The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1914-10-16

empty OF its most valuable asset, He
was furious, not only at the maid, who
he realized, was virtually helpless, but |
at his own negligence.
In the midst of his violent harangue |
the bell sounded In his bones he
knew what was going to be found |
there. 1t was letter on the back |
OF which was drawn the fatal black
mask. With shaking fingers he tore
open the envelope and read the con-
tents. Florence is now in our DOW
er. Only the surrender of the million
Will save her. Our agent will call in
an hour for an answer
THE BLACK HUNDRED"
| AS matter of fact, they had want
ed Jones almost as badly as Florence,
but her desire for book-some pop
ular story of the day-had saved him
from the net. The letter had been
written against this possibility.
Jones became cool. now that he
knew just what danger to face. The
Queen hotel meant nothing. Flor
ence would not be taken there. He
called up Norton. 1t took all the but
lers patience, however, as it requir-
ed seven different calls to locate the
reporter.
Meantime the taxicab containing
Florence and Susan spun madly to-
ward the water front Here the two
were separated by an effective threat.
| Florence recognized the man Vroon
and knew that to plead for mercy
would be a waste of time. She per-
mitted herself to be led to waiting
| launch. Always when she disobeyed
Jones something like this happened
! But this time they had cunningly
struck at her heart, and all thought
of her personal safety became as
nothing. For the present she knew
that she was in no actual physical
| danger. She was merely to be held
as a hostage. Would Susan have
mentality enough to tell Jones where
the taxicab had stopped? She doubt
ed In an emergency Susan had Prov
ed herself nonentity, bundle of
| hysterical thrills.
! AS a matter of fact, for once Flor
ence's deductions We're happily wrong.
! When the chauffeur peremptorily de-
| posted Susan on the lonely country
road, several miles from home, she
ran hot-footed to the nearest tele-
phone and sent very concise mess
age home. Susan was becoming ac-
climated to this strange, exciting ex-
| istence.
Norton arrived in due time, and he
and Jones were mapping out a plan
when Susan's message came.
Good girl" said Jones. "She's
learning. Can you handle this alone,
Norton? They want me out of the
house again, for I believe they were
after me as well as Florence. Half
an hour gone!"
Trust mel" cried Norton.
And he ran out to his auto. 1t was
wild ride. Several policemen
shouted after him. but he went on
unmindful. They could take his Ii
cense number a hundred times for all
he cared. So they had got her? They
could wait till their enemy's vigilance
Stacked and then would strike? But
Susan! The next time he saw Susan
he was going to take her in his arms
and kiss her. 1t might be new SEN
sation to kiss Susan, always SO prim
and ofish. Corey Street-that had
been her direction. They had put
Florence in motor boat at the foot
of Corey street. He was perhaps half
an hour behind.
Florence never opened her lips. She
stared ahead proudly. She would
show these scoundre1s that she was
her fathers daughter. They piled her
with questions, but she pretended not
to hear.
well, pretty bird, we'll make you
speak when the times comes. We've
got you this trip where we want you
There won't be any jumping overheard
this session, believe me. We've
: wasted enough time. We've got you
and we're going to keep you.'
Let her be-" said Vroon morosely
"We'll put all the questions we wish
, when we're at our destination" An6
he nodded significantly toward the
ships riding at anchor.
Florence felt her heart sink in spite
4 of her abundant courage. We're they
going to take her to sea again? She
had acquired a horror of the sea, {
big, so terrible, so strong. She hat
t had an experience with its sullen pow
t err. They had gone about four mile!
/ down when she looked back longingl.
3 toward shore. Something white
e seemed to be spinning over the watel
far behind. At first she could no
t discern what it was. AS she watched
it it grew and grew. 1t finally emery
,, ed from the llluSIOHl VI d SlSdHtlC Din
into the actually of an everyday by
t droplane Her heart gave grea
t bound. This flying machine was com
e ing directly toward the launch; j
:. did not deviate hairs breadth from
7 the line. Fortunately the men wer
looking toward a huge freighter
quarter of a mile further on, and from
:. their talk it was evident that tina
freighter was to be her prison-boun
for where? Nearer and nearer cam
e the hydroplane. Was it for her?
! 1t was impossible for the men no
{. to take notice of the barking of tn
u engines at last.
y THE things heading for us!'
Il Vroon stared under his palm.
was not credible that pursuit had TAX
en- place so quickly. To test yonde
n man-bird he abruptly changed tn
e course of the launch. The hydroplan
veered it's course to suit.
Florence heard her name Gale
!, family. One of the men drew his re