The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-08-13
.(continued.)

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keeper used to be my nurse, and II she
is still on the Job she may be of SER
vice to US. You don't think they'll
question or recognize me?"
Hardly. I'll put in word for you.
Ill say l sent for you. not knowing
II we had enough servants to take
care OF the luncheon"
And now I'll go and hunt up Meg"
Sure enough, his old nurse was still
in charge Of the house; and when her
baby" disclosed his identity she all
but fell upon his neck.
But what are you doing here,
dressed up as waiter?"
Its little secret, Meg. I wasn't
invited, and the truth is I'm very des-
perately in love with the young lady
in whose honor this coaching party is
being given. And maybe she's
in danger"
Danger? What about?"
The Lord only knows But show
me shout the house. I've not been
here in SO long I've forgotten the run
of 1t. / remember one room with the
secret paneN and another with paint
ing that turned. Have they changed
them?"
enc; It is just the same here as II
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 worring about
nothing; but SO many strange things
had happened that 1t was better to be
on the side af caution than on the side
of carelessness. He left the house
and ran across Jones carrying a bas-
ket Of wine.
Here, Norton; take this to the par
ty. want to reconnoiter."
Cali right, MUD! Say, Jones, how
much do you think I'd earn at this
job?" comically.
Get along with you MIR. Norton.
1t may be the time to laugh, and then
1t may not"
"l'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 of; 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 address,
ed as count. Some friend of the coun-
tess, 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 turn
ed away to wander idly about the
grounds, when beyond a clump of
cedars he saw three men conversing
lowly. He got as near as possible, for
when three or four men put their
heads together and whisper animated
ly, 1t usually means a poker game
or something worse. He caught a
phrase or two as 1t came down the
wind. and then he knew that the
vague suspicious that had brought
him out here had been set in motion
by fate. He heard Florence" and
1.-The old drawing 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,
otherwise 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 a while.
Norton strained his ear against the
panel A door closed sharply.
'No; here you must stay, young
lady," said mans voice.
What do you mean, sir?" demand
ed the beloved voice.
ut 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 abb
ruptly. and something like scuffiine
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 a mo-
/ ment to liberate her.
/