The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-03-11

Was Drawn the Fatal Black MASK
laid down for himself. 'It is very
gloomy today, and perhaps we are q.
little depressed by it. l am sorry"
20, l realize, Jones, that all this
unending mystery annd secrecy have
q set purpose at back. Only, it does
just seem as IL should go mad some
times with waiting and wondering"
And IL the truth must be told, 1t.
is the same with me- We have to
wait for them to strike. Shall I get
you something new to read? am
going down to the drug store and
they have q circulating library"
"Get me anything you please. But
I'd feel better with little sunshine"
That's universal" replied Jones',
gong into the hall for his hat.
Had the telephone rung again at
that moment it is quite probable that;
the day would have come to close
as the day before had, monotonously.;
But the ring came five minutes after,
Jones had left the house.
"Is this the Hargreave placer"
{ EYES," said Florence. who 10 it?".
"This is Miss Hargreave talking?"i
eyes,"
"This is Doctor Morse. am at the;
Queen hotel. Mr.. Norton has beeni
badly hurt, and he wants you and.
Mr.. Jones to come at once. We can,
not tell Just how serious the injury Is.
He is just conscious. Shall tell him
you will come immediately"
Eyes, yes!"
Florence snapped the receiver on:
the hook. She wanted to fly. fly. He
was hurt. How, when. whore?
Susan! Susan!" she called.
"What is 1t, Florence?" 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 go with me, Susan"
"Where, Miss Florence" asked the.
maid, alive to her duty.
Where? What is that to your" de-
manded Florence, who did not know
/! that this maid was q detective.
why not wait till Mr.. Jones re-
turns?" she suggested patiently.
And let the man l love der.
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 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
j less than Ave 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 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
Our agent will call in an hour TOT an an
s"e THE BLACK HUNDRED.
As a matter Of fact, they had wanted
Jones almost 40 badly as Florence
but her desire for . 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 n
knew Just what to face. The Queer
hotel meant nothing. Florence woult
not be taken there. He called up Nor
ton. It took all the buffers patience
however, % It required seven di6eren
calls to locate the reporter