The Detroit times., 1914-11-16
The Million a e. IT,
Dollar Mystery

I but Susan was In the hospital.
Oliver Twist! What had possessed
her TO start reading that old tale
again? She should have read some
thing OF q light and Joyous character.
After half an hours wandering about
the lonely house she returned to the
library, feeling that she would Do
safer where both telephone and re-
volver were.
And while she sat waiting for she
knew not what. her swiftly beating
heart sending the blood into her
throat so that II almost su1ocated
her, a man turned into the street and
walked resolutely toward the Har-
greave place. He passed man lean
Ing against lamp post, but he never
turned TO look at him.
This man, however, threw away his
cigar and hotfooted II to the nearest
pay station. He knew In his soul
that he had just seen the man for
whom they had been hunting all these
weary but strenuous weeks-Stanley
Hargreave In the flesh! Half an hour
after his telephone message the chief
OF the Black Hundred and many les
ser lights were on their way to the
house of mystery. Had they but
known!
! Now. the man who had created this
| tremendous agitation went serenely
on. He proceeded directly and fear
lessly to the front door. produced q
latch key and entered. He passed
through the hall and reception room
to the library and paused on the
threshold dramatically. Florence
stepped back with sharp cry Of
alarm. She had heard the hall door
open and close and had taken 1t for
granted that Jones had returned.
There was Q tablsau Of short durar
ton.
Don't you know meg' asked the
stranger In q singularly pleasant
| voice.
Florence had been imposed upon too
many times. She shook her head de-
family, though her knees shook 80
that she was certain that the least
touch would send her over.
I Il am your father, child"
Florence slipped unsteadily behind
the desk and seized the revolver
which lay In the drawer. The man
| by the curtains smiled sadly. IL was
Q smile that caused Florence to waver
q bit. Still, she extended her arm.
| You do not believe mey said the
man. advancing slowly.
! mo. / have been deceived too
many times, sir. Stay where you are.
You will wait here till my butler re-
turns. o, II were only sure!" she
burst out suddenly and passionately.
what proof have you that you are
what you say"
He came toward her. holding out
HIS hands. "This, that you cannot
shoot me. All, : the damnable
wretches! What have they done to
/ you, my child, to make you suspicious
Of every one? How ! have watched
over you In secret! will tell you
what only Jones and the reporter
know, that the aviator died, that I
alone was rescued. that gave Norton
/ the five thousand, that I watched the
windows of the Russian woman, and
overheard nearly every plot that was
Matched In the council chamber OF
the Black Hundred; that | was shot
In the arm while crossing the lawn
one night. And now we have the
sooundrels just where we want them.
1ney will be In this house for me
within half an hour. and not one OF
them will leave II In freedom. I an
your father, Florence; am the lone
ly father who has spent the best years
OF his life away from you In order to
secure your safety. Can't you feel
the truth OF all this?'
mo, no! Please do not approach
any nearer; stay where you arei"
At that moment the telephone rang.
With the revolver still leveled she
picked up the receiver.
Hello, hello! Who IL it? . A.
Jim, Jim, come at once! am hold
ing at bay a man who says he is my
father Hold him where he Is. you
say? All right. will Come quick"
"Jim!" murmured the man, still ad-
vancing He must have that revolt
YER The poohr child might spoil the
whole affair. $50 what Jones tells
me is true; that you are going to
marry this reporter chap"
She did not answer.
with or without my CONSENT"
II only he would drop that fearless
smile, she thought. with or without
anybody's consent" she said.
fContinued ThursdayJ