Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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HRfr? > 0 P' SIX % The Million D< By HAROLD ! * Ml -- Illustrated from Scenes in Same Name by the Than (Copyrinht? 1014. by "f *L 'a iZ i- iL - ? * ! m #?i?, inn snvnmnnnin c fj.sode of the interesting story will be shown a i the Casino Theatre Thursday night CHAPTER XVII. Setting Traps for Norton. The Black Hundred possessed three separate council chambers, always in. preparation. Hence, when the one in nee was burned down they transferred their conferences to the second council chamber appointed identically tho same as the lirst. As inferred, the organization owned considerable wealth, and they leased the buildings 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 nasco oy .Norton's timely arrival Braine determined once more to rid himself of this meddling re- ( I>orter. He knew too much, in the first place, and in the second place Braine wanted to learn whether the reporter bore a charmed life or was just oru.iiai iiy lUCKy. Tie would at- | tempt nothing delicate, requiring j finesse. Ke would simply waylay Norton and make a commonplace ent <of him. He would disappear, this roporter, that would be all; and when they found him he might or might Hot be recognizable^ wo Brain e called a conference and 1 tie and Lis fellow rogues went over aL number of expedients and finally ngreed that the best thing to do would t>e to send a man to the newspaper, ostensibly as a reporter looking for a situation.^ With this excuse lie would :be. able to hang around the city roonJ j lor ?hree or four days. The idea back X?-sala? SPCsb ?n hi? I way to seme assignment which took , him to the s'ubiirhs. Y All this was arranged down to the? smallest 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 of his being able to handle his end of the game. "I want Norton, I wont him badly," ^declared Braine, "and woe to you if you let booze play in between you and the object of this move." The man selected to act the reporter hung his head. Whisky had been the origin of his fall from honest living, and he was not so calloused as not to feel the sting of remorse at times. "More," went on Braine, "I want Norton brought to 49. It's a little off the beat, and v ^an handle Norton as we please. When we get rid of this newspaper ferret there'll be another to eliminate. But he's a fox, a fox must be set to trail him." "And who is that?" "Jones, Jones, Jonoe!" thundered Braine. "He's the live wire. But *he reporter first. Jones depends a lot on him. Take away this prop and Jones will not ho ho ri1 rp of himaolf i There's a man outside all this circle, and all these weeks of warfare have mot served to bring him into the circle." "Hargreave is dead," eaid Vroon stolidly. "As dead as T am," snarled 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 tilings together that I have not thought of before. Who knows? That balloon may have been carried Mlt onn .... 1-- * w oca yuiyuut?iy. in? CBpiaw 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 want to put my hands on Hargreave Juet to prove that I am the better man. He communicates with Jones, perhaps through the reporter; he has had me followed; it was he who changed the boxes, bored the hole in the ceiling of the other quarters and learned heaven knows what." "If that's the case," eaid Vroon, why hasn't he had us apprehended?" Braine laughed heartily. "Haven't you been able to see by this time what his game is? Revenge. He does not want the police to meddle only in the a mailer affaire. He wants to put terror into the hearts of all of us. Keep this point In your mind when you act. Hell never summon the police uMess we make a broad daylight attempt to get possession of his daughter. And even then he would make It out a plain case of kidnaping. Elimination, that's the word. All right. Well play at that game ourselves. Ho. 1 ahall fr* Mr. Norton* And if yqq fall illar Mystery MAC GRATH i the Photo Drama of thm ino user Film Company i Harold M&cGralh) I'll break you," Braine added to the ex-reporter. j ] "I'll get him,"' said the man sullenly, j j Later, when he applied for a situa-! tion 011 the Blade, it happened that i there were two strikes on nand, and j 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, | < abstaining from his favorite tipple, i i He had never worked in New York. J so his record was unknown. He had < told the city editor that he had worked 1 an a Chicago paper, now defunct. He paid no attention whatsoever to Norton, a sign of 110 little acumen. 1 On the other hand Norton never went 1 forth 011 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- ( or too risky to attempt to handle him I 1 anywhere but outside of town. So | J Gregg had to abide his time. J It came soon enough. I ] Norton was idling at his desk when the city editor called him up to the * wicket. 1 "General Henderson has just re- 1 turned to America. Get his rmimm l :>n the latest Balkan rumpus. He s 1 1 out at his suburban home. Here's the address." i c ilow long will you hold open tor 1 me?" asked Norton, meaning how long would the city editor wait for the fdory. j 1 "Till one-thirty. You ought to be back by midnight. It's only eight 1 nOW. - % ?? Vr-Tf "All right; Henderson's approach-i 1 ab'e. I may got a good story out of1 ^ him." i 1 "Maybe," thought Gregg, who had 1 los* nothing ov this conversation. ' 1 lc was his opportunity. He immediately left the zone of the city desk 5 for a telephone booth. But as he * passed the line of desks and busy!* reporters he did not note the keen 1 - ^1 ^ Norton Was at His Desk. scrutiny of a smooth faced, gray haired man who stood at the side of Norton's desk awaiting the reporter's return. "Why, Jones," cried the surprised Norton. "What are you doing all this way from home?" "Orders," said Jones, smiling faint-1 Iv as he 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 bands safely." "And do you mean to say that you came away and left her alone in that house?" Again Jones smiled. "I left her well guarded, you may be sure of that. She will never run away again." He waited for Norton to read the note. It was nothing more than one of those love orders to come and call at once. And she 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 the butler, not unkindly. "Well, anyhow, thanks fojr bringing the note. But I've got to disappoint her tonight. I'm off in a deuce of a hurry to interview General Henderson. I'll be out to tea tomorrow. You can find your way out of this old fire I THE HORRY HERA] trap. By-by!" v ^ The moment he turned awVy the smile faded from Jones' face, and with the quickness and noiselessness of a cat he reached the side of the booth in which Gregg believed himself so secure from eavesdropping. The half dozen words Jones heard convinced him that Norton was again the objei; of the Black Hundred's attention. He had seen the man's face that memora ble night when the balloon stopped for its passenger. Before Gregg came out of the booth Jones decided to overtake him and forewarn him, but unfortunately the reporter was nowhere in sight. There was left for Jones nothing alco f r\ orvtnrn ~ ? r-'l V,.., V. uui IU iciuili 1IUIUC U1 IUIIUW . when he came out. As this night he 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 J he was pleased. Norton's assignment | fitted his purpose like a glove. Before j midnight he would have Mr. Meddling Reporter where he would bother no Due 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, nothing could pre- ; rent his capture. When Norton arrived at the Hen- | derson place, a footman informed hirn from the veranda that General Henderson was at 49 Elm street for the evening, and it would be wise to call lliere. Jim nodded his thanks nmi snt Dff in haste for 49 Elm street The footman did not enter the house, but Uurried down the steps and slunk off among the adjacent shrubbery. His I mission was over with. The house in Elm street was Braine's ! suburban establishment. He went here occasionally to hibernate, as it vere, to grow a new skin when c lose crossed The caretaker was a man 'ightly called Samson. He was a iruirer of the bouncer type It fast work for Braine to get iut there. If the man disguised as a potman played his cards badly Braine would have all his trouble for nothing. He disguised himself with that Infernal cleverness which had long since made him a terror to tlie police, foll !eii different men instead of one. He knew that Norton would understand instantly that he was not the general; but on the other hand he would not know that he was addressing Braine. So the arch-conspirator waited; and so Norton arrived and was ushered nto the room. A single glance was enough to satisfy the reporter, always keen eyed and observant. "I wish to see General Henderson," tlfi Rfiirl nnlitolv ? . vv- . j . "General Henderson is doubtless at tils own house." "AM" "Don't be alarmed ? yet," said Braine smoothly. "I am not alarmed." replied Norton. "I am only chagrined. Since General 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 recognized that fact the moment you discovered I was not the general." "I am indebted to the Black Hun-I dred?" coolly. "Precisely. We do not wish you ill,! Mr. Norton." "To be sure, no!" Ironically. "What with falling safes, poisoned cierarettes.! and so forth, I can readily see that you have my welfare at heart. What puzzled me was the suddenness with which these affectionate signs ceased." "You're a man of heart," said Braine with genuine admiration. "These affectionate signs, as you call them, ceased because for the time being you ceased to be a menace. You have become that once more, and here you are!" "And what are you going to do with me now that you have got me?" "There will be two courses." Braine reached into a drawer atul drew out q t h i r>l/ rrvl 1 r\ f KUla ^ ^ I* v?ivn lull v/1 imin, l licit; cl IC X1CI c something like $5,000." "Quite a tidy sum; enough for a chap to get married on." The two eyed each other steadily.! And in his heart Braine sighed. For he saw in this young man's eyes incorru ptibiltty. "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 up Braine, his voice crisp and cold. Norton could not repress a shiver. Where had he heard this voice before . . . Braine! He stiffened. "Murder in cold hlood?" he managed to say. "Indefinite imprisonment. Choose." "I have chosen." "H'm!" Braine rose and went over to the sideboard for the brandy. "I'm going to ofTer yoti a drink to show you that personally 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 I'll drink first. We are all desperate men, Norton; and we stop at nothing. Your life hangs bv a hair. 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 Ilk" C.D, OONW AY, S. 0. ytrure." Norton nonchalantly took out his watch, and that bit of bravado perhaps saved his life. In the case of his watch he saw a brutal face behind i him. Without a tremor, Norton took up his glass. "I am sorry to disappoint you," he said, "but 1 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. Samson yelled with pain. Almost at the same instant Norton pushed over the table, upsetting Braine with it. Next be dashed through the curtains, slammed the door, and fled to the street, very shaky about the knees, if the truth is to be told. General Honrturcnn'o ? - .....viv.uvii o ? IV n D upuil IIIW latest Balkan muddle were missing from the Blade the following morning. Norton, instead of returning to the general's and fulfilling his assignment like a dutiful reporter, hurried cut to Riverside to acquaint Jones with what had happened. Jones was glad to see him safe and sound "That new reporter started the game," he said. "1 overhead a word or two while he was talking in the booth. All your telephone booths are ramshackle affairs, you use them so constantly. 1 tried to find you, but you were out of sight. Now, tell me what happened." "Sh!" warned Norton as he spied Florence coming down the stairs. "1 thought you couldn t come!" she cried. "But ten o'clock!" "I changed my mind," he replied, laughing. lie caught her arm in his and drew her toward the library. Jones smiled after them with that enigmatical smile of his, 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 got somewhere by watching him ' "Ho you know where Hargreave is?" Jones scratched his chin reflectively. Norton laughed. "1 can't get any* thing out of you." "Much less any one else I'm grow* ing fond of you, my boy. You're a man." 1 "Thanks; and good-night." 1 When Olga Perigoff called the next * day Jones divested himself of his liv* ( ery, donned a plain coat and hat, and I i left the house stealthily. Today he 1 was determined to learn something 1 definite in regard to this suave, hand- { some Russian. When she left the ' house Jones rose from his hiding place 1 and proceeded to follow her. The result of this espionage on the part of ! Jones will be seen presently. ! Meantime Jim went down to the office and lied cheerfully about his missing the general. Whether the city editor believed him or not is of no matter. Jim went over to his desk. Prom the corner of his eye he could see Gregg scribbling away. He never raised his head as Jim sat rlnwn tr? read his mail. After awhile Gregg ; | rose and left the oflice; and, of course, | .iim left shortly afterward. When the | newcomer saw that he was being fol-! lowed, he smiled and continued on his way. This Norton chap was suspiclous. All the better; his suspicions should be made the hook to land him with. By and by the man turned into a drug store and Jim loitered about till he reappeared. Gregg walked with brisker steps now. It was his intention to lead Norton on a wild goose, chase for ah hour or so, long enough to give Braine time to arrange a welcome at another house. Norton kept perhaps half a block in the rear of his man all the while. But for this caution he would have wit nessed a little pantomime that would have put him wholly upon his 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 the least idea who was coming around the corner,, but she hailed the cab and was off in it before Jim swung around the coin nr Jones, who had followed the countess for something over an hour and a half, hugged a doorway. What now? ho 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 then Jim turned the corner. Jones cast a wistful glance at the vanishing cab of the Russian, and decided to shadow the shadower?in other words, follow the reporter, to see that nothing serious j befell 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 he found ( the door could be opened. When Jones, not far behind, saw him open the door, he 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 oert&in 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 punishment room." I Here traitors paid the reckoning and were never more heard of. Into, this room Jim was unceremoniously dropped when Kraine found that he could get no information froln the resolute reporter. v< 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 In the Case of His Watch He Saw a < Brutal Face Behind Him. |. of this fact, he ran madly about In i search of some mode of escape, know* j ing full well in his heart that he should not find one Presently the machinery began to .work, and Norton's tongue grew dry ^ with terror They had him this time; there was not the least doubt of it. And they had led him there b> the nose into the bargain. Twenty minutes passed, and Jones concluded it was time for him to act. He went forwaid to trv the rionr hut this time it was locked. Jones, how-! ever, was not without resource The j house next door was vacant, and ho j found a way into this, finally reaching I the root' From this he jumped to the' other roof, found the scuttle open, and crept down the stairs, (light after (light, till the whir of a motor arrest- . I ed him. j # Conspirators are often overeager, " too. So intent were the rascals upon | ' the business at hand that they did J = not notice the door open slowly It did not take the butler more than a moment to realize th?t his friend and any was near certain death. With \n oath he sprang Into the -oom. gave Braine a push which sent him down ( :o join the victim, and pitched into the )ther two. It was a battle royal while , t lasted, .fones knocked down one of :hem, yelled to Norton, and kicked the rope he saw down into the pit. One 2nd 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, ' ind shortly the fake reporter and his * Up This Rope Norton Swarmed. companion were made to join their . chief. Jones stopped the machinery. He could not bring himself to let his enemies die so horribly. Later he knew he would regret this sentiment. When the people came, summoned by some outsider who had heard the racket of the conflict, there was no one to be found in the pit. Nor was there any visible sign of an exit There was one, however, built against such an hour and known only to the chiefs of the Dlack Hundred. And still the golden tinted bank notes reposed tranquilly in their hiding place! TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK To Drive Out Malaria And Build Up The System Take the Old Standard GROVE'S TASTELESS chill TONIC. You know > what you are taking, at the formula it printed on every label, showing it is ?uinine and Iron in a tasteiess form, be Quinine drives out maiuria, the , Iron builas up the system. 60 cents # H. H. WOODWARD, Attorney and Counsellor at Law, CONWAY, S ~ . * HAL L. BUCK, Fire Insurance J % Office Conway National Bank Conway, S. C. * R. B. SCARBOROUGH Attorney at Law, CONWAY. S. C. nfc LUM JUNG LAUNDRY, PAXJU; A V CI n vvri^ Tf A X ? O. V| ^ Begiminy July 1st. 1913 All persons must take tickets Ifor | work left here. Positively no work delivered until ticket is pr&* 5f nted. Laundry not celled for In - | JO days will be sold for charges. LUM JUNO I #1 . fl WILLIAM EUGENE KING, M D .a f Physician and Surgeon Office in Piatt Drug Co. AYNOR,. ... S. C. J. M. JOHNSON, I CIVIL ENGINEER Marion, S C. luilroad, City and Land Surveying; r.d Drainage. Kouu-huiiuing an Sewers Draughtir g and Blue Printing ^ f W C SINGLETON ATTORNEY AT LAW Conway, S. C. [)flice up Stairs Buck Building ^ li D A Spivey & Company On "THE CORNER" In PEOPLES NATIONAL BANK BL'LG Bonds <j Fire Life X And Other INSURANCE. % I). A. SPIVEY." ;,w. B. KING CHAS. R. SCARBOROUGH, ^ rimwQv -* | - ' I" ?I? S. Ci Complete Waterworks, Steam, Hotvg. ter and Hot Air Heating Plants INSTALLED ANYWHERE ft Only Plumbing and Heating goods ol material of highest quality useo. Full line of Tub, Toilet, LivaUijg SinK and other Bathroom Acck?"?-??s and repairs on hand at ati w..., .* Plumbing and Heatifc^ PUT WATER AND HEAT IN YOUR HOUSB. "T? S. P. HAWES i Auto Supplies, Fancy Groceries Ajax Tires, guaranteed 5000 miles. PHONE 57. QUICK DELIVERY. * j o? X./ T. B. LEWIS, Atty. and Councellor at Law I CONWAY, - - - S.C. ! o | DR. J. D. THOMAS Physician and Surgeon loris, s. o. | HORRY COUNTY 1 1 TRUST COMPANY'S [gjj L. D. Magrath 52 53 Manager. 52 sa Real Estate i? 5a Real Estate Loans ? f 53 Bonds o? sa Insurance ? !3B@SE1DB|SHBD||