Volume II: Filmography

Episode 14 .

THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY

TRACKED BY THE SECRET SERVICE

Cover (L), Centerfold (C), and back page (R) from the "Official Herald" for Episode 14 of THE MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY.

a.k.a. NORTON MAKES A DISCOVERY

September 21, 1914 (Monday)

Length: 2 reels (reels 27 and 28)

SYNOPSIS, Reel Life, September 19, 1914:

"While Florence and Jimmy Norton pursue their idyllic courtship, lulled to a false sense of security by the apparent inactivity of the conspirators, Braine and the others plan a desperate coup. It is nothing less than an effort to place Florence and the old butler under the ban of Uncle Sam's Secret Service. With them out of the way, the conspirators reason, it will be a comparatively simple matter to search the Hargreave mansion from top to bottom, thus learning once and for all whether the treasure is located within its walls.

"In pursuance of this plan Jackson and some of the gang break into the house at the dead of night and hide a bundle of counterfeit bills behind the tapestry on the wall of the library. Old Jones, hearing the crooks in the house, fires at them, but they make good their escape, having successfully accomplished their mission. The next day Braine, in the writing room of a New York hotel, sends an anonymous note to the chief of the Secret Service, telling him that the Hargreave house is the haunt of a gang of counterfeiters, whose product is 'passed' by Florence and Norton. A considerable amount of the 'queer,' writes Braine, is concealed behind the tapestry in the library.

"It happens that a few minutes after Braine has gone, Jimmy Norton enters the hotel writing room and sits down at the identical place just vacated by the other. By accident his eye catches Florence's name on the blotter, which the chief conspirator has just used, and holding it up to a mirror, Norton speedily deciphers the message. Instantly the whole scheme is apparent to him. Hastening back to the house he shows Jones the betraying blotter, and the two soon find the counterfeits behind the tapestry, replacing them with an equal amount of genuine bills. That done, Norton sets out for the headquarters of the Secret Service, being assured of a hearing by the chief through his newspaper connections.

"Soon after his arrival he is closeted with the head of Uncle Sam's sleuths and to him he tells his suspicions. The veteran sleuth nods his head understandingly as Norton tells him of the activities of the conspirators, the object of their latest plot and the probability that they are engaged in gigantic counterfeiting operations. When Norton has finished, his auditor outlines a plan, which he believes will thwart the conspirators and which may result in the capture of the whole band. Then he calls in two of his men and directs them to go with Norton to the Hargreave mansion, where they are to install a dictograph.

"The chief's plan is simple. It is to make a false arrest of Florence and her companion and old Jones, while the two men with Norton wait in the house to see what the conspirators try to do. By means of the dictograph they hope to get evidence which will convict the whole band. Yet like many of the best laid plans this one fails to achieve its object.

"With the two Secret Service men Norton goes to the Hargreave house and acquaints Florence with the ruse they intend playing. The dictograph is installed and the men sit down to await events. Not long afterward a number of other Secret Service men arrive and search the house, finding the money which Norton and Jones had hidden behind the tapestry. Jackson, posing as a newspaperman, is with them and he chuckles inwardly as he sees how well the conspirators' scheme is working. After a few formal inquiries the Secret Service men place Florence and Jones under arrest and take them, outwardly protesting, to headquarters.

"As soon as they are gone, the conspirators, who have been watching the house closely, make haste to enter it, whereupon they commence a thorough search for the treasure. Every possible place where it might be concealed comes in for their scrutiny, but they find no trace of it. All the while, in an upper room, Norton and the two sleuths are keeping a close watch on their movements by means of the dictograph. They hear the conspirators laugh among themselves at their ruse which has left the house open for their search. They hear too of the counterfeiting plant which the gang is operating. Just as they are ready to capture the crooks, however, one of the latter by the merest chance learns of the officers' presence and gives the alarm.

"But the sleuths are not to be balked so easily. Norton springs to the telephone and calls police headquarters. A few hurried directions and he, with the two Secret Service men, sets out for the meeting place of the conspirators. There they meet the police reserves who had been sent in answer to Norton's telephone call. With these reinforcements they seek to gain entrance to the conspirators' secret meeting room. Battering down the door they enter, just in time to see the last conspirator disappearing though a trap door in the far corner of the room. The police hurry pellmell after them, but too late to effect their capture."

REVIEW, The Moving Picture World, September 26, 1914:

"In this two-reel installment the conspirators plant some counterfeit money in Florence's home. A pretended arrest is then made, so quickly they enter the house and search for the million. The closing scene, where the police are slid down a fake stairway, was a good one. The number is not exceptional in any way, but continues the interest in the story."

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