Newspapers / The Farmville Enterprise (Farmville, … / March 19, 1915, edition 1 / Page 4
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m The MiRion Dollar Mystery By HAROLD MACGRATH t. I* Illustrated from Scenes in the Photo Drama of thm Samm Nam* fey the Tlionhouier Film Company (Cop/right, ISM, b CHAPTER II. ? ?? *? The Master's Man. Vroon faced Hargreave's butler som berly. The one reason why Bralne made this man bis lieutenant was be cause Vroon always followed the let ter of his instrurtior.s to tho final pe riod; he never sidestepped or added any frills or innovators of his own, and becauso of this very automatism be rarely blundered into a trap. If he failed It was for the simple fact that the master mind had overlooked some essential detail. The organiza tion of the Black Hundred wbb almost totally unknown to either the public or the police. It Is only when you fall that you are found out. ' "The patrolman has been trussed up like you," began Vroon. "If they find blm they will probably Qnd ^pu. But Mfore that you will grow thirsty and hungry. Where did your master put that pioneyt" "He carrlcd It with him." "Why didn't you call for help?" "The houses on cither sldo are too far away. I might yell till doomsday without being heard. They will have ' heard the pistol shots; but Mr. Har , greaves *vas always practicing In the bsckyard." "The peoplo In those two bouses hare been called out of town. The seranta are off for the night." "Very Interesting." replied Jones, staring at the rug "Tour master Is dead." Jones' chin sank upon hla breast. Hi a" heart was heavy, heavier than it had ever been before. "Your master left a wlllf" "Indeed, I could not say." "Wo can cay. Ho bis still three or four millions In 3t6cka and bonds. What he took to th"! bottom of the sea with him was hla ^reliable cash." * . "I know nothing about his finances, t was his butler ar.l valet." Vroon nodded. .'Come, men; It Is time we took ourselves off. Put thlncs in order; close tho safe. You poor Jackals, i always have to v.-atch you for outbreaks of vandalism. OH with you!" He was ths last to lcrve. Ho atared long and scarchlngly at Jonca, who felt the burning gaze but refused to meet it lest the plotter see the lire in his. The door ^osed.? For fully an hour Jones listened but did not Stir. They were really cone. He pressed hla' feet to the floor and began to hitch the chair toward tho table. Ha'f way across tie Intervening space he crum pled in the chair, almost completely exhausted. Ho let a quarter of an hour pass, then mado Iho final attack upon the remaining distance. He suc ceeded In reaching the desk, but ho couU; not have stirred an Inch farther. Tho lialr on Ijlr. head waa damp with sweat and his hands were clammy. , VTfccn ho fr.:t r'.T^lsth ho lifted the telephono ott the nook with hla teetji. ? 'Lfftwl th/ 01? th? Hook Witt Ml* Te?th. [ ,/ f , ; I" Sr' sU'ji^ i n\ ^ .1 . "0?ntr?l, rtirtl! C*1I lh?, pollen to fcsno (o this number at oner; H?r Afirt houio, nirerd?lo. T*il them to brook In." After vkat rccmad in ?*o of wilt tB( to th? ?lhnv<(0d prlioner. with cmhlcg ted imublns at door*, the -1' boUoa adfaamU in tha room. . .w| !<i 1Wher<? Jrtir pair dtef&nded the <8rf* offlrcr to roach J ono? tide. ? , "Th?ro wKVt ?or." ' Jj ;i *Th?a r.hj fidntydc j*ll for help!" fij Trt? tilmia hired our B?Ji(Siio?* h?ISfN4 torn. The ; " ' rot IT. r. II ?t.f> . jjraUn' thl? best It bou:;4 ts.id OMcd Sad la.fitababty rcscolr* back of tba I* "**V8^v V? *rlch ' >T1*n whno 'raWRPSSB e? tbo D4l;hbrr?," ?ild j Harold MjbcCraifcJ the-ofllccr whp seemed to bo In *\u- ' thorlty. When he returned he was (row nlng seriously. " Wo'd better tele phone to the' precinct to search (or Dennlson. There's nobody at home In ?lthcr hous4 and there's nobody back u( the billboards. Untie the man." \yh()ii this was done, the officer said: 'Now, tell us whafs happened; and don't forget any "of the details." Jones told a simple and convincing story; It was so < simple and con Vine; mg that the poliee believed It without ' question. r* "Well, ir (hat ain't the limit! Did you hear any aulos outside?" "I dop't recollect," said Jones, stretching his legs gratefully. ?'Why?'* "The auto bandits held up a bank messenger today and go! away with twenty thousand. "Whenever * tnfcu draws down a big sum they seem to know about It. And ?ay, Murphy, call up and have the river police look out for a new-fangled airship. Tour mas ter may Bnvn hgfa rescued," turning to Jones. "If I'wore only sure of that, sir! '* When the police took themselves off Jones proceeded tofacf upon thoso plans laid down by Hargreave early that night. When this was done he sought his bed and fell asleep, the Bleep of the exhausted. When H?r grcave picked up Jonee to aharo his fortunes, he had put his trust In no ordlnsry man. A dosen reporters trooped out to the Hargreave home, only to Snd It de serted. And while they were rlnclog bells and tapplpg windows, the man they sought- was tramping up and down the platform of the railway sta tion. Through all thb tlmd Norton, the reporter, HargreaveTs only friend, slept the sleep of the just and unjust. He rarely opened his eye* before noon. Group after group of paasengera Jones eyed eagerly. Often, Just aa he waa In tte act of apprpachlns a coapia of young women, eome man would hurry up, and tharc would bo klss&s or handshake*. At length the crowd thinned, md then It waa that he dla covered a young girl perhaps eighteen, accompanied by a young woman In the early thirties. They had,tiie appear ance of eagerly awaiting- eome one. Jones stepped forward with a good deal of diffidence. "You are waiting f? some one?" "Yes," said the elder woman, eoldly. "A broken bracelet?" The distrust on both faces vanished ln'r.tanily. The young .girl's face brlghtoncd, her eyes sparkled with ccppresscd excltetr?nt "You arc . . . my father?" "No, miss," very gravely, "I am the butler." "Let >.io sea your part ot the b ruck le'.," eald the young girl's guardian, a tcachcr who hid been assigned, to tlile delicate task by Mlsa Fsrlow, who could not brlr; he;;;'? to say c'"'*-'" to Florence anywhere except at the school gate*. The balre* were' produced and ex amined. j, ("I beHcre we msy trust him, Flor ence." i . ? < ? "Vet us hOrry to the taxi cab. We HTbst not stand here," * , "Sty mother!"" "She Is dfead. I believe she died shortly after your birth. I have been with your father but fourteen years. I know but little ct bis. life prior to that." "Why did he leave me all these years without erer coming tc see met Why?" "It Is not for me, Miss Florence, to inquire Into . your fsthor's act. Bnt-1 <lo know that whatever he 414 was meant tor ths bett. Yoar welfare was everything to him." . .> yy "It la all very strange," said lb* tfrt. bewilder edly. "Why didn't b-> come to mfcet'me instead of youT* Jones (tared at his band*,' miser ably. i,;^Wbyf^>-?ks-WeMi?<kd.. "t have khobght ot bim, nought of Mm. He baa hurt me. with an' this neglect. I expccted'jo so* him' at the alattoa, to tbfew my arms aiound. Ms neok and , . fbifclvn hlni!" Tears awaaa la eyes a# sho spoke. ? -^'Everything wtn.be explained to raach the hCe Bot r.lwaya reme'mber this. Miss Floresdfc: Voa wew everytfitng in ? 'Jit* wid? world to yoor father: Too will ?evwr know the misery and loneliness be suffered that yen might not ht.ve one hear of unrest. What are yoor plans?" kr asked atfttptly of the teacher from Mlsa FarloWa.- A "Th?i rTfinfimla " * riM'w ^ lag ber band protectlngty ova* . .'~S& "Yon cc aid leave Uiee rarloWs the moment T" iiL *?"*?*. "Then yon win sla? and be MI?S noren^eX eompartenr / , <? V. K r"? '? "Tf' v""*: r.~" yg "wh?t i? itr ?W? read t?? a'.ery In w?*jie "Hum py." laid tha alder wirauyi.' b?r 9W"? c>?? filling wlfi tear*. ?? "Ti* ??or ctlld! TY *av? ?fl *?r e^atlea-Jn-alr tumble down like Ibla! Wut what ao tborlt)- have you to engage meT* aen ?iWy. v.-,.'. , .V i Jonea produced a document, duly nlgned by Varitckro. and jvltceeaed and aealed by a notary, in which It was art forth that Henry Jonea, but ler and va|et to Stanley Hargreave, tiad full no were' of attorney in the event or bla (Hurgreave'a) disappear aiice; In the ovent\of hla death, till 'Florence became of logfcl age- ' Bald Jonea aa.ba put the document back In hit pocket: "What la your namef "Btfsan Wane." j "Do you love this child?" 4 "With att'my hrart. tlje poor un happy babe!" "Thank you!" Intlde the none He oonductod them through tho various rpoma. at th? uw lime MUqg them what bad tn ken place during the preceding nlghL "They hava not lound hla body?" asked Florence. "My poor, poor (UJi fk& -No." ? i '' -Tbfn he may be alive!" "Pltaae God that he may!"" said tho butler, with genuine piety, for he bad loiod the nan who had gone forth In to the night to bravely and to atrange ly. "Thle la your room. Your father spent mapy happy bqurs here prepar ing u for you." Team cajue Into the girl's eyes again, and dlscrerflly'Joses left the two alone. . "What ilutll I do. Sunn? Wbstoter shall ! do?" "Be brjre aa ftu alt.ara are. I *111 never lrdv( you till you And your father" Florence [ttaknl her ferrfnlly. "Whst Is ytnr opinion of the butler?" "I think we m*y bo*4i,lrust him ik ?olutely." Then Florence began exploring tho house. Siun followed her closely. Florence peered behind the mirrors, tbfe pictures, In the drawer* of the desk. In the bookcase*. "What are you hunting for. child?" "A photograph of father." Bat she found none. More, there Were no pho tographs of any kind to be found Is Stanley Hargreave's .l^ome. When Norton awoke, he naturally went to the doer for the morn lag pa pen which were always placed In a neat pHe before the sill. He yawned, gathered np the bttndle, was abont to cMnifc tack Into bed, whan a head line caught his doll e*?s. Twenty-one minutes later, to .lie precise, ho ran cp the cteps of the Hurgreavs home and r*cg the b?H- He tvaa admitted by thu taciturn Jones, to whotp the reporter hsd never paid any particu lar attention. Somehow. Jonea always managed to stand In shadows. "I can add nothing to whet has al ready appeared In the newspapers." replied Jones, as Nonon ppencfl lis batteries of Inquiries; "Mr. Jones, I have known your, mas ter several years, as you will recollect There nevsr ->o & -U.nan ' In thli house, not even among the servants. Thero are 'two- In tbe other iroom. Who are they T And what are they doing here?" Jones shco)r bis bead.. "Well, I cab easily And qpt." > Jones barred his ifath, and for "the nrst time Norton i.czcd Into the eyes of the man aerrcnt They vero as hard as gen metal. , "H; tzijt Vr, Jones, you pugbt to know that sooner or later we report ers find oat Wh*t we seek." Jenes appeared to reflect. "Mr. Nor. ton. yon claim to be a friend of Mr. Hargresve?" "I do no*- claim, 1 an. More than that I do' not 'believe be was deep.' He hsd some e?lee? I dont know "Oood 1-ord: gasped the astonished o?*?r ?foypo*j the fact to m?, ?nd wo ve been together in some tight PlaoaS/'i.'; ; . "He cover mentioned Ifto soy one bat ???.". Jines ngaln-steoed to re fleet. At l?nt he raised his glancs to the reporter. "Are you willing t? Walt for a great story, the. real sttf-yt" "If there is one," answered' , Norton with his usual caution. "On my word of honor, you (hall has* such 4 story as you never dreamt vt, If- yoe will promUn nqt to dtvulgo It till the appointed tupe." "1 Mr*." ' j ? t ? "Tho pes?? and hajw'ncrj of that child degead* upon, how /oa 1 - op your a f. That was sufficient . for Morion. "Your ttiuter knew ma. .jio knew als. tbat I am not a n:n who promises lightly. . Now lntrodneo pie to tho dadgbtefr." ; - With plsln reluctance Jones went about the affair. Norton put a do&cn porfunetory questions to the glfl. What he,waa In search of waa not apws but the sound of her voice. In that quar ter. of an hour he foit his heart dis turbed as he bad never before been : disturbed. "Xpw, Mr. :NorlotV," ssld -Janes gloomily, "srjlt yoj bo to kind as to follow tne?" ? Norton was led to Jonesv bedroom. Tho butler* valet closed the door and drew the wlnd^i* shade. Always seek ing shadows. This did not Injpress tho reporter, at the time ; he had no other thought but the story: . -Jonas' then sst down bestde the yeportctg sad tslked in an .undertone. -When he had done he took Norton by the elbow acq] gently but forcibly led him down to' tho front door and ushered him fort Ik Norton Jumped Into his taxlcab and "returned to his roims. which were at the top of the* hoge apart ment hotel. He ltamcdstely called ap his managing sdltor. "Hello! Tlittf, is Norton. Put Oriffln on the Hsrgreavrf yarn. " I'm off on another dsal? "But Hargraavs was a friend of youri," protested the managing ed itor. I "1 know It. Bnt you kuosr me well enough,. Mr. Blair. I should not ask the transfer If it was not vitally Im portant "O, yery well.".' "We sha'nt bs'scoopci." "If you can promise tuat. I don't care who works on the Job. Will yon be in the office tonight?" "If nothing prevents me." "Well, cood-hy." Norton filled his pipe, drew his chair to the ".'window, and stared at the great line* going down to sea. "Lord, Lord!" he murmured. Then he smiled and chuckled. Some bright morning he 'would hare all New York Ly the ears, tho uollce running round In circles, -and the chiefs of the riml sheets tearing thtlr hair. Wbst a storyl Four columns on ths first page, and two whole pages Sunday.,;.' And air or a sudden ha ceased to smlls and chuckle. . In tfcsr living room of.th# Princess ,?lga Perigbff's apartment. the mistress l*y raiding oti the divan. TkSrf was no cigarette between her well shaped lips, for aho was not the tcApted type of adventurers. In fact, she was not an adventuress: She was Wily the Princess Perlgoff. Her msld?rn name had been oiga Puahkiu; but nor* of that later. When. Bnilne came |n he Jouad.ker dreaming with half closed eyes. He flourished an evening newspaper. , ?t-t> the best of ng'aM&kl mistakes. Hera, Just glance over this." ? " >'Tb?; RntalaA aroapte*,the newapa per and read the heading Indicated: "Aeronaut picked up far Out at m. Slips ashore from tramp steamer. Had At* thousand In cash In bi? pockets." "Hkrgreara eacaped!" "Not neceeoartly." aha replied. "1< It vat Hargreare la would hare had more than five tboqaaad it ha pock ets. My friend. I bel'.era H an at. tempt to fori yon; or It la another man entirely." She clicked her t?*th wlth'tao tops of her jollabed nails. "There are two yoen* woman In th* bona*. What the deuce CM that meant" "Two young women! O! then erythlng*a as simple as daylight Kat rlna Fuahkln. ray cousin, bad a child." "Child# Harjtrcave had la <*Udf , It warvaaleaa till this moment, He rrobaWjr ??nt tor. be* yesterday; but TyTuxmS' kitEi* wf rtST soon coaseanopee. *ia v* "" i *?""* 1,10 ?h?i>t*r, dojid or allfe. You o?n tell me til* newa At dlaaer ..tonight." po, Uter, when Uw butlpt 'accepted card at the door. Mil*. us bo >nl?M be,' there was not). Ion for blm to do but admit her. "Wham dp you v. 1th ? to* iw, madam?" stepping back Into the shad ow. 'ziffS: ?' V' ' "Mia* Hargrearo I'm an old friend of her tttotfefr**." ?There l*.?p auch pcrv/n here." ? "To whom, then, dock ; tbla hat tr lan if!" nhe asked quietly. ??he waved Iter hai d Indolently Half ??*? ? Jones' lip* tighter rd. 'That belong* to Mies Gray, a kind of protege of Mr. Hargreave'*;" ' 'J , "Indeed! You have no objection* to my seeing her? My maiden name* was Olga Pnrbkln, eousln to Katrlfta, wife of Stanley Hargreave. I am,.lf; you will weigh the oiattor carefully, a kind of cun^V vli-5 .' i To Jonea It was c* If 'leo had sad denly come . Into contact with Up heart'* bleed. Bpf aa he still stood III the shadow, she did not observe the pallor of hla face. ? "If you will state exactly why you wish to a*e her. _mad?t?." "Tod seem to possess authority?" ? "Te*, . madam; absolute / authority/' Jone* produced hla document aad presented It to her. "There Is". no- flaw In that," she ? rreed readily, jl wish to *ee the child. I have told wiiy." ".Very well. mad**!-.';. Why had they not telegraphed the child, eron oh the train, to return to KarJow's. He knew nothlnrof tht? woman, whether she was an enemy or a friend, He conducted bis unwelcome guert Into the llbriry. "How dirt you. know that aha was here?" suddenly. t But ahe waa toady. "I did noi. nut the death ot, Mr. Hargreave brought me. And that youtbrul hat In the hall waa a story all ita own. Later I ahall show you soma papers of my own. You will have .no caura to doubt them. They have not the legal power of yicraj hut. they would And standing In MJ court." " Jone* turned and w-rnt 1n search of Florence. The prlnoeia lost no time In begin ning her Investigations, but sh*. want ed her time. ? There was no secret panel In evidence - vv? "Whovla sk??" asktd Florence as *ck* looked at the dard. "Did my fa ther taaw prlbeesses?" "Yes," said Jones briefly. JWa, very careful what yen sAy to )-ir. Admit nothing. She c!alma to be a cousin of your mother. Perhaps." "My mother?" Without waning for any. further advice from Jones, whom Florence In- her young years thought presuming upon his authority, ahe' ran downstalra to the library. Her mother, to I earn some tact about the mother of whom she knew nothing!' "You knew my mothor!" ahe cried without ceremony. He he*r$ the princess say: ~1 did. my child; and v heaven Is witness that you are -the ''exact picture of her at yoMf^ga. And 1 knew your father." ... Jone* straightened, his hand* shut WW. - " "Tell me about my father) " % , The prtocesa *mll? a. It w Katrlna Pushkin come to Ufa, tL > samo Impul ?lvaneso. 1> knew him but slightly. I war a mare child myself whan he used to pinch myebeoki. I met him again the other night, but he did not recok r;rs.r.T; and I'eeetJ ist f.ad it In mr heart to awnken*hla memory In a pub lic restaurant," , \ . *r. >' , ~ 7"": r~ ! ? tfUUoo.wttfe thr.,i.' ' "NpJ l ho l?u?t In tho world," laughed ? thrf reporter. "You two cl?ar out of h*r? u fa?t m your rwctlly le*a cut 4- : ? '* #eM Me About My Father." ccrry you. I dont know what your guns li, bat t'do know every ropu table detective to New York, and you dont -belong." "Good heavo'nsl" exclaimed the princess; "do you mean to say that these men are not real detective* !" "This girl got* to the police station, young man. So much the worse for yon It you meddle. Take yonrtilf off!" "All It, food time." "Here, Jenner, you take Cfctrge of the (trl. Ill handle this gay. He shall go to the station, too." "What followed would ulways be viv idly remembered by Florence, fresh from the peace and happiness of her * school Ufa Norton knocked his oppo nent down. He rose and for a moment the ropm seemed fall of legs and arms ' and panting men. . A foot tripped Bp Norton and he went down nnder the bogus detective. He .never suspected that the tripping foot was not acci dental. Be was too busy. The other man dragged Florence ? toward thf hall. bat there the peaceful butler entered Into the field of action with a very unattractive ?utomatle. The detective, threw up his hands. The struggle went on' In the library. A trick of jlu jltsu brought about the downfall of Norton's man, and Norton ran out into the hall to aid Jones. He searched the detecVve's pockets and secured the ' revolver. The resr.1t of all this was that the two bogua de tectives soon found tbemfolvoa In charge of two policemen, and they were inarched off to the station, "Your advent waa moat providential, Mr. Norton," said Jones In bis usual colorless tones. . "I rather believe no. /Why dent ^bo pook pp and clear oul for a whUeT" ' "I am stronger In this house than elsewhere." anawered the butler enig matically. . .! ? ''Well, yon know best," said th^ re porter. ? Tbe:prlnceaa waa breathing rapidly. No. . on aecohd theu;ht eha had no tttsh to throw her arms about the re porter's neck and kiss him. A. ;>?!' (To 'be continued) Report ot the' condition of Hie Bank of Farmville ^ at Farmville, IN. " C,, at . the close of bu?i-A Mac. 4, . j.:' Ri'-SOVRCRas j:' Uoqb. an J $ lt3,ui.5$ minor coin currency, ?' M.St National bank now, .id other U. S. mnm, J.M7.M
The Farmville Enterprise (Farmville, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 19, 1915, edition 1
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