Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-19

of information! So Florence Hargreave was
gcing to have new father in a day or so?
There were some clever rogues among this
band of theirs but their cleverness was we'll
Offset by an equal number of fools.
Yes, there were some clever rogues, and to
prove this assertion Braine secured a ta1icab
and drove furiously away, his destination the
home of his ancient enemy. He dropped the
cab block or two away and presently slowed
himself away in the summer house at the left
of the lawn. 1t would Lave been a capital
idea-that is, if the other man had not thought
of and anticipated this very thing. So he used
n public pay station telephone; and Braine
waited in vain, waited till the lights in the
Hargreave house went out one by one and it
became wrapped in darkness within and
moonshine without.
Braine was a philosopher. He returned to
his waiting taxcab, drove home, paid the bill,
smiling Grimly, and went to bed. 1t was going
to be a wonderful game of blind mans buff,
and it was going to be sport 10 watch this fool
Paroff bunder into pit
The next afternoon Florence and Norton sat
in the summer house talking of the future.
Lovers are prone to talk of that AS if any
thing else in the world ever equals the present!
They talked of nice little apartments and vaca
tions in the summer and how much they would
save out of his salary, and thousand and one
other things which would not interest you at
all if | recounted them in detail. But they
did love each other, and they were going to be
married; you may be certain of that. They
did not care snap of the finger what Jones
thought They were going to be married, and
that was all there was to it. OF course, Flor
ence couldn't touch a penny of her fathers
money If he, Norton, couldn't take care of
her without help, why, he wouldn't be worth
the powder to blow him up with.
But, my dear, you must be very careful"
h. said. Jones and 1 will always be about
somewhere If they really get hold OF you
once. God alone knows what will happen. 1t
is not you 1t is your poo- father they want to
bring out into the open. If they knew where
he was they would not bother you in the least"
Have 1 really a father2 Sometimes I
doubt. Why couldn't he steal into the house
and see me, just onceT
Perhaps he dares not. This house is al
ways watched night and day" though you'll
look in vain to discover any one. Your father
knows best what he is doing, my dear girl.
You see, met him years ago in China; and
when he started out to do certain thing he
generally did it. He never botched any of his
plans So we all must wait. Only I'm going
to marry you all the same, whether he likes 1t
or not The rogues will try to impose upon
you again; but do not pay any attention to
notes or personals in the papers. You've been
through enough, And it was a lucky thing
that was on that freighter that picked you
up at sea- l shall always wonder how that
yacht took fire."
:" So shall l." replied Florence, her brows
drawing together in puzzlement. Sometimes
/ think / must have done it, You know, peo-
pie out of their heads do strange things.
seem to see myself as in dream. And this
man Braine is a scoundrel!"
Yes; and more than that, he is the dear
friend of the countess. But understand you
must never let her dream or suspect that you
know. BY lulling her into overconfdence some
day she will naturally grow careless, and then
wen have them all. 1 think 1 understand
what your fathers idea is not to have them
arrested for blackmail, but practically to ex-
terminate them put them in prison for such
terms of years that they'll die there. When
you see a snake, a poisonous one, don't let it
get away Kill it. Well, l must be off to
work"
And you be careful, too. You are in more
danger than l ann