Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1915-06-04
wish to see her. madam

JOKES pTOuCC9u HIS uOCuuuSut anu
presented 1t to her.
There is no flaw in that" she
agreed readily. II wish to see the
child. have told you why"
VERY well, madam" Why had
they not telegraphed the child, even
on the train, to return to Farlow's He
knew nothing of this woman, whether
she was an enemy or a friend. He
conducted his unwelcome guest into
! the library.
"How did you know that she was
here?" suddenly.
| But she was ready. IT did not. But
the death of Mr.. Hargreave brought
me. And that youthful hat in the hall
was story all it's own. Later shall
show you some papers of my own.
You will have no cause to doubt them.
They have not the legal power of
yours, but they would find standing in
any court"
Jones turned and went in search of
Florence.
The princess lost no time in begin
ming her Investigations, but she vast
ed her time. There was no secret
panel in evidence.
| who is she?" asked Florence as
she looked at the card did my fa-
Their know princssses?"
1 "Yes." said Jones briefly. "Be very
careful what you say to her. Admit
nothing. She claims to be a cousin of
your mother. Perhaps"
MY mother?" Without waiting for
any further advice from Jones, whom
! Florence in her young years thought
presuming upon his authority, she ran
downstairs to the library. Her mother,
to learn some fact about the mother
Of whom she knew nothing!
''You knew my mother?" she cried
without ceremony.
He heard the princess say: II did,
my child; and heaven is witness that
/ you are the exact picture of her at
your age. And knew your father"
Jones Strengthened, his hands shut
tightly.
Tell me about my father"
The princess smiled. 1t was Katrina
Pushkin come to life, the same impul-
siveness. Il knew him but slightly. /
was a mere child myself when he used
/ to pinch my cheeks. I met him again
the other night, but he did not recog-
nize me; and could not find it in my
heart to awaken his memory in a pub.
| lie restaurant"
Presently Jones came in to an
nounce that two detectives requested
to see Florence. The two men en-
tered, informing her that they had
been instructed to investigate the dis
appearance of Stanley Hargreave.
who are you, miss ?"
/ 81 am his daughter"
"Ahf"
One of the detectives questioned
Florence infinitely while the other
wandered about the rooms, feeling the
walls, using the magnifying glass,
turning back the rugs. Even the
| girls pretty room did not escape his.
scrutiny. BY and by he returned to
| the library and beckoned to his com
panion. The two conferred for mo-
| ment. One CHANGED to look into the
mirror He saw the bright eyes Of
! the princess gazing intelligently into
his
I'm afraid We'll have to ask you to
] accompany us to the station, miss"
"Why?"
Some technicalities. We must have
some proof Of your right to be in
this house. So far as we have learned,
I Hargreave was unmarried. 1t will
take but few minutes"
"And 1 will accompany you," said
the princess. 'We'H be back within
half an hour. I'll tell them what ]
know"
Jones, in the hall. caught sight Of
the reporter coming up the steps.
Here was some one he could depend
! upon.
why, Mr.. Nortonl"
The reporter eyed the princess in
amaZement.
"You look surprised. Naturally.
am cousin of Miss Florence's moth
| er. You might say that l am her
aunt. It's small world, isn't it?" But
! If wishing could poison, the reporter
would have died that moment.
"Who are you and what are you
doing here?" one of the detectives de.
! manded.
Il am going to ask that very ques.
ton of YOU" said Norton urbanely.
I'VE are from headquarters, replied
one, showing his badge.
what headquarters? What are
they asking YOU to do?" he said to
Florence.
I "They say must go to the police
station with them"
4 mot the least In the world" laughed
the reporter you two clear out Of
here as fast as your rascally legs can
carry you. don't know what your
game is, but l do know every repu-
table detective in New York, and you
don't belong"
Good heayens!" exclaimed the
princess; "do you mean to say that
these men are not real detectives p
"This girl goes to the police station,
young man, So much the worse for