The story
“After the eventful happenings narrated in Episode 15, Madame Duval and her band for a time made no outward effort to harass Zudora. Nevertheless, they were by no means idle, and a constant watch was kept on the girl’s movements. When Zudora and Storm go skating one day, they are closely trailed by Gyp, one of the ‘strong-arm’ members of the band, while Captain Radcliffe seizes the opportunity to enter the Ramsey house, where Zudora lives, and search her apartment. In the old half-burned trunk, which contained so much of value for Zudora, the shrewd Captain makes an important discovery. The trunk has a false bottom. Beneath it the conspirator finds a rudely drawn map made by Zudora’s father, showing the location of rich deposits in the South African diamond fields.
“In the meanwhile Tom Hunt and Jim Baird are working on a plan, through which they hope to possess themselves of the band’s secrets. Hunt has just finished disguising himself, while Baird laughs aloud as he reads the following letter of introduction which Hunt is to use in gaining an entrance into the haunts of the conspirators: ‘My Dear Madame Duval:—This will introduce to you M. Jacques La Fontaine, a celebrated artist and my dear friend. If you can prevail upon him to paint your portrait, you will be fortunate indeed. Cordially, Antoinette, Countess Rochambeau, Paris, France.’
“In the role of the famous French artist, Hunt goes to the mansion of Madame Duval and is soon made welcome in her salon. The detective plays his part to the life and Madame Duval is completely deceived. Before he leaves he has consented to paint her portrait, and hardly has he gone when Captain Radcliffe, in highly exuberant mood, enters with the map he has purloined from Zudora’s trunk. Sometime later, Hunt, who has joined Baird, sees the worthy captain speaking in a hallway with a man, whom he recognizes as a diamond cutter. Following the couple, Hunt and Baird see them enter the lapidary’s shop, where the captain gives his companion a number of rough stones to cut.
“On the day following, Hunt goes to keep his appointment with Madame Duval to paint her portrait. But the sitting is interrupted by the fountain signal, which warns Madame Duval of the arrival of some of the band. She excuses herself, pleading fatigue, and Hunt is shown out, only to return secretly a few moments later. Hunt hides himself behind the tapestry near the entrance to the hidden elevator, by means of which the conspirators are wont to enter the salon. He sees Madame Duval and the gallant captain take a document from the secret receptacle under the table-top, and then leave the house.
“Meanwhile, elsewhere important things are happening. Jim Baird, trying to keep in close touch with Hunt, has entered the underground passage leading from the old garage to Madame Duval’s mansion, and there he has been discovered by Bill, Ike and Gyp, three of the most desperate of the conspirators. At once a terrific struggle begins, in which Baird, by his superior quickness, is enabled to slip away from his attackers in the semi-darkness and make for the exit. There the battle begins again in deadly earnest. Through the opened door the men tumble in a confused heap, and roll struggling in the death-grips toward the narrow bridge across the swift creek which flows beside the garage.
“And here matters might have taken a serious turn for Baird, but for the fact that John Storm has chosen this road for a spin in his car. The young lawyer leaps from his machine and enters the fray. With a few well-directed blows he sends two of the thugs sprawling. Baird and Bill are grappling at the very edge of the bridge coping. In the final test of strength, Bill forces Baird off the bridge, but is himself dragged with his victim, and both fall into the water. Storm, having routed the other two, hastens to Baird’s rescue. Unbuckling the extra automobile tire from his machine, he attaches it to a rope and swings it to Baird, but failing to reach him, he plunges into the water and brings him safe ashore, while Bill, vanquished, but still very much alive, makes his escape on the opposite bank.”
Summary from Reel Life · 27 February 1915
