The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-12-30

said he would be rack.
She went into the library and picked
up the telephone. She was told that
Mr.. Norton was out on an assignment
but that he would be notified the mo
ment he returned. She opened draw
er in the desk. She touched the au'
tomato, but did not take it up. She
left the drawer open, however.
Earlier, at the newspaper Office that
night, jim went into the managing ed
itor's Office and laid a bulky manu-
script on that gentleman's desk
"Is this it?"
TT is said jim.
"You have captured them?'
mo; but there is net about them
from which not one shall escape
There's the story Of my adventures, OF
the adventures of Miss Hargreave and
the butler, Jones. You'll find it eS.
citing enough. You might just as well
send It up to the composing room. At
midnight III telephone the introduc'
ton. It's scoop. Don't worry about
that"
The editor rihed the pages.
"A hundred and twelve pages, 300
words to the page; man it's novel;
It'll read like one.'
"Sit down for a moment and let me
skim through the first story"
At the end of ten minutes the editor
laid down the copy. He opened a draw
er and took out two envelopes. The
blue cne he tore up and dropped into
the waste basket. Norton understood
and smiled They had meant to dis
charge him if he fell down. The Other
envelope was fat one.
open it," said the editor, smiling a
little to himself.
This envelope contained q check for
$500, two round.trip frst-class tickets
to Liverpool, together with innumer'
able continental tickets such as are
issued to tourists.
"Why two?" asked Jim, inlocently
Forget it, my boy, forget it. You
ought to know that in this eHice we
don't employ blind men. The whole
staff is on. There you are, fat cheek
and three months vacation. Go and
get married; and Il you return before
the three months are up I'll fire you
myself on general principles"
Jim laughed happily and the two
men shook hands. Then Jim went
forth to complete the big assignment
Five minutes later Florence called him
up to learn that he had gone.
: What should s ; DO? Jones had
told her to stay in the house and not
to leave it. But where was he? Why
did he not come? What was the mean
ing Of this desertion by the servants
She wandered about aimlessly, looking
out of windows, imagining forms n
the shadows. Her imagination had
not deceived her; she had heard doors
close softly.
: Susan, Susan!" she murmured; 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 a light and Joyous character
After half an hours wandering about
the lonely house she returned to the
library, feeling that she would be
safer where both telephone and re-
volver we're.
And while she sat waiting for she
knew not what, her swiftly beating
ieart sending the blood into her throat
so that it almost suffocated her, man
turned into the street and walked
noiselessly toward the Hargreave
place. He passed a man leaning
against a lamppost, but he never
turned to look at him.
This man, however, threw away his
cigar and hot-footed it 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-Staniey Har'
greave in the flesh! Half an hour
after his telephone message the chief
Of the Black Hundred and many lesser
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 end fear,
lessly to the front door, produced
latchkey and entered. He passed
through the hall and reception room
to the library and paused on the
threshold dramatically. Florence
stepped back with a sharp cry OF
alarm. She had heard the hall door
open and close and had taken it fc-
granted that Jones had entered.
There was tableau Of short dura.
ton.
Don't you know me?" asked the
stranger in singularly pleasant voice
Florence had been imposed upon
too many times. She shook her head
defantly, though her knees shook sc
that she was certain that the least
touch would send her over.
II 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. 1t was smile
that caused Florence to wayer a bit
Still she extended her arm.
"You do not believe me?" said the
man, advancing slowly.
"No. have been deceived too many
times, sir. Stay where you are. You
will wait here till my butler returns
Oh, if / we're 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 onei
How I have watched over you in the
street! I will tell you what only Jones
and the reporter know, that the avia