The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-09-30

himself: instead, he was distinctly
and delightfully."- entertained.
You don't" he said whimstcally,
when she finally stopped, you don't,
by any chance, know The Matden's
Prayer?"
She laughed. THIS piece was
standing Joke at school.
II have never played It. It may,
however, be in the music cabinet.
Would you like to hear it," mis-
chievously.
Heaven forfend!" he murnured,
raising his hands.
All the while the letter burned
against her heart, and the smile on
her face and the gayety on her tongue
were forced. "Confde in no one," she
repeated mentally. 'or you seal my
death warrant"
why do you shake your head Ike
that?" he asked.
did I shake my head?' Her heart
futtered wildly. y was not conscious
OF it."
Are you going to keep your prom
ise?"
What promise?"
Never to leave this house without
Jones or myself being with you"
"I couldn't If I wanted to. III wa
ger Jones is out there in the hall
this minute. I know; It IS all for
my sake. But it bothers me-"
Jones vas indeed in the hall, and
when he sensed the petulance in her
voice his shoulders sank despondently
and he sighed deeply if silently.
At a quarter to eight Florence. being
alone for a minute, set fire to veil
and stuffed 1t down the register.
Jones'" she called excitedly, II
smell something burning!"
Jones dashed into the room, shifted,
and dashed out again. heading for the
cellar door. His first thought was
naturally that the devils incarnate had
set fire to the house. When he re-
turned, having. Of course, discovered
no fire, he found Florence gone. He
rushed into the hall. Her hat was
missing. He made for the hall door
with a speed which seemed incredible
to the bewildered Susan's eyes. Gut
into the street, up and down which
he looked. Far away he discovered q
dwindling taxicab. The child was
gone.
In the house Susan was answering
the telephone, talking incoherently.
"Who is it?" Jones whispered. his
lips white and dry.
The princess. ." began Susan.
He took the receiver from her
roughly.
Hello, who is it?'
This is Olga perigotr. Is Florence
the-e?"
mo, madam. She has Just stepped
out for g moment. Shall I tell her
to call you when she returns?"
"Yes, please. I want her and Su-
san and Mr.. Norton to come to tea
tomorrow. Good-by."
Jones hung up the receiver, sank
into chair near by and buried his
face in his hands.
What Is it," cried Susan, terrified
by the haggardness Of his face.
"She's gone! Ny God. those
wretches have got her! They've got
her!"
Florence was whirled away at top
speed. Her father! She was actually
on the way to her father, whom she
had always loved in dreams. yet never
seen.
Number IS Grove street was not an
attractive place, but when she ar
rived she was too highly keyed to
take note Of Its sordidness. She was
rather out OF breath when she reached
the door Of the third fat. She knocked.
timidly. The door was instantly
opened by a man who wore a black
mask. She would have turned then
and there and down out for the swift
picture she had os well-dressed man
at a table. He lay with his head upon
his arms.
"Father!" she whispered.
The man raised his careworn face,
so very we'll done that only the closest
scrutiny would have betrayed the
paste Of the theater He arose and
staggered toward her with out
stretched arms. But the moment they
closed about her Florence experienced
a peculiar shiver.
my child" murmured the broken
man. They caught me when I was
about to come to you. I have given
up the fight" A sob choked him.
What was it? wondered the child,
her heart burning with the misery Of
the thought that she was sad instead
Of glad. Over his shoulder she sent
a glance about the room There was
a sofa, q table, some chairs and an
enormous clock, the face Of which was
dented and the hands hopelessly tan
gled. Why, at such a moment, she
should note such details disturbed
her. Then she CHANGED to look into
the cracked mirror. In it she saw
several faces, all masked These men
were peering at her through the half
closed door behind her.
"You must return home and bring
me the money" went on the wretch
who dared to perpetrate such mock
cry. 1T is all that stands between
me ard death"
Then she knew! The ilsistent daily
warnings came hcme to her She un-
de-stood now. She had deliberately
walked into the spiders net But in
stead CT terror an extraordinary calm
fell upon her.
Very well. father, will 60 and
get it." Gently she released herself
from, those horrible arms.
Wait. my child. till see If they
vii! let you 90. They may wish to
..o.,