The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-08-08
- THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY ny H.t s;'s%

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/ Seven. A failure. mind you, will
prove unhealthy 10 all concerned, -
with a menace which made tho four
stir uneaBily.
The telephone rang. Braine
reached for the receiver.
"A man Just entered tho Har.
greave house at tho rear. Como nj
once" was the message.
Us your car outsider" Braine
asked.
I'VE are never without r."
Then let us bc off. No one will
stop us for speeding on a side
street"
Fourteen minutes By tho clock
brought the car 20 n stand az the
curb n few houses below tho liar.
greave home. The men got out.
Tho watcher ran up.
lie is atm inaide." he whis.
pcred
Good Spread out. II anybody
leaves that house. catch him. II no
runs TOO EAST. shoot We can beat
tho police"
Tho men obcyed. and tho watch.
err ran back TO his post. He was
desperately hoping tho affair would
terminate tonight He was grow.
Ing weary OF this eternal vigilance:
and II was only his fear OF the man
known as the boss that kept him
at hts post. He wanted night TO
carouse In. TO be- with tho boys.
The man for whom they were Is.
ing In wait was seen presently 20
creep cautiously round tho side OF
tho house. lie Rugged n corner
and paused. They could see the
dim outline OF his body. Tho light
f, In tho street back OF tho grounds
almost made a silhouette OF him.
By and by. ms II assured that the
coast was clear. he stole down 20
tho street
Haiti"
Instantly the prowier took 10 his
heels. Two shots rang out The
man was seen 10 stop. stagger. and
then go on desperately.
Hes HIT"
BY the time the men reached the
corner they heard the rumble OF a
motor. Ono dashed back To the
car thoy had left standing at the
curb. lie made quick work of the
job. but no was not quick enough.
sim. they gave chase. They saw
the car turn toward the city. But.
unfortunately for tho succeHs OF
tho chase. several automobiles
passed. going into town and leay.
Ing II. Checkmate.
Braine was keen enough tonight
''He IL hit: whether badly or not
remains ia be seen. We can find
that out. Drive 10 the nearest
drug store and get list OF hos
pitfalls. It's n tcn-toono shot that
we land him somewhere among the
hospitals"
But they searched the hospitals
In vain. Mono OF them had that
night received a shooting case. nor
had they heard ono reported, The
man had been Enthusiastically hit
He would not have dared risk the
loss OF time for bit OF play-acting.
Evidently no had kept his head and
sought his lodgings. To call up
doctors would be utter folly: for II
would take n week for a thorough
comblng. This was tho second time
the man had got away.
Perhaps Tn 20 blame" admit
ted Brainc. Il should have advised
Miles 10 stalk him and pot him II
he got the chance There's a mas.
ter mind working somewhere back
OF all this. and it's time | woke up
to the fact. hut you turning 20
the auto bandits. you men have
your instructions. More than that.
you have been given n free rein.
Sec that you make good. or by the
Lord. Harry, III break the four
OF you like pipe stems"
We haven't had failure yet.
spoke up one Of the men. more
courageous than his companions.
You are not holding up a bank
messenger this trip. Remember
thv. Drive me as far as Colum-
bus circle. Leave me on the side
street. between the lights. so ] can
take off this mask"
Later Braine sauntered Into Pabst
and ordered a light supper. This
nights work. more than anything
else. brought home 10 him the fact
that HIS luck was changing. For
years he had proceeded with his
shady occupations without encount'
ering any memorable failure. He
moved I'm the high world. quite un-
suspected. He had written books.
| given lectures. been made n lion OF.
all tho while laughing In his sleeve
at the gullibllity OF human nature.
But within the last two weeks he
had received serious checks. From
now on he must move with the ut.
most caution. Some one was play
ing his own game. waging warfare
unseen. A battle OF wits? So be II.
but Braine intended TO play with
rough wits. and he wasn't going to
care which way the sword cut.
He hated Stanley Hargreave with
all the hatred OF his soul. the hat.
red OF a man baked in love. And
the man was alive, defying him.
alive somewhere in this city this
very night. with bullet under his
skin.
rs everything satisfactory. sir"
he heard the head waiter say.
Satisfactory Braine repeated
blankly.
Yes, sir. You struck the table
as though displeased"
"Ohi" Then Braine laughed re-
lievedly. "If ] struck the table. II
was done unconsclously. was
thinking
BEG pardon. sirl Anything else,
sir7"
mo. Bring me the check"
|
Your master gives riding les
/ aoua7"