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Thc "The money first. We don't Ile any better than you do. Fork over. You'll have to trust us. We have no use for the girl once we get the cash." "And you'll never touch a penny of it, you blackguard!" cried Norton from the doorway. The agent turned to behold the re porter and the girl. Ile did not stop to ask questions, but bolted. He neve got beyond the door, however. "Always the small fry," sighed Jones. "And if I could have put my Took Florence Aboard. bands on the money rd have given it to him! Ah, girl, it doesn't do any good to talk to you, does It?" - "But they told me he-was dying!" Jones shrugged. CHAPTER XVI. Treachery In :he Household. The maid stole Into the house, won dering if she had been seen. She wanted to be loyal to this girl, but she was tired of the life; she wanted to be her own mistress, and the small fortune offered her would put her on the way to realize her ambition. What had she not seen and be of life since she joindd the great oetective force! Lady's maid, cook, ship stew ardess, flash woman, actress, clerk, and a dozen other employments. Her pay, until she secured some fat re ward, was but twelve hundred a year; and here was five thousand in advance, with the promise of five thousand more the minute her work was done. And it was simple work, 'wlhout any real harm toward Flor-, ence as far as she was concerned. The whole thing rested upon one diffi culty; would Jones permit the girls to leave the house? One day Florence found Susan sit-. ting In a chair, her head in her hands. "Why, Susan, what's the matter?" cried Florence. "I don't know what is the matter, dear, but I haven't felt well for two or three days. I'm'dizzy all the time, I can't read or sew or eat or sleep. "Why didn't you tell me?" said Flor ence, reproachfully. She rang for the detectiv.maid. "Ella, I don't know anything about doctors hereabouts." "I know a good one, Miss Florence. Shafl I send for him?" "Do; Susan is 1ll." Jones was not prepared for treach ery in his owvn household; so when he heard that a doctor had been celled tio attend Susan he was without the least suspicion that he had been be trayed. More than this, there had been no occasion to summon a doctor In the seven years Mr. Hargreave had lived here. So Jones went about his petty household affairs without more thought upon the matter. The maid had been recommended to him as one of the shrewdest young women In the detective business. The doctor arrived. He was a real doctor; no doubt of that. He Investi gated Susan's condition-brought about by a subtle though not danger ous poison--and instantly recom mended the seashore. Susan was not used to being confined to the house; she was essentially an out-of-doors little body. The seashore would bring her about In no time. The doctor sug gested Atlantic City because of its mildness throughout the year and its nearness to New York. "rm afraid she'll have to go alone," said Jones, gravely. "I shan't stir!" declared Susan "I shan't leave my girl even If I am sick." Susan caught Florence's hand and pressed it. "Would you like to go with her, Florence?" asked Jones, with a shy glance at the strange doctor. The shy ~,lance was wasted. The doctor evinced no sign that it mattered one way or the Qther to him. "I is nothing very serious now," he voluntered. "But It may turn out serious If It is ndt taken care of at once." "What Is the trouble?" inquire4 Jones, who was growing fond of Su san. "Weak heart. Sunshine and good sea air will strengthen her up again. No,. no!" as Jones drew forth his wal let. "I11 send inmy blllthe first of the month. Sunshine and sea air; that's all that's necessary. And now, Afll~ businesslike; not the least aue the 'world. for any one to I Subscribe i Mystery." I Times. Get is paid up, o suspect that a new trap was being set by the snarers. The maid re turned to the sewing room, while Florence coddled her 6ompanlon and made much of her. Jones was suspicious, but dig in his mind as he would he could find no earthly reason for this suspicion save that this attribute was now in stinctive, that it was always near the top. If Susan was ill she must be given good care; there was no getting around this fact. Later, he telephoned several prominent physicians. The strange doctcr was recommended as a good ordinary practitioner and in good standing; and so Jones dismissed his suspicions as having no hook to hang them on. His hair would have tingled at tb roots, however, haa he known tist this same physelqan was one of the two who had signed the document which had accredited florence wit1R L:.sanity and had 4blbut succeeded in makng a suppos on a fact. Nor was Jones aware of the fact that the telephone wire had been tapped re cently. So when he AnaIly concluded to permit Florence to accompany Su san to Atlantic City he telephoned to the detective agency to send up a trusty man, who was shadowed from the moment he entered the Hargreave home till he started for the railway station. He became lost in the shuf fle and was not heard from till weeks later, in Havana. The Black Hundred found a good profit in the shanghai ing business. Susan began to pick up, as they say, the day after the arrival at Atlantic City, due, doubtless, to the cessation of the poison she had been taking unawares. The two young women be gan to enjoy life for the first time since they had left Miss Farlow's. They were up with the sun every day and went to bed tired but happy. No one bothered them. If some stray re porter encountered their signatures on the hotel register, he saw nothing to excite his reportorial senses. All this, of course, was due to Norton's policy of keeping the affair out of the pa pers. Following Jones' orders, they made friends with none. Those about the hotel-especially the young men when they made any advances were politely snubbed. Every night Flor ence would write to her good butler to report what had taken place dur ing the day, and he was left to judge for himself if there was anything to arouse his suspicions. He, of course, believed the two were covertly guard ed by the detective he had sent after them. When Braine called up Olga he found his doctor there. "Well, what's the news?" he asked. "I had better run down and inquire how the young lady is progressing," said the doctor, who was really a first rate surgeon and who had performed p. number of skilled operations upon various members of the Black Hun dred anent their encounters with the police. "I've got Miss Florence where you want her. It's up to you now." "She ought to be separated from-her companion. We have left them alone for a whole week, so Jones will not worry particularly. A mighty curious thing has turned up. Before Har greave's disappearance not a dozen persons could recollect what Jones looked like. He was rarely ever in sight. What do you suppose thak signifies?" "D~on't ask me," shrugged the man of medicine. "I shouldn't worry ovet Jones." . "But we can't stir the old fool. We can't get him out of that house, fNe tried to get that maid to put a ittle something in his coffee, but she! stands off at that. She says that she did as she agreed in regard to Flor ence, but her agreement ended therea "Why, Suan, Wha's heMate? Olga "Whya, Su san hat'tyWhie Matea hodn eiti Fnoruen ogoo. a she have gin me.he aefentotuand withad anodin she lrng for thel "ayuthreatensaed her? andeed shraewdild little. "ho deserl woant monefyify. Wn h ille p aed; she hasin out oei. Wehaewl notln mnove another step, one way or the >w to The Tim Remember Th n the game ai r you misght bE 1ont CONTINUED FROM LAST W] other, after she receives the bal=WC .0argreave will have a pretty ste bill to pay when the time comes." "She has no idea where the mll lion is?" "If she had, she's quite capabI of tugging it off all by herself," Eraine. he doctor laughed. "Olga." went on Bralne, "yon mU look at it as I do; that it Is still id dle of the game, and we havi reither lost nor won." 'ow do you know that Hargreave m;4 not have at his beck and call ' organization quite as capable If iot as large as ours?" suggested the phy sician. "That is not possible." Braine de clar~d without hesitation. "Well, it begins to look that way to me. We've never made a move yet that hasz't been blocked." "Pure luck each time, I tell you; the devil's own luck always at the critical moment, *hen everything seems to be in our hands. Now, we varut Florepce, and we've tried 4 hundred ways to accomplish this fact and failed. The question is, how to get her away from. her companion?' "Simple enough," said the doctor complacently. "Out with it, if you have an Idea." The doctor leaned forward and whispered a few words. "Well, I'm hanged!" Bralne laughed and slapped the doctor on thi shoulder. "The simplest thing in the world. Mad dog wouldn't be In It. I always said that you had gray mat ter if you cared to exert yourself." "Thanks," replied the doctor dryly. 'll drop down there tomorrow, If you say so, ostensibly to see the other patient. It will make a deude of a dis turbance." "Not it you scare the hotel people." "That is what I propose to do. They will not want such a thing known. It would scare every one away for Encounter With the rest of the season' But of course this depends upon whether they are bonest or in the hotel business to make money." Again Braine laughed. "Bring her back to New York alone, Esculaplus, and a fat check Is yours. Nothing could be simpler than an idea like this. It's a fact; no man can think of everything, and you've just proved It to me. Tve tried to do a general's work without aids. Olga, does any one watch me come and go any more?" "No; I've watched a dozen nights. The man has gone. Either he found out what he wanted or he gave up the job. To my mind he found out what he wanted." "And what's that?" "Heaven knows!" discoursgedly. "Come, doctor, suppose you and I go down to Daly's for a little turn at billiards?" "Nothing would suit me better." "All aboard, then! Good-night, Olga. Keep your hair on; I mean your own hair. We're going to win out, don't you worry. In all games the min ute you begin to doubt you begin to lose." That same night Norton sat at his desk, in his shirt sleeves, pounding away at his typewriter. From time to time he paused and teetered his chair and scowled over his pipe at the starllt night .outside. Bang! would go his chair again, and clickity-click would sing the keys of the machine. The story he was writing was in the ordinary routine; the arrival of a great ocean liner with some political notables who were not adverse to de nouncing the present administration. You will have noticed, no doubt, that some disgruntled politician is always denouncing the present administra tion, it matters not If it be Republican or Democratic. When you are out of a good job you are always prone to denounce. The yarn bored Norton because his thoughts were miles southward. He completed his story, yanked out th~ final sheet, called for a copy boy, rose and sauntered over to the man aging editor's door, before which he paused indecisively. The "old man" had been after him lately regarding the Hargreave story, and he doubted If his errand would prove suceessful. However, he boldly opened the door and walked in. "umph!" said the "old man," twist ing his cigar into the corner of his mouth. "Got that story?' Norton sat down. "Yes, but I have not got It for print yet. Mr. Blair, as, and get the a Pastime will id win the $: cnt off in the )ollar EK-LOOK FOR NEXT ISSUI when you gave me the Hargreave job you gave me carte blanche." "I did," grimly. "But, on the other hand, I did not give you ten years to clear it up in." "Have I ever fallen down on a good story?" quietly. "M', can't remember," grudgingly. "Well, if you'll have patience I'll Dot fall down on this one. It's the greatest criminal story I ever handled, but it's so big that It's going to take time." "Gimme an outline." "I have promised not to," with a grimness equal to the "old man's." "If a line of this story trickles out It will mean that every other paper will be moving around, and In the end will discover enough to spoil my end of it. I'll tell you this much: The most colossal band of thieves this country ever saw is at one end of the stick. And when I say.that counter feiting and politics and milions are involted, you'll understand how big it is. This gang has city protection. We are running them all into a cor ner; but we want that corner so deep that none of them can wriggle out of It." "Umhm. Go on." "I want two months more" The "old man" beat a tattoo with his fat pencil. "SIxty days, then. And If the yarn isn't on my desk at mid night, you-" "hunt for another job. All right. I came in to ask' for three day' leave." You're your own boss, Jim, for sixty days more. Whadda y' mean countef' feiting?" "Those new tens and twenties. It I stumble on that right, why, I can turn it over without conflicting with the other story." "Well, go to It." "rm turning in my regular work, day in and day out, and while doing it I've gone through more hairbreadth )ne of the Gang. escapes than you ever heard of. They have been after me. rye dodged fall ing safes; rye been sbanghnad, pol soned; but I haven't said a word." "Good Lord! Do you mean all that?" "Every word, sir." "I'll make it ninety days, Jiwn; and if this story comes In I'll see that you get a corking bonus." 'Tm not looking for bonuses. rm proud of my work. To get this stor? is all I want. Thit'll be enough. Tlhanks for the extension In time. Good-night." Bo Florence received a long night letter in the morning. And the doctor arrived at about the same time. And called promptly upon his patient. "Fine!" he said. "The sea air was just the thing. A doctor always likes to find his advice turning out well." He glanced quizzically at Florence, who was the pIcture of glowing health. Suddenly be frowned anxiously. "You need not look at me," she laughed. "I never felt better In all my life." "Are you sure?" he asked gravely. "Why, what in the world do you men?" He did not speak, but stepped for ward and took her by the wrist, hold ing his watch in his othet' hand. He shook his head. He looked very solemn, indeed. "What is It?" demianded Susan, with growing terror. "Go to your own room Immediately and remain there for the present," he ordered. "I must see Miss Hargreave alone." He opened the door and Susan passed out bewilderedly. He returned to Florence, who was even more bewil dered than her companion. The doe tor began to ask her questions; how she slept, if she was thirsty, felt pains in her back. She answered all these questions vaguely. Not the slightest suspicion entered her head that she was being hoodwinked. Why should she entertain any suspicion? This doctor, who seemed kindly and benev-: olent, who bad prescribed for Susai and benefited her, why should ShE' doubt him? "In heaven's name, tell me what 1( the matter?" she pleaded. "Stay here for a little while @4 Pil be back. Under no circumstanCeS leave your room till I return." He paced out into the hall, to saeet the frantic Susan. "We must see the manager at ones," he repid to hera" queries. "And Wb wonderful stc show each chi [,000. Be sul midst of the st MYst must be extremely quiet about It. There must be no excitement. You had better go to your room. You must not go into Miss Hargreare's. Tell me, where have you beent Rave you been trying to do any charitable work among the poorer classes?" "Only onee," admitted Susan. now on the verge of tears. "Only once Is sufficient. Come; we'Ml go and see the manager to gether." They arrived at the desk, and the manager was summoned. "I take it," began the doctor lowly, "that a contagious disease, if it be Had No Suspicion That She Was Be Ing Hoodwirked. came known among yoiur guests, 'would create a good deal of disturb ance?" "Disturbance! Good heavens, man, it would ruin my business for the whole season!" exclaimed the astound ed mananer. "I am sorry, but this young lady's companion has been stricken with 'smallpox-" The manager fell back against his desk, his jaw fallen. Susan turned as white as the marble top. "The only way to avoid trouble is to have her conveyed immediately to Uihe can be treated 'b &ay me now; a apDanic." The manaer was glad enough to agree. "She is not dangerous at present, .but it Is only a matter of a few hours when the disease will become virulent. If you will place a porter before Miss Hargreave's door till I make arrange ments to take her away, that will simplify matters." . Smallpox! Susan wandered aimless ly about, half out of her mind with terror. There was no help against sudh a dread disease. Her Florence, her pretty rosy cheeked Florence, dis figured for life . . .! "Miss Susan, where is Florence?" "0, Mr. Norton!" she gasped. "What's the trouble?" Instantly alert "Florence has the smalipozi" "Impossiblet Come with me." But the porter. having had the striCtest orders from the manager, re fused to let them Into Florence's room. "Never mind, Susan. Come along." Out of earshot of the porter he said: "My room is directly above Florence's. We'll see what can be done. This smells of the Black Hundred a mile off. Smallpox! Only yesterday she wrote me that she never felt better. Have you wired Jones?" "I never thought tof " "Then I shall. Our old friends are at work again." "But It's the same doctor who sent me down here." Norton frowned. What followed all appeared In the reporter's story, as written three months later. He and Susan went up to his room, raised the flooring, cut through the ceiling, and with the fire escape rope dropped below. One glance at Florence's tear-stained face was enough for him. Ncrton's subse quent battle with the doctor and his accomplices made very interesting reading. Their escape from the hotel, their flight, their encounter with one of the gang in the read, and Flor ence's blunder into the bed of quick sand, gave a succession of thrills to the readers of the Blade. And all this while the million ac cumulated dust, layer by layer. Per haps an occasional hardy reach scrambled over the packets, no doubt attracted by the peculia.r odor of the ink. CHAPTER XVII. Setting Traps for Norton. The Black Hundred possessed three seprate council chambers, always in preparation. Hence, when the one in ~eq was burmed down they transferred theIr contenenoes to the second coun cil chamber appointed Identically the same as the first. As Inferred, the or eMA4hM~erable wealth, # Iand t~e biidings in which they had their council chambers. leased them for a number of years, and refurnished them secretly with trap floors, doors and panels and all that apparatus so necessary to men who are sometimes compelled to make a quick getaway. When the Atlantic City attempt was turned into a fiasco by Norton's timely arrival Bruine determined once more to rid himself of this meddling re porter. He knew too much, In the irst place, and In the second plae Brane wanted to learn whether the reporter bore a eharmed life or was just ordinarily lueky. He would- at tempt nothing delicate, requiring ness. He would simply waylay Nor >ry, "The Mill pter as it app re that your e ory. er . ton and make a commonplace end of him. He would disappear, this re porter, that would be all; and wher they found hlm he might or might not be recogntzspble. So Braine caled a conference and he and his fellow rogues went over a number of expedients and finally agreed that tire best thing to do would be to send a man to the newspaper, ostensibly as a reporter looking for a situation. Wih this acuse he would be able to hang around the city room for three or four days, The idea back of this was to waylay Norton on his way to some assignment which took him to the suburba. All this was arranged down to the smallest detail; and a man whom they wdre quite certain Norton had not yet seen was selected to play the part. He had been a reporter once, tnore's the pityl ao there was no doubt of his being able t6 handle his end of the game. 01 want Norton. I want him badly," 6eclared Braine, "and woo to you if you let booze play in between you and the obJect of this move." The man selegted to act the re porter hung his head. Whisky had been the origin of his faR from hon est living, and he was not so cal loused as not to feel the sting of remorse at times. "More," went on Bralne, "I want Norton brought to 49. It's a little off the beat, and we can handle Norton as' we p,!ease. When we get rid o4 this newspaper ferret there'll be an other to eliminate. But he's a fox, and a fox must be set to trail him." "And who is that?" "Jones, Jones, Jones!" thundered Braine. "He's the live wire. But 'he leporter Erst. Jones depends a lot on him. Take away this prop and Jones will not be so sure of himself. There's a man outside all this circle, and all these weeks of warfare have not served to bring him into the .circle." "Hargreave is dead," said Vroon stolidly. "As dead as I am," gnarled Braine. "Two men went away in that balloon; and I'll wager my head that one man Came back. I am beginning to put a few things togethet that I have net thought of before. Who knows? That balloon may have been carried out to sea purposely. The captain on that tramp steamer may have lied from beginning to end. I tell you, Hargreave is alive, and wherever he is he has his hand on all the wires. He has agents, too, whom we know nothing about. Hang the million! I 'ant to put my hands on Hargreave just to prove that I am the better man. He communicates with Jones, per haps through the reporter; he has had me followed; it was he who changed the boxes, bored the hole in the ceil ,ing of the other quarters and learned heaven knows What." "If that's the case," said Vroon, "why hasn't he had us apprehended?" Braine laughed heartily. "Haven't you been able to see by this time what hgame is? Revenge. He does not want the police to meddle only In the smaller affairs. He wants to put ter ror into the hearts of all of us. Keep this point in your mind when you act. He'll never summon the police unless Wre make a broad daylight attempt to 'get possession of his daughter. And even then he would make It out a plain case of kidniaping. Elimination, that's the word. All right. We'll play at that game ourselves. No. 1 ehall be Mr. Norton. And If you fal 'll break you," Braine added to the ex-reporter. 'll get him," said the man sullenly. Later, when he applied for a situa tion on the Blade, It happened that there were two strikes on fiand, and two or three extra men were needed n the city staf. The man from the Florehce Falls into a Bed of Quick sand. Black Hundred was given a tezmporary job and went by the name of Gregg. For three days he worked faithfully, abstaining from his favorite tipple. Hie had never worked in New York, so his record was unknown. He had told the city editor that he had worked on a Chicago paper, now defunct. Hie Daid no attention whatsoever to Norton, a sign of no little acumen. On the other hand Norton never went forth on an assignment that Gregg did not know exactly where he was going. But all these stories kept Nor ton in town; and it would be altogeth er too risky to attempt to handle him anywhere but outside of town. So Gregg had to abide his time. It came soon enough. Norton was Idling at his desk when the city editor called him up to the wicket. 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