The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-10-14

Norton Put His Arms Around Her.
hours. When he took the stopper out
and poured forth a cup it looked oddly
black, discolored. 1t is quite probable
that had there been no series Of "ac-
ciderts" he would have drunk q cup
and died in mortal agony. It con-
tained bsohloride Of massurz
v%v s1gRs be est sout D hake
tnquSdes. Sas was really becoming
serious, ln the Kitchens downstairs
nothing could be learned. The maid
had SET the thermos betae before the
door at 1890 Norton had opened the
toor at 1:3pthree hours after. The
outlook was Lot the cheerfulest. He
knew, perfectly well why all these
things "happened;;' he had interfered
with the plans of the scoundrels who
were making every possible move to
kidnap Florence Hargreave.
One afternoon he paid Florence q
visit. OF course he told her nothing.
They had become secretly engaged
the day after he had rescued her from
the auto bandits They were secretly
engaged because Florence wanted It
so. For once Jones suspected moth
ing. Why should he? He had trou-
bles enough. AS a matter of fact,
Norton was afraid Of him In the same
sense as boy is afraid Of police
man.
But on this day, when the time
came, he accosted the butler and drew
him into the pantry.
Jones, they are after me now"
You? Explain"
Norton briefly recounted the delib-
crate attempts against his life.
You see. I'm. not liar enough TO
say that I'm not worried. I am, dev-
ilishly worried. I'm not worth any
ransom. I'm in the way, and they
seem determined to putin out Of It"
"To any other man I would say
travel. But to you I say when you
leave your roons don't go where you
first thought you would-that is. some
usual haunt They'll be everywhere,
near your restaurants, your clubs, your
Office. You're methodical young
man; become erratic. Keep away
from here for at least three days, but
always cal. me up by telephone some
time during the day. Never under any
circumstance, unless I send for you,
come here at night Only one man
now watches the house during the
day, but five are proving around af-
ter dark. They might have instruc'
tions to shoot you on sight I can't
spare you just at present, Mr. Nor
ton. You've been a godsend; and If
it seems that sometimes I did not
trust you fully it was because I did
not care to drag you in too Deep"
Deep? Norton thought OF Florence
and smiled iawardly. Could anybody
be in deeper than he was? Once it
was On the tip Of his tongue to con-
fess his love for Florence, but the
gravity of Jones' countena-ce wcs an
obstacle to such move; it did not In
vite It.
To be sure, Jones had no real au-
thority to say what Florence should or
should not do with her heart. Still,
from all points Of view, it was better
to keep the affair under the rose till
there came more propitious hour IN
which to make the disclosure.
Love, IN the midst Of ali these
alarms! Sharp, eesoess roaaas on
soe sya sEssss a IA c@aa and
yet love eoald enter tie scene Sc
renely, Ike an actor who had missed
his cue and came on too soon.
Oddly enough. there vas no real
love-making such as ycu often read
about. s pressure Of the hand. a
glance from the eye, there was seldom
anything mere. Only once-that mem
orable cay On the river road-iHd lie
kissed her. No word Of love lad been
spoken on either side. II thai wild
moment all ccuTentional!Ges had Gis.
appeared like smoke n t!:e wind
There hsd been neither past nor fl
ture, only the present = which ::icy
Enew that they loved. i'ith Ae: Ls