The Mystery Club

The Mystery Club, an organization of millionaires, draws up an agreement at the instigation of Cranahan, wagering that crimes can be committed without detection by the police; Inspector Burke serves as arbiter. A forfeiture of $25,000 is set, and the members draw secret lots to decide who is to be the criminal. When Burke himself is reported murdered, the members agree to cancel the agreement but cannot find the document. The jewels of Mrs. Vanderveer are also missing, and in their place she finds a note implicating the club and causing the members to suspect one another. Nancy telephones club member Dick Bernard, her sweetheart, that the jewels will be returned for a fee, which Dick delivers to her in a low dive; subsequently, a kidnapping and forgery charge is laid at the club's door. Cranahan finally explains that he has schemed to get the club members interested in criminology, and thus relieved of their "crimes" they gladly contribute to an institute for criminal reform.