The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1914-10-28

this fool Paroff blunder into pic.
The next afternoon Florence ana
Norton sat in the summer house talk
ing of the future Lovers are prone
to talk of that. AS if anything else
I'm the world ever equals the present!
They talked of nice little apartments
and vacations in the summer and now
much they would save out OF his
salary, and a thousand and one otner
things which would not interest you
at all If 1 recounted them in detail.
But they did love each other, and they
were going to be married; you may De
certain of that. They did not care
a snap of the finger what Jones
thought. They were going to be mar
ried and that was all there was to 1t.
OF course. Florence couldn't touch
penny of her fathers money. II he,
Norton, couldn't take care of her with
out help, why, he wouldn't be worth
the powder to blow him up with
But, my dear, you must be very
careful" he said. Jones and / will
always be about somewhere. If they
really get hold of you once, God alone
knows what will happen. 1t is not
you, it is your poor father they want
to bring out into the open If they
knew where he was they would not
bother you in the least"
Have l really a father? Sometimes
1 doubt. Why couldn't he steal into
the house and see me, just once?"
Perhaps he dares not. This house
is always watched, night and day,
though you'll look in vain to discover
any one. Your father knows best what
he is doing, my dear girl. You see,
1 met him years ago in China; and
when he started out to do certain
thing he generally did it. He never
botched any of his plans. So we all
must wait Only I'm going to marry
you all the same, whether he likes It
or not. The rogues will try to impose
upon you again; but do not pay any
attention to notes or personals in the
papers. And it was a lucky thing that
1 was on the freighter that picked you
up at sea. 1 shall always wonder how
that yacht took fire"
so shall l." replied Florence, her
brows drawing together in puzzle
ment. Sometimes 1 think must have
done it. You know, people out of their
heads do strange things. 1 seem to
see myself as in a dream. And this
man Braine is a scoundrel!"
Eyes; and more than that, he is
the dear friend of the countess. But
understand, you must never let her
dream or suspect that you know By
lulling her into overconfdence some
day she will naturally grow careless.
and then we'll have them all. / think
1 understand what your fathers idea
is: not to have them arrested for
blackmail, but practically to extermin-
ate them, put them in prison for such
terms of years that they'll die there.
When you see snake, a poisonous
one, don't let it get away. Kill it.
Well, must be off to work.
And you be careful, too. You are
in more danger than am"
But I'm a man and can dodge
quick" he laughed, picking up his hat.
what a horrid thing money is! If
I hadn't any money, nobody would
bother me-"
Il would" he smiled. He wanted to
kiss her, but the eternal Jones might
be watching from the windows; and
so he patted her hand instead and
walked down the graveled path to
the street.
1t was difficult work for Florence
to play at friendship. She was like
her father; she did not bestow it on
every one. She had given her friend
ship to the Russian, the first real big
friendship in her life, and she had
been roughly disillusioned But If the
countess could act, so could she; and
of the two her acting was the more
consummate. She could smile and
laugh and jest, all the while her heart
was burning with wrath.
One day, week or so after her
meeting with Norton in the summer
house, Olga arrived, beautifully
gowned, handsome as ever. There
was not the least touch of the adven-
turess in her makeup. Florence had
just received some mail, and she had
dropped the letters on the library table
to greet the countess. She had opened
them, but had not yet looked at their
contents.
They were chatting pleasantly about
inconsequent things, when the maid
came in and asked Florence to come
to Miss SusanS room for a moment.
Florence excused herself. wondering