The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-10
CHAPTER XIII.
The Secret Of the Million.

his captors. The police who had fol-
lowed her were recalled to pursue one
of the lesser rogues. This left Olga
free for a moment. She stole out and
down as far as the landing.
Servan, the Russian agent, stood
waiting for the taxicab to roll up to
the porte cochere for himself, Braine,
and Vroon. Norton had taken Flor
ence by the hand, ostensibly to con-
duct her to the million. Suddenly
Braine made a dash for liberty. Nor
ton rushed after him. Just as he
reached Braine a shot was heard.
Braine whirled upon his heels and
crashed to the floor
Olga, intent upon giving injury to
Norton. whom she regarded equally
with Hargreave as having brought
about the downfall, had hit her lover
instead. With cry of despair she
dashed back into Florence's room,
quite ready to end 1t all. She raised
the revolver to her temple, shuddered,
and lowered the weapon; so tena-
ciously do we cling to life.
Below they were all stunned by the
suddenness of the shot. Instantly
they sought the fallen mans side and
a hasty examination gave them the
opinion that the man was dead. Hap
PLY a doctor was on the way, Servan
having giveHa call, as one of the
Black Hundred had been badly
wounded.
But what to do with that mad wom-
an upstairs? Hargreave advised them
to wait The house was surrounded;
she could not possibly escape save by
one method, and perhaps that would
be the best for her. Hargreave
looked gravely at Norton as he Of
fered this suggestion. The reporter
understood: the millionaire was will
ing to give the woman a chance.
And you are my father" said
Florence. still bewildered by the amaz-
ing events. But don't understand"
her gaze rowing from the real Jones
to her father.
II don't doubt it, child" replied Har-
greave.@'I1 explain. When l hired
Jones here, who is really Jedson of
Scotland Yard, did SO because we
looked alike when shaven 1t was
Jedson here who escaped by the bal
loon; it was Jedson who returned the
five thousand to Norton; it was jed
son who was wounded in the arm:
it was he who watched the doings Of
the Black Hundred and kept me req
sonably well informed myseA
guarded you, my child. Last night.
unbeknown to you, left, and the real
Jones-for 1t is easier to call him
that-took my place"
"And never saw the differencei"
exclaimed Florence
THAT is natural" smiled the ia
ther. you were thinking of Norton
here instead Of me. Eh?"
Florence blushed
well, why not? Here, Nortoni"
The millionaire took F1orence's hand
and placed It in the reporters at
seems that I've got to lose her after
all. Kiss her, man; in heavens name,
kiss her!"
And Norton threw his arms around
the girl and kissed her soundly, care
less of the fact that he was observed
by both enemies and friends
Suddenly the policeman who had
been standing by the side of Braine
ran into the living room.
He's alive! Braine is alive, He
Just stirred"
What" exclaimed Norton and
Hargreave, in a single breath.
Yes. sir! 1 saw his hands move.
It's good thing we sent for a doc
tor. He ought to be along here about
now"
Even as he spoke the bell rang.
and they all surged out into the hall,
forgetting for the moment all about
the million. Olga hadn't killed the
man, then? The doctor knelt beside
the stricken man and examined him
He shrugged.
'fWill he live?"
Certainly. A scalp wound that
laid him out for few moments. He'll
be all right in few days. He was
lucky. A quarter of an inch lower
and he'd have passed in his checks"
Good" murmured SerTan. so
our friend will accompany me back
to good Russia? Oh. Wen be kind to
him during the journey. Have him
taken to the hospital ward at the
Tombs. Now for the little lady up
stairs"
A moment later Braine opened his
eyes and the policeman assisted him
to his feet. Servan with nod or
dered the police to help the wound
ed man to the taxicab which had
just arrived. Braine, now wholly
conscious, flung back one look of
hatred toward Hargreave; and that
was the last either Florence or her
father ever saw OF Braine of the Black
Hundred-a fine specimen of man
gone wrong through greed and an In
ordinate lust for revenge.
The policeman returned to Hss-
greave.
Its pretty quiet upstairs" he sug-
gested. Don't you think, sir, that
I'd better try that bedroom door
AGAIN.
We'll. IL you must" assented Har-
greave reluctantly. But don't be
rough with her If you can help it"
For Braine he had no sympathy.
For eighteen years to have ridden
and driven and sailed up and down
the world, always confident that SOON
er or later that demon would ind
himl He had lost the childhood Of
his daughter. and now he was to lose
her In her womanhood. And because
of this implacable hatred the child's
mother had died in the Petrograd
prison fortress. But what an enemy
| the man had beenl He, Hargreave,
had needed all his wits constantly;
he had never dared so to sleep ex-
cept with one eye open. But in en-
| ploying ordinary crooks Braine had
/ at length overreached himself, and