Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-08-09

NNNAtNSS III NhAS
Leave that to me, Mr. Norton" said the
butler with his grim smile. Be off; they
are moving back toward the house"
So Norton carried the basket around to the
lawn, where it was taken from his hands by
the regular servant. He sighed as he saw
Florence, laughing and chatting with a man
who was stranger and whom he heard nd
dressed as count. Some friend of the countess.
no doubt. Where was all this tangle going
to end? He wished he knew. And what Il
yarn he was going to write some day 1t
would be read like one of Gaboriau's tales.
He turned away to wander idly about the
grounds when beyond a clump of cedars he
saw three or four men conyersing lowly. He
got as near as possible, for when three or
four men put their heads together and
whisper animatedly, it usually means poker
game or something worse. He caught a
phrase or two as it came down the wind, and
then he knew that the vague suspicious that
had brought him out here had been set in
motion by fate. He heard Florence " and
" the old drawing ROOM; and that was
enough.
He scurried about for Jones. 1t was pure
luck that he had had old Meg show him
through the house. otherwise he would have
forgotten all about the secret panel In the
wall and the painting. Jones shrugged
resignedly. Were 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 NOV
ing about in the room. Then all sounds
ceased for a while. Norton strained his ear
against the panel A door closed sharply.
mo; here you must stay, young lady,"
said mans voice.
What do you mean, sirl" demanded the
beloved voice.
1t means tnat no one WIN return to this
room and that you will not be misseS Ant
It is too late"
The sound of voices stopped abruptly, and
something like scufling ensue5. Later Nor
ton heard the back of chair strike the
panel and some one sat heavily upon it. He
waited perhaps FIVE minutes; then he gently
slid back the SAnel. Florence sat bound and
gagged urSer his very eyes! 1t was but the
TNorl. of a moment to liberate her
1t is I, Jim. Do not speak or make the
least noise. Follow me-"
Greatly astonished, Florence obeyed and
the panel slipped back into place. The room
behind the secret panel had barred windows
To Florence it appeared to be real prison
How did you get hereY' she asked
breathlessly.
Something told me to follow you. And
something is always going to tell me to fol-
low you, Florence"
She r.
If one of those book heroes had stepped out
of book; only book heroes always had ire
mendous fortunes and did not have to work for
a living. Oddly enough, she was not afraid
Who was the NAL % be asked. ---
The Count lTorfeldt- Some one has i'm
posed upon the countess
Do you think 500" with strange look
in his eyes
What do you meant,
Nothing just now. The idea Is to get
out of here just as quickly as we can. See
this painting?" He touched a spot on the
wall and the painting slowly swung out like
a door. Gomez we make our escape to the
side lawn from here"
At the stable they were confronted with
the knowledge that Norton's car was out of
commissions; Jones could do nothing with it.
Then Norton suggested That he make an ef-
fort to commander the limousine of the coun-
tess; but there were men about, SO the lin
CUISINE was out of the question.
Horses" whispered Jones. There are
several saddle horses, already saddled. How
about these people, the ownersY'
20, they are beyond reproach. They have
doubtless been imposed upon. But let us get
aboard first. There win be time to talk
later. I'll have to do some explaining. tax
ing these nags eff like this. We won't have
to ride out in front where the picnickers are
There's a lane back of the stable, and
slight detour brings us back into the main
road"
The three mounted and clattered away
To Florence it had the air of prank. She
was beginning to have such confidence in
these two inventive men that she felt as if
she was never going to be afraid any more.
When the Countess Olga saw the three
horses it was an effort not to fly into a rage.
But secretly she warned her people. who
presently gave chase in the limousine, while
she prattled and TESTED and laughed with her
company, who were quite unaware that a
drama was being enacted right under their
very noses. The countess, while she acted
superbly, tore her handkerchief into shreds.
There was something sinister in the way all