The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-01-07
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invited. and the truth is I'm very
desperately in love with the young
Iady In whose honor this coaching
marty is being given. And ;.
maybe she's In danger"
danger? What about?"
"The Lord only knows. But show
ma about the house. I've not been
here in so long I've forgotten the run
Of Il. remember one room with
the secret panel and another with a
painting that turned. Have they
changed themf"
mo; It Is Just the same here as It
used to be. Come along and I'll show
you"
Norton inspected the rooms care
FULLY. slowing away in his mind every
detail. He might be worrying about
nothing; but so many strange things
had happened that II was better to be
on the side of caution than on the
side Of carelessness. He left the
house and ran across Jones carrying
: basket Of wine.
Here, Norton; take this to the
party. want to reconnoiter."
"All right, MUD! Say, Jones, how
much do you think I'd earn at this
jobT comically.
Get along with you, Mr.. Norton. It
may be the time to laugh, and then 1t
may not"
"I'm going back into the house and
hide behind secret panel. I've got
my revolver. You go to the stables
and take q try at my car; see IL she
works smoothly. We may have to do
some hiking. Where is the countess
In this?"
Leave that to me. Mr.. Norton" said
the butler with his grim smile. BE
on; they are moving back toward the
house."
So Norton carried the basket around
to the lawn, where 1t was taken from
his hands by the regular servant. He
sighed as he saw Florence, laughing
and chatting with man who was q
stranger and whom he heard ad-
dressed as count. Some friend of the
countess, no doubt. Where was all this
tangle going to end? He wished he
knew. And what yarn he was going
to write some day! It would be read
like one Of Gaboriau's tales. He
turned away to wander idly about the
grounds, when beyond a clump Of CO.
,dars he saw three or four men convers.
ing slowly. He got as near as possible,
for when three or four men put their
heads together and whisper animated
Ily, It usually means q poker game or
something worse. He caught q phrase
|or two as It came down the wind, and
then he knew that the vague suspi,
'cion that had brought him out here
had been set In motion by fate. He
heard Florence" and 1.-The old draw
ing room;" and that was enough.
He scurried about for Jones. It was
pure luck that he had had old Meg
show him through the house, other
wise 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 moving about In the room.
Then all sounds ceased for a while. A
door closed sharply.
mo; here you must stay, young
lady," said mans voice.
What do you mean, sir?" demanded
the beloved voice.
1T means that no one will return to
this room and that you will not be
missed until 1t is too late
The sound of voices stopped abb
ruptly. and something like scuffiing
ensued. Later Norton heard the back
OF q chair strike the panel and some
one sat heavily upon 1t. He waited
perhaps Ave minutes; then he gently
slid back the panel. Florence sat
pound and gagged under his very eyes.
1t was but the work Of q moment to
hberate her.
1t Is ], 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 1t ap-
peared to be real prison.
How did you get here?" she asked
breathlessly.
Something told me to follow you.
And something is always going to tell
me to follow you, Florence"
She pressed his hand. 1t was to her
AZ II one Of those book heroes had
stepped out Of a book; only book he
roes always had tremendous fortunes
ana did not have to work for liv-
ing. Oddly enough, she was not
afraid.
Who was the mann he asked.
The Count Norfeldt. Some one
mas imposed upon the countess"
Do you think so?" with strange
look in his eyes.
What do you mean?"
Nothing just now. The idea is to
get out Of here just as quickly as we
can. See this painting?" He touched
spot in the wall and the painting
slowly swung out like a door "Come.