davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26

But we can't 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 OF 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 little. my dear
woman, it is fifty-fifty. While have a
hold on her, it is not quite 30 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 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 circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26
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-
c!use for eighteen years. Hargreave ac-
cidentally meets Braine. leader of the
Black Hundred. Knowing Braine will
home by balloon. Before escaping he
writes letter to the girls school where
eighteen years before he mysteriously
Florence Gray. That day Hargreave also
draws 100000 from the bank but it is
reported that this dropped into the sea
tured Florence arrives from the girls
school. Countess Olga, Braine's compan-
lon. Visits her and claims her a rela-
I'VE TWO bogus detectives call, but their
plot ID foiled by Norton, a newspaper
man By brIbing the captain of the ORR
ent. Norton lays trap for Braine and
ms ms gang; Countess Olga also visits the
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 and
from 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. Accomplces
of Braine kidnap Florence while she is
shopping and hurry her off to sea- She
leaps overheard and is picked up in a
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 is
rescued by ship on which Norton has
been shanghaied. 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, man learns of the recovery
from the sea of the box of Jewels by |
sailor and of its subsequent return to the |
bottom of the sea, and he quickly COM |
nunicates the fact to Jones. A duplicate |
box Is planted and later secured by the |
band. but before its contents are exam |
tned 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 connvance
of the countess and Braine the new head |
Is thoroughly Inundated. Finding him /
self checkmated at every turn Braine en-
beavers 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 and results in a raid
on the gangs rendezvous, which, how
ever. proves to be barren of results
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26

was being hoodwinked. Why should
she entertain any suspicion? This
doctor, who seemed kindly and benev-
olent. who had prescribed for Susan
and benefited her, why should she
doubt him?
In heavens lame, tell me what is
the natter" she pleaded.
Stay here for little while and
I'll be back. Under no circumstances
leave your room till return"
He paced out into the hall, to meet
the frantic Susan.
I'VE must see the manager at once"
he replied to her queries. And we
must be extremely quiet about 1t.
There must be no excitement. You
had better go to your room. You
must not go into 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 the
manager was summoned.
II take it, began the doctor lowly,
that contagious disease. if it be
came known among your guests,
would create good deal of disturb
ance?"
Disturbance Good heavens, man,
it would ruin my business for the
whole season." exclaimed the astound-
ed manager.
Il am sorry, but this young ladys
companion has been stricken with
smallpox"
The manager fell back against his
desk, his jaw fallen Susan turned
as white as the marble top.
THE only way to avoid trouble is
to have her conveyed Immediately to
some place where she can be treated
properly. Not word to any one now;
absolute secrecy or panic
The manager was glad enough to
agree.
she is not dangerous at present
but it Is only a matter of few hours
when the disease will become virulent
If you will place a porter before Miss
door till | make arrange
ments to take her away, that will
matters"
Smallpox! Susan wandered aimIess
ly about, half out of her mind with
terror. There was no help against
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26

Susan caught Florence's hand and
pressed 1t.
Would you like to go with her,
Florence?" asked Jones, with a shy
glance at the strange doctor. The shy
glance was wasted. The doctor evinced
no sign that 1t mattered one way or
the other to him.
1T is nothing very serious now,"
he volunteered But it may turn out
serious If 1t is not taken care OF at
once"
What is the trouble?" inquired
Jones, who was growing fond of SUI
san.
Weak heart Sunshine and good
sea air will strengthen her up again.
No, moi" 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
cause 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. If 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 one of the
two who had signed the document
which had accredited Florence with
insanity and had all but succeeded
in making supposition 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
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
fie 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 |
1nawares. 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
ind went to bed tired but happy. No
,ne bothered them. If some stray re-
porter encountered their signatures on
he hotel register, he saw nothing to
excite his reportorial senses All this, /
If course, was due to Norton's policy
If keeping the affair out of the pa
,ers.
Following Jones' orders, they made
riends with none. Those about the
lotel-especially the young men
vhen they made any advances were
olitely snubbed. Every night Flor
nee would write to her good butler
o report what had taken place dur
1g the day, and he was left to judge
Or himself if there was anything to
rouse his suspicious. He, of course,
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26

l always said that you had gray mat.
ter IL you cared to exert yourself"
Thanks" replied the doctor dryly.
I'll drop down there tomorrow, II
you say so, ostensibly to see the other
patient 1t will make deuce of dis
turbance."
Not If you scare the hotel people"
That is what propose to do. They
will not want such a thing known.
1t would scare every one 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
1t to me. I've tried to do generals
work without aids. Olga, does any one
watch me come and go any more?"
NO; I've watched dozen nights.
The man has gone. Either he found
out what he wanted or he gave up tie
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26

believed the two were covertly guard
ed by the detective he had sent after
them
When Braine called up Olga he
found his doctor there.
We'll. what's the news?' he asked.
Il had better run down and inquire
how the young lady is progressing,
said the doctor, who was really first
rate surgeon and who had performed
a number of skilled operations upon
various members OF the Black Hun
dred anent their encounters with the
police I've got Miss Florence where
you want her. It's up to you now"
she ought to be separated from her
companion. We have left them alone
for a whole week, SO Jones will not
worry particularly. A mighty curious
thing has turned up Before Har-
greave's disappearance not dozen
persons could recollect what Jones
looked like. He was rarely ever in
sight. What do you suppose that
Don't ask me-" shrugged the man
Of medicine. Il shouldn't worry over
Jones'"
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26
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 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 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-
rjnes, flying machines, conduct 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 circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26
Copyright. 1914. By Harold MacGrath)

Give you a million, knowing you all to
be 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 never touch a penny of
it, 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 l could have put my
hands on the money I'd have given it
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26

of Juggling it off all by herself" said
Braine.
The doctor laughed.
Olga" went on Braine, "yon must
look at It as do; that it 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.
THAT is not possible" Braine de-
clared without hesitation.
We'll, it begins to look that way
to me. We've never made move yet
that hasn't been blocked"
Pure luck each time, l tell you;
the devils own luck always at the
critical moment, when everything
seems to be in our hands. Now, we
want Florence, and we've tried
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 and
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 it.
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26
CHAPTER XVI.

Treachery 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 seen and been of life
since she Joined the great detective
| force, Lady's maid, cook, ship stew
| ardess, flash woman, actress, clerk,
and 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
ence 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 chair, her head in her hands.
why, Susan. what's the matter?"
cried Florence
Il don't know what is the matter,
dear, but l haven't felt well 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, 1 don't know
anything about doctors hereabouts."
Il know a good one, Miss Florence.
Shall send for him."
do; Susan is ILL.,"
Jones was not prepared for treach-
cry in his own household; so when
he heard that 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 doctor
in the seven 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 an out-of-doors [
little body. The seashore would bring
her about In no time.N The doctor sug-l
gested Atlantic City because of its I
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 Il
'han't leave my girl even IL am sick
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26

Florence Falls Into 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.. Nortonl" she gasped
whats the trouble?" Instant,
alert
Florence has the smallpox"
"Impossiblel Come with me-
But the porter, having had ths
strictest orders from the manager, re
fused to let them into Florence'i
room.
Never mind, Susan. Come along
Out of earshot of the porter he said:
my room is directly above Florence's
Well see what can be done. Thii
smells of the Black Hundred a mile
off. Smallpox Only yesterday shs
wrote me that she never felt better
Have you wired Jones?"
81 never thought to-"
Then / shall Our old friends art
at work again"
"But it's the same doctor who sem
me down here"
Norton frowned.
What followed all appeared in thu
reporters story, as written three
months later. He and Susan went vi
to his room, raised the flooring. cut
through the ceiling, and with the fire
escape rope dropped below. Ono
glance at Florence's tear-stained face
was enough for him. Norton's subse
quent battle with the doctor and hil
accomplices made very interesting
reading. Their escape from the hotel
their flight, their encounter with one
Of the gang in the road, and Flor
snce's blunder into the bed OF quick
sand, gave a succession Of thrills to
he readers OF the Blade.
And all this while the million 40
,umulated dust, layer by layer. Per
laps an occasional hardy roach
scrambled over the packets, no doubt
attracted by the peculiar odor Of the
nix.
frO BE CoNTINUED)
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26

Nothing is done well enough fol-
the present which is not well enough
for all time. The idea that imperfeo
tions are OF no consequence now, and
that the crooked lines can be straight
ened, and the rough corners smoothed
OF by and by has put many workss
in the failure class
The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26

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 line of this
exploit for his paper!
Jones heard the bell. 1t was the
agent from the Black Hundred. He
smiled jauntily.
well, old fox, we've cornered you
1t last, haven't we? 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 circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-02-26
Uncle Eben.

de young man dat has good p
an = good ma" said Uncle Eben
don't need to 90 no furder in braa
gin bout his ancestry"
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-06-10

gave US ten millions too much raise in
1913 and should have allowed the l9l4
assessment 70 stand without change.
Take the case of the Burlington, the
one of most interest To this section as
regards school taxes, and in 1912 this
road was assessed at SIS, 5i5 per mile,
in 1918 at s44, 9J3 and in 1914 at $40, $50.
/ The Burlington's total valuation in
1912 for Weld county was 81, ,39J, ,070,
last year it was s5,O3l, 45o. The Tax
Commission may have faiied to do its
whole duty, but it is entitled to have
the facts stated to the people.
In the taee OF the anove facts, as
given out by the Tax Commission, how
can MIR. Mumper state as he does above
that the Commission has doubled ane
tax on land, By boosting land and un-
derassessing railroads.. Cettainly,
Mr., Mumper viii admit, upon sober.
second thot, that this quoted statement
is a gross exaggeratlon.
We wish Mr. Mumper success in his
efforts 10 get the railroads upon a
+ proper and right valuation, but it
seems to US that he should give the
Commission credit for going part way
IN the right direction, and urge them
to 60 the full way.
AnJtner thing which we have never
been able to understand is why Mr.
Mumper seeks to defend the Denver
assessment of 1913, and joined with
the Denver authorities, if not acting
at least by moral support, in their eff
orts TO avoid the raise ordered for that
county by the Tax Commission. The
Tax Commission that year ordered
Denver valuations increased 40 per
cent, and stillwith that increase Dem
yer paid sl9.90Sl Ia less state tax,
than they did the preceding year.
If Denver paid less state tax, other
counties would have had to pay more.
Doss MIR. Mumper really feel that Den
yer pays too much? His statement
about Pueblo County and Weld CON-
parative values seems to US to he
placed stronger than the facts. Ac-
cording to Commission reports Weld
County per capita wealth is $4,000
outside of railroad valuations or 81, 800
including railways. If Pueblo is fifty
per cent poorer, that would reduce
Pueblo to $3.50 or $3.50, but os a matter
of fact they have 81, 900 or ST.. In
steod of fifty per cent poorer, about
SIS per cent poorer. 1t is doubtless a
mistake, but shows that Mr.. Mumper;s
zeal makes him an unsafe guide when
we are looking for facts. 4
i There are other facts brought out II
in Mr. Mumper's letter which are not
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-06-10

OF interest AS tax propositisn, but do
sound peculiar when we recall some Of
the arguments and statements made
before the Senate committee OF county
division matters last winter by Banker
Petrikin and others.
MIR. Mumper says that transfer val.
ues of lands are from Is to rs per cent
above true values. He also asserts
that their lands will not pay income on
one half the valuations that he has
placed upon them. Mr.. Petrikin thot
that our dry lands were on inflated val
lies, that they were not worthy of
'one dollar, no not even one cent of
credit as security for loans. From
Mr.. Mumper's statement, it would
seem that Mr.. Petrikin shoud lend his
efforts to correcting inflated values
nearer home qefore he launches his
javeins at the dry lands be has no,
seen for over four years.
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-06-10
School District Conditions

False rumors some times get into cir
culatlon from misunderstanding and do
untold harm.
If there are any facts that should be
known in regard 10 conditions in this
school district. we want them known.
We have Tried 10 give all the facts that
seemed to US material, but our interest
in the matter may make US prejudiced.
II any one, either for or against The
bends, knows of any facts that should
be stated, we will willingly give them
space to publish them in The Enter.
prise. The paper Is your servant. to
give information and all the inf0rma-
tion, whether ii happens to be what we
wish or not.
We have heard that report has said
that this district is already deep in
debt.
This is mistake. District 81, does
not owe Que cent. It has a substantial
balance Of nearly $1,000 in cash in the
treasury.
The bonds viii be sold at par and
without cxpcnce to the district.
The annual interest charge on the
bonds for fifteen years will not exceed
over La mills il valuations remain as
they were in 1914. We all expect they
will be increased the addition Of :. large
amount Of decided land.
The Raymer enterprise., 1915-06-10
THURSDAY. JUNE 10. 1916.
Statement Of the Ownership

Management etc, teopired.by the act Of Aug.
pst q. 1912, Of The Rayiner Enterprise published
m'ekly At New Raymer. Cola for April lat, 1915.
Name of ppst-gillra Address
EiitoF O. u Gtpgess AeG KaymeF- Colo.
Managing Editor. { r Caves
bisiness MANAGER. { r Crave
Publisher. G r. GrayeE
Owner .-.4 .. e. T. Graves
Known b7ndhoilefs. mortgages. snd other Fe.
eurity holders. holding per cent or more Of total
amount Of bonds mortgages, or other seeusities:
None.
C. r. Graves
Sworn TO and srbaeriicI before ne this sIh
day 0f June 1915.
lneobreyt n Nix.
Notary Public Weld Co, Colo.
Ny ronu.isaiun expired Oct. sth, 1913.