The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1914-11-20


Of the luncheon"
And now I'll so and hunt up Meg"
Sure enough, his old nurse was still
in charge of the house; and when
her baby disclosed his identity she
ali but fell upon his neck.
But what are you doing here,
dressed up as Waiter?"
IT'S little secret, Meg. 7 wasn't
invited, and the truth is I'm very
desperately in love with the young
lady in whose honor this coaching
party is being given. And e.
maybe she's in danger"
Danger? What about?"
1.-THE Lord only knows. But show
NE about the house. I've not been
here in so long I've forgotten the run
! Of it. l remember one room with
the secret panel and another with e.
! painting that turned. Have they
changed tbem?"
mo; 1t is just the same here as 1t
used to be. Come along and I'll show
you"
Norton inspected the rooms care
! fully, slowing away in his mind every
detail. He might be worrying about
nothing; but SO many strange things
! had happened that it was better to be
on the side of caution than on the
| side of carelessness. He left the
house and ran across Jones carrying
! a basket of wine.
Here, Norton; take this to the
! party. | want to reconnoiter''
"All right, m'lud! Say, Jones, how
much do you think I'd earn at this
job?" comically.
Get along with you, Mr.. Norton. It
may be the time to laugh, and then it
may not"
I'm going back into the house and
hide behind secret panel. I've got
my revolver. You go to the stables
and take try at my car; see if she
works smoothly. We may have to do
some hiking. Where is the countess
in this?"
Leave that to me, Mr.. Norton" said
the butler with his grim smile BE
off; they are moving back toward the
house"
So Norton carried the basket around
to the lawn, where it was taken from
his hands by the regular servant. He
sighed as he saw Florence, laughing
and chatting with man who was a
stranger and whom he heard ad-
dressed as count. Some friend of the
countess, no doubt. Where was all this
| tangle going to end? He wished he
knew. And what a yarn he was going
to write some day! 1t would be read
like one of Gaboriau's tales. He
turned away to wander idly about the
grounds, when beyond a clump of &C.
dars he saw three or four men convers-
ing slowly. He got as near as possible,
for when three or four men put their
heads together and whisper animated
ly, it usually means a poker game or
something worse. He caught phrase
or two as it came down the wind, and
then he knew that the vague suspi-
cion that had brought him out here
had been set in motion by fate He
heard Florence" and "the old draw
ing ROOM" and that was enough.
He scurried about for Jones. 1t was
pure luck that he had had old Meg
show him through the house, other
wise he would have forgotten all about
the secret panel in the wall and the
painting. Jones shrugged resignedly.
Were these men of the countess
party? Norton couldn't say.
Norton made his hiding place in
safety; and by and by he could hear
the guests moving about in the room.
Then all sounds ceased for while. A
door closed sharply.
mo; here you must stay, young
lady," said a mans voice
What do you mean, sir?" demanded
the beloved voice.
1T means that no one will return to
this room and that you will not be
missed until it is too late
The sound of voices stopped alb
ruptly, and something like scuffling
ensued. Later Norton heard the back
of 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.
1t was but the work of moment to
liberate her.
1T is T. 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 it ap-
peared to be real prison.
How did you get here?" she asked
breathlessly.
Something told me to follow you.
And something is always going to tell
me to follow you, Florence
She pressed his hand. 1t was to her
as if one of those book heroes had
stepped out of book; only book he
roes always had tremendous fortunes
and did not have to work for liv-
ing. Oddly enough, she was not
afraid.
| f'Who v1yo Tho NOV, 7,