The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-10-14

AAS ' "SS
seventeen years. The truth Is, sue
cess has developed a coarseness l n Jul
methods. And now 1t Is too late for
fnesse. We have tried every device
we can think Of; and there they are
the girl free, Norton unframed, and
the father as secure in his retreat as
though he wore an invisible cloak. My
head aches. I have ceased to be IN
ventive."
"The two are in love with each 9th
er."
"Are you. sure Of that?"
"I have my eyes. But I begin to
wonder"
About what?"
whether or not Jones suspects me
and is giving me rope to hang myself
with. Not once have the police been
called in and told what has really nap
pened. They are totally at sea. And
what has become Of the man over the
way?"
CT the Lord Harry" exclaimed
Braine, clapping his hands. i belieVe
I've solved that. We shot a nan COM
ing out Of Hargreave's. Since nen
there's been no one across the way.
One and the same mani"
But that knowledge doesn't get us
anywhere"
mo. You say they are in love-"
Secretly. 1 don't believe the butler
has an inkling Of it. 1t Is possible
however, that Susan has caught the
trend Of affairs. But, being rather
romantic, she will in no wise inter
fere."
Braine smoked In silence. Pres
emily a smile twisted his lips.
"You have thought Of something's"
she asked.
"You might try it," he said. They
have accepted your friendshipa
whether with Interior purpose remains
to be learned. She has been to your
apartments two or three times to tea
and always got home safely"
"No,".she said determinedly. Moth
ing shall happen here. I Will o
take the risk"
wait till I'm through. Break up
the romance in such a way that the
girl will bar Norton from the house.
That's what we've been aiming at; to
get rid of that meddling reporter.
! We've tried poisons. Try your kind"
"Nhot do Won mean2o
Lies" W. .
"Ah! I understand. You want me
to win him away from her. It ca9not
be DONE" ..
"Pshaw! You have a bag full OF
tricks. You can easily manage to put
him into an equivocal position out OF
which he cannot possibly squirm so
far as the girl is concerned. A little
melodrama, arranged for the benefit
Of Florence. Fall into Norton's arms
at the right moment, or something
like that"
II suppose I could. But If I failed
You're too damnably clever to fall
In your own particular work. Some
thing has got to be done to keep those
two apart. I've often thought Of raid
ing the house boldly and carrying on
the whole family, Susan and all. But
a wholesale affair like that would be
too noisy. Think it over, Olga; we
have gone too far to back.down now.
There's always Russia; and while I'm
the boss over here they v cease
to watch me. They'll make me an
swer for a failure like this"
She eyed him speculat.Sefy. you
have money"
20, the money doesn't matter. It's
the game. It's the game OF playing
fast and loose with society, Of pilfer-
ing with it with n hand and making
it kow-tow with the other. It's the
sport Of the thing. What was your
thought.
1--WE could go away together, to,
South America"
"And tire Of each other within a
month" he retorted shrewdly. mo;
we are in the same boat. We could
not live but for this never ending ex-
citement. And, more than that, we
never could get far enough away from
the long arm Of the First Ten. Well
have to stick it out here. Can't you
see?"
Eyes, I can see."
But in her heart she knew that she
would have lived in a hut with this
man till the end Of her days. She
abhorred the life, though she never,
by the slightest word, let him become
aware of 1t. There was always that
abiding fear that at the first sign OF
weakness he would desert her. And
she was wise in her deductions.
Braine was loyal to her because she
held his interest. Once that failed,
he would be off and away.
The next afternoon the countess,
having matured her plans against the
happiness of the young girl who
trusted her, drew up before the Har-
greave place and alighted. Her well
come was the same as ever, and this
strengthened her confidence.
The countess was always gesticu-
lating. Her hands fluttered to empha-
size her words. And the beautiful
diamond solitaire caught the girls
eve. She seized the hand. Having an
affair Of her own, 1t was natural that
she should be interested in that of
her friend.