The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-12-16

upon two modest ones that were
evenly matched in color and design.
Florence ordered them to be sent
home. Then the two Of them sailed
up to the Ritz-Carleton and had tea.
The man from the taxicab entered
the costumer's, displayed a detectives
shield and demanded that the pro-
prietor show him the costumes Sc
lected by the two young people who
had just left. The man obeyed Won
deringIy.
81 want pair exactly Ike these"
said the detective. How much?"
''Two dollars each, rental; seven
apiece il you wish to buy them"
IN buy them
The detective paid the bill, nodded
curtly, and returned to his taxicab.
Now, / wonder" mused the cos
tuner, what the dickens those inHo-
cent looking young people are up to-?
He never found out.
On the night OF the ball Norton
dined with Florence for the first time;
and for once In his life he experienced
that petty disturbance Of collective
thought called embarrassment. To
talk over war plans with Jones was
one thing, but to have Jones serve
soup was altogether another. All
through dinner Jones replied to ques-
tons with no more and no less than
ssYes, sir" and mo, sir" Norton was
beginning to learn that this strange
man could put on dozen kinds OF
armor and always retain his lndiVid-
uaiity. And tonight there seemed
something vaguely familiar about
the impressive face Of the butler, as
If he had seen it somewhere IN the
past, but could not tell when or
where. AS he and Florence were
leaving for the automobile which was
TO take them to the princess, the truen
came home to him with the shock OF
q dcuche OF ice cold water. Under
his breath he murmureo: You're a
wonderful man, Jones; and take my
hat OF to you with the deepest adni1a-
tion. Hang me!'
.'What, are you mumbling about?'
asked theshappy girl at his side.
sWas mumbling? Perhaps was
going over my catechism. l haven't
been out in society in so long that
I've forgotten how to act"
81 believe that. We've been IN here
for dye minutes and you haven't told
me that you love ne"
"Good heaYens!" And his arms
went around her so tightly that she
begged for quarter.
"HoR strong you are!"
The splendor OF the rooms, the das-
King array OF jewels, the Kaleidoscope
colors, thu perfume Of the banked
towers and the music all combined
to put Florence into a pleasu7abie
kind Of trance. And it was only when
the first waltz began that she became
herself and surrendered to the arms
Of the man she loved.
And they were waltzing over a vol
cano. She knew and he knew it.
From what direction would the blow
come? Well, they we're prepared for
all manner Of tricks.
In an alcove off the ballroom sat
Braine and Olga, both dressed exactly
Ike Newton and Florence. Another
man and woman entered presently
and Braine spoke to them for a mo-
ment, as II giving instructions, which
was indeed the case,
The band crashed into another
dance, and the masqueraders began
sNirEng hither and thither and yon.
A gay cavalier suddenly stopped IN
front OF Florence.
.Enchantress, may I have the pleas
ure of this dance?"
Jim touched Florence's hand. But
she turned laughingly toward the
stranger. What difference did it
make? The man would never know
who she was nor would she know
him. It was a lark, that was all;
and despite jim's warning touch she