The story
“Soon after Zudora’s thrilling escape from the clutches of Chang, the Chinese hypnotist, in which John Storm and the mysterious Jim Baird played no small part, the sudden, strange disappearance of a child, destined to inherit millions, became the talk of the town. Zudora, like everyone else, became interested in the case and determined if possible to solve it, although her uncle Hassam Ali, busied himself with other things, often being mysteriously absent from the house for days at a time.
“It was at this time that a certain Madame Duval, the beautiful but somewhat mysterious woman, who was in the confidence of Chang in Episode Eight, was introduced to Zudora. Oddly enough, the girl, having been under Chang’s hypnotic influence at the time, did not recall ever having seen her. Feeling a strange attraction for her new acquaintance, Zudora returned her call, although had Jim Baird known of it, the friendship of the two might have awakened some misgivings in his breast, for he evidently distrusts the charming fair one.
“During Zudora’s visit at Madame Duval’s she was much puzzled at the coming and going of many strange guests, the mysterious conferences held and the frequency with which her hostess was away. It was during one of these absences that Zudora idly glanced at a newspaper on the table before her. An item in the personal column caught her eye and her fertile brain did the rest. Hardly waiting to say goodbye to Madame Duval, she sets forth on what she believes is a clue to the whereabouts of the missing child. Nor is she far off the scent, for the hint she had received from the ‘personal’ leads her to a deserted freight caboose in a little used railroad siding. Listening at the door she overhears the kidnappers discussing plans to get their victim in a safer place.
“In the meantime Jim Baird has also been investigating certain clues, which have come into his possession. John Storm, also, informed by Zudora in a hasty note, of what she has learned, begins an investigation of his own account. Thus all three are eagerly hunting for the missing heiress. But it is Zudora who first learns the whereabouts of the stolen child. Watching her opportunity, she is about to liberate the little one, when three members of the gang, returning suddenly to find her, seize both Zudora and their captive and imprison them in the old caboose, where Zudora had first overheard their plans.
“Meanwhile Madame Duval, who has some mysterious connection with the forces that are opposing Zudora, becomes worried at the delay in bringing her plans to a successful issue. Acting under instructions evidently, the members of the gang are seen placing an infernal machine in a car filled with gunpowder, which is next to the old caboose in which Zudora and the child are imprisoned. An engine hooks up with the train and slowly moves off, hauling the caboose with it. In a few moments, the explosion is certain to take place, and it seems that nothing can save the kidnappers’ victims, unable to get out, from being blown to atoms.
“But it is not to be. Jim Baird, who by some psychological instinct or perhaps because he is never really out of touch with Zudora’s doings, always seems to be on hand at the time of Zudora’s direst need, appears on the scene, just as the train is starting. Instinctively, he seems to sense the danger. Running swiftly forward, he makes a flying leap upon the rods at the side of one of the freight cars, climbs upon the roof of the powder car and makes his way to the caboose. He sees Zudora’s terrified face at the window, and the sight lends him wings. Clambering down between the cars he uncouples the caboose from the train. And not an instant too soon. For hardly has the train gone half a city block before there is a tremendous explosion and the powder car disappears in a great cloud of white smoke.
“It is but the work of a moment for Baird to batter in the door of the caboose and assist the frightened Zudora and her helpless companion to the ground. He dashes into the caboose again, hoping to find some evidence against the kidnappers. He has hardly finished his hurried search, when there is a sudden explosion. Down the track comes running John Storm, too late to aid his sweetheart and frantic with apprehension. He comes up just in time to see Zudora and her little charge descend from the caboose and the next instant he holds her close in his arms. When they turn to thank Jim Baird, the man to whose heroism and resourcefulness they owed their rescue, it is to find him gone. He has vanished as utterly as the destroyed powder car.”
Summary from Reel Life · 9 January 1915
