The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-19

Why not wait till Mr. Jones re
| turns?" she suggested patiently
And let the man l love die?'
vehemently.
AT least you will leave word where
you are going, Miss Florence"
THE Queen hotel. And if you say
another word I'll discharge you. Come
Susan
There happened to be taxicab con
veniently near (as Vroon took care
there should be-, and Florence at once
engaged it. She did not see the man
hiding in the bushes.s The two young
women stepped into the taxicab and
were driven of. They had been gone
less than five minutes when Jones re-
turned with his purchase, to find the
house empty of its most valuable asset.
He was furious, not only at the maid,
who, he realized, was virtually help
less, but at his own negligence
In the midst of his violent harangue
the bell sounded. In his bones he knew
what was going to be found there 1t
was a letter on the back of which
was drawn the fatal black mask. With
shaking fingers he tore open the en-
velope and read the contents:
Florence is now in our power. Only the
surrender of the million will save her
our agent will call in an hour for an an
swer.
THE BLACK HUNDRED.
AS matter of fact, they had wanted
Jones almost as badly as Florence,
but her desire for a book-some
popular story of the day-had saved
him from the net The letter had
been written against this possibility.
Jones became cool, now that he
knew just what to face The Queen
hotel meant nothing. Florence would
not be taken there. He called I'D Nor
ton. 1t took all the buffers patience,
however, as it required seven different
calls to locate the reporter.
Meantime the taxicab containing
Florence and Susan spun madly toward
the water front. Here the two were
separated by an effective threat. Flor
ence recognized the man Vroon and
knew that to plead for mercy would
be waste of time. She permitted
herself to be led to a waiting launch.
Always when she disobeyed Jones
something like this happened. But
this time they had cunningly struck
at her heart, and all thought of her
personal safety became as nothing
For the present she knew that she was
in no actual physical danger. She |
was merely to be held as hostage. |
Would Susan have mentality enough |
% tell Jones where the taxicab had
stopped? She doubted In an emer- |
sency Susan had proved herself
bundle of hysterical
hrills.
AS matter of fact, for once Flor
,nce's deductions were happily wrong. |
When the chauffeur peremptorily de-
posted Susan on the lonely country
Dad, several miles from home, she
an hot-foot to the nearest telephone
Ind sent a very concise message
home. Susan was becoming acclimated
o this strange, exciting existence.
Norton arrived in due time, and
lie and Jones were mapping cut plan
When Susan's message came.
Good grill" said Jones. She's
Can you handle this alone,
yorton? They want me out of the
ouse again, for l believe they were
fter me as well as Florence Half
n hour gonei"
Trust mel" cried Norton.
And he ran out to his auto 1t was
wild ride. Several policemen shouted
fter him, but he went ON unmindful
hey could take his license number
hundred times for all he cared. So
ley had got her? They could wait
i their enemy's vigilance Stacked
nd then would strike? But Susanl
he next time he saw Susan he was
ping to take her in his arms and kiss
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