The Washington times., 1914-11-22

stacleS In the way Oh the Isoo-
sian agent, provided he could
abduct his trio without seriously claSh-
ing with the New York police authori-
ties. 1t was a recognized fact that the
local police force wanted the newspaper
glory which would attend the crushing
Of the Black HuUired. 1t would be
an exploit But their glory was nil;
nor did Servan take his trio back with
him to Russia.
Many strange things happened that
night, the night of the final adventure.
Florence sat in her room reading.
The book was fOliver Twist not the
pleasantest sort of book to read under
the existing circumstances. Several
times-she had reached the place where
Fagin overheard Nancy's confession
she fancied she heard doors closing
softly. but credited it to her imagina-
ton. Poor Nancy, who wanted to be
good but did not find time to be! Flor
ence possessed a habit familiar to most
of US; the need of apples or CANDY when
We are reading. So she rang the bell
for her maid, intending to ask her to
bring up some apples. She turned TO
her reading, presently to break off and
strike the bell again. Where was that
maid? She waited perhaps five min
utes, then laid down the book and be-
gan to investigate.
in the entire house, What in the world
could that mean? Used as she was to
heartrendinG suSpenses, she was none
the less terrified. Something had taken
the servants from the house. From
whence was the danger to come this
time. Where was Jones? Why did he
not return as he had promised? 1t was
long past the hour when he said ne
would be back. !
She went into the library and picked
UP the telephone. She was told that
Mr.. Norton was out on an assignment,
but that he would be notified the mo-
ment he returned. She opened a draw
er in the desk. She touched the auto.
matte, but did not take 1t up. she lett
the drawer open, however
Earlier, at the newspaper office that
night Jim went into the managing edl-
tors office and laid a bulky manu-
script on that gentleman's desk.
'Is this it?'
.'It is,' said i'm.
"You have captured themT
NO: but there is a net about them
from which not one shall escape.
There's the story of my adventures, OF
the adventures of Miss Hargreave. and
the butler, Jones. You'll find 1t exciting
reading. You might just as well send
Il up 10 the composing room. At mid
night I'll telephone the introduction.
It's a SCOOP. Don't worry about that.
The editor ruffled the pages.
"A hundred and twelve pages, 900
words to the page; man, It's a mover!
It'll read line one"
"Sft down for a moment and let me
skim through the first story.
At the end of ten minutes the editor
laid down the copy. He opened draw
er and took out two envelopes. The
blue one he tore up and dropped into
the waste basket. Norton understood
and smiled. They had meant to dis
charge him If he fell down. The other !
envelope was a fat one.
open It," said the editor, smiling
little himself.
This envelope contained a check for
&. 500 two round-trip first-class tickets
to LIVERPOOL, together with innumerable
continental tickets such as are issued
to tourists. ..
why two?" asked Jim innocently.
FORGET it, my boy: forget it; You
ought to know that In this office we /
don't employ blind men. The whole |
staff is on. There you are, a fat check
and three months vacation. Go ares
get married. and r you return before I
the three months are UP I'll fire you
myself on general principles"
Jim laughed happily and the two men |
shook hands. Then Jim went forth to |
complete the big assignment. Five min
utes later Florence called him up to /
learn that he had gone.
What should she do? Jones had told |
her to stay in the house and not to /,
leave it. But where was he? Why Gid |
he not come? What was the meaning |
of this desertion by the servants? She |
wandered about aimlessly. looking out !
Of windows. imagining forms in the |
shadows. Her imagination had not de-
ceived her; she had heard doors close !
softly
Susan. SUSAN she murmured; but |
Susan was In the hospital.
Oliver Twist! What had possessed her !
10 start reading that old tale again?
She should have read something of a
light and Joyous character. After half
an hours wandering about the lon"
house. she returned to the library, feel .
ing that she would be safer where both
telephone and revolver were.
And while she sat. waiting for she
knew not what. her swiftly beating :
heart sending the blood into her throat !
SO that II almost suffocated her, a man
turned into the street and walked reso- !
lutely toward the Hargreave place. He
passed a man leaning against lamp
post. but he never turned to look at
him.
This man, however. threw away his
cigar and hot-footed 1t to the nearest
pay station. He knew in his soul that
he had just seen the man for whom
they had been hunting all these weary