Part 35 (2/2)
Hargreave had always been something of a mystery to his neighbors.
Where he had lived in other days was unknown; neither had any one the remotest idea from what source his riches had been obtained. And nothing was known of Jones or the daughter. It was a very shrewd method of clearing every one out of the house and leaving it to be examined at leisure. And he had fallen upon this thing; he, Norton, all because his tailor had written him a sharp note about his bill and he had been provoked to reply in kind! Counterfeit money. There was quite a flurry these days over certain issues of spurious paper. It was so good that only experts could detect it. There were two plates, one for a ten and another for a twenty. For a while he was pulled between duty and love. Well, it would only add another interesting chapter to the general story when he published it. He started out to Riverdale to acquaint Jones with the discovery.
”Humph!” said Jones; ”not a bad idea this. So that's what the sneak was doing here last night. I've been wondering and wondering. Let's have a look.”
He went through the books and at length came across the three volumes.
These held a thousand in excellent counterfeit.
”Mighty good work that. What are you going to do?” asked the reporter.
Jones rubbed his chin reflectively. ”How long may a counterfeiter be sent up?”
”Anywhere from ten to twenty years.”
”That will serve. My boy, this time we'll go and take Mr. Black Hundred right in his cubby-hole.”
”You know where it is?”
”Every nook and corner of it. Now you go at once to the chief of the local branch of the secret service and put the matter to him frankly.
I, Florence, Susan, and the rest of us must be arrested. The wretches must believe that the house is empty. They'll rove about fruitlessly and will return to their den to report the success of the coup. All the while you and some detectives will be in hiding up-stairs, dictagraph and all that. When the time comes you will follow. This will not reach the heads, perhaps, but it will demoralize the organization in such a way as to make it helpless for several months to come. There is a tunnel from the stables to this house.”
”What, a tunnel?”
”Yes, Mr. Hargreave had it built several years ago. I don't know what his idea was; possibly he antic.i.p.ated an event like this. You and your men will find entrance by this method. It can be done without exciting the suspicions of the watchers.”
”Looks as if my yarn wasn't going to be delayed so long after all.
Jones, you ought to have been in the secret service yourself,”
admiringly.
Jones smiled and shrugged. ”I am perfectly satisfied with my lot--or would be if the Black Hundred could be wiped out of existence.”
”I'll see the secret service people at once. I stand in well with them all.”
”And good luck to you. We'll need good luck.”
Norton was welcomed cordially by the chief. The secret service men trusted him and told him lots of tales that never saw light on the printed page. The reporter went directly to the point of his story, without elaboration, and the chief smiled and handed him the original letter.
”Norton, I've been after this gang of counterfeiters for months and they are clever beyond words. I've never been able to get anywhere near their presses. And for a moment I thought this note was from a squealer. I've a dozen men scouring the country. They find the bogus notes, but never the men who pa.s.s them. You see, it's new stuff. I know what all of the old-timers are at; none of them has had a hand in this issue. Some foreigners, I take it, under the leaders.h.i.+p of a man I'd very much like to know. Now, what's your scheme?”
Jim outlined it briefly.
”It all depends,” said the chief, ”upon the fact that they will be impatient. If they have the ability to wait, we lose. But we can afford to risk the chance. The man who wrote this letter is not a counterfeiter. He's an old yeggman. We haven't heard anything of him lately. We tried to corner him on a post-office job, but he slipped by. He may be a stool. Anyhow, I'll draw him in somehow.”
”There'll be some excitement.”
”We're used to that; you too. All we've got to do is to locate this man Beggs. There are signs of spite in this letter. Very well played, if you want my opinion. What's this Black Hundred?”
”I'm not at liberty to tell just yet. It's a strange game; half political, half blackmail. It's a pretty strong organization. But if they're back of this counterfeiting, there's a fine chance of landing them all.”
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