The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-04-09
Stay where you are..

out and caught her arm. She tried t.
tear herself loose.
| my child, in Gods name, listen t.
reason, They are entering the hal
and they will have us both"
Suddenly Florence knew. She couit
not have told you why; but there was
an appeal in the mans voice that wen
to her heart
you are my father!"
YES yes! But you've found it Out
just trifie too late, my dear. Quick;
this side of the desk."
Braine and his men dashed into the
library. Olga entered leisurely.
Both OF them!" yelled Braine ex
ultantly. Both Of them together;
what lucki"
There was a sharp, fierce struggle;
and when 1t came to an end Har
greave was trussed to a chair.
"Ah, so we meet again, Hargreave!'
said Braine.
Hargreave shrugged. What he
wanted was time.
"A million, We have you. Where
is it, or I'll twist your heart before
your eyes"
Father, forgive mel"
81 understand, my child
Where is it," Braine seized Flor
ence by the wrist and swung her to-
ward him.
Don't tell him, father; don't mind
me-" said the girl bravely.
Braine, smiling his old evil smile,
drew the girl close. 1t was the last
time he ever touched her.
Look" screamed Olga.
Every one turned, to see Jones face
peering between the curtains. There
was an ironic smile on the buffers
lips. The face vanished
After him." cried Braine, releasing
Florence.
After him!" mimicked voice from
the hall.
The curtains were thrown back sud-
denly. Jones appeared. and Jim and
the Russian agent and dozen police
men. Tableau!
Braine was the only man who kept
his head. He fioored Norton, smashed
a window. and 1eaped out. The blow
dazed Norton, but he was on his feet
almost instantly and followed Braine
through the window. Across the lawn
the two sped, with an exchange of
shots which emptied both automatics
but did no damage Braine headed
for his auto. He jumped In, only to
be hauled out again by the furious
reporter. A hand-to-hand fight fol-
lowed; and the clean life of the re-
porter told.
There. my angelic friend, l believe
that the game Is up. There is one
shot left in this automatic. II you
make any attempt to escape, I'll let
you have it; not to kill but to disable.
You and your precious countess will
sail tomorrow morning for the Baltic,
and from there you will go to the lead
mines" He dragged his prisoner to-
ward the house.
Your troubles are over, my child"
said HArgreave, as he pressed Flor
ence to his heart.
And mine have begun murmured
the countess. But l have still one
shot,"
The police stood encircling her
Calmly she opened her handbag and
took out her handkerchief 1t was
a thick and heavy silk one. Swiftly
she unscrewed the top of her walking
stick tit will he seen now that the
of it was not an affectationD,
extracted vial and threw it violently |
to the floor An oyerpowering sweet |
odor filled the room. Jones, knowing |
how deeply versed Braine was in ORR |
entail poisons and narcotics, made a |
desperate but futile effort to tear down |
4 curtain to throw over the liquid; but
even in the effort he felt his senses
going. The last he was conscious of
vas a mocking laugh.
But the entrance of Jim, dragging
3raine after him, shocked all the BAN
er out of the countess. She turned
md rushed madly for the stairs, with
nut having the least idea how she was
o manage an escape from the upper
tories. She had thought Braine free.
Is she flew up the steps all the past
all her warnings to that stub
orn man. This was the end :.
lussia! The horrors of the cold and
he deadly damps of the mines
brewer.
Jim, still holding the battered con-
pirator, watched her flight in amaze
lent. He could not understandable
e pushed Braine into the library and
he vanishing odor assailed his nos
ills. What these fumes were he new
r knew, but they proved to be transit
,ry. Five minutes suf11ced to bring
Il back to their senses. For the while
ley forgot Olga.
This man is mine" said Seryan,
Ddding toward Braine.
He's yours without charge" said
m.
I'm an American citizen" said
raine, who, realizing what the fu-
ire held, readily preferred a long :
.ison term in America to the horrors :
|