The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-10-17
Setting Traps for
Norton
CHAPTER XVI

three separate council chambers.
always in preparation. Hence,
when tho one In use Was burned
down. they transferred their con
feroncos 10 tho second council
chamber appointed idontically the
Same az the first. As Inferred.
! tho organization owned consider
able 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 ap-
paratus 40 necessary 10 men who
are sometimes compelled TO make
n quick getaway.
When IN. Atlantic City attempt
Was turned into flasco by Nor
tons timely arrival. Hraino deter
mined once more 10 rid himself OF
this meddling reporter Ho knew
too much. In the first place. and
In the second place Braine wanted
10 learn whether the reporter bore
"a charmed life or was just ordin.
ariiy lucky. He would attempt
nothing delicate. requiring fincsse.
lie would simply wayiay Norton
and make commonplace end OF
him. lie would disappear. this re.
porter. that would be all. and
when they found him he nigh,
or might not be recognizable
So Braine called conference.
and he and his Fellow rogucs went
over number OF erpediencisa. aud
finally agreed that the best thing
TO do would bo 20 send a man 10
the newspaper. ostenaIbly an re-
porter looking for n situation. With
this excuse be would be able TO
hang around tho city room for
three or four days Tho idea back
Of this was TO wayiay Norton on
his way 20 some assignment which
took him TO the suburbs.
All this was arranged down 10
the smallest detail. and man
whom they were quite certain Nor.
ton had not yet seen was selected
10 play the part. lie had been a
reporter once. more's the pity. so
there was no doubt % his being
able to handle his end OF the
game. happen he was given n attn.
alton.
4 want Norton. want him bad.
/ ~" declared Braine. "and woe 10
you ~ you let booze play In be.
tween you and the object OF this
move"
The man selected 10 act the re.
porter hung his head whisky had
been the origin OF his fall from
honest living. and be was not 50
calloused as not TO feel the sting
OF remorse AT times. Often he
ionged 20 leave New York. 10 start
anew elsewhere; but this man
Braine was like n terrier outside
a rat cage filled with rodents. None
ever really escaped.
More" went on Braine. II want
Norton brought 10 a. It's little
off the beat. and we can handle
him as we please When We get
rid OF this newspaper ferret,
there'll be another to eliminate
But he's fox. and n fox must
ut hfh W tFhll Nlffis
And who is that"
Jones. Jones. Jones," thunder
ed Braine. He's the live wire
But the reporter first. Jones de
Ponds lot on him. Take away
this prop and Jones will not be
so sure OF himself. There's a
man outside all this circle. and
oil tHnaA -
not served to bring him into the
circle"
"Hargreave Ia dead" said vroon
stolidly.
AS dead az am" snarled
Braine. Two men went away In
that balloon; and I'll wager ms
head that one man came back.
am beginning to put a few things
together that ! have not thought
Of before. Who knows7 THAI
ballon may have been carried ont
to sea purposely. The captain on
that tramp steamer may have lied
from beginning TO end. | tell you
Hargreavo In alive. and wherever
he ia he has his hand on all ths
wires. He has agents, too, OF
whom we know nothing about
Hang the millionl want 10 pui
my hands on Hargreave Just &c
prove that ] am the better man
He communicates with Jones, per
hhps through tho reporter; no has
bad Lac followed; Il was he who
changed the boxes. bored tho hole
In tho ceiling of tho other quarter,
and learned Heaven knows what.
IF that's the case." said vroon
why hasn't be had us apprehend
ed7"
Braine laughed heartily. Have
Mt you been able to see by this
time what his game is7 Revenge
He does not want the police &c
meddle only In tho smaller affairs
He wants to do away with Ms one
by one. he wants TO put terror in
to the hearts OF all OF US. KeeI
this point in your mind when yot
act. He'll never summon tho po
lice unless we make broad day
light attempt TO get possession Of
his daughter. And even then he
would make II out n plain case Of
KIDNAPPING. Elimination, that's the