The Girl and the Bill / An American Story of Mystery, Romance and Adventure

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25799

Title

The Girl and the Bill / An American Story of Mystery, Romance and Adventure

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A practical Chicago lawyer stumbles upon a high-stakes international diplomatic crisis while helping a mysterious stranger. Blending mystery, romance, and adventure, this classic tale explores themes of duty, love, and the unseen forces shaping global history, offering a thrilling ride through early 20th-century intrigue.

Summary up to 500 words

In Bannister Merwin's *The Girl and the Bill*, pragmatic Chicago lawyer Robert Orme stumbles upon a mystery that inadvertently saves the United States from war. While strolling along State Street, Orme encounters a beautiful woman, Bessie Wallingham, whose car has broken down. After helping her change a tire, he discovers a peculiar five-dollar bill left by a previous helper, marked with a cryptic message. This oddity sparks his curiosity, leading him to investigate the scene further. Orme's investigation reveals a clandestine meeting involving a South American diplomat, Alcatrante, and a Japanese minister. They are plotting to steal secret treaties regarding Pacific trade routes and South American obligations. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Orme secretly swaps the stolen documents with harmless prospectuses from a mining company he was investigating. When the villains realize the deception, they demand the return of the papers, placing Orme in a dire situation. Just as the crisis peaks, Bessie returns, revealing she orchestrated the entire event to ensure the documents reached the Secretary of State. Orme's actions, combined with her intervention, successfully prevent a potential war with Japan and secure a vital treaty. The story concludes with Orme realizing that the woman he helped is the Secretary of State's daughter. He is invited to stay as a guest, having unknowingly become a hero of history, proving that even a practical man can be swept up in romance and adventure.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25799.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg25799.epub

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2026-07-04 05:22 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Romance
• Mystery