Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1914-11-06

SA0 POWUCA W OAoW UP WILL
But, my dear, you must be very
careful" he said. Jones and I will
always be about somewhere. If they
really get hold of you once, God alone
knows what will happen. 1t is not
you, it Is your poor father they want
to bring out into the open. If they
knew where. he was they would not
bother you in the least" 4
Have really a father? Sometimes
I doubt. Why couldn't he steal into
the house and see me, just once?"
Perhaps he dares not. This house
ia always 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,
l 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 it
or not. The rogues will try to impose
upon you again; but do not pay any
attention to notes or personals in ths
papers. And it was lucky thing that
was on the freighter that picked you
UP at sea. l shall always wonder how
that yacht took fire."
$50 shall l." replied Florence, her
brows drawing together in puzzle.
ment. Sometimes think I must have
done 1t. You know, people out of their
heads do strange things. l seem to
see myself as in a dream And this
man Braine' is a scoundrel!".
Eyes; and more than that. he is
the dear friend of the countess. Bat
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 we'll have them all l think
understand what your, fathers. idea
is: not to have them arrested Tor
blackmail, but practically to extermin.
ate, 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, must be off to work."
And you be careful, too. You are
in more danger than am"
But I'm man and can, dodge
quick" he laughed, picking up his hat.
horrid thing money is !! II
I hadn't any money, nobody would
bother me-" ',s@ va -. .'
Il would" he smiled. He wanted to
kiss her, but the eternal Jones might
be watching from the windows; and
SO he patted her hand instead and
walked down the graveled path to
the street. ~ :s.sE ,tl-t..+e' *. ~,
y It was difficult work for Florence
to play at friendship. She was like
: her father; she did not bestow it on
every one. She had given her friend.
ship to the Russian, the first real big
friendship In her life, and she had
been roughly disiIusioned. But if the
countess could act, so could she; and
Of the two her acting was the more
cOnsummate. She could smile and
laugh and jest, all the while her heart
was burning with wrath. '@' ~.
One day, a week or SO after he1
meeting with Norton in the summer
house, Olga arrived, beautifully
gowned. handsome as ever. There
was not the least touch of the adven'
tNress in her makeup. Florence had
just received some mail, and she had
dropped the letters on the library table
to greet the countess. She had opened
them, but had not yet looked at theil
contents. ,--.'s. ~. .T:5 .
They were chatting pleasantly about
tnconsequent things, when the maid
came in and asked Florence to come
to Miss Susan's room for a moment
Florence excused herself, wondering
what Susan could want. She forgot
the mail. al, s,tjs .s.... .,.33.. 3. 5ss 2
AS soon as she was gone the count.
ess, certain that Jones was not Turk.
ing about, picked up the letters and
calmly examined their contents; and
among them she found this remark.
able document: Dear daughter
have. never seen: l must turn the