The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-01-22

ment. I'm going to bid every one
goodnight, then I'm going to investi-
gate. When leave you will quietly
send men to all exits to the building.
! want the man who sneezed, and l
want him badly"
Olga departed with Braine, only she
Immediately sought the taxi that
brought her and was driven home 1t
was always understood that when any
serious exploit was under way here
abouts she was to make her depart.
ure at once.
Vroon stationed his men at the sew.
eral exits and Braine went upstairs.
The man who had sneezed, however,
had vanished as completely as If he
had worn that invisible cloak one
reads about In the Persian tales. AS
a matter of fact after the second
sneeze he had gone up to the roof,
got out by the trap, and jumped
rather risky business, toto the next
roof and had clambered down the fire
escape Of the second building, He
was swearing inaudibly. After all
these days of care and planning, after
all his cleverness In locating the rem
devious Of the Black Hundred. and
now to lose his advantage because
of an uncomfortable sneeze! He would
never dare 60 back, and just when he
was beginning to pick up fine bits OF
information So Florence HargTeave
was going to have a new father in
day or so? There we're some clever
rogues among this band OF theirs; but
their cleverness was we'll Offset by an
equal number OF fools.
Yes, there were some clever rogues.
and to prove this assertion Braine
secured a taXicab and drove furiously
away. his destination the home OF his
ancient enemy. He dropped the cab
a block or two away and presently
slowed himself away in the summer
house at the left Of the lawn. II would
have been a capital idea-that Is, II
the other man had not thought Of and
anticipated this very thing So he
used public pay station telephone;
and Braine waited in vain, waited
till the lights in the Hargreave house
went out one by one and It became
wrapped in darkness within and noon
shine without.
Braine was philosopher. He re-
turned to his waiting taxicab; drove
home, paid the bill, smiling grimly,
and went to bed. 1t was going to be
a wonderful game Of blind mans buff,
and it was going to be sport to watch
this fool Paroff blunder into a pit
The next afternoon Florence and
Norton sat in the summer house talk
ing Of the future. Lovers are prone
to talk of that. AS II anything else
in the world ever equals the present!
They talked OF nice little apartments
and vacations in the summer and how
much they would save out of his
salary, and thousand and one other
things which would not interest you
at all If | recounted them in detail.
But they did love each other and they
were going to be married. you may be
certain of that. They did not care
snap Of the finger what Jones
thought. They were going to be mar.
rled, and that was all there was to II.
OF course, Florence couldn't touch
penny Of her fathers money. If he,
Norton, couldn't take care of her with
out help why, he wouldn't be worth
the powder to blow him up with
But, my dear, you must be very
careful" he said. Jones and | will
always be about somewhere. If they
really get hold of you once, God alone
knows what will happen. 1t is not
you, 1t is your poor father they want
to bring out into the open. II they
knew where he was they would not
bother you in the least
Have really father? Sometimes
doubt. Why couldn't he steal into
the house and see me, just once"
Perhaps he dares not. This house
Is always watched night and day
though you'll look in vain to discofer
any one. Your father knows best wis.,
he is doing, my dear airl. You seD.