The Spectator., 1916-04-21

missing. He made for the hall door with a speed which seemed incredible to the bewildered Susan's eyes. Out into the street, up and down which he looked. Far away he discovered a dwindling taxicab. The child was gone.
 In the house Susan was answering the telephone, talking incoherently.
 Who is it?" Jones whispered, his lips white and dry.
 The princess. ." began Susan.
 He took the receiver from her roughly.
 Hello, who is it?"
 This is Olga Perigoff. Is Florence there?"
 "No, madam. She has just stepped out for a moment. Shall I tell her to call you when she returns?'
 Yes. please. l want her and Su- san and MT Norton to come to tea | tomorrow Good-by." Jones hung up the receiver, sank into a chair near by and buried his face in his hands.
 What is it?" cried Susan. terrified by the haggardness of his face.
 She's gone. My God, those wretches have got her. They've got her!"
 Florence was whirled away at top speed Her father, She was actually on the way to her father. whom she had always loved in dreams, yet never seen.
 Number IS Grove street was not an attractive place. but when she ar rived she was too highly keyed to take note of it's sordidness She was the door of the third flat She knocked timidly. The door was instantly opened by a man who wore a black mask She would have turned then and there and flown but for the swift picture she had of a well-dressed man at table. He lay with his head upon his arms.
 Father" she whispered.
 The man raised his careworn face, so very well done that only the closest scrutiny would have betrayed the paste of the theater. He arose and staggered toward her with out stretched arms. But the moment they closed about her Florence experienced peculiar shiver.
 My child!" murmured the broken man. They caught me when l was about to come to you. l have given | ferh oh What was it? wondered the child. 1 her heart burning with the misery of the thought that she was sad instead | of glad. Over his shoulder she sent | glance about the room. There was sofa, table, some chairs and an | enormous clock, the face of which was l dented and the hands hopelessly tan gled. Why. at such moment, she should note such details disturbed her. Then she chanced to look into the cracked mirror. In it she saw several faces, all masked. These men were peering at her through the half closed door behind her.
 You must return home and bring me the money went on the wretch who dared to perpetrate such a mock cry. Ut is all that stands between me and death"
 Then she knew, The insistent daily warnings came home to her. She un- derstood now. She had deliberately walked into the spiders net But in- stead of terror an extraordinary calm fell upon her.
 Very well, father, I will go and get it." Gently she released herself from those horrible arms.
 Wait, my child. till see if they will let you go. They may wish to hold you as hostage"
 When he was gone she tried the doors. They were locked Then she crossed over to the window and looked out A leap from there would kill her. She turned her gaze toward the lamp, wondering.
 The false father returned, deject- edly.
 Tt is as I said. They insist upon sending some one Write down the directions l gave to you. l am very weak"
 Write down the directions yourself. father; you know them better than l." Since she saw no escape, she was determined to keep up the tragic farce no longer
 ''l am not your father"
 So l see," she replied. still with the amazing calm.
 Braine. in the other room, shook his head savagely. Father and daughter; the same steel in the nerves. Could they bend her? Would they break her? He did not wish to injure her bodily, but a million was always a million. and there was revenge which was worth more to him than the money itself. He listened, motioning to the others to be silent.
 Write the directions" commanded the scoundrel. who discarded the broken man style.
 ''l know of no hidden money"
 Then your father dies this night.