The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-06-10
XXI.
A Niaht Of Adxentur..

a. lC9Cidl bOftIilI1tul dkTtt0 70
say nothing, to put no obstacles in the
way Of the Russian agent, provided he
could abduct his trio without serious
ty clashing with the New York police
authorities. II was a recognized fact
that the local police force wanted the
newspaper glory which would attend
the crushing OF the Black Hundred.
1T would be IN exploit. But their glory
was nil; nor did Servan take his trio
back with him to Russia.
Many strange things happened that
night, the night Of tbs final adven-
tire.
Florence sat In hev room reading.
The book was "Ollver Twist" not the
~pleasantest sort of book to read un.
der the existing circumstances. Sew
eral times-she had reached the place
where Fagin overheard Nancy's con
fession-she fancied she heard doors
closing softly, but credited II to her
Imagination. Poor Nancy, who want
ed to be good but did not find time to
be! Florence possessed a habit ia
millar to most OF US; the need Of ap
pies or candy when we are reading.
30 she rang the bell for her maid,
intending to ask her to bring up some
apples. She turned to her reading
presently to break off and strike the
bell again. Where was that maid! she
waited perhaps five minutes, her laid
down the hook and began to investi-
gate.
There was not a servant to be found
In the entire house! What in the
world could that mean? Used as she
was to h~eartrending suspense, che was
none the less terrified. Something had
taken the servants from the house.
From whence was the danger to come
this time? Where was Jones? Why
did he not return as he had promised?
1t was long past the hour when he
said he would be back.
She went into the library and picked
mp the telephone. She was told that
Mr.. Norton was out on an assignment,
but that he would be notified the mo-
uent he returned. She opened a draw
Sr In the desk. She touched the au-
tomato. but did not take IL up. She
left the drawer open. however.
Earlier. at the newspaper Office that
night, Jim went into the managing ed
ftor's Office and laid a bulky manu-
script on that gentleman's desk.
rs this itr'
1T is,'' said Jim.
You have captured them?''
mo; but there is q net about them
from which not one shall escape.
There's the story OF my adventures, of
the adventures of Miss H%argreave and
the butler. Jones. You'll find 1t ex-
citing enough. You might Just as we'll
send It up to the composing room. AT
midnight I'll telephone the introduc-
ton. It's a scoop. Don't worry about
that"
The editor rifled the pages.
"A hundred and twelve pages. 300
words to the page; man It's a novel;"
'Itl read like one"
'Sit down for a moment and let me
skim through the first story"
At the end OF ten minutes the editor
laid down the copy. He opened a draw
er and took out two envelopes. The
blue one he tore up and dropped into
the waste basket, Norton understood
and smiled. They had meant to dis
charge him II he fell down. The other
envelope was a fat one.
"Open it," said the editor, smiling a
little to himself.
This envelope contained a check for
80. 500, two round.trip irst-class tickets
60 Liverpool, together with innumer-
able continental tickets such a. are
issued to tourists.
why two?" asked Jim. innocently.
Forget 1t. my boy. forget 1t. You
ought to know that in this office we
don't employ blind men. The whole
star Is on. There you are, a fat check
and three months vacation. Go and
get married: and II you return before
che three months are up Ill fire you
myself on general principles"
Jim laughed happily and the two
men shock hands. Then Jim went
Forth to complete the big assignment.
Five minutes later Florence called him
up to learn that he had gone.
What should she do? Jones had
told her to stay In the house and not
20 leave It. But where was he? Why
did he not come? What was the mean
ing OF this desertion by the servants?
She wandered about aimlessly, looking
out Of windows. imagining forms in
the shadows. Her imagination had
not deceived her; she had heard doors
close softly.
Susan. Susan!" she murmured; but
Susan was In the hospital.
! oliver Twist" What had possessed
her to start reading that old tale
ngain? She should have read some
thing OF ! light and Joyous character.
After half an hours wandering about
che lonely house she returned to the
library. feeling that she would be
pafer where both telephone and re-
And while che sat waiting for she
knew. not what. her swiftly beating
>eart sending the blood into her throat
Is that n almost suffocated her. . man
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