davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
SYNOPSIS.

Stanley Hargreave, millionaire, after a
miraculous escape from the den of the
gang of brilliant thieves known as the
Black Hundred. lives the life of a re-
cluse for eighteen years. Hargreave &C,
Black Hundred. Knowing Braine VIII
try to get him. he escapes from his WI
home by a balloon. Before escaping ne
writes a letter to the girls school where
eighteen years before he mysteriously
left on the doorstep his baby daughter.
Florence Gray. That day Hargreave also
draws 81, 100000 from the bank. but II IS
reported that this dropped into the sea
when the balloon he escaped In was pune,
tured. Florence arrives from the girls
school,. Countess Olga, Braine's compan-
ion, visits her and claims her as a rela-
tive. Two bogus detectives call. but their
plot is foiled by Norton, a newspaper
ent, Norton lays a trap for Braine and
his gang. Countess Olga also visits the
Orient's captain. and she easily falls INTO
the reporters snare. The plan proves
abortive through Braine's good luck and
only hirelings fall into the hands of the
police. After falling in their first attempt.
the Black Hundred trap Florence. They
ask her for money, but she escapes. again
foiling them. Norton and the countess
call on Florence the next day, once more
safe at home. The visitors having gone.
Jones removes a section Of flooring ant
from a cavity takes a box. Pursued by
members of the Black Hundred, he rushes
to the water front and succeeds In drop
ping the box into the sea. Accompanies
Of Braine kidnap Florence while she Is
shopping and hurry her off to sea. She
leaps overheard and Is picked up In q
dazed condition by fishermen. The Black
Hundred locate her. and Braine. disguised
as her father. takes her back to sea with
him. Florence sets fire to the boat and 1s
rescued by q ship on which Norton has
been s~hanghaied. Norton and Florence.
safely ashore, take the train for home.
The train Is wrecked. Norton, who tries
to rescue her. is tied to the railroad
tracks. Florence saves him and finally
Jones comes to the rescue Of both. Con-
cealed above the rendezvous Of the Black
Hundred. a man learns Of the recovery
from the sea Of the box Of jewels by a
sailor and Of its subsequent return to the
bottom. Of the sea, and he quickly com
box Is planted and later secured by the
band. but before its contents are exam
tined the box mysteriously disappears.
Owing to the falling off Of contributions
to the parent organization In Russia, an
agent arrives and assumes the leader
ship Of the American branch Of the
Black Hundred. Through the connivance
of the countess and Braine the new head
is thoroughly Inundated. Finding him-
self checkmated at every turn. Braine en-
deavors to enmesh the Hargreave house
hold in the law in order to gain free ac-
cess to the house. The timely discovery
of the plot by Norton sets the police at
the heels of the pack anc results In a raid
on the gangs rendezvous, which. how
ever. proves tc be barren Of results.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

Susan caught Florence's hand and
pressed it.
Would you like to 60 with her,
Florence?" asked Jones, with a shy
glance at the strange doctor. The shy
glance was wasted. The doctor evinced
no sign that it mattered one way or
the other to him.
1T is nothing very serious now"
he volunteered. But it may turn out
serious if it Is not taken care Of at
once"
What is the trouble?" inquired
Jones, who was growing fond of Su-
san.
Weak heart. Sunshine and good
sea air will strengthen her up again.
No, mo-" as Jones drew forth his wal
let. I'll send in my bill the first Of
the month. Sunshine and sea air;
that's all that's necessary. And now.
good-day."
All very ~businesslike; not the least
u in the world for any one to
suspect that a new trap was being
set by the snarers. The maid re-
turned to the sewing room, while
Florence coddled her companion and
made much of her.
Jones was suspicious, but dig in
his mind as he would he could find
no earthly reason for this suspicion
save that this attribute was now in
stinctive, that it was always near the
top. II Susan was i'll she must be
given good care; there was no getting
around this fact. Later, he telephoned
several prominent physicians. The
strange doctor was recommended as
a good ordinary practitioner and in
good standing; and so Jones dismissed
his suspicious as having no hook to
hang them on.
His hair would have tingled at the
roots, however, had he known that
this same physician was n Of the
two who had signed the document
which had accredited Florence with
insanity and had all but succeeded
in making a supposition a fact. Nor
was Jones aware Of the fact that the
telephone wire had been tapped re-
Gently. So when he finally concluded
to permit Florence to accompany Su-
san to Atlantic City he telephoned to
the detective agency to send up a
trusty man, who was Swallowed from
the moment he entered the Hargreave
home till he started for the railway
station. He became lost in the shut
fle and was not heard from till weeks
later, in Havana. The Black Hundred
found a good profit in the shanghai
ing business.
Susan began to pick up, as they say.
the day after the arrival at Atlantic
City, due, doubtless, to the cessation
of the poison she had been taking
unawares. The two young women be-
gan to enjoy life for the first time
since they had left Miss Farlow's.
They were up with the sun every day
and went to bed tired but happy. No
one bothered them. If some stray re-
porter encountered their signatures on
the hotel register, he saw nothing to
excite his reportorial senses. All this,
OF course, was due to Norton's policy
of keeping the affair out Of the pa
pers.
Following Jones' orders, they made
friends with none. Those about the
hotel-especially the young men-
when they made any advances we're
politely snubbed. Every night Flor
ence would write to her good butler
to report what had taken place dur
ing the day, and he was left TO judge
for himself if there was anything to
arouse his suspicious. He, of course.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

But we cant stir the old fool.
We can't get him out Of that house.
I've tried to get that maid to put a
little something in his coffee, but she
stands off at that. She says that she
did as she agreed in regard to Flor
ence, but her agreement ended there.
We have given the jade five thousand
already and she is clamoring for the
balance"
Have you threatened herr" asked
Olga.
Braine smiled a little. my dear
woman, 1t is fifty-ffty. While have a
hold on her, 1t is not quite SO good as
she has on me. We are not dealing
with an ordinary servant we could
threaten and scare. No, indeed; a
shrewd little woman who desperately
wanted money. And she will be paid;
no getting out Of it. She will not
move another step, one way or the
other, after she receives the balance.
Hargreave will have a pretty steep
bill to pay when the time comes"
She has no idea where the mil
lion is?"
IF she had, she's quite capable
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
CHAPTER XVI.

T%reachery in the Household.
The maid stole into the house, won
dering if she had been seen. She
wanted to be loyal to this girl, but
she was tired of the life; she wanted
to be her own mistress, and the small
fortune offered her would put her on
the way to realize her ambition. What
had she not e and been Of life
since she Joined the great detective
force! Lady's maid, cook, ship stew
ardess, flash woman, actress, clerk,
and a dozen other employments. Her
pay, until she secured some fat re-
ward, was but twelve hundred a
year; and here was five thousand in
advance, with the promise Of five
thousand more the minute her work
was done. And it was simple work,
without any real harm toward Flor
enc as far as she was concerned.
The whole thing rested upon one diff
Guilty; would Jones permit the girls
to leave the house?
One day Florence found susan SIT
ting in a chair, her head in her hands.
why Susan, what's the matter?"
cried Florence.
Il don't know what is the matter,
dear, but I haven't felt we'll for two
or three days. I'm dizzy all the time,
l can't read or sew or eat or sleep.
Why didn't you tell me?" said Flor
ence, reproachfully: She rang for the
detective-maid. Ella, I don't know
anything about doctors h%ereabouts."
Il know a good one, Miss Florence.
Shall l send for him."
do; Susan is ILL.,"
Jones was not prepared for treach-
cry in his own household; so when
he heard that a doctor had been called
to attend Susan he was without the
least suspicion that he had been be-
trayed. More than this, there had
been no occasion to summon a doctor
in the sever years Mr.. Hargreave had
lived here. So Jones went about his
petty household affairs without more
thought upon the matter. The maid
had been recommended to him as
one of the shrewdest young women
in the detective business.
The doctor arrived. He was a real
doctor; no doubt of that. He investi-
gated Susan's condition-brought
about by a subtle though not danger.
Gus poison-and instantly recon,
mended the seashore. Susan was not
used to being confined to the house;
she was essentially IN out-of-doors
little body. The seashore would bring
her about in no time. The doctor sug.
gested Atlantic City because of its
mildness throughout the year and its
nearness to New York.
I'm afraid she'll have to go alone"
said Jones. gravely.
Il shan't stir" declared Susan II
! nan leave my girl even if l am sick
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

secret service for bringing good to
those who will never get it otherwise.
An unknown board with unknown
agents to distribute pianos to persons
who desire to play them rather than
to hear them played, college training
to those who will go to college to get
it rather than everything but train
ing, and trips to Europe for school
teachers and ministers to whom and
through whom they wilt br.ns consid-
cradle heaven to EARTH would lie the
worlds first est cha ity.-Christian
Register.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

l always said that you had gray mat
ter If you cared to exert yourself"
Thanks" replied the doctor dryly.
III drop down there tomorrow, If
you say so, %ostensibly to see the other
patient. 1t will make a deuce of a dis
turbance."
Not If you scare the hotel people"
THAT is what l propose to do. They
will not want such a thing known.
1t would scare every o away for
the rest of the season. But of course
this depends upon whether they are
honest or in the hotel business to
make money"
Again Braine laughed. Bring her
back to New York alone, Esculapius,
and a fat check is yours. Nothing
could be simpler than an idea like
this. It's a fact; no man can think
of everything, and you've just proved
it to me. I've tried to do a generals
work without aids. Olga, does any one
watch me come and go any more?'
mo; I've watched a dozen nights.
The nan has gone. Either he found
out what he wanted or he gave up the
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

For WHAT" the men asked.
For sending that paddle around a
few times"
Get into that seat, but don't touch
any of those levers" one of them
warned. "Twenty>is twenty, Jack, and
the boss is a sorehead today anyhow.
Give her a shove for the fun of it."
1t was a dumfounded aviator who
saw his %hydroplane skim the water
and a moment later sail into the air.
These swift moving days a reporter
of the first caliber is supposed to be
able to run railroad engines, subma-
rines, flying machines, conduct a war;.
able to shoot, walk, run, swim, fight,
think, go without food like a python,
and live without water like a camel.
Norton had flown many times in the
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

Of Juggling it off all by herself" said
Braine.
The doctor laughed.
"Olga," went on Braine, lyon must
look at 1t as / do; that 1t Is still in the
middle Of the game, and we have
neither lost nor won"
How do you know that Hargreave
may not have at his beck and call
an organization quite as capable If
not as large as ours?" suggested the
physician. g.
THAT Is not possible" Braine de-
clared without hesitation.
well, it begins to look that way
to me. We've never made a move yet
that hasn't been blocked"
Pure luck each time, / tell you;
tie devils own luck always at the
critical moment, when everything
seems to be in our hands. Now, we
want Florence, and we've tried a
hundred ways to accomplish this fact
and failed. The question is, how to
get her away from her companion?"
Simple enough" said the doctor
complacently.
"Out with it, If you have an idea"
The doctor leaned forward AID
whispered a few words.
We'll, I'm hanged" Braine laughed
and slapped the doctor on the
shoulder. "The simplest thing In the
world. Mad dog wouldn't be In 1t.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

IN the world. To do the most good
IN the best di ections one would need
TO be much more than wealthy; n
"ouid need % be wise, widely &C
q~ualnted, ubiquitous and invisible.
The rich M. who will stand high
est in the WORLDS esteem will be he
who devises some way OF reaching.
by direct and quite unmtchanized
ways. the liv.s, not counted among
the needy. to whom special fits for
benefits of high worth would bring to
themselves nd others the greatest
blessings. We should like to have a
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

vas n~iug hoodwinked. Why should
she entertain any suspicion? This
Goetor, who seemed kindly and beney-
client, who iad prescribed for Susan
and benefited Ter, why should she
doubt hin?
In heaven. name, tell me what is
the matter?" che pleaded.
Stay here for a little while and
III be back. ttIder no circumstances
leave your room till I return"
He paced out into the hail, to meet
the frantic Susan.
1--WE must see the manager at once"
he replied to her queries. And We
must be extremely quiet about It.
There must be no excitement. You
had better 60 to your room. You
must not go ints Miss Hargreave's.
Tell me, where have you been? Have
you been trying to do any charitable
work among the poorer classes?"
only once" admitted Susan, now
on the verge Of tears. ..
only once is sufficient. Come;
we'll go and see the manager to-
gether."
They arrived at the desk, and tho
manager was summoned.
Il take it," began the doctor lowly,
that a contagious disease, If It, be-
came known among your guests,
would create a good deal Of disturb
ance?"
Disturbance! Good heavens, man,
it would ruin my business for the
whole season." exclaimed the astound-
ed manager.
II am sorry, but this young lady's
companion has been stricken with
smallpox"
The manager fell back against hia
desk. his jaw fallen. Susan turned
as white as the marble top.
THE only way to avoid trouble ID
to have her conveyed Immediately to
some place where she a be treated
properly. Not a word to any n nowt
absolute secrecy or a panic"
The manager was glad enough to
agree.
she is not dangerous at present
but 1t is only a matter of a few hours
when the disease will become virulens
If you will place a porter before Miss
Hargreave's door till I make arrange.
ments to take her away, that will
simplify matters"
Smallpox! Susan wandered aimless-
ly about, half out Of her mind with
terror. There was no help against
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

last four years. At the moment he
called out to Florence to jump he
dropped to the water with all the skill
of an old timer and took her aboard.
And he could not use a line of this
exploit for his paper!
Jones heard the bell. 1t was the
agent from the Black Hundred He
smiled jauntily.
We'll, old fox, we've cornered you
at last. haven't we? l want that money,
or Hargreave's daughter takes another
sea voyage, and this time she will not
jump overheard. A million; and no
more nonsense"
Give me fifteen minutes to decide"
begged Jones, hoping against hope.
Fifteen seconds"
Then we can't do business. What!
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
1914, ty darold MacGrath)

Give you a million, knowing you all to
be a pack Of liars? Bring Miss Flor
ence back and the money is yours. We
are tired of fighting" As indeed
Jones really was. The strain had been
terrific for weeks.
THE money first. We don't lie any
better than you do. Fork over. You'll
have to trust us. We have no use
for the girl once we get the cash."
And you'll lever touch a penny of
1t, you blackguard!" cried Norton
from the doorway.
The agent turned to behold the re-
porter and the girl. He did not stop
to ask questions, but bolted. He never
got beyond the door, however.
Always the small fry" sighed
Jones. And If / could have put my
hands on the money I'd have given it
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

came to us So years ago. He was ny
coachman on the morning that / drove
my young bride to u new home. He
was a young Irishman, slender, tall,
1.-THE, honest, truthful, and he never
changed in all his life. He really was
with us but Is years, for he did not
90 with us to Europe, but he never re.
garded that as separation. AS the
children grew up he was their guide.
He was all honor, honesty and affec-
ton. He was with us in New Hamp-
shire last summer, and his hair vas
just as black, his eyes were just as
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

Florence Falls Into a Bed OF Quick
sand.
such a dread disease. Her Florence,
her pretty rosy checked Florence, dis
figured for life -!
Miss Susan, where is Florence?"
20, Mr.. Horton!" she gasped.
What's the trouble?" instantly
alert.
Florence has the smallpox"
Impossible! Come with me-"
But the porter, having had the
strictest orders from the manager, re-
fused to let them into Forence's
room.
Never mind, Susan. Come along"
Out of earshot Of the porter he said:
MY room is directly above F1orence's.
Well see what a be done. This
smells Of the Black Hundred a mile
off. Smallpox! Only yesterday she
wrote me that she never felt better.
Have you wired Jones?"
II never thought to-"
Then I shall. Our old friends arc
at work again"
but it's the same doctor who sent
me down here"
Norton frowned. a..
What followed all appeared in the
reporters story, as written three
months later. He and Susan went up
to his room, raised the flooring, cut
through the ceiling, and with the fire
escape rope dropped below: One
glance at Florence's tear-stained face
was enough for him. Norton's subsa-
quent battle with the doctor and his
accomplices made very interesting
reading. Their escape from the hotel,
their flight, their encounter with one
of the gang in the road, and Flor
ence's blunder into the bed Of quick
sand, gave a succession Of thrills to
the readers of the Blade.
And all this while the million &C
cumulated dust, layer by layer. Per-
haps an occasional hardy roach
scrambled over the packets, no doubt
attracted by the peculiar odor of the
ink.
CTo BE CoNTINUED.) p.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
(TO BE C~ONTINUED.)
All Must Be Well Done.

Nothing Is done we'll enough for
the present which Is not well enough
for all time. The idea that imperfec.
tons are Of no consequence now, and
that the crooked lines can be straight
ened, and the rough corners smoothed
off by and by has put pany a worker
in the failure class.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
DREW TRIBUTE FROM TWAIN
Great Humorist, Asked for His Con.
ceptlon Of a Gentleman, Named
His Coachman.

Once, upon being asked to give his
conception Of a gentleman, Mark
Twain, after a moments deep thought.
paid the following tribute to one who
after many years of faithful service
had just died-the great humorist's
coachman. Patrick McAleer.
He was never old-Patrick. He
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
IDEAS FOR THE GENEROUS
Writer Gives His Views as to How
to 30 the Most Coco In the
Best Directions.

The best charity cannot be organ
ized, cannot, indeed, be called charity.
in the usual sense Of the wor- Some
of the men whose gifts In various pub
lie directions have been most munif-
cent are in themselves not generous
men, and sons whose gifts are never
heard of are the most generous men
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

blue, his form just as straight and
his heart just as good as on the day
we first met. In all the long years
Patrick never made a mistake. He
never needed an order; he never re-
ceived a command. He knew. | have
been asked for my idea Of an ideal
gentleman, and l give it to you-Pat'
rick McAIeer."
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02

Few Others Know of II.
Many a man who says he studies to
please expends most of his effc1ts On
himself.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
Uncle e ben.

Uncle Eben.
de young nan dat has a good pa
an a good ma" said Uncle Eben,
don't need to go no furder in Drag
gin bout his ancestry"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD.

LESSON TExT-Mark 1918; Matt 2s:11-
16.
GOLDEN TEXT-Why seek We the liy-
ing among the dead? He is not here. but
Is risen.-Luke 4:5. 6.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-12-02
Spread False Tale.

IL. The Watch at the SepuIcher,
Matt. 27:62-66 and 2s:11-15. Evident
" the manner Of his death and his re-
ported prophecies as to the resurrec-
ton made an impression upon the ene-
mics of Jesus. This guard Is an e1-
pression of the ultimate a%ntagonism
of the priests and rulers. AS this, the
morn of the first day Of the week, ap-
preached the guard saw the vision OF
the angel and in Its presence became
as dead men. When later they had re-
covered they fastened into the city
and reported to the priests the fact OF
the coming Of the angel and that the
stone, upon which the seal rested, had
been removed. Bribed, they spread
abroad the tale that the disciples had
stolen his body. The f~alseness Of
such a tale is evidenced by the fact
that the rankest infidel has not the
temerity to make such a claim today.
The later lives Of these same disciples,
their heroism and their martyrdom. is
evidence Of the absurdity Of claiming
any such act on their part
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-11-19

The rather startling news comes from Smyrna, Tur
key that the Turkish forts there had fired the launch
IF the American cruiser Tennessee as was on its way
from the vessel into the harbor to arrange for the ennes
entering it, The report caused considerable anxiety in
Washington but action can be taken until the details
If the affair known 1t is possible the harbor is min
ed and that the shot fired to stop the launch and pre-
vent her destruction AT the same time the report is made
that fears entertained for the safety of Americans
well as other foreigners, as there is bitter feeling
against Christians generally and it is thought the fact
that the United States officials had been looking after the
affairs of countries at war with Turkey may have aroused
Turkish anger Still there is little chance of the United
States becoming embroed the affair and it is quite
likely Turkey will explain the matter satisfactorily as no.
thing short of actual warfare upon this country is likely
to cause us to become participant in the European hor
ror