The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-12-19

u Was a Letter on the Sack Of which
MAJ Drawn the Fatal Black Mask.
you VIII come imlueuIateiy
Yes. yesl"
Florence snapped the receiver on
the hook. She wanted TO ny, nv. Ho
was hurt How. when. where?
susan SUSAN" she called.
What Is Il. F%lorence?" asked Susan,
running into the room.
"Jim is badly hurt. lie wants me TO
come at once. o. Susan, I've been
dreading something all day long" Flor.
cnce struck the maids bell. My
wraps. You viii SO with me. Susan"
Where. Miss Florence" asked the
maid alive 10 her duty.
Where? What IS that 10 you?" de-
handed Florence. who did not know
that this maid was u detective.
Why not wait TIL Mr.. Jones re-
turns?" she suggested patiently
And let the man l love die?"
vchemeutly.
AT least you will leave word where
eA uNN hNihhs Mioh tlhItANfi
The Queen hotel And II you say
another word III discharge you. Come
Susan"
There happened 20 be a taxicab con-
%vCn'ently hear (as Nroon took care
there should be-. and Florence al once
engaged IL. She did no; sec the man
hiding IN the bushes. The two young
women stepped into the taxicab and
were driven of. They had been gone
less than five minutes when Jones re.
turned with his purchase. to find the
house empty OF its most valuable asset.
IL a furious. not only at the maid,
who. he realized. was virtually help
less, but at his own negligence
In the midst Of his violent ~harangue
the bell sounded. IN his bones he knew
what was going 10 be found there. II
was n letter on the back OF which
wss drawn the fatal black mask. With
shaking fingers be tore open the en-
vclope and read the contents;
Florence is now In our power. Only The
surrender 81 the million will save her
our agent VIII call in an hour for on an
FWcr.
THE BLACK HUNDRED
As a matter OF fact. they had wanted
Jones almost rs badly as Florence.
but her desire FOR a book-some
popular story OF the day-had saved
him from the net The letter mad
been written against this possibility.
Jones became cool. now that he
knew Just what 20 face Tho Queen
hotel mea nothing. Florence would
not be taken there. He called up Nor
ton II took all the buffers patience,
however, as Il required seven dfnerent
calls to locate the reporter.
Meantime the tnxicab containing
Florence and Susan spun madly toward
the water front Here the two were
separated By an effective threat Flor.
ence recognized the mar NrOOn and
knew that 20 plead for mercy would
be a waste OF time. She permitted
herself 10 be led 20 a waiting laU 4h.
Always when she disobeyed ea
something like this happened. But
this time they had cunningly struck
az 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 10 be held AZ a hostage
Would Susan have mentality enough
to tell Jones where the taxicab had
stopped? She doubted. IN an emer.
gency Susan had proved herself a
%nonentity, a bundle Of h~ysierioal
thrills.
As q matter OF fact. for once Flor.
ence's deductions were happily rong.
When the chauffeur peremptorlly de-
posted Susan on The lonely country
road. several miles from home. she
ran hot-foot 10 the nearest telephone
and sent q very concise message
home Susan was becoming acclimated
10 this strange. exciting existence.
Norton arrived IN due time. and
be 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 ! believe they we're
after me NJ well AS Florence. Half
an hour gone"
Trust mel" cried Norton.
And he ran out 10 his auto. II was
a Wild ride Several policemen shouted
after him. but he went on unmindmi
They could take his license number
a hundred times for all he cared. So
they had got her? They could wait
tl their enemy's vigilance Stacked
and then would strike? but susan
The next time he saw Susan he was
going 10 take her In his arms and kiss
her II might be a new sensation 20
kiss Susan. always 20 prim and onlsh.
Corey street-that had been her direc.
ton They had put Florence IN a