The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-25
M[UL|ONEOuAR MYST[RY11 Nc &ze sEE4a

some Russian. When she left the house Jone.
rose from his hiding place and proceeded to
follow her. The result Of this espionage on
the part Of Jones win BE- sssn presentiy.
Meantime Jim went down 10 the once ADD
lied chserfully about his missing the general.
Whether the city editor believed him or mot h
of no matter. Jim went over to his desk.
From the corner Of his eye he could 80 0regg
scribbling away. He never raised his head ~
Jim sat down to read his mail. After awhile
Gregg rose and left the ONCE; and Of course,
Jim left shortly afterward. Wien the new
conner saw that he was being followed. he
smiled and continued on his way. This Nor
ton chap was suspicious. All the better His
suspicious should be made the hook to land
him with. By and by the man turned into .
drug store and Jim loitered about till he re-
appeared. Gregg walked with brisker steps
now. 1t was his intention to lead Norton on
a wild goose chase for an hour 50, long
enough to give Braine time to arrange q vel
come at another house.
Norton kept perhaps half q block In tbs
rear Of his man all the while But for this
caution he would have witnessed little pan.
tomime that would have put him wholly upon
his guard. Turning q corner Gregg all but
bumped into the countess. He was quick
enough to place q finger on bis lips and
motion bis head toward a taxicah. Olga
hadn't the least idea who was coming around
the corner. but she hailed the cab and was
of in it befors Jim swung around the corner
Jones, who had followed the countess for
something over an hour and . half, hugsed =
doorway. What now? lie 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 hen Jim turned the cor
ner. Jones cast wistful glance at the van
isi.ing cab OF the Russian, and decided to
shadow the shadower--in other words. follow
the reporter. to see that nothing serious BE-
fell him.
Sometimes Norton was -overeager. several
times during his tits with the Black Hundred
he had gone outside the boundary Of caution
and paid for 1t. He did this very thing today.
and but for Jones he might have Jared ex-
tremely i'll.
Braine swore that this Tina Norton should
suffer. He would wiring the truth out Of the
reporter. the truth - far o. he knew- II.
Braine was positive that Norton knsw one or
the other Of two things: HarEfeavs's where
sbouts and whether or not the nystSrious
box contained the million.
The lurer finally paused at door. opened
1t with key. and swung 1t behind him. very
careful, however. not to spring the latch.
Naturally Jim was nightly pleased when lie
found the door coald BE- opened. When Jones.
not far behind, saw him open the door. he
started to call OUT warning, but thought the
better OF It. II Norton was walking into
trap 1t vas far better that be. Jones, should
remain outside Of it. II Jim did not appear
after.a certain length of time, he would start
an investigation 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 a. :" the punish
ment room" Here traitors paid the reckon.
ing and we're never more heard OF. Into this
room Jim was unceremonionsly dropped when
Braine found that he could get no informa-
ton from the resoute reporter.
The. room did not look sinister, bat for an
that it possessed the faculty Of growing
smaller and smaller, slowly swiftly ~ the
man above AT the lever willed. When Jim
was apprised of this fact. he ran madly about
in search of some mode OF escape. knowing
fun well in Lis heart that he should not nnd
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 1t. And they had led him
there BY the nose into tie bargain
Twenty minutes passed, and Jones Con-
cluded 1t was time for him to act. He went
forward to try the door, but this tims II was
locked Jones. however. was not WITHOUT ~
source. The house next door wss vacant, ard
be found way into this, finally rsaeAing -
roof. From this he Jumped 10 tAs etAsr rssG
found the scuttle open. and crspt dows ~
stairs, fight after flight till IL vhif =
motor arrested him.
Conspirators are often overeaesfs -. -
intent were the rascals upon ths business q
band that they did not NOTES he door cpea
slowly. 1t did not take tn butisf more tha4
\ moment to realize that hi friend and any
was near certain death. Win IN eatA -
sprang into the room, gave Brains puaA
which sent him down to join the victim. and
pitched into the otlser two. II was hatas
royal while 1t lasted. Jones knocked down
one Of them, yelled to Norton. and kicked -
rope he saw down into ~ pit Ons ssd q
this rope was attached - ring -. IT, wsll