The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-27
9 Tz8MLllON DOLLAR MYSTERY 9
& "' HAROLD MAC GRATH"- -
Observation-Disclosures

. Five days later, as she and the riding mas.
ter were cantering along the road, enjoying
every bit of it, they heard the beat Of hoofs
behind. They drew up and turned. A rider
was approaching them at a run. It was the
head groom. The man stopped his horse in a
cloud of dust.
"Sir, the stables are on fret"
* "Fire?"
All the riding masters savings we're in,
vested in the stables. The fact that he had
solemnly promised never to leave Florence
alone and that he had accepted a generous
bonus slipped from his mind at the thought
of fire, a terrible word to any horseman. He
wheeled and started off at breakneck speed,
his head groom gathering behind him.
Florence naturally wondered which of two
courses to pursue: follow them, when she
would be perfectly helpless to aid them, or
continue the ride and save at least one horse
from the terror of seeing flames. She chose
the latter. But she did not ride with the
"AASL Out ASII uepESSSeu. one l0VeJ
horses, and the thought of them dying in those
wooden stables was horrifying.
The fire, however, proved to be incipient
But it was plainly incendiary. Some one had
set fire to it with a pIrpose in view. Norton
recognized this fact almost as soon as the fire.
men. He had come this morning with the idea
Of CIrnrjCinn E1oro1oo H. $500 ~a.n- -A
horseback to join her.
His spine grew suddenly cold. A traul
She had been left alone on the road He ran
over to the garage, secured a car, and went
%humming out toward the river road. A trap,
and only by the sheerest luck had he turned
up in time.
Meantime Florence was walking her mount
slowly. For once the scenery passed unob-
served. She was deeply engrossed with her
thoughts, some of which were happy and some
of which were sad. If only her father could
be with her she would be the happiest girl
alive.
She was brought out Of her revery By the
sight Of a man staggering along the road
ahead of her. Finally he plunged upon his
lace in the road. Like the tender hearted girl
she was, she stopped, dismounted, and ran to
the fallen man to give him aid. She suddenly
found her wrists clasped in two hands like
iron. The man rose to his feet, smiling evilly.
She struggled wildly but futilely.
Better be sensible" he said. 81 am
stronger than you are. And l don't wish to
hurt you. Walk on ahead of me. 1t will be
utterly useless to scream or cry out. You
can see for yourself that We are in a deserted
part of the road. If you will promise to act
sensibly l shan't lay a hand on you. Do you
see that hut yonder, near the fork in the roadT
Well stop there. Now, march,"
She dropped her handkerchief, later her
bracelet, and finally her crop, in hope that
these slight clews might bring her help. She
knew that Jones would hear Of the fire, and,
finding that she had not returned with the
riding master, would Immediately start out In
pursuit. She was beginning to grow very
fond Of Jones, who never spoke unless spoken
to, who was always at hand, faithful and
loyal.
From afar came the low rumble of a motor.
She wondered If her captor heard it. He did,
but his ears tricked him into believing that it
came from another direction. Eventually they
arrived at the hut, and Florence was forced
to enter. The man locked the door and waited
outside for the automobile which he was ex-
pecting. He was rather dumfounded when he
saw that it was coming from the city, not
going toward it.
1t was Norton. The riderle-s horse told
him enough the handkerchief and bracelet
and crop led him straight for the hut.
The man before the hut realized by this
time that he had made a mistake. He at
tempted to RENTER the hut and prepare to
defend 1t till his companionH hove in sight.
But Florence, recognizing Norton, held the
door with all her strength. The man snarled
and turned upon Norton, only to receive a
smashing blow on the Jaw.
Norton flung open the door. Into the car,
Florence! There's another car coming up
the road. Hurryl" {,
It was not a long chase. The car of the
auto bandits, looking like an ordinary taxicab.
was a high power machine; AMI It gained
swiftly on Norton's four-cy1inder. The re,
porter waited grimly. 80
Keep your head DOWN." he warned Flor.
ence. "I'm going to take "a pot at their tires .
when they get within range. II I miss, I'm
afraid we'll have trouble. Under no circum.
stances attempt to leave this car. Here they
comet" 4
He suddenly leaned back and fred. It wax
only chance. The manner in which the cars
were lurching made a poor target for a marks