Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 445) (1886 02 02)
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= oe gy ee \ a, , | So ( aa. DAR Co fin “7 tf ot en (‘Sah > ce at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. Copyright, 1886 and 1888, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, February 2, 1886. - Bay No. 445. $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. itt. Ty = ithe = f J ; | Wii) j | ~ 1} | | / i T | RED ROLFE’S PIGEON. BY T. C. HARBAUGH, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ ARKANSAW,” “ BILL BRAVO,” “BUCKSKIN DETECTIVE,” “‘ VELVET FOOT,” “CAPTAIN CUTLASS,” ‘‘ ROUGH ROB,” “SILKEN LASSO,” ETC., ETC, CHAPTER I. THE PIGEON IN THE NET. __ | “THERE is crime in every word of this mys- terious ‘ Personal.’ It means that the Vampires of the Bowery have found new victims. I, for one, swear that they shall never reap the harvest they are after now.” = : * We must go to work at once if we expect to a ier ei Na baffle the gang, : IT WAS THE MEMORANDUM THAN THE NAME, PERH “At once! That isthe motte! Let me read MORE ’ APS, THAT STARTLED THE YOUNG DETECTIVE, ‘ d
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Ee The City Vampires. ‘the ‘ Personal,’ and if you don’t see an infamous ‘scheme in it, Vl) vote for the dissolution of this firm,” and the two youths who heard these words listened while the speaker read the following ad- vertisement, ae ag had been cut from the ‘ Personal’ column of a morning paper of recent ‘date: “R. R.—The pigeon flies on the 20th. Its wings ‘are new, but it will reach the net. Be on rs fat -" ‘‘ There!” exclaimed the reader, looking at his companions. ‘‘ What.do you say now?” The scheme almost exposes itself,” was the reply. “This is the day for the pigeon to « And for Red Rolfe to receive it as his first part of the game for wealth.” For a few moments there was no response, and silence reigned in the little room where three boys of seventeen sat at an oval table. hey were Archy Rae Fred Martin, and Fred ‘Webb, the two latter w dely known as the Twin Freds; but the three collectively bore the firm name of Archy Ray & Co., and were known as young detectives who had already acquired a reputation for ferreting out city crime of all kinds. The boys were all well-built, genial, good look- ing and without fear. Young Ray was his com- panions’ senior by several months, and this cir- cumstance, coupled to his shrewdness, had placed him at the head of the firm. They knew the ins and outs of New York life, and the secret haunts of the city’s criminals were better known to them than to the de- tectives who gathered nightly at 300 Mulberry street and compared notes and laid plans. Archy Ray and Company made no high-sound- ing pretensions. The members possessed an in- born -hatred,of meanness, and more than one despicable scheme they had exposed when there was no hope of reward, They attacked villainy Bie: wherever they found it, and one clause in their S mutual bond was to protect the helpless and to i= expose the petty schemes of the vampires ot New York, - The advertisement read by Archy Ray to his oh companions had met his eye that day. It was one among a thousand, and hundreds of people had passed it with a glance, but not so the young detective. The two letters ‘“‘R. R.,” first attracted his attention, and the singular wording of the _ Personal ” told him that it covered some dee laid scheme, For him to see the two R’s was to ; fill the blanks by calling their owner Red Rolfe —a man who shall play a prominent part in our story. ie If the initials stood for Red Rolfe, then the Twin Freds knew that a desperate and deep plot of some kind was on hand. ne “Tf the igen has come to New York, it Ri must not be plucked,” said Fred Martin. ‘‘ Tt may be too late.” “No, not too late for us to work,” announced the head of the firm with resolution. ‘‘ In the first place, we must look in upon the haunt of Bo: the Bowery Vampires. They will tell, us eee whether the pigeon has reached the city. I will take the Bowery trail, you will shadow Madam Bluebird’s rookery, Martin, and you,” to Webb, : ‘will go to the Desbrosses Ferry. We know that the Vampires patronize that water-way i whenever they have any river work on han on Report here as soon as ble. Remember! * eyes are to be open now! e have to deal with pcs the slipperiest set of villains that ever infested a Bice great city. A man who became noted as a for- Boris er and burglar in Europe, is no child in New Fork. We are off now!” A few minutes later the little room on Cham- My bers street was without a tenant, and the first Bord street lamps were being lighted when the three ie boys separated, each to go the way chosen by = their leader. : : Fe Archy Ray had assigned to himself the most & important as well as the most dangerous part of nt _ * the new pen pb He turned into the famous Bowery when it i was at its best, with its blazing gas-jets and ry electric lights, with its confusion of horse-cars and pedestrians. It was no new place to the young spotter; a “ed thousand times he had run the gantlet of its dime museums, saloons, concert halls and Jew stores. He knew the men who did business there, and not a few of them knew in turn that some of their questionable transactions were : known to Archy Ray and Company. avd “The youth struck the Bowery proper at Mir icf Chatham street, and burried up town till he isp reached the Thalia theater at its junction with Cana:. The doors of the German play-house already been thrown open, and the youth was stopped by the crowd that blocked the sidewalk. “Hello!” he suddenly exclaimed, as a man of Herculean proportions and a large sandy mus- tache came in sight. ‘‘ Are you going to enter the Thalia, Red Rolfe? This is an incident en- tirely unexpected. No! you are not going to attend the play. Here we go!” The man seen by Archy Ra y almost brushed him as he came forward, and in a little while Red Rolfe, the ex-convict, had a shadower at his heels. The man was not disguised, and the young spy had no difficulty in keepmg him in si ght, ** Show me the pigeon, Reddy,” laughed youn Ray. ‘I want to Took at the feathers you oe pect to pluck—you and the gang you lead.” Red Rolfe led Ray down the Bowery several squares, when he suddenly entered a certain house whose nearest neighbor was a pawnbro- ker’s shop kept by a famous character called Pet Levi in the neighborhood. Mr. Levi stood in front of his establishment in his shirt-sleeves, for the night was warm, and when Archy Ray reached the spot he caught the old Jew’s eye. ‘“* Here, mine frient!” cried Pet Levi. “ Vat fold oe to leave mit your uncle to-night, C) The young spotter did not care to lose time with the broker, but the hand of Pet Levi had already encircled his arm, and he was in the embrace of an animated vise. “Nodings to pawn, hey?” screeched the Isra- elite. ‘‘Peezeness is gi poor shoost now. Can't you pring me a leetle? -Ah! you're a smardt von!” ‘Tm no thief!” exclaimed the boy, drawing back with a show of indignation which, whether assumed or not, perplexed the Jow. ‘ When I run down at the heel I'll unload for your bene- fit. When did business get poor for you, Pet Levi?” The pawnbroker laughed and showed his dis- colored teeth under his hooked nose. ‘tT vas only shokin’, poy!” he laughed. ‘“‘Come in an’ see the lay-out vat come shoost avile ago.” "The boy was almost dragged into the store where Pet Levi went to one corner and unlock- eda safe. “‘Dese shoost come in,” he said as he leaned over a show-case and unwrapped a paper that seemed to contain something valuable. _‘‘ Peeze- ness won’t starve Pet Levi oudt when it prings such trade as this,” and the young spotter was shown a small pocketbook which contained a_ gold ring whose setting was a beautiful dia- mond. ‘* Can I look at it, Pet?” asked the boy. “ Certainly, mine frient,” said the Jew, and the pocketbook was placed in the boy’s hand. Pet Levi knew that Archy Ray was a terror to evil doers in that particular part of the city; more than once certain articles found on pawn on his shelves had given the boy a c1ew to some theft, and between the two, man and youth, there had been some dealing, and all on the ‘ From papa to Ruby,’ signifying that it was a gift from teal ‘child. Did apers in the et . Did you look at thea. Mr. Levit” i “ T saw dey vere nodings like money, and so I let them go,” was the answer. “Tl take a squint at them, then.” Archy Ray took the several sli ‘ketbook and opened them on t iho iret wan fr e was a little poem cli ‘om some newspaper, the second boa cape aevertieanent for girls to work in a book-bindery at good wages, and the last an address that seemed to ex- cite the boy spotter. It ran thus: “MABEL MARSHALL, “ Green Hill, NX. J.” And beneath the address in a delicate hand was the simple memorandum: ‘“ Left for New York Aug. 20th.” | It was the memorandum more than the name, | rhaps, that startled the young detective. What strange fate had placed the pawned | ket-book in his hands? He had mastered himself when he looked up. ‘¢ Who left this?” be inquired. “A young man vat had no use for diamond rings,” laughed the Jew. “You advanced him what?” ‘Ten dollars.” from the showcase | step, and he knew that Archy Ray shoved the pocketbook across the showcase. ‘You'll not growl if the pledge is never re- deemed,” he said. ‘ Listen to me, Pet Levi. The young fellow may have come honestly by 2 reer but [ don’t know.” “Hedid. Simon Lang vculd not steal from his mother!” cried the ‘*He found that pocketbook.” ‘He said so?” “ Yes. ” ‘* Where?” ‘In the Desbrosses street ferry-house.” ‘* When?” “ To-night.” ; “ Ah!” exclaimed the young spotter to him- self. ‘*I see! the pigeon to be plucked has come Wt to the net.” te) CHAPTER II. i SIMON LANG’S MISHAPS, is Pet Levi's singular estimate of Simon Lang’s ; honesty was not altogether misplaced. That young gentleman who was somewhat dudish in appearance with a buddin mustache. and dreamy eyes, was enjoying the funds received on the pocketbook and ring at the old Jew’s pawnshop. He was spending it in a rapid man- ner at an oval table in one of the variety theaters of the Bowery, and the two kindred spirits, young men of his own age, whom he had picked up, were helping him to deplete the amount. If Simon would not steal from his mother, he was not beyond thrusting his tapering fingers into the depths of strange pockets, and Archy Ray was not much inclined to believe the old Jew’s story that the pocketbook was ‘lost , when it passed into Simon’s possessicn. “T ean get more where this came from!” ex- _ Claimed Simon expitingly to his companions as he displayed a two-dollar bill. “‘Pve got a good account at Levi’s, and I can make it last, or take it out in.a lump, just as I like.” “You must have struck a gold mine, Si- on.” ( “Didn't I? Scale me for a flounder if I didn’t strike it rich tonight! Let me say, boys, that a man with his eyes open is apt to stumble onto a diamond mine these days.” “What was your mine, Simon?” asked one of — the twain with a sly glance at the other. . ‘“‘ Wasn't I just talking about diamonds?” ex- claimed the young Jew. ** Yes, but—” : “No ‘buts’ about it! mine is a regular dia- mond lead. Ask old Levi if it isn’t so!” Not far from the three jolly partners and within earshot of this conversation sat a man who seemed to be absorbed in the poor perfor- mance going on on the stage to thesorry melody of a creaking piano. He was about forty years of age, well built but with round shoulders, and he hed a keen ' eye that emitted a strange light at the very time when Simon mentioned his diamond mine. The man was rather well dressed, but he was by no means a frequenter of good society, else be f bad not occupied a table in the gallery of the Bowery bale oe aa “Pye got to leave you, boys,” said Simon to his companions as he drained the glass last begegtt on by the waitress. _ ; “ Going to tap yer mine ag’in, Simon?” “ Not any more to-night,” was the reply. ‘I don’t want to draw too heavily on the new de posit, but we'll meet again In the near future and enjoy the favors of fortune.” “ 'Ter-morrer night, Simon?” y Maybe 807" : ‘“Letis make an app’intrrent,” and the speakes caught the young Jew’sarm. “* Merry W ile we can be—thet’s the ticket ain’t it, Jim? “‘ Very well—to-morrow night, then.” “Here?” “Here, boy.” “You're a jolly clam, Simon! We're all ‘jolly clams. To-morrer night, eh? We'llmake the roof of this palace shake. Don’t forget, — Simon—to-morrer night at eight!” pel. “Ateight. I'll be here, boys.” Ta, ta, Simon.” “* Good-night.” 5 A The round-shouldered man immediately sost | all interest in the song that was being wafted from the stage through a cloud of tobacco smoke. He turned and followed the young Jew, watch- — ha ing him with the eyes of a lynx while he dogged = his steps with the stealth of a panther. Seti 3 Simon went out into the glare of the electric j | Wel oe ew. lights and tried to steady himself on the pave- - os ' He had his pawn money so frecly He | whenever ei toka § — < that his head grew vent Bax Mf AEs Y
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“Td better go straight home,” he said, to himself. ‘‘ There must have been something in the beer in there. Let me see. Have I my pawn-ticket? Oh, yes! here it is. I’m all right on that score. Steady now, Simon; you’ve kept your feet before in worse times than this.” He started down Canal with the man at his heels, and soon turned into Mulberry with his i tracker still on the alert. ‘ If Simon could have seen this man, if he could have noted the strange glitter in his e es, he ts would have sobered up in an instant. ut the D young Jew was not looking back for spies; he -—s *'was trying to avoid collisions with the many : pedestrians who seemed to seek them. f As Simon reached a certain quarter in Mul- +e berry, the pursuer increased his gait, and when the young Jew inserted a night key into the lock «of a certain door the spy could have touched him. Simon opened the door and was about to 1 ‘withdraw the key when a hand dropped upon 1 his shoulder, and he almost sprung out of his i shoes. - 4 “Go in, Simon; go to your room. I will see ‘s you there,” remarked the man, while the young fellow gazed at him, too astonished to speak. ‘‘T'm no corpse from the docks,” continued the . shadower. “Go in, I say.” & Simon obeyed mechanically; he felt that there ! was no mistake, for the hand had not left his shoulder, and he could not avoid the terrible 4 eyes. | fe Is this your room, Simon?” asked the man, ve: when the Jew had led him up-stairs to a sm apartment on the second floor. “ce It is.” ‘Sit down, then.” s Simon dropped into a chair as a cold chill erept along his bones. He was entirely sober now, ‘‘ My business with you is this,Simon. I want your pawn-ticket.” Q ‘ The last sentence was uttered in a voice of much sternness. Simon instantly ps sa his hand upon the pocket that contained the prize. His pawn-ticket, the ticket for the diamond rin and the little pocketbook? If the man h \ asked for his head, Simon would not have been more surprised. PF hi The man had taken a seat in a chair directly | in front of the young Jew; their knees almost touched. . “ My—ticket?” gasped Simon. ‘Upon my honor, I don’t know what you mean.” | “* Come! no foolishness, sheeny,” was thereply. I _ **T want the pawn-ticket Pet Levi gave you to- { night. It is behind your hand there. Out with i it! The eyes were threat enough. { “You want to rob me!” cried the Pet Jew. ‘Call it by any name you please, Simon. You don’t want to fool with me. I know what your un ticket calls for.” \ “The ring isn’t yours!” “Tt may be before morning.” ; A gleam of resolution came suddenly into { Simon’s eyes. He sprung up. eit ‘Will you resist? All right!” exclaimed the round-shouldered man, and the next moment the young Israelite’s shoulder seemed to be between the jaws of a vise. ‘‘ You will hand me the pawn-ticket, or I will take it from you, dead!’ continued Simon’s persecutor, “ Men old enough to be Pfpbes grandfather know by sad experience that I am not to be fooled with. Come, Mr. Lang! the ticket!” . Simon saw that resistance in the hands of that city Samson would prove useless; so he put his hand into the pocket that contained the pawn- check. ; The eyes of the robber glistened when they saw it, and his dark-fingers snatched it from the young Jew’s clutch. 7 ve This is better than taking your life,” he chuckled. ‘ You can follow me to Pet Levi's if you wish, Simon, but you do so at your own ——-visk, I would advise you to remain here, or elsewhere. You were playing a game of your own in the ferry-house, eh! 1 reckon you told Levi that you found the pocketbook? Simon said nothing. This man knew that he had carried the pocketbook and its precious contents to the old Jew’s, and he believed. that Simon had committed a theft in the ferry- house. All at once he flung the young Jew away, and started toward the door. ' “Don’t follow me, Simon,” he hissed, as the oung man recovered. ‘It might not be healt y for you to do so, The next time you % strike a diamond-mine, don’t boast of it among the round tables, Good-night, Simon.” The man was gone, and t B h k hop: all y Ra Jew was alone in ! We must eaten Pe _ The City Vampires, his little room—alone and despoiled of the ticket so valuable to him. “*I wonder if Pet Levi’s hand isn’t in this?” were his first words. ‘‘That old scoundrel is mean enough to put a partner on my track. The ring is worth several hundred, if I’m any judge of diamonds, and he only advanced me ten on it. If it is a conspiracy between Levi and his man, Ill know it. He said I had better not follow him. By Heaven! he doesn't know who he has robbed!” Enraged beyond expression, the young Jew seized his hat and rushed out. Of course, the man who had despoiled him was out of sight; but Simon knew where Pet Levi's was, and he immediately started off. “Tf there is no conspiracy, he will have a good time getting the treasure,” muttered Si- mon to himself. ‘‘Old Levi is no child, and he is as strong as a lion when he — for himself. ut how did the man know I had the pawn- check if Pet Levi did not post him? The girl whom I plucked in the ferry-house was the last person I’d suspect of carrying diamond rings on her person. I'd like to know where she came across that one, and what brought her to New York. She looked like a country daisy— hang me for Judas! if she didn’t!” And for the first time since leaving the Bowery Variety, the young Jew laughed. He was not far behind the man who had rob- bed him, and he was rapidly shortening the dis- tance between his lodgings and the old pawn- shop. ‘“Here I am, but the old nest is dark!” ex- claimed Simon, a few minutes later. ‘No! there’s a light beyond the shutter. Maybe my robber is bulldozing Pet Levi.” The young Jew glided forward, intent on see- ing beyond the shutters of the shop. The next minute he had one st at the crevice, and then he was struck a blow that made a thousand stars dance before his eyes. CHAPTER III. A SHREWD PLAY. It was ten o’clock that night when the three boys who comprised the firm of Archy Ray and Company found themselves again in tke snug quarters on Chambers street. ‘“You went to Madam Bluebird’s rookery,” said the young chief to Fred Martin ‘‘ what did you discover? Lag? little if anything,” was the answer. “The old trap was as silent as the grave and almost as dark. In one of the upper windows was a faint light which went out suddenly while I looked at it. I saw the door open and got a glimpse of Madam Bluebird’s charming coun- tenance. After awhile a boy slid out and gave me a long chase. He went to the Desbrosses street ferry-house and scanned the floor with an eager eye. He looked ynder the benches and in- to the dark corners, as if he had lost a diamond breast-pin or something else of great value.- I shadowed him back to the rookery, and left him there.” “They are looking for the ring,” said Archy What ring?” ‘The one tn New Jersey pigeon lost in the ferry-house. They don’t know that it fell into the hands of Simon Lang, the young Jew of Mulberry street.” us if I had known that, he would not have it now!” exclaimed Fred Webb. ‘I encountered that, young dude on the Bowery about an hour ago. ‘“‘He did not have the ring on hisperson. I have seen it at Pet Levi's.” | ** Oho! he pawned it?” “Yes. Istruck a bit of luck which tells me that the pigeon mentioned in the ‘ Personal’ we happened to alight on this morning flew to New York on the 20th. A young girl named Mabel Marshall is the bird mentioned. She got to the Desbrosses street ferry-house, for there Simon Lang got her pocketbook and ring. I have found the articles at Pet Levi’s whither the young thief took them to pawn, but beyond the ferry-house I have not been able to track the irl’ I am certain that she was lured to New ork for some diabolical purpose and certain, too, that the Vampires of the Bowery, Red Rolfe and his pards, had a hand in it, The bo that Fred tracked from Madam Bluebird’s rookery to the ferry and back again is in their employ, and he was sent there to hunt for the articles which the girl knows she lost in some manner this side of the river, The gang has not discovered that Simon Lang robbed the girl. find the Jersey pigeon. It will not do vies ie i, tC ietad : o> Bi 5 ad ie { Fe at ah ee a Reegery bc Ries Sah cog be giele ik a - : to let her remain in the clutches of the Bowery Vampires who never play a scheme like this un- less there is gold at the bottom of it.” ‘“‘Tf Madam Bluebird is in the plot is not the girl Mabel in her trap?” asked Fred Webb. ‘‘ Perhaps,” answered Archy Ray. ‘“‘It is possible that the advertisement for book-bindery girls which I found in Mabel’s pocketbook may ave lured her to the city; but it is certain that the gang knew of her coming, for she was met at the ferry by at least one of its members. We are not going to let this trail get cold. Who- ever Mabel Marshall is she must be saved from the machinations of these Bowery leeches. Come!” Half an hour later a well-built young man walked past Pet Levi’s establishment and no- ticed that it was closed. Not a‘gleam of light could be seen beyond the shutters, and this was something unusual, for the old Jew always kept one jet burning over his varied stock. A pair of keen eyes scrutinized the pawn-shop and subjected the upper windows to a close in- spection. “Pet Levi must have turned his establishment into a tomb,” the youth murmared. ‘* While the Twin Freds are taking up the trail at the ferry, I am going to play a risky game ata venture.” We need not say now that the speaker was Archy Ray, who after the conference at head-~ quarters had returned to Mulberry street for the ion of getting beyond the threshold of a ouse decidedly dangerous in more ways than one. The young detective wore clothes of fashion- able cut and quite ‘‘loud” in color. From his vest dangled a heavy chain presumably of gold, and the well-filled pocket suggested the presence of a costly watch. On his well-laundried shirt- bosom sparkled a pin calculated to deceive the keenest eyes for a while, and his whole make-up would have told the Bowery thfef that he was a victim worth fleecing. The old frame house occupied by the woman known to police and thief alike as Madam Blue- bird was not far from Pet Levi’s establishment. It was said to be the receptacle for stolen pro- perty, and its proprietress, a large woman with eyes like a tiger-cat, was the known consort of the worst inhabitants of the Bowery. Strange to say Madam Bluebird had never been arrested, neither bad her disreputable premises ever been searched, It was said that she and her pals stood in with the police, and that Red Rolfe and his gang knew that they could safely ply their calling as long as they kept united to Madam Bluebird. Archy Ray kept on until he reached the house, At one side of it was anarrow alley a short dis- tance from whose mouth the darkness was in- tense. After inspecting the building for a mo-~ ment, the young detective dodged into the alley and disappeared. A moment later the report of a pistol was heard, and the boy spotter rushed from the alley and staggered against Madam Bluebird’s front door whose old-fashioned knocker he seized and jerked several times with violence. Almost instantly he heard heavy footsteps be-. yond the door, and when it was open he fell in- side with a groan. ‘‘ What do you want? I don’t keep a hospi- tal!” cried the Amazon, who shut the door and bent over the boy with a pair of blazing eyes. Archy Ray rolled over so as to display his flashy chain and breastpin to the woman’s gaze and groaned again. “7 believe 1 am shot!” he said. ‘* You won’t turn me out to die on the street? No,no! I have been followed by some man who wants what I’ve got. Where are the police?” *“Where they always are whenever anythin happens—never on hand!” and Madam Bluebi showed her teeth in a grin. “You won't let the villain follow me in here, will you?” said the ren “TI came to the city to-day to see the sights but if I had to do it over I'd never leave Genesee county.” — The woman's eyes sparkled again. “Where are you hit?” she asked, and before Archy could reply, she continued: ‘Of course T’ll not let the\pinker inside. I'll see where you. are hurt myself. Can’t you get up?” Assisted by the woman the boy detective man- aged to rise, but with well-feigned difficulty, and he was led into an adjoining room where was laid on a sofa and the turned on. AAD pie is your name?” asked.Madam Blue- ird. ‘Solomon Solon. I was born and raised in Genesee, and I was a blamed fool to come to New York alone. I feel sleepy. Do you think the shot causes it?”
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EN ay a ae a q “‘T don’t know,” and about the woman’s lips appeared a meanful smile. he boy had discovered that Madam Blue- bird held in one hand an object like a rubber ball and every now and then a thin spray with a peculiar odor touched his face. He had be- gun to feel drowsy under its influence, but he still kept his senses, and could see the avaricious glare that danced in the woman’s eyes. After awhile the boy’s hand dropped from the sofa and he seemed to pass into a sound sleep. « Kverything is fish that comes into this net,” chuckled the woman, as she lifted the young detective from the sofa and bore him from the room, ‘The country pigeon came to the right place to be plucked. Ha! ha! they've been com- ing in pairs of late. This is my game solely. Reddy and the rest needn’t know of my catch * to-night.” If Madam Bluebird was large in physique she also possessed the strength of a Hercules, She carried Archy Ray up-stairs with but little effort on her part, and deposited him on a low bed in a little room scantily furnished and for- bidding in appearance, When she retired she locked the door, and left the young detective in darkness. ‘“‘Tam an inmate of the trap and robbed al- ready!” exclaimed Archy Ray, leaving the bed. “‘ My watch and chain are gone; so is the paste diamond that made Madam Bluebird’s eyes glit- ter. I thought the jewelry would draw her on. I knew of no other method of getting into this den.. She will discover that the jewelry is sham —Pet Levi will doubtless have the pleasure of imparting this information—therefore, I must go to work at once. I am supposed to be under the influence of chloroform, but, thanks to the drug I took before commmg here, 1 am still my- self. I came here to search this house. The Genesee pigeon is after the bird that came from Green Hill, Madam Bluebird.” For som time Archy Ray sat on the edge of the couch in the dark room. He heard the last sound in the house die away, as if Madam Blue- bird had gone to sleep after her success. He struck a noiseless match and found the door. He knew that the Mulberry street vixen had locked it on the. outside, but that did not dis- courage him. A thin and pliable piece of steel was inserted into the key-hole, and after a while the lock yielded. The young detective opened the door and looked out. Rr. At first he saw nothing, but hs soon discerned a soft light, which seemed to be on the floor be- low, and the next moment he was leaning over a balustrade looking down upon a tableau that somewhat startled him. ee In the hall, that extended to the street door, were two a ag one of which belonged to Mother Bluebird herself, the other was the fig- are of a man. “Red Rolfe himself, perhaps!” ejaculated the youth. ‘I begin to believe now that I have not lost my jewelry for nothing. What would Reddy do if he knew I was here? Madam Blue- bird won't give her catch away, for she doesn’t rene to divide the proceeds of her little watch- ifting. Eager to hear the conversation of the two persons who were talking in low tones, the young Chambers street detective leaned far over the balustrade and listened. “We got the lost feathers by the merest acci- dent, ha, ha!” laughed the man, ‘‘ Julius found the young thief at the Variety, and forced him to give up hischeck. Ah! we never lose a game when Julius takes a hand!” “Had the feathers gone to Pet Levi's?” asked Madam Bluebird. ‘*They were there. The old Jew looked thun- derstruck when Julius walked in with the ticket.” ‘* Did he resist?” “Of course!” and the man laughed. “ But, Julius worked a lay that always fetches Levi around. We have a grip on that old dog that never fails to win our games for us.” Archy Ray could hardly repress a cry that would have betrayed him, ‘Heavens! the ring and pocketbook have from Pet Levi's hands into the power of he gang. They found Simon Lang, and made him give up his pawn-ticket.” “ What about the dove? I’ve dropped the pigeon business no ww.’ ‘Do you want her?” asked Madam Bluebird. “Not just now,” was the reply. ‘ She is tiableé to be called: for at any moment, though.” ‘What is she worth to us?” “More than one hundred thousand. You one BE oe a a — ‘ The City Vampires, don’t know all we know. If you did, you’d open your eyes. We're all playing our part of the game. I[ discovered the prize, Julius watched the flight from Jersey to New York, and Trix helped at the ferry. Nobody has got on to it yet. Pet Levi dare not open his mouth—” ‘* And Simon?” “Trix never tells,” was the reply that made the young detective start. ‘‘ Never fear, Madam Bluebird. If we should be spotted, we are pre- pened to play the game through at all hazards. hey call us four the Vampires of the Bowery, ha, ha! This time we’ve fastened on the richest prize wé have ever found.” Archy Ray saw the man go away with a laugh of triumph on his lips, and as the door below was shut, he heard a cat-like step behind him. He turned, and not a second too soon. CHAPTER IV. MADAM BLUEBIRD’S TRAP. READY to pounce upon the young detective, with hands uplifted and eyes that burned like the 7 of a tiger, was a nimble boy somewhat smaller thanhe. Archy Ray appeared to recog- nize the youth on the instant. ‘* This is the boy who searched the ferry-house for the ‘Pmennak flashed across Archy’s mind, and the next moment he met the boy half- way and the two grappled. e detective was anxious to carry on the contest without alarming the woman down- stairs, and his first dash was for his enemy’s windpipe. “Not so fast, spy of the cops!” hissed the strange boy, as he avoided Archy’s grip for a moment. “‘ You’ve come to the wrong place to ply your trade. Madam Bluebird’s will prove the death of you.” ‘“That is to be tried!” was the nse, and the boy detective pushed his antagonist against the nearest wall, and at last got his hands at his throat, Madam Bluebird’s boy struggled with all the strength he could command, but he found that, despite his wiriness, Archy Ray was too much for him. “You'll find my hands a regular vise!” grated the Chambers street spotter. ‘I know that I’m in a death-trap, and I propose to fight according.” The efforts of the strange youth were rendered futile by the spotter’s tactics, and at last he gave up the struggle. Archy Ray loosened his grip, to find his foe lying at his feet, almost black in the face and helpless. He was thankful that the spirited little battle had been carried on without noise, for no footsteps came up the stairs, and when he looked down the dimly-lighted steps he did not see the threatening figure of Madam Bluebird. Archy’s first action was to carry the insensi- ble boy into the room he had lately vacated himself, and there he bound bim hand and foot with the bed-cord, while he twisted a piece of bed-clothes into a gag. “T heard that cat-like step behind me in the nick of time,” said the boy to himself, ‘TI find that I have to keep eyes and ears open in this house, and that is what I propose to do. From what I heard of the conversation between Madam Bluebird and the man who must have been Red Rolfe, Mabel Marshall must be in this house. I will go to work now.” Leaving the bound boy in the room, Archy Ray went out into the corridor again. The scene of the battle was quiet, and he looked over the balustrade without seeing any one. He first searched, aided by the steel wire, all the rooms on that floor, but they yielded noth- ing. He next ascended to the third landing and continued the search. The result was the same. lf the boy detective had looked down the steps at a certain moment he would have seen a colossal figure coming up in stockinged feet. Had Madam Bluebird an inkling of what was transpiring in her den? The Amazon went straight to the room where she had left Archy after despoiling him of his jewelry purchased for the sole purpose of deceiy- ing her. Opening the door ahs looked in and saw hee dim figure of her own tool on the couch. ‘* Safe enough yet,” she chuckled to herself as she turned away and carefully shut the door. ‘The pigeon from the country will go back, if he Ve back at all, without his feathers!” e stopped on the landing opposite the room, and remained there, statue-like, for some seconds. All at once she up-stairs, “‘ Mebbe I didn’t hear anything, and mebbe I did,” she said to herself. ‘‘ There used to be on —_ P a rats in this trap, and they may have come back,” The next minute a door openad noiselessly in. front of Madam Bluebird, and she started back at sight of the figure that appeared. The little gas-jet that burned over the landing showed the city Amazon the we she thought she had just seen asleep in a room below. ** Ar’ there two of em?” cried Madam Blue- bird, as she recoiled and almost fell backward down the steps. ‘* No! there is but one, and you do not want to fool with him!” answered the young detective sternly, as he covered the startled woman with a small revolver he had taken from the boy he- had conquered on the floor. below. ‘ Don’t raise your voice, nor scamper down-stairs, Madam Bluebird. The greenhorn from Genesee is not so green, after all. I recollect that I had a watch and a pin when I came here, and I discover that I am minus those articles now.” ‘*Mebbe you think I took them,” growled the woman. “I have not said so,” said Archy, laughing. “No, I would not accuse such an innocent wo- man as yourself. Stand where you are!” The vixen of the den glared at the boy detec- tive with the fury of a tigress; she clinched her- hands and seemed about to throw herself for ward. The young detective never stirred. ‘* You're not from Genesee county!” sudden ly cried Madam Bluebird. ‘* Do you think so?” **T know it!” “* How so?” “Because you have called me by name.” “ Right you are, Madam Bluebird.” ‘You came to my house to work a lay of some kind?” “« Perhaps.” ““You are a spy!” “Well?” ‘* You have been sent here ? my enemies.” “* So you have enemies, eh? I am sorry to hear that. came here of my own accord.” ‘“ Who are you? Ah! you darenot tell me!” The woman leaned forward with much eager- ness as she spoke. *‘Can’t you guess, since you believe that I am not Solomon Solon from Genesee?” ‘You are in the employ of the police who don’t like me.” “‘IT am my own police,” the boy returned. “TF know the man who has just been here. I know all about the pigeon who came from Green Hill, New Jersey, to be plucked in New York. She is worth more than one hundred thousand to the Vampires of the Bowery, eh, Madam Bluebird? hat a fine set of feathers you have enticed to the New York net! I know alk about the lost pocketbook and ring. Simon Lang, the young Jewish thief, got tiem first, and Julius made him surrender the pawn-check.’ Madam Bluebird uttered a singular cry. ay the name of Tartarus, who are you?” she cried. “Time will show you,” was the boy’s re- sponse, “You darsn’t tell me now.” Archy’s answer was a smile, ‘ ** We'll go down-stairs, Madam Bluebird,” he said. ‘The person I want is not above the first floor. I have searched every nook and cranny of the two flats.” “You have?” “Yes, and I found some goods that might create a sensation at number three hundred, Mulberry. You have escaped remarkably well, in the very shadow of police head-quarters. Stand aside, Madam. I prefer going down-stairs first.” The Amazon obeyed with a dark scowl and the young detective, with the revolver still cocked in his hand, passed her and went down the steps. Now that he had met the mistress of one of the most infamous traps known to the police of New York, he intended to show her no advantage. She was aware that he was not a country boy who had fallen into bad hands while taking in the sights, and it was very evident that she he- lieved him to be connected with the authorities in some manner. And Madam Bluebird knew that she hed commited crimes enough to send “s to Sing Sing for the remainder of her natural e. ““T am here for the New Jersey dove,” said Archy, as he went down stairs with his face up- turned to the woman forced to follow him under threat of the revolver. | ‘‘ Reddy has decided nct to call him a pigeon any longer, and I will adopt the same coarse. In your parlor on the floor we will come to an understanding.” “The dove isn’t in my house,” said Madam j j { 4 . | isc
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Bluebird, with an effrontery that would have cone credit to the coolest criminal. ‘* We will come to that down-stairs, I say.” ‘You can’t intimidate me,” was the quick re- sponse. ‘I mayn’t be square in the eyes of everybedy, but I don’t make a prison out o’ my house.” ‘* No! you are not one of the Vampires of the Bowery,” smiled Archy. ‘I could read your record with a completeness that would astonish you, Madam Bluebird, Ah! here we are at the © timst landing. Follow me down, madam; don’t be backward.’ The boy detective began to feel that he had the mistress of the trap in his power. He was more than ever convinced that a thorough search of the house would yield up Mabel Mar- shall, the Vampires’ victim. and he was con- fident of making Madam Bluebird deliver her up at the muzzle of the six-shooter he held. When he was in the middle of the first flight of steps the Mulberry street Amazon was at the top. Bae rounded hand rested on the balustrade and she was regarding him with a changed expres- sion of countenance. ‘Ain't you coming down?’ he demanded. ** Remember! this is no pieasantry on my part, Madam Bluebird. It is stern business.” The next moment the woman raised her hand and let it fall heavily upon a certain part of the top of the balustrade. n less than a second the stair seemed to give way,and a wild cry pealed from the young me throat as he attempted to save him- self ‘** This is a devil’s work!” he cried. Indeed it was, for that portion of the stair- ‘way where he had stopped had fallen out of sight, and the boy disappeared as suddenly , with Madam Bluebird grinning into the abyss.’ CHAPTER V. THE TWIN FREDS AT WORK. THE Twin Freds, as we know, went to the Desbrosses street ferry for the purpose of track- ing Mabel Marshall from that place, while Archy was left to carry out his singular scheme for gaining admission to Madam Bluebird’s ‘trap. the three young detectives were certain that the girl had been decoyed from her home in New Jersey, and enough had been discovered to ‘warrant the belief that she had reached the ferry-house where it was feared she had fallen into the hands of vampires of the Bowery. When the two Freds reached the boat-house the hands of various watches proclaimed the hour of eleven and despite that, a number of numbered cabs were in the street waiting for late passengers, and the ferry-house had a good ammany tenants, “There is nobody looking for the pocketbook mow,” remarked Fred Martin who had followed Madam Bluebird’s “lay” to the ferry already that night. ‘I hardly see where we are to take up the thread.” “Try The Statue, Fred.” * Ah! there he is now, but he may play sphinx.” A moment later the two boys approached an individual who appeared to be watching every- body at once, ‘This person was a spare man of erhaps forty-five, with thin iron-gray beard, toa strange gray eyes which, the latter, never still, danced like an excited Dervish, His gar- ments were light and rather seedy in appear- ance, and many people knew that their owner had worn them in all kinds of weather for more than a year. This man supposed to be insane by some had haunted this particular ferry-house for several years. He usually came at sun- down and remained till after midnight, His habit of occupying one position night after night had gained bim the appellation of « The Statue,” and there were hundreds of the ferry’s patrons who knew him by no other name," It was said that he was atone time a well-to-do citizen of New York who once went to the ferr to meet a daughter, and that the failure of the daughter tc come had overthrown his reason causing him to come night after night on the same fruitless mission. The Statue seldom talked, and as he was not molested, he carried on his vigils with unceasing TET ie * The Statue sees everybody,” continued Fred Martin. “If there was any bad work here to- night ot saw it.” he slim man was not aware that he was to be addressed by the young detectives until Fred Martin’s hand dropped lightly upon his own, and then his dancing eyes became fixed for a moment. ' Pout s #Y ; ay) é, The City Vampires. ** Did you notice a young girl arrive on the boat to-night?” asked the young spotter. The question was not very definite, but it was the best the boys could do. They had never seen Mabel Marshall, and therefore could not de- scribe her. Fifty young girls might have reached the city by the ferry since sundown. The Statue saw that the boys were deeply in- terested in the party for whom they inquired. It seemed for a moment that he had’ connected her with the lost daughter. ‘““A young girl?’ he echoed in the strange voice he possessed—a voice which seemed to have been silent fifty years. ** Yea? ** Did she have a sack?” The boys thought that Mabel Marshall would not leave Green Hill for New York without a traveling sack. ‘*T think she had,” said Fred Martin. ‘** And a.red shawl?” That seemed to confirm the belief that a girl had came from the country. “I don’t know about the shawl; but it is quite likely that it was a red one.” ‘* T saw such a person.” _The Statue spoke deliberately, and before either of the boys could reply he continued. ‘“She came over on the seven o'clock boat, and was met by a man who conducted her to a cab waiting out there,” the man nodded toward the street. Welw was Mabel Marshall!” exclaimed Fred ebb. ‘*He called her Mabel,” said The Statue. as she your sister, young man?” “*No, but I am interested in her as though she was,” was the quick response. ‘ You never saw before the man who received her?” ‘“*Oh yes! They say I see everybody,” and a smile came to the pale thin lips of the speaker. ‘*He often comes to the ferry; sometimes he crosses.” ‘« What is he like?” ‘* When he is himself, he is a well-built man with a reddish mustache.” The boys exchanged significant looks, “Red Rolfe!” they both murmured. ‘** To-night he was dressed like a gentleman, and I had to look twice before I knew my old friend,” said The Statue. ‘ The girl did not see him for several minutes after she landed; she was that long in the crowd the boat brought over. ‘*When she found him—what?’ asked Fred Martin. ‘“*She seemed disappointed as if he was not the person she expected to meet.” “ And they went off?” ‘** Yes, he took her sack and handed her into a cab out there.” ** And got in after her?” ‘*That’s just what he did.” The two boys were silent for a little while. They were certain that they had discovered that Red Rolfe the Bowery Vampire had met Mabel Marshall at the ferry: the sandy mustache and The Statue’s outline description had given him away. They looked toward the street as if the trail was lost there. They had no reason for hoping that The Statue had spotted the driver of the cab, for to him the girl’s reception was nothing un- common. As he never forgot anything, he had merely related to the boys one incident of night- life in New York. ‘**Come,” whispered Fred Webb as he touched his companion’s arm. ‘‘ We can go no further than this.” ‘| Wait.” Fred Martin lingered with one more question on his lips. He was going to ask The Statue if he could identify the cab or its driver, All at once as if the frequenter of the ferry- house could read his mind, his question was fore- stalled by a remarkable utterance, ‘The father of the man who drove that cub a — much to answer for at the bar of God!” e said. The two boys started and looked into the tense- ly drawn visage of the strange man. The rec- ollection of some terrible wrong seemed to have given birth to his singular sentence. His gray eyes burned, and his almost fleshless hands were tightly clasped. ‘Iv is judgment!” he wenton. ‘‘Hissonacom- mon cab-driver, and night after night in the em- ploy of the scum of New York! T’ve seen the ay when he cherished the hope of living to see that boy in Congress, rights, he’d see him in lon an “c If justice asserted her ; Sing Sing. I told him ago that it would come to worse than this, it will. Bob Benton has not touched bottom yet. I wouldn’t soil my hands with him. He's beneath me, and I live from hand to mouth, but not in the employ of thieves!” The Statue straightened suddenly and looked toward the street. The young scamp ishere for another passen- ger,” he said, his eyes dancing furiously again. ‘He never comes here without crders: ait till the boat comes in. It is nearly due now.” The Twin Freds had already turned, and their gaze was riveted upon the young man whe occupied the seat of a certain cab visible in the . brilliant light in front of the ferry. “So that is Bob Benton, the man who drove Mabel off?” ejaculated young Webb. “That is his son!” was the reply, bitterly spoken. ‘ Here is the boat now. ok out for the young scapegallows’s passenger.” At that moment the well-loaded ferry-boat thumped against the pier, and began to dis: charge its eager freight. The boys moved to wart the cab and began to watch. The driver who was a young man, not past twenty, with a well-knit figure and prepossess. ing face, appeared to pay no attention to the throng that poured into the street. He seemed to know that the person for whom he waited would know him on sight. For several minutes he was not noticed by any passengers of the boat, but all at once he was hailed by aman with a large valise whe wanted to be driven to a hotel. Bob Benton shook his head. ‘*Tsn’t this a hotel hack?” asked the man. ** No!” snapped Bob, ‘“You needn’t cut your words out with a cleaver,” was the answer. ‘*Go to Halifax!” A fierce look lit up Bob Benton’s eyes, and they followed the passenger for some distance, when he bit his lip and waited for the expected person. “Hang it all! he wasn’t on that boat,” he suddenly growled, as the last bunch of passen- gers left the ferry-house. ‘“T’ll go back and re- rt, He gathered up the lines and spoke to the horses, but the next moment he was command- ed to ‘‘ pull up,” as a hack threatened to collide with him. Bob fell back and drew his horses almost to their haunches, and for a little while the air was full of oaths, ‘*Come! follow me,” said Fred Martin, touch- ing his companion. ‘ We'll get something out of all this tangle if we play it fine.” ~ The young detective glided to the dark side of Bob Benton’s cab and laid his hand on the plated door-catch. Bob was devoting his at- tention to the somewhat reckless driver of the other hack, and the two men were ready to lea from their boxes and go at one another wit their whips. ; For Fred Martin to reach the cab door was to open it, and ina moment he and his c: mrade were seated beyond it and the blinds already down hid them from view. ¥ “Now for a ride behind Bob Benton’s whip,” he whispered to Fred Webb. ‘The Statue was no Sphinx to-night, eh, Fred?” ‘We struck him in good humor for once. I feel that we are on Mable Marshall’s trail.” By this time the entanglement had been worked out without a fight, and the two boys were being carried up Desbrosses street ata rapid rate. ee ‘Bob is wreaking his ire on the horses,” chuckled Martin. “There would be holy hor- ror to pay if he suspicioned that he was carry- ing the bulk of the firm of Archy Ray and Company, shadowers and detectives. ere are we now?” Fred Webb raised one corner of the curtain and looked out for a moment. “We are bowling over Canal,” he said. “Good!” exclaimed Fred Martin. ‘Bob is taking us to the Bowery!” CHAPTER VI. THE STAKES IN THE GAME. ‘““ We are in the Bowery!” suddenly exclaimed Fred Webb when the fast-flying cab left Canal. *‘ Bob Benton is going to report tothe Vampires, sure enough.” “There is no longer any doubt of this,” was the reply. és es, we keep the cab till it stops?” “ es, The closed vehicle kept up the Bowery for several squares, when it drew to the sidewalk and finally stopped. Bob Benton sprung down from his_ elevated phe and ap Bs hes. | the house o' ite. Fred artin raised the curtain and looked out. ‘*T see Pet Levi’. three gold balls,” he said im
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‘The City Vampires. a whisper. ‘Bob is at the first door to the left of the old Jew’s quarters.” ‘“Red Rolfe’s house,” was the answer. ‘‘ Let us see who opens it.” The nearest light enabled the two boys to see the door at which the driver of the cab had eres and together they watched anxiously for the response. Presently the door was opened just a little, and Bob Benton leaned forward and said some- be x, in a voice too low to be heard. “That is his report,” said one of the boy spot- ‘*Ts the man in the door gerry f ?? r im. It is ters! “‘No; the figure is too small for not Julius either.” ‘Then it is the man called Trix; he is the smallest of the gang, you know.” The door shut suddenly and Bob Benton came back to the cab. “No more duty to-night, thank fortune,” the boys heard him say, it can go back and turn innow. They don’t like it because the fellow they expected didn’t come over on the ferry, but I couldn’t help that.” The cab rattled on again, and as it left the Bowery, Fred Martin seized his companion’s wrist. “ Let’s get out of this,” he said, in low tones. ** Bob is going to his quarters, and will do us no more good to-night. When we want him he won’t be hard to find.” The next moment the door of the cab was cautiously opened, and Fred Martin leaned out and looked at the man on the box. Bob Benton was looking straight ahead and was not likely to see any movements alongside; therefore, the agile young detectives dropped lightly to the street one after the other and disappeared, with Bob none the wiser for their stolen ride. In the mean time, the man who had held the brief conversation with Bob at the door adjoin- ing Pet Levi’s establishment had returned to a back-room, where he met two men who were seated at a table that occupied the middle of the apartment. One was undoubtedly Red Rolfe, for the sandy mustache gave him away, and the other was a man somewhat larger and very like the person who had robbed Simon Lang, the young Jew Mg TH of his valuable pawn-ticket. “Didnt he come?” asked Red Rolfe, in ill- humor, when he saw the third party come back umaccompanied. ** Bob didn’t see him.” ‘“‘Furies! he never missed before,” was the rejoinder. ‘‘Mebbe Bob didn’t recognize him. Bring in the dove. We will get at this business without him.” The man who had answered Bob’s summons was about to leave the room, when a little bell tinkled in one corner and all three started. “‘Tt is Phlox! se missed Bob!” exclaimed Red Rolfe. Two minutes later there walked into the room a man whose appearance was the signal for sey- eral exclamations of joy. “Phlox!” cried Rolfe, springing forward. ““T’m nobody else. What kind of a fellow did you send to the ferry for me? I asked your man if he couldn’t haul a fellow up-town, and got a cursin’ for my trouble. Then I got here the best way I could. ButI’m here. How goes the game?” ; * First-rate, so far,” was the reply. “The Jersey pigeon came?” “ And was met at the ferry?” ““By me,” said Red Rolfe, with a smile, ** No accidents?” The three Vampires exchanged glances. * Accidents? yes,” continued Rolfe. ‘ She was robbed at the ferry by Simon Lang, the young sheeny ; she lost her pocket-book and dia- mond ring, and it got into Pet Levi's posses- sion. ** Simon pawned it, eh?” : ** Yes, but Julius there got on to the lay and euchered the young thief out of his pawn- et. “Didn't I”? ejaculated Julius, who by his grin showed that he was the man who had watched Simon Lang in the theater. “I got the goods back with that ticket, too,” he went on, ‘Levi was stubborn for a little while but I worked the peatary string on him, and made him shell out. Simon followed me con- trary to orders. Trix yonder is authority on his ener whereabouts.” The man who had joined the Bowery Phe ‘kling glanced at Trix, whose little eyes were spal with triumph. { “I know; let that suffice!” laughed Trix. ‘*Now, what about the real worth of the dove’s feathers?’ asked Red Rolfe of Phlox. a J ““ You had no difficulty in working the lay in Jersey?” ms for ‘*Not much. . The book-bindery advertisement attracted the girl, as I thought it would. She met me accidentally and showed me the “ad” which she said some,friend had sent her. she doesn’t dream that I am Phlox nor any else who is against her. person I always said she was. The diaznond | was near the wall. ring which was left her by her mother is proof enough. She goes by the name of Mabel Mar- shall, but when the time comes we will prove her another person. There is a cool hundred thousand in this game, gentlemen. When do you begin your courtship, Trix?” The speaker turned abruptly upon the man to whom’ he put the question and ended his sen- tence with a laugh. Trix was the youngest member of the gang. He was a man of twenty-eight with a fine figure, a handsome face and bright blue eyes, and did not look much hked a practiced villain. ‘Oh, I can begin at any time,” he said. ‘It won't be a long courtship L hope.” ‘* No,” said Phlox, ay want it over soon, for I’m getting down to hard-pan, and I want to handle some of the coming Mrs. Trix’s wealth. You have never seen the girl, Trix, but despite her country notions, you'll like her at first sight. Where is she, Reddy?” ‘Tn this building.” “So near? I thought—” ‘© She was taken in the first place to Madam Bluebird’s,-but the removal was enue, 2 made an hour ago, and the golden dove is now beneath this very roof.” “ What does she think?” ‘‘ The child seems dazed and acts like a person in a dream.” ; ‘Does she suspect foul play?” “Not yet. She made a great ado over the robbery, but her pocketbook has been restored intact, and she looks upon me as a model of friendship and honesty.’ The Bowery Vampires laughed over the table and Red Rolfe pulled the ends of his mustache. ‘‘T have toldher that a friend of mine found the pocketbook, and she will believe that that friend is Trix when he has been formally intro- duced.” ‘‘That was a lucky stroke!” exclaimed Phlox. ‘Tt opens the way for Trix, and I call it a good Reddy.” : lay, nila I never make a bad one!” was the quick re- tort. ‘‘To-morrow Trix meets our dove and the courtship begins. that within five tleman!” ‘‘Hurrah for Trix!” cried Julius leaning over and slapping Trix on the shoulder, ‘‘A girl worth one hundred thousand isn’t picked up every day. I laughed when Phlox said two months ago that he had unearthed a gold mine in New Jersey, but now I take it all back. Ac- cept my apology, Phlox.” Phlox who was a keen pear man with in- tensely dark eyes and a smooth face bowed and as ee with the fellow who addressed him. “Tt is simply this in a nut-shell, gentlemen,” he said seriously. ‘This girl, Mabel Marshall as she is called, is the daughter of Thomas Whit- more the Bond street merchant who died three years ago leaving a fortune of over one hundred thousand dollars to his daughter, if she be liv- ing. It is no secret that when the child was about a year old Mrs. Whitmore, in a fit of temporary insanity, left home, taking the babe with her. Since that time she has not been heard from and the still prevalent belief is that she walked from the docks with the child in her arms. We know better than that, gentlemen; we know that the gold dove now in our possession is Ruby Whitmore; the ring mentioned so often in the advertisement put forth by the Bond street merchant is proof enough. We've got the whole game in our hands, gentlemen. The girl is to become Trix’s wife, then we play an open hand for the legacy and have a jolly time with t. Weare not Bowery Vampires for nothing, eh, Reddy?” ‘* Not by a long shot!” laughed Red Rolfe. Phlox got up and Jooked about the room. ‘This room is next to Pet Levi's,” he said sud- denly, with a quick glance at his companions. ‘It is, but the walls are thick, and besides our uncle is somewhat deaf,” replied Reddy.“ Ju- lius frightened him to bed when he went for the ‘ketbook.” Not quite satisfied, Phlox went to the wall and struck it with his knuckles, It sounded cold and dead, ‘Are you satisfied, Phlox?” asked the head of the gang. I think I can safely say ays he will be a married gen- } I | wall at that moment the was playing the role of Mr. Silas Strong, and | sight calculated to stir their blood. r She is undoubtedly the | crouched on the floor, and one of his snaky eyes | | | *“T guess so. I’m going now. To-morrow I will see you all. ou will introduce Trix, Reddy, and be certain to tell her that he is the gentleman who found her pocketbook.” If the four men could have looked beyond the would have beheld a nder one of Pet Levi's counters a man was His figure was bent nearly double, and he was looking and listening wit all his might. ‘ Pet Levi, the pawnbroker! “Tt ish a big game!” muttered the Jew. ‘‘Dat diamond ring ish worth more as a hoon- dred t’ousand to the man vat holds it. -The © scoundrels took it from me with Simon’s check, and now they will play it for all it ish worth. They don’t know Pet Levi. By to-morrow night they will know that de old Jew kin play the biggest card.” His eyes glistened like carbuncles as he crept to his flimsy cot ina dark corner of his pawn- shop, and for a long while he lay awake gloat- ing over the discovery he had made. te thought only of avenging the second theft of the pocketbook and ring, and never dreamed that he was soon to furnish the city with an- other tragedy. As for the conference in Red Rolfe’s house, it broke up quietly, and Trix and Phlox went out upon the street. It was midnight: now, and the Bowery was bic pers y silent. ** Look! Trix and a friend,” said one of two boys. ‘It is neither Julius nor Reddy Rolfe.” The next moment the twain drew back into the alley at whose mouth they stood, and Trix and his companion walked past. ‘*Come! we will run these Vampires down!” continued the youth who had discovered the conspirators. ‘‘ This is the most exciting night I have ever seen.” The two Freds were soon tracking the two men down the Bowery. ‘““They’re gone!” suddenly cried Fred Martin. ‘The sidewalk must have opened and swal- lowed them,” was the response, and the two young spotters hastening forward, found that Trix and Phlox were not to be seen. CHAPTER VII. IN HER OWN TRAP. WE must not forget Archy Ray, the youn detective whom we saw disappear with the fall- ing stair so deftly manipulated by the cool hand. of Madam Bluebird. The last thing that the boy saw ere he was swallowed up by the dark- ness, was the huge figure .and the hideous grim of the mistress of the trap. Then oblivion came suddenly, for the boy de- tective struck something unyielding, and the stair trap swung back to its place and remained. fixed, as though nothing had happened. Madam Bluebird descended the stair with a good deal of agility for one so large, and burst into one of the lower rooms in transports of rage. “It was a narrow escape! The young imp actually held a cocked ya at my kead!” she cried between her mad gasps. ‘‘ After all, he isn’t a greenhorn from the country, but a young spy of the cops who has got onto the racket Reddy is working. How the cool young wretch” did take me in! He shaJl never leave this house alive. Ill answer for that. But didn’t the trap catch him nicely?) Ha, ha! 1 let him reach the ~ right step before I sprung it, and then—out of sight he went like a ball dropped into a well.” Madam Bluebird talked thus in excited tones, and with nobody to listen. She was the sole occupant of the room, but she did not seem to notice it, With her last sentence she went to a heavy oaken stand and jerked cut a drawer, from which she took a short and formidable-looking: revolver, : : “T'll show him that I have the best of this game,” she went on. ‘If he came here to find something out about the Jersey dove, he let me — filch his jewelry, just to draw me on, and 1k wager my head that the watch is Peter Funk, and the s Soni we’ ia eh =a << Ls who sprung that infamous trap h
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F will inspect my prison,” he said. ‘‘ The eyes of “Madam Bluebird will look in upon me before ' Jong, and she will come here bent on finishing the work she began. The best thing [can do is to prepare for the city Amazon. She will not hesitate to kill when she comes, [ think I’ve already sent every drop of her blood up to boil- ing heat.” ate e@ remembered that he held a revolver in his hand when the trap fell, and he now began a search for it in the darkness, for with it again in his possession he could defy the Amazon, and perhaps dictate terms. , But his mo t minute search failed to find the weapon, and he finally concluded that it had ad- hered to the stair in some mysterious manner, “Tl have to fight the vixen with bare hands,” he said, not encouraged by the reflection. ‘TI would give a good deal for the revolver, but as it isn’t to be found, I’ll have to do the best with- out it.” Some time passed away and not a word of an kind broke the silence of the cellar into whic the young detective had fallen. All at once he heard a noise like a key turn- ing in a lock, and he instinctively turned to- ward the sound. e : ‘“‘That’s the Queen of the Vampires,” ejacu- lated Archy Ray. ‘‘ Now for the interview that ahr, decides everything.” Sy The noise had told hin) where the door was Bi ae likely to open, and in a moment he had stationed ae himself against the wall. a He did not have long to wait, not more than ve twenty seconds, when a door opened without ‘naa ' any noise and the boy heard the steps of a heavy es | ou person. pe ta Madam Bluebird had come to the tra . eet Archy Ray counted the seconds, for he heard the short breaths of the woman and presently he : caught the glimmer of a dark-lantern which the ee ' woman now brought into view. - **T guess the fall fixed the rat of the cops,” she cae said, “This stillness means death, and I will Rr: not have to use the persuader I brought along.” *» She moved toward the center of the cellar Mh) te throwing the light about as she advanced, and qi Archy with every nerve on tension watched his ak opportunity. é : The door had been left slightly ajar, and the key was on the outside. ia at once he sprung to one side and the next second he had thrown the door open. Madam Bluebird heard the cat-like spring and wheeled in time to see the boy disappear. Suddenly the door shut—shut in her face, and before she could reach the latch to jerk it open again by an exercise of her great strength, the key clicked and she was a prisoner in her own cellar! : The young detective’s break did not seem to have occupied three seconds. “Catch a fox asleep will you, Madam Blue- bird?” laughed the boy. ‘‘ We will see who ae comes out best in this game. Whip me for a art gutter-snipe if I don’t hold the daisiest cards A 8 at this writing! By Jerusalem! you can enjoy the comforts of your own trap while I inspect i that part of this den not yet inspected.” Archy Ray coolly pocketed the key and walked off leaving Madam Bluebird to rave out her madness in the gloom of the cellar. He would have laughed could he have seen her beating the air with her huge fists and heaping imprecations of the vilest kind upon his head. She resembled a wounded tigress in 4 her wrath, her eyes looked like balls of fire as they flashed before the bull’s-eye of the lantern, pa and if she could have encountered the young detective she would have flung herself’ upon him. Archy Ray was now bent on finding some clew te Mabel Marshall, or the girl herself. He went into room after room and looked for hidden doors and secret apartments, He was aware of the fact that he was still in one of the most mysterious and dangerous houses in New York—a house feared by some of the ‘most fearless police, and he had to proceed carefully and be prepared for surprises, i n one room he found a revolver which he _ grasped eagerly, and for a moment thought of going back to the cellar to force from the lips ot its prisoner the secret of the girl’s hiding- place. was in the midst of his search when the front door opened and as the boy detective wi bem a dark corner he saw two men enter _ the hal. One he recognized; the other was unknown %o him, “ Trix and a pal.” he said to himself. ‘“‘ They have come to see Madam Bluebird. Jt is some- sig 1 dey the girl—my head on that!” nn oe pa ol Meera fk ees men had thrown a keen look toward him, he a a bit ambitious. - Can it be that I have fallen into a trap—that Iam the victim of a conspiracy?’ No! Who would conspire against me, a poor girl?” She stepped back from the window ata slight — sound, and the next moment the door opened and Red Rolfe, cleanly shaven, well dressed, and with his sandy mustache dyed a dark brown, walked into the room. He was followed by a younger than he, and, like and good looking. “This must be the person who found my lost idea thought the girl to herself. ‘‘ He 1s andsome at any rate, and appears to be a gen- tleman.” Red Rolfe came forward with his eyes fas- imself, well attired tened, on the fly in the web, and waved his hand * toward his companion. ‘* Miss Mabel, this is Mr. Trego, the gentleman who restored your lost articles,” be said. Trix, alias Mr. Trego, made a profound bow and doffed his hat, as a flush suffused Mabel’s cheeks, causing her eyes to drop in confusion. The young girl hardly knew what to say, although she had been expecting the meetin and when she at last began, she found herself alone with the young man. Red Rolfe had 8.5 ues rix had been brought to the girl to play that part of the game assigned to him, and he in- tended to play it to the best of his ability. He accepted Mabel’s thanks in a manner in- tended to impress her favorably with him, and told her that he had found the pocketbook in the ferry-house. “Tam a stranger here,” said Mabel. “A gentleman named Silas Strong, who was stop- ping at Green Hill, showed me the advertisement or girls for a book-bindery, and through him I consented to come here. The gentleman who has ey left the room is one of the proprietors of the bindery, [am told. He met me last night at the ferry and has furnished me these quarters for the present. Do you know him well?” “Oh, quite well,” said Trix, ‘and a better man than Abner Abom doesn’t live in New York. When I told him that I had found a certain pocketbook, he nearly embraced me, and I then learned that it belonged to one of his new employees, You were not brought direct to this house?” ‘**Oh, no,” said Mabel quickly. ‘‘ I was driven from the ferry to another place, but quite late last night I was induced to take quarters here. Mr. Abom said that these had been made ready for me, and I do not want to go against his wishes.” A faint smile came to the corners of Trix’s mouth. The girl was still undeceived. ‘“Has Mr. Strong returned to the city?” she suddenly asked. ‘** Not yet, I believe,” was the answer, though Trix knew very well that Silas Strong was one of Phlox’s many names. The girl was about to speak again, as her peracid indicated, when startling words were eard: ‘By the eternal heavens! I will choke the old sheeny to death! We've got the dove in our clutches, and we're entitled to all the feathers, Intimates, does he? Let me see—” ‘“‘Hush! She is in the house, remember,” in- terrupted a voice that silenced the loud talker, and then Mabel could hear no more. A singular light had come into the beautiful victim’s eyes; her cheeks suddenly lost color and her gaze became fixed on Trix. ‘* What does that mean?” she exclaimed, step- ping toward the young man, who was wishing that he bad his hand at the roysterer’s throat. ‘‘That man’s voice sounded like Mr. Strong's. It was in this house, too! Does Mr. Abom pos- sess many Visitors like that?” “Not many. It is a matter of business be- tween them, nothing more,” said Trix. ‘*To Tartarus!” suddenly. broke forth again, ““T say to Tartarus with the rascally Jew! He will blow up the whole game! We won't get to pluck the dove from Green Hill, if we let him—” Mabel heard no more, for a strange cry part- ed her lips, and she darted toward the door. “T see it all!” she exclaimed. ‘ My God! I have been brought into a trap of some kind. That man means me when he talks about the dove from Green Hill. Let me go!” The last sentence was an appeal to Trix, who had sprung forward and caught her by the wrist. “Let the fool go on,” he said. ‘t There may be a dozen Green Hills in the United States.” Mabel drew back the length of bis arm. ‘*No! he means my home,” she said. “TI know that Silas Strong is in this house. I have erson smaller and
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a ag heard his voice. If you have pity you will et me go.” But wrist he was clutching so firmly. down into Mabel’s eyes and held on. ‘* You are in the plot, too,” she went on. ‘If you were not, you would let me escape from this place. Who knows but that my pocket- book was stolen just to bring about this intro- duction? **Out where those men are quarreling over scmething we don’t know anything about?” ‘*T know about it,” said the girl through her teeth. ‘‘ The high words were about me.” ‘* You? ha, ha, ha!” and Trix laughed as he looked down into the white face of the Vam- pires’ victim. Mabel saw that she was held by a hand that would not let her take another step toward the door. There was business, but no mercy, in Trix’s eyes. ‘* Tam helpless in the nest of a set of villains!” fell in accents of despair from her lips. ‘I wish I could blot from recollection the day I first met the serpent Silas Strong. His coming to Green Hill must have been a part of the plot against me. But why am I the victim? I am poor. I have nothing but my poor mother’s See rix laughed again as he leaned forward till his face almost touched the girl’s. ‘“‘That ring is worth a hundred thousand!” he said. ‘‘ You have come to New York to geta husband. Behold him before you, Mabel.” The girl’s look suddenly became a stony stare. She tried to break away, and a cold shudder stole over her frame. ‘* You?—you?” she cried. your wife?” ‘*T’'d bet fifty thousand that you are!” was the reply. ‘‘ You might as well get ready for the bridal, for no power in this ra! can prevent you from becoming the wife of Trix, the Bowery Blossom!” Once more the girl made a violent effort to break from the grip that held her, but it seemed to tighten as she pulled. All at once her senses seemed to leave her; she tried to throw off the terrible sensation, but in vain, Theroom about her suddenly grew dark, and with a cry she reeled away to be caught by Trix, who threw out his arms. Two minutes later a young man dashed into a room where two persons were seated ata table. He looked at one particularly, and sprung at him with blazing eyes and eager hands. ‘© Why didn’t you hold your tongue, Phlox?” he cried, halting before the man. ‘‘ You had to give the whole thing away to the Jersey dove, and she’s now lying in a faint in your room.” ‘*The old Harry she is!” was the response. **T'll go and see—” ** You'll not do anything of the kind,” was the interruption. ‘‘She heard every word you said, which was too much. She called you Silas Strong too.” ‘*You’ve played the fool, Phlox,” said the man across the table. “Tf I have it sha’n’t balk the game. What’s a mere girl against us?” “Nothing, of course. We'll play the game out if she does know that she’s in a trap, but I didn’t want the expose yet. But who is it you- *re going to choke, Phlox?” ‘That old rat, Pet Levi! He must have got onto some of our talk last night. By the fiends! I am going to choke him!” and Phlox’s hand hit the table like a hammer. CHAPTER IX. ONE MINUTE TOO LATE. “THe girl is not under Madam Bluebird’s roof,” said Archy Ray to himself as the shadows of another night gathered over the city of New York, ‘I searched the trap at my leisure after I had locked the old vixen in the cellar. We must look for Mabel where Red Rolfe and his pals are. If she is not found and rescued soon we will be too late. The Bowery Vampires let no grass grow under their feet when they have an important scheme on hand. If we take up the trail step by step we may reach the end too late tc help the victim much.” ‘““We might precipitate matters by a raid.” “On Red Rolfe’s haunt next door to Pet Levi's?" Fred Martin nodded. “No. I don’t want the police brought upon ‘the ground yet,” was the young detective’s answer. ‘This is our case, and we shall work it up without help, A raid on that trap would find the Vampites prepared, and Mabel might not be found. They will take precautionary rix had no intention of releasing the He looked ** Am I to become The City Vampires. measures anyhow. Trix and his companion who released Mother Bluebird know that some one has got onto their scheme, They will like- ly suspicion us, for a year ago we gave the gang some trouble, you know.” ‘* What is the next move, then?” ‘‘T am gomg up to Pet Levi’s. Look here; this brief letter tells me that I am wanted there,” and Archy Ray showed his two com- penices a poorly scrawled note he had received y a boy messenger within an hour to the fol- lowing purport. “Mr. Ray:—You will learn of something to your advantage if you will call at Pet Levi's, the. Bowery, between eight and nine o’clock to-night.” There was no signature to the note, but the young spotter knew that it had been written by the Jew. : Was the old pawnbroker going to tell him how the pocketbook and ring belonging to the missing girl had left his hands, or had he some clew to the whereabouts of Mabel herself? Pet Levi was a shrewd old fellow, a driver of hard bargains where he was concerned, and the three detectives knew that he took no step unless there was something in it. ‘** Now that you have discovered Bob Benton’s ie place, [ think you had best shadow him while I go to Levi’s,” Archy continued to the Twin Freds, ‘If the gang have any cab work to-night they will give it to him, and by watch- ing Bob we may alight on some important clew.” ** All right!” said the two boys. ‘‘ You work the Levi racket for all there is in it, and we will spot the cab-driver hated so cordially by The Statue at the ferry.” The three boys went out upon the street to- gether, and the next moment two men evident- ly waiting for them started een ‘“*There are the ferrets that have scented us,” said one of the men who had evil eyes and a powerful physique. ‘‘I’d give my head almost to have them in my power for five minutes. They worked a racket against us a year ago and caused us a deal of annoyance. There they go. Ready. Off we are, too.” The boys had the keenest eyes in New York on their every movement, and when they start- ed off they were followed by the two men. ‘*We don’t need Julius and Trix to help us deal with those young ferrets,” said Red Rolfe with a smile. ‘‘ We'll run them in before the night is very old, and our people will never be troubled with them any more. Let us get closer and hear what they are saying.” ‘“ Not now,” was the reply, and the speaker’s hand touched Red Rolfe’s arm. ‘‘ We can keep them in sight and that will do for the present. They don’t know where the girl is, and they can’t find out. She knows that to-morrow night she is to become the wife of Trix whether she con- sents or not, and then we will show the hand for the hundred thousand.” ‘We must not appear in the play, Phlox.” “Of course not, nobody but Trix, and the police don’t know that he is one of us.” ‘* T see only one danger.” “ Well?” “ The or might refuse to help us.” Phlox looked into Red Rolfe’s face and laugh- ed. ‘You don’t fear that, eh?” he smiled. ‘ You don’t think that four men like us can’t bull- doze one country girl, do you? By heavens! she knows better than to cross us now. When I told her ee that she should become a wife tomorrow night she saw a light im my eyes which told her that I meant business. The ring will prove her identity. The courts dare not overthrow its proof. But our young ferrets are walking a little faster. We'll increase our gait.” : A few minutes later the three boys reached a corner where they held a short consultation, af- ter which Archy Ray turned into the Bowe leaving the Twin Freds to proceed to the wor of watching Bob Senton. _ “ Hello! two trails!” ejaculated Phlox, look- ing at Red Rolfe. “Both must be followed. The captain of the squad is moving toward Pet Levi’s, Shall I take him?” ** Just as you like.” Archy Ray now had Phlox at his heels, while eo a fe was paying his attention to the two reds, Phlox did not lose sight of his person for a mo- ment. There was a villainous look in the man’s eyes and at times it blazed up into a fierce light as if he was on the eve of rushing forward and overtaking Archy. Phlox, as we know, was the man who had played the role of Silas Strong at Green Hill, the country home of Mabel Marshall; he was ‘the rascal who had inveigled the young girl to New York and into the power of the Bowery Vampires, and he could play shrewd games of this sort equal to the best. iis only fault was that he sometimes lost his temper, an example of which we have seen at the Waniuivey haunt ae Mabel learned of the infamous plot against er. Archy Ray kept on until he saw the establish- ment kept by Pet Levi the Jew pawnbrcker. As he neared the store a man came cut and walked away, This was no unusual circum- stance, for the old Jew had many customers, and he was likely to have one at any hour. The young detective had the invitation received a short time before,and it was now the proper time to call for the important interview ‘men- tioned in it, Archy Ray paid no particular attention to the man who had just lett the pawnshop. He Ae noticed, however, that he was well-built, quick wae’ in his movements, and that be wore a slouch SR Roan ee apt hat that shaded much of his face. The man ie was lost to sight in a minute, and, still followed rf by Phlox, who made an excellent spy, Archy ae entered old Levi’s shop. It was the Jew’s custom to advance and re- ceive his customers with an unctuous smile pe- culiarly his own, but this time the young spotter was met with no demonstration of this kind. Mp He noticed, too, that the gas was not burning with its usual brilliance in the store, but the non-appearance of Pet Levi puzzled him most. 4 Archy Ray walked’ the full length of the store and looked at the dingy iron safe wherein ; the old Jew kept his most valuable articles. It " was closed. if ‘* Hello! here’s my man!” he suddenly ejacu- lated, and the next moment he was leaning over the counter and facing the pawnbroker who oc- a an arm-chair which he completely filled. his chair was behind the counter and near the safe, and when not busy, Levi was wont to oceupy it while he waited for the next customer. The old fellow’s face was partly hidden from the detective’s gaze; his chin touched his breast, and Archy was inclined to think that Pet Levi had for once fallen asleep at his post. “Here I am, Pet, according to your invita- tion,” said the spotter, as he leaned forward and touched the Jew on the shoulder. There was no movement on the pawnbroker’s part. Archy shook him a little, but with the same result. What was the matter? All at once there flashed through the young detective’s head the recollection of the man who had just left the store, the rough-looking figure and the slouched hat. ‘*T'll get at this!” cried the boy detective, as he sprung nimbly over the counter and landed at the Jew’s side. ‘‘ Look up here, Pet, old fel- 4 My God! the man is dead !” i One look at the face he had raised was enough ¢ for Archy Ray. He dropped the head and 5 es ee ee ee ee low, started back. { Pet Levi had joined his fathers, and the most famous pawnbroker of the Bowery would ply his business no more. The Jew’s face was dark, and the eyeballs possessed a stare that was terrible to behold. ‘He has been strangled and the man who did } it has just left the stcre!” cried the young de- tective. ‘I answered my summons a minute too late.” He turned toward the door as if he expected to confront the murderer, but he was not there, then he went back to the dead man in the chair and again lifted his head. “This is a og of the game against the girl,” ne said. ‘The old man was going to give me a clew of some kind, but he will never do it now.” Just as.Archy finished he was startled by a footstep, and a moment later he was confronted , — by a man who was leaning over the counter. ‘*What’s the matter with Pet?’ asked this man who had a clean face and was well dressed. ‘* He is dead!” ** Apoplexy?” ‘* No, murdered—choked to death.” Pie man Jooked into Archy’s face and laugh-. “Why didn’t you leave bim the moment you got through with the job? he said. ‘What do you mean? ‘ os The young detective straightened suddenly . and his eyes flashed with indignation, eta ““Oh, come—no innocent dodge, my young iW gas, N robber,” was the retort. “The Jew isn't cold : yet. This crime has been done within the last = ten minutes. You have been here that long. Some Hang me, if this doesn’t beat the latest Parisian a See nga Tl have to hand you over te the po- Z" ice.
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You?” “Why not? Do you think I am going to let you go when I have caught you at your victim’s side? I’m no fool, boy.” Archy Ray could hardly believe that all this was not a dream. All at once the hands of the man swooped down upon his shoulders like the talous of an eagie and closed there, and before he could re- sist, he was dragged over the counter by main force and hustled toward the front door. ‘“* Police! police!” shouted the man who held the boy detective with a firm grip and in a mo- ment an officer ap on the scene. ' “T guess you’d better take this boy,” said the man, as he thrust Archy toward the officer. ‘I came in here a moment ago to find Pet Levi dead—murdered as the facts show—and this boy had his hands on his person. When Iam wanted I will be found at No. 999 Mulberry, My name is Jacob Wingate.” i The hands of the police had already closed rt about the young detective, and Jacob Wingate ia was off like a flash. q “That man lies!” exclaimed Archy. ‘‘ Pet a Levi was dead when I came here. I’ve located that fellow at last. you know Trix?” The officer shook his head. ““We can’t be expected to know everybody,” Heis Trix’s companion. Do a a hesaid. ‘‘ You can’t get off by entering a counter- ie charge. I’ve got to hold you for the murder of ‘ Pet Levi!” CHAPTER X. RUN DOWN, THERE was something in the words of the policeman as they grated harshly on Archy’s ears. Held for murder! All this time the man who had undoubtedly committed the deed, he of the slouched hat, was making off, and the man, his accomplice, per- haps, Phlox, who had made the infamous accusa- tion, would soon join him, “You are letting the criminals get away,” said the young detective, addressing the officer, who had looked once into Pet Levi’s discolored face from across the counter. ‘‘ I swear that the Jew was dead, dead as a stone, when I got here. I can find the man who did it in less than two hours.” “T can’t let you go,” was the reply, and Archy saw that he was eyed witha great deal of suspicion. ‘ You will have to go to the station; your case will be attended to there. I don’t see wig anybody ’d want to kill the old Jew,” here was no help for it, and the young de- tective smothered his rage and was taken to the nearest station. ‘“ They generally hop onto the wrong person,” he muttered. ‘‘ Here I am nabbed for murder on the charge of a man who probably knows all about it himself. This is New York cuteness with a vengeance; but I’llhave to put up with it till I can get a hearing. I want the man in the ; slouched hat.” Hello!” exclaimed a fine-looking man, who } entered the room at that moment and walked to where Archy Ray stood watched by a brace of policemen. ‘‘ They haven’t got your neck in a noose, have they, Archy Ray?” “Not yet, but they'd like to get it there,” was the reply. ‘‘Do I look like ’'a go and strangle Pet Levi in his curiesity shop?” ‘*Not by a long sight! Come in here.” The officer took the young spotter into an- other room and said: ‘* Now tell all.” om For the next few moments Archy Ray talked Ha rapidly to the lieutenant of police who listened ri. es» attentively and did not lose a syllable, ae bk ** Don’t you see? The charge kept me from ee following the wan in the slouched hat,” said 2 Sass Archy as he finished. ‘“‘I was about to rush ee from the store for that purpose when I was i collared by the man whom I saw in Madam mm. . Bluebird’s trap with Trix last night.” By: ha ' “The man in the bad hat couldn’t have been 490 Trix, eh?” I te No; he was built too heavily for that.” For a moment neither Archy nor the lieu- _ tenant spoke. q ‘“T have settled down to one thing,” suddenly said the latter, touching the boy’s shoulder as he looked into his eyes, ‘‘The man you saw leave the store killed the Jew.” That is plain to me,” said the young spotter, Pah * Are you going to hold me?” rags “Certainly not, on the charge put forth b the man who said he lives at 99 Mulberry, ae have telephoned to the station for information Bee concerning 999 and its people. We shall hear o presently. The papers have got a ageneation me * a © — —— i al pe ma pe Sa mS ea oe ot ee Bitard! ics Se Ly ee” eh ee The City Vampires. again for Pet Levi was the best known Jew in the city. Hello! There’s the answer now!” Archy Ray saw the lieutenant step to the telephone box where he listened for a few moments, Suddenly a smile overspread his face and he turned to the oF ‘‘ Just as I expected. No such a person as Jacob Wingate lives at 999.” ““T would have bet my head on that,” cried Archy Ray. ‘‘ That settles the question of his identity. He is Trix’s companion.” ‘You can go now but we shall want your testimony before long, perhaps,” ‘** Tm always on hand.” Meantime, the death of Pet Levi had created a& great sensation in the immediate neighbor- hood, The shop was assailed by a crowd that blockaded the sidewalk and gave the hastily summoned police a great deal of trouble. Fifty people had as many different theories about the crime, and not a few said that the Jew had dropped dead from apoplexy and had not been murdered. Archy Ray went back to the scene of the crime. He knew that Red Rolfe’s haunt was next door to the pawnshop and it needed watch- ing. At the same moment in a certain drinking saloon nearly a mile from Pet Levi’s two men sat at a little table. ‘“What did you do it for, anyhow?” asked one. ‘‘He had us foul,” was the answer. ‘That infamous old Jew listened at a certain hole be- hind his counter last night and heard us talk. He said enough to Reddy this morning to tell me that he knew too much. What did you say you were going to do with him?” The person addressed started slightly. ‘Come, Phlox,” laughed the other. ‘“‘Own up to your expressed intentions. You threaten- b§ to choke Pet Levi yourself.” “Well, you’re growling now because some- body else did,” was the response. ‘‘ We weren't safe while that old sheeny knew what he did. He had us in his clutches, and just think of be- ing in the clutches of a man like Levi.” ‘* Tt isn’t a pleasant thought, that’s a fact—” ‘Of course not! He laughed in my face the moment he saw me,” interrupted the other. “Tt was more than I could stand. Then the opportunity was a brilliant one, and more than I could resist. He didn’t squirm much. It’s ood-by, Pet Levi. Somebody else will take is place and the business will go on. They won’t hold the boy on your charge?” ““Not long, but long enough to give us a chance.” ‘*T wonder what’s going on about the estab- lishment now?” The speaker pushed his chair back and got up. ‘“‘ Are you going back?” asked the other, star- ing at him. “Yes, down to Reddy’s.” “With that hat on?” “ec No. ” At the same time the last speaker dropped the slouch hat he wore and took another from under his coat, which, when he had smoothed its creases, fit him exactly and gave him a totally different appearance. Then he removed a false beard from his face and stowed it away with the discarded hat, while he laughed. ‘““Tf we don’t prove a match for all the boy spotters in New York, hang me for a saint! I’ve been in many a scrape before, Phlox, and none*ever held me long. Remember that we are going to handle the hundred thousand— when the Jersey dove is Trix’s wife!” The two went dut and walked rapidly down the Bowery, where the curious and rapidly augmenting crowd still blocked the sidewallc: ‘At the first perenne we slip into the haunt,” whispered Phlox. ‘* Keep your peepers peeled for detectives. Mebbe the boy hes been turned loose and is here watching for develop- ments.” ‘*He doesn’t want to fool with me.” was the hissing reply. ‘‘If he does, he will find at his pallet throat the hand that troubled Pet Levi's windpipe. Nobody seemed to regard the two men with suspicion, and before long they had a chance to on the house next to the old Jew’s shop. ey hurried to a room where a dim light burned, but it was empty, ‘“* Reddy has got wind of something. He isn’t here,” said Phlox. : “« And the girl?” ‘6 We'll look for her,” Several minutes later the two reached a door which they opened and Phlox exclaimed: i a le “> 2 VOPTG SREY ts DER HFS A **The Jersey dove has fled also.” ‘¢ Then look for a message.” Phlox left the room and walked back to the first apartment entered where he touched a dark oon in the wall, and a small panel slid to one side. In an instant his fingers had clutched a paper which he unfolded as he bounded toward the gaslight and he and his companions read as fol- ows. **The death of Pet Levi takes us away: It was a bad move,I fear, but the old rascal had us in his ower. We have gone to 778 in Bob’s carriage. Jome to us at once, R. R.’ ‘Tt is a good stroke!” exclaimed Phlox, look- ing up. “ dy always was good on emergen- cies. But I don’t see how he got away with the girl without being seen.” ‘“‘The underground passage to Keen Billy’s boarding-house,” suggested his companion, ‘‘ Perhaps,” was the reply, and the message was torn to fragments, chewed for a moment and thrown away. ‘*To 778 we go. After to- morrow night, when the gir] will be Trix’s wife, we will snap our fingers at fortune.” Once more the two men reached the side- walk and looked at the crowd still discussing the murder of the old Jew. The man who had worn the slouch hat seemed to be attracted by the sight. ‘Does the old place draw you back?” whis- pered Phlox, catching his companion’s arm, ‘* Heavens, no! don’t want to go back there. Come! I want to face the rest of the gang. In a moment Phlox and his companion had turned away but the next second they heard a voice they were not expecting. ‘Halt! You are the very men I have been looking for,” said the stern voice that struck their ears. ‘‘ Don’t attempt to draw a weapon. I have the drop on two of the Bowery Vampires and the greatest rascals in New York.” ‘‘The young ferret!” muttered Phlox’s friend with a scowl that darkened his already unhand- some face. ‘I should have waited in Pet Levi’s for him.” Archy Ray stood before the twain with level- ed revolver, and a flash of triumph in his eyes. He was certain that he had already cornered the wearer of the slouch hat, and the man who had accused him of killing the Jew. ‘“‘This is my hour, gentlemen,” he went on. “‘ We will see what comes of this game against the dove from New Jersey.” The two men exchanged lightning glances and looked like tigers ready for the spring. But all at once two police came up, and the young de- tective renal his prisoners over. ‘‘These men belong to Red Rolfe’s gang of human vampires, and they know how and why Pet Levi died,” he said. ‘‘ On the personof that one, if he has not thrown it away, you. will find a slouch hat which I can identify, and that man is Jacob Wingate, the companion of Trix.” In an instant the two men were in the hands of the police,and Archy ay was turning away when some one sprung to his side, «We made it pay in shadowing Bob Benton,” was the exclamation that greeted the young de- tective, who confronted his pal Fred Webb. “The young driver got another job to-night. We have found Mabel!” j Archy Ray could hardly repress an ejacula- tion of nie ‘“‘T left Fred guarding the new haunt,” yourg Webb went on. ‘ We saw Mabel enter it under Red Rolfe’s protection, and Bob Benton is where we can lay hands on him when we want him.” This was good news, CHAPTER XI. RED ROLFE’S TACTICS. THE Twin Freds had shadowed Bob the young cab driver, to some purpose, and the report that Fred Webb delivered to Archy on the street near Pet Levi’s establishment made known the result. They had followed Bob to a spot not far re- mote from Red Rolfe’s haunt, where he was soon joined by the ex-smuggler and a woman closely vailed and ander his command. The two entered the cab, when it was driven off with the Twin Freds hanging on behind. There would have been a scene if the boys had been discovered on their dangerous perch, but they were not. and they had the satisfaction of seeing the female conducted to a certain house which they knew from its situation must be an- other of Rolfe’s numerous places. Fred Martin was left on guard while his com- pega went back with the report we have heard im make. It was a stroke of excellent fortune, and
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— tS Pics Tae: 32 FORE ere we Die Bion ees ey e 3 ke ee Pict ? ii ins 8 -well was a a Archy Ray, who had just secured the arrest of Phlox and the probable .murderer of the old Jew, was inclined to rejoice beforehand over another triumph which would soon be’ secured. F Martin, who had been left on duty, was determined that the new quarters should be vigilantly guarded, and for this purpose he took up his station under a shed directly opposite. is position enabled her to see the front of the suspicious house, for a lamp-post which stood near showed him the lower half of the frontand left the main entrance in plain view. The post of the young detective was lost in shadow by the drooping roof of the shed, and so ee concealed that occasional passers-by did not notice him. ‘“We've run the Bowery Vampires down at last, and the girl is located,” said Fred, while he waited for Archy who was expected to return with the third member of the firm. ‘‘ Nobody enters or leaves that house without being seen. We've got you foul at last, Red Rolfe, and the Jersey pigeon will not be plucked, after all.” For some time ‘the boy on guard saw nothing suspicious, but at last the door across the way opened and a man stepped out. ‘* Reddy himself!” ejaculated Fred. The man had the physical proportions of the head of the Bowery gang, but Fred saw that he now wore a full beard, but he did not doubt ‘that he saw before him Red Rolfe himself. For several moments the man stood on the step asif waiting for some one, then he started off suddenly and disappeared in a little while. ‘‘Tt is not likely that he has left Mabel alone,” said the young spotter. ‘‘ If he has, she is lock- ed up in some room from which escape without assistance is impossible. My post is here till the boys come.” If his gaze could have followed the man who had left the house, he would have seen him enter a dark alley, where he leaned against a house and drew his boots. Casting them aside, he put on another pair which would not warn any one of his approach, and then gliding from the alley he crossed the street some distance below Fred’s station. ~ The young detective had seen none of these movements, and in a short time Red Rolfe was moving toward him with a fierce light in the eyes that gleamed under his hat, Edging toward the building, he came along while Fred had his éyes on the house opposite. He soon saw the boy detective in spite of the shadows that screened him. All at once with the spring of a tiger he land- ed before Fred, and the next second his hand de- scended upon his shoulder. ‘*On the watch, eh?” he laughed glaring down into the boy’s face. ‘‘ Don’t show your spunk in any manner, or I'll leave you a subject for the coroner. Followed me to-night, eh? Whar ar’ yer pals—for I take you for one 0’ the three Chamber street ferrets.’ Fred at first said nothing. He looked up into the man’s face and saw the sandy mustache that proclaimed his identity. It was Red Rolfe! ““Come along!” continued the Bowery Vam- pire dragging the boy off. ‘‘Don’t try to get away or I’ll make it unpleasant for you.” ‘ Fred Martin glanced down at the villain’s eet. “He came upon me like a panther; he changed shoes somewhere for the purpose; I guess [ am in for it, but I'll not object. very much if he takes me to the house where Mabel Sa 7 Red Rolfe soon showed an intention of doing this very thing for he crossed the street and moved on the building he had lately left. “That is right! Take me to Mabel if you dare, Reddy, and [Pll show you a game that may open your eyes,” muttered Fred. In a little while the boy detective found him- self on the steps of the very house he had watched, and a minute later he’ was its inmate. The door that closed behind him shut with a snap, and he found himself in a dimly-lighted hallway from which he was led into an adjoin- ing room where he was suddenly released. Rolfe threw himself upon a chair and looked at his captive. Fr in the middle of the room and faced the man who, for genuine desperateness, had no superior in the whole city. ‘Doing a little detective work, aren’t you?” laughed Red Rolfe. ‘* What if I am?” ‘That depends on who you're working against.” “ Against you, think you?” asked the boy. “It looks that way, Yen? io you know me?” y.. Rae ait ot e) ‘ ; : me: y The City Vampires. “ce Well?” ‘**'Yow’re Red Rolfe.” ‘*By heavens! [ am nobody else!” cried the desperado, springing up and coming toward Fred who instinctively recoiled. “We might as well play an open game.” ‘* Just as you say,” said the boy, ‘**Open it shall be! You can no more beat us than you can swim the sea. I don’t want your life unless you persist in your present. course.” ‘“* Tf I refuse to leave the trail, what?” “Oh, that lies in your cwn hands,” was the response, ‘‘T’ll give youa chance. Go to yon wall pocket and open the door.” The Bowery rough pointed as he ‘spoke to a | door in the wall, and the boy lcoked at it, but | did not move. ‘*'Won’t, eh? Then Pll do the job myself,” he said, and three strides carried him to the little door, which he threw open, revealing a shelf on which were writing materials. Clutching these in one hand, he came toward the dilapidated table that occupied the middle of the room, ‘Take this pen, boy,” he exclaimed, glancing at the young spotter; ‘‘ take it, and write what I dictate.” ‘How far will this thug carry on this game?” murmured Fred, as he mechanically took the haere pen. ‘‘He shall not draw me from his trail by any foolish agreement.” ‘New, write: ‘I solemnly swear, in the pres- ence—’” ‘* Never!” interrupted the boy detective, throw- ing down the pen, and stepping back with a flash of indignation in his eyes. ‘‘I am not to be driven off by an oath. ‘You don’t catch me that way, Red Rolfe!” “The Old Harry, we don't!” exclaimed the Bowery Vampire. ‘‘ But wait till you know what 1 want written.” “*T will not! Isign no papers by coercion!” “Oh, you don’t?” laughed the rascal, with a bed sarcastic sneer, ‘* You don’t put your ‘Jobn Hancock’ toany documents to-night, hey?” ‘** Not for you!” “‘T guess that’s plain enough,” laughed Red Rolfe. ‘‘I was giving you a chance, boy.” “A chance for what?’ ; ** For your life!” The three words had a strange sound. Fred Martin glanced toward the windows that looked out upon the street, and saw that they were closely shuttered. There were no windows be- hind him, nothing but a door, which he hada right to suppose was locked. ‘There’s no getting out of this trap, my street Norway!” laughed the man, following the boy detective’s glances. ‘‘I can make this house your dwelling-place till Gabriel sounds his trump, and,” he leaned forward till his face almost touched Fred’s—‘‘ and I will do it if you don’t sign the oath to leave the trail now and forever !” **T sign no papers,” said the boy, with a calm- ness that seemed to surprise Red Rolfe. ‘‘If this house is to become my eternal abode, you may begin to prepare it for such.” “Think I won’t, eh?’ cried the Vampire, and his hand clutched the young spotter’s arm. “I tell you here, ferret, that you’ve got into the last burrow. Let me show you.” Fred was jerked across the room and into an- other adjoining it. This apartment was smaller than the first, with a lower ceiling and a carpet- less floor. On the wall, out of reach of Fred’s hands, was an illuminated dial, which had the hands and the numerals of a genuine clock. It gave the room the only light it had. ‘This is a house full of mysteries and danger. There isn’t another like it in New York,” said Red Rolfe. ‘See! I lift my hand and the clock goes to work.” ; As he spoke the Bowery tough raised his right hand, and Fred heard the ticking of a clock. “Tf you will watch those hands you will see them move,” continued Red Rolfe, pointing to the illuminated dial. ‘‘In one hour they will cover the twelfth figure, though 1t will not be twelve o’clock, as you know. Now, boy, I give you eectper chance, Will you sign the oath?” o! The young spotter did not hesitate; he spoke the syllable clearly and with an emphasis that startled the ex-smuggler. “ All right!” he said. ‘I have given you the last chance. If you look for rescue by human power, you look for something that will not come. Keep your eyes on that dial, for when the hands cover the twelve, something will hap- en | Fred instinctively turned to the dial again; — he heard a door open and shut, and he was one. CHAPTER XII. THE DEATH DIAL, “Must I stand here and watch that cial?” exclaimed Fred Martin, whose ears were assailed by the ticking of the unseen pendulum. _ He saw that the hands of the dial were creep- ing toward the twelfth numeral, and remem- bered that Red Rolfe had said that ‘‘ something ” would happen when the spot was reached. What was it to be? The young detective believed that some dan- ger menaced him, something terrible, dimly ; shadowed by the Bowery Vampire’s words, and this feeling fastened as the clock ticked on. “Vl demolish the infernal mechanism!” he suddenly cried, and looked about for -some gig furniture with which he could assault the dial. But the ex-smuggler had provided well against all such assaults, for the room did not contain even a chair, and Fred was compelled to relin- quish his intention. Not a sound came from the other part of the house, and-the ceaseless ticking of the hid- den mechanism kept the young detective alive to a knowledge of his peril. He went to the door by which Red_ Rolfe had left the room and listened. If there were any people beside himself in the house, he did not hear them; the silence would have been something awful were it not for the ticks of the danger clock... More than once the boy threw a look of rage at the dial over whose face the hands moved silently but with blood-chilling certainty. Oh, for a chair, a heavy bar, for a moment. ‘*Keep your eye on the death dial or sign the paper presented to you!” said a voice that mee tgp to come from some place behind the clock. The young spotter sprung toward the wall with clinched fists as he indignantly exclaimed: “You may set your clock faster if you like! I sign no oath to leave the trail we have struck!” ‘The voice died away within the walls that en- compassed the boy prisoner, and but one word came back from behind the dial. ** Fool!” ** What cannot be averted must be met!” said Fred. “ In fifteen minutes the hands will reach the place mentioned by Red Rolfe, and I will know what is to happen. When Archy and Fred come and find me gone, what will they do? Will they think that > have fallen into the clutches of the Bowery leeches, or will they look for me elsewhere than in this den?” Meanwhile Archy Ray and Fred Webb had reached the street whereon stood the mysterious house, and, as a matter of course, had failed to find Martin at his post. _ Here is a bad go,” ejaculated Fred, looking into Archy’s face. “‘He is not here. He was to have remained here till we came.” : ant be circumstances took him off on a new rail. There was no reply. Fred Webb gazed in silence at the place where he had left his young friend, and did not move until Archy’s voice roused him. ‘So that is the house across there?” asked the head of the detective firm. “That is the one. We saw a young girl— Mabel, of course—enter it, guarded’ by Red ‘¢Tf they left Fred would naturally have fol- lowed. There was nothing else for ai to do,” vy That is true,” was the answer, ‘‘ He would be here if nobody has left the house. My opinion is that Fred has gone off on an important trail. In that event we—” “Look yonder!” interrupted Fred Webb, clutching Archy’s wrist. ‘‘ The old house has a caller.” This was true as the two boys saw, for a man had mounted the steps in front of the house and was waiting to be admitted. “‘ That isn’t Red Rolfe,” whispered Archy, “Tt is neither Phlox nor Julius.” ‘“‘No; they are in the hands of the police,” ‘Then it is Trix.” Just at this moment the door opened a little and the visitor glided into the house, f Archy. ‘Td give a good deal to be at his heels. Of course that door locked itself behind him.” “Then Red Rolfe is at home, Now how’ do you account for Fred’s disappearance?” The shrewd young spotter was silent and Fred saw him gazing thoughtfully at the house that seemed to hold some unsolvable mystery. “There is one way to get at this,” he said, at .__ “ It is taking the bull by the horns,” ‘The police?’ queried Fred Webb. “Yes. We are reasonably certain that **Gone!” sai —
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spe emai ~ dead!” Mabel is in that house, also that Red Rolfe and Trix are under the same roof. I wanted to rescue the girl and baffle the Bowery Vampires without calling in the cops, but I’m afraid we'll have to fall back om them. Now-that Pet Levi isdead and Julius and Phlox under arrest, as Trix will tell Red Rolfe, the gang will inaugu- rate desperate measures. Je must work! Here, take this to 300 Mulberry,” and Archy drew a card from an inner pocket and wrote there on a single line: * Six men to follow the bearer. Ray.”’ ‘‘- You will hand this to the first man you meet at 300,” continued Archy, thrusting the card into Fred’s hands. ‘‘I will be here unless something extraordinary happens. Go! This is the most momentous part of the game.” Fred Webb darted off like a startled deer and disappeared in a moment, while Archy Ray turned his gaze upon the house across the street. ‘*T'd give my head almost if that lamp was out,” he said, as he looked, ‘I could then get up to the windows and maybe get a glimpse at what is going on inside.” But the gas burned on much to his annoyance and he was compelled to keep his shaded station under the shed where Fred Martin had been pounced upon by Red Rolfe. If he could have glided into the house at the heels of the man whom he had decided was Trix, he would have been both startled and rewarded, The man who admitted the nocturnal visitor was Red Rolfe himself, and his eyes opened in surprise when they fell upon the caller, who was a young man quick of motion and good looking. ' “*By gammon! you left the Bowery in good time, I should say,” laughed the visitor, before Reddy could speak. ‘ There are only two of us now—you and I—Reddy.” “How? What has happened?” . ‘The cops have collared Phlox and Julius.” ae No {” ‘‘Crown me king of the cannibals, if I lie!” was the response. ‘‘ Why didn’t Phlox choke that young Chambers street ferret, instead of turning him over to the police on a charge which he ought to have known wouldn’t Hold water? He caught them both.” “That boy?” a“ Yes ” Red Rolfe said nothing, but his teeth fairly cracked behind his li “They fell upon Trix went on. ‘I should say they did, but the old Jew knew too much, and was in a fair way to prove dan- gerous,” said Reddy. “They won't find us here. The only ferret who nosed this place out is watching the dial.” ‘Who is he?” ‘One of the three young spotters who gave us a peck of trouble last summer. I nabbed him at his post across the street, slipped upon him when he wasn’t expecting anybody, and chucked him in here before he caught his breath.” ‘ And the girl?” “Oh, I got her here without any trouble, When I knew that Pet Levi had gone to his fathers, I had to get up and dust. Bob got the message I sent by_telephone, and fetched us here in a hurry. We took the carriage a full square from the house, but somehow or other the rat I’ve got cooped up smelled us out.” ‘Rode between the wheels, probably.” **T don’t know, and now I don’t care, for he is done for.” “‘T would like to take a look at him,” said Trix. ‘‘I can see him from the secret panel, ou know.” * But not before the dial works, perhaps.” ‘Let us try it.” The two men started down the corridor, but when they were near the end of it a strange grating sound was heard, but only for a mo- ment. “Too late!” said Red Rolfe. “The rat is CHAPTER XIII. A DANGEROUS BLUEBIRD. Opposite the house occupied by the Bowery Vampires stood Archy Ray waiting for the officers after whom he had sent Fred Webb with a brief message. . He was destined to Wait a long time, for the minutes passed away and the boy detective did Bavelie s under the shed ly grew slightly nenyous under the shed. What if Red Rolfe seoulaeet wind of his pres- ence and decamp? ‘Tt cannot be that anything has happened to _ interfere with the delivery of my message,” the had r: Zz wei yy i” Por % S. Pet Levi a little too soon,” | ae Sen ie ee f The City ‘Vampires. poe spotter said. ‘‘ Fred knows where 300 ulberry is, and the force knows him.” Meanwhile © nothing Archy that the inmates of the shadowed house had detected his presence. since Fred’s departure, and nobody had been ad- mitted. He was certain that Mabel Marshall was still a prisoner there, and he was anxious to rescue the girl before she could be taken to other quarters. This messenger had, however, met with the most unexpected of accidents, and one which it is our duty to record. In order to reach Mulberry at the point where he wanted to strike it, Fred Webb was obliged to cross the Bowery in the vicinity of Madam | Bluebird’s delectable trap. spected the exterior of the most famous house in that quarter and he knew from hearsay that the interior was no safe place for any one who was not “acquainted” with the proprietress and her coterie of special friends. He had heard from Archy’s lips the story of Madam Bluebird’s incarceration in her own cellar, and when he saw the old house he could not repress a laugh at her ludicrous mishap. The young detective crossed the Bowery half a square below the trap and came toward it ina ra id walk. He was moving by the nearest | int upon the police head-quarters, and did not intend to stop until he reached them. The inainediats vicinity of Madam Bluebird’s residence was comparatively quiet, but all at once a series of shrill cries came from beyond the front door, and mingled with the heavy blows of a strap were the piteous appeals of some one for mercy. Instinctively the boy stopped and the nex't mo- ment he had taken several steps toward the house. ‘The merciless vixen is beating some child in her employ,” he said while he listened to the cries that seemed to emanate from the hall. “Tf the gate of her castle wasn’t barred to me, I'd make her let up. It is more than I can stand as it is.” He raised his fist to strike the door when the blows suddenly ceased, and the next instant the rtal was pulled open, and he was looking up into the florid face and flashing eyes of Madam Bluebird herself. He saw that she held a heavy strap in her hand and a second’s glance beyond her Ama- zonian figure showed him a human form pros- trate on the floor. ‘“ What’s wanting?” cried the tigress, before the startled boy could greet her. ‘‘ Want to in- terfere with an honest woman’s business, eh? Come in, and I'll give you’a pint o’ strap oil that'll do you good.” A hand shot forward like a huge claw, and although Fred was agile, he was not quick enough for it. Before he could spring from the step he was seized and jerked inside and the door shut. “Don’t try to get loose!” laughed Madam Bluebird, as she held the boy with a grip of steel. ‘Mebbe you’re a pal of the young ferret who got into my house the other night on mis- chief bent. ; my door! Oh, I’m a hawk and nota Bluebird when I’m out 0’ humor!” : Fred might as well have struggled in the paws of a lioness as in the arms of Madam Bluebird. He had been dragged into a side room out of sight of the girlish figure lying in the hall, and the gas showed him the terrible anger that con- trolled the woman. All at once Madam Bluebird pushed him away and said sternly. ** Take off your coat!” : One look at the strap dangling from her right | hand was enough to make the lips of the young detective meet. ’ He drew his well-built figure to its true hight and looked defiance at the woman. ‘¢- You dare not touch me with that strap,” he said. Madam Bluebird laughed. ‘‘T can do anything bere,” she exclaimed. ‘TI want to show you that I don’t allow street rats to listen at the Bluebird’s cage. Take off that coat!” As she spoke, the Amazon lifted the strap and took a step forward. She towered before Fred like a mountain, and one blow looked enough tocrush him. _However, he stood his ground as if he had planted him- self to remain where he was, “T will not remove my clothes to be branded by your infamous strap!” he said, coolly. “lf 1 am’ to be whipped it shall be in all my gar- ments!” had occurred to tell | No one had left it } T]l show you what it is to listen at | . cae 4° “Very well!” laughed Madam Bluebird. “FE will make you feel it through all your duds!” The strap was lifted suddenly above her head, — Fag boy detective mechanically threw up his All at onee down came the strap and the boy's: arms were knocked aside as though they had been straws. The leather seemed to cut to the bone, but Fred courageously suppressed a cry of ag and sprung at the Amazon’s throat. e was not allowed to reach the prize, for he was seized and pushed back, and the strap laid with emphasis across his face! It drew blood. Infuriated by the blow the young detective flew again at his persecutor, and this time succeeded in grasping the strap which he tried to wrench: | from her grip. More than a hundred times perhaps he had in- | “You'll not get this leather in any way tham on your flesh!” hissed Madam Bluebird as she struggled to tear the boy loose. “Tl see that you'll never play spy any more in this city! Tll make you the eternal com- panion of the minx lying in the hall!” “Tf you can!” cried Fred The struggle lasted for a few minutes, whem | the young spotter succeeded in getting the strap | and freeing himself from the Amazon. Stepping back he held the prize behind him: and laughed in the face of the infuriated wo- man. Madam Bluebird was the picture of rage. ; All at once she glanced toward a bureau that: occupied one corner of the room at Fred’s left. and seemed about to spring at it. ‘** Not yet!” said the boy, stepping quickly be- tween her and the bureau. ‘‘ You are not going to supply yourself with another weapon,” he said. ‘I have the strap now, Madam luebird,, and I will not hesitate to improve your beauty- if you drive me to it.” ** Yow’re a little coward!” flashed the woman,,. shaking her fist in Fred’s face. ‘““Oh, yes, ’m anything but a gentleman im your eyes,” he laughed in a manner that in- creased her anger. ‘* Pll thrash the floor with you!” **To night, Madam Bluebird?” “ Now ” ‘¢ Very well; here I am!” The young spotter brought the strap forward and put himself in a position to resent any attack that might be made; but the mistress of the trap did not advance. ‘“‘Tf I should lay this strap across your face, ou won't get to Pet Levi’s funeral,” continued: ed. Madam Bluebird uttered a ery of astonish— ent. ‘** Ts the old Jew dead?” ‘Dead! murdered!” ‘* Heavens! who did it?” “A man named Julius, assisted by a rascak named Phlox.” A wild cry came from the Amazon’s lips, and the young detective saw her cheeks lose color. “Those two men are your friends,” Fred wenton. ‘They have fallen into the hands of the police, The murder of the old Jew is con- nected in some manner with the scheme against: the girl from New Jersey. The officers will sift. things tothe bottom. Red Rolfe has been tracked to his new hiding-place, and before the end of an hour the game will have been played out. How does the prospect strike you?” Madam Bluebird listened to these words with a countenance that was almost ghastly. Fred saw that the ceath of the Jew was a re- velation to her. Suddenly she flashed up and shut her hands defiantly. ““T dare them to try to connect me with the death of Levi!” she ejaculated. “You'll have to prove, then, that you don’t know Julius and Phlox; that the Jersey dove wasn’t once a prisoner in this very house, and that you can’t do, Madam Bluebird. I guess they'll draw the strings on you.” There was no reply. The look of the woman seemed to become a stare. ‘ ‘‘T have never been in the hands of the police and I will never get there!” she said at last. ™m ** Because beyond them lies Sing Sing,. eh?” smiled Fred. ‘* Worse than that!” “ “ What?” ‘*No difference.” She stepped back and sunk upon a sofa against: the wall. ; “You can do just what you please, ad ag said. ‘* You can summon the police if you wish. They'll find me here when they come.” 3 “IT may call them in. I think your crimes deserve the visit,” was the response, and the
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cs Delonas 4 ee Sh ees gh eee ae ae The City Vampires. mext minute the young dctective was in the all. No girlish figure was seen on the floor now, and it was not his intention to search the house for the victim of Madam Bluebird’s rage. He went to the door and rushed out upon the street. Already his adventure had delayed him more than half an hour, and when he thought of Archy waiting for him opposite Red Rolfe’s haunt he darted off like a deer. A short time afterward he eppesred suddenly at 300 Mulberry and delivered his message. ‘*Six men, eh?’ said the officer, who glanced over it. ‘' There must be some castle to storm.” “T don’t know but there is,” was the young detective’s reply. ‘‘Can Archy have them?” ‘Certainly! That boy never draws on us in vain.” In less than five minutes Fred Webb and six men were moving toward the spot where he had left Archy Ray. He told them on the way that the d run Red Rolfe down, and the men who had become interested in ths story ef the girl, were eager for work. **Here is where I left Archy,” said Fred, reaching the shed. ‘‘ But I don’t—” ‘‘Oh, here he is—on his face on the step!” «cried one of the men. ‘* Dead?” exclaimed the horrified Fred. ** It looks that way!” CHAPTER XIV. KEENNESS AT FAULT. As if struck at the same moment by the same impulse, the little crowd that surrounded Arch Ray looked toward the house across the street. “That is the house to which we tracked Red Rolfe and the Jersey girl,” said Fred Webb ere he turned to the young detective, who was un- conscious but not dead. The men glanced at their leader for orders. * “Tt is not probable that we will find the Vam- pires there,” he said, ‘‘so a few moments here with this boy will not be time lost.” Archie was examined by one of the men who knew something about wounds, and a brief in- spection awed that he had been grazed on the temple by a bullet which had nearly terminated his career. The amateur surgeon laid his oo a on the deep and ugly looking wound and looked up at his companions. “What is likely to occur—death?” inquired Fred eagerly. “‘T think not, but these are the kind of shots that produce results worse than death,” was the answer. : ‘You don’t mean to say that Archy will be | ‘insane when he recovers?” : ‘“*He may not be able to tell us how this oc- eurred.” ‘* We'll find out!” cried Fred Webb resolutely. *T am for trying that house right away. Come! Let me be the first to meet the Vam- ‘pires whom we run down to-night!” The men were eager to cross the street, and if ‘their leader had not given the command to ad- vance they would have followed the boy. ‘* Hello! look yonder,” suddenly cried Fred ‘Webb before the foremost man reached the gut- ‘ter. ‘‘ The house has let one man out.” This was true, for the door of Red Rolfe’s re- ‘treat had opened in the faces of all, and a man had step coolly forth and was walking leisurely away, as if the eyes of six men were not be a him. “* Hello, there!” suddenly called out the lieu- tenant of the little squad, and as he stepped to- ward the middle of the street, he drew a re- volver. ‘‘We want to see you for a moment, sir.” The man stopped and turned with an air of ‘surprise, The whole band was almost in the middle of ‘the street, and the lieutenant was advancing ba 5 upon him. ‘Were you speaking to me?” asked the halted man, as the policeman stepped upon the side- pwalk, “Yes, sir.” Ina moment the strange man, who was still young, well-dressed and rather good-looking, was the prisoner of the police. ebb pressed eagerly forward, Was it Trix? Over one eye was a fresh wound that still _ ‘bled, and the prisoner burst into a laugh as he to it. / “pointed ; Served me right, I guess,” he said. “T got ‘into the wrong house awhile ago, and in getting out, I got a reminder of my mistake. Funny, ~wasn’t it? Well, it is a Jesson for Johnny Clane. Do you want me, gents?” The lieutenant of police glanced at Fred Webb, who had studied the we thorough- y 7 the light of the lamp. The boy shook his ead. “This man is neither Red Rolfe or Trix,” he said, in response to the inquiring look, ‘‘I never saw him before.” “Oh, you're ears for some one, I see,” said the prisoner. ‘‘ Maybe he’s the fellow who wrote his autograph over my eye.” ** In that house?” “ Yes. ” ‘* Who did it?” ‘* That’s what I’d like to know,” laughed the wounded man. ‘* What was he like?” ““T didn’t get to study his physiognomy. When I found I was in the wrong house I tried to apologize, but the tenant wanted me to get out without doing that. I replied in spirit, when he proceeded to send me to the floor.’ ‘* Knocked you down?” queried one of the men, ‘*T should say he did. I don’t know how long I laid there, for 1 was left after that to get out at my leisure.” ‘*And you don’t know what the man—your assailant was like?” ‘* Like a sledge-hammer, I should judge.” ‘* No foolishness,” said the lieutenant, sternly. ** All right; perhaps you could find him b inquiring at the door,” said John Clane, ‘If y am not wanted further, I would like to go to my boarding-house and doctor my pet. I got on the wrong street. These thoroughfares look alike’ to me after dark, and especially when a fellow has several cocktails ahead. live on the next street, No, 689.” ‘* We'll take you back to identify the man who assaulted you,” the officer said. ‘*T think I can do that if I get my eyes on him. And if bg don’t hold me, gents, I'll pro- ceed to array his peepers in unrelieved mourn- ing.” The suspicious house was but a few steps away, and the lieutenant, a courageous man of PAT went up the steps and pulled the Nobody was bestowing any particular atten- The lieutenant of police shook his head. ‘*We may have invaded the wrong house,” he said. \ ‘* Perhaps..When Adam Andrews must be visited by the police, he wants his gray hairs to go down to the grave;” responded the watch tinker, solemnly. ‘** What do you say now?” said the lieutenant, turning suddenly upon Fred Webb, who was not the least surprised person in the room, ‘*Haven’t we got into the wrong house?” “T cannot think that we have. Archy was found where I left him, and the house he was watching was directly opposite his post.” ‘* Whose house, boy?” ejaculated the 6ld man, looking into the young spotter’s face. ‘*T don’t know whose, but the one we tracked Red Rolfe to,” was the reply. ‘** Who is Red Rolfe—do you know?” exclaim- ed old Adam, facing the lieutenant. ‘ This must bea dream; and yet, I appear to be awake. Wait! Ill call Lucy.” ‘**No; do not rouse your daughter,” said the lieutenant. ‘‘There must be a mistake some- where. We are hunting a man well known to the police, a hip ot and an ex-smuggler, named Red Rolfe. e have relied on the work of this boy bere. If you will accept an apolog for our isturbing you, Mr. Andrews, we wi 0. ‘*No apology. I-know that mistakes are lia- ble to happen,” said the old man. ‘ But I shall never forget that my house was mistaken for the home of an ex-smuggler. It'll frighten Lucy, dear child, when she wakens. Let me apologize for not being able to render your search successful.” The little part gan to retire from the room, All of a sudden a significant look passed be- tween John Clane and the watch-tinker. It was the work of the tenth part of a second. ‘“‘T must have got “ gash elsewhere,” the young man said to the lieutenant. ‘That old man didn’t do it. There must have been some- thing in that last glass.” ‘‘[ think there was,” snapped the lieutenant, who was getting out of humor by the embar- rassing outcome of the adventure. ‘‘ My advice to you is to hunt up the right house, and go to tion upon Mr. John Clane at this moment, and “aol did not therefore see the singular smile that ‘*Spit me for a gutter-snipe if I don’t!” was lurked at the corners of his mouth. the answer, and when the speaker reached the There,was no response to the bell for a mo- | sidewalk, he bowed to the party and skipped ment, and the lieutenant was getting out of pa- | away. tience when the knob turned and the door The old watch-tinker followed his visitors to opened, the door, and bowed them out. The lieutenant Before the policeman stood a man who must | was the last to reach the walk, and his eyes fell have been seventy-five or eighty years of age. | upon the boy detective, who was looking at the His hair and beard were very white, and a | front of the house with strange interest. / stooped figure confirmed his age. ‘* Well, how does it look to you now?” asked ‘*What is it, gentlemen?’ he inquired, in a | the officer, as his touch called Fred Webb from squeaky voice, like that sometimes peculiar to | his abstraction. ‘‘ Didn’t we tackle the wrong aman of greatage. “I see 1 am indebted to | house, my boy?” the police for this visit. Are you going to come ‘*No, sir!” was the quick response. “I will in?” stake my life on the assertion that I saw Red The lieutenant and his followers looked sur- | Rolfe and Mabel Marshall, and later on Trix, rised. enter that house. The more I look at it the ‘*That’s not the man I saw,” said John Clane, | more certain grows my conviction. We made in an audible whisper at the lieutenant’s shoul- | no mistake as to the place.” der. The lieutenant shook his head. ‘* But you were assaulted in this house?” ‘Let us cross over to where Archy is,” said ** Yes, by some one.” Fred. ‘‘ He may be himself by this time.” Meanwhile the old man was holding the door The party crossed the street to the shed where open, but the officer did not step forward. It | the young Chambers street ferret had been left was evident that he was almost at his wits’ | with the amateur police surgeon. end, ‘How is it, Archy?” exclaimed Fred, spring- ‘‘T’ve never been visited by the police before | ing to his friend’s side. and I’ve lived here twenty-three years,” the ol “Oh, I'm getting all right again. Did you man wept on, “ You'll find my name in the | find them?” City Directory—Adam Andrews, repairer of ‘No; we found an old man—xa watch-tinker watches in a small way. You are at liberty to | —named Adam Andrews. He took us into his inspect my workshop, gentlemen.” workshop, and offered to call his daughter up. “Go in,” said a voice at the lieutenant’s side, | Nota trace of Red Rolfe or Mabel. The lieu- and a glance dowhward showed him Fred | tenant here thinks we hit the wrong house.” Webb’s lips trembling with the last word. *“You went to the right one,” was the an- The next moment the officer crossed the thres- | swer. ‘‘I was watching it, when a jet of fire hold, followed by his companions and Clane. seemed to leap from one of the windows, After “Tt’s not much of a shop,” continued the old | that I knew no more.” ; man, leading the party into a room to the “What do you say now?” cried Fred, looking right, where he waved his hand toward a bench | triumphantly into the lieutenant’s face, littered with a watchmaker’s tools. ‘* Here we “Tt is very strange, but I do not feel at lib- are, in the workshop of Adam Andrews, the old- | erty to invade the house again under the cir- est_watch-fixer in the city.” . cumstances.” + f } Fred Webb looked amazed. Could it be that Archy Ray seemed to grind his teeth. he bad seen Red Rolfe bring the missing girl to} ‘‘There has been 5 winged shrewd game the home of this quiet old man whose very | played,” he said. “If ¥ou had searched the features bore the stamp of honesty? Was this Snes thoroughly you might have made several old watch-tinker in league with the Vampires of | startling discoveries. the Bowery? : The officer did ngt reply and showed no dis- ‘** Do you live alone?” asked the lieutenant. osition to follow ‘up the suggestion conveyed ** No; my daughter is asleep in the room over- head,” was the answer. ‘My son Paul was killed by an accident on Broadway last summer. You may have heard of it, gentlemen.” in the young spotter’s words. Clane was laughing to himself in a certain by street not far away, At the same time time the man called Johr —
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1) “Don't you \ Pered Archy. _ since we left.” a ames ever played in Gotham!* he exclaimed. ‘When a set of coppers don’t know an artifi- cial cut, ’'m on a sure road toa saintship! and old. Adam? Wasn’t that role played to a T? Now I guess the Jersey beauty will become Mrs. Trix, amd we'll rake in the golden stakes.” CHAPTER XV. THE LAST BOLD PLAY. It was a game well played, but the io _ were bound to find their fortunes wrecked at the end. The two men arrested by the police at Archy’s suggestion in front ofthe Vampire’s haunt in the Bowery maintained a sullen silence when confronted in the station house. Julius and Phlox were old friends, and when they found the charge of murder placed against their names they looked at one another, but said nothing. : When pressed about Red Rolfe, Julius finally declared doggedly that he knew no such a per- son, and Phlox, alias Silas Strong, answered in the same strain. If the two men had_ confessed to the truth the adventure of Fred Webb and the police at the watch-tinker’s house might have had a dif- ferent ending. As it was, as we have seen, the authorities had been thrown off the scent ina shrewd manner, and the Bowery villains seemed ina fair way to carry out their game against the girl, hits. Archy Ray went back with the police in no ood frame of mind. He had recovered from the effects of the shot fired from the window of the ap ing house although he was dejected over the result of the raid. “Come! the rest of the night belongs to us,” he said to Fred when the lieutenant deliver- ed his report. ‘‘ What is to be done?” “We must find out what has become of our friend Fred. You left him on guard where you left me; when you got back he was gone. Iam now convinced from what happened to me that Fred had an encounter with Red Rolfe.” “ And got worsted?” “Tt looks that way.” Fred Webb was silent. He clinched his hands when he thought of his companion in the clutches of the ex-smuggler. _ “Tf Red Rolfe corraled him, he may have taken him into tlie old watch-fixer’s house,” he said. ‘Do you think so?’ asked Archy Ray, with a light laugh. *T do. ‘So do I, Fred,” was the reply. “If Fred fell into the hands of the gang he crossed the threshold of that house, which is just what I am going to do between now and daylight.” The young detective spoke with a resoluteness which showed that nothing could turn him from his purpose. ‘here is to be no hoodwinking of this little party,” he continued. ‘The plausible words of a supposed watch-tinker will not draw the wool over my eyes.” — “Then you think, Archy, that the old man we encountered was playing a part?” ““T would bet my head on it. Among the many little incidents of Red Rolfe’s life that I have picked up here and there is his career as watchmaker, Fred Webb uttered an ejaculation of su “What! do you think that Adam An was Red Rolfe?” he exclaimed. “There is no doubt of it, but we will get to the bottom of this thing before long.” The two boys made their way to the vicinity of the house which had been entered but nota rise. ews - ray of nee told them that it might be inhabited. i It was silent and lonely, and the gas lamp near by had been turned down until the place was * dark see? look at that lamp!” whis- ‘Something has happened here The boys beat a noiseless retreat and entered the small yard behind the house. |. _ Fora while they saw nothing to reward them, but at last the faintest gleam of light was visi- ble where a window was. : d shanty is not deserted. nt opinion hy The ol that if we were to enter it, we would not find f Adam Andrews mending watches.” Archy Ray was righ: At that moment & pe: entered one of the ' rooms and met a young ho sprung from a - Jow oot at his appearance are _ ‘We don’t want an fo. Mabel,” said the man, who had | YY egepee d the door behind him ashe took a chair and motioned the girl back to A» ““Hocdwinked them by one of the cutest The City Vampires. the cot. ‘'A husband has been selected for you, and the minister will be here in a few mo- ments.” ‘*Wecan’t afford to consult your wishes in this matter,” was the quick interruption heartlessly spoken, “If there is any money at the bottom of this yore take it and let me go back to Green Hill. f I had never met the man called Silas Strong I would not be here. The ring isat your service. I wish I had lost it long ago.” ‘‘We don’t, girl,” laughed the man, who did not look like the old watch-tinker who had met Fred and the police. ** Without it we could play no , worth playing. No, my dear, if you had lost the ring we would not be getting you a husband to-night.” Mabel Marshall looked at the man who talked thus with the coolness of the practiced villain. She saw no mercy in his eyes, but she resolved to make one more effort for liberty. “This marriage you talk of will do you no good,” she said. ‘I shall expose it, and balk your game at the first ww gach ng Jo “You will?’ laughed the man, leaning forward and touching the girl’s arm. ‘ Very well! If you get that chance we will not object; but let me tell you that such work*will cost you some- thing more valuable than the diamond ring.” Mabel could not repress a shudder. ‘¢ What is that¢—my life?” * Play Ani game and see!” was the reply. “You will not appear in society as the wife of Trix; oh, no! our ring and certain statements will be shown in court, and we will get the prize we are playing for. After that we will not bother ourselves about the girl from Jersey.” ‘What have you discovered about me?” ex- claimed Mabel. ‘‘I have asked you this ques- tion twenty times since I came to New York, but ou will not speak. I can be no heiress, for reen Hill is associated with my earliest recol- lections. Who was my mother#—and my father?—” ‘We know all,” said the man. ‘ We've got the whole thing beyond dispute. Why, my little seraph, you’re going to be the making of us. Hark! the knot-tier has come.” At that moment the sound of a vehicle stop- ping before the house was heard in the room, and the man went toward the door. Mabel got up and stood in the middle of the room and listened. Her cheeks had no color, and she plainly showed the effects of her adventures since leaving home. ‘* Are these men to be permitted to pla their infamous game out?” she exclaimed. * Merciful Heaven! am I to become the wife of a criminal of some kind? Is there no help?” While she spoke the front door opened, and she heard footsteps and voices in the hall. Both came toward the door, All at once Mabel sprung forward and pushed the portal shut. : ‘“*T will stave off this wickedness as long as I can!” she cried, and the next moment her hand shoved a strong round bolt into its place. ‘* Now, let them carry out their plans!” she said stepping back, her bright eyes flashing, and her hands tightly clinched. ‘“‘I am mistress of the situation at last!” Mabel heard the footsteps stop at the door, and for a moment the voices were still. At last a low rap was heard. The girl did not stir, but listened with a triumphant smile at her lips. ‘* Mabel, we don’t want any by-plays,” said a voice which she recognized. ‘Open the door and let us in,” There was no answer, only the flash in the eyes of the Jersey girl seemed to grow brighter. ‘* Did you hear, girl?” Mabel went to the door and laid her hand on the bolt, but only to feel that it was still in its lace. ‘*T heard you,” she said speaking in tones heard by three men who stood in the hallway. “Then, open the door!” ‘« Not to you!” The girl heard a -Brated oath, and a voice id: “ Break it down!” Instinctively the Vampires’ beautiful young victim drew back and looked about for a wea- pon. She seemed to have gained a man’s strength in an instant, and the next moment she had seized a chair. “‘ What are you going to do, girl?’ demanded & voice beyond the door. fethertutave. tA weiner hes ancl nan e t woman on b t should not act thus!” A low laugh followed the last sentence. Ma- bel stepped toward the door and stationed her- self at one side. ‘*T am no match for these men,” she said, ‘but I am going to fight for my honor! They have discovered something connected with my history which they are trying to turn to ac- count. What! become the wife of the man called Trix by his companions? No! Trix is a criminal, and I will never become the wife of a man like him!” Meanwhile the men in the hallway had step- ped back from the door, and were conversing im. tones that did not reach the girl’s ears. ‘‘Hadn’t we better put the ceremony off till to-morrow nigkt?” asked one of the three who had a semi-clerical look. ‘‘ We can’t get to the girl without a noise, and I don’t want to figure in anything scandalous.” ‘The marriage takes place to-night—now /”” was the answer. **Do you want postponement, Trix?” ** No! now or never!” “That is precisely what I say,” was the an-~ swer, and the speaker threw a fierce look to- ward the door. ‘* Noise or not, the ceremony shall proceed. What's the door to us?” He drew his figure to its full hight and with blazing eyes stepped forward and put his lips near the key-hole. pe the last time, Mabel, open the door!” he sai “*T shall not touch it!” The man ae. back again and seemed ready to throw himself forward. He looked heavy enough to send the door crashing from its hinges, and he said with a laugh to his com- panions as he braced himself: ** Now watch the splinters fly!” The next moment he dashed against the door with all his force and made it crack. “* How’s that?’ he laughed to his companions. “Ive made a battering-ram of myself before this, ha, ha! Who wouldn’t break a door down for a girl like the one beyond this one?” The door had heen split from top to bottom b: the ferocious onslaught and one of the panels had fallen out. The youngest member of the pa Trix, went forward, but caught his sleeve. ‘* Mebbe the beauty has armed herself with a chair,” he said. Don’t put your head through res panel, Trix. Let me finish the work on the door.” The speaker stepped in front of the youn man and raised his hands to complete the eo on the door. The next moment, however, a voice at the lower end of the hallway startled the three and they turned in that direction. ‘The man that lifts a hand I will kill in his tracks!” said the voice in startling sternness. ‘*Your death-dial did its part, Rolfe, but: the trap failed.” The man who was about to assault the door again leaned forward and then uttered an ex- clamation of real surprise. “The ferret we sprung the trap on several hours ago!” he cried. ‘Look, Trix! He says the machinery failed to do its duty.” ‘*T will not fail to do mine if you resist!” was the reply. ‘‘Get away from that door!” The three men drew back and in the light of the gas-jet overhead, glared at the leveled re- volver of Fred Martin! CHAPTER XYVI. AT LAST. THE young detective whom we saw last in the little room waiting for the death-dial to do its work, looked over the cocked six-shooter with a coolness that almost unnerved the trio before the broken door. Red Rolfe, whose charge had bursted the penels, glared at Fred Martin like a maddened ion disturbed over the carcass of his victim, and aos put his hand near his weapon, but did not raw, “The next time your infamous trap is sprung you must look after the victim,” continued Fred. ‘I am here because the machinery failed to do its whole duty. The girl, your prey, isin that room. If you advance toward it, I will open on all three!” The boy came down the hall as he spoke, end. into the stronger light, where it was seen that he had passed ugh peril of some kind. He did not stop until he stood before the door that led tothe girl. The three men had been forced into a corner behind the door leading inte the et ~ oye that even Lappe arg i held. the winn and, he was still in is Trix eye fiawks. One , our friend e door-breaker Red Rolfe and eyed him like
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. — ~ i a Sr 6 Se ST nh — ——— = er See 1 ‘tremor in the hand that held the revolver, a ‘second’s drooping of the eye that looked over 1t, aud the two Vampires would spring forward. Fred Martin knew that the girl was near. He ‘heard her quick breaths beyond the broken door, and if he had glanced through the panel he would have seen her still clutching the chair ‘with which she had intended to defend herself to the last. Suddenly there came a sound from the side- ‘walk that startled both Fred and the three men. sae sage attempt to move off with that cab, ‘you will tumble from your seat a fit subject for the coroner!” were the words that came to the -ears of those in the hall. “Tm not going away,” was the answer, *“*Tiverybody knows that ’m Bob Benton, an ‘honest cabman, and I’m not accountable for the habits of the people whom I serve.” ‘Honest? God save the mark,” was the laugh- ing response. ‘‘ The Statue at the ferry doesn’t zive you the best recommendation in the world. So, don’t talk your honesty up, Bob, but keep ‘your seat till we say go.” “Tt is Archy!” was Fred Martin’s mental eiaculation. ‘‘We have the Bowery Vampires as last if he will come to the rescue.” We left Archy Ray and Fred Webb in the tear of the house just before the onslaught by Ned Rolfe on the door. They were unable to ‘see anything by a close inspection of the closed vrindows, but they heard the crash that followed ‘the ex-smuggler’s charge. This sound drew the attention of the young dletectives to the front of the house, and there ‘they discovered the well-known figure of Bob Benton perched on the box of his cab and awaiting orders. The rascally young Jehu was thoroughly frightened when Archy Ray presented himself at the front wheel and thrust a revolver into his face. Bob almost tumbled from the seat, and would have given his horses the whip if he had not been checked by the words the people in the hall heard from Archy’s lips. ‘*That settles it,” said the head of the detect- ive firm to his companion. ‘ This house is not the home of Adam Andrews, watch-tinker, but one of the haunts of Red Rolfe, and we have caught the bird at home.” Fred Martin could not see what was going on outside, but he knew that, Archy, and perhaps Fred Webb, was near at hand, and that was enough, All at once the knob turned. ; Red Rolfe started and grated his teeth, as he wheeled toward the door. “Tf you dare!” came over Fred’s leveled pis- tol, as he anticipated the desperado’s action. “Touch that door, Red Rolfe, and you fall ‘where you stand!” Then he raised his voice. . ‘‘I am in here, and the rascals are cornered. Open the door!” A moment later and the command was obeyed, and the opening of the door showed the Bowery outlaws, two well-built youths, on the step with their keen eyes already upon them. _“ March out!” said Archy Ray. ‘ But in the first place, throw down your weapons one at a time. Come! be quick about it!” Trix was the first to obey. He disarmed him- ‘self, and bit his lip as he let a revolver slide to the floor. Red Rolfe glared at the boys, but did not make a move, ‘What! shall I disarm you?’ exclaimed Archy Ray, and he seemed to lean toward the ex-smuggler as he spoke. ‘‘ You know, Reddy, that this is a game for more than wealth. When the watchmaker of Berne encountered a man who refused to disarm at bis command, he «did not wait.” Red Rolfe started visibly, which brought a Jaugh to the pe detective’s lips. ‘You see 1 know something of your Euro- ‘pean life,” he said. ‘‘I have made it a study, and I guess J have you pat, Red Rolfe. Come, down with the droppers!” Sullenly and with a growl the ex-«smuggler obeyed, and two more revolvers lay where ‘Trix’s had fallen. _* Now come out!" continued Archy. The three men appeared on the step, Bob Benton looked at them with eyes filled with sur- prise. The lamp near by had been turned on in full blaze again, and the boy detectives who watched the prisoners could see the slightest movement. ‘Into the cab,” said Archy to the trio. ‘* Mr. ‘Benton will continue in your employ for a while yet, Reddy.” The ex-smuggler and his friends were soon Wy i ~The City Vampires. — ‘ We'll have the upper hand in five minutes!” To their dismay, however, Archy Ray and Fred Webb placed themselves on each side of the cab, and Archy said to the driver: ‘*Move along ata walk, Bob. If the horses trot I will not be answerable for your safety. To 300 Mulberry. Now, forward!” The countenances of the three worthies sud- denly fell. “Tartarus take the young imps!” grated Red Rolfe. ‘It looks as if our game was up.” He was not wrong in his surmises, as the re- sults of the ride proved. A few minutes later the cab, which the two boys had guarded with hawk’s eyes, drew up in front of one of the most noted houses in New York, the Mulberry quarters of the city police. Archy Ray opened the door and asked the occupants of, the vehicle to step out, which they did, much to the astonishment of the police who awaited them. 3 ‘Now, back to the house we left, and drive lively,” said Archy to Bob Benton, who gave the team the best of his whip, and dashed away at a good rate. As the vehicle drew up in front of the house, the young spotter sprung out and rushed up the steps. a We have you at la#t!” he exclaimed, with a smile, as he caught sight of a young girl who was Fred Martin’s companion in a room that had a broken door. ‘““And I thank you for coming,” was the re- ply. ‘“‘I am Mabel Marshall, of Green Hill, but from the actions of the Bowery Vampires, I must be more than a simple country girl.” ‘“‘T think we can give the reporters a sensa- tion,” said Archy. “Then you know—” ‘‘T have an idea,” laughed the young detec- tive. ‘‘ Let me escort you with Fred to a better place than this, and while we are moving he can tell me about his adventures.” The house was not deserted until it had been searched from cellar to garret. ‘Here is the dial,” said Fred, leading Arch into a little room. ‘* The infamous machine is silent now. When those hands reached the ‘ pwelve,’ the whole floor sunk suddenly, and ca- reening in pitch darkness, precipitated me into a pit, where I was left for dead. It was the most terrible fall a boy ever had—worse than your tumble when Madam Bluebird’s stair trap was sprung. I managed to crawl out of that hole by the stones with which it is walled. I found myself under the floor of the trap, and b good luck reached a door in the darkness. If Red Rolfe had had the remotest idea that his prisoner was alive, I would never have reached that door, It let me into another dark room, where I found a table on which lay several re- volvers and a lot.of burglar tools. I took one of the former, you may be sure. Voices direct- ed me to the hall, and Mabel here knows that I got theré in the nick of time. The ticking of that infernal clock yg ee the moment the trap was sprung. The hands are where I saw them last. Red Rolfe said that ‘something’ would happen, and rlagrvr i did.” The work of the boy detectives did not get in- to the morning papers, and the city did not know for some hours that the overthrow of the Bowery Vampires had followed so soon upon the announcement of Pet Levi’s murder. The triumph was most complete. Red Rolfe and Trix were brought face to face with Julius and Phlox, and the four men fell to abusing one another in fine style. In the midst of it all Phlox said madly: ‘‘There’s no blood on my hands and I will give the court the whole story.” ‘* You will?” cried the ex-smuggler. “ Yes.” . The next moment the Vampire flew at his pal and would have choked him to death if he had not been taken away. | ‘* We have another witness,” said Archy Ray. ** T will corral Madam Bluebird.” _ A visit to the den near the Bowery brought to light another sensation. We know that Madam Bluebird told Fred Webb that the aa would never get her, and she kept her wor When Archy Ray visited the house to get her, he found the lights low and the Amazon on her face on the floor. Dead? \ Dead! and by the band that had committed countless crimes—her own! _As for the young Jew, Simon Lang, who icked Mabel’s pocket at the ferry, he was never eard of, and Trix who met him when he fol- lowed Julius, his robber, to Pet Levi's never told what became of him. seated in the vehicle, and the former whispered: The Bowery Vampires got their trials and aid- ed by Phlox, who turned state’s evidence coward- like to shorten his term, the whole infamous scheme against Mabel came to light, and estab- lished her claim to the property of the Bond street merchant. The ring which was proven to have belonged to the merchant’s missing wife fixed her identity beyond doubt, and the testi- mony of Phlox, who had worked the case up, was not needed to substantiate it. The murder of Pet Levi was fixed upon Julius, and itcame out during the trial that the old pawnbroker was killed because he had overheard the conspirators at work. It was a base crime, and 29 for which the perpetrator paid the direst nalty. 5 Red Rolfe, Trix and Phlox went to Sing Sing for good terms, and to-day the Bowery Vampires exist only in the stories of those who played an important part in their suppression. ob Benton fled the city before he could be held as a witness, thus confirming The Statue’s estimate of him. He will turn up somewhere before he dies in the hands of the law, for there is not one drop of good blood in the young scapegrace, Of course with Red Rolfe’s arrest Adam An- drews the old watch-tinker disappeared from sight. He took that character to deceive the police, and Trix masqueraded no more as John Clane the man who got into the wrong house. The play was successful, but not for long. The firm of Archy Ray and Company, Detec- tives, still does business in New York, but it now occupies elegant quarters some distance from the old ones, and business is flourishing. It is rumored, however, and I think justly so, that the head of the house will soon lead to the altar a certain young lady of means, who has cause for recollecting the many crimes of the Bowery Vampires. And the reader will suggest, I am sure, that the Twin Freds be the groom’s best men. Of the many cases conducted successfully by the three young spotters, there is none that does them more credit than Mabel’s rescue from the villainous schemes of the Bowery Vampires. THE END. Half-Dime Singer's Library 1 Wnaoa, Esa! and 59 other Songs. 2 Caprain Curr and 57 other Songs, 8 THE Garxsporo’ Hat and 62 other Songs. 4 Jounny MorGan and 60 other Songs. 5 Tt. Srrree You Wir A FEATHER and 62 others. 6 GrorGE THE CHARMER and 56 other Songs. 7 Tae Bevite or Rockaway and 52 other Songs, 8 Younc FEeLLAn. You’RE Too FresH and 60 others, 9 Say Youne Grru and 65 other Songs. 10 I’m THE GOVERNOR’s ONLY Son and 58 other Songs 11 My Fan and 65 other Songs. 12 Comin’ THRO’ Tuk Rye and 55 other Songs. 13 Tae RoLiickInc IRISHMAN and 59 other Songs, 14 Otp Doc Tray and 62 other Songs, 15 WHoa, CHARLIE and 59 other Songs 16 IN TH1s WHeEat By And By and 62 other Songs, 17 Nancy Lre and 58 other Songs. 18 I'm THE Boy THaT’s Bouxp To BLAze and 5? others 19 Tar Two Orpnass and 59 other Songs. 20 WHAT ARE THE WiLpD WAVES SayinG, SISTER? and 59 other Songs. 21 INDIGNANT Potty Woe and 59 other Songs. 22 Tue OLp ArM-CHarr and 58 other Songs. 23 On Coney IsLanD Bracu and 58 other Songs, 24 OLp Stmon, THE Hot-Corn Man and 60 others. 25 I’m IN LOVE and 56 other Songs. 26 PARADE OF THE Gu/RpDs and 56 other Songs. 27 Yo. Heave, Ho! and 60 other Songs. 28 "Twit Never po To Grp it up So and 60 others, 29 Buurt Bonnets Over THE RorpER and 54 others, 30 Tae Merry Laventne Man and 56 other Songs, 81 Sweet Foraet-me-Nor and 55 other Songs. 82 LeEeTLe Bapy Mine and 53 other Songs. 83 Dr BANJo AM DE INSTRUMENT FoR ME and 53 others, Fi 34 Tarry and 50 other Songs. 85 Just ro PLEASE THE Boys and 52 other Songs, 36 SKATING ON ONE IN THE GuTTER and 52 others) 37 Kotorep Kranxs and 59 other Songs, 38 Nit Desperanpum and 53 other Songs, 39 Tue Get I Lert Beatxp Me and 50 other Songs. _ 40 "Tis sur A LrrrLe Faved Fiowsr and 50 others — 41 Prerry WaILeeLmtna and 60 other Songs. 42 DANCING IN THE BARN and 63 other Songs. 43 H: M.S, PINAFORE. COMPLETE, and 17 other Songs Sold everywhere by Newsdealers, at five cents copy, or sent post-paid, to any address, on ree r cane of Six cents per number. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pusiisners,
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end i iN BEADLE’S+ H ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. chia BY PHILIP 8S. WARNE, 6T Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Captain Arizona ; or, Paterft-Leather Joe's Big Game. 198 Captain Mask} or, Patent-Leether Joe’s Defeat. 219 Desapard, the Duellat; er, The Mountain Vempires. B88 A Tough Boy} or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen. BIB Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. B88 Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Sheo- ly} or, A Race fora Ranch. 408 Little Leather- Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, 481 Little Ah Sin; or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Parda. 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. 527 The Jolly Pardes to the Reacue. 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down. 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. 574 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs. 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Short. 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. BY CAPTAIN FRED, WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Pa 4 a The Doge’s Daughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the Open Polar Sea. 200 The Boy Bedoutns; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World Wanderer. 265 The Tiger Tamer} or, The League of the Jungle. $81 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. B95 California Joe’s War Trail. BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) 284 ee een. a “Boyees; or, Bentto, the Young Horse- reaker. 246 Giant George; or, The Ang’l of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack; or, Giant George’s Pard. 297 The Tarantula of Tavs; or, Giant George’s Revenge. B07 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. B18 Ker-w hoop Ker-whoo} or, The ‘larantala of Taos. 327 Creeping at, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards, $82 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. $44 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. B49 Wild Wolf or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. B57 The Ranch poNeers | or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory, 8614 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. BTD> Chiota, the Creek; or, The Three Thunderbolts. $81 Bandera BILl; or, Frio Frank to the Front. 92 Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 44 Little Larlat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Dalsy from Denver. 427 The Three Trailers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage, 442 Bluff Bills or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibolo. BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum, 228 Ozark Alf; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws, 282 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. Bilt The maxing Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, B22 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Keovoas Vendetta, $40 Clip the Contortioniat: or, The Montana Vigilantes. BY J, ©. COWDPRIOK. B60 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. B6Y Shasta, the Gold King; or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Detective’s Apprentice ; or, A Boy Withour » Name, A24 Cibuta John; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. ABY Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude A490 Broadway Billy, the Boothlack Bravo. B06 Redlight Ralphy the Prince of the Road. 514 Broadway Billy’« Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective, 536 Broadway Billy’s ‘Diiikilty.” 548 Marty, the Night Express Detective. ST Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. B71 Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer. 579 The Chimney Spys or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. 692 The Boy Pinkerton, 05 William 0’ Broadway or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. 615 Fighting Harry, the Chief of Chained Cyclone BY JO PIERCE. B9T Bob o’ the Bowery $ °F, The Prince of Mulberry Streets 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob's Boom. 452 Motapur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective, 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow} or, Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King, 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 504 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack Joggers, the Butcher Boy Detective, 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie. 526 North River N at, the Pier Detective. B88 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward, BAL Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. Bb1 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. BSY Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, B77 Pavement Pete, the Secret Sifter, &SS Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, aOR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. 614 Whiatling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid, 628 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer. RY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 78 Blue Dick; or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance, 87 tea; or, The League of Devil’s Island, 187 The Land Pirates or, Backwoods Retribution, 289 Whe Goli-seeker Gillde ¢ or, The Lost Mountain, BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-8cout, 306 Neck. Tie Ned; or, The Dug-Out Pardes. ‘ 4 he Swordsmen of Zacatecas, 308 Kid-Gion heel § dy of Rockies. 8 -Gloy. Pard: or, The Gold King. 406 The Mad Kilt and Fars‘ on The Mystery of Golden 505 Powell's Pard 3 or, The One-Armed Giant. BY HARRY 8ST. GEORGE. 0 Roaring Ralph Roc the Ranger. Rattling Rube; or, KY Sitihawks of Kentucky. 5Y Old Hickory ; or, Pandy Ellis’s Scalp. 108 Daring Davy’: oF, Phe Trail of the Border Wolf. 166 Hickory Harry; or, The 7 r-Brigade’s Spy- 172 Thunderbolt Tom; or, the Woif-Herder. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes o/s Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 79 Sol Ginger, the Giant lof 248 Joe Buck of Angels and His Buoy 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 ‘laos ‘Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hall-Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorado in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. 90 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Taos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom. 181 The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Resene, 164 Dandy KRock’s Pledge; or, Hiunted to Death. 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The Haunted Maid of Taos, BY CAPT. J. F. ©. ADAMS. 84 Oregon Sol}; or, Nick Whiftles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whilfties’s Pet; or, In The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scovt of the Yellowstone, 70 Old Zip’s Cabin¢ or, The Greenborn in the Woods. 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buckram 3; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Peta; or, The Wild Huntress, 251 Light-house Lige}; or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Scalp King; or, The Human Thunderbolt. BY ROGER STARBUCK. 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoon; or, Lost Among the Floes. 848 Fire-Meels; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, B6L The Phantom Light-house. 870 Breaker Ken, the Reef-Runner. BY WILLIAM &. EYSTER. 190 Dandy Darke; or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pard BY COLONEL DELLE SARA. 108 The Lion of the Sea; or, The Vailed Lady. 186 Cool Desmond; or, The Gambler’s Big Game. BY JAMES L. BOWEN 107 One-Eyed Sim; or, The Abandoned Forest Home. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies. A Story of Texas. BY ©. DUNNING CLARK. 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef, BY GEORGE C. JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor. 5S1 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 59s Flute, the Singer Detective. 608 Ake Pitcher Detective’s Fotl; or, Double Curve Dan’s ouble Play. 61@ The Ocean Detective: or, The Last Cruise of the Black Bear, BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U. 8. A. 191 Fatale Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed Thirteen. 194 Buffalo Bill’a Bet: or. The Gambler Guide. BY CHARLES E. LASALLE. 50 Burt Bunker, the Trapper. 52 The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest BY JOHN J. MARSHALL. 40 Roving Ben. A Story ofa Young American. 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harper. BY WM. G, PATTEN,. A489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One. B81 Dalsy Dare the Sport from Denver. 5ST Old hombshell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Iron Fern, the Man ot Fire. 619 The Boy Tramp Detective; or, The Double Grip Witness, BY MAJOR E. L. ST. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 883 Brimatone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “ Sand,” B59 DPurawere Mave, the Young “han von Wrestler, 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective. 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line, BY EDWARD &. ELLIS. ' 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jones; or The Captires of the Frontier. 10 Nat Todd; or, rhe Fate of the Sioux Captive. 2: ‘rne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman. 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains. 271 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man. BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON. 7% The Three Tra ra; or, The Mountain M . phe Indian Joe: or, wre White Spirit of the hin BY FRANK DUMONT. he Branded Hand; or, The Man of M 5 ier Wwila-Fi re, the Boss of the Road. yeery: 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rotky Bar. 171 Ebony Dan; or, The Rival Leagues. 185 Evil Eves or, The Vultures of the Rio Grande. BY CAPT. MARK WILTON. 256 Young eee ~ ~ Red Lasso, izzar ent or, The Riot at Keno C: e Seg Ferthe Boy Tenderfoot. BY BRACERRIDGE HEMYNG. 89 dA Jim; or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The Captain of the Club; or. The Rival ibtaneos 101 Jack Harkaway in New York, BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Murricane Baill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 Mustang poet bv The King of the Plains. 186 Night-HMawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch. 144 Dainty Lance, the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Ponti or, Dainty Lance to the Reseue. 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers ; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca W olf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. 885 Vid Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or. Danie! Boone's Last Trail. 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trailer. BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood; or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 Gingis Mand; or, A Life for a Life. 72 Mad Tom Weatern, the Texan Ranger. 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop. BY JACK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay, 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point, BY HARRY HAZARD. 828 Arkansaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines. 829 Red-Skin Tom; or, The Demon’s Trail, 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw. BY COL. A. F. HOLT. 899 Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon, 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. m 485 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. BY J. W. OSBON, 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck, 587 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. 620 Littie Lightning’s League; or, The Mystery of the Island, BY FREDERICK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shote. 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 542 The Canyon Pards, BY ARTHUR C,. GRISSOM. 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid. 558 The Sure-Shot Parda. 621 Truthful James, the “Pecooliar” Man. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow “ 5S9 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 601 Happy Hansa, the Dutch Vidoeg. 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad. MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, j 4 The Wild-Horse Munters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen. 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean Swift. 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe. (27 I!lustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe. By Juan Lewis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees. By 8S, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown} or, The Queen of the Arena, By Frank 8, Finn a nn. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. \ 51 a Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp. By Archie -» rons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine. 98 Robin ood, the Vutlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve, 1065 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunter; or, The Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George er bon. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowstone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New Y irk Boy. ByG. L. Aiken. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; », Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail. By Ensign C. D. Warren. the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff. omstock. d 298 Red Claw y Captain B17 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lieu- ; tenant Alired Thorne. : 828 The Sky Detectives or, 4 Boy’s Fight for Life and Honor, By Maior Mickey Free. ‘ 850 Hed Ralph, the River Rover; or, The Brother’s Re- venge, By Ned Bun tline. 865 874 reules. Baltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morris. Gold-Dust Tom; or, Ben’s Double Match. By George H. Morte. 876 California Joe’s First Trail, By Colonel Thomas : Hoyer Monstery. 418 Blily Bombshell, the Cliff Clim‘er. By F.S. Winthrop. 475 The Black na » By John S Warner. 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invincibles. By Henry J. Thomas. | B28 Wizard-Arm, the Dandy Sport. By Arthur F. Holt. 582 The Cowboy Duke, By Edwin Brooke Forrest. f 552 Ariel the Athlete. By David Druid. ; 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret. By H. Enton. i A New Iasue Every Tuesdaye 7 The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdeslers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of alx cents each. x BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, iy 98 William Street, New York.
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~ Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at tne Uniform Price of Five Cents. iF 4 « BEADLES*HALF-DIME*LIBRARY, ne | Jo Double Numbers. BY EDWARD L, WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novela. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers ‘°%) Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28. Butfalo Ken; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. 85 Wilda Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 42 Phantom Miners or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, 49 Omaha ony or, Deadwood Dick in Danter. 5&7 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deeks or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine. 77 Corduroy Charlie _or, Deadwood Dick's Last Act, 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville, 104 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Doadnara Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s . suicn. 188 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Game of Golds or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dreamy or, The Rivals of the Road. 201 The Black Mills Jezebel s or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture, 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. 221 Sugar-Coated Sam; or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, 263 Deadwood Dick’s Divide ; or, The Spirit of Swamp Laxe. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail, 809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon, B21 Deadwood Dick's Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats, 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducate; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- ngs B51 Fey a hey Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta, 862 Deadwood Dick’s Claim, 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City, 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds. 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Care,” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Duat; or, The Chained Hand. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Nickel-Plate Neds or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 458 Sunflower Sam, o! Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full Hand. 459 geen Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Big Ronnd- 465 Philo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at aim 471 Bozeman Bill}; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral. 476 Humboldt Harry the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Dog Detective. 481 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood. 491 Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Compact. : 496 Monte Cristo, Jr.: or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance. 500 Deadwood Dick’s Diggings 3 or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop. »608 Deadwood Dick’s Deliverance. 515 Deadwood Dick’s Protegee. 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 529 Deadwood Dick’s Danger Ducks, 584 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. 589 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Texas, 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr. the Wild West Vidoeg. 549 Deadwood Dick on His Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick in Boston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Philadetphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Chicago. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr. Afloat. 5S4 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Denver. 90 Deadwood Dick, Jr's, Decree. 595 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Beelzebub’s Basin. 600 Deadwood Dick Jr. at Coney Island. 606 Deadwood Dick Jr’s Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Detroit. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Cincinnati, 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Nevada. Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot, 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 568 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Koy Detective. 80 Rosebud Rob}; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. 88 Pheto ae Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 96 Watch-Eye; or, Arabs ind Angels of a Great City, 118 Jack Moyle the Young Speculator. ; 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 121 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 125 Bonanza Bill, Miner. 188 Bows Bob the King of Bootblacks, ‘ 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. 145 i ‘erret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob’s Boss Job. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 177 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps. 181 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo. 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventril 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp: or, The Arab 286 Apollo BIIl, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Sierra Sam, tho Frontier Perret. 24% Sierra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Parad; or, The Angel of Big Vista. 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven}; or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. 281 Denver Doll’« Victory. , 255 Denver Doll's Decoy 3 or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 291 Turk, the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll's Drift; or, The Road Queen, 299 A No, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport, 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia, B80 Little Qu! ck-Shot} or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 8 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miuer, 889 Kangaroo Kit’« Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. B58 First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 868 bigs 2 Jim, the Gold-Gatherers or, The Lottery of 'e 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City. BS2 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance. 885 Yreka Jim's Jokers or, The Rivals of Red Nose. 889 Bieyele Ben; or, The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Has Harry, the Base Ball Detective, uist Hunter, elective, 426 Sam Slabsides, the r-Boy Detective, 436 Banke Webel hesuhers a! 'e the Slasher. 486 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkler. wd > ‘ shia . vi§ ae m 3 BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Petes or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. Black Beas, Wi!) Wildfire’s Racer. Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. WII Wildfire in the Woods. 165 Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildtire Wins and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 179 Bob Hgskett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden Hand; or, Wi!) 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 Rockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner; or, The Biack Sheep of the Flock, 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two “ Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway ¢ or, A Dakota Boy in Chicane. 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-Heund; or, The one Thoroughbred, 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in the Quaker City. ry ty Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 41 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 855 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 423 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible ‘an, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond, 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Seeret Service Koy Detective, 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. BY OLL COOMES. 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Kuife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 5S The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye arty the Young Trapper Ranger. 88 Rollo, the Boy Kanger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. Scar-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon, 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Bo Captain, 2 Prospect Pete ;_or, The Young Outlaw Hunters. 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Disguised Guide ; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devyil Pan, the Young Prairie Ranger. ® 272 Minkekin Mike, tle Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon ; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. AIT Webfoot Moxe, the Tramp Detective. 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone, 444 Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur. 457 Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 463 Tamarae Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 475 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemie. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. BY T. C. HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of "76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Tralt. 82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen. 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lyuch, Jr: or, The Boy Vigilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger 169 Tornado Tom; or, Fajen Jack From Red Core. 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw ; or, The Queen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade. 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoliv, tne King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winch? or, The Buckskin Desperadoes, 294 Dynamite Pansy or, The Bowie Blade of Cochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully, 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona, ' $26 The Ten Pardsa: or. The Terror of Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitileas Matt; or, Red Thunderbolt’s Secret, 856 Cool sam und Pard: or The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. | 886 Captalw Cutlass; or, I he Beccaneer’s Girl Foe, B96 Rough Robs or, The Twin Champions of Blue Blazes, Silken Rianebs or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 4 Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives. ck’s Desperate Case, 568 Dodger Dick, the Bey Vidocq. B94 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective, 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sherp on Guard. { “wie BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 7 The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast, 17 Raiph ass the Boy Buccaneer; or. The Fugitive Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship's or, The Riva! Lieutenants, 75 The Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smuggier. 111 The Sea-Devil ; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Captain ; or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 204 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport. 216 Bison BIll, the Prince of the Reins. 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer. 229 Crimson Kate; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Pe ae Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy 3 or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman utineer 3 or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 Ee Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure sland. 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 mere Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chase of “The Gold Ship. 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Lilly Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler. 808 Keno Kit; or. Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 The Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long Trail. 877 Bonodel, the Buoy Rover; or, The Flagless Schooner, 888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, 887 Warpath Will, the Boy Phantom. 898 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Isodor, the Young Conspirator; or, The Fatal Leagns, 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Yachtaman; or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Sea Ralder. 441 The Ocean Firefly; or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Haphazard Harry; or, The Scapegrace of the Sea. 450 Wizard WIIlI: or, The Boy Ferret of New York. 454 Wizard WIII’s Street Scouts. 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Will’s Last Case, 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy ¢ or, The Shark and the Sea Cah 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin BILL, the Comanche Shadow. 525 Brothers in Buckskin, 580 The Buckskin Bowers. 585 The Buc: skin Rovers. 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder of the Rie. 545 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son, 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee BIII, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective. 580 The Outcast Cadets or, The False Detective. 586 The Buckskin Avenger. 591 Delmonte, the Young Sea-Rover. 597 The Young Texan Detective, 602 The Vagabond of the Mines, 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions. 617 Raly hs the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Raiders and the Red Riders of the Rio. BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon, Wm. F. Cody), 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie, Bb Deadly-Eye, the Onknown Scout. 68 Border Robin Hood: or, The Prairie Rover, 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 626 The Champlon Pards; or, The Lucifer of Silyer Bar. By T. C. Harbaugh. 627 Tom Brues of Arkansas; or, The Wolf in the Fold. By Charles Morris. 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Act; or, The League of the Sworn Seven. By J. C, Cowdrick. 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee of Jacktewn. By Wm. G. Patten. 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr. in No Man’s Land; or, Golconda, the Gladiator, By Ed. L. Wheeler. 681 Tom Cat's Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective’s Own Case, By Lieut. A. K. Sims. Ready August 27, 682 The Dead Detective’s Double. By Gerald Carlton, eady September 3, The Dead 688 Plucky Paul, the Boy Prospector; or, The Deadwood Des- perada’s Laat tanthgs, By J. W. Osbon Ready September 10. 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giant; or, The True Hearts of Red Eye Roost. By Buckskin Sam. Ready September 17, 685 Ok the Blue Coat Scout; or, The Boomers Last Bene on a Warnes Ready September 24, A New Iasue Every Tuesday. The Half- Dime Library '¢ for ssle by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, + Pon