The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1914-11-10

letter to her own apartment but for
} the fact that the chemicals needed
were hidden in the cave.
Now it happened that Florence went
out for her early ride the next morn
ing and crossing field she saw
man with bundle under his arm
The sun struck his profile and limned
1t plainly, and Florence uttered a low
cry. The man had not observed her.
So, very quietly, she slipped from the
horse, tethered it to a tree, and start
ed after the man to learn what he was
doing so far from the city She could
never forget that face. She had seen
it that dreadful night when the note
had lured her into the hands of her
enemies. The face belonged to the
man who had impersonated her father.
1t occurred to her that she might
just as well do little detective work
on her own hook. She had passed
through SO many terrifying episodes
that she was beginning to crave for
the excitement. strange as this may
seem. Like a gambler who has once
played for high stakes, she no longer
found pleasure in thimbles and
needles and pins. She followed the
man with no little skill and at length
saw him approach knoll, stoop, APP
parently press a spring, and hole
suddenly yawned. The man vanished
quickly, and the spot again took on
it's virginia. appearance A cave! Flor
ence had the patience to wait. BY and
by the man appeared again and skunk
away.
When she was sure that he was be-
yond range, she came out from the
place OF concealment, crept up the
Knoll, and searched about for the mag
lc handle of this strange door. Dill
gence rewarded her and she soon
found herself in large musty, earth
smelling cave. Loot was scattered
about, and there were boxes and chairs
and large chest. Men evidently met
there, possibly after some desperate
adventure against society She found
nothing to reward her hardihood and
as she was in the act of moving to-
ward the caves door, she beheld with
terror that was moving
; She was near the chest at that
moment. The cave was not deep
one. There was no tunnel, only a
wall. Resolutely she raised the lid of
the chest and stepped inside, and drew
the lid down. She was just in time.
ne door opened and three men enter
ed, talking volubly They felt perfect
ly secure in talking as loudly as they
, pleased. To Florence it seemed almost
, impossible that they did not hear the
thunder of her heart. Strain her ears
as she might, she could gather but lit
tie of what they said, except:
If Hargreave had this paper we
might all be put on the defensive. To
an outsider it is blank paper. But
the boss will be able to read it y
The speaker moved away from the vi
entity of the chest and she heard no
more.
t Very deftly Florence raised the lid
/, enough to peep out. The man
who had been talking was putting the
note in his hip pocket. AS he turned
| toward the chest he sat down on the
} soapbox Immediately in front of the
| chest. An inspiration came to the
5 girl, an exceedingly daring one. She
took her liberty in her hands as she
E executed the deed. But the dimness of
t the cave aided her. When she crouch
t ed down again the magic paper was
hers.
1t seemed hours to her before the
men left the cave. AS she heard the
y hidden door jar in closing she raised
b the lid and stepped out, breathing
deeply The paper she had purloined
< was indeed blank, but Jones or Jim
would know what to do with it. And
e wouldn't they be surprised when she
t told them what she had accomplished
e all alone? Her exultation was OF
r short duration She heard the whine
e OF the door on its hinges. The men
: were returning. Why?
| They were returning because they
| had discovered wOman's shOeprint
n outside. 1t pointed toward the cave
freshly and there was none coming
e away. To Renter the chest would be
foolhardy. 1t would be the first place
r the men would look. She glanced
( about desperately. She saw but one
e chance. the we'll And even while the
e door was swinging inward letting the
d brilliant sunshine enter, she summon
: ed up the courage and let herself
d down into the WELL which proved to be
v nothing more nor less than an unger.
r ground river
: The men came in with a rush, they
n upset boxes, looked into the chest, anG
e the man who was evidently in COM
n mand gaZed down the we'll shaking
his head. Their search was thorough
e but they found no one And at length
i they began to reason that perhaps E
S woman had got as far as the door ant
: then turned away. walking on the
9 turf.
v Meantime Florence was borne alons
d by the swift current of the river, which
: From time to time she bumped along
a the rocky walls, but she chung to life
}. valiantly In ten minutes she was
Il swept to the other side of the hill
o into the rapids; but the blue sky was
It overhead. she was out in the familiar
world again. On, on she was carried
l. Even though she was half dead, she
: could hear the roar of falls some
: where in advance.
+ :. /.