Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 1012) (1896 12 15)
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oS ) es PLEO Leen SY saa eS SS a ee Sees NN ian tit a! ll i Val SS Copyrighted 1896, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, December 15, 1své. $2.50 Price, a Year. No, 92 WILLIAM STREE y 5 cents. Vol. XXXIX, Mt Ai “ ! % 4 hae yy WON \ » IWOys \ SS S SS SS SSS NGS AS ———— <= ————— —— SS SS ‘SHOOT ME FOR A PIGEON,” EXCLAIMED BILL. ‘‘IF THEM BOYS AIN’T SLID OFF AND LRFT A LEG AND ARM BEHIND THEM.”
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- fe) E Cripple s Dead Su ure Glineh: ‘Trapping the Old Fraud. BY CHARLES MORRIS, CHAPTER I, TBE MILL OWNER’S RAGGED VISITORS. “Mr, Somers in?” .This question was asked by a ragged and crippled boy, who stood in an independent atti- tude before a pompous and surly official, in the outer office of a large manufacturing establish- ment, The boy had but one leg, the other being rep- resented by a wooden ‘‘ jury-mast,” which did duty fora te limb. Yet he stood in as sturdy an attitude as if there had been no lack in his make-u Behind him was a second boy, as ragged and disreputable as bimself, whose limp and empty sleeve showed that he owned but a single arm, The two together made up but about a boy and a half, ‘* Haven't I told you he can’t be seen?” an- swered the man sharply. ‘ He has no time to see vagrants, You have been here every day this week. How long do you intend to keep this up?’ “Well, about three hundred and sixty-five days this year, if we don’t see him afore,” drawled out the ere “ And three hundred and sixty-six next year, *cause that’s leap year,” chimed in his compan- ion, ‘The deuce you do!” exclaimed the official. “Why, you ragged young bundles of impu- dence—” ** See ii mister; don’t shoot off afore you're interrupted the boy. ‘* We’re bound ‘to see old squeeze-penny, and we've told 7 why, and thunder and lightnin’ won't stop us, Help yerself toa cheer, Dick. This stool’s ’bout my size, We'll wait.” | ‘* You impertinent gutter-snipe!” cried the man, in a rage. ‘‘If there’s any more of this Vl have you flung neck and heels into the street.” ** And break my t’other leg, and Dick’s t’other arm, Is’pose, That’d suit yeridees. Butif you do I'll crawl here on my ten fingers, for I’m bound to see Somers,” “Mr, Somers, Andy; Rw oughter be more perlite,” admonished Dic ns They don’t call me en you Mister,” rejoined Andy. ‘I dunno as they’re made of ary better sort o’ clay nor we are.” The official looked at the persistent boys with some perplexity, Mr, Somers bad positively re- fused to seethem, Yetif they were to callevery day for the next two ite they looked as if they might doit, In the end he turned sharp- ly on his heel and entered the inner office, Andy winked at Dick. ** Told ye so,” he averred. ‘Old ramrod’s a- weakenin’, There ain’t nothin’ like freezin’ ’em ” After a few minutes the man returned, with a relieved expression, ‘*Mr, Somers consents to see you,” he said. ‘He is tired of your annoyance, Take care how you speak to him; you won’t find him bear your impudence like I ‘pave.” “T'm goin’ to speak to him with my wooden leg,” answere.) Andy, ‘ And Dick can talk with that empty sleeve of his’n, Ther’ won't be no imperdence in them, but 1 reckon they'll talk to the p’int.” The official led the way to the door of the inner , Office, and ushered the visitors in, ™‘* These are the boys who wish to see you, Mr. Somers,” he said, The office was @ large and richly-appointed one, as befitted the extensive business which it represented. Its center was occupied by a baize- covered table, behind which sat a thin-framed and sharp-featured gentleman, whose face was lined and wrinkled by business cares. There was a forbidding a ME in his eyes. ‘*That will do, Jones.” The official re- tired. ‘‘Now, what do you want?” he sharp! asked, ‘I will give you a minute. That is a I can spare,—Lively, now.” Not a word in reply came from the visitors, Frage , who had sea himself, leaned back in c and thrust out his wooden leg. Dick ee heard how a loose Bs § ms 8 << Pai A , in Somers’s worksh one fe. What has he done for you?”
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mt — x _ €an be done,’ ** Paid our doctor’s bills,” answered Dick, sour- Yi Nothing more?” ‘‘\ve’ve just been to see him, and he ’most kicked us out cf tho office,” said And:. ‘if you’d drop atwenty-ton steel hammer on that mp }.. wouldn't bleed a red cent. That’s the sort 0’ ¢90a hy is.” “Tou w' yg not bring a suit for damages?” * And wliv’s to hand out the spondulicks?” de- manded Dick,shaking his pockets, which return- ed 110 jingle of cash. ** Tow came that piece of machinery loose?” asked the stranger. ** Nobody knows, so the foreman said. ‘* Carelessness, he meant, maybe; or purpose- ness.”” A meaning look came into the stranger’s face, ‘*t Has John Somers any reason to be afraid of you?” he resumed, * Afeard of me?” echoed Andy, at whom the stranger had looked. ‘‘He robbed my daddy, indeed ;—leastways, folks says so;—but I reckon he don’t keer a’ greet: persimmon for ten like me, ‘Don’t he? Comein here.” The stranger en- tered the house before whose open door he was rete The boys, much surprised, followed m. He led the way to a room just back of the en- trance, and placed chairs for his visitors. ‘*He robbed your father, you say?” The stranger seated himself in an easy arm-chair. **How? Tell me all you know about that,” **T’ve been told,” replied Andy, ‘‘ that I ought to have Somers’s money. Folks say he stole the — that he made all his cash with from my ‘“*No matter what folks say. What do you know about it, yourself?” ‘* Why, you see,” answered Andy looking the speaker intelligently in the face, ‘ l was only a wee sample of a kid then, But T bave heard say that Somers robbed him. And when he was found drownded—” ‘* Found drowned? Took water, did he? But what comes before that?” ‘Why, they say that Somers paid for takin’ outthe patent; and that he got my dad bu’stin’ drunk, and fooled him into signin’ a paper, with two witnesses. That’s how he holds the patent.” ‘“*The consideration money being that which Somers had advanced for taking out the patent?” asked the stranger. ‘*T shouldn’t wonder but you knowed more about it than I do,” grumbled Andy, ‘‘No matter for that. Go on, and tell me what you know. Not what folks say.” ‘Well, I have heered dad say as he never signed that paper. But there was his name; and there was the witnesses. He kicked a little in the courts, but he got flung. witnesses come up and swore they seen him sign. Then he got kinder droopy, and fu’st thi folks knowed his hat and coat were found by the river-bank. He wasn’t found. The tide had took what was left of him out tosea. That was twelve years ago, Since then my mother died, and I’ve been left alone to dig my way in the world—and now Somers has guv me this sort o’ _ to dig with.” He protruded his wooden Og. : “You remember distinctly that your father declared that he did not sign the paper?” asked the stranger. ‘*Yes, I was five or six years old then, He swore he never signed it, Rommenber? Why, I kin hear him now, He used to jist rip out what he thought of Somers, But, dad had too biga taste for drink, and he’d sometimes get so full that he didn’t know beans from pork. { reckon he signed ‘t.” **T am not so sure of that,” said the stranger. The boys looked at him in rise, ‘But to think so is one thing; to prove it isanother. I tell you this, young fellows: you have a first- class damago suit against Somers, and you must push it.” ‘That's what I say,” cried Dick, eagerly. ‘But Andy, here, says it’s no go, ’cause we ain't got no money.” : It was just pure cussedness, U'd like to bleed The Cr ipple’s Dead-Sure Clinch. ‘* How’s that? You don’t mean it?” cried Andy, in glad surprise. **?Tain’t sound logic you’re a-dreppin’?” ex- claimed Dick. ‘* Every word of it,” answered the stranger. ‘* Every word, I don’t like John Somers; and I think you’ve been badly treated. He shall bleed, if there’s any justice in America.” He brought down his hand on the table with a ringing slap, as he spoke these words, Dick sprung to his feet, too full of joy to contain himself, and danced round the room. Andy followed, his wooden leg threatening to bore a hole through the carpet at every step. Joy for the moment seemed to reign supreme, ‘*That will do now,” said the stranger. ‘* Meet me at three this afternoon at this direc- tion.” He gave them a slip of paper. ‘‘ We shall see what a lawyer says about this business. Now, good-day.” In a minute afterward two happy cripples were making their way joyfully along the CHAPTER III. AN OATH OF REVENGE, IN the outskirts of t e manufacturing town in which the Somers Agricultural Works were situated stood a smalland very humble frame cottage, whose decaying timbers seemed hardly able to bold it upright, Yet all over it clam- bered running vines, which were just then cov- ered by a wealth of green leaves, through which ‘| flowers here and there peeped. In the small piece of ground surrounding, flowering bushes grew thickly, the air being filled with their sweet odors. Nature seemed shedding her ut- most charm on the decaying cottage, One did not have to look far to see the presid- ing genius of this scene of leafy beauty. Bend- ing overa rosebush in the garden appeared a graceful girl, dressed in cheap and faded calico, he with a beauty of form and a wealth ot golden air that would have done justice to the richest Saepents. As she rose and turned her head she isplayed cheeks that seemed to have caught their hue from the flowers she had been hand- ling, while her face was of a beatity that the richest dame would have been glad to own. Leaving the flowers she turned toward the house, with a merry burst of song from her rosy lips. She had not reached it, however, before she paused and turned, in a listening attitude. “That must be Andy,” she exclaimed. “There's one good from his lost leg; you can hear him half amileofft I do hope the boys have managed to see Mr. Somers this morning. I don’t know what’s to become of us all if that miserly wretch will do nothing for them.—Ah! there they come now—and looking as if they brought good news,” As she spoke these last words, Andy and Dick entered the little inclosure, with what seemed the haste of joy. ‘*What is the news?” cried the girl, running toward them. ‘‘Have you seen him? Will he do anything?” “ Do anything?” echoed Andy, stamping with his lame leg till it sunk three inches in the ground. ‘The bald-headed old miser!. Why, when we was in his office, Kate, you could hear the gold dollars squealin’ like monkeys in a cage. He pinches them so tight.” “Come, now, Andy, isn’t that a little of a stretch?” laughed the girl merrily. ‘‘ But did you get to see bim?” “We did. We told old stiffy we was comin’ every day for two years. That skeered him limber,” ** And Mr. Somers—” “He'll let us pick up the shadow of a nickel, if we kin git our ten fingers round it; but he ain’t pannin’ out nothin’ solid, nary time!” ‘Is that so, Dick?” asked the girl anxiously. ‘‘ Nothing at ” ‘* Not as much as you could balance on the tip- end of a needle,” answered Dick, ‘‘He heerd what we had to say, and then told us to git,— We got.” ‘‘Got?—You don’t seem to have got much,” she answered, d “Got our walking papers, anyhow. Talk o’ e-crust bein’ short! ‘Tain’t a circumstance ongside o’ him, Kitty.” e girl looked at them in some perplexity. Their story did not seem to with their looks. What meant the show o bt ful excite- ment with which they had ente: he garden? e family was miserably poor, and starvation stared them in the face if Mr. Somers would do nothing for those who had been crippled in his What cause had they then for glad- beng A: ness } . - “TI know there is something more,” she de- . — —————— ——— —- - :_.:.——lH.HIOhlR mm ——_ Sn nn nn nn nn aga > clared, ‘‘ You are keeping itfrom.me. Dick, go in and tell mother what you've got to say. Andy, you come and tell me,’ A meaning laugh passed between the boys, Then Dick turned ht entered the house. Andy led the way through the garden. ‘* There is good news, Kate,” hesid. Tl tell you all about it. Shouldn’t wonder if we discounted old Somers yet.” He walked through the rear gate of the gar- den. Beyond it lay a broad meadow, bordered by the street on which the cottage stood, while ata distance extended the more thic:ly-settled part of the town, On the opposite side of this meadow was a growth of straggling willows, and beyond tbat the waters of a narrow river swept their grass-grown banks, It was toward this stream that Andy walked, followed by the curious girl, ‘* What ails you?” she demanded a “Pye got work to doat the house. hat are you bringing me here for?” ‘* For a walk,” said Andy, perversely. ‘You are a teasing wretch.” She caught his shoulder and stopped him. ‘Tell me now. [ll not go another step.” **'Yes, you will.’ * No, I won't.” ** You'll goon till you hear all I have to say. Then you’!l turn from me like you would from a squeezed-out rag.” ‘Now, that’s cruel, Andy. And it isn’t so, and you know it.” . **Don’t mind my nonsense, Kate. Sit down here and I'll tell you all about it.” They were now at the brink of the stream. He seated himself on one end of a log that occu- pied the bank at that point. Kate took a seat on the other end, “T's just this,” Andy broke out suddenly, “We've gota grip on old Somers that'll make him squeal worse than he makes the dollars. We've got backing, Kate. We're goin’ to haul him up Tato court, and go for him to the tune of a cool fifty thousand.” 4 “Is that what you brought me here for—to listen te fairy tales?” Kate queried, rising, and looking at him with a show of vexation. **'You don’t believe it? Now jist come to anchor ag’in and listen. It’s all as solid as a brick house. We're to see the lawyer this after- noon, and I reckon we'll open our batteries on the old miser afore he sees many more sun- rises,” Kate, her curiosity again aroused, resumed her seat, this time nearer to her companion, Witbout further beating round the bush, Andy told his story, beginning with the ac- count of their unsatisfactory interview with the mill-owner, which she heard with indignation, and ending with the story of their talk with the stranger. To this part of the account Kate listened in- tently, her eyes dilating with surprise and ope. “Well, that is strange!” she ejaculated, ‘** You never saw him before?” __ ** Never as I know of.” / ‘* What kind of looking man was he?” ~* A tall, stout sort of a chap. He looked good-natured—what you could see of his face for the whiskers. ell dressed, too; and took us into a handsome house, I think he means business,” ‘“* Men ain’t so good as that, often.” ** He hates Somers, he says.” **Oh! well, maybe that may be it. a long ways.” ‘* And love a short ways; eh, Kate?” She blushed slightly as she turned her head away. " i don’t see that that bas anything to do with it,” she muttered. Then she sprung up hastily, ‘*T must go to the house.” ““You always run away when I talk that Hate goes ‘* ] know; you don’t care for me since I’ve got @ wooden = oF **Oh, Andy!” Her voice was full of pain and reproach. ‘‘ You know very well that I care ever so much for you; but you will talk non- sense.—There, now!” She flung her arms im- Se round neck and kis eartily. ‘‘ We’ve been brother and sister all our lives, Andy, and we'll be so yet,” “But we ain’t brother and r; and I’m growing up, Kate; ana ere pted. “N ° nonsense,” she interru ow hush; nota word more. You're only a foolish boy, and I don’t know if you'll ever be — else, Was it that you brought me all the way down here for?” ** Come, . SF SoS MODI SARE. < os, te he ok ole ES8 r= FAT a fi matetres a - cies es PRES OES Crnt Sauies SE se fi ie aa 7 ‘ ma ve
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4 ** No,” he gloomily answered. ‘** W hat for then?” *“T’ll tell you. Since I’ve had that talk with Somers, and with that stranger, to-day, I feel six \years nearera man. I never thought of it afore, but I believe now that greedy miser played a sharp gameon my father, and druv him to drown himsel!.—Thbis is where it hap- pened, Kute. Here i3 where his hat and coat were found, From this very spot he jumped in- to the river and put an-end to himself, He was as good as murderei by Somers—robbed first and murdered afterwards,” Kate started back with a suppressed outcry. ‘* What do you mean?” she demanded. ‘** Jist what [say. Henever signed that paper. And I’m goin’ to proveit. 1’m goin’ to revenge him on that robber and murderer, and take from him the money he has made by robbery and bloodshed.” **Oh, Andy!” surprise, **T won’t say love to you.again, Kate, All I’ve got to say now is—revenge! When I get back the rights my father was robbed of, and make a beggar of that robber, maybe you'll be more ready to listen to me.” ‘*That time must speak for itself,” answered Kate, with dignity. ‘‘For the present— Oh, Andy!” she broke out, ‘can it beas you have said; and are you in earnest?” A By the ghostof my murdered father, I swear to revenge him!” vowed the boy, kneeling on he log, and holding up his hand in attestation. *““And by this wooden leg, [swear to revenge The girl’s voice vibrated with myself!” he continued, grasping his nearest | dimb. he loosened that shaft so that it fell! he did, by all—” ‘* Stop!” she commanded, ‘‘ You are saying what no man can prove, and Soo ven- geance for what likely never happened, If you take my advice you will give over all such foolish thoughts, and keep to what youcan prove, If ie get damages, that ought to be the end of Maybe ‘* Maybe he tried to kill me, too! Kate, if “Tt won’t, then! Vl hunt him, the miser!” Andy set bis teeth hard as he spoke, He was on his feet now, facing the girl, whose face was flushed with the excitement of the recent events, ** And you, Kate, Has that stranger been here again?” ** Yes,” she faltered. house and look in yesterday. stop, or speak.” * Let him; Kate, Find out what he wants, if youcan, The blamed rascal! I believe Somers is in that, too,” ‘*Somers is in everything,” answered Kate, breaking into a merry laugh. ‘ As for that man, Andy, leave me to tuke care of myself. If he should say or do anything I don’t like, then I may call on you for protection, But till then—” ‘Tf he insults you I'll break his ugly neck!” cried Andy savagely. ‘Very well, Now I must go to the house, And don’t you go and make a fool of yourself, Andy Blake!” Sbaking her finger at him in admonition, the lively girl hurried over the meadow homeward, Andy, on the contrary, seated himself again on the log, and sat long in brooding silence. “T saw him pass the But, he didn’t CHAPTER IV, THE GREAT DAMAGE SUIT, JoHN Somers, mill-owner and millionaire, was treated to a disagreeable surprise, A sum- mons was served on him to make answer why he should not pay damages in a suit brought = ape him for physical injuries done to Andrew Blake and Richard Wilson in his works through negligence on his part. John Somers was not given to swearing—he was not of the kind that break out that way— but he came very near to an oath on receivin this legal document. He had reasons of his own that made this very annoying to him. ‘Who is bebind this?” he asked himself forcibly, ‘‘It is not those boys, They have the pluck, no doubt, but pluck without money does not count in court, There is somebody backing them, Who is it?” He sat in reflection for several minutes, a look ef annoyance on his face behind which lay darker shadows, He then rose and walked to the door of the outer office. “* Has Mr. Bryant gone?” he asked, ** No, sir; he is talking to the foreman,” ** Ask him to be enough to step in A natty, sharp-faced personage made his ap- | | The Cripple’s Dead-Sure Clinch, pearance after a minute, and took a chair in the inner office, ‘ ‘Did you bring this document, Mr. Bryant?” ‘Yes, Just served an hour ago. Thought you would wish to see it at once.” ‘* Who is on the other side?” ‘Clark, PhineasClark, You knowhim, A good pleader in a damage suit.” ‘+ But, who is behind Clark?” asked Mr. Som- ers, impatiently. ‘: His clients, I suppose,” answered the lawyer elevating Lis brows, ‘‘ His clients? No, no. They are a pair of half-grown vagabonds, who could not raise a retaining fee in a suit against a grasshopper. There is a dark horse in the ring, Bryant. Who is he? ‘* Don’s know,” responded Bryant, shortly. ** Find out.” “T will.” ‘We must win this suit, Bryant.” * We will,” ‘*T am not so sure of that.” hishead. ‘The young rascals have something of a case.” ‘‘Have they? Then we must have the law and the profits,” Mr, Bryant looked meaningly at his client. ** You are not wanting in wit, friend Bryant,” rejoined Somers, with a short, disagreeable laugh, ‘But to come down to business. This Somers shook Clark, can he be managed?” | “Don’t know. Might try, Heis tough tim- ber, though. Won't give easily.” ‘*The witnesses are all in my employ,” said Somers, with a meaning smile, ‘‘I think the weight of evidence will be on our side, There is only one thing Iam troubled about—that dark horse.” ‘*Trust me for bim! He will need to be an ex- eee in hiding if he escapes my eyes,” assured ryant, confidently, “ Tf found—” ‘* That will come after,” interrupted the law- yer. ‘‘Onejobatatime, Now, Mr. Somers, to come down to the particulars of this case—” And for the next hour tbe lawyer and his Client were engaged in close and secret confer- ence. ‘‘'There is another way,” assumed Bryant, as he roseto go. ‘‘Itmightbethebest way. Offer a compromise, eb? Buy off the plaintiffs? How does that strike you?” “Tt won’t work. They will want more than the court would allow them. And, besides, I have myreasons, They must bebeaten, I must show fight; not weakness,” ** Beaten they shall be, then, if cash and cun- ning can purchase law.” Mr. Bryant thrust bis bat firmly on his head. ‘* Good-day, Mr. Som- ers. I hope to have that dark horse white- wasbed, so that you can see him, by to-mor- row.’ Mr. Bryant was too sanguine, To-morrow, and meny to-morrows, came, and the dark horse still remained invisible. Theastute lawyer used all the means at his command, He sought in vain to learn the secret from Mr, Clark. They were good friends socially, but Phineas Clark was not the man to be wheedled out of a busi- ness secret. It was a charity case, be said, The boys bad been ill-treated, and he had taken up their cause from pure benevolence, All of which Mr, syent, in his own mind, de- clined to believe, He knew his friend Clark too well for that, True, he might have taken the case on a percentage eement, but this idea Mr, Somers would not listen to. There was a dark horse, he declared; that dark horse must be brought into the light, The next step was to place spies on Mr. Clark and his two clients, to discover if they held con- ferences with any patron unknown, This, too, failed. They seemed to communicate with no | one, Bryant at length became convinced that Clark’s charity statement was the correct one, though Mr. Somers continued obstinate in this opinion, The rich mill-owner bad a reason for his ob- stinacy. It was one of his opinions that any lawyer can be bought. Yet Clark, as Bryant had said, proved to be tough timber. Hints of sure cash from the other side, were wasted on him, He worked the harder in his clients’ cause for every hint, “You see,” said Bryant to his employer, --© have told you that you do not do justice to the honesty of lawyers. Clark is not for sale.” ‘* Don’t talk nonsense to me!” cried Mr, Som- ** He has been poms that’s behind all this, and know by this time ers, impatiently. the trouble, There’s mone if you were sharp you where it comes from.” ‘* It comes from the air, or the ground, then,” — responded the lawyer. “ Neither the boys nor their counsel have had communication with any rich unknown, I'll swear to that.” ‘Well, what next?” asked Mr, Somers after a minute’s pause, “The witnesses, Has the other side sub- poenaed any of your workmen?” “ Yes ” ‘°Who? Give me their names, and a state- ment of what they know, and send them to my office. I keepa school for wiinesses, Mr. Som- ers. It is the most important part of the pro- fession.” There was alook on the Jawyer’s face that seemed to speak of ways dark and secret in his profession. ‘‘ There are one or two doubtful fellows among them, The others will be easily handled,” said. the mill-owner. ‘¢ Doubtful ones? Are they good workmen?” ‘Yes, Among my best, That makes them independent.” ‘* Haven’t you a better position to offer them? or an increase in wages? There are ways of getting the best of independence,” Mr. Somers bent his head in a moment's thought, ‘* Yes,” he aswered, ‘‘ That might be done.” ** Send them to me, then, after the promise cf an advance in wages.” Unluckily for the injured boys, all the wit- nesses were men in Mr. Somers’s pay. Their evidence was likely to be one-sided after’ the sharp. Mr, Bryant and the unscrupulous mill- owner were done preparing them. Mr. Clark, the opposite lawyer, was well aware of this, and worked like a beaver to make the most of a doubtful case. He bad a strong argument in his favor-—the crippled condition of his clients, A lost leg and arm would speak with a heavy weight to judge and jury. ere: was a splendid field here to work on the sym- pathy ofthecourt, _ Yet Clark knew weil how cold evidence puts out the fire of warm eloquence, The living of the witnesses was at stake ; would they be honest under these circumstauces? Just what line of argument Bryant intended to work, his opponent could not guess, but he wag satisfied that a strong effort would bo made to show that the boys had been hurt thr ogh their own carelessness, It was his purpose to show, if he could, that they had been injured through insecurity in the machinery, the resnit of negligence in the pruprietor or the foreman of the workshop, So time went on, until the Gomory for the case to be called in court. hen that da came, Mr. Clark was by no means easy in his mind, for a sufficient reason. made no effort tv delay the trial. That was as much as to say they felt sure of their case, And every sign that they felt sure made Clark feel doubtful, He did rot deceive himself. ~ kuew well that he had no child’s play before im, It is not our purpose to weary the reader with the details of a trialin court. The case in ques- tion would not be particularly interesting on pa- per, however interesting it was to the parties concerned ; and we will, therefore, hasten through it. Ic had excited much attention. The court- room was crowded—among the audience being: that whiskered ‘‘dark horse” about whom Mr, Somers had been so troubled in mind, and whom Mr. Bryant had sought so vainly to dis~ _ cover, He continued to occupy the background, Though evidently greatly interested in the case, he sat in @ retired corner of the court-room, and held no communication with lawyer or clients, Eloquent opening speeches were made by the lawyers—and in great wasted on the jury- men, who sat stolidly waiting for the evi- dence, It was not until the witnesses came to be ex~ amined that the reason for the confidence of the defendants became manifest. Hither the wit- nesses had been manipulated, or the plaintiffs had had no case to begiv with. Those hard-handed sons of toil swore strongly that the particular machine which the boys had operated was oue that bad given no trouble in its operation. It was worked by an’ overhead shifting device that was strongly bolted to stout. timber beams, and could not have given way unless meddled with. The machine worked easier when this shifter was loosened, but strict orders bud been given thatit must not be touched. All the witnesses swore positively that it could not have given way if it bad not been tampered. with, and one The other side. ate ae
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aw seme Al ea it >» \ of them added that he had seen Andy Blake *“‘monkeying” with it. As the trial went on the case seemed to go more and more against the plaintiffs, Mr. Clark put the two boys on the stand, and they testified that they had never interfered with the shifter, except one morning, when they had found it loose and shaking, and had tightened up tue bolts, As for loosening them, Andy pointedly asked the court if they thought he ‘“* looked like a fool,” They must have been loosened, he admitted, but somebody else had done it, This was a dangerous acknowledgment. Mr. Clark bit bis lip nervously. The jurymen whis- pered with each other, lf the shifter had been foosened, who would think of doing it but the boys themselves? At this critical moment in the case the court was startled by the sound of a loud, sharp ex- plosion that shook the stout walls of the building likeanearthquake. It seemed to come from a distance, yet the noise was so sudden and alarm- ing toat many of tue audience sprung to their feet and hurried from the room—among them tho whiskered stranger, Severai minutes passed before the sharp buzz of exclamations and remarks were at an end, and the court was unable to settle down again to business, Mr. Bryant then took up the cross-examination of the boys, and did it with such skull that he managed to confuse them, and to destroy the force of their testimony, When he had done, the jury seemed to believe that they hed lied, and that it was they who had loosened the shifter. Ifso, the accident was their own fault, sand they had no claim for damages, At this point Mr, Clark sprung to his feet and ‘begged the attention of the court. There were others of these machines in the factory, he de clared. It was a question of fact. Would not the judge send an expert to the factory to ex- amine these machines? It could be done while the case was going on. ‘* Your request comes somewhat late, Mr. Clark,” said the judge, coldly. ‘‘ If you wished to offer evidence in this direction you should lavelooked toitseoner. Wehavethe testimony of a dozen witnesses to the effect that the ma- chinery issecure. These are men of experience, whose own livesare in their hands, I cannot Bee that there is any room for question on this oint, of While the judge was speaking, a number of ths men whom the explosion had drawn from th» court, returned—among them the whiskered stranger, Their return was followed by a mo- mentary confusion, due to curiosity. The whisper quickly ran the round of the court that the explosion was due to a dynamite bomb, which bad gone off near the walls of the Somers Agricultural Works, where it had shat- tered the windows and done damage to the ma- chinery. While these whispers were passing round, judge and jury alike being interested in them, the stranger hastily wrote some words on a slip ot paper, which he folded and sent by a mes- senger to Mr, Clark, Tbe latter opened it, and his eyes lightened as tho read its contents, ‘“* Your Honor has spoken very much to the int,” he said to the judge, after order had een restored. ‘‘I therefore withdraw my re- quest to send an expert to the Somers works,— 1t is no Jonger necessary,” “Tt is not? Why not?’ asked the judge sharply. ats ‘‘ The question is settled,” answered Mr. ‘Clark blandly. ‘‘ Those secure ‘ shifters,’ which these honest witnesses swear areas firm as the solid earth, have become safe, at all events, for they rest upor the solid earth, ‘Will the gentleman be kind enough to ex- plain himseli?" asked the judge pointedly. **The court does not pretend to understand widilles,” “I would simply cay that the explosion, of which the court has just heard, has settled the question at issue. ature has served as our ex- pert, Three of those secure shifters lieat this moment on the floor of the factory—shaken down by an out-of-door explosion, and they are ‘the only part of the machinery that has fallen, ‘Your Hovor may draw your own conclusion from this significant fact.’ He steppe forward, and up to the judge the slip of paper which bad been given im, The judge read it intently. it Chis seems to alter the case,” he said, ‘if it 80. He spoke a few words in a whisper to an offi- @er of the eaqurt, who left the room in haste. ' nN i Oe t Paget eed A Luh Sie a h. 5 ‘*Have you any other witnesses to examine, Mr, Clark?” asked the judge. ‘*T have, your Honor. should like to cross- examine Mr, Albine.” The man in question was one of Mr. Bryant’s witnesses whose testimony had been given in a somewhat shaky manner, The news which had just been given to the court had evidently dis- turbed him, This Mr. Clark had seen, and questioned him so sharply that he grew con- fused and doubtful, and in the end gave testi- mony injurious to his principal. He had been in the factory for five years; he had never scen the shifters tightened; some of them might be a little shaky; he had seen Andy Blake working at his, and thought he had—yes, was sure he had turned the wrench to the right, ‘That was the way to tighten it up?’ asked Mr, Clark. ‘* Ye-s—yes, sir.” ** You are sure of that? Turning the wrench to the right was the way to drive the bolt into the timber?” “* Yes, sir, That would drive it in.” ‘*That willdo. You may step down.—I have nothing further to say, your Honor,” he con- tinued, turning to the judge, ‘‘ The elaborate attempt to break down the testimony of my wit- nesseg seems to have failed, 1 rest my case on this man’s admissions, and on the testimony of the explosion.” The testimony of the explosion was quickly given. The officer whom the judge had sent out returned, and gave his report in a whisper to his superior, “The statement given me by Mr. Clark js confirmed,” announced the judge. ‘‘ The shift- ers have been shaken down. No other impor- tant part of the machinery has fallen, Though I do not wish to interfere with the management of the case, [ deem it my duty to give this in- formation to the jury, in order that they may act intelligently on the actual facts at issue, The counsel may proceed,” In half an hour afterward the jury retired to deliberate on their verdict, The judge’s charge had been strongly in favor of the plaintiffs, CHAPTER V., A PRECIOUS PAPER, WE must now seek the scene of the explosion which had startled the court, and changed the whole aspect of the damage suit, while doin serious damage to the Somers Agricultur Works. Mr, Somers had not been present at the trial. He had affairs of his own that needed his atten- tion at his office that morning, and felt quite confident in his own mind that Mr, Bryant would gain a verdict in his favor, **T would not care much how it went,” he said to himself, ‘‘if it had not been for the awkward loss of that assignment, It is not the damages I may have to pay these young hounds, but what may comeafter. If they should question my claim to the patent, what have I toshow? I had a paper—but it is stolen—that would not go farincourt., It might be asked why it was not Ee berachs Si ds ing th 8 he spoke these words he was empty e shelves and drawers in his fire-proof pox in search of a business contract which was needed that morning, but had been mislaid. This was an event that was not uncommon in the history of John Somers. He was wanting in system, and his papers often went astray in con- sequence, Hardly a week passed but he had to make some such search as this, though this morning he found the task unusually difficult, “‘Tcan never keep things straight,” he mut- tered discontentedly. ‘‘ How if that patent as- signment had been mislaid in this way! If it was stolen, why has not the thief been on me for blackmail By this time the safe was nearly emptied of its documents, He thrust them hastily back. The per needed was not among them, “Hang it!’ he growled, ‘‘ where can it be? I have tried every place but that drawer where I never put ree but newspaper slips and other trash, I suppose I must look through it, thou Nothing is done till everything is done. He’ drew out the drawer in question and emptied its contents on the table. It wasa mixed collection of odds and ends that did not seem very promising. Yet out of it, as it lay, eee the corner of a folded paper, This drew out of the mass and opened, His eyes lighted up when they fell upon its contents, It was the m document, “Ry Jove!” he excinimed, ‘‘ who would have thought it? How didit get here? No matter; it is what I wanted.” He struck the call-bell on his table, Mr. Jones quickly entered. ‘*Here, Jones, is that contract, Take it to Mr. Simmons, and tell him to write to St. Louis at once.— Well?” as Jones halted, ‘That young girl is bere again,” he said. “The Wilson girl. She asks to see you.” ‘*Pshaw! I can’t be bothered! I am too busy, tell her.—No; send herin, I may as well endit. If sheis like her brother, [ will have to see her first or last.” As Jones left the room, his employer turned to the table, gathered up the papers in a mass, and tossed them back into the drawer, He was on the point of picking it up and returning it to its place in the fire-proof, when his eye fell on another carefully folded paper, which had been revealed in the turning over of the loose heap. He drewit ont, and started on doing so. Some-~ thing in its touch seemed to send an electric thrill through his nerves, “*Good Heaven!” he cried. ‘“Canitbe? It feels and looks like—” It was open before he had completed his sen- tence, “It is!” he cried, joyfully. ‘‘It was not stolen after all. Another piece of my corfound- ed carelessness—and of my accustomed good luck, Now let that suit go om. With this in my hands, I do not care a fig for its result! But I promise I will not lose this precious assignment so easily again, And, dangerous or not, it shall be put upon record.” be door opened as he spoke. He turned sharply and angrily, letting the document fall from his band to the table, It was Mr. Jones who bad entered, followed closely by Kate Wil- son. ‘‘ Excuse me, Mr. Somers,” he said, ‘‘ This is the giri—the young lady—whom you bade me to admit.’ “Yes. I had forgotten.” A more placable look came into Mr. Som- ers’s eyes as he noticed the unusual beauty of his visitor. “That will do, Jones. I do for you?” ‘*T am the sister of Richard Wilson, one of the boys who were hurt in your factory, sir.” ** Yes, so Mr. Jones tells me, Take a seat, Miss Wilson, I am sorry for your brother, very sorry. Can I serve you in any way?” ‘There wasa balance of wages due him, sir. We are poor and need it. I hope you will ex- cuse me troubling you—he has called for it in vain. ** Are yousure? There must be some mistake, We always pay to the cent.” **T am sure, sir.” ‘* Why, certainly, if our books show anything in his favor you shall haveit, And even if they did not I might make them show something, Such a pretty girl as you—” “Sir!” cried Kate, springing indignantly to her feet. ‘‘ I did not come here to be insulted, nor to ask for charity. I only derand my bro- ther’s due,” ‘Insult, child! 1s it insult to tell the truth? | As for the money—” ‘* You can keep the money!” exclaimed Kate, with flaming cheeks, ‘‘Or I will send some one for it to whom you will not dare to speak as you have td me!” She turned with the air of an angry queen, and took a step toward the door, ‘Stop, Miss Wilson! One mo—” He was not able to finish the word. For at that instant there came a sound that seemed to rend their ears in twain; so sharp and piercing that it was like an arrow driven into their brains instead of a sound. It had not ceased when the factory rocked like aship on an ocean billow, the floor seeming to heave beneath their feet, while the door of the office burst open and a sudden blast of air swept through the room. It was as much as they could do to keep their feet. Kate grooved a chair, turning pale as death, Mr. Somers supported himself upon the table. Ina second there came a crashing noise, the breaking of glass, the fall of heavy masses. rd were heard the cries of voices in loud arm, Mr. Somers ran wildly to the office door, too much scared to notice one result of the explo- | sion; namely, the disappearance of his valued document, It had been taken up by the blast of air,and swept away from the table. The other material, having been replaced in the drawer, was not disturbed. Kate Wilson followed him, as frightened as himself. They entered upon a scene of excite- Now, miss, what can
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from Mr. Somers,” The Cripple’s Dead-Sure Clinch. “ have seemed possible to produce in so short a space of time, In the factory all was tumult, confusion and ruin. Nota paneof glass was left in the win- dows, Piecesof machinery ley here and there upon the floor. Tools and inaterials were scat- tered indiscriminately. Here and there men Jay prostrate, hurled from their feet, some of them injured, others stunned. Through one cor- ner of the large room daylight appeared; the wall wes down, ‘* What is ii?” cried Mr. Somers, in a terrified voice. ‘' An earthquake?” ‘* Worse than that,” answered the foreman, who stood near him. ‘ Itisa dynamite bomb, Some devil bas tried to blow us all up.” “Who? What?” exclaimed Somers, staring round himin dismay, ‘‘ Dynamite? He must be caught, then. After him, men; he cannot be faraway. Lynch the rascal.” This suggestion did not need to be repeated. The men were furiousat the dastardly attempt upon their lives, and in less thana minute fifty of them had streamed from the factory through doors and windows, and were dispersing in all directions ia search of the bomb-thrower, If they had caught him, or anybody whom there seemed good reason to suspect, bis lease of life would have been short. They were too in- furiated to stop to consider law and evidence. But no fugitive was visible. On the contrary, hundreds of the townsmen were running in ail haste toward the scene of the explosion, little less startled than the workmen themselves. None of them had seen any person iu flight. The villain, whoever he was, had been sharp enough not to be seen running from the factory. Likely enough he had concealed himself, and joined the approaching crowd, The case was not one for Judge Lynch; it would have to be left to the detectives to ferret out. ; Within ten minutes after the explosion hun- dreds of people were around the factory, eager- ly observing its effects and speculating on the cause, Among them were the people who had left the court-room, Mr. Somers ordered the doors to be closed to keep them out of the factory. His effort was useless—there were too many open windows. In a minute the room was filled with curious people, prying, questioning, giving all sorts of reasons for the explosion. The shattered remains of a cartridge case were found near the point where the wall had been thrown down. It had probably been placed there with a time fuse, giving the villain time to get away. While all this was going on Kate Wilson had remained near the door of the office, pale as death from the fright she had received, resting her trembling hand on a piece of machinery, The wheels were still revolving overhead, the machines still in active motion; the engineer had evidently become demoralized. But, at that moment they began to slow down, and ina minute more became still. He had returned to his duty. The frightened girl walked to the nearest door. It was guarded by one of the workmen, whom Mr. Somers bad placed there on duty. ** Will you let me out?” she asked, ** Can’t doit,” hereplied,curtly. ‘‘ Got orders ‘*To let no one in, I heard him. He said nothing about letting no one out.” “*That’s so, miss; your head’s level,” said a man who stood near by. ‘‘And I don’t think the keep-them-out orders come to much, to look there.” He laughed as he pointed to the crowd on the floor, ** Orders is orders,” said the man surlily, “Nonsense! Come here, miss; we may finda door that is not kept by a fool.” / He led the way across the floor, followed by Kate, to the opposite side of the room, The door here s open, deserted by its warder, and Wp were coming in and out at will. “That chap accepts the inevitable,” said the conductor, with a laugh. ‘*Thereis no use to rd the flood-gates when the banks are down, Fou may get out this way, Miss Wilson.” She followed him through the door into the open space without. Hek pt by her side as she walked away. When thoy had got some little distance from the building she turned and looked at him closely, She stepped back hastily on noting his face, It was thatof the man who had been annoying her with his attentions! _ **You?? she exclaimed, “Te therernything frightful about me?” he arked, “What if 1 bavo admired you at n dis- tance, Miss Wilson? A cat may look at a queen. _ L weant you no barm.” ment and devastation, greater than it would ‘** Sir, you have annoyed and frightened me.” “Then I earnestly beg pardon, and must protest that I did not intend to. I was inter- ested in you, Miss Wilson, and for a good reason, It is in my power to help you and your friends.” ‘*We do not want your help,” she answered coldly, turning away. **T beg you will not be hasty, miss. Blake is your friend, I think?” ‘** He lives with us,” she replied. **He has been robbed,” answered the man. “Tf he had his rights, yonder great facto Andrew should be his, not John Somers’s! Suppose should say that I can make it his?” He spoke in a low, meaning tone. Kate turn- ed, interested in spite of herself, and looked at him more closely, He seemeda man of about thirty years of age, rather good-looking, and well-dressed. The expression of his face seemed frank and confiding. ** What do you mean, sir?” she asked, ‘* What I say.” You can—” ‘*T can do what I have said.” ** And for what reward?” **For your good opinion only, Miss Wilson. Ladmire and—” ‘*No more, sir!” she exclaimed, indignantly. ‘“You are the second to insult me to-day. Do not dare to follow me, or I will call some of those gentlemen to my aid, And do not dare to speak to me again!” She walked away, doubly beautiful in her in- sulted dignity. ** As you will, Miss Wilson,” he replied, cold- ly. ‘‘Remember what I have said. Thenextto speak will be you; not me,” He turned and walked toward the factory, paying no furtver attention to her, Half an hour and more after the time of the explosion passed before Mr. Somers turned awny from the scene of devastation and walked back to his office. His fright and excitement had driven all thought of the document he had found from his mind. Now the memory of it returned to him. He entered the office with a hasty step, think- ing it important to place the valuable paper in a safe place at once, He stopped suddenly, with his heart throbbing wildly with alarm, as his eyes fell on the office table. The drawer with its paves was there. The document was gone For a minute Mr, Somers stood as moveless as amarble statue. Then he hastened forward and uvervously examined the table, the drawer, the floor, the whole room, His search was in vain. The precious assignment had disap- peared. The baffled millionaire seated himself to think, resting his chin on his two hands, while his eyes continued to rove around the room in hope of a possible discovery. “Tf the explosion had disturbed things here,” he said to himself. ‘* But, nothing else is dis- turbed. Let mesee: There wasa blast of air. That | distinctly recollect. Could it have—” He sprung to his feet again and resumed his search of the room, One of the wirdows was raised a short distance, He lifted the sash higher and looked out. Nothing like the docu- ment met his eyes, and none of the people were near this end of the building, ‘*Pshaw! it is impossible,” he muttered, ‘*But drowning men catch at straws. It has been stolen—stolen this time surely, Some one has been in here, Jones!” He advanced to the office-door as he called. “Sir? answered Mr. Jones, who stood in the outer office. ‘* Have any of those people been in here?” “cs No sir.” ‘*No—are you sure?” ‘*Yes, sir. J have not left the office.” *** You are mistaken, Some one has been here. Some thief.” “Some thief? But there has been nobody, sir —nobody but that girl.” 7 “That girl? Ha! I forgot ber! I left her bere behind me. Can she? By Heaven, I be- lieve it! It is she—she, that bas stolen that pa- per! She shall restore it. Her house shall be searched, At once, before she can dispose of it, Jones,” Sir?” ‘Hurry to Police Headquarters. Ask the superintendent to come here immediately. Stay; I will go there. rant without delay. And by’ the way, Jones, is there any word from the court?” ‘* Yes, sir; this man is just from there,” He pointed toe man behind his, I want a search-war- that man said to ber?” ‘Ah! do you bring news, sir? How goes the ‘ case?” ** The case is over,” was thereply. ‘The jury were not out ten minutes,” ‘* Ha! their verdict?” doe ‘* Their verdict is for the plaintiffs, Mr. Som- ers. “The plaintiffs?” “Yes, sir. You are to pay twenty-five thou- pose dollars damages to each of the injured ys. CHAPTER VI, THE DAY AFTER, : “You kin bet the heaviext kind of hosses that old man Somers bas been discounted bad this time,” exclaimed Andy Blake, with a gay laugh, as he Jeaned Jazily back in his chair, beside an open window of the Wilson cottage. He kicked his wooden leg into theair to em- § | phasize his words. ‘¢ Old timber-trotter, I reckon you're paid for, « | this time,” he added. ** And you, too, old feather-lifter,” chimed in Dick, waving his empty sleeve, ie Mrs Wilson was bustling about the cottage, Laat { getting things ready for dinner. Kate sat in the nays shelling peas from their own little garden, ‘* Wifty thousand dollars! wy we arerich as |, Croesuses!” exclaimed Mrs. Wilson, with a flour- | ish of her tin soup-ladie, ‘‘ Butitain’t nonetoo — much for a leg and an arm.” ** It oughter be enuff to satisfy anybody that ain’t quite a hog,” averred Andy, **T should think so,” answered the good lady, with another flourish of her ladle. ‘“*But I’m a full-grown hog; so I ain’t satis- fled,” continued Andy, ‘‘ The blazin’ old miser tried to squeeze us; now it’s our turn to squeeze ** Better let well enough alone,” counseled Mrs, Wilson, - “* Let well enough alone! You see me doin’ i" it! What, when l’ve got the bulgeonthat old | squeeze-penny! I reckon I will!” aan **Me, too,” chimed in Dick, “If you ain’t got backbone enough, Andy, I'll lend you some 4 of mine. After his comin’ here last night, wigh 2 the police, and searching Kate’s pockets ani the a whole house fora paper— What was th..t pa- i, per, Andy?” Me. te dé “It’s something he’s mightily worked up | - about. Maybe something bout the petent. What else makes him think Kate stole it?” The inmates of the cottage looked at one an- “its other significantly at this suggestion. Kute in- (i deed gave such a start that some of her peas rolled to the floor, hea “T remember now,”she said excitedly. ‘‘I ig was so scared that I forgot it. There was a ; large sheet of legal-looking Peper lying on his “an table, covered with writing. L[happenedtolook = ~— at it while we were talking and saw at the bot- tom the name ‘ Blake,’ He says that Mr, Blake made over the patent tohim. Can this be the : aper? ta ‘Shouldn't wonder,” cried Andy. ‘That's | what makes him so anxious, If it is, and he’s ig lost it— Jehosaphat! ain’t he in a hole!” ‘‘T remember more now,” continued Kate, in — such excitement that she spilled half her peas on ~ the floor. ‘When the explosion came a blast of wind went through the office like a cyclone, © It picked the paper up and carried it away. I can see it now flying through the air! It must. — have blown it somewhere where he cannot find © it.” “If it did—” cried Andy, springing up, | **Come, Dick, I’ve got an idea,” beoall **So have I,” interrupted Mrs, Wilson, ‘‘My . idea is, you had best pick up them peas you’ve \ made Kate spill.” “a “All right,” said Dick, getting down on his | knees, and beginning to pick them up with his — one hand. a Andy flung himself at full length on the floor, and brought both his hands into play, laughing | may the while, < : ar “What is your idea?” asked Kate, cvriously, ** To see Mr. Mordaunt; the manthat’sbebind | us, you know; and that Somers’s lawyer ain't. been able to twig, spite of all his tryin’, I want to tell him bout that paper, and see what he thinks of it.” ; ' ** Better tell Mr. Clark, the lawyer,” suggested Mrs, Wilson, : aN ‘Mighty good; we'll tell him, too, There’s your peas! Now let's get, Dick.” | “Are you going to say anything to them about Kate’s adventure yesterday, and what “Dont say a word about it!’ broke in Kate. “There is nothing in it, and I wish I had not
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tt _ gomebody above the level of those boys, But _ they went in with a kind of assurance, I must at cane me cope you’ve put into this case, and a handful of oo he said, mentioned it. “Do nothin’ "bout it?’ cried Andy angrily. ** What sort o’ timber do you take me for? I’m goin’ to punch that feller’s head if I come ’cross him, You bet on that.” ** No, you must not,” declared Kate. Yes, | must.” ‘You shall not, I say!” she stamped her foot in vexation, ‘Tf L don’t fetch him a wipe with a wooden leg it’s queer.” ‘“*ff you dol’ll never speak to youagain. I am able to take care of myself, Audy Blake! When [ want your belp I'll ask you for it.” Andy looked up in Kate’s face. Her cheeks were red with excitement. ‘*Now she’s mad,” he declared. ‘‘ Goin’ to paddle her own canoe. Let’s go, Dick. She'll be flingin’ hot water on us next.” The mischievous fellow laughed so infectious- ly that Kate could not help joining bim. ** All right,” he said. ‘I won't burt the chap, Dunno as I’m much of a figure for that sort of a job anyhow.” He looked down at himself, “That is it, Andy; lam afraid you will get hurt, He is a strong, stout man, twice your strength.” ‘| bet bis leg won’t stand as much as mine,” rej ined Andy, as he stumped out of the cottage. ** 1 f both our legs was put in a coal-fire, I won- der who'd yell ‘enough’ first?” ** Go, if you’re going,” exclaimed Mrs, Wilson. **T’m tired of your nonsense, We can get noth- ing done while you’re here. Be sure and come back in time for dinner,” much,” answered Dick, earnestly. ‘ We're there, every time.” The next moment the two boys were making their way down the street, Andy stumping along bravely on his wooden leg, Dick’s empty sleeve waving like a streamer in the wind, yet as light-hearted as if they were whole and sound, _ Mrs, Wilson and her daughter stuod laughing in the cottage,. . ‘*They are two as fine boys as there are in the State,” declared the mother, “That is true,” acquiesced the daughter. ‘6 And with the money the court has awarded them we will be ricb, Kate,” * And happy, which is better than being rich,” averred Kate. Mr, Mordaunt, the backer of the bovs in their suit for damages, had hed reasons of his own for not appearing personally in the case, It was, perhaps, that he did not wish to be known as an open enemy of John Somers. He had, there- fore, after bis first interview with Mr, Ciark, in which he paid him a handsome retaining fee to undertake the case, kept in the background, communicating with the lawyer only by letter, As for the boys, he bad given strict orders that they should not come near him, : ~ It was not surprising, under these circum- stances, that Mr, Bryant had failed to discover the principal in the case, He had done his best, but the ‘dark horse” was much too d#rk for his eyesight. He had,in his own mind, come fully to the conclusion that there was no ‘‘ dark horse,” though Mr. Somers still held tirmly to the opposite opinion. It was with some surprise then, that on walk- - ing down Prince street the morning after the * trial the sharp-eyed lawyer saw the two cripples enter a house on that street that seemed above the level of the houses at which they would be - likely to visit. ‘‘ Who lives there?” said Mr, Bryant to him- ‘*Somebody with money, I ‘should say; learn. Somers may be right after all,” He carefully took down the number of the house in vis note-book and walked away, He was right. The house was what Mr, Somers might have called “‘the dark horse’s stable.” The boys were at that moment in close conference with their useful friend and helper, Mr. Mordaunt. _\ You've jist made us,” declared Andy, grate- “ And mind you, sir; we owe you every balance, You've got to be paid for your “A double handful,” chimed in Dick; “ one both of us boys.” : Mr. Mordaunt looked at them laughingly. — rs Bless your eyva, boys, I’ve paid myself well,” ‘To pinch John Somers in bis pocket Don’t say nor do anything about | is worth to me more than it hascost. As for your money, you haven’t got it yet.” ‘*The judge said we was to have it,” declared Andy, with some alarm. ** Ane the jury, too,” added Dick, ‘* But Somers, three, didn’t say so. He won’t pay a cent till he hasto. He’llappeal to a high- er court, and make all the deley hecan. Don’t dance yet, youngsters; you may be two years from your money—if you ever get it.” ‘Ever get it?’ echoed the boys in dismay, ‘Just so. A new trial may go another way. I think you can win; but nothing is sure in law. ‘* Except the rascality of lawyers,” broke out Andy, angrily. * Not even that,” laughed Mr, Mordaunt, ‘I fancy that most of them are honest men, But, business is business, even with lawyers.” ‘* And a mighty scaly business, most of it,” averred the vexed boy, ‘* What are we goin’ to do, Mr. Mordaunt? We'll starve a-waitin’ on the courts,” **Can you not get work?” ‘*Work? What sort? I dunno what we're good for,” ‘There may be something you can do. Til look around for you. Meanwhile, I might help you alonga little on the strength of a future verdict in your favor,” “We'd sooner you’d get us somethin’ to do,” asserted Dick, earnestly, ‘* We’re not beggars, Mr, Mordaunt.” a ‘*No kicking in the traces, young fellows! I am driving this team, and I want you to mind the reins, and keep the bit between your teeth, No talking: you understand?” ‘‘ Mum’s the word, eh?” ‘© That’s about it,” * All right; we'll be as quiet as two crowsina cornfield.” tin a a brass monkey on a gate-post,” added ick, ‘*Very well. That’s all, I judge.” “Not much,” declared Andy, half,” ** What do you mean?” “ We've picked up some funny bits of news, Mr, Mordaunt. We put out this morning to tell ther to you or Mr. Ciark, Reg’lar eye- openers, Old Somers has been showin’ his hand.” j ** Eb! he has, has he? In what way?” ** TH] tell you.” Audy thereupon related the important events which bad happened the day before—Kate Wil- s0n’s visit to the mill-owner, her glimpse of the paper signed ‘‘ Blake,” the explosion and the *“Tt’s not | carrying sway of this paper by the current of air, the visit of officers to their house with a | search-warranpt, and the thorough search which ee had heen made, without result; he was about to add the story of Kate’s admirer, and what’ he had said, but remembered in time that he had promised silence on this point. Mr. Mordaunt listened to all this without a word, but with a close attention which showed that be felt it to be of deepimportance. When Andy had finished, he sat in silence for a minute or two. “She is sure that the name was ‘ Blake?” he asked, at length. «Sure as shootin’, No mistake in that.” “It must have been the assignment.” Mr. Mordaunt seemed talking to himself. ‘If he has lost it— He must have done so; what else was he searching for? Did the officers say what they were after?” he asked Andy. ** Yes,” broke in Dick, ‘I heard one of them say to another that a valuable document had been hooked, and that Kate had been there when it went.” “Tt must bave been swept into some corner of - ag ' ‘* Don’t believe it,” broke out Andy suddenly. “That man told Kate—” Mere He grew suddenly silent, biting bis lip, \ ‘*What map? What did he tell?” ‘* Nothin’. I promised not to mention it,’ ‘© You must, if it is important.” ‘*T told Kate I wouldn’t; and I won’t!” ‘You think some man picked it up?” ‘T went through that sort o’ thing yesterday,” said Andy obstinately, ‘‘ Ain’t takin’ no cross- questionin’ to-day.” Mr. Mordaunt laughed. ‘Then 1 must ask Kate,” he answered, ‘‘I must know what this means. The affair is too portant to leave a stone unturned. I must know who that man is, and what he said,” “You won't from me,” vowed Andy, setting bis lips firmly, a Nor from me!” echoed Dick. . “Tl bave it, though, I’m a very fox when The Cripple’s Deac-Sure Clinch. i I’m on the track of asecret. I'll tell you this, boys: if John Somers has lost that document he is in the tightest sort cf a hole. 1t ia not record- ed—he knows why; if it is lost, we have him] But, the wind could vot well have swept it oat of his office; be may find itagain. If there isa chance that anybody else has it, I must know. If Kate has locked your lips she must unlock them.” ‘¢ Dunno if she will,” answered Andy. ‘‘ She’s mighty obstinate, sometimes,” : ‘* But you can point me out the man?” ‘¢ Not without Kate says so.” ‘**-You’re much too loyal for your own good,” . exclaimed Mr, Mordaunt in a tone of vexation, ‘*) must and will know this secret. All my plans may rest on it, You may gonow, And don’t come here again, I don’t want tu be known in this business, If you learn anything, write to me. I will see you then if it is neces- sary. Good-by.” In a minute afterward the boys were on the street again. CHAPTER VII. A ROGUE AND A LAWYER. A MONTH has passed since the date of our last chapter. During that period events of impor- tance to our characters bave occurred. Mr, Somers hes not been idle. His factory is in full repair, and is running again as actively as if nothing bad bappened. But the man who caused the damage is still at large. The police authorities, the detectives, the townspeople, have all been energ* tically on the look out for him, inspired by an offer of one thousand dollars’ reward, but no trace of him can be found. He bas done his work ard kept his secret, As for the missing assignment, Mr. Somers bas not succeeded in finding it. His search of the Wilson cottage was succeeded by a thorough search of his office and its vicinity, Butin vain; no trace of the valuable document could be found, It had vanished as utterly us if the earth had opened and swallowed it. In the Wilson household all has gune well. Mr. Mordaunt bas supplied the family with money for its necessities, saying that he would repay bimself out of the damages awarded the injured boys by the court, when paid. When paid? It was growing doubtful when they would be paid. Application hnd been maie by Mr. Bryant in court for a new trial, on the plea of irregularities in the first, This application had just been argued and refused. The talk now was that the case would be ap- pealed to a higher court, Such was the outlook of affairs on a morning at the end of the period in question, Jotun Som- ers, the mill-owner, sat in his office iu nioody silence, and with a look of doubt on bis wrinkled face, His eyes were fixed on the opposite wall, while his fingers nervously tore a bit of paper to fragments. ** What can have become of it?” he at length muttered in low tones. ‘Fool that I was, not to record it! But I dared not while Blake was living. I was afraid torisk that peper to offi- cial inquiry. After he had drowned himself there seemed no use, There was only a baby to claim the patent, But tbat baby is now almost aman; the paper is gone, and thereis nothing to show that it ever existed. John Somers, you have played the fool. If the Blake claim is opened again, what defense have you to offer? None, none!” For awbile he sat like one lost in deep reflec- tion, the look of vexation on his face slowly deepening into an expression of malignity. ‘“Only that boy stands between me aud my wealth |” he muttered. ‘If he were gone— [ tried it once, butio vain. He lost his leg, where l wanted bis life. Tue next time there must be no failure—no failure.” Something like a shudder shook his frame, but bis face had grown pitiless in its expres- sion. : ‘Tf I had the paper I would not fear him,” continued the schemer. ‘But that lost—all is atrisk. That girl must havetakenit! Saewas alone in the office bebina me. It lay open so that the signature could be seen. No one else entered afterward. She bas it—or has given it to the boy. What then? My years of labor areatrisk! Shall a cripple’s life stand between me and safety? No, a thousand times, vo!” A sound at the door at this moment caused bim to hastily resume bis usual attitude and to clear his face of the ominous look tha |.y upon it. It was Mr. Jones who entered, to announce that Mr. Bryant was without. ‘‘Bryant? Show him in, Ah! how do you “ A AA = “J x net a ae OO ee he f, 5, hive, - ie | Ail =
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8 The Cripple’s Dead-Sure do, my worthy sir?’ as the lawyer entered. “ fei yourseif toachair, What news?” “I neve taken out the necessary papers for an appeal, ’ announced Bryant, drawing up a chair to the table and seating himself. ** Are we safe to get it?” “No trouble, It can’t be refused.” ** Then I hope there will be no more theatrical denouements. That bomb business settled the ease before. Clark handled it skillfully. He turned the jury on that.” ‘* Very true, Toey were shaken before though, by that witness who swore that he saw the boys tighten up the bolts,” **Albine, yes; the white-livered hound! I kicked him out of the factory the next day, asa warning to the others.” “ The deuce you did!” exclaimed Bryant, with a look of dismay. ‘‘ Why, hang it, Mr. Somers, is that your idea of business management?” ** What’s wrong about that? Whatwould you bave me do?” ‘*Wbat? Why, give the man the best place in your factory?” **Rasard him fortreachery? Have all my other witnesses think it will pay them to turn on m:?’ ‘* Yur other witnesses are not fools,” answer- ed Bry.not, sharply. ‘‘ You have made a dan- gerous biuader, sir, Albine did not tell half he knew. Clark got him nervous, I was afraid to take bim up afterward. The spigot was open, avd I was afraid that the wrong sort of liquor might flow,” ** Ab! you think, then, I did wrong in dis- charging him?” ** Wrong? Worsethan wrong! A blunder like thet is nextdoor toacrime. The fellow may ruin your case in another trial,” **T will put him on again to-morrow,” cried Somers, hastily. ‘*I was avgry, and—” ‘* Wise men do not act when angry.” **T will send for him at once,” ‘Don’t be too hasty. To show your purpose mi>. »~ Senne ee eee eee ee ~ ‘* Why, somehow I feel as if 1 could play base- ball with my game arm,” ‘Tell yer what, Dick; they’ve got science down fine,” affirmed Andy. ‘Ts that what they call science? Makin’ arms and legs that go like clock-work?’ ‘*That’s what I call science.” ‘Then they got it down fine,sure. I danno much ’bout science, but I know it was mighty good in Mr, Mordaunt to buy us these continu- ations. Why, nobody ’d ever know that there wasu piece of you missin’, Andy. Your new leg goes as natural as the one you had cut off.” “And your new arm moves so pretty that I can hardly tell which is the flesh and blood, and which is the steel and leather one.” They bad now passed into a dark space which a almost beyond the feeble rays of the distant amps. . ** It’s something to be built up new,” affirmed ndy. “ To be patched out like a torn coat, so’s a feller can’t tell which is the coat and which is the patch.” ‘“*T begin to feelas if I was Andy Blake, all there again,” ** And I feel like the old time Dick Wilson.” It is sometimes bad policy to speak your names in the midnight darkness. The two boys found it so, for hardly bad the words left their lips when they were surrounded and seized, Three stalwart men had suddenly sprung upon them, two from behind trees that bordered the roadway, the third from the corner of a build- ing. a an instant they were in the hands of those men, gripped with a strength far beyond their wer of resistance, ‘* What's all this about?’ demanded Andy. ** Let go, you footpads, or—” * Shet up, youngster!" cried his captor, sav- agely. ‘‘Come along, and keep quiet, if you don’t want to be hurt.” ‘*Much I will!” exclaimed Andy, struggling energetically to escape, But a sparrow might as well have sought to break from the talonsof aneagle. His captor had twice his strength, At the same moment a sharp call for help came from Dick's lips. ‘*Stop that chap’s pipe,” cried ,the fellow who held Andy, ‘He'll have the beaks on us.” In an instant more a bandage was drawn tightly round Dick’s mouth, effectually stopping bis eloquence. Andy was quickly served in the same way. ‘“Now off with ’em,” cried the speaker of the party. ‘That yell mought fotch some bloody meddlers down on us,” The two boys were hurried from the spot; much against their will, but they were powerless in the bands of their captors, A short distance san is them to the —— of a narrow street, which here entered the b highway in which they bad been captured. In- to this the kidnappers turned, grasping the boys strongly by the shoulders, and push them down the dark and narrow passage, ‘ After a hundred yards of progress in this di- rection, they stopped in front of a house which stvod alone on one sideof the way. Leaving the captives in the hands of his associates, the leader of the party unlocked and threw open the door of this house, “In with the beggars,” he commanded. Andy and Dick resisted, but they were quick- ly half-pusbed, half-carried, into the house by their stalwart captors, the door being immediate- ly closed and locked bebind them. The sage in which they now stood was of midnight darkness, Not a ray of light illu- mined its intense blackness. ‘Steady now, till I strike a glim,” came in the voice of the leader. There followed the sharp crack of a match, and a gleam of light shot through the gloom, Ina minute more the steady luster of a lamp lit up the scene. It revealed a narrow, whitewashed passage, a group of three ruffianly-looking men, whose faces were balf concealed by masks, and two boys who were as rages oe jo as ime heyy ever been in their lives, hat villainy lay behind all this they could not imagine, The bearer of the lamp led onward, his comrades forcing the youthful captives to fol- low. A door at the end of the passage was thrown open, and they found themselves in a low-ceilinged room, which seemed to have been originally used as a kitchen, for an old-fash- ioned fireplace occupied a broad space in its rear wall, Here a pile of logs was burning, and over it
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thung a large caldron, which was steaming away as if filled with boiling water. The captives were seated in chairs, to which they were firmly bound by short ropes, This done, the bandages round their mouths were removed, ** You kin talk now, if it’ll do you any good; or yellif ye feel like it,” declared the speaker, ** You'll not fotch anybody if ye split yer blaz- in’ heads off, I tell you that.” Instead of yol.ing, as they had been given liberty to do, the boys looked closely at their captors. They saw three roughly-dressed men, two of them tall and stout; the third, he who had spoken, of smaller, but wiry build, Of their faces, only the eyes and foreheads were visible, the remainder being hidden by blackened masks, Alithat could be made out was, that they were men of low foreheads and fierce eyes, and that their heads were covered with close-clipped hair. That of the leader was of sandy hue; the others were dark, “You boys is mighty ’commodatin’, and we are much obleeged,” said the leader of the gang, seating himself and looking the captives in the face, with a humorous wrinkle round his foxy eyes. ‘‘ We moughtn’t knowed you in the dark, if you hadn’t told us yer names, Them was the names we'd been sot to nab, and we nabbed you.” ‘*You were set to nab us then,” answered Andy quickly. ‘‘ What for? Who set you? What does anybody want us for?” ‘‘ We haven’t any money,” added Dick. ‘Our clothes ain’t worth pawnin’, I don’t see what you're spectin’ to get out o’ us.” ‘*That’s what gits me,” asseverated Andy. The three men looked at them, two of them with lowering visages—they bore the aspect of brutal, soulless ruffians—the third with wrinkles of amusement round his eyes, ‘*We mought get somethin’ fur ye at the hos- pertals,” he affirmed, ‘‘Jist to cut up for doc- tor’s meat. Ye didn’t know that was our bizness, hey? “You ain’t goin’ to murder us?” asked Dick, in alarm, ‘* Murder you? That’s toougly a word, young , feller, We've got more perlite ways o’ sayin’ hy ‘Shut up, Dick,” said Andy. ‘‘ Don’t you see ho’s jist guying you. Come down to biz, old iuxy; what did you fotch us here for?” Andy had, by this time, recovered his old reck- le s daring. “*Ye're a ari coon, sartain,” answered the wuffian, ‘* Well, I’m ready fur bizness, if you are. What we want is a paper which you’ve tu‘: possession of, and which you've got to fork over, or you'll git burt,” ‘* A paper?” asked Andy in surprise, ‘‘ What sort ofa paper? T’llsell you all the papers I’ve got fora nickel. Blame if I know what ye’re drivin’ at.” “Don’t ye play that on us, youngster. It isa -vallyble paper as was stole by a gal named Kate Wilson, that’s sister to one o’ ye, and was guv to Andy Blake or Dick Wilson to keep. Thar’s the whole thing in a nutshell, We want that vally- dle doc, or ye’ll ’arn what sort of night-owls we we are.” ‘‘{ don’t know what you mean,” asserted Andy, bewildered. ‘‘ Dick, did you hear any- ‘toing of this? Did Kate have any such paper?’ ‘NN. t as [ ever heerd on, I’m ’feered this f-lior’s sittin’ on the wrong eggs. Whero’d Kate git sich a paper?” ‘From the private office of Mr. Somers, the ricn mill-owner,” answered the captor, looking keenly at the oe goes sae A change of expression came across their faces; they remembered Kate's visit to the tac- tory, and the subsequent search of their house, ‘* You know more than yoa’ll tell, you young Tats "said the man savagely. “ I kin see it in yev faves, Tell ye what it is, ye’ve got to show up, or yell be hauled up. Once I want ter know: are ye goin’ to fork over that there paper?” The boys both declared earnestly that thero was no such thing in their possession, “’Tain’t in yer pockets, maybe; but ye’ve hid it somewhere, Tell us where it is, and tell us no lie, or we'll bile the truth outo’ ye. Come nov, let out,” They declared, more earnestly than before, that they had never seen the paper in question, au knew nothing about it. Goin’ to play stubborn, are ye?” asked the men, in a savage accent. ‘ Ye’ve got the wrong gort to deal with, youngsters, I reckon we'll mako youremember better. Fotch the persuad- er, boys.” His companions lifted from over the fire the steaming caldron and placed it on the fluor. The boys looked on with a quiver of dread. ‘*Now see yere, youngsters; we're goin’ to treat ye to a b’ilin’, ’cept ye own up. Last chance now. Where’s that paper?” **T know nothing of any paper,” declared Andy earnestly, ‘* Take that one, boys,” ordered the man, “I bet we make him talk more to the p’int,” Andy’s chair, with him on it, was lifted to the brink of the boiling caldron, whose steam filled the air with mist, **Tn with his leg, if he don’t speak.” One of the men took hold of Andy’s leg—the artificial one, as it happened. The boy sat silent, though with a covert smile ou his face. **He’s playin’mum. In with it: I bet itll fotch him to his wits.” In a second more the boy’s leg was plunged in- to the boiling hot water! The ruffian fixed his eyes sharply upon his face, expecting to bear from him a yell of pain. To his utter surprise, not a sound came from —* lips, nota show of feeling marked his ace, A minute passed, Andy sat unmoved, a mocking smile on his lips. ** Well, I'll be fizzled!” cried the man. ‘‘ What’s the boy made of?” He looked at Andy almost in consternation, “Pll be stone-jugged if Il ever see’d the like, Own up, now, and we'll take it out,” ** Got nothin’ to own up,” averred Andy,quiet- ly. ‘‘If you b’ile all the meat off my bones I can’t say no more,” ‘¢ Why don’t ye yell, then?” ‘* What fur? Yellin’ won’t do no good; so what’s the use?” ** Well, Pil be blazed! Take his leg out, boys; ther’ aiu’t no use to b’ile cast iron,” Andy’s leg was withdrawn from the water, in which it had lain for full five minutes, The three men stood looking at him with amazement depicted on their faces, The boy sat as unmoved asif being boiled alive was an everyday effair with him, ‘* Well, I'll be blowed!” cried the ruffian, with an oath of deep meaning. ‘‘ Try the other one, erds; they can’t be both made of cast-iron. on’t take the leg this time, though. I’m soured on them legs! Put this chap’s arm in, and see if he don’t squeal.” They lost no time in obeying. Dick, who made no effort to resist, was untied and seated on the floor. “ Hain’t you got nothin’ to say "bout that paper, "fore we b’ile you?” asked the speaker. “Only that I don’t know nothin’ about it,” answered Dick. “Stick 1t in, pards; he’s as stubborn as other,” Dick’s arm was thrust into the hot water to theelbow. But chance brought him the same fortune that it had Andy. It was his artificial arm that was left to boil. The men stood looking at him in expectation of @ scream of agony. Surely this time their victim would equirm and yell for mercy. Nota bit of it; Dick kept as impassive as Andy had done before him, Not a sound came from his lips; not a sign of pain marked his face. ‘Well, may I be parboiled!” exclaimed the ruffian, ‘‘ Something must be out of kelter with that water. It can’t be hot. Stick yer band in, Bill, and try.” One of the men thrust his hand to the wrist into the steaming caldron. In an instant he jerked it out again with a savage execration. * Hot as blue blazes!” he exclaimed, The first speaker, not yet satisfied, tried it himself. ‘*Hot! I should smile!—Take the boy’s arm out, Bill, I guv it up, Pll sw’ar I do!" Dick’s arm, also, was then withdrawn from the water. e three men stood looking in a perplexed fashion at their captives, who smiled up with the sweetest innocence into their faces, “Well, I'll be keel-hauled!” affirmed the leader, ‘*This bangs Bannager. I never seen mt in my born days. What's to be done, 8 ** Fasten em up and leave ’em,” said the man called Bill, ‘‘ We've got to study this thing over, boys, Thar’s some sleight-o’-hand "bout it, sure. This suggestion seemed acceptable. The pris- loners were seized and dragged into an adjoining room, Here were a couplo of strong iron chains, fastened to staples let firmly into the floor, At the end they bore manacles like those of a handcuff, ‘Fasten one feller’s b’iled leg, and t’other one’s b’iled arm,” ordered the leader, ‘‘ Maybe The Cripple’s Dead-Sure Clinch. 9 they'll fling up the sponge when they feel cold iron round hot meat.’ In a moment more Andy’s false leg was seized at the ankle, and Dick’s false arm at the wrist, and firmly clasped by the iron manacle. The men looked at them, They gave no sign of n. “Well, I'll be salted down! I'll swear if I ain’t clean dished!” cried the leader. ‘‘ Come, chaps; they’ll wait for us till we come back, anyhow.” The next minute they were gone. The boys were left alone, CHAPTER IX. A SCHEME TO WIN A FORTUNE. MORNING dawned on the Wilscn household. Mrs. Wilson was up betimes and had breakfast ready with her usual dispatch. Kate mean- while was engaged up-stairs at some domestic duty. « Kate !” called the good lady to her. ** Well?” came the clear answer, “ Won't you stir up them boys? They’re mighty lazy this morning. Must have been out too late last night.” ‘*T should think so,” said Kate. ‘* They weren’t in at bedtime, and I didn’t hear them come.” ‘*No more did I,” answered her mother. “ They’ve been skylarking somewhere. They’ve got to give an account of themselves, I won’t have no such doings in my house, Call them up. Breakfast’s near ready.” The voice of Kate was soon heard, calling in musical accents for Dick and Andy; but no re- sponse came, Then she knocked on their door, with increasing loudness, but in vain. ‘* They are sleeping like logs,” she cried. “Pull the covers off; empty a pitcher of water on them; wake them up somehow,” screamed back her mother, in a tone of vexa- tion. The next sound heard was that of an opening door; then came a repressed cry of surprise and alarm; then Kate’s voice again sounded: ** They’re not here, mother!” ** Not there? You're dreaming, girl.” ‘* They haven’t come home, The bed has not been slept in.” Mrs, Wilson’s only response was the clatter of her feet on the carpetless stairs. In a minute more she plunged hastily and breathlessly into the room, ** Not here?’ she exclaimed. ‘* Are you sure, Kate? Have you looked— My stars, it’s so! the bed’s not been touched.” Tbe two women stood looking at each other in alarm, Nothing of the kind had ever hap- ped in that household before. Under Mrs, Vilson’s strict rule, her son and her ward had always kept good hours, To be out at bed-time was @ rare occurrence with them. To be out all night had never before happened. ‘** Where can they be?” cried Kate, in a voice of alarm. * Sorrow if I can tell,” answered the old lady, ‘* I'm sore afraid something’s wrong.” So (’m sure something has happened,” declared ate. As a forlorn hope the house was searched from garret to cellar, but in Vain, no trace of the missing boys could be found, ‘* What to make of it I don’t know,” exclaimed the old lady. ‘Could the scapegraces have run away?” **Run away? What for?” ** What do boys generally run away for?” “On account bad treatment; or because they are fools,” answered Kate. ‘Neither of those causes exists here. Andsee! Here are all their clothes, they have taken nothing!” ‘¢ Then something has happened to them!” de- clared Mrs, Wilson, sinking unnerved into a chair, ‘‘Something dreadfu , mae be.” **Oh! could Mr. Somers— n Kate, in a sudden fright. ‘They must be looked for, at once!” cried the. “The we do, ate? Oh, my! the breakfast is all burning up. there’s nobody but you and me to eat it; and we've got no appetites! Oh, what will become of us all?” An involuntary smile came to Kate’s lips at her mother’s medley of cares. She threw her = around her, and kissed her on the fore- ead. ‘*There, don't worry, mother, It will all turn out some frolic after all. You'll see, I'll tell ou what Ill do. Vl go see Mr, Mordaunt. e’s been so good to us, and has done so much for the boys; he will know what to do better than we,” old lady, springing vp with new energy. lice must be informed. What she > Wnts. aa oe
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10 The Cripple’s Dead-Sure Clinch. ** Yes, yes, Kate; that’s a good idee, away! Don’tloseaminute! Butstop; you must eat your breakfast first.” **T can’t eat a mouthful,” declared Kate. **'You shall tak» a cupof coffee, You mustn't go without it. And you'd best eat something too, Come, do try, Kate!” She hustled the alarmed girl down to the table, and literally forced her to make a moder- ate meal. In an hour afterward Kate Wilson made her appearance at the house of Mr, Mordaunt. She was in a state of great alarm. Though she had tried to convince her mother that there was nothing in it but a boyish frolic, she had not convinced herself, and her fright grew with every step she took. She loved one of them as a brother; she loved the other with more than sisterly affection, In spite of her laughter at Audy’s boyish loye- making, there was a very soft place in her heart for him, and her fear that some disaster had happened to him now made her more than ever aware of this. ** What can be the matteri” exclaimed Mr. Mordaunt, gazing with some alarm at her flusb- ed and frightened face, ‘‘ What has brought you here so early, andin such haste? Has any- thin happened?” “Yes,” she gaspingly uttered. dreadful, I am afraid.” She sunk ivto the chair which he offered her, white with her growing alérm, ‘* Something dreadful?’ he cried. ‘' What is it? Tell me quick! Has anything happene: to my-—to the boys?” *““{ don’t know. I am so frightened, Mr. Mordaunt. They have been out all night, They never came home. It never happenec before, There has been some accident, or something has been done to them. 1 cameto you. I didn’t know what else to do.” “That was right, my child! I can do more than you. Do not be s> scared. They may be up to some mischief. There, there! keep cool; teli me all about it,” In hasty accents Kate did so, giving her reasons for fearing that this was more than a boyish frolic, “That paper that was searched for—Mr. Somers’s threats—the verdict—I can’t help be- ing frightened.” ‘‘T doubt if you have much reason for it,” he answered in a tone that helped to reassure her, ‘‘ There, leave it to me. I will do all that can be done. Go home, now, and keep cool,” **'You will huve them searched for?” She looked wistfully into his benevolent face. ** Yes; trust me, and— By the way, [ want- ed to see you. What is the story of that man who accosted you, and told you that it was ia his power to force Mr. Somers torestore Andrew Blake the property be had stolen from his fath- er? The boy gavemea hint of this. It may be of greatimportance, Tell me the whole story. You do not object to?” ‘* Not at all, sir, to you; I would not want it ony known. The man insulted me, and | orbade him ever to speak to me again,” ** What did he say to that?” **That he would obey; that the next to speak should be myself,” **He did, eh? There must be something in this. He may be right. Have you seen him since?” ** Yes; but he does not speak to me, nor even jiook at me, Before, ho was always annoying me with his looks.” ‘*T must hear this whole story,” said Mr. Mor- daunt decisively. ‘'The man that acts that way hasa meaninginit, Tell mo all you know of him, and: the very words he used, I do not ask from curiosity, my child. Much may turn upon this.” Kate, excited by the importance which he ve to an incident which she had dismissed om her thoughts, repeated as well as she could remember the very words the man had used. Mr. Mordaunt listened with grave interest. **The next tospeak should be yourself?” he repeated after ber. * Those were his words, sir.” * He was right, The next tospeak must be ‘* Something yourself, ** What do you mean, Mr. Mordaunt?” ** That you must speak to that man, and learn from him what his words mean.” *t Oh, sir, I cannot do that!” cried Kate, with adeep blush. ‘ After the way he has spoken to me, and looked at me.” ‘*My dear girl, his looks or his words won’t hurt you. I respect your feelings, but there is Go right | too much at stake to Jet maidenly reserve stand | ; his hopes from it, in your way.” ** But, mercy, sir, he may be making love to | me! That’s what he was hinting at.” . ‘* Well, that’s just what I want him to do! My lass, you’ll have to get used to being made loveito, if you keep as pretty as you are now.— Now, keep still,"—as Kate half-rose, with a flushed face,—‘' hear methrough, ‘The man has a secret—a precious secret I hope—to sell! We want it—you as well asI; it may be invaluable tous, But, if we want it we must pay its price, This price is not money, but Jove, or its counter- feit. Kate Wilson, you must speak to this man; you must listen to him; you must let him talk love, if he will, and appear to encourage him; you must wheedle from him that secret.—Do you hear and heed? You must.” **Oa, sir, I cannot!” Her face grew full of rosy alafm, ‘It is no easy task, my girl, I know, But, look on it asa first lesson, in what will come easy to you byand by. Have you had no ex- perience already?” He looked iuto her blushing face with a smile, ‘*No, no; except—” She hesitated, and grew suddenly silent. **Except? Then you have had your lesson, I thought so.” “*Ob,‘sir, it was only—only Andy!” “Only Andy! So; the boy is losing no time either!” Mordaunt laughed pleasantly. : ‘‘ Well, suppose you treat this mun as you treated Andy?” ‘*But I told Andy that he was a foolish boy, and that he should leave all such nonsense till he was old enough to know better.” ‘* He may becoine old enough to know more, I doubt if be will become old enough to know better,” rejoined Mr, Mordaunt, looking mean- ingly into her face, which was doubly pretty from its rosy hue, “ Well, this is a man, and you will have to treat bim more mercitully, Do not think | am joking, Miss Wilson,” he oon- tinued, more gravely, ‘*I am in solid earnest, You must encuurage this man to make love, and must demand the price of your concessions, You must, my deur, and—you will,” **T will!” she echoed, in a tone that was faint, | but resolute, ‘'[t is a hard task you set me, Mr. Mordaunt, I had rather put my hand in | the fire, But, if you think—” “*T think it may win Andrew Blake the for- tune that has been stolen from him, and bring this rogue of a Somers the punishment he de- serves,” **Then I will doit, much as I shrink from the task, I will doit!” **That is right! There may be nothing in it. Thers may be much. If it fails, there will be | no harm done; you can jilt the fellow again, If it succeeds—” ‘*T will doit,” she repeated, ‘* Now I must go and cheerup mother. Is there anything more, Mr, Mordaunt?” **Notnow. But lose no time aboutthis, You will know how to manageit, I trust to yourin- stincts, and girlish witand wisdom, And report to me if anything of importance is learned.” **T shall not fail, sir.” In a minute or two afterward Kate was on her way home, with new thoughts in her head and new hope in her heart, The blush still mantled her cheek as she hurried through the street homeward, Mr. Mordaunt stood at his door, hat in hand, looking after her, ) **She will doit,” he said. ‘*The girl has vim | and wit:she’lldoit, AndnowI must see Clark, I fear there issomething of importance behind this disappearance of the boys. Action must be taken at once,” Putting his hat on, he closed the door sharply behind him, and hurried through the streets to- ward Mr, Clark’s office. The affair seemed to ) him too important to delay for his former scrst method of communication with the lawyer, ‘What do you think?” be questioned, after he | had hastily told Clark of the disappoarance of | his clients, ** That we had best act at once.” He touched a call-bell on his table. senger quickly responded, ‘* Hurry to Mr. White’s office,” he ordered. Tell him to step up here immediately. Busi- ness of importance,’ The messenger as quickly disappeared. ‘* Anything more, Mr, Mordaunt?” asked the lawyer. “Yes; something not just in a legal way, but perbaps with some pith mit, It is a girl’s se- cret; you will keep it?’ ‘* Asif it was my own.” Mr, Mordaunt thereupon proceeded to tell A mes- him of the compact he had jast made, and of ‘*I¢ is a forlorn hope,” he said; ‘‘ but the forlorn hope sometimes wins the battle.” ‘* Well worth trying; quite well worth try- ing,” answered the lawyer, mereg f ‘© We need all the strength we can gain, for 1 fancy Bryant is going to get his new hearing.” **Do you think so?” ‘Yes. Nor do I care how soon. safe to win,” : ‘* Have we the evidence? Aldine is gone;; there will be no more bomb explosions ct there—”’ ‘* Aldine has not gone! I have traced him. I have his full story, and can bring him here at a moment’s notice.” ‘* Then lat the trial go on! the verdict. Now for the boys. Mr. White.” As he spoke, the detective who had been sent for entered the office, — CHAPTER X, A LEG AND AN ARM IN FETTERS. WHERE were the two youthful captives, and what further adventures had fate in store for them? This is what we have next t> discover, Their captors had made a double mistake; first, in seeking to torture their victims by plunging an arm ‘and leg of steel and leather into boiling water, and next by fastening their fetters round this same arm and leg, John Somers—for it was he that was at the botrom of this base business—in engaging his heartless tool, Martin, bad neglected to mention one important particular, He had given the names and residences of his proposed victims, but had overlooked the factof their lameness, so that Martin and his associates had no sus- picion but that it was whole boys with whom they were dealing, Their surprise and consternation, therefore, were very natural, Here werea pair of young salamanders, to all appearance built like other boys, yet able to bear without flinching a degree of pain that they themselves could not stand for We are We are safe for Here comes | a second, Andy and Dick had received their artificial limbs just in time to humbug these precious rogues! After their captors had left them to themselves, fettered securely, as they supposed, the boys indulged in some natural mirth, ‘*My eyes! wasn’t that a bigh old sell!” cx- claimed Andy, in delight, ‘‘ Talk "bout yer sVight-.”-banders! why, we'ro reg’lar salaman- ders. I was jist 80 bu’st’in’ full o’ laugh, Dick, that I could hardy hold in.” * And I’m gure some o’ my ribs must ha’ cracked, tryin’to keep it back,” averred Dick, giving vent to the laughter he had go long re- pressed, ‘* They’re the wu’st discounted sun- downers as ever wore trowserz.” “Did you twig the’r faces?” queriel Andy. *“Couldn’t see much on’em, but all the coler seenied skeered out o’ the’r eyes. That little devil turned fairly blue.” ** And toe other two looked like dried-applea.” The two boys could contain themselves’ no longer. They burst into a roar of laughter that might have been heard a hundred yards from the house, Andy was the first to return to a sense of the situation, He choked back his mirth, en! pressed his hand firmly over his comrade’s mouth, ‘*Shet up, Dick,” he warned, ‘‘ Them coons mayn’t be faroff, We're makin’ noise enoug) to raise a catamount, We're not out 0’ tie woods yet, pard,” ** Ain’t we? What’s to hinder, I’d like to know?” asked Dick, ‘‘They’ve got their irous round my game arm and your game leg, and a:! we’ve got to dois to unbuckle and slip out,” He suited the action to the word, pulling hyel his sleeve as he spoke, and Joosening the bork! s and straps that linked his false to what was }_/¢. of his true arm, ‘That's "bout the gayest part of the pl.” affirmed Andy, with a chuckle of delight, * Fur ’em to come and chain us by these game goers! It jist beats Bannager, as that wrinkled little bloodhound said,” As he spoke, he was following Dick’s examnle, by unbuckling and throwing off his leg, In a minute more the late captives stood frea—except. for those parts of their bodies that hw:i been bought wh paid for; these remained jn fetters, Their next effort was to release the'r artifi-ial limbs from the manacies that helitiem, But this proved not so easy a job. The strong, steel clasps had been locked tightly round wrist and ~ |
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i as ei. we we a ee 4" rod "ia j Re Pa aes } J 1 ) P| ae , se f fy ae _ ankle, and could not be moved. Nor could the foot and hand be slipped through them, The cripples, after several minutes of busy effort, stopped and looked downin despair, It s3emed impossible to get the fetters off without breaking the limbs, and this they bad no fancy for doing. They would be useless if broken, Some other means of releasing them must be found, ‘*Take a peep round, Dick,” advised Andy. ‘See if you can find a hammer and chisel, Ain’t no use foolin’ with this lock; it’s got to be cut open,” Dick, proud in the possession of his two legs, obeyed this suggestion, searching diligently through the room in which they were, and the adjoining kitchen, in a vain effort to find the ‘desired tools, ‘‘ Ain’t none there, Andy,” he announced. ‘¢Can’t find nothin’ but a poker and a tongs, and them won't be of no use,” ‘+ it’s thunderation awkward,” declared Andy. ‘We oughter be off, makin’ two-forty tracks away from this ugly hole; but I hate like p’isen to do it. Legs and arms like them ain’t to be dug outer ash-barrels or found in rubbish-heaps, and I can’t fotch myself to leave mine fur these snaky coons,” ‘* Nor me neither,” answered Dick. ‘“*They’re skeered bad, or they’d been back afore now,” resumed Andy. ‘‘ Let’s make a round of the shanty. Wemought find some- thin’ somewhere that'll bu’st them there ugly bracelets,” No sooner said than done, Andy was not in very good shape for walking, with one leg only, and not even a crutch to take the place of the other. But this difficulty was overcome, Dick serving him as leg and crutch in one, Throwing his arm, on the lame side, firmly round Dick’s shoulders, and supporting himself in this way, the pair of cripples walked off on three legs. They looked like a dime musenm freak, with three arms and legs, and two bodies and heads, — Thus equipped for the journey of life, they made their way through the house, leaving the fettered leg and arm behind them. This leg and arm presented a strange and startling appearance, An effort had been made to hide the bare fact of their leather, rubber, and metal anatomy by inclosing them in a strong covering of sheepskin which had been stained of avery natural flesh color . To all appearance it was real leg and arm that lay there in the embrace of the fetters, their shape and color alike being those of natural human limbs. So much like this did they seem, that it would have needed a close examination to prove the cheat. sforthe owners of these discarded bits of machinery, they searched the house through, up- stairs and down-stairs alike, in the effort to find some tools with which to force the steel clasps from their limbs, : It was a wearisome search, particularly for Andy, and they in the end stopped to rest on a bed in one of the up-stairs rooms. ‘¢ We'd been smarter to have dug out 0’ doors in the start,” remarked Dick, ‘‘ an’ fotched some- body here to help us out of the snarl.” *““Reckon you're "bout seven-eighths right,” admitted Andy. ‘ We're like two bits 0’ cheese in a rat-hole, and if we don’t look out we'll be nipped. It takes more than two boys to make one Solomon. Let’s git out o’ this shanty. I got to rest a bit, though, ’oause this leg o’ mine about used up all the go that’s in it.” roy of the same opinion, they lay back on the , drawing the coverings up over them, for the air wasa littlech‘lly, As they lay, they entered into a chat on the situation, But their chat became, minute by minute, more and more broken and disconnected, and before many min- utes subsided into silence. They were both ep. The bit of candle which they had found, and which had aided them in their search of the house, continued to burn for an hour afterward. But at the end of that time all its tallow was exhausted, and only a fragment of greasy wick remained. This continued t minutes; then the blaze subsided to a dull spark; to blaze for several then tbls vanished, and utter darkness re. Mmained. Se = the boys lay there in the oblivion of ! slum! _ Hour after hour passed over that lonely house, and all within lay in unbroken silence, Morning rs) ™ not far away, thoug ' h without and within all continued in the densest darkness, when the atident that their captives were safely in hands, and that, even if they should shous The Cripple’s Dead-Sure C with the full power of their lungs, no help would come to them in that lonely situation, they had spent the night in the completion of s me other of their criminal designs, and returned only when the darkness was nearly at its end. a a light, they entered the kitchen to- ether. **The’r’ blazin’ quiet, in there,” said Martin, the leader, with a jerk of his thumb toward the inner room, ‘** Wonder if they’re snoozin’, A feller’d think they couldn’t, arter the b’ilin’ they ‘*T wouldn’t like to say them there boys could- n’t do anything,” growled the men called Bill ‘** They could go to sleep on a volcaner, or take & snooze in a limekiln; that’s my notion.” ** Well, I s’pose we kin soon find out what they’re up tor,” affirmed Martin, ‘‘ Ther’s no blamed use standin’ listenin’ when a feller’s only got to look,” Lamp in hand, he threw open the door of the room where the boys had been left, and looked within, A yell of terror came from his lips, as he re- treated with such haste as to nearly fall over Bill, who was advancing behind him, ‘What the blazes ails—” an this indi- vidual, His words ended in a loud cry, as he caught sight of the objects within, A retreat as hasty as that of Martin’s followed, ‘* Hello!” cried the third. ‘* What’s up?” ‘*Shoot me fur a pigeon,” exclaimed Bill, “if them boys ain’t slid off, and left ther leg and arm behind ’em, It’s jist ther rummest go as ever I clapped eyes on.” ; “Ther b’iled leg and arm?” _ * Yes, They must ha’ chopped ’em off. I jedge *bout ali the life was bled outer them, and so they’ve dropped ’em and hopped off minus,” The third ruffian, thinking that his comrades must bave been scared out of their wits by some trick of the captives, advanced to iook bimself snatching the lamp from Martin’s hand an holding it well before him, he same frightful objects met his eyes that had so startled his companions, The boys were gone, but there on the floor lay what seemed an arm of flesh and blood, still in the clasp of the fetters, And leaning against a chair close by stood what seemed the lower half of a human leg. To ail appearance it had been cut off and left behind. The third ruffian slammed the door shut with a shudder of terror, and looked into the white faces of his comrades. Three such badly scared eee had never stood in that house be- ore. ** Ther’s somethin’ blazin’ queer ’bout this,” de- clared Bill, with an oath. ‘‘Tt's uncanny, that’s what it is,” added Mar- tin. ‘*lve seen enough o’ them thingsin there— by night, anyhow. [ don’t want no more o’ that ’cept in broad daylight,” ‘* Let’s git,” suggested Bill. ‘*T dunno, Maybe them boys is somewhere "bout the shanty.” “Them boys! It’s my notion they’ve gone off through a key-hole, like one of the old-time magicians. They’re not boys; they’re imps,”’ found it open, you know,” suggested the third ruffian, **What’s back o’ all this, anyhow?” queried Bill, ‘* What’s the boys did? You ain’t told us that, And who’s the man that’s findin’ the _‘*I won't tell the man’s name,” answered Mar- tin; *‘ but ther’s a bit o’ funny bizness back o’ it allas I don’t mind chattin’ bout a bit, The chap as’gaged us is a wuss onenor we is, boys, that’s my ’pinion. He’sa thief anda murderer, ‘cause he robbed a man of his patent and druv him to jump in the river and git drownded, Ther’ wasa paper drawed up. This drownded man’s name was on it, and my name’s on it fur witness, But I never see’d him sign it. The whole thing was a fake,” “‘The deuce!” cried Bill, ‘And he got rich that way?” “Rich as aJew!” —_ “And ye’re takin’ jobs like this, when you mought be squeezin’ him!” exclaimed Bill, with | a sniff of contempt. Jee 5 “Hy ain’s no baby, to play tho szoer-‘em dodge linch, eee ee - mn | of how they had tried toscalda pair of ertifi- 11 on,” answered Martin, ‘‘I’ve squeezed him some; but if [ pushed him too hard, I'd git a knife in my jugular. I know his sort.” ** And what’s these boys got ter do with it?” ‘* Tt’s my notion as one of ’em is the son of the drownded man, and that the old thief’s got scared o’ him, Maybe he’s nabbed the 7 I signed? It’s a mighty ’portant one, | know. Let’s peg out, pards. I’m ’feared o’ this house till arterdaylight. We kincome back then, and *vestigate.” This advice hit with the opinion of others, and in a minute more they had all left the house, Hardly had they done so, when the two boys came down the stairs, Andy leaning on Dick’s shoulder, and bearing a hammer and chisel in his hand, They had awakened, and been fortu- nate enough to find the tools they had before sought in vain, ‘““That coon’s let a mighty sizable cat out 0’ his bag,” said Andy, ‘I want to hole him bad, Peg arter em, Dick, on your two travelers and see where that thin-faced chap He’s let out as how he is a false witness to that docu- ment, and ‘twon’t do to let bim guv us the go- by. Arter’em, mighty sly, but don’t miss ’em. While you’re gone Tl see if I can’t chop off them iron bracelets,” ; Dick lost no time in obeying this suggestion, - while Andy crawled on his hands and knees to the room where their lost limbs had been left. Soon the loud ring of steel on steel resounded through that lonely mansion, It was ten o’clock the next day when the three ruffians returned, and threw open the door of the room, still not without a sense of dread. To their utter surprise the frightful objects of the night before bad vanished. On the floor lay the fetters, with an iron link of each chopped through. The limbs had gone; and with them the steel clasps that bound them, | CHAPTER XI, THE FISH OUT OF THE NET, AT about the same hour that their late tor- mentors were discovering the disappearance of the fettered leg and arm, Mr. Mordaunt was surprised by the advent of his youthful protégés, who walked into his room with all their old life and spirit. Andy wes again mounted on his tro legs, and seemed doubly proud in their possession after his temporary loss. Dick swung bis re- gained arm with an air as if it were a true part of himself, Mr. Mordaunt looked up at them with eyes of inquiry. He saw in their looks that there was some mystery to be divulged. ‘‘ Where in the world have you been?" he asked. ‘‘Mrs. Wilson and her daughter are scared to death about you, andI have had de- tectives put in search of a pair of lost boys, What foolish skylarking have you been up to? “‘ Not quite so foolish,” answered Andy, lift- ing his trowsers-leg and showing the steel clasp still round his ankle, “‘Tbat ain’t much like. ‘*Through the back door, more likely. We ! skylarkin’, I guess.” “Nor this ain’t neither,” chimed in Dick, pulling back his sleeve and showing his wrist, round which the circlet of steel was seen, Cogs a link of the chain still depending from 1b, “You young reproba you've been up to re asserted Mr, Mor- daunt, sinking ‘* Come, out with it; let me hear your story!” “The deviltry’'s on t’other side,” answered Andy; ‘* but I reckon the joke’s on ourn. Jist wait, and I'll tell you all about it.” This he did, very much to Mr. Mordaunt’s amusement, 4 ‘The heartless wretches!” he exclaimed, on hearing of their act in plunging the narrator’s- leg into the boiling caldron, Fey, ut he heard bursts of Janghter the story cial limbs. ‘‘The man who set them on you could bave- told but half bis story,”he remarked, ‘They were ignorant cf your Jameness.”
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12 ** Lucky fur us they was,” said Andy. He proceeded to relate how they bad escaped and left their limbs behind them, and their search for tools to release these valuable parts of their anatomy. The narrative ended in Andy’s describing their hours of sleep, their being wakened by hearing steps end voices down-stairs, and the fright of the ruffiaps on seeing the fettered arm and leg. The boys bad been near enough to hear their cries of terror, and to make out enough of their words to guess what had scared them, Andy went on to tell what else they had over- theard—the revelation that one of the villains had served Somers as a false witness, To this part of the story Mr. Mordaunt listened with the most intense interest. ** By all that’s good!” heexclaimed, “that news is worth its weigbt in gold. Who is this fellow? I must know, If he can be made to tell the truth before a jury we have Johu Somers where we want bim!” , ‘ That’s what thought,” replied Andy, ‘So I put Dick on his track, while I chopped our arm and leg loose. Dick can tell you what he done,” ‘““T hoied him,” answered Dick, with an air of gatisfaction, ‘‘ I tracked him to a caboose down in Jones street. It’s a low-down place, and I reckon it’s where he lives.” ‘“ Very good! very good!” assented Mr. Mor- daunt, rubbing his bands with satisfaction. ** You have done a glorious night’s work,” ‘Por me, mayhe,” rejoined Andy; ‘for if dad ix drownded, I’m his heir, But, I dunno what makes you take so much interest in it, Mr. Mordaunt.” ** Join Somers once did mea great wrong; I want toreteven with him,” beanswered, ‘ And I wil!! [{ begin to see my way clear.” “[ hops to gracious you will,” affirmed Andy. *‘*Caure when you're even, [reckon I'll bea lon ways anoad,” ‘“Now what have you in view?” ** To go home,” answered the boys, “No, no. Thatwon’tbesafe, Thesewretches will Jearo their error, and try their dangerous workoveragain. You must stay here in hiding. I will have the detective taken off your track, and send word to Mrs. Wilson that you are ? ‘* { don’t like playin’ fox in the hole,” rejoined Andy. ‘I ain't afeard of them fellers, Dick and me won’t go mosing round arter dark ag’in.” ** Your house stands alone. These desperate wretches may seize you there. And the next zime you will not get off so easily. You must stay here—at least till 1 can look up some one to put on guard in your house. I will attend to these matters at once, Don’t stir till my re- turn!” He took his hat and left the house, bidding the boys to amuse themselves during his ab- sence, but on no account to set foot out of doors, On his way to Mr, Clark’s office he passed a man whose face attracted his attention. Hewas a small-tramed, wiry-looking fellow, with sandy hair, and a foxy expression in his eyes, round which the skin of his face was much wrinkled. He was dressed in the garb of a workingman, but there was something slouching in bis gait. ** He looks like the fellow whom Andy de- scribed,” said Mr. Mordaunt to bimself, ‘* But, that’s not all of it, I’ve seen the man before— years ago! CanlI recall him? He is one of the g that was around Sowers in the old days.” He walked on, Soomky thinking. Tbe man he had observed made his way in an opposite direc- tion, continuing his course till he reached the Somers Agricultural Works, Here he handed a cae eras letter to a clerk, asking him to take it to Mr. Somers at once, as it was important. The clerk looked at the letter, and then at the rer. ‘© Who is this from?” he asked. ‘ Mr. Somers don’t jike to be disturbed.” “‘Tell him it’s from Mr, Martin. I calkerlate he'll take it in,” Withont further objection the clerk entered the inner office, and delivered the letter, with the message, What?” cried Mr. Somers quickly; ‘* who brings this?” ** He looks like a workman, sir.” * Hold on a minute. There may be an an- swer.” He tore open the envelope and read the brief note it contained, with an impassive counte- nance, ‘* Yes; I thought so, There is an answer. “Tell the anon to step in here, I will send it ‘back by word of mouth,” The Cripple’s Dead-Sure Clinch, The clerk did as ordered. The messenger en- tered the office, closing the door carefully behiad him. Mr. Somers was engaged in tearing the letter into fragments. There was anything but a satisfied look on his face. ‘* What brings you here?” he asked, in a sav- age tone. ‘‘ You might be recognized. So you've bungled the job, it seems,” **Somebody has,” answered the man, surlily. **T ain’t sure who,” “Tm pretty sure. hands and let them escape you. How?” **How?” exclaimed Martin, for it was he. ‘* By the seven sins, John Somers, the next time you put me on any job, let it be on some ordin- ary human, not on a magician, that can unship his legs and arms, and slip off his head, without agrin! I’vehad enough o’ that sort,” ‘* What do you mean?” asked Somers, in a tone of mingled surprise and indignation, **Mean! I'll tell you what 1 mean,” Martin, helping himself to a chair and throw- ing his hat on the floor beside him, proceeded to relate the events of the night before. He had not gone far, however, before Mr. Somers called out angrily: ‘* What is all this nonsense? Did you try to bring him to terms by soaking his wooden leg in hot water?” “Wooden leg? Ther’ leg.” ** Yes, there was!” ‘*T tell you there weren’t, his trotters.” ‘* His leg must have grown then, for a month ago he stumped in here on a piece of solid hickory.” The two men looked at one another. A new idea was beginning to make its way through Martin’s brain. ‘* Wooden leg?” he repeated. ‘‘It must have been one of them patent artificial ones. And t’other boy must have had an arm of the same sort. : I begin to see through the blamed jigger now, ‘*Of course, One has only one leg, and the other only onearm, I told you that.” ‘*Hold up thar!” exclaimed Martin, angrily, ** You never said a word of the sort. You didn’t guv ahinto’arms and legs, All you told was the’r names and whar they lived, and left us to guess the balance,” * And a pretty job you made of it.” ‘* Jist as pretty a job as you laid out fur us,” retorted Martin. ‘Well, you know the dodge now. You can way be! job.” * Much I can! They’ve guv us leg and arm bail with a vengeance, Jist keep quiet and lis- ten while I tell you what a party of cheap sold jackasses we’ve been,” Mr. Somers obeyed, not speaking a word while his villainous agent told the remainder of his You had them in your weren’t no wooden The chap bad both ry. ‘*And three sich scared coons never wore shoe-leather afore,” he concluded, Mr, Somers sat back in his chair and looked at him with a helpless expression. The case seemed one beyond words, He could only show his feel- ings in his looks, When he spoke again, it was in a very mild tone, ‘* You have failed,” he said. ‘‘I should have told you they were cripples, no doubt, It is the worst sell I ever heard of. No matter; it must be done over again! And the next time, pinch them, to see if it’s iron or flesh and blood you’re dealing with,” ** Pinch ’em! Tl take a piece out,” declared Martin, savagely. ‘‘ You high they don’t git no sich sell on me again,” CHAPTER XII. A PLOTTER OUT-PLOTTED, “Arn is right, mother. The boys are safe, Here is a note from Mr, Mordaunt telling us so. We need not worry any more, he says,” These words were spoken by Kate Wilson, who called in glad tones to her mother up- In a minute more the clatter of Mrs. Wilson’s feet were heard on the stairs, hastily descend- ing. ‘* You don’t say so, Kate!” she cried in equal ness. ‘* Where is he? is he gone?” ‘“* Yes; he left the note, and went without say- ing oe seg ‘Safe? That’s good news, But where are they? What have they been at? Some rascali- ty, [know. IfI get hold of that Dick—” Her wrath began to rise, the moment she found there was no cause for alarm. ‘*No, no, mother; they have been in some danger; Mr. Mordeunt doesn’t say what, They are not to come home just yet, he says. It may not be safe.” ‘*Not safe? Does he say that, Kate?” oe Yes,” ‘‘ Whatever can it be? My poor boys!—But he says they’re all right now? You're sure of that?” _ Here is his note, mother, read it for your- self. ** My, my!” exclaimed the old woman, after reading the brief missive. ‘‘ Why couldn’t he tellus more? That’s justlikea man. He might have known we wanted to hear all, I do wish I’m so anxious to know eT you’d go see him, Kate, if they’re really safe,” ‘He might not like it,” answered Kate. think I’d better not go.” ‘Well, well, I— But I must go back to my work.” And with a sudden change of thought; Mrs, Wilson clattered briskly up-stairs again, leaving Kute alone with her thoughts. She stood musing by the kitchen-door for a few minutes, and then puton her hatand stepped out into the garden. Here the bees were hum- ming busily among the flowers. Kate stooped over them and went to work, making her way slowly onward until she reached the corner of the inclosure adjoining the street, Here she stood awhile looking over the fence. The street appeared deserted, or nearly so, a single human form being visible in the dis- tance. Her eyes fixed themselveson this form. There was something familiar in it. She watched the approaching tigure curiously, “It is he,” sbe remarked, at length, ‘I thought 1 knew him! Shall I do as Mr. Mor- daunt said? I hate to. And yet—it may be very important.” The man was rapidly coming nearer, It was undoubtedly the man who had accosted her at the time of the bomb explosion. Kate’s impulse was to retreat. She had to force herself to remain. In a minute or two more he was close at hand, As he came near his eyes, which had been fixed on the graceful form in the fence corner, were turned away and looked steadily down the street. He seemed bent on keeping his part of the compact. Kate hesitated, with the words upon her lips, It was bard for her to speak, though she had promised Mr. Mordaunt to do so. The man came opposite her, His face was grave. Had there been a look of knowing consciousness upon it, she could not have spoken. But its ous expression gave her courage. e was already several steps past, when she faltered out, in low tones: “ Sir. ” He stopped instantly, and turned, “You told me—” she began, and stopped hesi- battiz, a **That you should be the next to speak,” he said with a meaniag look. ‘*No, no; but that you had it in your power to restore Andrew Blake the rights and fortune which had been stolen from him.” ‘“‘T have!” he answered briefly. ‘ seat what way?” sheasked, ‘‘ Whatcan you 0 ‘‘Not so fast, Miss Wilson. I can do all I have said. But, what I can do hasa price, It is to be sold, not given!” He had approached the fence, and stood now beside it, only a few feet away. " ‘*T have no money, sir,” ‘s} wantno money. It is not for that I have sought your acquaintance and favor, Miss Wil- son, I love you. There is nocrime in that, I ho I could not belp it, It came to me at sight of your face.” Kate colored to the temples, and took an in- voluntary step backward. She had to force the next words from her lips, ** You would buy my love?” **No; love is not a thing for sale. I know that, But, you might look on me less coldly; you might admit me into the circle of your ac. quaintance; you might give me a friend’s oppor- tunity to entreat your favor.” She looked at him, still with reddened face, The man was not ill-looking. Nor was his re- gards obtrusive, He seemed modestly awaiting her decision, ‘I do not even know your name,” she mut- tered, ‘*My name is Joseph Corson. I am a respect- able man, Miss Wilson, end feel for you only the eh respect and esteem. If I might be per- “What is wen boasted power over John Somers?” she interrupted. “T hold a paper which—” : ‘* What! that paper? The paper he lost the Lat "Sag hae Nopatep prs Were rime c i e ; SS ee
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13 ** The same!” he answered. ** But, how did you get it?” . **Tt was blown out of the open window, and almost into my hands, value. easily. That paper is for sale only to the bigh- est bidder,” * The highest bidder |!” ‘You can make the bighest bid in the world to me, Miss Wilson; a higher bid than all Jobn Somere’s money.” Kate’s face flushed deeply again. The man’s © Soh were respectful; his tone was full of ar- or. ‘* Where is that paper?” she asked. **T have it with me, It never leaves my pos- session, That mortgage assignment once de- stroyed, John Somers ceases to be a millionaire, and Andrew Blake steps into his plaice.” Kate stood in musing silence, What tosay or do she knew not. It seemed to her that she had already gone beyond the bounds of maidenly modesty. Should she go on? 7 The stake was a great one. As for the man before her, she detested him; but there was no reason to show that, If she could obtain that per! “Sir,” she began, ‘‘ I do not like this, But—” ‘*] can do you still more good,” heinterrupted. **T can win that damage suit for your brother. I know enough to crush John Somers,” ** Do that, sir, and I will hold you one of my friends. As for the paper—” ‘¢ You know its price,” he said, significantly. ‘*No more, sir—at present. We may—meet later.” She turned and walked away, leaving her stranger suitor with a look of crafty triumph upon his face, It was evident that his seeming humility and modesty were assumed, and that he felt that he had taken a long step forward toward the pur- pose that inspired him, Yet Mr. Joseph Corson was destined to learn the truth of the old adage, that, ‘’ there is many a slip ’twixt the cup and the lip.” Had he looked bebind him as he walked away, he might have seen a crouching form rise into view from behind the corner of the garden fence, and look after him with meaning eyes. It was the form of Martin, the crafty agent of John Somers! On leaving the office of the Jatter, with the understanding that the boys must be seized again, and this time not suffered to escape until the stolen document was gained, Martin had made his way toward the Wilson cottage, on a reconnoitering expedition, Seeing the form of Kate Wilson in the garden, he had stealthily approached, and crouched down ehind the corner of the fence adjoining the roadway, in hopes of seeing or hearing some- 8 that would aid him in his villainous pro- ect. He had struck a fortunate interval for bis pare . He overheard the whole interview tween the young lady and her would-be lover, and when he rose to his feet it was with a new project in his mind, ‘* May I be keel-hauled, if I ain’t struck ile!” he ejaculated, “To think o’ my hittin’ it so *mazing slick! That there sunny coon’s got the pace we're tryin’ to squeeze them boys fur. e’s got it in his pocket, he says, He's kind ‘ough to carry it bout with him, so’s to save trouble to gentslike me. Ill bet a cow ’gainst a Varginny persimmon he don’t have it much longer, That there doc’s my plunder.” He put himself on the track of the man in ad- vance, following him in a stealthy fashion that was the result of long experience, There was no difficulty in this. Corson did not dream of pursuit, and never once looked round, He was so wrapt in dreams of his own projects that he failed to hear the steps of his pursuer when they came near him. Their route had taken them from the built-up portion of the city, and they were now in a deserted part of the roadway. A smile of triumph curled Corson’s lips, the i signal of pleasant thoughts within ‘*She’s mine!” he said aloud. ‘I’ve taken the first step; I can see way way to the last, Pll play my fish with that patent assignment so neatly that she shall give me her band before Fortunately, I knew its she gets the paper.” oquy was brought to a sudden end b a hard blow that fell on the side of his head, hurled him like a log to the . He lay there insensible, while his assailant hastily searched his ets, After a couple of minutes Martin ros¢ in triumph, with the folded parchment in his hand! i John Somers will not get it back again | fore. ‘**S’pose ye tell Mr. Somers as the gent as was here afore has delivered his message, and here’s the answer,” he said, offering a closed envelope. ‘You kin tell him that ther person’s a-waitin’.” His former experience with this individual induced the clerk to treat him with more respect than before, and in a few minutes Martin was ushered into the presence of the mill magnate, ‘* Well?” said the latter, looking up at him with a glance of inquiry, ‘* Yer don’t happen to have that thousand lay- in’ round loose in yer pockets?” ‘* Why do you ask? ‘¢7K’aze as soon as you shell it out I’m on hand to shell out that there docyment, I’ve got thar this time, Mr, Somers, and no mistake" CHAPTER XIII, THE SECOND VERDICT, ‘You bet your everlastin’ davy we’re on the home run this time!” declared Andy Blake to his comrade Dick, It was a week after the events of the last oy ter, and the two boys were walking along witb- out any pretense of biding from their enemies, or any show that they were not whole and sound, They had grown so used to their new limbs that no one would have guessed that Andy’s leg and Dick’s arm had not grown on them by process of nature. ‘*Mr, Clark says so, anyhow, and I guess he knows,” answered Dick, ‘“ What he don’t know about the law ain’t wu’th knowin’, that’s my notion,” asse Andy. ‘¢ And what old Somers won’t know ’bout it when we git through with him you could pick up with a pin,” chimed in Dick. The boys were on their way to the court- room, whither they had been summoned as wit- nesses in the new trial which had been granted in the great damage suit. Bryant, the legal adviser of John Somers, had succeeded in his efforts to have the case brought up again on appeal, claiming that the jury on the other trial had been unduly influen by the results of the dynamite explosion. He had been unsuccessful in his efforts to dis- cover who Mr. Mordaunt was. All he could learn was that this gentleman was a stranger to the city, where he had appeared only a few days before the opening of the damage suit. But, who he really was, whence he bad come, or what was his secret purpose in backing those boys, the lawyer failed to learn. In all these particulars he remained completely in the dark, All this troubled him very little. He felt sure in bis own mind that this time his client would win, and that was all he cared for just then, Aldine, the dangerous witness, had serra ed, and no trace of his whereabouts could be found, Bryant did not care where he was, so that he was safely out of the way. All the other witnesses were sound on the Somers side, and he felt sare that no important testimony in rebuttal could be brought. Hecounted strongly on proving that the boys had been crippled through their own carelessness, and had no claim for damages, Mr. Bryant was destinéd to something of a disappointment, He had not counted sufticient- ly on the resources of his opponent, Clark, nor on the chapter of legal chances, He was there- fore more than surprised when, after examining the boys themselves, the next witness called on the side of the prosecution was ‘‘ William Al- dine. Somers, who was in court, started with a feel- ing akin to consternation on hearing this, and on seeing bis discharged workman walk up to the witness-stand ! At Bryant’s request he had made strong efforts to find him, and, failing in this, had concluded that he was fairly out of the way. It now a@ that the prosecution had kept him in hiding, to spring bis evidence upon the jury at a critical period in the case. Aldine’s evidence, in fact, was now more strongly in favor of the plaintiffs than at the former trial. He now swore positively that he had seen the boys tighten up the bolts of the shifter, which had a habitof working loose when not looked after. He gave evidence as to the results of the dy explosion in the fac- + Ww had shaken down three more of But, Clark reserved his strongest piece of tes- timony to the last. Somer Corson was called, and put upon the stand, This man, furious at being robbed of his pre- cious prize, which he felt sure had been done by agents of Somers, had called on Clark and told him a story which filled his legal sou! with joy. This story he now repeated to the court. It was to tue effect that, on the evening before the accident to the boys, he had been passing the Agricultural Works, and, seeing a light inside,, had stoppad and looked in at one of the win-- dows, He had seen John Somers, candle in band, working with a wrench on the shifter of the: boys’ machine, Just what he was doing he could not be sure, but he was positive that he was moving the wrench to the left, as if loosening a This evidence came like a thunderbolt upon the court, Somers grew deathly pale. His lawyer looked at him in surprise and dismay. He put Corson through a severe cross-examina- tion, but he bad best have left him alone, for when be was done the case was stronger for the plaintiffs than ever. ‘* Why did you not give this evidence at the former trial?” asked Mr. Bryant sharply. ‘Or perhaps it was not invented until that trial was over?” ‘*] did not know its value till I read the re- ports of that trial,” answered the witness coolly. ‘*T had not connected Mr, Somers’s action with. the accident, before then,” “ Aha! you have a special reason for making, that difficult connection now?” ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘© What is your reason?” “That justice may be done to these crippled boys.” Mr. Bryant dropped the cross-examination. It was evident that nothing was to be made of this witness. In fact, it looked as if nothing was to be made of the case, The whisper went through the court that Jobn Somers ought to be arrested as a criminal, Mr. Bryant struggled bard to overcome the effect of this damaging testimony. He got all he possibly could out of his own witnesses, but it was all very negative when compared with the positive evidence before the court, He did his best also, in bis summing up of the case, to dis-- parage the witnesses of the prosecution. Mr, Clark, on his side, had little to say. A few strong words covered his address to the ury. oe My case speaks for itself,” he snid; ‘‘ there is no need for me to dilute it with words, We came here, gentlemen of the jury, to deal with an accident. It looks now as if we were deal- ing with a crime, My clients, with careful caution, tighten up that dangerous machinery. Their employer, for a purpose of his own, loosens it. It falls, and while not killing them, as perhaps intended, it maims them for life. Why was this done? ‘What was to be gained by their death? I shall not say; I imagine every one here knows.” We shall give no more of his address, nor of the further proceedings of the case, It will suf- fice to say that it was given to the jury at ten minutes past three, and that they returned into the court with their verdict at half-past three, ‘* Have you agreed upon your verdict, gentle- men of the jury?” ‘““ We have,” answered the foreman, ** State your verdict to the court,” ‘* We affirm the decision of the former court, your Honor, assessing damages on John Somers in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars in favor of both the injured workmen,” An exclamation of satisfaction rose from the: tors, whose sympathies had been strongly’ enlisted in favor of the crippled boys. As for them, they were wild with joy. **T knowed it, Dick,” exclaimed Andy, ‘TI knowed Mr, Clark would squeeze him, My stars, ain’t we got him where the hair’s short?” **You bet your everlastin’ on it,” answered Dick. ‘ And ain’tit a jolly pile they’ve guv us, peur ‘"Tain’t nothin’ to what’s in the wind,” said Andy. ‘‘Jist wait till that patent suit comes up; then you'll see things a-b’ilin’. This is only the first turn of the screw. Wait till we get the whole weight on!” **Come, boys,” said Mr. Mordaunt, who had been present in court. ‘‘ You have won a second time. Somers will have to pa exhavsted his powers of a ° spacey wore tolled tx: prétega culls. ame tors were groups e. busily talking over-the results of the trial up now. He has
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SI aN ni sala ON a 14 The Crip a It was easy to tell the general feeling. It was strongly against John Somers, and went so far as to accuse him of an attempt at murder, ‘He is afraid of that boy,” exclaimed one strong-speaking individual, ‘* And well he may be, for the rascal drove the lad’s father to suicide, There was something crooked about that busi- ness, and if John Somers wants to get rid of that boy, he knows why.” “That’s my notion, too,” asserted a second speaker. ‘‘He didn’t come by his million by square means, and if young Blake is wide awake he’ll bring suit for more than damages,” ** On that patent right, do you mean?” **'Yes; I’ve heard Blake himself swoar he never signed that paper. He brought the thing into court, too, but didn’t make anything out of t ‘If he didn’t then, his son can’t now. John Somers ain’t the sort that leave loop-holes open.” “That’s true. But, sometimes wood splits by long standing, and lets daylight through, And the same thing might happen in a law-suit,” "i daylight ever shines through this case, it will show a rogue at the bottom of it, and that rogue’s nameis John Somers,” affirmed the other speaker. Mr. Mordaunt with his sr : had paused to listen to this chat. He now walked on. ‘*'You see how public feeling stands,” he re- marked. ‘* There’s daylight through that, sure enough,” answered Andy. ** Suit on that patent must be brought, and at once,” declared Mr. Mordaunt. ‘‘ John Somers shall be made to show that he holds this business by a just claim, or shall return it to its rightful owner.” ** Which is me,” added Andy. ‘‘’Cause I’m my father’s heir,” A significant smile came upon Mr. Mordaunt’s face. It was evident that there was more in his mind than appeared on the surface, This ee iad certainly must have some secret purpose of his own behind his conduct! CHAPTER XIV, PAID IN HIS OWN COIN, ‘* HERE is your man,” It was in the office of Phineas Clark, lawyer, these words were spoken. The speaker was an officer in the public service; the man spoken of the villainous character whom we have already met under the name of Martin, There were several other persons present in ‘the office, including Mr. Mordaunt and the two boys. The lawyer lifted his eyes and fixed them omow on the uneasy fellow who stood before “Is this the mam?” he asked, turning to ndy. bi i can swear to half his face,” answered Andy. ‘T’other half was hid. But them eyes belong to one man’s face; and that’s his carrot, hair, too. That’s the chap sure’s beans is beans,” **So, my friend,” said the lawyer, ‘‘ you have a way of catching stray boys, and amusing yourself by sticking their legs and arms in boil- ing water? A very pretty game, no doubt; but the law calls it another name,” ‘* What sort o’ boozin’ nonsense is this ye’r’ puttin’ through yer?’ growled Martin, ‘‘S’pose ye jist splain yerself, mister.” “Look at that leg, old chap,” broke in Andy, thrusting his artificial limb under Martin’s nose, ** Weel it, and see if the meat’s b’iled off,” Martin looked at him savagely for a moment, Then a look of deep curiosity came into his eyes, He could not resist the temptation to satisfy himself about the make-up of that magical leg. He grasped it by a movement that seemed in- voluntary. ‘6 Well, I'll be gammoned!” he ejaculated. “Dern my eyes, if it ain’t made up of iron- railin’ ” A laugh went through the office at his tone of and surprise, ** You've hg = yourself away, friend Martin,” remarked the lawyer; ‘‘and before witnesses, You may as well own up, I don’t mean you any harm, I’m not going to prosecute that case, if you’ll only tell the truth in another,” looked at him with a cunning expres- sion in his eyes, ‘* What other?” he asked, “ About fifteen years ago you witnessed a paper Piniedige John Somers, and peteortin wn by Andrew Blake. It signature you were supposed to witness. Did you see him make it?” ‘*T—_that is—yes, by thunder, I did!” ‘Don’t lie, Martin, ’cause it won't pay!” warned Andy, ‘I heerd you say you didn’t, Dick, here, heerd the same, Likewise them two jail-birds, your pards, Ain’t no use in your jumpin’ the fence, ’cause we're layin’ low on t’other side.” Martin gazed at the speaker like a fox who feels himself in a trap. **Dick and I were there, when you chaps were takin’ a peep at the pieces we left behind us,” continued Andy. ‘‘ We heerd every word you said. Then we spliced up and made tracks.” Martin continued to gaze at him, while the explanation of the mystery seemed to filter slowly into his brain, ‘* You may as well turn state’s-evidence, Mar- tin,” resumed the lawyer, ‘*‘ We'll make it worth your while. Weare going to knock the props from under John Somers. You'll find there is more money on our side in this game than on his.” ‘Bout signin’ that paper,” began Martin, slowly. ‘It’s my notion as Blake—” ‘* And we’ve got the other witness,” inter- rupted the lawyer, sharply, ‘‘He owns the corn, and you had best do the same, if you'd keep out of trouble.” / ‘*Tt’s my notion as Blake wasn’t thar, jist *bout then,” concluded Martin, ‘*[ don’t believe he was,” remarked Mr, Mor- daunt, now first king, ‘*And I have some reason to know, e day you make that state- ment before a jury, my man, you will be a thou- sand dollars the richer.” “ And we'll drop that little fun bout the b’iled leg,” supplemented Andy. *T calkerlate somehow you had the best of the fun”’bout that b’iled leg,” remarked Martin, aslow smile curling hislips. ‘It were an out- an’-outer of a sell.—A thousand down, and a thousand arter—them’s my terms,” he continued, turning to Mr, Mordaunt, ‘Truth is an expensive commodity in these parts,” answered that gentleman, ‘ But truth just now isa precious jewel, and we'll have to pay its price, Itisa ibd “Then I’m yer man! I reckon I owe John Somers a dig, anyhow, and it’s ’bout time to giveit. Ye kin count on me.” A look of satisfaction passed between the per- sons present. But Phineas Clark was too keen a lawyer to take any risks, It would not do to Jet Martin change his mind. A notary was sent for, and his affidavit as to the witnessing of the paper was taken on the spot. Heswore plainly that he bad not seen Blake sign his name, and that John Somers had paid him a ten-dollar bill for his signature, When he left that room it was with a thou- sand dollars in his ket, and the pledge of an- other thousand after the trial, Mr, Clark turned with a gratified air to his visitors, **The game is ours!” he said. ‘Pll bring suit in the patent case to-morrow,” He was as good as his word. Before sundown of the next day John Somers was served with a summons to avswer at court in defense of his claim to the Blake Cultivator patent, and to est that it had been properly assigned to him y the patentee; on the suit of Andrew Blake, the surviving claimant, We may pass rapidly over the succeeding period. Three months passed before the case came to trial, it being delayed on various pre- tenses. Meanwhile Somers had been obliged to obey the order of the court, and pay the dam- ages awarded to the two injured boys. “Twenty-five thousand shiners for that leg,” said Andy, looking down at his injured member, “It’s a big bunch o’ money fur a little bit o’ bone and meat, and I reckon maybe it’s a square deal, Jong as I can stump it solively. But I wouldn’t sell t’other leg fer a million,” ‘*Maybe you will get the million and keep your leg,” suggested Kate, ‘*T don’t keer if [door no, I've got enough to keep what’s left of me, I know what I'd sooner have than a.miliion dollars,” ‘* What is that?” asked Kate, innocently. ‘**T told you that day down by the river. You don’t want me to tell you again?” ‘*Oh, you tease!” cried Kate, turning away with a rosy blush. “T know what you promised that chap that wanted to buy you with a piece of paper,” re- sumed Andy, ‘I’m going— *¢ You're going to do nothing,” sheinterru ‘* He didn’t bring the paper, and I’m not sold.— And not for sale, either—even toa million-dollar buyer,” she concluded. { oi? he i aa i i ple’s Dead-Sure Clinch. I s’pose you won't asked Andy, cun- “Tf you won’t sell yerself, mind givin’ yerself away,’ nifgly. “That depends to whom,” E ‘To me! Give me your hand, Kate,” She hesitated an instant, then with a smile and a blush, she Iaid her hand in his. It was their betrothal. CHAPTER XV. GLAD AND SAD SURPRISES, TIME moved on, and in due time the great patent suitcame up, Mr. Bryant had done his utmost for the defense, but he was working greatly in the dark, He did not know what line of proceeding the prosecution intended to take, Somers had no fear of the result, The assign- ment of the patent was again duly in his own hands, properly signed and witnessed. As for the principal signer, he had long been ‘ food for fishes.” Of the two witnesses, one had dis- appeared from the city years ago. The other, artin, was safe. It would not take a large cneey in dollars to purchase him—body and soul, They did not know that Martin was already bought, And, there was another thing they did not know—that the second witness was back in town, and had fallen into the hands of the astute Phineas Clark, It was through the aid of the two boys that this useful personage had been captured. They had overheard a conversation one night, between @& man and a woman, in which the man ac- knowledged that it was he who had placed the bomb to blow up the Somers Agricultural Works, ‘‘John Somers done me a dirty turn, when he sent me West, and promised to keep me in money, which he never did,” declared the man. ‘‘T came back here to try and get even with him, and I didn’t know no other way for a poor man to get even with a rich one.” ‘Why should he pay you to oe away?” ‘*You know well enough, Sal, There was something crooked in that paper he got me to sign. I’d squeeze him on that, but don’t know how to go about it.” He soon learned how. The boys, who had overheard this incautious conversation, tracked the man to his home, or den, as it might better be called, and the next day made an early re- port of their important discovery to Mr. Clark. Before noon the man was brought to his office, charged with the bomb explosion, and on prom- ise of safety from prosecution told all he knew. He acknowledged that he had signed a paper at the Ph am of John Somers, who had after- ward paid his way to Colorado, and promised to send him money from time to time, This he failed todo, For years the man had remained there, but at last, down in his luck, and broken by dissipation, be had tramped his way East, soon to get even with John Somers. “That you will have a chance to do,” said Clark, ‘‘Tell the truth about that signature, and you will hurt him more than by tin bombs.” ‘‘Tm your man. Count on me,” answered the fellow, We have given so much space to the prelimi- naries that there is no need to dwell long on the trial of the case, Clark had laid his plans so well and silently, that the unfolding of his side of the case came like a thunderbolt upon his antagonists. i But he was destined to a surprise as great as theirs, His case was still stronger than he sup- . Anevent happened during the trial that overwhelmed the lawyers, the principals and the court itself with astonishment, and effectuall clinched the nails in the coffin of John Somers’s fortune. k The defense had nothing to offer but the assi ent, duly signed and witnessed, and the testimony of the only available witness, Martin Brown. They rested their case on this, putting the burden of proving fraud on the prosecu- tion. It proved a weak trust. Martin Brown was called by Mr. Clark as his first witness, and ac- knowledged without hesitation that he had not seen Andrew Blake Lee the paper. He had signed his name as witness, at Mr. Somers’s request; the signature was there; but he did not know it, and had not seen it made, Mr, Bryant cross-examined him sharply, but without breaking theforceof his testimony. By this time the court was in a fever of excitement, No one had expected such a revelation as this, wove
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Mr. Somers, who was present, grew pale as death, und shook like a leaf. But, be almost fell from his chair to the floor ‘when Clark called his next witness. ‘‘ William Bolton,” and a man whom he instantly recog- nized advanced to the stand, Had the past given upits dead? He had fan- cied this man had drank himeelf into the grave, years before; yet, here he stood in living flesh and blood! Bolton’s testimony was the same as Brown’s. He had witnessed a signature which he had not seen made, and did not know. But his evidence became still more demaging to the defense when he told the story of his being supplied with money and sent to the West, It looked like an effort to get rid of a dangerous personage, Mr, Bryant declined to cross-question the wit- ness. He declared to the court that the fortune of his client could not be allowed to rest on the statement of two such men as these, one of whom, he could prove, belonged to the criminal class, while the other was a besotted tramp. **1t¢is somewhat surprising that Mr. Somers should have chosen two such men to witness an important document,” retorted Mr. Clark. ‘‘If they were good enough to serve him as wit- nesses, they are good enough for me. I have still another witness, your Honor, and will rest my case on his testimony.” ‘William Mordaunt” was called, and the gentleman whom we have known by this name stepped up to the stand. * Mr. Clark himself did not know what evi- dence this witness was about to give. He had requested to be called, but had declined to say for what purpose, The lawyer, and the court as well, were des- tined soon to be enlightened. ‘¢ What is your name?” was the first question asked, “* Andrew Blake!” “ Sir?’ cried Clark, in astonishment. ‘‘ Your name, I asked. Your name; not that of the prosecutor,” ‘*T am the prosecutor, and I have given my true name,” answered the witness, firmly. “My name is Andrew Blake—not William Mor- daunt! By this time all the court was on its feet, in a state of irrepressible excitement, John Somers had sprung to his feet with the rest, the pallor of his face now c ed toa deep purple. He stood but a moment; then, with a deep groan, sunk to the floor. It took five minutes to quiet the excitement in the court, When order was once more estab- lished, some of the officers went to remove the fallen man. But he had recovered his senses, and rose feebly to his feet, waving them aside, His bloodshot eyes once more sought the face of the witness; then, with a deep moan, as of pain, he turned toward the door, “T am not well, I must seek the air!” he said, No one interfered, and he walked from the court-room like one in a dream, Phineas Clark, now fully alive to the situa- tion, began his examination of the witness, whose every word was listened to with the most intense interest by judge, jury, lawyers, and audience alike. 3 His story was & plain one,’ His name was Andrew Blake, he repeated ; be was the original inventor of the _— and the father of the boy in whose name the suit was brought. He had not interfered in this, for the name was his own, and he held himself to be the real prose- cutor. He had not transferred the patent to John Somers. He had not signed the assignment. But he had been driven to despair by the vil- lainy of his late employer, and had intended to commit suicide. He bad changed his mind, however, and, leaving his hat and coat on the river-bank, had wandered away, scarce knowing what he did. i In the end he found himself in the Far West, where he had grown rich in mining, and had re- rently ns Pome oe his old home, filled with the jesire for retribution. Here he had found his son a cripple, maimed ‘hrough what he believed to be the criminal vction of his old enemy, What else had yecurred had been done in the interest of -fustice, and he rested his claim on the justice of . to give at length the further Tt will suffi evidence. pronounced the patent assignment a ed that the patent, with all | " The Cripple’s D the profit which had arisen from its manufac- ture, was the property of Andrew Blake, the | | original patentee. Nothing was said as to the criminal liability of John Somers in the matter. That had nothing to do with the present case, but was a matter to be considered ia the future, Fora man to be deprived of his wealth for many years by a forgery was not a matter to be settled by a fine, however large. Some other punishment was demanded for the thief and forger. In fact, Mr. Mordaunt, or Andrew Blake, to give him his true name, lost no time in instruct- ing his lawyer to take outa warrant of arrest for John Somers, This was done, but when an effort was made to serve it, a difficulty arose. Somers was not to be found. He had not returned to the mills he had rot appeared at his home; noone had seen him since he had been observed walking away with falter- ing steps and distracted looks from the court- ouse. What had become of him? Had he fled from the town? Had he made away with himself? These questions were destined to be strangely answered, For the next morning, on the very t in which Andrew Blake’s coat and hat had been found fifteen > pcre before, another coat and hat were found, which were recognized as those which bad been worn by Jobn Somers, And before the day was over this indication was startlingly confirmed; the body of the mill- owner was washed up on the bank at a spot a mile down the stream, The fact was evident, In his despair and alarm at the verdict, he had done what his vic- tim was supposed to have done, fifteen years be- fore—committed suicide, And, moved by a strange impulse, he had chosen for the fatal act the very spot that had long been pointed out as that of Blake’s self-destruction. That this fatal termination to the great patent case created an intense excitement in the town need not be said, ere was not a person now but believed that the verdict of the jury wasa just one, end when the Somers Agricultural orks were turned over, by order of the court, to Andrew Blake, all the citizens thought that no more thau justice had been done, No need to dwell at length on the subsequent events. Suffice to say, two happier boys than the rae friends, Andrew lake, Jr., and Richard Wilson, could not bave been found in the land, and that they remained during all their lives the closest friends and intimates. Crippled as they were, they were far from — vas service, Andy’s lame leg did not stan the way of his being a very lively and efficient manager of the Agricultural Works, row his father’s property. Nor did Dick’s lame arm hinder him from ming an energetic traveling salesman, nor in time from developing into the general out-door agent for the Blake Cultivator and the other products of the Works, Andy’s boy love did not fade away as he grew to manhood. He loved Kate Wilson with an eve affection, while her warm feel- ing for the playmate of her childhood grew into a love as deep and earnest as his own. In the after time they were made man and wife, and as happya pair as theland held, And when, in the course of time, Andrew Blake, the elder, died in good time, and was gathered to his fathers, his capable son became the sole pro- rietor of the works, while Dick Wilson, now a all man of wide experience, was raised to the post of general manager of the whole exten- sive establishment, And so ends the story of the crippled pards, of the two boys whom fortune seemed to have crushed, but who, through lucky chance and native energy, became heir to fortune’s highest gifts. THE END. Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. BY GEORGE ©. JENKS,) 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledee. > 518 The Demon Doctor; or, Deadhold, the Kid Detective. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 598 Flute, the Singer Detective; or, Owney in a New Role. 608 The Pitcher Detective’ Fotl; or, Dan’s Double Play. 616 The Ocean Detectives or. The Last Cruise ofthe Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. 786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side, 779 lron laud the Charmed Detective. 854 Uncle Sam’s Detective in Chicago. BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, ion of the Sen; or, The Vailed Lady. eamond ¢ or, The Gambler’s Big Game, r 108 The 186 Cool | ' ; BY CHARLES MORRIS, - 118 WHll Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete ; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handscme Marry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Bess, Will Wildtire’s Racer. Mike Merry the Harbor Police Boy. 162 WIll Wildfire in the Woods, 165 Billy Baggage, the Railrond Boy. 170 A ‘Trump Card 3 or, Will Wildfire Wins and Luses 4 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 9 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 8 The Hidden ltand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. : 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner} or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 2835 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two “ Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps; or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughored. B05 paphnwat, ot Dakota; or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard. 867 Wide-Awake Joe}; or, A Boy of the Times. 7) Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Fireily Jack, the River-Rat Detective. — 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagaoond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or Entombed Alive. 79 Detective Dodge: or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, 48s Wild Dick (tee, at or, How He Fonght for Honor. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Teo Sharp for the Sharper, b66 The Secret Service Boy Detective. _ 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Tom Bruce of Arkanaagy or, The Wolf in the Fold. 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. 667 Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 709 The Curbstone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat, 757 Detective Frank’s Sweep-stakes. &69 Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker, 881 Turkey Billy, the Shine-’em-up Detective. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Derien. 29 The Dumb rage or, The Doge’s Deughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 100 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land ofthe ny eo Ridera, 159 The Lest Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Cvffin’s Cruise, 200 The Boy Bedouins; or, The Brotvers ot the Plumed lance 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Mhine. 249 Milo Romer the Animal King; or, Round the World. 265 The Tiger Tamer}; or, The League of the Jungle. 881 Black Niek, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trail. BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Glants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck. 5ST Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner; or, The Man Without a Past. 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. 620 Little Li Mining» League or, The Mystery of tne Island 688 Plucky Pant, the Boy Prospector. 751 Gold-Dust Dan, the Trail Patrol. 755 Gold Dust Dan’s Gathy_or, Reckless Roy, the Regulator BY JO PIERCE, B9T Rob o’ the Bowery ¢ or, The Prince of Mulberry Street. 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, liowery Bob’s Boom. 452 Hotapur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyers Shadow; or Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the hig Rete wing 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman De'ective. 504 Five Potnts Phil, the Pavement Prince. 509 Jack Jaggers, the Butcher Boy Detective. 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie. 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 538 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward. 641 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow; or, The Old Well Mystery. . 5659 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-llook Detective, 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter. 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. aOR ide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer, 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 628 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hymmer. ryt spariee Baw re Sepuat, Pea Ferret. wis yamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a Slippery Set, 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. . 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navirator. 694 Spicy Jim, the Only One of His Kind. 06 Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detective. 17 Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamir. 26 Denni« Duff the Brown Sport's Kid. 44 Dick of the Docks, the Night-W atch. 65 Flipper Flynn, the Street Patrol. TL Foxy Fred's Odd Pard; or, The Keener’s Huge Hustle, 81 Cast-OfF Cale, the Scapegoat Detective. 824 Bowery Billy, the Bunco Bouncer, S37 The Big Four of the Bowery. 846 Buck, the New York Sharper. 850 The Grand Street Arab. 855 The West Broadway Gamin. 860 The Roat-Club Mascot; or, Dan Decker’s Double Dealt 864 The Union Square Baggage Doy. ‘ S78 Te Street_Arab’s Blind. S86 The Five Potnts Lodging Hounc Janitor, 890 Ace High, the Tromp Card Detective. . 895 Fifth Avenue Fred, the Valet Detective. 899 Basement Bert, the Bov Cobbler Detective. 908 Billy Blue- Blazes, the Dodger ofthe Docks. 907 Reddy Rusher,[Bell-Boy] 4-11.44. BY ALBERT W. KEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortines of a Bowery Girl. 26 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. ” * 79 Bol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. $10 Cool Colorado, the Half-Breed Detective. 518 Ocel Colorado in New York: or, The Cowboy's Figh.t A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime is tor sale by all five cents per copy, or ont eet ca onan BEADLE AND ADAME, Publishers, - 98 William Street, New York, pe he bet he he be bad Relies es
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in No Man's Land, 386 Deadwood Dick, 642 Deadwood Mek y 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr 654 Deadwood Diek, 660 Dendwood Diek, dra, Inaurnonee Care. 666 Deadwood Dick, Jf., Back In the Minea, 672 Deadwood Dick, dr., tn Durangot or, “ Gathered In.” rt esdwese eee et pesoerr’ or, Found a Fortune, é endwood Dick, Jr.’a. Dazzle. 690 Dendwood Dick, Jr.'s, Dollars. 695 Deadweod Dick. Jr., at Danger Divide, TOU Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Drop. TOA Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 710 Deadwood Diek Jr., In San Franclace, 716 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’« Still Want. 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr’« Dominoes, T28S Deadwood Dick, Jr.’« Disguise, TBA Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s, Double Deal 740 Deadwood Dick Jr.'s, Deathwatch. TAZ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Doublet. TZTb2z Deadwood Vick, Jr.’«, Deathblow. 758 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’« Desperate Strait, 764 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Lone Hand, Z70 Deadwood Dick, dr.’a Defeat. W726 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Resurrection, TAZ Deadwooa Dick. Jr.'s Dark Daya. TST Deadwood Dick dJr., Defled. 7T92 Vendwood Dick, Jr.'s, Double Deytce. T9T Deadwood Dick, Jr’.«, Despernte Venture, 802 Deadwood Dick, Jr«, Diamond Dice, 807 Deadwood Dick Jr.’«, Royal Flush, 812 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a Head-off, 816 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. 822 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Boom. 828 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’#, Scoop. 884 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’#, Proxy. 840 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a, Clutch, 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Nich Worse. 852 Deadwood Diek Jr., at Devil’« Gulch, 858 Deadwood Dick, Ur.’a, Peath-Hole Hustle S68 Deadwood Dick, Jdr.’s Bombshell. S70 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Mexico. 876 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a Decoy Duck. 882 Deadwood Dick, Jr. tn Silver Pocket. 891 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a, Dead-Sure Gume, S98 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s, Double Prive. 904 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a, Trade-Wark. 910 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Tip-Top. 916 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Double-Decker, 928 Deadwood Dick, Jr. at Dollarville. 984 Deadwood Pick, Jr.. at Flush Flats 940 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, steerage on 946 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Double Drop. 95L Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Right Bower. 957 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Ten-Strike, 965 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Gold-Dust. 971 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Gath, _ 977 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Doom, 986 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’s, Best Card, 992 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at_Gold Dust. 998 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s Big Play. 1005 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Branded. BY T, J. FLANAGAN, 909 Midshipman Pare, the Pirate Catcher. 925 The penne. Cowboy Captain. 988 70 Two Midshipmen; or, The Corsair-Chaser’s First ne. 949 The Three Lieutenants 959 The Mascot Middy ;: or, The Four Commanders, 966 Fighting Jack Shubrick. g 972 Fighting Jack’s Middites; or, Dandy Dick’s Dash, 999 Jack Lang, the Privateer Royer. i Other Novels by E. lL. Wheeler, 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. S4 Rosebud Kob on Mand: or, Idy!, the Girl Miner. 88 Rosebud Rob’s Reappearances or, Photograph Phil. 121 Rosebud Rob’. ¢ Ealteume or, Cinnamon Chip. 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee’s Surround 281 Denver Doll's Victory: or. Skul! and Crossbones. 255 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill's Bonanza. 296 Denver Doll’« Drift; or. The Koad Queen. ! 86x Yreka Jim, the Gold-Ga\ vererg or, The Ufe Lottery. | 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize; or. The Wolves of Wake-Up. f B85 Yreka Jim's Joker}; or, The Rivals of Red Nese. 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 20 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or, Dot Leetle Game, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter 244 Slerra Sam, the Frontier Ferret; or, A Sister’s Devotion. 248 Sierra Sam Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints. | 258 Sierra Sawm’a Pard; or, The Angel of Big Vista, 258 Sierra Sam’s Sevens or, The Stolen Bride. $84 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. 889 Kangaroo Kit’ Rackets or, The Pride of Played-Out. BY Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York, ~ 96 Watch-Eye, the Detective: or, Arsbs and Angela. 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective, 161% New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 226 The Arab Detective : or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp, 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. B25 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia, 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Wat Harry, the Base Ball Detective. 426 Sam Slabaides, the Begzar-Boy Detective. 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Baffilo Demon; or, The Border Vultures, 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot 45 Old Avalanche: or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. 568 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn BIL or. The Red Rifle Team 92 Canada Chet; or, Old Anaconda & Sitting Bull’s Camp. 118 Jaek Hoyle the Young Speculator. 125 Ronanza Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 188 Rosa Bob the King of Boothlacks. 141 Rolid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent: or, The Branded Brows. 177 Nobby Nick of Nevaday or, The Sierras Scamps. 181 Wild Frank the Buckskin Braso; or. Lady Lily’s Love. 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado: or, Rowdy Kate. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator; or, The Locked Valley. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol: or, The Rival Heirs. 880 Little Qu!fck-Shot ; or, Nhe Dead Face of Daggersville. 5S First-Clasea Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 878 Nabob Ned or, The Secret of Sinb City. BRS Cool Kit, the Kirg of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son's Vengeance. 486 Realw«kin Sam. the Sparkier: or The Tribunal of Ten. 918 Kit Keith, t e Reve: ue Spotter. 922 Sol Sharpe, the New_York Night-Hawk. 948 Old Hayseed Among Bunco Men. 3001 Banty, the Denver Bootbinack. BY J. Cc. COWDRICK, 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 614 Broadway Billy’« Boodle; or, Clearing aStrange Case 586 Broadway Billy’s ‘Dtiikilty.” 557 Broadway Billy’« Peath Racket. 579 Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party. 605 Broadway Billys or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Aets or, The League of Seven 669 Broadway Billy Abroad: or, The Bootblack in Frisco, 675 Broadway Billy’s Beat; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy tn Clover. 696 Broadway Billy In Texas; or, The River Rustlers, 708 Brondway Billy’s Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe: or, The Clever Deal. 720 Broadway Billy's Full Mand: or, The Gamin Detective, 785 Broadway Bllly’s Business. TBS Broadway Billy’s Curious Care. 758 Broadway Hilly tn Denver. 762 Broadway Eilly’s Hargainy or, The Three Detective. 769 Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. 775 Broadway Rilly’» Shadow Chaae. 7883 Broadway Blilly’« Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest, 7TR6 Brondway Billy’« Team; or, The Combine's Big Pull. 790 Broadway Billy’« Brigade; or, The Dead Alive, 796 Broadway Billy's Queer Bequeat, 800 Broadway Billy Baffled, 805 Broadway Blilly’« Sigual Scoop. 810 Broadway Billy’ Wipe Out. 815 Broadway Billy’« Bank Racket S21 Broadway Billy’« Bluff. 826 Broudway Bully Aone Jersey Thuga, 8838 Broadway Billy’s Rald, ? 889 Broadway Billy’« Big Boom, 844 Broadway Billy's Bre Bulge. 849 Brondway Billy’« #100,000 Snap. 856 Broadway Billy’« Blind; or, The Bootblack Stowaway. 862 Broadway Billy In London. 868 Broadway Billy Shadows London Slums. S874 Broadway Billy’s French Game. 880 Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwers, 860 Silver-Masak, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keys, B69 Shasta, the Gold King? or, For Seven Years Dead, 420 The Petective’s Apprentice? or, A Boy Without a Name, 424 Cibuta Jonnt or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Ratsy Dude &06 Redlight Ralph. the Prince of the Road, 524 The Engineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 571 Air-Line Luke the Young Enctneer; or, The Double Case 592 The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascals Ont, 615 Fighting avr the Chief of Chained Cyclone. 640 Rareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Tyrewrtter Tilly, the Merchant's Ward. 659 Woonlight Morenn the ** Pizenest ” Man of Ante Bar. S87 Battery Bob. the Dock Detective, $94 Arizona Dick's W ipe-Ont, 900 Jumping Jack's Jubilec. 906 Satety Sams the Cyele Sport. 912 Train Roy Trist’s Wot Iustle, 918 The Trump Dock-Boy, 924 Big Boots Bob, the Fire-Laddle. 980 Kuatler Ralph, the Roy Spotter. 985 The Ex-Newsboy Detective’s Cham. 941 The Bowling Green Detective’s Drop. 944 Cowboy Charlie’*« Double. 947 The Bowery W restler; or, The Butcher-Boy’s Backer. 958 Paddy's Trump Card; or, Silver Sallie, the Girl Sport. 960 The Broadway. Sport: or, Fiver Fred’s Clear Onee. 947 ®1000 Reward; or, The Rival Reporters’ Sleek Scoop. 978 Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. 978 Plucky Pat, the Street-Roy Detective. 989 Bicycle Bob's Hot Scorch, 997 Scorer’ Yr Sam, the Detective on Wheels 1004 Scorcher Sam’s Sweep-Stake s. BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWNE. 956 Brooklyn Kob’« Bulge; or, Dodger Dot’s Diamond Snap. 988 The East-Side Spotter: or, Turning Down the Big Three 974 Old Sant’s Dark Deal; or, Miner Mat’s Iron Grip. ina se At A to es > oO ‘= ee ~( * an = ‘age ‘ = = es * Ss ce ae > Be me ee BUFFALO BILL NOVELS. BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 1006 Buffalo Rill’s Deeoy Boya. 995 Buffalo Bill’s Drop; or, Dead-Shot Ned, the Kansas Kids 988 Buffalo Bill's Lasso Throwers. 981 Buffalo Bill's Fighting Five. 975 Buffalo BUl’s Rifie Shots. 968 Buffalo Bills Kush Rides or, Sure-Shot, the High-Flyer.. 964 Buffalo BIill’s Decoy 3 or, The Arizona Crack Shot. 95s Buffale Bill’s Mazeppa-Chase. 948 Buffale Bills Snap-Shot ; or, Wild Kid’ Texan Tally 942 Buffalo Bills Tough Tussle. 986 Buffalo BHI’s Boy Mascot; or, Joe Jarvis’ Hold-up. 929 Buffalo Bill’« Crack-shot Pard, 650 Buffalo BUDs Boy Pard; or, Butterfly Billy. 216 Bison Bill, the Prince ot the Reina, 222 Bison Bill’s Clue? or. Grit, the Bravo Sport, BY BUFFALO BILL. 55 Deadly-Eye. the Unknown Serut, or, The Banded Brotherhood 68 Border Robin Hoedy or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust. BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, U. 5. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bill’s Bet: or, The Gambler Guide. BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM. 982 New York Nat’s Prop? or, Ex-Ferret Sykes’ Bold Game ¥26 New York Nat and the Traitor Ferret. 920 New York Nat Trapped. 914 New York Nat's Three of a Kind, 908 New York Nat’s Pouble. 902 New York Nat’s in Colorado, 896 New York Nat tn Gold Nugget Camp, 889 New York Nat’s Peadly Deal, 888 New York Nat’s Crook-Chase. ST7 New York Nat’s Trump Card, S8T7L New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls, 865 New York Natv’« Masked Mascot, 859 New York Nat. the Gamin Detective. , 853 Dick Doow’x Kidnapper Kuock-Out, 847 Dick Doom’s Ten Strike. 842 Dick Deom’s Flush Hand. j %72 Vick Doom’s« Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Destinys; W7T Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror, 4 784 Dick Doom; or. | he Sharps and Sharks of New York, 7&8 Dick Doom In Boston; or, A Man of Many Maske, 798 Dick Doom tn Chicago. __ 798 Dick Doom in the Wild West. _ . 808 Dick Doom’« Clean Bweep; or, Five Links in a Clue, ’» Death Clue. Wiamond Deal. « Girl Mascot. ‘’s Bhadow Hunt. 8835 Dick Doom’« Big Ieul. 749 Dashing Charlie: or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trali. 756 Daxhing Charlic’s Destinys or, The Renegade’s Captive. 760 Dashing Charlie’ Pawnee Pard. 766 Dashing Charlle, the Rescuer, 497 Ruck Taylor, Ring of the Cowboys. 737z Buck Taylor, the Comanches Senay 2418 Buck Taylor Boys: or, The Red Riders ot the Rio Grande. 560 Pawnee WI, che Prairie Shadower. 718 Pawnee Biil: or, Carl, the Mad Cowboy, 719 Pawnee BID« Pledge: or, The Cowboy's Doom. 725 Pawnee Bill: or, Daring Dick. 692 Redfern’» Curtous Case: o, The Rival Sharps. ; 697 Kedfern at Devil's Kanch; or, The Sharp from Texas, 702 Redfern’s High Mandy or, Blue Jacket. \ 707 Redfern’s Last Trall: or, The Red Sombrero Rangers, | And Fitty Others. 4 BY LIEUT. A, K, SIMS. 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dend Set at Silver City, 622 Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, The Affair at Tombstone. 681 Tom Cat’a Terrible Task; or, The Cowtoy Detective, 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Dan's Great Combine. ~) 646 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral) Cock; or, Josh’s Ten Strike 568 The Dandy of Dodge; or, Rustling for Millions. 576 The Silver Sports or, Josh Peppermint’s Jubilee. 588 Saffren Sol, the Man With a Shadow 601 Happy Hana, the Dutch Video: or, Hot Timesat Round-Up. 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiah, the Plains Detective, 676 Stirnal Sam, the Lookout Scout } 689 Billy, the Gypay Rpy: or, The Mystery of Two Lives,‘} 699 Staple Sim, the Rroncho Buster: or, For ig Stakes. ‘ 712 The Meamerli«t Sport: or, The Mystified Detective. 788 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector, 745 Kanane Jim, the Crore-Cot Detective, 761 Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective. 78 The Ruatler of Rolling &tone, 235 Lone Mand Joe, the Committee of One. 801 Kent Kirbys the High-Kicker from Killbuck. S82 The Doctor Dete etive In Texas. 8T2 Two Showmen etectives in Colorado. 987 The Texan Firebrand: or, Brazos Billy’s Suap.Shots 961 The Tramp’s Trump-Trick. NEW ISSUES, 1011 Predwood Dick. Jes, Dutch Pard; or, Rooting: Out the Rascals of Skeleton Gorge, By EL, Wheeler. 1012 Th: Cripple’s Dea’-® re Clinch; or, Trapping the Old Fraud. By Charles Morris. 1018 Buffalo Bill's Texas Team, By Col. P. Ingrabam, JUST ISSUED. 1006 Flipper Frank’s« Flush; or, Tracking the Dodger from New Genk to New Orleans. By Charles Morris. 1007 Bnifalo Bill's Sure-Shotss 0) Buck Dawson’s Big raw, By Col. P. Ingraham. 1008 The Denver Detective In New York. By How- srd M. Boynton. 1009 The Gtr) Cyclists Winning Hand; or, Scorcher Sam’s Death-Hole Drops By J. C. Cowdrick 1010 Kit Bandy’s Big Six; or, The Kastlers of Jackson Basin, By Ol © oomes, A New Issue Every Tuesday, The Half-Dime Library ‘s for sale by all newedealers, five ents per copy, or sent by mai! on receipt o1 six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 92 William Street, New York.. tn § at Se > ™ ag eae see a EE SO