The Spectator., 1916-06-02
CHAPTER XXI.
A Night of Adventure.

ly clashing with the New York police authorities. It was a recognized fact that the local police force wanted the newspaper glory which would attend the crushing Of the Black Hundred. It would be an 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 the final adven- tGre.
 Florence sat in her room reading. The book was "Oliver Twist" not the pleasantest sort of book to read un- der the existing circumstances. Sev- eral timos-she had reached the place where Fagin overheard Nancy's con- fession-she fanced she heard doors closing softly, but credited it to her imagination. Poor Nancy, who want ed to be good but did not find time to be! Florence possessed a habit fla miliar to most Of us; the need of ap- pies or candy when we are reading. So 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, then laid down the book and began to investi- gate.
 There was not servant to be found in the entire house. What in the world could that mean? Used as she was to heartrending suspense, she 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? It was long past the hour when he said he would be back.
 She went into the library and picked up the telephone. She was told that MT. Norton was out on an assignment, but that he would be notified the mo- ment he returned. She opened a draw CT in the desk. She touched the au- tomatic, but did not take it up. She left the drawer open, however.
 Earlier, at the newspaper office that night, Jim went into the managing ed itor's office and laid a bulky manu- script on that gentleman's desk.
 Is this it?''
 Tt is," said Jim.
 You have captured them?"
 No: but there is a net about them from which not one shall escape. There's the story of my adventures. Of the adventures of Miss Hargreave and the butler. Jones. You'll find it ex- citing enough. You might just as we'll send 1t up to the composing room. At midnight I'll telephone the introduc- tion. It's a scoop. Don't worry about that"
 The editor riffled the pages
 "A hundred and twelve pages, 300 words to the page; man it's novel;
 It'll 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 draw CT 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 N envelope was a fat one.
 "Open it." said the editor, smiling little to himself.
 This envelope contained a check for s2,50O. two round-trip iirst-class tickets to Liverpool, together with innumer- able continental tickets such as are issued to tourists.
 innnranfly
 Forget it. my boy. forget it. You ought to know that in this office we don't employ blind men. The whole staff is on. There you are. fat check and three months vacation. Go and get married: and if you return before the three months are up I'll fire you myself on general principles.
 Jim laughed happily and the two mea shook 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 to leave it. But where was he? Why did he not come? What was the mean luE Ol tltlS utStitiou uy thC She wandered about aimlessly, looking ont of windows. imagining forms in the shadows. Her imagination had not deceived her; she had heard doors close softly.
 Susan, Susan!" she murmured; but Sssan was in the hospital
 Oliver Twist" What had possessed her to start reading that old tale again7 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 were.
 And while she sat waiting for she knew not what. her swiftly beating heart sending the blood into her throat co that it almost suffocated her. a man turned into the street and walked