Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1914-11-06

vehemently.
AT least you will leave word where
you are going. Miss Florence
THE Queen hotel. And if you say
another word I'll discharge you. Come
Susan"
There happened to be a taxicab con-
veniently near (as Vroon took care
there should be}, and Florence at once
engaged it. She did not see the man
hiding in the bushes. The two young
women stepped into the taxicab and
were driven off. They had been gone
less than five minutes when Jones re.
turned with his purchase, to find the
house empty of its most valuable asset
He was furious, not only at the maid,
who, he realized, was virtually help
less, but at his own negligence
In the midst Of his violent harangue
the bell sounded. In his bones he knew
what was going to be found there. 1t
was a letter on the back of which
was drawn the fatal black mask. With
shaking fingers he tore open the en-.
velope and read the contents:
surrender of the million will save her.
Our agent will call in an hour for an an
swer.
THE BLACK HUNDRED.
AS matter Of fact, they had wanted
Jones almost as badly as Florence,
but her desire for a book-some
popular story of the day-had saved
him from the net. The letter had
been written against this possibility,
Jones became cool, now that he
knew just What to face. The Queen
hotel mea1t nothing. Florence would
not be taken there. He called up Nor
ton. It took all the buffers patience
however, as 1t required seven different
sails to locate the reporter. $50,
Meantime the taxfcab containine
Florence and Susan spun madly toward
che water front. Here the two. were
separated by an effective threat. Flor
ence recognized the man Vroon and
knew that to plead for mercy would
be waste Of time. She permitted
herself to be led to a waiting launch.
Always when she disobeyed Jones
something like this happened. But
this time they had cunningly struck
at Ter heart, and all thought of her
personal safety became as nothing.
For the present she knew that she was
In no actual physical danger. She
was merely to be held as a hostage,
Would: Susan have mentality enough
to tell Jones where the taxicab had
stopped? She doubted. In an emer.
gency Susan had proved herself
nonentity, bundle of hysterical
thrills.
AS a matter Of fact, for once Flor
ences deductions were happily wrong
When the chauffeur peremptorily de,
posted Susan on the lonely country
road, several miles from home, she
ran hot-foot to the nearest telephone
and sent a very concise message
home. Susan was becoming acclimated
to this strange, exciting existence.
Norton arrived in due time, and
he and Jones were mapping out plan
when Susans message came.
Good grill" said Jones. "She's
learning. Can you handle this alone
Norton? They want me out of the
house again. for I believe they were
after me as we'll as Florence. Halt
an hour gone!"
Trust mel" cried Norton.
And he ran out to his auto. It was
a wild ride. Several policemen shouted
after him, but he went on unmindful,
Ihey could take his license number
a hundred times for all he cared. So
they had got her? They could wait
til their enemy's vigilance Stacked
and then would strike? But Susan!
The next time he saw Susan he was
going to take her in his arms and kiss
her. It might be a new sensation to
kiss Susan, always so prim and of1sh.
Corey street--that had been her direc.
ton. They had put Florence in
motor. boat at the foot Of Corey street.
He was perhaps half an hour behind.
Florence never opened her lips. She
stared ahead proudly. She would
show these scoundrels that she was
ner fathers daughter. They plied
her with questions, but she pretended
not to hear.
Well, pretty bird, we'll make YOU
speak when the time comes. Views
got you this trip where we want you
fhere won't be any jumping over
BOARD this session, believe me. We've
wasted enough time. We've got you
and we're going to keep you.
Let her be-" said Vroon morose,v
Wen put all the questions we w;sh
wnen we're at our destination" And
ne nodded significantly toward the |
ehips riding at anchor,
Florence felt her heart sink in sp,te