Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-14
by HAROLD MaoGRATH.
SYNOPSIS.


Stanley Hargreave millionaire after a
miraculous escape from the den OF the gang
of brilliant thieves known as tho Black
Hundred. lives the life Of a recluse for
eighteen years. Hargreaye accidentally
meets Braine. leader of the Black Hundred.
Knowing Braine will try to get him, he
escapes from his own home by balloon.
Before escaping he writes 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 one million dollars
from the bank but II is reported that this
dropped into the sen when the balloon he
escaped In was punctured
Florence arrives from the girls school.
Countess Olga. Braine's companion visits
her and claims to he a relative. Two bogus
detectives call, but their plot IL foiled by
Norton. newspaper man.
After falling In their first attempt tho
Black Hundred trap Florence. They ask
her for money. but she escapes again TOLL
Norton and the countess call on Florence
the next day. once more safe Mt home. The
visitors having gone, Jones removes a sec
tion of flooring and from cavity takes
a box. Pursued by members Of the Blacl.
Hundred he PUSHES to the water front and
II Rra tns O in kdnap
ping Florence while she Is shopping anu
1 hurry her off TO sea. Norton receives wire,
| less later Informing him that the girl had
| leaped into the sea and been drowned;
| Florence Is picked up In dazed eonditioI
I 10y pat her and Braine disguised as hel
father. succeeds In taking her PACK 70 sea
with him Florence sets fire to the boat and
Is rescued by ship on which Norton mas
| been shanghaied -,
Concealed above the rendezvous OF this
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 eoinmoni-
Is planted 1 and and later secured by the band
but before It's contents are examined the
box mysteriously disappears
Finding himself checkmated at every turn
Braine endeavors to ennfesh the HargreaVe
household IN tho law in order to gain Tree
access to the house. The timely discovery o.
heels of the pack and results In raid on
the gangs rendezvous, which, however
Proves to be barren Of results
Following a telephone message Jones re-
ceived from a mysterious person whom ne
addressed as "sir,'' Florence Ia again iured
from her home and taken. out to sea
Through Norton's daring and skill as al
aviator she is rescued and returns TO heI
home in time to confront an agent OF the
Black Hundred.
Through treachery in the Hargreave house
hold Florence is delivered into the hands
of the INSCRIPTIONS doctor who Is In ms
pay OF the Black Hundred. From the tath-
ful Susan, Norton learns that the doctor has
declared that Florence Is stricken Win
smallpox and that he ia preparing to Split
with the aid OF Susan, succeeds in extri-
eating the young woman from the danger
after an encounter with members OF the
gang
(Continued from Mondays Evening
starr
The moment he turned away the
smile faded from Jones's face, and
with the quickness and noiselessness
of a cat he reached the side of the
booth in which Gregg believed him.
self to be secure from eavesdropping.
The half dozen words Jones heard
convinced him that Norton was
again the object of the Black Hun
dreds attention. He had seen the
mans face that memorable night,
when the balloon stopped for its
passenger Before Gregg came out
of the booth, Jones decided to over
take him and forewarn him, but I'M
fortunately the reporter was nowhere
In sight.
There was left for Jones nothing
else but to return home or follow
Gregg, when he came out. As this
night he knew Florence to be ex-
ceptionally well guarded, both within
and without the house, he decided to
wait and follow the spy.
When B.f.ine received the message
he was pleased Norton's assignment
fitted his purpose like a glove. Be
fore midnight he would have Mr..
Meddling Reporter where he would
bother no one for some time-if he
proved tractable. IL not, he would
never bother any one again. Braine
gave his orders tersely. Unless Nor
ton met with unforeseen delay,
nothing could prevent his capture.
When Norton arrived at the Hen
derson place a footman informed
him from the veranda that General
Henderson was at 40 Elm street foI
the evening, and 1t would be wise tc
call there. Jim nodded his thanks