Beatrice Fairfax Episode 8: At the Ainsley Ball

Summary

In this compelling eighth installment of the Beatrice Fairfax serial, a seemingly innocuous plea from Robert Wells unravels into a high-stakes drama of deception and daring. Wells, plagued by the captivating allure a 'fascinating foreigner,' Andre Versale, holds over his fiancée, Martha Ainsley, seeks Beatrice's sagacious counsel. The ever-resourceful Jimmy Barton, recognizing the urgency, swiftly intercedes, revealing Versale to be a cunning fortune hunter, meticulously orchestrating Martha's elopement from a lavish masquerade ball with the aid of a planted accomplice. As the opulent Ainsley Ball commences, a brilliant gambit is deployed: Beatrice, masquerading as Martha, becomes the unwitting decoy. Versale, ensnared by the ruse, attempts to abscond with Beatrice, believing her to be his wealthy mark. Meanwhile, Jimmy, leveraging the confusion, infiltrates Martha's chambers to secure her family jewels, thwarting the maid's suspicions with a swift, decisive move. The climax erupts in a pulse-pounding, dawn-breaking automobile chase, as Bob and Martha join Jimmy in a desperate pursuit of Versale and the abducted Beatrice. Bullets fly, tires burst, and a daring mid-air leap from Jimmy culminates in a furious hand-to-hand struggle. With Versale subdued and the jewels recovered, a repentant Martha vows fidelity, while Beatrice and Jimmy, the night's unlikely heroes, retreat to chronicle their extraordinary escapade, sealing another triumph against duplicity.

Synopsis

Beatrice Fairfax receives a letter signed Robert Wells, who writes: "Is there any way an honest man can prevent his girl from falling in love with a fascinating foreigner?" At Jimmy Barton's request the letter is handed to him, for he knows Bob. Jimmy visits Bob at his office and finds him much excited over the attention paid to his fiancée, Martha Ainsley, by Andre Versale. A scene shows Versale calling upon Miss Ainsley. He is a fortune hunter and has established an accomplice in the Ainsley home as Martha's maid. Versale urges Martha to elope with him from a masque ball that is to be held at the Ainsley home on the following night. Jimmy and Beatrice secure cards to the ball from Bob, who also furnishes them with a description of the costumes to be worn by Versale and Martha. On the night of the ball the two men and the two women, their faces covered by masks, look exactly alike. Versale mistakes Beatrice for Martha and urges her to elope. She agrees. He tells her he will go to her room and instruct the maid to prepare for the trip, taking all her jewels with her. Beatrice tells Jimmy and then detains Versale. Jimmy goes to the room, but after the jewels are in a handbag, the maid becomes suspicious and tears off Jimmy's mask. She sees she has been imposed upon, but Jimmy overpowers her and takes the bag with the jewels. He hurries downstairs and gives the bag to Beatrice. Versale has completed all his arrangements. Jimmy leaves Beatrice a moment. While he is gone, Versale, believing Beatrice to be Martha, carries her bodily, despite her struggles, into a waiting automobile. When Jimmy gets back he is amazed to find Martha instead of Beatrice, and Beatrice, the jewels and Versale gone. He tells Martha of Versale's duplicity. Accompanied by Bob, they jump into a high-power automobile and start in pursuit of Versale and Beatrice. A wild ride follows. Just at dawn, they come within sight of Versale's car. He starts shooting at them. Bob, who is driving, puts on the greatest speed and the car dashes alongside that of Versale, just as the adventurer puts a bullet into the front tire of Bob's car. As it explodes, Jimmy leaps from the running board into the flying automobile. A battle follows. Jimmy finally compels Versale to drop the revolver. Beatrice picks it up and as Jimmy overpowers Versale, she covers the chauffeur and orders him to stop. The two prisoners are bound and Jimmy turns over the jewels to Martha. She weeps on Bob's shoulder and promises him she will never flirt again. While Bob takes Martha home and policemen take charge of Versale and the chauffeur, Jimmy and Beatrice hurry to the office, where they write the story of their night's experience.