The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-03-26
he policeman returned t. nar.


ITS pretty quiet upstairs" he sug.
gested Don't you think. sir, that
I'd better try that bedroom door
again?"
We'll, If you must" assented Har.
greave reluctantly But don't be
rough with her If you can help it,"
For Braine he had no sympathy.
For eighteen years to have ridden
and driven and sailed up and down
the world. always confident that SOON
er or later that demon would find
him. He had lost the childhood of
his daughter, and now he was to lose
her In her womanhood And because
of this implacable hatred the childs
mother had died in the Petrograd
prison fortress But what an enemy
the man had been! He, Hargreave,
had needed all his wits constantly;
he had never dared go to sleep ex-
cept with one eye open. But in en-
ploying ordinary crooks Braine had
at length overreached himself, and
now he must pay the penalty. The
way of the transgressor is hard, and
though this ancient saying looks
dingy with the wear and tear Of CEN
turtles, it still holds good.
But he felt sorry for the woman up
above. She had loved not wisely but
too well. Far better for her II she
put an end to life. She would not live
a year in the God-forsaken SHOWS OF
Siberia.
my kind father!" said Florence. as
II she could read his thoughts.
II had a hard time Of it, my child
1t was difficult to play the butler with
you about. The times that | fought
down the desire to sweep you up in
my arms! But kept an iron grip on
that impulse. 1t would have imper-
lied you In some manner 1t would
have leaked out, and your life and
mine wouldn't have been worth a but
ton"
Florence threw her arms around
him and held him tightly.
THAT poor weak woman upstairs!"
she murmured Cant they let her
go?"
mo, dear She has lost. and losers
pay the stakes. That's life, Norton,
you knew who was all the time,
didn't you?"
81 did, Mr., Hargreave. There was
scar on the lobe of your ear; and
secretly had often wondered at the
likeness between you and the real
Jones When ] caught a glimpse of
that ear then | knew what the game
was. And I'll add you played it amaz-
ingly well. The one flaw in Braine's
campaign was his hurry. He started
the ball rolling before getting all the
phases clearly established in his
mind He was a brave man anyhow"
And do you think that you can lead
Florence to the milllon?" asked Har-
greave, smiling,
For one thing, it is in her room
and has always been there. 1t never
was in the chest"
mot bad. not bad" unused the ia
Their.
But perhaps after all 1t will be
best If you show 1t to her yourself"
Just a little uncertain" jibed the
millionaire.
Absolutely certain will whisper
in your ear where 1t is hidden" Nor
ton leaned forward as Hargreave bent
attentively.
you've hit It," said the millionaire.
But how in the world did you guess
it?"
Because it was the last place any
one would look for it. | judged at
the start that you'd hide it in just
such spot, in some place where you
could always guard it and lay your
hands on it quickly if needs said
must"
I'm mighty glad you we're on my
SIDE" said Hargreave. I'm a few
minutes we'll go up and take a look
at those packets of bills There's
very unhappy young woman there at
present"
rs 1t in my room?" cried Florence.
Hargreave nodded
Meantime Countess Olga lowered
between two courses; brave attempt
to escape by the window or to turn
the revolver against her heart. In
either case there was nothing left In
life for her. The man she loved was
dead below. killed by her hand She
felt as though she was treading air in
some fantastical nightmare. She
could not go forward or backward, and
her heels were always within reach
Of her pursuers.
So this was the end of things? The
dreams she had had Of going away
with Braine to other climes, the hap
piness she had pictured, all mere
chimeras! A sudden rage swept over
her She would escape, she would
continue to play the game to the end
She would show them that she had
been the mans mate, not his plant
tool? She raised the window and in
slipped the policeman who had pa
tiently been waiting for her. Instant
ly she placed the revolver at her tenn
pie. A quick clutch and the police
man ha1 bar hv fha Nuriof Che do