The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-12
Copyright, 1914, by Harold MacGrath)


| inconsequent things, when the mai'
| came In and asked Florence to com'
to Miss Susan's room for :. moment
Florence excused herself, wondering
what Susan could want. She forgo
the mail.
AS soon as she was gone the count
ess, certain that Jones was not Turk
ing about, picked up the letters and
calmly examined their contents; and
among them she found this remark
able document: Dear daughter
have never seen: ! must turn the
treasure over to you. Meet me at
eight in the summer house. Tell nc
one as my life is in danger Your Low,
ing father"
The countess could have laughed
aloud. She saw this man Paroff' s
hand; and here was the chance to be-
fool and humiliate him and send him
off packing to his cold and miserable
country. She had made up once as
Florence, and she could easily do so
again. The only thing that troubled
her was the fact that she did not know
whether Florence had read the letter
or not. Thus, she did not dare destroy
it. She first thought of changing
the clock; then she concluded to drop
the letter exactly where she found 1t
and trust to luck
When Florence returned she ex-
planned that her absence had been due
to some trifling household affair.
Said the Russian: Il come primar-
they dance. If you like. you may ask
Mr.. Norton to go along. I begin to
observe that you two are rather fond
of one another"
20, Mr.. Norton is just a valuable
friend" returned Florence with
smile that quite deceived the other
woman. Il shall be glad to go to the
tea. But 1 shall not promise to dance"
Not with Mr.. Norton?" archly.
Reporters never dance themselves;
they make others dance instead
Il shall have to tell that" declared
the countess; and she laughed quite
honestly.
Then 1 have said something wit
ty?"
Indeed you have; and it is not only
witty but truthful. I'm afraid you're
deeper than the rest of us have any
idea off,
Perhaps 1 am" thought Florence;
at least, deeper than you believe"
When the countess f1uttered down
% her limousine-F1orence hated the
sight of it-and drove away, Florence
remembered her letters. And when
the came to the one purporting to be |
rom her father, she read it carefully, |
,ent her head in thought, and finally |
destroyed the missive, absolutely con-
ldent that it was only a trap, and not |
-ery we'll conceived at that Norton |
lad given her plenty of reason for |
all such letters to be forger
es. Her father, If he really wished to
zee her, would enter the house; he
would not write. All, when would
he see that father of hers. so myster
Gus, always lowering near, always
nseen?
1t must have been an amusing ad-
enture for the countess. To steal
lto the summer house and wait there,
OF knowing if Florence had advised
ones or the reporter. II caught, she
ad her excuses. Parod, the conf
emit, however, appeared shortly after.
My child" whispered the man.
And Olga stifled a laugh; but to
i'm 1t sounded like a sob.
Il am worn out" he said. Il am
red of the game of hide and seek"
You will not have to play the game
'ng," thought Olga.
THE money is hidden in my office
OWN town. And we must go there at
ace. When we return we will pack
? and leave for Europe. I've longed |
see you SOL"
You poor fool And they sent you
supersede Leo!" she unused
She played out the farce to the very
Id. She permitted herself to be
nioned and logged; and for what
necessary roughness she suffered
the hands of Paroff he would pres
lily pay. He took her straight to
e executive chamber of the Black 9
undred and pushed her into the !
ON, exclaiming triumphantly: l
Here is Hargreave's daughter" :
Indeed" said Olga, throwing back :
r veil and standing revealed in her :.
ask.
"Olga!" cried Braine, laughing. !.
And that was the inglorious end Of :