In 'Five Hundred Dollars; or, Jacob Marlowe's Secret', Bert Barlow sets out to clear his father's name of a crime he did not commit with the help of his great uncle. The book follows Bert's journey from a poor boy working in a shoe factory to an actor in Chicago as he navigates challenges, including clearing his own name of theft and finding his father's accuser. With a compelling plot and relatable characters, this is a classic story of perseverance and justice that will keep readers turning the pages until the very end.