American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-02-25

W ~
on the high sea for months, and no
way of notifying Jones what had hap
pened. The outlook was anything but
cheerful. But a vague hope awoke In
his heart. II they we're still after him
might it not signify that Florence
lived.
Meantime Braine had not been idle.
According to Vroon the girls emo
was in bad shape; so he had not the
least doubt of bringing her back to
New York without mishap. Once he
had her there the game would begin
In earnest. He played his cards ex.
ceedingly well. Steaming up into the
little fishing harbor with a handsome
yacht In itself would allay any dis
trust. And he wore a capital disguise.
too. Everything went well till he
laid his hand ON Florence's shoulder.
She gave a startled cry and ran over
to Barnes. clinging to him wildly.
mo, mol" she cried.
Now what, my child?" asked the
sailor.
She shook her head. Her aversion
was inexplicable.
Come, my dear; can't you see that
1t is your father?" Braine turned to
the captain. "She has been like this
Tor a year.. Heaven knows if she'll
ever be in her right mind again"
sadly. Il was giving her an ocean
voyage, with the kAdest nurses DOS
sible, and yet she jumped overheard.
Come, Florence"
The girl wrapped her arms all the
tighter around Barnes neck.
An idea came into the old sailors
mead. of course, sir. we got proof
thet she's your daughter?"
proof" Braine was taken aback.
Yes; somethin' t. prove that you're
her father. / got skinned out of a
sloop once because / took a mans
word at its face value. Black an
white, an on paper, says l, hereafter"
But | never thought of such a
thing" protested Braine, beginning
to lose his patience. 81 can't risk
sending to New York for documents.
She is my daughter, and you will find
1t Will not pay to take this peculiar
stand"
In black an white, r y can't have
her"
Braine %thereupon rushed forward to
seize Florence. Barnes swung Flor
ence behind him.
i guess she'll stay here a leetle
longer, sir"
Time was vital. and this obstinacy
made Braine furious. He reached
again for Florence.
Clear out O. here, r show your au,
thority," growled Barnes.
She goes with me, or you'll re-
greet it,"
All right. But / guess tn law
won't hurt me none. I'm in my rights.
There's the door, mister"
Il refuse to go without her!"
Barnes sighed. He was on land q
man of peace, but there was a limit |
to his patience. He seized Braine by
the shoulders and hustled him out of
the house.
Bring your proofs, mister, en-
nothin' more1l be said; but til "
bring EN-, keep away from this cot
'tage."
And. simple-minded sailor that he
was, he thought this settled the mat
ter.
That night he kept his ears open for
unusual sounds, but he merely wasted
his nights rest. Quite naturally. he
reckoned that the stranger would
make his attempt at night. Indeed,
he made it in broad daylight, with
Barnes not a hundred yards away,
calklng a dory whose seams had
sprung aleak. Braine had Florence
upon the chartered yacht before the
old man realized what had happened.
He never saw Florence again; but one
day, months later, he read all about
her in a newspaper.
Florence fought; but she was weak.
and so the conquest was easy. Braine
was kind enough, now that he had
her safe. He talked to her, but she
merely stared at the receding coast.
All right; don't talk If you don't
want to. Here" to one of the men,
take her to the cabin and keep her
there. But don't you touch her. I'll
break you If you do. Put her in he
and guard the door; at least
keep an y on it. She may take it
into her head to jump overheard"
Even the temporarily demented are
not without a species of cunning.
Florence had never seen Braine till
appeared at the Barnes cottage. Yet
she revolted at the touch of his hand.
On the second day out toward New
York h found a box of matches and
blithely set fire to her cabin, walked
out into the corridor and thence to
the deck. When the fire was discov-
1t had gained too much Roadway
to be stopped. The yacht was doomed.
They put on in the boats and for half
4 day drifted helplessly.
Fate has everything mapped out like
a game OF chess. You move a pawn.
and bang goes your bishop, or your
or your king; or she let's Won