The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1915-01-01

~A"e AOAIcAC IL 10 Qult0 pTOOAUiO tQ0C
the day would have come to a close
as the day before had, monotonously.
But the ring came five minutes after
Jones had left the house.
rs this the Hargreave placer"
YES" said Florence. who IL it?'
This is Miss Hargreave talking?"
YES"
This is Doctor Morse. l am at the
Queen hotel. Mr.. Norton has been
badly hurt. and he wants you and
Nj. Jones to come at once. We can
not tell just how serious the injury 10.
He is Just conscious. Shall l tell him
you will come immediately"
"Yes, yes!"
Florence snapped the receiver on
the hook. She wanted to ny, fly. He
was hurt. How. when, where!
Susan! Susan!" she called.
What Is 1t, F%lorence?" asked Susan,
running into the room.
Jim is badly hurt. He wants me to
come at once o. Susan! I've been
dreading something all day long" FLOR
ence struck the maids bell. MY
wraps. You will 90 with me, Susan"
Where, Miss Florence" asked the
maid. alive to her duty.
Where? What IL that to your de-
handed Florence. who did. not know
that this maid was a detective.
why not wait till Mr.. Jones 70
turns?" she suggested patiently.
And let the man I love die?'
vehemently.
AT least you will leave word where
you are going. Miss Florence"
The Queen hotel. And II you say
another word I'll discharge you. Come
Susan"
There happened to be q taxicab con-
veniently near Gas Vroon took care
there should be), and Florence At once
engaged it. She did not see the man
hiding In the bushes. The two young
women stepped into the taxicab and
were driven OF. They had been gone
less than five minutes when Jones re-
turned with his purchase. to find the
house empty of its most valuable asset.
He was furious. not only at the maid,
who. he realized, was virtually help
less, but at his W negligence.
In the midst Of his violent harangue
the bell sounded. In his bones he knew
what was going to be found there. It
was a letter on the back Of which
was drawn the fatal black mask. With
shaking fingers he tore open the en-
velope and read the contents:
Florence is now in our power. Only the
surrender Of the million will save her.
Dur agent will call in an hour for an an
SWer.
THE BLACK HUNDRED.
AS a matter of fact, they had wanted
Jones almost as badly as Florence,
but her desire for a book-some
popular story Of the day-had saved
hin from the net. The letter had
been written against this possibility.
Jones became cool. now that he
knew just what to face. The Queen
hotel meant nothing. Florence would
not be taken there. He called up Nor
ton. It took all the buffers patience.
however. as It required seven different
calls to locate the reporter.
Meantime the taxicab containing
Florence and Susan spun madly toward
the water front. Here the two were
separated by an effective threat. Flor
ence recognized the man Vroon and
knew that to plead for mercy would
be q waste Of time. She permitted
herself to be led to a waiting launch.
Always when she disobeyed Jones
something like this happened. But
this time they had cunningly struck
at her heart. and all thought of her
personal safety became as nothing.
For the present she knew that she was
In no actual physical danger. She
was merely to be held as a hostage.
Would Susan have mentality enough
to tell Jones where the taxicab had
i stopped? She doubted. In an emer.
gency Susan had proved herself a
%nonertity. a bundle of h%ysterical
thrills.
AS a matter Of fact, for once Flor
ence's deductions were happily wrong
When the chauffeur peremptorily de.
posted Susan on the lonely country
AO0U, SCSCldA ulAlc0 IIOuu LOllC, 0u0
ran hot-foot to the nearest telephone
and sent a very concise message
home. Susan was becoming acclimated
to this strange, exciting existence.
Norton arrived in due time, and
he and Jones were mapping out a plan
when Susan's message came.
Good girl" said Jones. shes
learning. Can you handle this alone,
Norton? They want me out Of the
house again, for l believe they were
after me as we'll as Florence. Halt
an hour gone!"
Trust me-" cried Norton.
And he ran out to his auto. 1t was
a wild ride. Several policemen shouted
after him, but he went on unmindful.
They could take his license number
a hundred times for all he cared. So
thew had pnt herr They cOuld wait