Newspaper Page Text
EIGHT
THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY Harold MacGrath
SIO,OOO FOR 100 WORDS.
The publication of “ The Million Dollar
Myetary " begins today. The itory trill
run for twenty-two oomccutive weeks in
thit paper. By an arrangement with the
Thankouser Film company it hat been
made pottible not only to read the itory
in thit paper, but alto to tee it each week
in the various moving picture thcateri.
For the lolution of thit mytiery itory
SIO,bOO will be given.
CONDITIONS GOVERN JNG THE
CONTEST.
The prise of SIO,OOO will be won by the
man, woman, or child who urittl the i non
acceptable lolution of the military, from
which the lait two rerh of motion picture
drama will be made and the taut two
chapteri of the itory written by i/arold
MacGrath.
Solution* may bo tent to the Than
holier Film corporation, either 01 Chi
cago or New York, <,ny time up to mid
night, Dec. Is. They mutt bear poit
cflce mark not latrr than that date. Thii
allowt four wcekt after th Ant apprar
enot es the lait film ra’eaiei and three
weeki after the lait chapter is published
in thii paper, in whioh to submit solu
tion*.
A board of three fudges will determine
which of the many solutions received ii
the molt acceptable. The judgment of
this board will be absolute anil final.
Nothing of a literacy nature will be ron
named in the decision, nor given any
preference in the selection of the winner
of the SIO,OOO prize. 'The last two reels,
which will give the most acceptable solu
tion to the mystery, will be presented in
the theaters hating this feature as soon
as it is practical to produce same. The
story corresponding to these motion pic
tures will appear in the newspapers coin
cidentally. or as soon after the appear
ance of the pictures as practical. IVilfc
•Ac last two reels trill be shown the pic
tures of the winner, his or her horns, and
other interrsting fraturrs. It is under
stood that the newspaper.-, so far as prac
tical. in printing the last two chapters
o 1 the storj by Harold MrcGiath. will
also show a picture of the successful con
testant
Holutinns in the mystery mutt not be
more than lUO wordt lo.ty. Here are soma
yurt lions to ie kept in mind in connec
tion with the mystery as an aid to a
lolution:
No. I —TFhof becomes of the milUnnalref
No. I —What becomes of the $1 .iri’i.OOUt
No. B —TT/iotn does Florence mairyf
No. b —Wkol becomes of the Hussion
toutstent
Nobody connected either directly nr in
directly with "The Million Delia Mys
tery” trill be considered as a contestant.
tOepyrighi: 1914; B> Harold MacCrath.l
CHAPTER I.
a OAAJ. IN TUB NimiT.
THERE are few things darker than a
country road at night, particularly if
one does not know th* lay o( the land.
It is not difficult to traverse a known
path; no matter how dart it ia, one is able to
flad tbe way by tbe aid of a mental photo
graph taken in the daytime. Hut stippoeing
you have never been over the road it- the day
time, that yon know nothing whatever of It*
topography, where it dips or rises, where It
narrows or forks. You fiad yourself in tbe
earns unhappy state of mind as a blind maa
suddenly thrust ioto s strange bouse.
On* black night, along a certain country
rand. In the heart of New Jersey, in the days
when the only good roads were city thorough
fare* and country highways were route* to
limbo, a carriage went forward cautiously.
From time to time it anreened like a blnnt
noee barge in a beam see. Tbs wheels and
springs voiced their anguish continually; for
It was a good carriage, unaccustomed to such
ruts and hummocks
" Faster, faster 1 ” ram* a muffled vole*
tram th* interior.
" Sir, 1 dara not drive any faster," replied
th* eoachmtn. “ I cen’t see the horns*’ heads
air, Ist alone the road. I’ve blown out tbe
lamps, but I can’t see th* road any better for
that."
" Let th* horses hav* their heads; they’ll
find th* way. It can’t he much farther.
You’ll see lights”
The coachman sworn to hia teeth. All
right. This man who was in such n burry
would probably send them all into the ditch.
Bav* lor th* few stars shoes he might bare
bean driving Beelaebuh’a ooach in th* Bottom
less Pit- Blaek velvet, everywhere black vel
vet. A wind was blowing, and yet the black
ness wa* so thick that It gar# to the coach
man th* aennation of mile suffocation.
By sad by, through the trees, he saw a
flicker of ’ght. It might or might not 1-* th*
destination. He crorksd hi* whip recklessly
and th* carriage lurched on two wheels Th*
man in th* carriage balanced himself carefully,
so that the bundle l n htj arm* should not ha
nndoly disturbed. Hit arras ached. H*
stock bis head out of th window.
"That’s the place,” he said. “And when
fpu drive up make at little noise as you can.”
"Yea. rtr,“ called down the driver.
When th# carriage drew up at its Journey*#
sod th* man inside Jumped out and hastened
toward th* galea B* scrutinised th* sign on
an* at the posts This wst the place:
Miss Faju-ow’g Poivatx School.
The bundle in hie arms stirred and he hur
ried up th* path te th# door of the bouse. 11*
saiaed th* ancieat kaocker sad struck several
times He then placed the bundle on th* steps
sad raa hack ta tha waiting carriage, iuto
which he stepped.
* Off with you 1"
"That’s a good word, sir. Maybe we tea
■sake your train.”
"Do you think you could find this plant
again?”
" You couldn’t get me on this pike again,
Mr, for a thousand ; not mel ”
Th* door stemmed and tbe unknown tank
hack against th* cushions He took cat his
handkerchief and wiped the damp perspiration
from his forshead Th# big burden was oil bis
■led. Whatever happened in th# future, they
would never he thie to get him through bl*
bggyt- 0a such lor tha tally of hit youth.
Tt wao a quarter after 10. r*M# wusaa
Fa How bad just returned to tbe reception
room from her nightly tour of tbe upper hall*
ta nee If all her charges were in bed, where
tbe rules of the school confined them after
8:80. It whs at thin moment that she beard
tbe thunderous knocking at the door. The old
maid felt bor heart atop beating for a moment.
Who eonld It bt, at thia time of night? Then
the thought came swiftly thnt perhaps the
parent of gi id one of be charges was 111 and
this was tiie summons. Stilling her fears, she
went resolutely to tbs door and opened it.
There was no one In sight
"Who it it?” she called.
No one nr.swerrd. She oupped her hand to
her ear. Sho could hear tbe clatter of horaee
dimly.
" Weil! " she exclaimed ; rather angrily, too.
She wax In the net of closing the door when
. 3
the. INTU2ODUOTICKMS' WF-.&E MADE-. NOCTON FE.tr BATHE.Q. CHAGUINED. ■
the light from tbe hall discovered to her
tin bundle on the steps. Bh* stooped sail
touched it.
" Good heavens, it 1 * a child 1 ”
She picked the bundle up. A whimper cam*
from it, a tired little whimper et protest.
She ran hack to the raoaplton room. A found
ling! And on her doorstep! It was incred
ible. What in th* world should eh* do? It
would create a scandal and hurt the prestige
of tbe school. Hume one had mistaken her
select private school for a farmhouse. It wss
frightful
Then ehe unwrapped the child. It wa*
about a year old, dimpled and golden haired.
A thumb was in its rosebud mouth tnd its
Mue eyea looked up trustfully Into her own.
“ Why, you cherub 1 " cried the old maid, *
strange turmoil In her heurt. She caught th*
child to her breaet, and then for the first time
noticed th* thick envelop* pinned to A* ehlld’s
cloak. She put the baby into a chair and broka
open th* envelop*.
" Name this child Floreno# Qray. I will
•end annually a liberal aum tor her support
and reclaim her on her eighteenth birthday.
Th* other half of the incloaed bracelet will
identify me. Treat the girl well, for I shall
watch yver her In secret."
Into th* fised routine of her humdrum life
bed com* a mystery, a tantalising, fascinating
mystery. She had rood of foundlings left on
doorstep* -from paper covered novel# confis
cated from her pupils—but that one should he
placed upon her own respectable doorstep I
Huddenly she smiled down at the child and
the child smiled l>*ck. And there was nothing
more to be dome except to bow before the de
cree* of fate. Like nil prim oid maids, her
heart wa* full of unrequited romance, and
her* was something ehe might spend lta Hoods
up-on without let or hindrance. Already she
waa hoping that the man or woman who had
left it might never corn* back.
The child grew. Regularly each year, upon
a certain date, Mia* Farlow received a regis
tered letter with money. These letter* cam*
from all parts of the world ; always the asm*
sum. always the same line —“ I am watching.”
Thus seventeen years panaed : and to Suaan
Farh-w each year eeemed shorter than the on*
before. For she loved thr child with all bar
heart. She had not trained young girla all
these years without becoming adept in the art
of reading the true sign* of breeding. There
waa no ordinary blood In F’oronce; the fact
was emphasiied by her exquisite face, her
small hands aud feet, her epirit and gentle
nee*. And now, at any day, tome on* with a
broken bracelet might com# for her. Ae th*
days went oa th* heart at Susan Farlow grew
heavy.
“Never mind, aunty." aald Florence | "I
shall alwaye come hack to aee you.”
Hhe meant It, poor child ; but how waa tbe
to know the terror* which lay yonder, beyond
th* hortsoat
The house of Stanley FTargreavv. In River
dale, waa th* house at ao ordinary rich man.
Outside It waa simple enough, hut within you
leagued what kind of a man Hargreave was.
There were rare lepohana and Haruke on th*
floor* and tapestries on th* wall*, with her*
and there * fin* painting. Th* library itself
represented a fortune. Money had been laid
out lavishly but nsevr wastefnlly. It was tbs
home of a scholar, a dream*., a wide traveler.
. la th* library stoed th* master of th* house.
riE AUGUSTA HtKALU. AUGUSTA. GA.
tuiy wagering some papers w«ci my on the
study table. He shrugged at some unpleasant
thought, settled hi* overcoat about his shoul
ders, took up his hat, and walked from tbe
room, frowning slightly. Tbe butler, who also
acted in the capacity of valet, always within
call when his master was about, stepped
swiftly to the ball door and opened it.
" I may be out late, Jones,” said Ilargreavo.
" Yes, sir.”
Ilargreavo stared Into his face keenly, as If
trying to pierce the grave face to learn what
wag going on behind it.
“llow long have you been with me?"
“Fourteen years, air.’’
“ Home day I shall need yon.”
“ My life has always been at your disposal,
sir, since that Dight yon rescued it.”
“ Well, I haven’t the least doubt that when
I ask you will give.”
“ Without question, *ir. It wa* always sd
understood."
Hargreave’* glance sought the mirror, then
the amilelee* face of hia man. lie laughed,
but the sound conveyed no sense of mirth;
then he turned and went down the step#
slowly, like a man burdened with some thought
which was not altogether to hu likln;JF'\H*
had sent an order for bis car, but had imme
diately countermanded It. He would walk till
he grew tired, hail a taxicab, and take a run
up and down Broadway. The wonderful illu
mination might prove diverting. For eighteen
year* nearly; aud now It was as natural for
him to throw a glance over his shoulder when
ever he left th* house as it was for him to
breathe. Tlj* average man would have grown
careless during ail these years; blit Hargreave
was uot an average man ; he was, rather, an
extraordinary Individual. It was his life in
exchange for eternal vigilance, aud he knew
and accepted tbe fact
Half an hour later he got into a taxicab and
directed th* man to drive downtown us far aa
Twsuty-Alrd street and back to Columbus
circle. Th* bewildering display of lights. how
ever, in uowle* served to lift the sense of op
pression that had weighed upon him all day.
South of FVirly-avcvmd atrert he di-nbsed the
taxicab and stored undecidedly at tl brilliant
sign of a famous restaurant, lie - i neither
hungry nor thirsty ; but there would be strange
faces ta study and music.
It wa* aa odd whim. lie had not entered a
Broadway restaurant in all these year*. H*
was unknown. He belonged to no clubs. Two
mouths was the lougset time he Imd ever re
mained in New York since th* disposal of his
old home In Madison avenue and bis resigna
tion from Ms club*. This once. then, he would
break the law he had written down for Mai*
self. Boldly he entered the restaurant.
Home time before Hargreave surrendered to
the restles* spirit of rebellion, bitterly to re
pent for it Inter, there cuine into thl-t restau
rant a man and a woman. They were both
evidently well known, for th* head waiter wa#
obsequious tnd hnrri*d them over to th# beet
table he had left and took thr order himself.
The man possessed a keen, Intelligent face.
You might hav* marked him for a successful
lawyer, for there wa* au earnestness about his
sxpreaaion which precluded a Ilf* of idleness.
His M* might bar* bean anywhere between
40 and 00. Tbe shoulders were broad and the
hands which lay clasped upon the table were
alnu but muscular. Indeed, everything about
him suggested hidden strength and vitality.
Hta companion waa amall, handsome, aud ani
mated. Her frequent gestures and mutabl*
eyebrows betrayed her foreign Mrth. Her age
was a matter of ituporttoe* to no on* but
haw elf.
They were at coffee whan th* aald : “ There’#
a young man coming toward us. He ia loolff
lag at you.”
Th* man tnrned. Instantly hit far* lighted
up with a friendly amU* of recognition.
“ Who la It? " aha a#ked.
* A chap worth knowing; a reporter Jnat a
littl* out of th* ordinary. I’m going to intro
doc* him. Yon never can tell. IVe might
need him some day. Ah, Norton, bow are
you?"
" Good evening, Mr. Brains.” Th# reporter,
catching sight at a pair at dasallng */•*, ko*l-
UUd.
“ The Princess Pertgoff, Norton. You're In
no hurry, are you ? ”
" Not now," smiled the reporter.
“Ah 1 ” said the princess, interested. It
was the old compliment, said in an unusual
way. It pleased her.
The reporter sank into a chair. When in
active he was rather a dreamy eyed surt of
chap. He possessed that rare accomplishment
of talking upon one subject and thinking upon
another at the same time. Ho, while he talked
gayly with the young woman <Jn varied themes,
his thoughts were bnsy speculating upon her
companion. He was quite certain that the
name Braine was assumed, but he was also
equally certain that the man carried an ex
traordinary brain under his thatch of salt and
pepper hair. The man bad written three or
four brilliant monographs on poisons and the
uses of radium, and it was through and by
these that the reporter had managed to pick
up bia acquaintance. Ho lived well, but in
conapteuoualy.
Suddenly th# pupils of Braine’s eyes nar
rowed; the eye became cold. Over the smoke
of his cigaret he was looking into the wail
mirror. A man had passed behind him and sat
down at tbe next table. Still gazing into th*
mirror, Braine saw Norton wave his hand;
saw also the open wonder on tho reporter's
pleasant face.
‘‘Who Is yonr friend, Norton?” Brain*
naked indifferently, his head still unturned.
“ Stanley Ilargreave. Met him in Hong
kong when I was sent over to handle a part
of the revolution. War correspondence stuff.
First time I ever ran across him on Broadway
•t night. We’ve since had some powwows
over some rare books. Queer old cock; brave
as a lion but as quiet as a mouse.”
“Bookish, eh? My kind. Bring him over.”
Underneath the table Braiue maneuvered to
touch the foot of the princess.
HE. yCttUTIMIZED THEeffIGN XDCG THE PLACfc,
" I don’t know," said the reporter dubiously.
" Ho might say no, and that would embarrass
the whole lot of ns. He’s a bit of a hermit.
I’m surprised to aee him here.”
“ Try,” urged the princess. “ I like to mee;
men who are hermits.”
“ 1 haven’t the least doubt about that,” Ae
reporter laughed. “ I’ll try; but don’t blame
me if I’m rebuffed.”
lie left Ae table with evident reluctance
and approached Ilargreave. The two shook
hands cordially, for the elder man was ratbor
fond of this medley of information known a*
Jim Norton.
“ Sit down, boy; sit down. You’re just A*
kind of a man I’ve been wanting to talk to
tonight.”
“ Wouldn’t you rather talk to a pretty
woman? "
” I’m an old man.”
“Bah! That’s a hypocritical bluff, and
you know It. My friends at the next tabl*
have asked me to bring you over."
" 1 do not usually care to meet strangers.’’
“Make an exesption this once," said thi
, reporter, ' bo had **en Braine's eyes change
and s curious to know why tlir appearance
of Hargreave m th* mirror had brought about
that uietally gleam. Her* wer* two unique
men . he deairsd to see them fac* to face.
“ This one*. My fault; I ought not to b«
her*; 1 feel out of place. What a life, though,
you reporter* lead 1 To meet kings and presi
dents and great financiers. Socialists and an
archists, the whole scale of life, and to alnp
the** people on the back aa if the) were every
day friends! ”
“ Now you'x* making fun of me. For on*
king there arc always twenty thick brogaas
ready to kick me down the steps; don't forget
AaC”
Hargreave laughed. “Come, Aen; let a*
get it over with."
Th# introduction! were made. Norton felt
rather chagrined. So far aa ha could sc*,
th* two men wer# total strangers. Well, R
was all In the gam*. Nine out of ten oppor
tunities for the big story were fake alarms;
but he wa* always willing to risk the labor
these nine entailed for the sake of tbe tenth.
At length Brala* glanced at his watch, and
the prince** nodded. Adieus were said. In
aide the taxicab Braine leaned back with a
deep, audible sigh.
“What it la?" ah* asked
" The luck of the devil’s own.” he aald.
"Child of A* Steppe*, tor ) ear# I've down
about seas and continents, through valley*
and over mountains —for what? For tho
eight of the face of that man we hav* Jn»t
left. At first glance I wasn’t sure; but the
sound of his voice was enough. Olga, the
next time you see that reporter, throw your
arms around his neck and kiss him. What
did I tell you? Without Norton’s help I
would not have been sure. I’m going to leaw*
you at your apartment”
“The man of the Black Hundred?” aha
whispered.
“ Tha man who deserted and defied the
Black Hundred, who broke his vows, and
never paid a kopeck for the privilege; the
man who had been appointed for the supreme
work and who :an away. In those days w#
needed men of his stamp, and to accomplish
this end. ..."
“ There was a woman,” she interrupted,
with a touch of bitterness.
“ Always the woman. And she was aa
clever and handsome as you are.”
“ Thanks. Sometimes ..."
“ Ah, yes !*’ ironically. “ Sometimes yon
wish you could settle down, marry, and have
a family 1 Your domesticity would last about
a month.”
She made no retort because she recognised
the truth of this statement.
“ There’s an emerald I know of," be said
riiminativeiy. “ It’s quite possible that you
may be wearing it within a few days/'
“ I am mad over them. There is something
in the green stone that fascinates me. I can't
resist it.”
“ That's because, somewhere in the far
past, your ancestors were orientals. Here wa
are. I’ll see you tomorrow. I must hurry,
Good-night,"
She stood on the curb for a moment and
watched th# taxicab till it whirled around a
corner. The man held her with a fascina-
tion more tecribl* than any jewel. She knew
him to be a great and daring rogue, cunning,
patient, fearless. Packed away in that mind
of his there were a thousand accomplished
deeds which had roused futilely Ae polic* of
two continents. Braine! She could have
laughed. The very name he had chosen waa
an insolence directed at society.
The snhjeot of her thoughts soon arrived
at his destination. flight of stairs curried
him into a dimly lighted hall, smelling evilly of
escaping gas. He donned a black mask and
struck the door with a aeries of light blows;
two, then one, than three, and again one. The
door opened and he slipped Inside. Hound a
Able sat several men, also masked. They
were all tried aud trusted rogues; but not
one of tham knew what Braine looked like.
He alone remained unknown aav* te the man
designated aa th* chief, who wa* only Bralne’a
lieutenant. The mask waa tto insignia of
the Black Hundred, an organisation with all
the ramifications of Ae Camorra without their
abiding stupidity, rrotn tb* aaaaasination of
a king, down to th* robbery of a country port
office, nothing waa too grant or too amall for
their nets. Their god dwells In tbe hearts of
all men and to called Greed.
Th# ordinary business over, th# chi*f dis
missed A* men, and be and Brain* alon* re
mained.
“Troon, I hav* found him." said Brairo.
“ Thera ora bat few ; which on*?”
" Eighteen year* ago, A St. Petersburg.”
“ 1 remember. The millionaire's ton. Did
he recognise you?"
“ I don’t know. Probably he did. But he
always had good nerve*. ll# ia being followed
at thie moment. Wc shall strike quick , tor
if be recognized me he will act quick. H«
la cool and brave. Yon remember how to
braved na that night in Russia. Jumped bold
ly through A* windov at the risk of break
ing hia neck. He landed safely; that U th*
only reason he eluded us. Millions; and they
slipped through our fingers. If I coaid only
find some route to his keart 1 The lure we
held out to him is dead."
“Or In A* fortress, which la Ae some
thing. What are your plans?”
“ I have ia mind something like AU."
And Hargreave was working oat his plana,
too; and he was just as much of a gei-ral
as Braine. He aat at hit library Abls, the
maxillary muscle* in bia jaws working. 8«
they had fonnd him? Well, to had broken eh#
tow of hi* own making and to must suffeg
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
Braine, who waa Menshl-
koff in Huerta, Schwarts in Germany, Mendosa
In Spain, Cartucci in Italy, and Do Bois in
France; so the rogue had found him out?
Poor fool that he had been! High spirited,
full of thoc* youthful dreams of doing good
in the world, be had joiued what he had be*
lieved a greet secret socialistic movement, to
learn that ha had been trapped by a band
of brilliant thieves. Kidnapers and assassb
nators for hire; the Black Hundred; fiend#
from Tophet 1 For nearly eighteen years he
bad eluded them, for he knew that directly
or indirectly they would never cease to bunt
for him; and an idle whim had toppled him
into their clutches.
He wrote several letters feverishly. The
last was addressed to Mias Susan Farlow
and read: “ Dear Madam : Send Florence
Gray to New York, to arrive here Friday
morning. My half of the bracelet will be
identification. I ncloeed find cash to square
accounts.” He would get together ail his
available funds, recover bis child, and fiy to tha
ends of the world. He would tire them out.
They would find that the peaceful dog was a
bad animal to rouse. He rang for the faithful
Jones.
“ Jones, they have found me,” he said
simply.
“ You will need me, then?"
“ Quite possible. Please mall these and
then we’ll talk it ovi -. No doubt some ona
Is watching outside. Be careful.’’
“ Very good, s,r.”
Hasgreave bowed his head in his bands.
Many times he had journeyed to the school
and hung about the gates, straining his eyas
toward the merry groups at young girlsi
.Which among them was his, heart of hia
heart, blood of his blood? That she might
never be drawn into this abominable tangle,
he had resolutely torn her out of his life com
pletely. The happiness of watching the child
grow into girlhood he bad denied himself. She
at least would be safe. Only when she waa
safe in a far country would he dare tell her.
He tried in vain te conjure up a picture of
her: he always a« the mother whom he had
loved and hated with ail the ardor of hit
youth.
Many things happened tie next day. Tbea*
was a visit to the hangar of one William Orta,
the aviator, famous for Ms daredevil exploits.
There were two visit In fact, and tbe es>
and visitor was knocked down far Mi (tha,
He had tried to bribe Orta.
There were several excited bankers, sht
peotested against such large withdrawals with
out the usual formal announcement. But
check was a check, and they had to pay.
Hargreave covered a good deal of |ieu»Wl.
but during all this time Ms right hand never
left the automatic In Me overcoat pocket,
except at those moments he was obliged to
sign his checks. Hs would shoot and male*
inquiries afterward.
Far away a young girl and bor oMapaolow
get on the train which wus to carry bar to
New York, tbe great dream oky she wag
always )edging to see.
And the spider wove Ms web.
Hargreave reached home at night He pul
the money in the safe and was telephoning
when Jones entered and handed hia master as
unstamped note.
“ Where did you get this?”
“At the doer, sir. I judge that toe house ■
surrounded.”
Hargreave read the sots. Ik staked briefly
that all bis movements during the day had
been noted. It was known that he had col
lected a million :•. paper money. If he son
rendered this he would be allowed twenty
four hours before the eel chase began. Other
wise he should die before mtdtogbt Bar
greave crushed the note In Ms hand. They
might kill him; there was a chance of Artt
accomplishing that; but never sbeuM they
teach his daughter's fortune.
“ Jones, you go to th* rear doer and FQ taka
a look out of the front W* have an hewn
I know the breed. They’ll wait till midnight
and then force their way la.”
Hargreave saw a doaen shadows In tha finat
yard.
”Men all about the back yard,” wMkpesaC
Jones down th* hall.
The master eyed th* man.
“Very well, sir," replied the latter, wttfe
understanding. ” I am ready.”
Tbe master -vent to the safe, emptied It of
its contents, cross the hall te the
and closed tha door softly behind Mn« Jones
having entered the same room through another
door to befool any possible watcher. After a
long while, perhaps an boos, the twe rata
emerged from the room from the —»» doaaa
they had entered. 0* whispered the watcher
to his friends below.
“ Hargreave is going s petal re.”
“ Let him go. Let him take a took at as
from the upper windows. He will andatotaat
that nothing but wings will save him.”
Silence. By and hr a watoher reported that
he beard the scuttle of the roof rattle.
" Look !” another orled, startled.
A bluish glare earns from the root ’W'-
“ He’s shooting ofl a Homan candle !* w
They never saw thr awn-mads bird till ■
alighted upon the roof. They never though!
of shooting at it till it had taken wing! Than
they rushed the doors of th* bouse. They
made short work of Jones, whom they tied
up like a Christmas fowl end plumped rough
ly into a chair. They broke open tbe ytfe, to
find it empty. And while the rogues ware
rummaging about the room, venting their spit*
upon many a treasure they oeuld neither ap
preciate nor understand, a man tram tha eqfr
aide burst In.
“The old man is dead and the money la at
the bottom of tbe ocean! We punctured best
She’s gems!"
A thin, inscrutable smile stirred the ll(w «•
tha man bourn! In the chair. . , -
i to ax coarmu®J ' —«<