The Topeka state journal. [volume], October 14, 1914, HOME EDITION, Image 8

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

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.1
Sufi
$10,000 FOR ONE
" r Million Dollar Mystery " ttory
will run for twenty-two consecutive week
in this paper. By an arrangement with
the Thanhouser Film company it iM been
made possible not only to read the story
in this paper but alst to tee it each week
in the various moving picture theaters.
For the solution of this mystery story
$10,000 will be given by the Thanhouser
Film corporation.
coxDirioys oovERmya the
COMEST.
.. The prise of $10,000 will be won by tho
man, woman, or child who writes the most
acceptable solution nt the mystery, from
which the last two reel of motion picture
drama will be made and the last two
chapters of the story written by Harold
MacOrath.
Solution may be tent to the Than
houser Film corporation at S South Wa
ej avenue, Chicago, 111., or Thanhouser
Film corporation, 71 West Twenty-third
street, Xete York City N. any time up
to midnight, Jan. U, 1915. This allow
several week after the last chapter ha
teen published.
A board of three fudges will determine
which of the many solutions received is the
most acceptable. The judges are to be
Harold MacOrath, Lloyd Lonergan, and
Miss Mae Tinee. The judgment of this
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS.
Staaley Harm-reave, mlllloaalre, after a
miraculous escape from the den ef the
ging of brilliant thlevee kiowa aa the
Black Haadred, Uvea the life af a re
cluse for elxhteea yean. Hararreave ae- ,
ddeatally meeta Bralae,' leader of the
Black Haadred. Knowlaar Bralae will
try to met aim, he escapea from hla rm
hone by a balloon. ' Before eseaplaa; he
writes a letter to the alrls' school where
ela-hteea years before he mysteriously
left oa the doorstep his baby daaajhter,
Floreaee Gray. That day Harnreave
also drsws 81.000,000 from the bank, bat
It la reported that thla dropped lata the
aea whea the balloon he escaped In was
punctured. - '
Floreaee arrives from the alrls' school. ;
Countess Olara, Brslne's companion, vis
Its her aad claims her as a relative.
Two bog-as detectives call, bat their plot
Is foiled by Norton, a newspaper seen.
After falllaa; la their nrst attempt, tho
Black Baadred trap Floreaee. They ask
her for money, but she escapes, anala
fotllBB them.
Norton aad the eouateaa call em Flor
eaee the aext day. oaee more safe at
home. The visitors bavin cone. Joaea
removes a section ef noorln aad from
a cavity takes a box. Faraaed by mem
bers of the Black Haadred. he rashes te
the water frost aad succeeds fa drop
pies; the bos Into the sea.
Accomplices of Bralae kldaap Floreaee
end harry her efX to sea. She leapa over
board aad la picked ap la a dssed eon-"
dltlon by fishermen. Bralae. dls-nlsed
as her father, takes her1 hack te aea with
him. Floreaee acta are te the heat and
tCopyrlrM: 1014:' ' By BaroM llaeOnthJ
CHAPTER XVII.
BETTING TRAM FOB NORTON.
T HE Black Hundred possessed three sep
arate council chambers, always in prep-
aration. Hence, when the one in nas
was burned down, they transferred
their conferences to the second council cham
ber appointed identically the same as the first.
As inferred, the organization owned con
siderable wealth, and they leased the build
ings in which they had their council cham
bers, 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 com
pelled to make a quick getaway. .
When the Atlantic City att mpt was
turned into a fiasco by Norton's timely ar
rival, Bralne determined once more to rid
himself of this meddling reporter. He knew
too much, in the first place, and in the sec
ond place Brains wanted to learn whether
the reporter bore a charmed life or was just
ordinarily lucky. He would attempt nothing
delicate, requiring finesse. He would simply
waylay Norton and make a commonplace end
of Mm. He would disappear, this reporter,
that would be all; and when they found him
fs might or might not be recognizable.
Bo Braine called a conference, and he and
bis fellow rogues went over a number of
' expediencies, and finally agreed that the best
thing to do would be to send a man to the
newspaper, ostensibly as a reporter looking
for a situation. With this excuse he would
be able to Lang 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 suburbs.
All this was arranged down tc the small
est detail; and a man whom they were quite
certain Norton had not yet seen was selected
to play the part. He had been a reporter
once, more's the pity ; so there was no doubt
ef his being able to handle his end of the
game.
" I want Norton, I want him badly," de
clared Braine, "and woe to you if you let
boose play in between yon and the object
of this move."
The man selected to act the reporter hung
his head. Whisky Lad been the origin of
his fall from honest living, and he was pot
so calloused as not to feel the sting of re
morse at times.
" More," went on Braine, 44 1 want Norton
brought to 49. It's a little off the beat, and
we can handle him as we please. When we
get rid of this newspaper ferret, there'll be
another 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 the reporter first
Jones depends a lot on him. Take away
this prop and Jones will not b? so sure of
himself. There's a man outside all this cir-
HUNDRED WORDS.
board will be absolute and final. Nothing
of a literary nature will be considered in
the decision, nor given any preference in
the selection of the winner of the $10,000
prize. The last two teels, which will give
the most acceptable volution to the mys
tery, will be presented in the theater
having this feature as soon as it is pos
sible to produce the some. The story corre
sponding to these motion pictures will ap
pear in the newspapers coincident ally, or
M soon af'er the appearance of the pic
tures as practicable. With the last two
teels will be shown he pictures of the win
ner, his or her home, and other interesting
features. It is understood that the newt
papers, so far at practicable, in printing
the last two chapters of the story by Har
old MacOrath, will also show ) picture of
the successful contestcnt.
Solutions to the mystery must not be
more than 100 words long. Here are soma
questions to be kept in mind in connection
with the mystery as an aid to o solution:
No. 1 What becomes of the millionaire?
yo.2What becomes of the $l,000,000t
Xo. S Whom does Florence marry t
No. 4 What becomes of the Russian
countess t
Nobody connected either directly or in
iirecily with " The MiWon Dollar Mys
tery " will be considered as a contestant.
la resened by a ship aa which Norton has
been ahaaghaled.
Coaeealed above the readesvons ef the
Blaek Baadred, a maa learns at the re
covery of the box from the aea 'by a
aallor aad of Its subsequent return to
the bottom of the sea. aad he olekly
. communicates the fact to Jones. A dupli
cate box la planted aad later secured by
the band, bat before Its contents are ex
amined the box mysteriously disappears.
Flndlns; himself checkmated at every
tarn, Bralae endeavors to enmesh the
Harm-reave household la the law la or
der to gala free access to the house.
The timely discovery ef the plot by Nor
ton acta the police at the heels of the
pack aad results la a raid on the ranar'a
readesvons, which, however, proven te he
barren ef results.
Followtaa; a telephone message Jonea
received from a mysterious person whom
he addressed as slr. Floreaee la aaraln
lured from her home aad taken eat to
ees. Throash Nortoa'a darlas; and skill
as an aviator ahe Is rescued aad reternn
to her home In time to confront an aneat
ef the Black Haadred.
Through treachery In the Harareave
hoasehold Floreaee la delivered late the
bands of aa anecrapaloaa doctor, who la
In the pay of the Black Haadred. From
the faithful Saaan Norton learns that
the doctor has declared that Floreaee la
etrlckra with smallpox aad that he la
preparlas; to spirit her away. By acttae;
quickly the reporter, with the aid of
Susan, succeeds In extrlcatlna the yeaaa
weeaan from the daaaer after aa ea
. eouuter . with members ef the amen;.
cle, 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," snarled Braine. " Two
.men went away, in that balloon; and 111
wager my head that one man came back. I
am beginning to put a few things together
that I have not thought of before. Who
knows? That balloon may have been car
ried out to sea purposely. The captain on
that tramp steamer may have lied from be-
'NORTON SAVES HIS OWTt LIFE.
CASE
ginning to end. I tell you, Hargreave is
alive, and wLerever he is he has his hand oa ,
all the wires. He has agents, too, of whom
we know nothing about. Hang-the million!
I want to put my hands on Hargreave just
to prove that I am the better man. He com-,
municates with Jones, perhaps' through- the
reporter; he has had me followed; it was
Le who changed the boxes, bored the hole iu
the ceiling, 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 yon
been able to see by this time what his game
is? Revenge. He does not want the police
I
t x4 ; n - i
L -y v''.-.$T '-
S rl
d?t ?Ms??
to meddle only In the smaller affairs. He
wants to do away with us one by one; be
wants to put terror into the hearts of all of
as. Keep this point in your mind when yon
act. Hell never summon the police unless
we make a broad daylight attempt to get
possession of his daughter. And even then
he would make it out a plain case of kid
naping. Elimination, that's the word. All
right. Well play at that game ourselves.
No. 1 shall be Mr. Norton. And if yon fail .
Ill break you," Braine added to the ex-reporter.
" IU get him," said the man sullenly.
Later, when he applied for a situation on
the Blade, it happened that there were two
strikes on hand, and two or three extra men.,
were needed on the city staff. The man from
the Black Hundred was given a temporary
job and went by the name of Gregg.
For three days he worked faithfully, ab
staining from his favorite tipple. He had
never worked in New York, so bis record was
unknown. He had told the city editor that
he had worked on a Chicago paper, now de
funct. He paid no attention whatsoever to Nor
ton, a sign of no little acumen. On the
other hand Norton never went forth on aa
assignment that Gregg did not know exactly
where he was going. But all these stories
kept Norton in town; and it would be al
together too risky to attempt to handle Lira
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 np to the wicket.
' "Gen. Henderson has just returned to
America. Get his opinion on the latest Bal
kan rumpus. He's out at his suburban home.
Here's the address."
"How long will you hold open for me?"
asked Norton, meaning how long would the
city editor wait for the story.
" Till one-thirty. You ought to be back by
midnight. It's only 8 now."
"All right; Henderson's approachable. I
may get a good story out of him."
44 Maybe," thought Gregg, who had lost
nothing of this conversation.
It was Lis opportunity. He immediately
left the zone of the city desk for a telephone
booth. But as he passed the line of desks
and busy reporters he did not note the keen
scrutiny of a smooth faced, gray haired mau
who stood at the aide of Norton's desk await
ing the reporter's return.
" Why, Jones," cried the surprised Nor
ton. " What are you doing all tUs way from
home? "
44 Orders," said Jones, smiling faintly s .
be delivered a note to the reporter.
"Anything serious?"
" Not that I am aware of. Miss Florence
was rather particular. She wanted to be sure
that the note reached your hands safely."
"And do you mean to say that you came
- away and left her alone in that house?"
Again Jones smiled. 44 1 left her well
guarded, you may be sure of that. She will
never run away again.". He waited for Nor
ton to read the note.
It was nothing more than one of those
love orders to come and call at once. And
BY THE USE OF HIS WATCH.
ahe had made Jones venture into town with
it! The reporter smiled and put the note
.away, tenderly. And then he caught Jones
smiling, too.
" I'm going to marry her, Jones."
" That remains to be seen," replied tL
butler, not unkindly.
. . " Well, anyhow, thanks for bringing the
note. But I've got to disappoint her to
night. I'm off in a deuce of a hurry to in
terview Gen. Henderson. IU be out to tea
tomorrow. You can find your way out of this
old fire trap. By-by!"
The moment he turned 'away the smile
faded from Jones" face, and with' the quick
ness and noiaclcssnras of cat he reached the
aide of the boofL' In which Gregg believed
' himself to be secure from eavesdropping. The
half dosen words Jones heard convinced him
that Norton was again the object of the
Black Hundred's attention. He had seen the
man's face that memorable night when the
balloon stopped for its passenger. . Before
Gregg came out of the booth- Jones decided
to overtake him and forewarn him, but un
fortunately the reporter was nowhere in
eight.
There was left for Jones nothing else but
to return home or follow Gregg when he
came out. As this night be knew Florence
to be exceptionally well guarded, both within
and without the house, he decided to wait and
follow the spy.
When Braine received the message he waa,
pleased. Norton's assignment fitted his pur
pose like a glove. Before midnight he would
have Mr. Meddling Reporter where he would
ft- W v I
;f 1 I't
r , m Cff
tip v 1
r V
Wt 'TvhL .isST x-c s4'C
JOfiES AFTER DlSPOSIMG OF BRAINE., HELPS MORTOri UP FROti
' THE'PUf-SHnErrr Room-, ,
bother no one for some time if he proved
tractable. If not, he would never bother any
one again. Braine gave his orders tersely.
Unless Norton met with unforeseen delay,
notLing could prevent his capture.
When Norton arrived at- the Henderson
place, a footman informed him from the
veranda that Gen. Henderson was at 49 Elm
atreet for the evening, and it would be wise
to call there. Jim nodded his thanks and
set off in haste for 49 Elm street. The foot
man did not enter the house, but hurried
down the steps and slunk off among the ad
jacent shrubbery. His mission was over with.
The house in Elm street was Braine's sub
urban establishment. Ho went there occa
sionally to hibernate, as it were, to grow a
new skin when c'ose pressed. The caretaker
was a man rightly called Samson. He waa
a bruiser of the bouncer type.
It was fast .work for Braine to get out
there. If the 3ian disguised as a footman
played his cards badly, Braine would have
al his trouble for nothing He disguised him
self with that infernal cleverness which had
long since made him a terror to the police,
who were looking for ten different men in
stead of one. He knew that Norton would
understand instantly that he was not the gen
eral ; but on the other band, he would not
know that he was addressing Braine.
So the arch conspirator waited; and so
Norton arrived and was ushered into tLe
room. A single glance was enough to satisfy
the reporter, always keen eyed and observant.
"I wish to see Gen. Henderson," he said
politely. -
" Gen. Henderson Is doubtless at his own
house."
"Ah!"
"Don't be alarmed yet," amid Braine
smoothly.
. " I am not alarmed," replied Norton. 44 1 .
am only chagrined. Since Gen. Henderson
is not to be found here,. I must be excused."
" I will excuse you, presently.".
"Ah! I begin to see."
" Indeed ! " mocked Braine.
" I have tumbled or walked into a trap."
"A keen mind like yours must have recog
nised that fact the moment you discovered
I was not the general."
"I am indebted to the Black Hundred? "
coolly.
"Precisely. We do not wish yon ill, Mr.
Norton." ;
"To be sure, no!" ironically. "What
with falling safes, poisoned cigarets, and so
forth, I can' readily see that yon have my
welfare at heart. ' What puzzled me was
the suddenness with which these ' affection
ate signs ceased."
" You're a man of heart," said Braine with,
genuine admiration. "TLese ..affectionate
signs, as yon call them, ceased 4beeanse for
the time being yon eased to be a menace.
Yon have become that once and here
on are I"
. "And what are yes going to do with me
now that you have got me? "
" There will be two courses." Brain
reached into a drawer and drew out a thick
roll of bills. " There are here something
like $5,000."
" Quite a tidy sum ; enough for a chap
to get married on."
The two men eyed each other steadily. And
in his heart Braine sighed. For he saw in
this young man's' eyes incorruptibility.
" It is yours on one condition," said Braine,
reaching out his foot stealthily toward the
button which would summon Samson.
"And that is," interpolated Norton, "that
I join the Black Hundred." .. .
" Or the great beyond, my lad," took op
Braine, his voice crisp and co!d.
Norton could not repress a shiver. Where
had he heard . this voice before . ...
Braine! He stiffened.
"Murder in cold blood?" he managed to
any.
"Indefinite imprisonment. CLoose."
"I have chosen."
" H'm ! " Braine rose and went over to
the sideboard for the brandy. " I'm going
to offer you a drink to show you that per
sonally there are no hard feelings. You are
in the way. After you, our friend, Jones.
This brandy is not poisoned, neither are the
glasses. Choose either and IU drink first.
We are all desperate men, Norton; and we
stop at nothing. Your life hanga by a Lair.
Do you know where Hargreave is?"
Norton eyed his liquor- thoughtfully.
" Do you know where the money is? "
Norton smelt of the brandy.
" I am sorry," said Braine. " I should
have liked to win over a head like yours."
Norton nonchalantly took out bis watch,
and that bit of bravado perhaps saved his
life. In the case of his watch he saw a
brutal face behind bim. Without a tremor,
Norton took up his glass.
44 1 am sorry to disappoint you,"' Le said ;
"but I shall neither join you nor go to by
by." . Quick as a bird-shadow above ' grass, he
flung the brandy over his shoulder into the
face of the man behind.! Sampson yelled with
pain. Almost at the same instant Norton
pushed over the table, upsetting Braine with
it. Next he dashed through the curtains,
slammed the door, and fled to the street, very
shaky about the knees, if the truth is to be
told.
Gen. Henderson's views upon the latest
Balkan muddle were missing from the Blade
the following morning. Norton, instead of
returning to the general'a and fulfilling his
. assignment like a dutiful reporter, hurried
out to Riverdale to acquaint Jones with what '
Lad happened. Jones was glad to see him
safe and sound.
"That new reporter started the game," he
said. " I overheard a word or two while he
was talking in the booth. All your telephone
booths are ramshackle affairs, you use them
so constantly. I tried to find you, but you
were out of sight. Now, tell me what hap
pened." " Sh ! " warned Norton as Le spied Florence
coming down the stairs. .
" I thought you couldn't come ! " she cried.
"But 10 o'clock!"
44 1 changed my mind," he replied, laughing.
He caught her arm in his and drew her
toward the library. Jones smiled after them
with that enigmatical smile of Lis, which
might have signified irony or affection. After
half an hour's chat, Florence, quite aware
that the two men wished to talk, retired..
At the door Norton told Jones what had
taken place at 49 Elm street. -
"Ah! we must not forget that number,"
mused Jones. " My advice is. keep an eye on .
this Gregg chap. We may get somewhere by
. watching him."
44 Do you know where Hargreave is? "
Jones scratched his chin reflectively.
Norton laughed. " I can't get anything out
f yon." :
" Much less aay one else. ' I'm growinc
fond of yon, my boy. You're a man."
" Thanks ; and good-night."
When UIga rengos called the next amy .
Jones divested himself of his livery, donned a
ntsln mat and Lnt- and left the honae stealth
ily. Today he was determined to learn some
thing definite in regard to, this suave, hand
some Russian. . When she left the house Jones
rose from his hiding place and proceeded to
follow her. The result of this espionage on
the part of Jones will be seen presently.
Meantime Jim went doom to the office and
' lied cheerfully about his missing the general.
Whether the city editor believed him or not far
of no matter. Jim went over to his desk.
From the corner of his eye he could see Gregg
scribbling away. He never raised his head ma
Jim sat down to read his mail. After awhile
Gregg rose and left the office; and, of course,
Jim left shortly afterward. WLen the new
comer saw that he was being followed, he
smiled and continued on hia way. This Nor
ton chap waa auspicious. An the better; his
suspicions should be made the hook to land
him with. By and by tLe man turned Into a
drug store and Jim loitered about till he re
appeared. Gregg walked with brisker steps
now. It was his intention to lead Norton on
a wild goose chase for aa hour or so, long
enough to give Braine time to arrange a wel
come at another house.
Norton kept perhaps half a block in the
rear of his man all tLe while. But for this
caution he would have witnessed a little pan
tomime that would have put him wholly upon
bis guard. Turning a corner, Gregg all but
bumped into the countess. He was quick
enough to place a finger on his lips and
motion his head toward a taxicab. Olga
hadn't tLe least idea who was coming around
the corner, but she hailed the cab and was
off in it before Jim swung around the corner.
Jones, who had followed the countess for
something over an hour and a half, hugged a
doorway. What now? Le wondered. The
countess knew the man. That was evidence
enough for the astute butler. But what
meant the pantomime and the subsequent
hurry? He soon learned. The man Gregg
went his way, and 'hen Jim turned the cor
ner. Jones cast a wistful glance at the van
ishing cab of the Russian, and decided to
shadow the shadower in other words, follow
the reporter, to see that nothing serious be
fell him.
The lurer finally paused at a door, opened
it with a key, and swung it behind him, very
careful, however, not to spring the latch.
Naturally Jim was mightily pleased when Le
found the door could be opened. When Jones.
not far nenind, saw nun. open the Ooor, ba.
started to call out a warning, but thought the
better of it If Norton was walking into a
trap it was far better that he, Jones, should
remain outside of it. If Jim did not appear
after a certain length- of time, he would start
' an investigation on his own account.
; No sooner was Jim In the hallway than he
was set upon and overpowered. They had in
this house what was known as "the punish-,
ment room." Here traitors paid the reckon
ing and were never more beard of. Into tLis
room Jim was unceremoniously dropped when
Braine found that he could get no informa
tion from the resolute reporter.
The room did not look sinister, but for all
that it possessed the faculty of growing
smaller and smaller, slowly or swiftly, as the
man above at the lever willed. When Jim
was apprised of this fact, he ran madly about
in search of some mode of escape, knowing
full well in Lis heart that he should not And
- one.
Presently the machinery began to work,
and Norton's tongue grew dry with terror.
They had him this time; there waa not the
least doubt of it. And they had led him
there by the nose into tLe bargain. ., .
Twenty minutes passed, and Jones con
cluded it was time for him to act. He went
forward to try the door, but this time it waa
locked. Jones, however, waa not without re
source. The house next door was vacant, and
he found a way into this, finally reaching the
roof. From this Le jumped to the other roof,
found the scuttle open, and crept down the
stairs, flight after flight, till the whir of
motor arrested him.
Conspirators are often overeager, too. 8o
intent were the rascal upon the business a
hand that they did not notice the door open
slowly. It did not take the butler more than
a moment to realise that hia friend and ally
was near certain death. With an oath he
sprang Into the room, gave Braine a push
which sent him down to join the victim, nd
pitched into the other two. It was a battle '
royal while it lasted. Jones knocked down
one of them, yelled to Norton, and kicked the
rope he saw down into the pit. One end of
this rope was attached to a ring In the wall.
And up this rope Norton swarmed after he
had disposed of Braine. The tide of battle
then swung about In favor of the butler, and
shortly the fake reporter and hia eoapanion
were made to join their chief.
Jones stopped the machinery. He could not
bring himself to let hia enemies die so hor
ribly. Later be knew he would regret this
sentiment.
VWTL
nm me police came, summoned by some
outsider who had heard the racket of the con
flict, there was no one to be found ta the pit.
Nor was there any visible sign of an exit
There waa one, however, bunt against such
an hour and known only to the chiefs of the
Black Hundred.
And still the golden tinted bank notea f
Vontd tranquilly fa their hiding placet
, .(to mt omtuiun). u