"Yes. Why not insert a personal in the _Herald_?" She drew some writing paper toward her and scribbled a few words.
He read: "Florence--the hiding place is discovered. Remove it to a more secret spot at once. S.H."--He laughed and shook his head. "I'm afraid that will never do."
[Illustration: HE READ ... FLORENCE ... THE HIDING-PLACE IS DISCOVERED]
"If she reads it, Jones will. The man with the opera glasses may see something. There's a chance Jones might become worried."
It was midnight when he made his departure. As he stepped into the street, he glanced about cautiously. On the corner he saw a policeman swinging his night stick. Otherwise the street was deserted. Braine proceeded jauntily down the street.
And yet, from the darkened doors of the house across the way, the figure of a man emerged and stood contemplating the windows of the Perigoff apartment. Suddenly the lights went out. The watcher made no effort to follow Braine. The knowledge he was after did not necessitate any such procedure.
Of course, Florence read the "personal." She took the newspaper at once to Jones, who smiled grimly.
"And so long as you continue to trust me no harm will befall you. You were left in my care by your father. I am to guard you at the expense of my life. Last night's affair was a miracle. The next time you will not find it so easy to escape."
"There will be no next time," gravely. "But I am going to ask you a direct question. Is my father alive?"
The butler's brow puckered. "I have promised to say nothing, one way or the other."
"I laugh because if he were dead there would be no earthly reason for your not saying so at once. But I hate money, the name of it, the sound of it, the sight of it. It is at the bottom of all wars and crimes. I despise it!"
"The root of all evil. Yet it performs many noble deeds. But never mind the money. Let us give our attention to this personal. Doubtless it originated in the same mind which conceived the letter. Your father would never have inserted such a personal. What! Give his enemies a chance to learn his secret? No. On the other hand, I want you to show this personal to all you meet to-day, Susan, the reporter, to everybody. Talk about it. Say that you wonder what you shall do. Trust no one with your real thoughts."
