The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-08-09

butler with bis grim smile. BE OH; they
are moving back toward the house"
So Norton carried the basket around to til.
lawn. where il was taken from his hands BY
the regular servant lie sighed as he saw
Florence, laughing and chatting with man
who was stranger and whom ne heard ad.
dressed as count some friend Of the countess,
no doubt Where vas all this tanele going
to end: lie wished be knew. And what a
yarn be was gong TO write some day. 1t
would be r"7d like one 81 GaboTians tales
lie turned away 70 wander idly about the
grounds when beyond ciump Of cedars ne
Sa" three OF tour nea eonTeFs'nS ioWiy. de
GOT as neaf as possible i'' "aen three OF
TOUR men put fheF heaas together ana
Whisper a''''i.''l..i's' Il as0'''' means poker
game OF S8lls.-.as '99Se, ne caught
phrase OF 'V' 4s u cane o'"D 'ne WING ana
D'e" "' N''g" @5 54t ''@'' Eo'p'e!!o"S 'hat
H"u O'0.sA' '''i5' our psfe nH4 "een set IN
Ho''o" w l&1e, ne ntseFl 4rehce ana
t"' ''' drawing room 4aa 'nat was
enough
he seaTr.ea about for Jones. It was purs
'nc6 T"a' lie nan had "-d Neg snow aim
through ''e 1'ese. aef"'ss ne "on'd nave
i'Fs'''en a. ''e"s 'le secret f""e' IN the
wall ana me painting. d n's shrugged
r'7I7ht"'S' ere '3.s@ men OK 'Ae countess
party '','''.'' .',,'.1 say
Norton ma4e his aiaiGs place in safety;
ana ~ ma ny ~ could near the guests NOV
ing ABOUT n tae room, lAeh al sounds
ceased far "1iis. Norton strained his ear
against the panel \ door c'oSea Sharply
" Mo- here you must star, young lady,
said mans voice.
What Do yoa mean, sir?" demanded the
beloved voice.
:" It means that no one will return to this
room and faat You viii not be missed until
ii is too late"
The sound Of voices stopped abruptly, and
something Ike scaff4inE ensued. Later Nor
ton heard the back Of a chair strike the
panel and some one sat heavily upon it, He
waited perhaps five minutes; then he gently
slid back the panel Florence sat bound and
gagged under his very eyes! Il was but the
work Of a moment to Iberate her.
at is I. Jim. Do not speak or make the
least noise Follow me"
Greatly astonished. Florence obeyed; and
the panel slipped back into place. The room
behind the secret panel had barred windows.
To Florence il appeared to be a real prison.
How did you get here?" she asked
breathessIy.
Something told me to follow you. And
something ia always going to tell me to fol-
low you, Florence"
She pressed his hand 1t was TO her as
II one of those book heroes had stepped ont
of a book only book heroes always had ire
mendous fortunes and did not have to wor. for
q living. OdTly enough. she was not afraid
" Who was the man." he asked.
The Count Norfeldt Some one has inn
posed upon the countess
Do you think so" with strange look
In his eyes
- What do you mean?"
"NotAiug JUST now. The idea is to get
ont If here just as quickly as we can. See
this panting?o He touched a spot on the
wall and the painting slowly swung out like
door " Come. NE make our escape TO the
side wn from here"
At tile stable fbev were confronted with
the knowledge that N5rton's car was our or
commission; ZONES could do nothing with 4.
Then Norton suggested tnat ba make an -.
fort to commander tn. limousine Of III. conn
tess; but there we're men about 50 thu lin.
CUISINE was oar OF the question.
..uorsesr' Ubisnera3 ronAs "Tbara a..
sarera! esazls horsos airsaa, voa4loa W.
sbour those nacnl. tba ou,r>rsq"
"0 tbar a.. ho,ar, u..ro,.h IT..