Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-24
The MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY

1t was a lark, that was all; and de-
spite Jim's warning touch she was up
and way like the mischievous sprite
that she was. Jim remained In his
chair, twisting his fingers and won
dering whether to laugh or grow
| angry. After all, he could not blame
her. TO him an affair like this was
an ancient story; to her it WAS the
door of fairyland swung open. Let
her enjoy herself.
Florence was having a splendid
time. Her partner was asking all
sorts of questions and she was reply
ing in kind, when out of the crowd
came Norton (as she supposedly, who
touched her arm. The cavalier
stopped, bowed and made Off
Norton whispered: 81 have made
and important discovery We must
be off at once. Come with me-"
Florence, without the least suspicion
in the world followed him up the
broad staircase. What with the many
sounds il was not to be wondered at
that the difference in the quality Of
voices did not strike Florence's ear
as odd. The result of her confidence
was that upon reaching the upper
halls, opposite the dressing rooms, she
was suddenly thrust into a room and
turned up she recognized with horror
the woman vino had helped to kidnap
her and take her away on the George
Washington weeks ago. She could
not have cried out for help If she had
tried.
Meantime Jim got up and began to
wander about in search of Florence.
Braine played a clever game that
night He and the Russian, still DOM
inoed like Norton and Florence, or
dered the Hargreave auto, by num-
Der, entered 1t and were driven up
to the porte cochere of the Hargreave
house. The two alighted, the chauf-
feur sent the car toward the garage,
and Braine and his companion ran
lightly down the path to the street
where the cab which had followed
picked them up.
1t grew more and more evident to
Jim that something untoward had
taken place. He could not find Flor |
ence anywhere, in the alcoves, in the
side rooms, the supper or card room. |
was informed that the HargreaNe !
auto had some time since been called |
and it's owner taken home. Some ono |
had taken his place.
His first sensation was impotent |
fury against Jones, who had per |
mitted them to play with fire. He /,
flung out Of the mansion uncere- |
moniously, Communicated a cab, and |
flew out TO Riverdale. And when |
Jones came to the coor he was stag |
gering with sleep.
Whats the matter with you29 de- |
manded Jim, roughly. where's Flor /
ence?''
isn't she with your" cried Jones. |
making an effort to dispe the drowsi |
ness. what time is it," suddenly. |
Midnight! Where is shc?'
Midnight? I've been drugged,"
Without word Jones staggered off |
to the kitchen Jim at his heels.
There was always hot water. and
within five minutes Jones had drunk |
two cups OF raw strong coffee.
"Druggedp' he murmured. Some
one in the house! I'll attend to that
later. Now, the chauffeur
But the chauffeur swore on his oath
that he had left Jim and Florence on
the steps of the porte cochere.
Get in" said Jones to Norton. now
fully alive. He could not get it out
of his head that some one in the
house had drugged him.
The events which followed were to
both Jones and Norton something like
a series of nightmares, In the new
home of the Princess Parlova a bomb |
exploded and fire followed the explo- |
sion From pleasure to terror is only |
a step. The widest confusion imag- |
Unable ensued Most OF the guests
were of the opinion that some an
archist had attempted to blow up the
house of the rich Pole. Jones and
Norton arrived Just as the smoke be-
gan to pour out from the windows. |
A crowd had already collected.
(,ro be continued in Mondays Eve
ming Starr