kitchens downstairs
nothing could be learned. The maid
had set the thermOs bottle before the
door at 10:3O, Norton had opened the
door at l:3O-three hours after The
outlook was not the cheerfulest. He
knew perfectly we'll why all these
things happened" he had interfered
with the plans Of the scoundrels who
we're making every possible move to
kidnap Florence Hargreave,
One afternoon be paid Florence a
visit OF course he told her nothing
They had become secretly engaged
the day after he had rescued her from
the auto bandits They were secretly
engaged because Florence wanted II
SO. For once Jones suspected moth.
ing, Why should he? He had trou.
bies enough. AS a matter of fact,
Norton was afraid OF him in the same
sense as boy is afraid of a police
man.
But on this day, when the time
came, he accosted the butler and drew
him into the pantry.
Jones, they are after me now"
You? Explain"
Norton briefly recounted the delib-
crate attempts against his life.
You see, I'm not liar enough to
say that I'm not worried. l am, dew
ilishly worried. I'm not worth any
ransom. I'm In the way, and they
seem determined to put me out Of It."
To any other man | would say
travel. But to you / say when you
leave your rooms don't go where you
FIRST thought you would-that is. some
usual haunt, They'll be everywhere,
near your restaurants, your clubs, your
office. You're methodical young
man; become erratic, Keep away
from here for at least three days. but
always call me up by telephone some
time during the day. Never under any
circumstance, unless send for you,
come here at night Only one man
now watches the house during the
day, but FIVE are prowling around af
ter dark. They might have instruc.
tions to shoot you on sight. can't
spare you just at present, Mr.. Nor.
ton. You've been godsend and II
It seems that sometimes l did not
trust you fully 1t was because did
not care to drag you In too deep"
Deep? Norton thought of Florence
and smiled inwardly. Could anybody
be In deeper than he was? Once It
was on the tip Of his tongue to con-
fess his love for Florence, but the
gravity Of Jones' countenance was an
obstacle to such move; 1t did not in.
vite II.
To be sure, Jones had no real au.
thority to say what Florence should or
should not do with her heart. stin,
from all points Of view, It was better
to keep the affair under tho rose till
there came a more propitious hour in
which to make the disclosure.
Love, in the midst Of all these
alarms! Sharp, desperate rogues on
one side, millions on the other, and
yet love could enter the scene se-
renely, like an actor who had missed
bis cue and came on too soon.
Oddly enough, there was no real
love-making such as you often read
about. A pressure Of the hand, al
glance from the eye, there was seldom
anything more. Only onoe-that mem
orable day on the river road-had ne
kissed her. No word Of love had been
spoken on either side. In that wild
moment all conventionalities had dis.
appeared Ike smoke In the wind.
There had been neither past nor fu.
lure, only the present In which they
EAeW that thoy loved. WITH her Ne