American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-01-28

mo ABOUT the pOuSe. I've not been
heee in so long I've forgotten the run
OF II. ] remember one room with
the secret panel and another with a
painting that turned. Have they
changed tbem2"
NO; II is Just the same here as It
used to be. Come along and I'll show
yos.."
Norton inspected the roomg care
fully, slowing away in his mind every
detail. He might be worrying about
nothing; but SO many strange things
had happened that it was better to be
on the side Of caution than on the
side Of carelessness. He left the
house and ran across Jones carrying
a basket Of wine.
Here, Norton; take this to the
party. want to r-econnoiter."
"All right, MUD! Say, Jones. how
much do you think I'd earn at this
job" comically.
Get along with you, Mr.. Norton. 1t
may be the time to laugh, and then it
may not"
I'm going back into the house and
hide behind a secret panel. I've got
my revolver. You 20 to the stables
and take a try at my car; see if she
works smoothly. We may have to do
scme hiking. Where is the countess
in this?"
Leave that to me, Mr.. Norton" said
the butler with his grim smile. "Be
off; they are moving back toward the
house"
So Norton carried the basket around
to the lawn, where it was taken from
his hands by the regular servant. He
sighed as he saw Florence, laughing
and chatting with a man who was a
stranger and whom he heard ad.
dressed as count. Some friend of the
countess. no doubt. Where was all this
tangle going to end? He wished he
knew. And what a yarn he was going
to write some day! II would be read
like one Of Gaboriau's tales. He
turned away to wander idly about the
grounds, when beyond a clump of ce.
dars he saw three or four men convers.
Ing slowly. He got as near as possible.
for when three or four men put their
heads together and whisper animated
ly, 1t usually means a poker game or
something worse. He caught a phrase
or two as 1t came down the wind, and
then he knew that the vague suspi.
cion that had brought him out here
had been set in motion by fate. He
Heard Florence" and the old dra W.
ing room " and that was enough.
He scurried about for Jones. It was
pure luck that he had had old Meg
show him through the house, other.
wise he would have forgotten all about
the secret panel in the wall and the
painting. Jones shrugged resignedly.
Were these men of the countess
party? Norton couldn't say.
Norton made his hiding place in
safety; and by and by he could hear
The guests moving about in the room.
Then all sounds ceased for a while. A
door closed sharply.
No; here o must stay. young
lady, said a mans voice.
What do you mean, sir?" demanded
the beloved voice.
ut means that no one will return to
this room and that you will not be
missed until 1t is too late
The sound of voices stopped alb.
ruptly, and something like scufiing
ensued. Later Norton heard the back
of a chair strike the panel and some
n sat heavily upon it. He waited
perhaps five minutes; then he gently
slid back the panel. Florence sat
bound and gagged under his very eyes.
1t was but the work OF a to
liberate her.
1T is !, Jim. Do not speak or make
the least noise. Follow me-"
Greatly astonished. Florence obeyed;
and the panel slipped back into place.
The room behind the secret panel had
barred windows. To Florence it an.
peared to be a real prison.
How did you get here?" she asked
breathlessly.
Something told me to follow you.
And something is always going to tell
me- to follow you, Florence"
She pressed his hand. II vas to her
as II n OF those book heroes had
stepped out of a book; only book he.
roes always had tremendous fortunes
and did not have to work for a liv.
ing. Oddly enough, she was not
"Who was the man?' he asked.
The Count Norfeldt. Some one
has imposed upon the countess"
DO you think so?" with a strange
look in his eyes.
What do you mean?"
Nothing just now. The idea is to
out of here just as quickly as we
can. See this painting?" He touched
a spot in the wall and the painting
slowly swung u like a door. Come:
max our escape to the side lawn
from here"
AT the stable they we're confronted
the knowledge that Norton's car
VAS out OF commission; Jones could do
iothing with II. Then Norton suggest.
that he make a effort to com.
nandeer the limousine OF the count.
sss; but there were men about, so tn,
limousine was out of the question. +
"Horses!" whispered Jones. There