The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-12-18

of log.
Susan" said Florence as she came
into breakfast after her exhilarating
ride, did you hear pistol shots last
night?'
Il heard some noise, but was so
sleepy didn't try to figure out what
it was"
Did you, Jones?"
Yes, Miss Florence. The shots
came from the street. A policeman
came running up later and said he
saw two automobiles on the run. But
evidently there wasn't anybody hurt.
One has to be careful at night now
adays. There are pretty bad men
abroad. Did you enjoy the rider"
Very much But there we're spots
of blood on the walk near the corner"
"Blood?" Jones caught the back Of
chair to steady himself.
Eyes. So some one was hurt. Oh,
let's leave this place!" impulsively.
Let us go back to Miss Farlow's.
You could find place In the village,
Jones. But If stay here much longer
in this state of unrest l shall lose
faith in everything and everybody.
Whoever my fathers enemies are,
they do not lack persistence. They
have made two attempts against my
liberty, and sooner or later they will
succeed, | keep looking over my
shoulder all the time. If l hear
noise jump
Miss Florence if thought it wise,
you should be packed off to Miss Far
lows this minute. But not an hour Of
the day or night passes without this
house being watched. | seldom see
anybody about. | can only sense the
presence of a watcher. At Miss Far
lows you would be far more like
prisoner than here, could not ac-
company you. am forbidden to de-
sert this house"
My fathers orders?"
Jones signifed neither one way nor
the other He merely gazed stolidly
at the rug,
THAT blood" She sprang from her
chair, Mortified. 1T was his! He was
here last night, and they shot
him! o."
There, there, Miss Florence! The
man was only slightly wounded. He's
where they never will look for him."
Then Jones continued, as with an eff
fort: Trust me. Miss Florence. 1t
would not pay to run away. The
whole affair would be repeated else
where. We might go to the other end
OF the world, but It would not serve us
in the least 1t Is not question OF
escape, but of who shall vanQuish the
other. There is nothing to do but re-
main here and fight, fight, fight. We
have put four of them in the Tombs,
to say nothing of the gunmeBs That
is what we must do-put them In
safe place, one by one, till we reach
the master. Then only may we
breathe In safety. But il they watch,
SO do we. There is never a moment
when help is not within reach, no mat
ter where you go. So long "a you do
not deceive me, no real harm shelf be-
fall you. Don't cry. Be your fathers
daughter, as am his servant"
Il am very unhappy" And Flor
ence threw her arms around Susan
and laid her head upon her friends
shoulder.
Poor child" Susan, however,. rec
ognized the wisdom OF Jones' state
ments. They we're safest here:
The morning rides continued. To
the girl, who loved the open, IL was
glorious fun. Those mad galiops'
along the roads, the smell Of earth and
sea, the tingle in the blood, were the
second best moments OF her day. The
first? She invariably blushed. when
she considered what these first best
moments were. He was brave young
man, good to look at, witty and al-
ways cheerful. Why shouldn't she
like him? Even Jones liked him
Jones', who didn't seem to- like any
body. Il did not matter whether he
was wise or not; worldly point OF
view was farthest from her youthful
thoughts. 1t was her own affair; her
own heart.
Five days later. as she and the rid
ing master we're cantering along the
road, enjoying every bit of it, they
heard the beat of hoofs behind. They
drew mp and turned A rider was ap-
proceeding them at, a run. 10 was. the
head groom. The man, stopped his
horse in a cloud of dust.
''SiT, the stables are OH fire.
Fire."
All the riding masters savings were
invested in the stables. The fact
that he had solemnly promised never
to leave Florence alane, and that he
had accepted a generous bonus slipped
from his mind at the thought of fire.
terrible word to, any horseman. lie
wheeled and starred off at breakneck
speed, has head groom Gathering be
hind him.
Florence naturally wondered which
of twQroourses to, pursue: follow them.
when she woGld be perfectly helpless
Tn a6d them or continue the ride and