Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1915-06-18
llCopyrighA IG1A. by Harold MsO0s~sh)

y Haeold MaC0ea4h)
wnere r1ag1n overheard Nancy's con.
fession-she fancied she heard doors
closing softly, but credited 1t to her
Imagination. Poor Nancy, who want
ed to be good but did not find time to
be! Florence possessed habit ia
miliar to most of us; the need Of ap-
pies or candy when we are reading.
So she rang the bell for her maid.
intending to ask her to bring up some
apples. She turned to her reading,
presently to break off and strike the
bell again. Where was that maid? She
waited perhaps five minutes, then laid
down the book and began to investi-
gate.
There was not servant to be found
In the entire house! What in the
world could that mean? Used as she
was to heartrending suspense, she was
none the less terrified. Something had
taken the servants from the house.
From whence was the danger to come
this time? Where was Jones? Why
did he not return as he had promised?
It was long past the hour when he
said he would be back.
She went into the library and picked
up the telephone. She was told that
Mr.. Norton was out on an assignment,
but that he would be notified the mo-
ment he returned. She opened draw
er in the desk. She touched the au-
tomato, but did not take it up. She
left the drawer open, however.
Earlier, at the newspaper Office that
night, Jim went into the managing ed
itor's Office and laid a bulky manu-.
script on that gentleman's desk.
us this it?" ...-
1T is" said Jim.
"You have captured them?"
mo; but there is net about them
from which not one shall escape
There's the story Of my adventures, Of
the adventures Of Miss Hargreave and
the butler, Jones. You'll find 1t ex-
citing enough. You might just as we'll
send 1t up to the composing room. At
midnight I'll telephone the introduce
ton. It's a scoop. Don't worry about
that" ssfsRssiss a sts .'sA~,' y
The editor riff1ed the pages.
"A hundred and twelve pages, 300
words to the page; man it's a novel;"
It'll read like one"
sit down for a moment and let me
skim through the first story"
At the end of ten minutes the editor
laid down the copy, He opened draw
or and took out two envelopes. The
blue one he tore UP and dropped into
the waste basket Norton understood
and smiled. They had meant to dis
charge him II he fell down. The other
envelope was fat one.
open It," said the editor, smiling a
little to himself.
This envelope contained check for
$4,000, two round.trtp flrst-class tickets
to Liverpool, together with innumer'
able continental tickets such as are
issued to tourists. ......
"Why twoT asked Jim, innocently.
"Forget 1t, my boy, forget 1t. You
ought to know that in this office we
don't employ blind men. The whole
staff is on. There you are, fat check
and three months vacation. Go and
get married; and IL you return before
the three months are up I'll ire you
myself on general principles"
Jim laughed happily and the two
men shook hands. Then Jim went
forth to complete the big assignment.
Five minutes later Florence called him
up to learn that he had gone.
What should she do? Jones had
told her to stay in the house and not
to leave it. But where was he? Why
did he not come? What was the mean
ing Of this desertion by the servants?
She wandered about aimlessly, looking
out of windows, imagining forms in
the shadows. Her imagination had
not deceived her; she had heard doors
close softly.
Susan, Susanl" she murmured; but
Susan was in the hospital.
"Oliver TWIST" What had possessed
her to start reading that old tale
again? She should have read some
thing Of light and joyous character.
After half an hours wandering about
the lonely house she returned to the
library. feeling that she would be
A