Newspapers / The Farmville Enterprise (Farmville, … / April 23, 1915, edition 1 / Page 2
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MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY (continued from fir?t page) the Black Hundred. Four men were told off, and they drow their chairs up to Vrooa'g table for lnitructlonB. Bralne sat at Vroou's elbow. These four men composed the moat dauger ous quartet In New York city. They wero as daring as they were desper ate. They were tho men who held up bank messengers and gq? away with thousands. They had learned to swoop down upon their victims nB tho hawk swoops down upon the heron. The newspapers referred to them as the ' auic bandits," and the men took a deal of pride in tho furore they had created Vroon went over the Hargreave case minutely; he left no detail un explained Bluntly and frankly, tne daughter of Stanley Hargroave must be caught and turned over to the care 01 the Black Hundred. It must be quick action. Four valuable members were in the Tombs. They might or xnigh' not weaken under pressure. For the first time In its American career The Daughter of Hargreave Rode Horseback Every Morning. the organization stood facing actual peril; and its one possible chance >o? salvation lay In tbe (act that' no one's faco was known to lils neighbor. lie, Vroon, and the boss alone knew who and whet each roan wsb. But the plans, the ramifications of tho organ ization might become public property; and that would mian an end to an exceedingly profitable) business. Tho daughter of Hargreave rofio horseback early every irorning. Sho nought the country road. She was in variably attended by tie riding mas tei of a school nepr by. "You four will make your own plan:.' "It c'no should ho Injured?" "Avoid K If possible." "We have a free hand?" "Absolutely." "We rislt a bad fall from her horse If it's a spirited one." "Pretend a breakdown In tho read." Interpolated , Eralne. "As they np approach. draw and order them to dis mount. That method will prevent any accident" "We'll plan it somehow. It looks easy." "Nothing is ea;.y where that girl Is concerned. A thousand eyes seem to be watching her slightest move." "We shan't leave anything to chance. How many days will you give us?" "Seven. A failure, mind you, will prove unhealthy to all concerned," with a menace which made tbe four stir uneasily. The telephone rang. Bralne reached for the receive#. "A man Just entered 'the ilargreavo house a( tho rear. Oome at once," was the message. "Is your car outside?" Bralne asked. "We nro never without It" "Then let ne. be off. . No one win stop us for speeding on a sido street" Fourteen ' mlnutea by tbe clock brought the car to a stand atthp c?rb a few houses below the Hargreave home. Tho mea got oat The watch er ran up. "He is still Inside," be whispered. "Good! Spread oat If anyoue leaves that hocse. catch htm. If bo runs too fast, shoot We can beat the police." V, Tbe mai obeyed, and tbe watcher ran taci to his post. He was des perately boning the affair wnuld ter minate tonight He waa growing , "retry of this eternal vigilance; and It '.via only his fear of the man known an tho bocs that kept hln at bit post He WAcUd a night to carouse In, to bo with tbe ,|?ys. 1 Tho man for whom th?r ~er? lying 1a watt waa scon presently to creep cavtlouely round theVMde of the house. He hugged a corner ana They could see tbe dim outline of his body. Tbe light in til* street back of the grounds almost made a ailbouette of him. By and by, as If aasurtd that tho coast was clear, be stole down to the . -Htur , Instantly the prowler took to his h Wk?. Two abots rung out. Tbe man wai Men to atop, stagger, and then go on (<cat?F*t?ly. they Dad led standing at the curt1. Ho ?pads quick work of tb* job. but be j ?? uot quick enough. Still, tbey gave cBase. They saw the car turn toward the city. But, unfortunately for the success of the chose, several automo biles passed, going Into town and leav ing It. Checkmate, Bralne was keen enough tonight. "He Is hit; whether badly or not re mains to be seen. M'c can find' that out. Drive to tho nearest drug storo and get a list of hospitals. It's ? ten to one shot that we land him some1 where among the hospitals." But they searched the hospitals in vain. None of them had that night re ceived a shooting case, nor had they heard ?ne reported. Tin. .nan liad been unmistakably bit. He would not have dared risk the loss of time for a bit of play-acting. Evidently he ha<l kept his head and sought bis lodgings. To call up doctors would be Utter folly; for It would take a week for a thorough combing. This was the sec ond time the rjan had got away. "Perhaps I'm to blame," admitted Bralne. "I should have advised Mile* i to stalk him and pot him If he got the chance. There's a- master mind work lug somewhere back of til this, and It's time I woke up to the fact. But you." turning to tho auto bandits, "you men have your Instructions. More tbaa that, you have been given a tree rein. See that you make good, or by the Lord Harry ! I'll break the four of you like plpestems." "We haven't had a failure yet." spoke up one of the men, more courageous than bis companions. "You are not holding up a bank mes senger this trip. Remember that. Drive me as far aa Columbus circle. Leave me on the side street, between the lights, so I jpn take off this mack." Later Bralpe sauntered Into Pafcst and ordered a light supper. This i night's work, more than anything else. I brought home tu him the fact that hi? J luck was changing. For years ho had proceeded with his shady occupations without encountering any mcmorablo failure. Ho moved in the high world, quite unsuspected. He had written : books, givgn lectures, been made a II0.1 of, all tho while laughing In hla oleevo at the gullibility of human nr.ture. But within tho last two weoka he hhd re ceived serious checks. From now on he must move with the utmost caution. Some one was playing bis own game, waging warfare unseen. A battle of wits? So bo It; bgt Braiue intended to play with rougb wits, and he wasn't going to care which way the sword cut. Hp hated Stanley Hargresvc with all the hatred of his soul; the hatred of a. man balked in love. And the man wes. alive, defying hlmr alive somewhere in this city this very nlgllt, witli a bul let under his skin. * ? , "Is overs-thing satisfactory, clrt" lie heard the head waiter say. "Satisfactory?" Bralne repeated I blankly. "Yes, sir. You struck the table, ao though displeased." ? . "0!" Then Bralno laughed relieved ly. "If I struck the table, it was done unconsciously. 1 was thinking." "Beg pardon, cir! Anything else, Blr?" "No. Brlug me tho check." ? * m m *? - - "Your master'^lves riding lessons?" The groom who had led tbo horso hack from Hnrgrcavc's eyed his ques tioner rather superciliously. "Yes." Tha- groom fondled tlio ani mal's ler? "How much If It?" "Twenty dollars for a ticket ot Ave rides. The master is the fashion u:~ here. He doesn't cater to'stny but th host families." "Pretty steep. Who was that youn~ lady riding this morning wltli'your master?" "That's the girl nil the newspapers have been talking about," answered tbo groom Importantly. "Actress?" "Actrcss! I should say not That young woman is tbe daughter of Stan ley Hargreavo, tbo millionaire who was lost at sea And It won't bo Ions before she puts her linger In a pie o( four or Are millions. If you want coy rldfs, you'll have to talk It over with the boast Ho may or may not toko any more ndes. You'd probably havo to ride In tbo" afternoon, anyhow, as every nag Is out In the morning." "Where's the most popular read?" "Toward the park; but MIss'Har gr save always goes alons the river side road. Sho doesn't liko sU^"?*rs about" "O. 1 see. Well, I'll 8r,,p In this afternoon and see your master. They say that riding Is good for a torpid liver. Have a cigar?" "Thanks." . . The croora proceedod into tho eta. blee nnd tbo affable stranger took himself off A free rein; (Aey could, work It Jo suit themselvea There wasn't tiio least obstacle In the way. On the fnco at It, it appesred to be tbe sl? plcst jot) they bad yft undertaken. To get rid of tbe ildliw,' master in some natural wiiy after bo and tbo gir! had started. It was like lolling 08 A to? 3hb. "'Susan.'' said VJo/enca as sho came Into breakfast after her exhilarating ride, "did you hear pistol "shots last night?" . ?j "I beard some none, but 1 was ro I Sleepy 1 didn't try t? figure out wbwt ' It was." "Dirt you, JM?sr ? "Yes, Mis* FVirrmce. Tha shoU I came from th* street A potkrman | came running up later asd said I saw two automobiles oa the run. Bat ovMertiy tlx** wasn't anybody hurt One U? ?o be ?artfH>t night uow abroad. . vTy'oiuch. But there were spots of blood oa tilt walk a??r the corner." "Blood?" Jones caught the back of n chair to steady himself. "Yes. So iome one was hnrt Oh. let's leave this place!" Impulsively. ''Let us go back to Mies Fsrlow's. You could find a place In the villager Jones. But If 1 stay here much longer In this state of unrest '1 shall lose faith in everything and everybody. Whoever my father's enemies ure. they do not lack persistence. Tboy have modo tv.o attempts against my liberty, and tooner or later they will succeed. I keep ' looking over my shoulder all the tlmo. If I hear a . noise I jump." "Miss Florence, it I thought It wise, you Should be packed off to Mlas Far low's this minute. But not nn hour of tho dny or ulght passes without tills house being watchcd. I ncldo)n see Anybody about. 1 can only isi-uso the presence of a watcher. At Miss Fur low's you would bo far more like a prisoner than here. 1 could not ac company you. J am forbidden to de sert this house." "My father's orders}" Jones signified neither one way not tho other. Ho merely gazed stolidly at the rug. "That blood!" Sbo cprr.ng from hct /chair, Uorrlfted. "It v;an his ! Ho waB hero last night, and they shot him! Ol" "There, there. Miss Florence! The tran was enly sllgiftly wounded. He's v.' here they never will look for him." Then Jones continued, as-wlth'en ef fort: "Trust me. Miss Florence. It would not pay to run away. The whole affair would bo repeated else where. We might go to the other end qi the world, but it wofild not serve U3 In tho least. It Is not question of -j?Ciipo, but of who shall vanquish tho other/ There is nothing to do but re main here und fight, light, tight. Wo liavo put four of thorn la the Tombs, to sjy nothing of the gunmen. That !c what wo must 49-? put them In a safe place, one by one, till wo reach the master. Then only may wo breathe in safety. But if they watch. r:i do we. Tbors is cover n moment when help Is not within reach, no mat ter wherr, you go. So long as you <!j r.ot deceive me, no real harm shall bo fall you. Don't cry. Be your father's daughter, a3 I am his servant." '7 am very unhappy!" And Flor ence threw her arms around Susan r.ttd laid her head upon her friend's shoulder. "Poor child!" Susan, however, r? ognlzcd the wisdom of Jones' state ments. They were safest here. The morning rtden continued. To the girl, -who loved the open, It wao glorious fun. ' Thooo mad gallops along the roads, tho smell of earth and eca. the tlnglo In the 'blood, Wero the second best momenta of lier d*y. The. first? She invariably blushed when site considered what these first best moments were. He was a brave youuc "Better Sensible," Me Said. . | ?. v " . ? i ? i man, ? oqd to look at, witty, and al ways chccrful. -Why ehouldn't 3U0 like him? Even Jones liked him? Jouct, who didn't seem to Ilka any body. It did not.itaUor ? whether ha v. as wise or not: a worldly point of view was farthest fro in her youthful thoughts. It was her own affair; Iter own heart. Five days later, aa sho and tho rid Inn master were cantcrlng Along the r?J, e&Joying every* bit of It, tiiey Ueord tijc heat of hoofs behind. They drew op and'turr.ed. A rider was ap proaching them at a run. it waa (ha head groom. Tho man stepped bis horse In a cloud ot dust. , 1 ' . ' , "3ir, t!ie St?W?n are on Ecol" "FlreT" ' All the riding master's eatings word Invested' in tho a tables. ? Tho tact that he had Solemnly promised haver to lea*e Florence alone, add that he had accepted a gon?roj? boaha slipped from bis mind attbo thought of fire, a terrible word to any horaem'an. Hu svboairf and started off at 'breakneck speed, bis head crooiB clattering- bo hind bin. Florence naturally wordercd wh|ch of twp courses to porsuo: follow them, *hen aha would b; perfectly helploa* to *M them, cr continue tho rid* and save at least ono horse tiom the ter ror of deelag flamcj. sue chose the latter. But abo did not r!do with tha culler scat She fair dspjwased. Sho loved borsea, and the thought ot them dying ia those wooden (Ublcs waa horrifying. ? however, praiod to bo In elplent. But it was plainly Incondi fTf. : Somo ono had sot lire tV It ?1th ~.'riv.?e,ln rlaw. Norte# rwcognixe* this fact al/ncst as saoo as tlfo Bvo-, moh. -He bad e?#>o thW morning with (he Idea of surprising Florence. He wae solag out on horseback to fttfi h?f- , " Ilia aplno grew suddenly cold. A trap! mi Bad teen lc<t alone On road! He rsn ovor to tot garase, e? MM ? ? ' -1"* toward only 1.. -? !? ? tarnctl iip'iu tuns. .Meantime Florence tvas walking ber r.;ouat slowly.' Fop onco tile scenery passed unobserved. She was deeply engrossed with thoughts, ,'8om? of v.hlcli T.oro happy ind tome of which ?vcrc tad If only ber Jatlier cojl.l bo with fctr she would bo the bspptost girl alive. She : wns brought oat of her re very by the slnht of a nun stsggerlng along the. road ahead of her. Finally he rlur.gcd upon hlafcco In the road Like the tender hearted girl obe was,- ah* etopped. dismounted, and ran to thu tcUen man to sire lilra ltd Sbe sud denly found ber wrists clasped In two hands llUo Iron. The man roso to tils foot; etnillng ortlly. She struggled v.lldly but futility. ?'I!?tttr bo sensible," bo said "1 am otron'scr thaa you are. And I don't vrtsh to Uujt you. Walk on ahead of tac. It will to utterly' useless to tcrx;atn or cry out. You can see for yourself that no arc in a deserted part of tho road. If you will promise to act oenE'.hiy l r han't lay a hand on you. Do you tec Uwt hut yonder. ne5r the fork lis tha road? We'll atoi> ILere. Now. march!" ' ' , "She dropped ber handkerchief, later her bracelet, ard finally her crop. In Uopo that tltcso slight cluea might bring her help. Siio knew that Jones would hear of tho Arc, and. finding that aha liad not relumed, with the riding master, (rouid Immediately start ont Is pursuit. She was beginning to grow rory fond of Jonca, who nerer spoke unlets spoken to. who was always at hand, faithful and loyaj. From afar tamo tho low rumble of * motor. Sho wondered If her captor heard U. He did. but tlj can tricked bin Into believing that It came '.roto another direction. Eventually they ar rived ct the hut, and Florence was farced to enter, 1'iib man locked tha dcor and Waited outside for the anto moblla. Which be was lapeetipg. Ha was rather dumfoonded when he saw that it was coming from the city, not coin* toward it. . It -Jiaa Norton. Tho riderless bona told him enough: tho handkerchief and bracelet nud crop red blm straight for tbe'bst. The man bcfcre tho hut realised by this time that he bad made a mistake. He attempled to re-enter tho hut and .propagate defeni It till hi# tjowpan lona hovo In sight, flat Florence, rec c.^nltlng Norton,' held lbs door with all hor strength. Tho man snarled and tcrncd upon Norton, ogty to receive -a smashing blow an the Juiy. Norton flung open the door, "loto thf eaf, Florence! There's another car coming np~ue road. Huyr^l" It was not:* long chase. The car, of tbo auto bandits, looking Uke an ordinary Uxtiab. was a hlgh-f.Wer ma chine, and it gained cwlflfy: on Nor ton's fonr-e) Under. Tho reporter wait ed grimly.'.*- . (*?&; r "Keep yqur head downl" he warned Floreneo. "I'tx going to take V pot at tli*ir tires when they get within range, if I mlan I'm afraid well.bav* trouhlc. Under np clreumtianioa attempt to leave this oor. Iiaro they doae)" Iio suddenly I ear ad back gad fired. itn?*? only chance. The i ' ' which tho care Were poor tergal for a nr the flrrt order. Chs ton's first j ? . ?<? ? *? inr "-T.TlM F . 5? . ; v ; -i' l. : i~j ? ? u . ? u ? - ? ^y'v'^-.y1,; ? ';. '". I The World Of Music ' ? ? ? . ' Mi , ' '"1 ' - May be enjoyed in your own home, if you own a SCHULZ PLAYER PIANO ' ? - The successful combination of one ol the really standard Pianos and a Pcrlect Player Mechanism. We have just received a shipment ol these High Grade instruments. . We have with us lor the next ten days, MR. E. WYATF, ol M. Schulz Co. and will be pleased to have him demonstrate these instruments to all interested in pianos, whether intending to purchase now or later. Old instruments taken in exchange at actual value and convenient terms i\iay be arranged. T. E. JOYNFR, MGR. 7 - : MONUMENTS : If you have need of a memorial of any description, you can <fepend upon us to give you the best mater ial, the mo4t artisftic designs, at the lowest possible price consiitant with good work. We will give careful attention to ?nv nrAnr !??.??? ? ? __ ___ . _ wau | lUi \JJL OIIIWI tf and guarantee you good material, workmanship and satisfaction. Write for designs and prices. We are, Yours to command DEES MARBLE & GRANITE WORKS Greenville, N. C. Office and show room near , John ' Flanagan Buggy Co. r ? THE GREATEST HOME COMFORT ? ' i U a model bathroom, c--pcdilty when Summer COMO WilS il5 bcJl and dttft. Hut pHyi'cjl luxury Is not I lie only- n<J vac tyro. I'erfcil Mn'iatlcm and ateoluiv clcanlinc-a arc .'nttor* ibai do much (or llio tood hcalih of you lad year family. Our facllllie* for modern unitary plumb lag IcXlallatlon arc cr.ccplfonally ?ocd, and wo cbccrfully furnish ctllmatca cuai anlco|ns (bo coil lo be lower for our qualKy of work than can bo far-' nlMhcd cjjcwhcro /' Greenville, N. C. : P. M. JOHNSTON, : Fannville, N. C. I ?WE HAVE == Beef, Pork; Sausage and Fish, | daily. Brains Wednesdays, Oysters Saturdays. We also have io flock anything in canned goods, Peas, Corn, Tomatoes. Peaches, etc. Sun Kifl" table peaches? the bcft. : Maine grown Irish Potatoes,. Cabbage, Ruta Bagas, and ; 1 1 fmits. National Bislret Company's, Cakes and Crackers.-Aiways ? vg- ; fresh v/: -;i . & m Mv'\ any orders on Phone 134. 'W! ie above,
The Farmville Enterprise (Farmville, N.C.)
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April 23, 1915, edition 1
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