The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-09-10
The Million f IT,
Dollar Mystery


of the sound, under the path OF the
balloon, He proceeded. then. TO take
a most minute range. II would re.
quire money and partners; but half
a loaf would be far better than no
loaf at all: and he was determined TO
return 10 New York TO find backing.
Finding Is keeping, ON land or sea.
Nov II happened that his favorite
grog shop was a cheap saloon across
the way from the headquarters OF
The Black Hundred and Vroon oc-
easionally dropped in. for he often
picked up valuable bit OF maritime
news. Dunkers was an old friend OF
the barkeeper. and he proceeded to
pour and guzzle down his throat a
very poor substitute for whiskey. He
became communicative, He Dragged.
He knew where there was a million,
and all he needed was a first-class
diving bell. A year from now he
would not be drinking cheap whiskey:
he'd be steering course up and down
broadway and buying wine when he
was thirsty. He was no miser. But
he had TO have a diving bell; and
where the blue devil could be get one
with s12 and an Ingersoll watch In
his pocket?
From his table vroon made a sign
which the bartender understood. Then
he rose and approached Dunkers.
II own pretty good diving appa-
ratus," he said. "If you've got the
goods, I'll take chance on a fifty
fifty basis" Vroon did not believe
there was anything back OF this talk;
but Il always paid to dig deep enough
to find out slave drink: and. Bill.
give us a real whiskey and none Of
your soap-lye. Now, let's hear your
yarn"
II don't know YOU" said Dunkers,
with drunken caution. How is It.,
Bill?" turning to the bartender.
He's the goods. Jim. You've heard
of Wyant & Cor"
Sure rye heard o. them. Best div
in apparatus they is"
We'll, this gent here Is Mr..
Brooks, general manager for Wyant
& Co. I can o. K him.
Vroon threw an appreciative glance
at the bartender. He was not affil.
lated with The Black Hundred. but
he had often aided vroon in minor az
fairs.
"All right. II yuh say so. Bill. Well,
here's tn yarn"
And when he had done. vroon
smoked quietly without speaking.
Don't yuh believe it?' demanded
Dunkers. truculently.
"But 600 feet OF water, In a coral
bottom, and no way OF telling just
where II fell overheard. That's a
tough proposition"
"Oh, It is. is It? I'm a sailor. can
lay my hand right over tn spot Do
yuh think I'd be fool enough { hunt
for II without perfect ranger" Dun
kers tapped his coat pocket sugges-
lively.
And vroon knew that the one thing
he wanted was there, a plan or a
drawing OF the range. So there was
another man shanghaied that night,
and his destination was Cape Town.
twenty-five days voyage by the calen-
dar.
vroon carried HIS information to the
that same night. They
would start the expedition at once,
and till this was accomplished. Har-
greave's daughter was to be immune
from attacks. Besides, II would give
Hargreave wherever he was) and the
others the idea that The Black Hun
dred had concluded to give up the
chase.
Above, with his ear to small hole,
skilfully bored through the ceiling
without permitting the plaster to fall,
knelt a man with bandaged arm.
He could never see any faces; no one
ever took of mask In this sinister
chamber. But there were voices, and
he was never going TO forget some
OF them After the meeting came to
an end, he waited an hour after. and
then stole down into the street by
the aid OF the fire escape. Later, he
entered a telephone booth and called
up Jones.
Then, one leathern and steel box,
dotted with bits OF ivory and mother
of pearl, became two; and the second
one was soaked In mud and salt wa
ter for two weeks till you could not
have told II from the original. And
that Is why Jones was able. some
weeks later, TO hide once more the
original box As for the substitute,
Just as Braine was about to use a
mallet and chisel upon II. the lights
went out. There was a wild scram-
BILE, chair OF two was overturned. !.
"The door, the door," shouted
Braine, furious.
II slammed the moment the words
left his lips. And as suddenly as they
had gone out the lights sprang up.
The box was gone. There were evi-
IDENTIFY traitors among The Black
Hundred
(Continued Monday