The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-10-30

n dellgntIully entertained.
You don't" he said whimslcally,
when she finally stopped. you don't
by any chance, know The MRiden'S
Prayer'2"
She laughed. This piece was q
standing joke at school.
81 have never played 1t. It may
however, be in the music cabinet
Would you like to hear I'll" mis-
~chievously.
Heaven forfend!" he murmured.
raising his hands.
All the while the letter burned
against her heart, and the smile on
her face and the gayety on her tongue
we're forced. "Conhde in no one" she
repeated mentally. "Or you seal my
death warrant"
why do you shake your head like
that?" he asked.
Did / shake my headf" Her heart
iuttered wildly. II was not conscious
Of it."
Are you going to keep your prom
ise7"
What promised"
Never to leave this house without
Jones or myself being with you"
81 couldn't II / wanted to. I'll wa
ger Jones is out there in the hall
this minute. I know; It 10 all for
my sake. But It bothers me-"
Jones was indeed In the hall, and
when he sensed the petulance in her
voice his shoulders sank ~despondently
and he sighed deeply II silently.
At a quarter to eight Florence, being
alone for a minute, set fire to q veil
and stuffed It down the register.
Zones" she called excitedly, Il
smell something burning!"
Jones dashed into the room, snined,
and dashed out again, heading for the
cellar door. His first thought was
naturally that the devils incarnRte had
set fire to the house. When he re-
turned, having, Of course. discovered
no FIRE, he found Florence gone. He
rushed into the hall. Her hat was
missing. He made for the hall door
with a speed which seemed incredible
to the bewildered SuSan's eyes. Out
into the street, up and down which
he looked. Far away he discovered q
dwindling taxicab. The child wal
gone.
In the house Susan was answering
the telephone, talking incoherently.
who is III" Jones whispered, his
lips white and dry.
THE princess. :" began Susan.
He took the receiver from her
roughly.
Hello, who Is itT
This is Olga Perigof. Is Florence
there?"
mo. madam. She has Just stepped
out for a moment. Shall tell her
to call you when she returnsl"
, yes, please. l want her and su-
san and Mr.. Norton to come to tea
tomorrow. Good-by."
: Jones hung up the receiver, sank
into a chair near by and buried his
: face in his hands.
What Is it?" cried Susan, terrified
by the h~aggardness Of his face.
t. She's gone! My God, those
wretches have got her! They've got
her!"
Florence was whirled away at top
speed. Her father! She was actually
= on the way to her father, whom she
had always loved In dreams, yet never
seen.
Number rs Grove street was not an
Z attractive place, but when she ar
, rived she was too highly keyed to
{ take note Of its Sordidness. She was
o rather out Of breath when she reached
. the door Of the third nat. She knocked
timidly. The door was instantly
opened by a man who wore 3 black
mask. She would have turned ther
and there and flown but for the swift
picture she had Of a well-dressed mar
at a table. He lay with his head upoI
his arms.
Father" she whispered.
The man raised his careworn face
so very we'll done that only the closes
scrutiny would have betrayed tn
paste Of the theater. He arose an
staggered toward her with on
stretched arms. But the moment the
closed about her Florence experience
a peculiar SILVER.
MY child" murmured the broke
man. They caught me when ! W;
about to come to you. | have give
up the fight" A sob choked him.
What was It? wondered the chill
her heart burning with the misery
the thought that she was sad insteI
Of glad. over his shoulder she Sc
a glance about the room. There W
a sofa, a table, some chairs and
enormou clock, the face Of which W
dented and the hands hopelessly IA
gled. Why, at such a moment, 8
p should note such details disturb
.,. her. Then she CHANGED to look In
the cracked mirror. In It she 81
several faces, all masked. These m
I'D. we're p%eering at her through the hi
mt closed door behind her.
It you must return home and brl
me the MONEY!" went on the Wret