Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-03-05
CHAPTER XXI.


CHAF EN- NAIL
A Niuht Of Adventure.
The federal government agreed to
say nothing, to put 10 obstacles in the
way OF the Russian agent, provided he
could abduct his trio without serious
ly clashlng with the New York police
authorities. 1t was a recognized fact
that the local police force wanted the
newspaper glory which would attend
the crushing of the Black Hundred.
It would be an exploit. But their glory
was nil: nor did Servan take his trio
back with him to Russia.
Many strange things happened that
night, the night of the final adven-
ture.
Florence sat In her room reading.
The book was "Oliver Twist" not the
pleasantest sort OF book to read un-
der the existing circumstances. Sew
eral times-she had reached the place
where Fagin overheard Nancy's con-
fession-she fancied she heard doors
closing softly, but credited It to her
imagination. Poor Nancy, who want
ed to be good but did not find time to
bel Florence possessed a habit IA
miliar to most OF us; the need Of APP
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 a servant TO be found
In the entire housed 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
II wac long past the hour when he
said he would be back.
She went into the library and picked
up the telephone. She was told thai
Mr.. Norton was out on an assignment
but that he would be notified the mo
ment he returned. She opened a draw
or 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 tina
night, Jim went into the managing ed
itor's Office and laid a bulky manu-
script on that %gentleman's desk.
is this it,"
1T Is" said Jim.
you have captured them3'
mo; but there is a net about then
from which not one shall escape
There's the story OF my adventures, o
the adventures Of Miss Hargreave an
the butler. Jones. You'll find 1t es
citing enough. You might just as wei
send IL up to the composing room. A
midnight I'll telephone the introduC
ton. It's a scoop. Don't worry abou
that"
The editor rifled the pages.
"A hundred and twelve pages, 80
words to the page; man it's a novel!
It'll read like one"
"Sit down for a moment and let m
skim through the first story
At the end of ten minutes the editC
laid down the copy. He opened a draw
err and took out two envelopes. TIL
blue one he tore up and dropped int
the waste basket. Norton understood
and smiled. They had meant to di
charge him II he fell down. The 9TH
envelope was q fat M
open it, said the editor, smiling
little to himself.
This envelope contained a check fl
81, 800, two round-trip frst-class tickle
to Liverpool, together with Immune
able continental tickets such as a
issued to tourists.
why two?" asked JIM, Innocent
Forget it. my boy, forget 1t. "
ought to know that In this Office v
don't employ blind men. The who
staff Is on. There you are, a fat chez
and three months vacation. Go al
get married; and II you return befo
the three months are up I'll fire "
myself on general principles"
Jim laughed happily and the tv
men shook hands. Then Jim we
forth to complete the big assignmer
Five minutes later Florence called hi
up to learn that he had gone.
What should she do? Jones h
told her to stay in the house and n
to leave 1t. But where was he? w
did he not come? What was the mes
ing OF this desertion by the servant
She wandered about aimlessly, looki
out Of windows, imagining forms
the shadows. Her imagination h
not deceived her; she had heard doc
close softly.
Susan, Susani" she murmured; /
Susan was In the hospital.
"Oliver Twist!" What had possess
her to start reading that old I;
again7 She should have read son
thing Of a light and joyous charact
After half an hours wandering abe
the lonely house she returned to I
library, feeling that she would
safer where both telephone and
volver we're.
And while she sat waiting for s
knew not what, her swiftly beat
heart sending the blood into her thrt
so that Il almost suffocated her, a m
turned into the street and wall
CONCRETE AND SEA WAT