The Million Dollar Mystery: Novelized from the Scenario of F. Lonergan — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Million Dollar Mystery: Novelized from the Scenario of F. Lonergan
John Stuart Mill · en
When he turned again he was calm. He walked with bent head toward the
door, opened it and stood upon the threshold for a space. Across the
street a shadow stirred, but Jones did not see it. His gaze was
attracted by something which shone dimly white on the walk just beyond
the steps. He ran to it. A crumpled letter, unaddressed. He carried
it back to the house, smoothed it out and read, its contents. Florence
in her haste had dropped the letter.
He clutched at his hat, put it on and ran to Susan.
"Here!" he cried, holding out an automatic. "If any one comes in that
you don't know, shoot! Don't ask questions, shoot!"
"I'm afraid!" She breathed with difficulty.
"Afraid?" he roared at her. He put the weapon in her hand. It slipped
and thudded to the floor. He stooped for it and slammed it into her
lap. "You love your life and honor. You'll know how to shoot when the
time comes. Now, attend to me. If I'm not back here by ten o'clock,
turn this note over to the police. If you can't do that, then God help
us all!" And with that he ran from the house.
Susan eyed the revolver with growing terror. For what had she left the
peace and quiet of Miss Farlow's; assassination, robbery, thieves and
kidnapers? She wanted to shriek, but her throat was as dry as paper.
Gingerly she touched the pistol. The cold steel sent a thrill of fear
over her. He hadn't told her how to shoot it!
Two blocks down the street, up an alley, was the garage wherein
Hargreave had been wont to keep his car. Toward this Jones ran with
the speed of a track athlete. There might be half a dozen taxicabs
about, but he would not run the risk of engaging any of them. The
Black Hundred was capable of anticipating his every movement.
The shadow across the street stood undecided. At length he concluded
to give Jones ten minutes in which to return. If he did not return in
that time, the watcher would go up to the drug store and telephone for
instructions.
But Jones did not come back.
"Where's Howard?" he demanded.
"Hello, Jones; what's up?"
"Howard, get that car out at once."
"Out she comes. Wait till I give her radiator a bucket of water.
Gee!" whispered Howard, whom Hargreave often used as his chauffeur,
"get on to his nibs! First time I ever saw him awake. I wonder what's
doing? You never know what's back of those mummy-faced head
waiters.... All right, Jones!"
The chauffeur jumped into the car and Jones took the seat beside him.
"Where to?"
"Number 78..." and the rest of it trailed away, smothered in the
violent thunder of the big six's engines.
During the car's flight several policemen hailed it without success.
Down this street, up that, round this corner, fifty miles an hour; and
all the while Jones shouted: "Faster, faster!"
Within twelve minutes from the time it left the garage, the car stopped
opposite 78 Grove Street, and Jones got out.