The story
“When Norton, Florence and the faithful Shep returned to the dock after their exciting battle with the conspirators in the motor boat, as set forth in Episode 19, Norton phoned for a taxi and all three, wet and dripping as they still were, piled into it and set out for the Hargreave mansion. As they alighted, a mysterious man, who hid himself carefully in the shrubbery surrounding the house, watched old Jones open the door in response to their ring. While the astonished butler listened to their story, the man darted along the side of the house and peering through the lattice work at the end of the porch, saw Florence hand Norton the paper, which she had taken such desperate risks to obtain, and which she believed held the secret that would free her father from further persecution by the Black Hundred.
“Norton put the precious document in his cap and took his leave to return to his rooms and dress, while the spy made haste to report his discovery to Braine. But he did not see Norton, who hurried to change his clothes that he might the sooner be with his sweetheart, take the mysterious paper from his cap and conceal it in his necktie. Nor was he aware that Jones, suspecting his espionage, had loaded two revolvers to bed prepared for any emergency that might arise.
“So it happened that when Norton was returning to visit his fiancée he was set upon by Braine, the spy, and another of the gang. While he lay senseless they hurriedly searched his garments in the hope of finding the precious paper, but without success. Before they had finished the search, Norton recovered consciousness and made a game effort to defend himself. But in this he would probably have been speedily worsted had not old Jones, hearing the commotion in the garden, flung open a window and fired at the struggling men.
“A minute later he was at Norton’s side and together they gave chase to the fleeing thugs, who, however, having a good start, easily make their escape. Braine, infuriated by his defeat, upbraided his companions for their obtuseness in not making a more thorough search of Norton’s clothes, and then by a roundabout way returned to the Hargreave window, he saw Florence and Norton and the butler examining it.
“At first its blank appearance seemed to puzzle them, but suddenly it occurred to one of the three that the writing might be in invisible ink, which the application of heat would bring out. A candle is procured and, holding the paper carefully over its flame, the three are astonished to read the following message:
“’Dear Hargreave: The Russian Minister of Police is stopping at the St. Roland’s Hotel under the name of Henri Servan. He is investigating the workings of the Black Hundred and if you could lay before him the evidence that you have, he will be enable to apprehend them and put an end to the persecution which you have suffered.—Faithfully, A Friend.’
“Braine, his eye glued to the shutter, could not read the message, but he realized that it was important, by the looks of the three interested parties. He saw Florence burn the paper until it was nothing but a heap of ashes, but a quick movement toward the window by the old butler prevented him from seeing more. A short time later, however, when Jones left the house, he followed him.
“Left to themselves, Norton and Florence engaged in a worsted-winding match, Florence trying to roll the skein thrown across Norton’s arms into a ball and Norton doing his best to entangle her in its fuzzy lengths, a feat in which he finally succeeded. Meanwhile neither are aware of the events that have been happening at the St. Roland’s Hotel, whither Jones has gone. There the venerable butler has been closeted for some time with the Russian Minister of Police, to whom he has made himself known by means of a mysterious handshake. With their heads close together, they discuss plans to round up the Black Hundred in thorough fashion, unaware that Braine, who has kept close on Jones’ trail, is watching them through the keyhole. The minister decides to consult with one of his agents, and when he and Jones go out, Braine lets himself into the apartment with a skeleton key. Once there he makes a quick survey of the premises and, going through the papers on the Russian police head’s desk, ascertains who he is. But he tarries too long, and before he can leave, Jones and the other return. There is a short, sharp conflict and a moment later Jones and the police official, baffled, vainly attempt to batter down the locked door, while Braine makes good his escape.”
Summary from Reel Life · 31 October 1914
