The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1915-03-11
Copyright. 1914, by Harold.NacGrath)

and three months vacation. Go ant
get married; and if you return before
the three months are up I'll fire 20,
myself on general principles"
Jim laughed happily and the two
men shook hands. Then Jim wen
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
to 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
again? She should have read some
thing of light and joyous character.
After half an hours wandering about
the lonely house she returned to the
library, feeling that she would be
safer where both telephone and re-
volver we're.
And while she sat waiting for she
knew not what, her swiftly beating
heart sending the blood into her throat
so that it almost suffocated her, man
t,,r i,f0 no e,fr
noiselessly toward the Hargreave
place. He passed man leaning
against a lamppost. but he never
turned to look at him.
This man, however, threw away his
cigar and hotfooted it to the nearest
pay station. He knew in his soul that
he had just seen the man for whom
they had been hunting all these weary
but strenuous weeks-Stanley Har-
greaye in the flesh! Half an hour
after his telephone message the chief
of the Black Hundred and many lesser
lights were on their way to the house
of mystery. Had they but known!.
Now, the man who had created this
tremendous agitation went serenely
on. He proceeded directly end fear
lessly to the front door, produced a
latchkey and entered He passed
through the hall and reception room
to the library and paused on the
threshold dramatically. Florence
stepped back with sharp cry of
alarm. She had heard the hall door
open and close and had taken it for
granted that Jones had entered
There was tableau of short dura.
ion
Don't you know me?" asked the
stranger in singularly pleasant voice.
Florence haG been imposed upon
90 many times. She shook her head
lefiantly, though her knees shook so
hat she was certain that the least
ouch would send her over.
II am your father, child"
Florence slipped unsteadily behind
he desk and seized the revolver which
ay in the drawer. The man by the
urtains smiled sadly 1t was a smile
hat caused Florence to waver a bit
till she extended her arm.
"You do not believe me?" said the
ian. advancing slowly.
mo. I have been deceived too many
ines. sir. Stay where you are. You
ill wait here till my butler returns.
III, il L were only sure!" she burst
ut suddenly and passionately. What
roof have you that you are what you
ay?"
He came toward her, holding out his
ands. This. that you cannot shoot
lie. All, the damnable wretches!
THAT have they done to you, my child,
, make you suspicious of every one?
low have watched over you in the
rect! will tell you what only Jones
nd the reporter know, that the avia.
" died, that I alone was rescued,
lat gave Norton the five thousand;
lat watched the windows Of the Rus.