The Detroit times., 1914-10-29

crouched down again the magic paper
was hers.
II seemed hours to her before the
men left the cave. AS she heard the
hidden door jar in closing she raised
the lid and stepped out. breathing
deeply. The paper she had purloined
was indeed blank. but Jones or Jim
would know what 10 do with 1t. And
wouldn't they be surprised when she
told them what she had accomplished
all alone? Her exultation was OF
short duration. She heard the whine
OF the door on its hinges. The men
were returning. Why?
They were returning because they
had discovered woman's shoeprint
outside. II pointed toward the cave.
freshly. and there was none coming
away. To re-enter the chest would be
foolhardy. II would be the first place
the men would look. She glanced
about desperately. She saw but one
chance. the well. And even while the
door was swinging inward, letting the
brilliant sunlight enter, she summon
ed up the courage 10 let herself down
into the well, which proven to be moth
Ing more nor less than an underground
river!
The men came In with rush. They
upset boxes, looked into the chest, and
the man who was evidently In COM
mand gazed down the well. shaking
HIS head. Their search was thorough.
but they found no one. And at length
they began to reason that perhaps q
woman had got az far as the door
and then turned away. walking on the
turf.
Meantime Florence was borne along
by the swift current of the river.
which gained In swlftness every mo-
ment. From time 10 time she bumped
along the rocky walls. but she chung
TO life valiantly. In 10 minutes she
was swept to the other side Of the
hill, into the rapids: but the blue sky
was overhead. she was out In the IA
miliar world again. On. on she was
carried. Even though size was half
dead. she could hear the roar Of
falls somewhere In advance.
Braine thought he really had a clue
to the treasure, and with his usual
promptness he set about to learn II
1t was worth anything. He procured
a launch and began to prowl about.
using pole as feeler. All the whole
he was being closely watched by Nor
ton, who had concluded to hang onto
Braine's trail till he found something
worthy of note. Braine was disguised,
but this time Jim was not to be fool
ed. But what was he looking for,
wondered the reporter. Braine con-
tinued to pole along. sometimes paus-
ing to look over the gunwale down
into the water. In raising his head
after the last investigation he discern
ed something struggling In the water.
about 800 YARDS away. The current
leisurely brought the object into full
view. II was young woman with
just power enough to keep herself
afoat. The golden head reused some
thing in him stronger than curiosity.
II might be.
Braine proceeded to move the
launch In the direction Of the girl. II
was this movement that turned the
reporters gaze. He. too, now saw the
woman In the water and wondered
how she had come there. When
Braine reached the girl and pulled
her into the launch Jim saw her face
plainly.
He few from his vantage point,
found skin. and started after Braine.
by the Lord Harry" murmured
the rogue. well, they can talk OF
mamma from heaven, but this Is what
call luck. Florence Hargreave, out of
nowhere, into my arms! The god OF
luck has cast another horseshoe and
It's NINE"
He had flask IN his pocket, and
he forced some OF the biting spirits
down the girls throat. She opened
her eyes.
well. my beauty?"
Florence eyed him wildly, not quite
understanding where he had come
from.
II don't know how yor got here"
he said; and don't care. But here
we are together at last Where is
your father"
Il don't know" dazedly.
Better think quickly" he warned.
81 want lucid answers to my ques-
tions. or back you go into the water.
I'm about at the end Of my rope.
I've been beaten too many times, my
girl, to have any particular love for