Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-09-20
HAROLD
MAC6RkTH

any money nobody would bother me,
81 would" he smiled lie wanted TO Mss
her but the eternal Jones might be watching
from the windows, and 30 he putted her hand
instead and walked down the graycled path to
the street
1t was difficult work for Florence to play at
friendship She was like her father; she din
not bestow it on every one. She had given her
friendship to the Russian, the first real big
friendship in her life, and she had been roughly
disillusoncd But If the countess could act
so could she and Of the two her acting was
the most consummate the could smile and
laugh and jest, all the while her heart was
burning with wrath,
One day q week or so after her meeting
with Norton In the summer house, Olga mr.
rived, beautifully gowned, handsome as ever.
There was not the least touch of the adven-
turess in her makeup. Florence had Just re-
ceived some mail and she had dropped the let
ters on the library table to greet the countess.
She had opened them, but had not yet looked
n. their contents.
They were chatting pleasantly about in
consequent things, when the maid came In and
asked Florence to come to Miss Susan's room
for moment Florence excused herself,
wondering what Susan could want She for.
got the mail
As soon ms she wns gone the countess, Ger
tain that Jones was not lurking about, picked
up the letters and calmly examined their CON
tents; and among them she found this re-
markable document: 4" Dear daughter ] have
never seen: ] must turn the treasuro over
TO You. Meet me at IN the summer house.
Tell no one as my life Is in danger Your
loving father"
Thc countess could have laughed aloud Sho
saw this man ParuTs hand; md mere was
the chance to bcfool and humiliato him and
send him OF packing to bis cold and mis-
cradle country She had made up once as
Florence and she could easily do so again.
The only thing that troubled her was tho
tact that she did not know whether Florence
had read the letter or not Thus, she did not
dare destroy It, She first thought Of chaag-
Ing the clock; then she concluded to drop the
letter exactly where she had found it and
trust to luck
When Florence returned she explained that
her absence had been due to some trninr
household affair.
Said ho Russian: "I come primarily to
ask You to ten tomorrow where they dance.
II you like You may asl, Mr. Norton to 20
aoDg. begin to observe that You two arc
rather fond Of one another"
90, Mr. Norton is just valuable friend"
returned Florence with smile that quite
deceived the other woman a shall be glad
to eo to the tea, But shall not promise
to dance"
Not with Mr. Nortou2" archIy.
Reporters ucvcr dance themselves; they
make others dance instead"
81 shall have to tell that" declared tne
countess; and she laughed quite honestly.
" Then I have said something witty?"
" Indeed you have; and it is not only witty
but truthful. I'm afraid you're deeper than
the rest Of us nave any idea Of"
" Perhaps I am" thought Florence; "at
least, deeper than you believe"
When the countess nuttcrcd down 70 her
Observation-Disclosures hated the sight Of it
aud drove away Florence remembered her
letters And when sne came 10 the one pnr.
porting to B, from her father she read II
carefully bent her head in thought and final.
ly destroyed the misslyc absolutely confident
that it was only trap and not very wen
conceived at that Norton had given hcr
plenty Of reasons for believing all sucn let
tcrs TO be foreeries. Her father. if he really
wished to see her would enter the house: he
would not write. An, whom would she see
tnat father of hers, so mysterious, always
lowering near always unseen?
1t must have been an amusing adventure
for the countess To steal into the summer
house and wait there not knowing if Flo.
renee had advised Jones or the reporter If
caught she had her excuses. Paron. the
confident, however, appeared shortly after.
My child, - whispered the man.
And Olga sti1cd laugh; but to him il
sounded like a son.
am worn out" he said. 81 am tired
Of the game Of hide and seek"
You vii not have to play the game long
thought Olga.
The n"acy Is hidden in my Office down.
town. And we must 20 there at once When
we return We will pack mp and leave for
Europe I've lonccd to see you so."
Nan poor fool And they sent you TO
supcrsclc Ieo~ sne muscd.
Sic played ont the farce to the very end.
She permitted herself to be pinoned and
inn-.nI- nma fnr ,,hnt rnrnnnrrnr- ...-h.---