The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-11-21
BY Harold Mace Grath

quarter OF an hour longer and then
left the garden. he would have tax.
en- the letter to her own APARTMENT
out for the fact that the chemicals
needed were hidden In the cave.
Now 1t happened that Florence
went out for her early ride the next
morning, and crossing field she saw
man with a bundle under 1is arm
The sun struckshis profile and linn.
cd 1t plainly, and Florence uttered a
low cry. The man hads not. observed
her. So, very quietly, she slfpped
from the horse, tethered 1t to a tree
and started after the man to learn
what he was doing SO far from the
city. She would never forget that face
Sue had seen it that dreadful night
when tho note had lured her into the
hands of her enemies. The face be-
longed to the man who had imper-
sonated her father.
1t occurred to her that she might
just as well do a 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 I'M thimbles, and need
les and pins. She followed, the man
with no little skill and at length saw
hith approach q kne1f, stop, apparent
iy press a spring, dhd a hole sud-
denly yawned. The man vanished
quickly, and the. spot took on again
its original appearance "A cave;
Florence had the patience to wait!
BY and by the man lappeared agaih
and skunk away.
q When she was sure that he was
beyond range, she came out frog, the
place of concealment, crcpi t,p the
knell, and searched about for the
magic handle of this strange door.
Diligence rewarded her. and she soon
found herself in a large, musty ear,lt-
smelling cave. Loot was scattered
about, and there were boxes and chairs
and large chest. Men evidently met
here, possibly after some desperate
adventure against society. She found
nothing to reward her ifardihOod and
as she was In the act OF moving to-
ward the caves door she beheld with
teSror that 1t was moyingi ~:
She was near the chest at that mo-
There was no tunnel, only a wall.
chest; stepped nside, and, drew the
lid down. She vas Just In time. The
door OF ned an' three men entered,
talking vo,~ ~. They felt perfectly
secure In talidng as loudly as they
pleased. TS Florence ii seemed al
most impossible that they did not
hear the thunderSof her heart2 Stfaia
her ears as she might, She could
gather but little OF what they said,
except:
~ "If Hargreaye. had this paper we
might all be put on the defensive. To
an outsider it is a blank paper, But
the boss will be able to read 1t.
lThs speaker moved away from
the vicinity OF the chest and she
heard no more.
Very deftly Florence raised the lid
Just enough to peep out. The man
who had been talking was putting
this note iA his hip pocket. AS he
turned toward the chest hep sat down
on the soapbox Immediately in front
OF the chest An inspiration came to
the girl. an exceedingly daring cae.
She took her liberty in. her hands as
she executed the deed. But the dim
ness OF the cave aided her. When
she crouched down again the magic
paper was hers,
II seemed hours te her before the
men left the cave. AS she heard the
hiddeft door. lar In closing she raised
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 IL. And
couldn't they be surprised. when Bhe
TOLD them what she Mad accomplish
ed all alone? Her exdltatioh was OF
-hprt duration She heard the whine
OF the dnor on its hingas. The; men
were returning. Why7 80 :
s They were returniitg because they
had discovered q wonfan's shoeprinf
outside. If pointed toward the cave.
freshly, an6 there was none coming
away. To. reent5r the chest would
be fooihardy. 1t would he the first
place the men wsuid look. She, glanc-
ed about desperately. She saw but
one chance, the we'll. And. even
Ni,iiie the door wss swinging i1iwarSS,
LETTING the briIiiasI. sunshiue enter.
she eurniipned up the courage and
let herself down into She well. which
proved to be nothing more nor les3i
than an underground riYers -
y The men casiie iii with a rush.
Thsy upset boxes, looked into the
chest, and the man who wgs identity
III Commauuf BazeuS uuWFlS FuC : w5issl
shaking his head. Their search WAS.
tlorbugk y hut they found no one.
SAT peflIaps d woman had got asI
laf al the door ana then Turned
away wat ih9 on tiie tart. ~ :
sfitinas Fl6rence, was borne
sionk sczE BY ts..,e swift current Of
.he liver Heb gained IN swiftnese'
szeff idtSsbf. Prom time i oi TING
lie bnn,iied afons the tioelty walls /