Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1915-08-06
tcopyright. 1914. by Harold MacGrssh)
By HAROLD MAC GRATH

7 Harold MacGratb}
dragged him off the horse and buffeted
and mishandled him into the hut.
Both of them!" said Vroon. rubbing
his hands.
Il know you, you Russian rat!"
cried Norton And If | ever get out
of this I'll kill you out of hand! Damn
you'll"
20, yes; talk, talK; but it never
hurts any one" jeered Vroon You'll
never have the chance to kill me out
of hand, as you say Besides, do you
know my face?"
II do. The mask doesn't matter.
You're the man who had me shang-
haied The voice is enough"
Very good That's what ] wished
to know That's your death warrant.
Well do it like they used to do it at
the old Academy; tie you to the rail
road track We shall not hurt you
at all. If some engine runs over you
heaven Is witness we did not guide
the engine Remember the story of
the boy and the cat?" with sinister ami
ability THE boy said he wasn't pull
ling the cats tail he was only holding
it.; the cat did the pulling. Bring him
along men, Time is precious, and we
have a good deal to do before night
settles down. Come on with him. The
track is only a short distance"
"Jim, JIM" cried Florence in an
guish.
Never you mind, girl; they're only
blufIing. They won't dare"
you think SOP said Vroon. wait
and see." He turned upon Florence.
"He is your lover. Do you wish him
to die?'
mo, mol"
I'VE promise to give him his free
dom twelve hours from now on condi-
ton that you tell where that money
is
"Florence!" warned Norton.
Vroon struck him on the mouth,
BE silent, you scum!"
1t is in the chest Jones, the butler,
threw into the sound" she said brave
ly And so it might be, for all she
knew.
vroon laughed "we know about
where that is.
Florence, say nothing on my ac-
count. They are not the kind of men
who keep their word"
"Eh?'' snarled Vroon. We'll see
about that" He glanced at his watch
I'm half an hour the freight comes
along 1t may become stalled at the
wreck But it will serve"
I Norton knew very we'll that if need
said must they would not hesitate to
execute a melodramatic plan of this
character. 1t was the way of the Slav;
j they had to make crime abnormal in
! order to enjoy 1t. They could very.
I well have knocked him on the head
i then and there and have done with
him. But the time used in conveying.
him to the railroad might prove his
4 salvation. Nearly four hours had
passed since the sending of the tele-
i gram to Jones.
They bound Florence and left her.
seated in the chair. AS soon as they,
4 were gone she rolled to the floor. She
was able to right herself to her knees
and after torturous five minutes
reached the fireplace. She burnt her
hands and wrists, but the blaze was
the only knife obtainable. She was
free.
Jones arrived with half a dozen
policemen. Vroon alone escaped
The butler caught Florence in his
nd rJU n hroo
out of her. And she was SO glad to
see him that she kissed him half a
dozen times What if he was her,
fathers butler? He was brave and
loyal and kind
"They tied him to the track she
cried Look at my wrists!" The but
Ter did SO, and kissed them tenderly.
And l saved him."
Jones stretched out hand over
Florence's shoulder. when the time,
comes,' he said; when the right time.
comes and my masters enemies are
never the hawks, do we catch God
bless you Norton! ! don't know what
l should have done without you"
when a chaps in love-" began Nor
ton, embarrassedly.
81 know, know" interrupted Jones.
"The second relief train is waiting.
Let US hurry back. l sha'n't feel Sc
cure till we are once more in the
house."
So, arm in arm, the three of them
went down the tracks to the hand
car which had brought the police.
And now for the iron bound chest
at the bottom of the sea.