The Spectator., 1916-05-19
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 d recluSe Tor eighteen years Hargreave accidental ly meets Braine leader of the Black Hun dred. Knowing Braine will try to get him, he escapes from his own home by bal loon. Before escaping he writes a letter To the girls school where eighteen years before he mySteriOusly left on the door step his baby daughter. Florence Gray
 That day Hargreave also draws Sl.0OO, 600 from the bank. but il is reported that this dropped into the sea when the balloon he escaped in was punctured Florence arrives from the girls school. Countess Olga, Braine's companion. visits her and claims her as a relative. Two bogus de- teetives call. but their plot Is foiled by Norton, a newspaper man. After failing Tn their first attempt the Black Hundred trap Florence. They ask her for money. but she escapes, again foiling them. Nor ton and the countess call on Florence the next day, once more safe at home The visitors having gone, Jones removes section Of flooring and from cavity takes box. Pursued by members of the Black Hundred, he rushes to the water front and succeeds in dropping the box into the sea- Accomplices of Braine kid nap Florence and hurry her off to sea. She leaps overheard and is picked up in dazed condition by fishermen. Braine, disguised as her father. takes her back to sea with him. Florence sets fire to the boat and is rescued by a ship on which Norton has been shanghaied. Concealed above the rendezvous of the Black Hun dred. man learns of the recovery of the box from the sea by sailor and of Its subsequent return to the bottom of the sea, and he quickly communicates the fact to Jones. A duplicate box is planted and later secured by the band. but before its contents are examined the box mys- tertously disappears. Finding himself checkmated at every turn, Braine endeav- ors to enmesh the HGrgreaVe household in the law in order to gain free access to the house. The timely discovery of the plot by Norton sets the police at the heels of the pack and results in raid on the gangs rendezvous, which. however. proves to be barren of results. Following q tcle- phone message Jones received from mysterious person whom he addressed as
 sir" Florence is again lured from her home and taken out to sea. Through NOrtOn's daring and skill as an aviator she is rescued and returns to her home in time to confront an agent of the Black Hundred. Through trcacherY in the liar greave household Florence is delivered in- to the hands of an unscruDulous doctor Nho Is in the pay of the Black Hundred, From the faithful Susan Norton learns that the doctor has declared that Flor ence is stricken with smallpox and that he is preparing to spirit her away. By act ing quickly the reporter, with the aid of Susan. succeeds in eNtriCatinC the young woman from the danger after an encoun- ter with members of the gang The Black Hundred begin to fear Norton and plan to dispose of him. Again the unnotced butler shows his hanE by rcscuing Nor ton and defeating Braine Braine and Countess Olga plan a daring attempt to capture Florence and Norton at a masked ball given by Princess ParlCVa They de- feat their own plan by overanxiety. And still the golden tinted bank notes repose tranquilly in their hiding place.