The Spectator., 1916-04-28

ment. I'm going to bid every one | goodnight, then I'm going to fnvesti- gate. When I leave you will quietly | send men to all exits to the building. want the man who sneezed, and I want him badly"
 Olga departed with Braine, only she immediately sought the taxi that brought her and was driven home. It was always understood that when any serious exploit was under way here abouts she was to make her depart ure at once
 Vroon stationed his men at the sev. eral exits and Braine went upstairs. The man who had sneezed, however, had vanished as completely as if he had worn that invisible cloak one reads about in the Persian tales. AS a matter of fact, after the second sneeze he had gone up to the roof, got out by the trap, and jumped rather risky business, too-to the next roof and had clambered down the fire escape of the second building He was swearing inaudibly. After all these days of care and planning, after all his cleverness in locating the ren- deZyous of the Black Hundred, and now to lose his advantage because of an uncomfortable sneeze! He would never dare go back, and just when he was beginning to pick up fine bits of information, So Florence Hargreave was going to have new father in day or so? There were some clever rogues among this band of theirs: but their cleverness was well offset by an equal number of fools.
 Yes, there were some clever rogues, and to prove this assertion Braine secured a taxicab and drove furiously away, his destination the home of his ancient enemy. He dropped the cab a block or two away and presently slowed himself away in the summer house at the left of the lawn. It would have been a capital idea-that is, if the other man had not thought of and anticipated this very thing. So he used a public pay station telephone; and Braine waited in vain. waited till the lights in the Hargreave house went out one by one and it became wrapped in darkness within and moon. shine without
 Braine was a philosopher He re- turned to his waiting taxicab, drove home, paid the bill. smiling grimly, and went to bed It was going to be a wonderful game of blind mans bun. and it was going to be sport to watch this fool Paroff bIunder into q pit
 The next afternoon Florence and Norton sat in the summer house talk ing of the future Lovers are prone to talk of that. AS if anything else In the world ever equals the present! They talked of nice little apartments and vacations in the summer and how much they would save out of his salary, and a thousand and one other things which would not interest you at all if l recounted them in detail. But they did love each other and they were going to be married you may be certain of that They did not care a snap of the finger what Jones thought They were going to be mar ried. and that was all there was to 1t. Of course, Florence couldn't touch a penny of her fathers money. If he, Norton, couldn't take care of her with out help. why, he wouldn't be worth the powder to blow him up with.
 But, my dear. you must be very careful he said Jones and l will always be about somewhere. If they really get hold of you once God alone knows what will happen. It Is not you, it is your poor father they want to bring Sut into the open. If they knew where he was they would not bother you in the least"
 Have l really father? Sometimes l doubt, Why couldn't he steal into the house and see me. just once?"
 Perhaps he dares not. This house is always watched. night and day though you'll look in vain to discover any one. Your father knows best what he is doing. my dear girl You see.