The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-12-09

Norton laughed. Il can't get any
thing out Of you
Much less any one else. I'm grow
ing fond Of you, my boy. You're a
man"
Thanks; and goodnight"
When Olga Perigoff called the next
day Jones divested himself Of his liV-
cry, donned plain coat and hat, and
left the house stealthily. Today he
was determined to learn something
definite in regard to this suave, hand
some Russian. When she left the
house Jones rose from his hiding place
and proceeded to follow her. The re-
suit Of this espionage on the part Of
Jones will be seen presently.
Meantime Jim went down to the
Office and lied cheerfully about his
missing the general Whether the
city editor believed him or not is Of
no matter. Jim went over to his desk.
From the corner Of his eye he could
see Gregg scribbiing away. He never
raised his head as Jim sat down to
read his mail. After awhile Gregg
rose and left the Office; and, Of course,
Jim left shortly afterward. When the
newcomer saw that he was being fol-
lowed, he smiled and continued on his
way. This Norton chap was suspi-
cious. All the better; his suspicious
should be made the hook to land him
with. b. and BY the man turned into
a drug store and jim loitered about
till he reappeared. Gregg walked
with brisker steps now. It was his in
tention TO lead Norton on a wild goose
chase for an hour or SO, long enough
to give Braine tine 70 arrange a vel
come at another house.
Norton kept perhaps half block in
the rear Of his man ali the while. But
for this caution he would have wit
messed little rantomime that would
have put him wholly upon his guard.
Turning a corner, Gregg all but
bumped into the countess. He was
quick enough to place finger on his
lips and motion lis head toward a
taxicab. Olga hadn't the least idea
who vas coming around the cornern
but she hailed the cab and was off in
it before jim swung around the cor
rer.
Jones, who had followed the count
ess for something over an hour and
a half, hugged doorway. What now?
he wondered. The countess knew the
man. That was evidence enough for
the astute butler. But what meant
the pantomime and the subsequent
hurry? He soon learned. The man
Gregg went his way, and then Jim
turned the corner Jones cast visit
full glance at the vanishing cab of the
Russian, and decided to shadow the
shadower-in other words, follow the
reporter, to see that nothing serious
befell him.
The lurer finally paused at door,
opened it with a key, and swung It
behind aim, very careful, however, not
to spring the latch. Naturally Jim
was nightly pleased when he found
the door could be opened. When
Jones, not far behind, saw him open
the door, he started to call out a warn
ing, but thought the better Of it. II
Norton was walking into trap 1t was
far better that be, Jones, should re-
main outside of it. If Jim did not
appear after a certain length Of time,
he would start an investigation on his
own account.
No sooner was Jim in the hallway
than he was set upon and oVerpow-
cred. They had in this house what
was known as "the punishment room" !"
Here traitors paid the reckoning and
were never more heard Of. Into this
room Jim was unceremoniously
dropped when Braine found that he
could get no information from the res
olute reporter.
The room did not look sinister, but
for all that it possessed the faculty Of
growing smaller and smaller, slowly
or swiftly, as the man above at the
lever willed. When Jim was apprised