Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-09-15
THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY
COPIES GoETaHH9 PAST SALE NEG THREE CENTS

million lay in the Bahaman waters.
It had been drawn up from the bot
tom of the sound, under the path Of
the balloon. He proceeded, then, to
take a most minute range. 1t would
require money and partners: but half
a loaf would be far better than no
loaf at all; and he was determined to
return to New York to find backing.
Finding is keeping, on land or sea.
Now it happened that his favorite
grog shop was a cheap saloon across
the way from the headquarters OF
the Black Hundred, and Vroon oc-
casionally 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 O
very poor substitute for whiskey. He
became communicative. He Dragged.
He knew where there was million,
and all he needed was a f1rst-elas3
diving bell. A year from now he
would not be drinking cheap whiskey.
he'd be steering a course up and dowa
Broadway and buying wine when ne
was thirsty. He was no miser. But
he had to have a diving bell, anu
where the blue devil could he get one
with sl2 and an Ingersoll watch in
his pocket?
tIOn his table NTuO1l fnaue q sigh
which the bartender unders TODD. Then
he rose and approached Dunkers.
IT own a pretty good diving appa-
ratus,' he said. IF you've got the
goods, I'll take a chance on fifty
fifty basis. Nroon did not believe
there was anything back of this talk;
but 1t always paid to dig deep enough
to find out. Have drink; and,
Bill. give us a real whiskey and none
of your soap-lye. Now, let's hear
your yarn"
II don't know yuh," said Dunkers,
with drunken caution. How is it,
Bill?' turning to the bartender.
He's the goods, jim. You've
heard of Wyant & Coz"
Sure I've heard o. them. Best
| divin' apparatus they is"
well, this gent here is Mr.. Brooks,
general manager for Wyant G. Co.
can o. K. him."
Vroon threw an appreeiative glance
at the bartender. He was not affili-
ated with The Black Hundred, but
he had often aided Vroon in minor
affairs.
IAN right, If yuh say SO. Bill. Well,
here's tn yarn"
And when he had done Vroon
smoked quietly without speaking.
Don't yub 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, ii is, is It? I'm a. sailor |
can lay my hand right over tn spot.
Do yuh think I'd be fool enough L
hunt for II without u perfect ranger
| Dunkers tapped his coat pocket sug-
gestively.
And vroon knew that the one thing
| he wanted was there, a plan or q
drawing of the range So there was
another man shanghaied that night,
| and his destination was Cape Town.
twenty-five days voyage by the cal
endar.
Vroon carried his information to the
organization that same night They
would start the expedition at once
and till this was accomplished, Har-
ereave's daughter was to be immune
from attacks. Besides, it 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 on,
| ever took off a mash in this sinister
chamber But there were voices, ant
he was never going to forget some o
them. After the meeting came to al