The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-11-06

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
q basket Of wine.
Here. Norton; take this to the
party. I want to r%econnoiter."
An right, MUD! Say, Jones, how
much do you think I'd earn at this
job?" comically.
Get along with you, Mr.. horton. 1t
may be the time to laugh, and then it
may not"
I'm going back into the house and
hide behind a secret panel. I've got
my revolver. You go to the stables
and take a 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 a 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
10 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 ce-
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 a phrase
or two as It came down the wind, and
then he knew hat 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 il
safety; and by and by he could hea
j The guests moving about'in the room
Then all sounds ceased for a while.
&c door closed sharply,
No; here you must stay, younI
,r lady" said a mans voice.
- What do you mean, sir?" demande
the beloved voice.
1T means that no one will return t
this room and that you will not b
g missed until 1t is too late,
"A The sound of voices stopped al
ruptly, and something like scutfiin
ensued. Later Norton heard the bac
% Of a chair strike the panel and som
- one sat heavily upon it. He waite
perhaps FIVE minutes; then he gentl
4. slid back the panel. Florence sa
~ bound and gagged under his very eyeI
1t was but the work of a moment {
liberate her.
1T is |, Jim, Do not speak or max
the least noise. Follow me-"
Greatly astonished, Florence obeyed
"a and the panel slipped back into plac
The room behind the secret panel ha
an barred windows. To Florence it a
MS peared to be a real prison.
ty How did you get here?" she aske
breathlessly,
Something told me to follow 20
And something is always going to te
d me to follow you, Florence"
'Ie She pressed his hand 1t was to h
as If one of those book heroes hj
stepped out of a book; only book h
roes always had tremendous forum,
N and did not have to work for a Ii
.er ing. Oddly enough, she was n
afraid.
Who was the men? he asked.
an The Count Norfeldt. Some Of
led has imposed upon the countess"
.ng do you think so?" with a stran.
look in his eyes.
ied What do you mean?T
old Nothing just now, The idea is
get out of here just as quickly a
sed can. See this painting?" He touch
a spot in the wall and the painti
slowly swung out like a door. Com
we make u escape to the side Lax
from here"
do. At the stable they we're confront
out with the knowledge that Norton's c
was out Of commission; Jones could
d. nothing with It. Then Norton sugge
ed that he make a effort to co
.ep- mandeer the limousine of the cou
, is ess; but there were men about, so I
ice limousine was out Of the question
Ion 'Horsesl" whispered Jones. The
are several saddle horses, already 81
-ou. died. How about these people,
II owners?"
are "Oh, they are beyond reproach. tt