Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-14
THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY

and set off in haste for 40 Elm street.
The footman did not enter the house,
but hurried down the steps and SUNK
off among the adjacent shruppery'
His mission was over with.
The house in Elm street was
Braine's suburban establishment. lie
went there occasionally to hibernate,
as it were, to grow new skin when
close pressed. The caretaker was
man rightly called Samson. He was
bruiser of the bouncer type.
| 1t was fast work for Braine to gel
out there If the man disguised as a
! footman played his cards badly
| Braine would have all his trouble FOR
nothing. He disguised himself with
| that internal cleverness which had
| long since made him terror to the
police, who were looking for ten diff
| ferent men instead of one. He knew
that Norton would understand in
stantly that he was not the general,
but, on the other hand, he would not
know that he was addressing Braine
| So the arch -conspirator waited, and
so Norton arrived and was usherec
| into the room. single glance was
enough to satisfy the reporter, al
! ways keen eyed and observant.
81 wish to see General Henderson,
he said politely.
General Henderson is doubtless al
his own house"
"Ah."
Don't be alarmed-yet. sale
Braine smoothly.
81 am not alarmed" replied Norton
"I am only chagrined. Since Genera
Henderson is not to be found here,
must be excused"
II will excuse you presently"
"Ahi | begin to see"
Indeed" Knocked Braine.
L have tumbled or walked into a
trap"
"a keen mind like yours must haYe
recognized that fact the moment yeu
discovered | was not the general"
IT am indebted to the Black HUH
dred?" coolly.
Precisely We do not wish you i'll,
Mr.. Norton"
ITO be sure, no!' ironically. What
with falling safes, poisoned cigarettes,
and so forth, | can readily see that
you have my welfare at heart. What
puzzled me was the suddenness with
which these affectionate signs
ceased"
You're man of heart" said Braine
with genuine admiration. These af-
fectionate signs, as you call them,
ceased because for the time being
Won ceased to be menace. You have
become that once more, and here you
are!"
And what are you going to do with
me now that you have got me?'
There win be two courses" Braine
reached into drawer and drew out a
thick roll of billsn There are here
something like $4,000"
quite tidy sum; enough FOR a
chap to get married on"
! The two men eyed each other
steadily And In his heart Braine
| sighed. For he saw In this young
| mans eyes incorruptibility
at is yours on one condition" said
Braine, reaching out his foot stealth
iIy toward the button which would
| summon Sampson.
"And that is" interpolated Norton,
that | join the Black Hundred"
cor the great beyond, my lad" took
ND Braine, his voice crisp and cold.
Norton could not repress a shiver.
Where had he heard this voice before.
. Brainel He stiffened.
Murder in cold blood?" he man
aged to say.
Indefinite imprisonment. Choose"
1T have chosen"
"H'ml" Braine rose and went over
to the sideboard for the brandy. I'm
going to offer you drink to show you
that personally there are no hard
feelings. You are In the way. After
you, our friend, Jones. This brandy
is not poisoned, neither are the
glasses. Choose either and I'll drink
first We are all desperate men, Nor
ton; and we stop at nothing. Your
life hangs by a hair. Do you know
whore Hargreave is?"
Norton eyed his liquor thoughtfully
do you know where the money is?''
Norton smelt of the brandy.
1T am sorry" said Braine. II should
have liked to win over head like
yours"
Norton nonchalantly took out his
watch, and that bit of bravado per
haps saved his life. In the case of his
watch he saw brutal face behind
him. Without tremor, Norton took
up his glass.
II am sorry to disappoint you," he
said; but ! shall neither join you nor
go to by-by"
Quick as bird-shadow above grass
he flung the brandy over his shoulder
into the face of the man behind
Sampson yelled with pain Almost al
the same instant Norton pushed over
the table, upsetting BrAine with 1t
Next he dashed through the curtains
slammed the door, and fed to the
street, very shaky about the knees, Il
the truth ie to be told.
II General Henderson's views upon the
latest Balkan muddle were missing
from the Blade the following morn.
ing. Norton, instead of returning tc
the generals and fulfilling his assign.
ment like a dutiful reporter, hurried
out to Riverdale to acquaint Jones
with what had happened. Jones was
glod to see him safe and sound.
THAT new reporter started the
| game" he said. Il overheard a word
or two while he was talking in the
| booth All uOItr faIanhnna hOofha re