Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-08-30

Jim :! the butler murmured.
He caught the word which was not intended
for his ears. But for once Jones had been
startled out Of himself. -
Is It wrong for me to call Mr.. Norton
Jim?" she asked with a bit Of banter
1t is not considered quite the proper thing,
Miss Florence, to call a young man by his
nrst name unless you are engaged to marry
him, or grew up with him from childhood"
Well, supposing were engaged to him?.
haughtily.
That would be very grave affair What
have you to prove that he may not wish to
marry you for your money!"
why, Jones, you know that I haven't a
penny In the world can call my ownl There
Is nothing to prove, except your word, that
am Stanley Hargreaves daughter"
No, there is nothing to prove that you are
his daughter. But hasn't It ever occurred to
you that there might be a purpose back Of
this? Might 1t not be of inestimable value
that your fathers enemies should be left in
doubtF Might 1t not be a means of holding
them on the leash7 There is proof, ample
proof, my child; and when the time comes
these will be shown you. But meantime put
all thought of marrying Mr. Norton out OF
your head
That refuse to do" quietly. CT am at
least mistress of my heart and no one shall
dictate to me whom shall or shall not marry.
/ love Mr.. Norton and he loves me, knowing
that / may not be beiress after ALL And
some day shall marry him"
Jones bowed. This seemed to appear final
to him, and nothing more was to be said.
Norton did not return to his rooms till Z.
He found the telephone call and also note
In handwriting unfamiliar He tore off the
envelope and found the contents to be from
the Countess Perigof.
Call at tonight" he read. at have an
important news story for you. Tell no one.
as cannot be involved in the case. Cordially,
Olga, Countess Perigoff."
Humph! Norton twiddled the note in his
fingers and at length rolled it into a ball and
threw it into the wastebasket. He, too, made
mistake he should have kept that note He
dressed dined, and hurried off to the apart
ments of the countess
He arrived ten minutes before Florence and
Susan.
And Jones did some rapid telephoning. J.
How long, how long!" the butler MUIR
INJURED. How long would this strange combat
last? The strain was terrific. He slept but
little during the nights. for his ears were
always waiting for sounds. He had cast the
chest into the sea, and it would take a dozen
expert divers to locate it, And now, atop of
all these worries, the child must fall in love
with the first comer 1t was heartbreaking
Norton, SO far as he had learned, was cool
and brave, honest and reliable in a pinch but
as the husband of Stanley Hargreave's daugh-
ter, that was altogether a different matter
And he must devise some means of putting a
stop to it, but
But he was saved that trouble.
Mongoose and cobra, that was the game be-
ing played; the cunning of the one against
the deadly venom of the other. If he forced
matters he would only lay himself open to the
strike Of the snake. He must have patience.
Gradually they were breaking the organiza-
ton, Topping off branch here and there, but
the peace of the future depended upon getting
a grip on the spine of the cobra himself.
The trick was simple. The countess had
news; trust her for that. She exhibited a
cablegram, dated at Gibraltar, in which the
British authorities stated definitely that no
such a person as William Orts, aviator, had
arrived at Gibraltar. And then, as he rose,
she rose also and gently precipitated herself
into his arms, just at the moment Florence
appeared in the doorway.
Very simple, indeed. When a woman falls
toward man there is nothing for him to do
but extend his arms to prevent her from fall
ing. Outwardly, however, to the eye which
saw only the picture and comprehended not
the cause, 1t had all the hallmarks of an
affectionate embrace.
Florence stood perfectly still for moment,
then turned away.
81 beg your pardonl" said the countess,
" but sudden fainting spell seized me. My
heart is a bit weak"
Don't mention it, replied the gallant Nor
ton. He was innocent as babe as to what
had really taken place.
Florence went back home. She wrote
brief note to Norton and inclosed the ring
which she had secretly worn attached to
little chain around her neck.
When Norton came the next day she refused
to see him. 1t was all over. She never wished
to see him again.