The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-02-05

why not wait till Mr.. Jones re-
turns?" she suggested patiently.
And let the man love die?"
vehemently.
AT least you will leave word where |
you are going, Miss Florence"
THE Queen hotel. And If you say
another word I'll discharge you. Come
Susan"
There happened to be a taxicab con-
veniently near (as 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 off. 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 own negligence.
In the midst of his violent harangue
the bell sounded In his bones he knew
what was going to be found there 1t
was 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.
Our 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
him 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. 1t took all the buffers patience,
however, as 1t 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 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
stopped? She doubted. In an emer.
gency Susan had proved herself a
nonentity, bundle of hysterical
thrills.
AS matter of fact, for once Flor
ence's deductions were happily wrong
. When the chauffeur peremptorlly de
= posted Susan on the lonely country
road, several miles from home, she
ran hot-foot to the nearest telephone
and sent very concise message
home. Susan was becoming acclimateC
to this strange, exciting existence.
Norton arrived in due time, anC
he and Jones were mapping out plar
when Susan's message came.
Good girl" said Jones. She's
learning. Can you handle this alone
Norton? They want me out of the
house again, for believe they were
after me as well as Florence. Hall
, an hour gone!"
Trust mel" cried Norton.
And he ran out to his auto. 1t was
wild ride. Several policemen shouted
after him, but he went on unmindful
They could take his license number
hundred times for all he cared So
they had got her? They could wait
til their enemy's vigilance Stacked
and then would strike? But Susan
The next time he saw Susan he was
going to take her in his arms and kiss