The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-10-24


had happened that n was better "a be
on the side Of caution than on the
side OF carelessness lie left the
house and ran across Jones carrying
a basket OF wine.
Here. Norton. take this 10 the
party. want TO reconnoiter
An right. m1ud' Say. Jones. how
much DO you think Ia earn az this
| Job comicaily.
Get along with you. Mr. Torton Il
may be the time to laugh, ana then II
may not
I'm going back into the house and
hide behind a secret panel I've got
my revolver You go to the stables
and take a try at my car see u she
works smoothly We may have 20 do
some hiking. Where is the countess
ia thls7'
Leave that 10 me, Mr. norton said
the butler with his grim smile he
OF they are moving back toward the
house
So Norton carried the basket around
90 the lawn, where 20 was taken from
his hands by the regular servant lie
sighed as he saw Florence. laughing
aud chatting with "a man who was a
stranger aud whom he heard ad
dressed as count. Some friend OF the
countess, no doubt Where WAS sll this
tarele going 10 end tie wished hc
knew And what a yarn he was going
20 write some day u would be read
q lie one 81 Gaboriau's tales he
turned away to wander idly about the
grounds. when beyond a clump OF ce
dars he saw three or four men conyers.
ing slowly. lie got as near as possible,
for when three or four men put their
heads together and whisper animated
~ II usually means a poker game or
something worse. He caught a phrase
or two as II came down the wind. and
then he knew that the vague suspi.
cion that had brought him out here
had been set 10 motion by fate. He
heard Florence" aud the old draw
ing room and that vas enough.
lie scurried about for Jones II was
pure lick that he had had old Meg
show him through the house. other
wise he would have forgotten all about
tho secret panel in the wall and the
painting Jones shrugged resiguedly
We're these men OF the countess
party' Norton couldn't say.
Norton made his hiding place In
safety. and by and by he could hear
the guests moving about In She DOT
Then all sounds ceased for a while. A
door closed sharply
No. here you must stay, young
lady. said a mans voice.
What DO you mean. sir9" demanded
] tho beloved voice
1t means that no one viii return 10
this room and that you viii not be
missed until 1t is too late
r The sound OF voices stopped ab.
I ruptly. and something like scufiiug
eusued Later Norton heard the back
1, OF a chair strike the panel and some
ono sat heavily upon b. lie waited
a lethaps five minutes then he gently
4 sid back the panel Florence sa5
bound and gagged under his very eyes,
f, u was but tho work OF q moment 70
Iburato hcr.
u is Jim 10 uct speak or make
the least noise Follow me
Greatly astonished. FLORENCE uboycd
lpd the panel slipped back into place
. The room behind the secret panel had
/, barred windows Tie Florence Il ap
q peared TO be- a real prison.
How did YOU get here" she asked
broathlossly
something told me 20 follow you
And something Us always going 20 tel
me 90 follow yuu Florence
She pressed hi, hand Il was 70 her
= as if one OF those book heroes had
stepped out OF "a book. only book he
rues always had tremendous fortunes
aud did not nave TO work for a lty
ing Oddly enough. she was no.
afraid
who was the mpn? he asked
The Count Norfeldt Some on,
has imposed upon m, countess
+" DO YOU think SOP" with a straug,
I look 10 his eyes
What do you mean9'
Nothing just now. The idea is q
y get out Of here just as quickly as W.,
F" al See thi4 painting he touched
= a spot Ia the wall aud the painting
slowly swung out ike a door Come.
y We make our escape 20 the side laWf
% from here
Al the stable they were coufronts,
"a VITA the knowledge that Norton s. ca.
vas out o. commission Jones could q,
&c nothing with 10 Then Norton suggest
cd that ne make a eHor 20 com
waudeoT the limousine Of the couB,
o oss but there we're men about so th'
u limousine was out OF the question
Horses whispered Jones Their.
o are several saddle horses, already sad
died How about these people, n,
p owners
u oh, they are beyond repruach Thel
q have doubtless been imposed upon
VI But let us get aboard FIRST. There vl
DO time % talk later I1l have 20 o.
u some expiainiug taking these nags oi
n like this We won't have TO ride on
70 M front where the pickuickers are
There a lane back o. the stable aut
a slight detouT brings US back into IN,