The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-09-24

she Tried the Doors. Ihey were
Locked.
Monastery Bells" and the like. He
bad prepared to make q martyr of
hin self; instead, he was distinctly
anG delightfully."- entertained
you DON'T" he said whimsically,
when she finally stopped, you don't,
by any chance, know The Maiden's
Prayer'?"
She laughed. This piece was a
standing joke at school.
81 have never played it. 1t may.
however be in the music cabinet.
Would you like to hear it," mis-
chievously
Heaven forfendW he murmured,
raising his hands.
All the while the letter burned
against her heart, and the smile on
her face and the gayety on her tongue
were forced. "Confide in no one," she
repeated mentally, cor you seal my
death warrant"
why do you shake your head like
that?" he asked.
did l shake my head?" Her heart
futtered wildly "I was not conscious
of it."
"Are you going to keep your prom
ise?"
What promise?"
Never to leave this house without
Jones or myself being with you"
II couldn't If wanted to. I'll wa
10 mt in hn ho1
this minute. l know; it is all for
my sake. But 1t bothers me-"
Jones was indeed in the hall, and
when he sensed the petulance in her
voice his shoulders sank despondently
and he sighed deeply If silently.
At quarter to eight Florence, being
alone for minute, set fire to a veil
and stuffed it down the register.
Jones'" she called excitedly, 81
smell something burning!"
Jones dashed into the room, shifted,
and dashed out again, heading for the
cellar door His first thought was
naturally that the devils incarnate had
set fire to the house. When he re.
turned, having, of course, discovered
no fire, he found Florence gone. He
rushed into the hall. Her hat was
missing. He made for the hall door
with speed which seemed incredible
to the bewildered Susan's eyes. Out
into the street, up and down which
he looked. Far away he discovered a
gone.
In the house Susan was answering
the telephone, talking incoherently.
who is it?" Jones whispered, his
lips white and dry.
"The princess. :" began Susan
He took the receiver from hel
roughly.
Hello, who Is it?"
This is Olga Perigofr Is Florence
=, ,there?"
"No. madam. She has Just stepped
out for a moment. Shall l tell hel
to call you when she returns?"
Eyes, please. ! want her and Su
san and Mr.. Norton to come to tes
tomorrow. Good-by."
Jones hung up the receiver, sanl
into a chair near by and buried hi.
face in his hands.
"What is it," cried Susan, terrified
by the haggardness of his face.
"She's gone! My God, thos,
wretches have got her! They've 60
heri"
Florence was whirled away at toI
speed. Her father! She was actually
on the way to her father, whom sh,
had always loved in dreams, yet nevel
seen.
Number rs Grove street was not al
attractive place, but when she ar
rived she was too highly keyed I.
take note of it's sordidness. She wal
rather out of breath when she reached
the door of the third fiat. She knocked
timidly. The door was instantl,
opened by a man who woro a blacl
mask. She would have turned thel
and there and flown but for the swift
picture she had of a well-dressed maj
at table. He lay with his head upol
his arms.
'Father!" she whispered.
The man raised his careworn face
so very we'll done that only the closes
scrutiny would have betrayed tn
paste OF the theater He arose an,
staggered toward her with out
stretched arms. But the moment the,
closed about her Florence experience,