The story
“After their desperate ruse to get Florence incarcerated in a pest house had failed, as set forth in Episode 16, Braine and his fellow conspirators determine on a new plan, which gives promise of effectually removing Norton from interference with their efforts to obtain possession of the missing million. Braine’s hatred of the reporter is intense, for he has been the marplot, who again and again has defeated their well-laid schemes. Hence with him out of the way, the conspirators feel that their evil designs will be easy of accomplishment.
“In pursuance of this plan the Countess, who has received a note from Florence, accepting an invitation from her to visit a florist’s with the object of purchasing some rare exotic plants for the garden of the Hargreave mansion, cleverly forges a note to Norton. A little later, while Florence is with her at the florist’s, a messenger hands Norton the following: ‘Darling Jim: I am going to a tea at Mrs. General Aspinwall’s, No. 49 Juniper Street. Will you meet me there at four o’clock and bring me home? I’m especially anxious to see you as there are lots of things I want to talk to you about. So don’t fail me and be sure and come. Lovingly, Flo.’
“Having seen Florence only the evening before, Norton is rather surprised to receive the note, the more so as she had said nothing about this engagement, but he suspects nothing. Telephoning the Hargreave home he learns that Florence is out for the afternoon and this makes him certain that everything is all right. So it happens that when Florence returns, after bidding goodbye to the Countess, she learns from her maid that Norton has telephoned to say he will meet her in response to her note. At once she becomes frantic with the realization that he must be in desperate danger. A hurried inquiry at his office, where she learns that he has gone for the day, confirms this fear and in an agony of apprehension she bursts into tears.
“But meanwhile much has been happening. A suspicious-looking individual loitering about the Hargreave grounds attracts old Jones’ attention and he follows the man, when he leaves. Trailing him to a small house in a quiet part of town, to the butler’s great astonishment he sees Norton enter the house by the front door a few moments after the other has entered by the back. Realizing that the reporter is walking blindly into a trap, Jones, after a few minutes’ wait, walks to the back door where he gives the signal, which he had seen the conspirator give previously. He is admitted by the Countess Olga, who, her features concealed by a heavy veil, on recognizing him, struggles to prevent his entrance. There is a sound of breaking glass, muffled blows and shrieked imprecations in the room beyond, and Jones, realizing that Norton is battling for his life, brushes the Countess brusquely aside and rushes toward the sounds of strife.
“When Norton entered the house he was received by Braine, disguised as a venerable military man, who told him that Florence had just stepped out with his daughter. While they awaited her return, would Mr. Norton partake of an old soldier’s hospitality? The reporter smilingly assented. Yet there was something about the glass of wine which the servant offered him, which made him pause ere lifting it to his lips. Instead, he poised it in the air before him while his white-haired host offered a toast. And then a curious thing happened. Norton saw in the sparkling depths of the goblet in his hand, as in a mirror, the figure of a man—the same that old Jones had trailed—whose upraised hand brandished a heavy, leathern blackjack. Norton, always quick of action, without an instant’s pause dashed the wine over his shoulder into his attacker’s face and at once a desperate struggle began. One of the conspirators threw open a trap door in the floor of the room, which opened into an iron walled vault in the cellar and it was toward this that Braine and his confederates fought to force Norton.
“It was just at the instant when their efforts were successful, that old Jones burst into the room. Rushing at Braine and the pseudo servant, the other thug having been knocked out by a blow of Norton’s before they were aware of his presence, Jones tumbled them both down through the trap into which they had just forced the reporter. Then seizing a heavy tablecloth he lowered it to Norton, who had put both Braine and the other man out of action, and the reporter soon was dragged back through the trap door into the room. There was a brief struggle with the third crook, who recovering consciousness, attacked them with a knife, but he was speedily sent to join the others and Norton and Jones, thinking they had the gang all safe, went for the police. But they had forgotten the Countess Olga. Long before the two reached the police station, she has opened the secret door leading to the vault and freed her much battered comrades. When the police arrive they find that the birds have flown.”
Summary from Reel Life · 10 October 1914
