The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-11-12

information! So Florence Hargreave
was going to have a new father in a
day or so? There were some clever
rogues among this band of theirs; but
their cleverness was we'll Offset by an
equal number of fools.
Yes, there were some clever rogues,
and to prove this assertion Braine
secured taxicab and drove furiously
away, his destination the home of his
ancient enemy. He dropped the cab
q block or two away and presently
slowed himself away in the summer
house at the left of the lawn. 1t would
have been a capital idea-that is, If
the other man had not thought of and
anticipated this very thing. So he
used public pay station telephone;
and Braine waited in vain, waited
till the lights in the Hargreave house
vent out one by one and it became
wrapped in darkness within and moon
shine without.
Braine was a philosopher. He re-
turned to his waiting taxicab, drove
home, paid the bill, smiling grimly,
and went to bed. 1t was going to be
a wonderful game of blind mans buff,
and it was going to be sport to watch
this fool Paroff blunder into pit.
The next afternoon Florence and
Norton sat in the summer heuse talk
ing of the future Lovers are prone
to talk of that. AS If anything else
in the world ever equals the present!
They talked of nice little apartments
and vacations in the summer and how
much they would save out Of his
salary, and thousand and one other
things which would not interest you
at all if | recounted them in detail.
But they did love each other, and they
we're going to be married; you may be
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 it.
OF course, Florence couldn't touch
penny of her fathers money. If 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 l 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 really father? Sometimes
I 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,
] met him years ago in China; and
.Hhen he started out to do a certain
Thing he generally did it. He nevei
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
l was on the freighter that picked you
up at sea. | shall always wonder how
that yacht took fire."
so shall l." replied Florence, her
brows drawing together in puzzle
ment. Sometimes ! think l must have
done it. You know, people out Of their
heads do strange things. / seem to
see myself as in dream. And this
man Braine is a scoundrel."
"Yes 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 overconfidence some
day she will naturally grow careless,
and then we'll have them all. think
! 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 a snake, a poisonous
one, don't let it get away. Kill it.
Well, l must be off to work"
And you be careful, too. You are
in more danger than l am"
But I'm a man and can dodge
quick" he laughed, picking up his hat
What a horrid thing money is! II
! 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; ant
so he patted her hand instead ant
walked down the graveled path tt
the street.
1t was difficult work for Florence
to play at friendship. She was lik'
her father; she did not bestow it OF
every one. She had given her friend
ship to the Russian, the first real BIZ
friendship in her life, and she hat
been roughly disillusioned But If tn,
countess could act, so could she; ant
of the two her acting was the NOR
consummate. She could smile an
laugh and jest, all the while her hear
was burning with wrath.
Oua daU Waak 0r cn affair he