The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-11-20

Norton.
q promise that. But, all! hasten
the day when he can come to me
without fear"
That is my wish ALSO"
You need not call me miss. Why
should you?"
1T might not be wise to have any
one hear me call you thus Familiarity"
he objected gravely.
please yourself about that. Now
must telephone jim"
"Jim?" the butler murmured.
He caught the word which was not
intended for his ears. But for once
Jones had been startled out Of him
self.
"Is it wrong for me to call Mr.. Nor
ton Jim?" she asked with a bit Of
banter.
ait is not considered quite the prop
er thing, Miss Florence, to call a
young man by his first name unless
you are engaged to marry him, or
grew up with him from childhood"
We'll, supposing l were engaged to
him." haughtily.
THAT would be a very grave affair.
What have you to prove that he may
not wish to marry you for your
money!"
why. Jones. you know that /
haven't a penny in the world / car
call my own! There is nothing to
prove, except your word, that | am
Stanley Hargreave's daughter"
mo, there is nothing to prove that
you are his daughter. But hasn't 1t
ever occurred to you that there might
be a purpose back Of this? Might It
not be Of lnestimable value that your
fathers enemies should be lea in
doubt? Might 1t not be a means OF
holding them on the leash? There is
, proof, ample proof. my child; and
I when the time comes these will be
2 shown you. But meantime put all
l thought Of marrying Mr.. Norton out
Of your mind"
q That I refuse to do" quietly. II
am at least mistress OF m y heart;
and nj n shall dictate to me whom
I shall or shall not marry. l love Mr..
o Norton and he loves me, knowing that
O l may not be an heiress after all. And
some day l shall marry him"
Jones bowed. This seemed to ap-
pear final to him, and nothing more
was to be said.
Norton did not return to his rooms
It'll seven. He found the telephone
call and also a note in a handwriting
unfamiliar. He tore of the envelope
n and found the contents to be from the
Countess Perigof,
~ Call at eight tonigh,," he read. {"
have an important news story for YOU
Tell no one, as I cannot be involved
In the case. Cordially, Olga, Countess
Perigof."
Humph! Norton twlddled the not,
in his fingers and at length rolled I
into a ball and threw II into the vast,
basket. He. too, made a mistake: h
should have kept that note. H
dressed. dined. and hurried on to tn,
apartments Of the countess.
He arrived ten minutes before Flor
ence and Susan.
And Jones did some rapid telephon
~ ing, =
How long. how long," the butle
- murmured. How long would thi
&c strange combat last? The strain wa
terrible. He slept but little durin
ri the nights, for his ears were Away
waiting for sounds. He had cas-
the chest into the sea. and It woul
take a dozen expert divers to locat
IL And now, atop OF all these VOL
ries. the child must fall in love wit
the first conner! 1t was h~eartbreal
ing Norton. so far as he had learned
Z was cool and brave, honest and rel
able in a pinch; but as the husban
OF Stanley H~argreave's daughter, rtha
was altogether a different matter. An
he must devise some means OF putin
a stop to 1t, but
But he was saved that trouble.
Mongoose and cobra, that was tn
game being played; the cunning {
the one against the deadly venom {
the other. II ne forced matters b
would only lay himself open to III
strike Of the snake. He must hay
patience. Gradually they we're breal
ing the organization, looping OF
branch here and there, but the peaC
OF the future depended upon gettin
a grip on the spine OF the cobra hir
self.
The trick was simple. The coun
~ ess had news; trust her for that. sh
n. exhibited q ~cablegram, dated at CT
raltar, in which the British author
ties stated definitely that no such
bit person as William 0rts, aviator, ha
arrived at Gibraltar. And then. as b
rose. she rose also and gently preci.
be itated herself into his arms, Just
ng the moment Florence appeared in II
d I doorway.
ian Very simple. indeed. When a wor
an falls toward a man there is not
1t ing for him to do but extend his arm
to prevent her from falling. outwar
ly, however. to the eye which ga
he only the picture and comprehend
not the cause, It had all the HALLMARK