Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1915-06-04
(Copyrighs, io14, By harold Macorsshj
CHAPTER II.
The Masters Man.

Vroon faced Hargreave's butler SOM
berly. The one reason why Braine
made this man his lieutenant was be-
cause Vroon always followed the let
ter Of his instructions to the final Pc
Rod; he never sidestepped or added
any frills or innovations of his own,
and because Of this very automatism
he rarely blundered into a trap. If
he failed it was for the simple fact
that the master mind had overlooked
some essential detail The organiza-
ton Of the Black Hundred was almost
totally unknown to either the public
or the police. 1t Is only when you fail
that you are found out.
1.-THE patrolman has been trussed up
like you," began Vroon. "If they find
him they will probably find you. But
before that you will grow thirsty and
hungry. Where did your master put
that money!"
HE carried 1t with him."
s'Why didn't you call for help?"
"The houses on either side are too
far away. might yell till doomsday
without being heard. They will have
heard the pistol shots: but Mr.. Har-
greaves was always practicing In the
backyard"
"The people In those two houses
have been called out of town. The
servants are OFF for the night"
Very interesting" replied Jones.
staring at the rug.
Your master Is dead"
Jones' chin sank upon his breast
His heart was heavy. heavier than 1t
had ever been before.
Your master left will?"
Indeed, could not say"
I'VE can say. He has still three or
four millions In stocks and bonds.
What he took to the bottom of the sea
with him was his available cash."
Il know nothing about his finances.
l was his butler and valet"
Vroon nodded. Come, men; it is
time we took ourselves of. Put things
in order; close the safe. You poor
jackals. l always have to watch you
for outbreaks of vandalism. OF with
you'll"
He was the last to leave. He stared
long and searchingly at Jones. who
felt the burning gaze but refused to
meet 1t lest the plotter see the fire in
his. The door closed. For fully an
hour Jones listened but did not stir.
They were really gone. He pressed
his feet to the Ioor and began 10 hitch
the chair toward the table. Half way
across the intervening space he crum-
pied in the chair, almost completely
exhausted. He let q quarter of an
hour pass, then made the final attack
upon the remaining distance. He sue
ceeded in reaching the desk, but he
could not have stirred an inch farther
The hair on his head was damp with
sweat and his hands were clammy.
When he felt strength returning ne
lifted the telephone off the hook with
his teeth.
Central, central! Call the police
to come to this number at once; Har<
greaves house, Riyerdale. Tell them
to break In
After what seemed an age Of wait
ing to the exhausted prisoner. with
crashing and smashing Of doors. the
police appeared in the room.
Where's your gag?" demanded the
first officer to reach Jones' side.
There wasn't any"
-, x,,hx, d;dx,& x1~xx xv1SY Co. Z. ~
1.-THE thieves lured our neighbors
away from town. The patrolman who
walks this beat Is bound and gagged
and is probably reposing, back OF the
billboard In the next block"
Murphy. you watch this man while
I make call on the neighbors," said
the officer who seemed to be In au-
thority. When he returned he was
frowning seriously. WED better tele-
phone to the precinct to search for
Dennison. There's nobody at home In
either house and there's nobody back
of the billboards. Unite the man"
When this was done, the officer said:
Nov, tell us what's happened: and
don't forget any Of the details"
Jones told a simple and convincing
story; 1t was SO simple and convinc-
ing that the police believed 1t without
question.
well, II that amt the limit Did
you hear any autos outside?"
II don't recollect," said Jones,
stretching his legs gratefully. "Why?"
1.-THE auto bandits held up bank
messenger today and got away with
twenty thousand. Whenever a man
draws down a big sum they seem to
know about 1t. And say. Murphy, call
up and have the river police look out
for new-fangled airship. Your mas
ter may have been rescued" turning
to Jones.
IF were only sure OF that, sir"
When the police took themselves on
Jones proceeded to act upon those
plans laid down by Hargreave early
that night. When this was done he
sought his bed and fell asleep. the
sleep of the exhausted. When Har
greave picked up Jones to share his
fortunes. he had put his trust In no