Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 470) (1886 07 27)
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WO ETN ~ mn <i ce ae A ON WY Wy Ss . Felix Fox's Hunt for the Nabob, A Tale of New York and Its Man-Traps. BY T. C. “HARBAUGH, AUTHOR oF ‘' BUCKSKIN DETECTIVE, » omx ad TRUMP,” ‘* VELVET FOOT, es ROUGH ROB,” “ PRLIX FOX, THE BOY SPOTTER,” ‘“‘ pHIL FLASH,” ‘ CITY SLEUTHS,” ETC, CHAPTER I. a r tee ~ — = —< = j <<" ty Se. 7 <a ‘i S : MYSTERY. = SSS SS s 2 Lats one afternoon but a few months ago, Ze Felix Fox, a boy well known about the police stations of New York, and feared by the crim- " . inal classes, received an invitation to call at six YOU WILL NOT SAY ‘NO.’ YOU WILL UNDERTAKE THIS CASE--YOU WILL FIND HIM!” AND THE o’clock that evening at the up-town residence of GIRL-WOMAN, WITH OUTSTRETCHED HANDS STO@@ PLEADINGLY SEFORE THE BOY SHADOW. - Mark Morey, a prominent Broad street broker,
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2 ae ae i ces i lal a aa ER be ce The Boy Shadow. © vic oR Potala... st tor 32 be 7's safely, and now wants me to run down the fel- lows who had to do with his disappearance,” re- flected the boy detective when he had mastered the note. ‘* No, that can not be it, for thisisa woman’s writing, and the Nabob’s fist never spread a word on this paper. I'll go and see what’s in it, but I allow I don’t want to be put to work on a case on which the best foxes have been at work for weeks.” At the hour mentioned in the invitation, Felix Fox rung the bell at the broker’s house and was admitted to the sumptuously-furnished parlor with an alacrity which indicated that his arrival had been looked for. “‘T guess the Nabob is stilla missing quantity,” murmured the shrewd boy while he waited to be confronted by the sender of the message. “Tt can’t bs that I’ve tumbled into a trap of a kind. I won't believe that.” e had hardly ceased when there was was a rustle of feminine garments, and Felix saw a beautiful young woman enter the room. “The Nabob’s daughter!” he mentally ex- claimed as he bowed to the new-comer whom he thought the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. ‘* You are Felix Fox, the boy detective?” she said, coming forward and looking closely into the boy’s face as he stood in the light of the wonderful chandelier. ‘*T guess that’s who I am,” responded Felix. ‘They seem to know me pretty well in the city.” “‘T have heard often of you,” was the reply. ‘You're the boy who took that young Jersey- man, Omri Otway, from the clutches of those two rascals, Silas Sharp and Darius Dodge.” “That was more than a year ago, miss.” “ Yet I have not forgotten it,” said the young lady. ‘“ But I did not invite you here to say this.” ‘¢ T suppose not.” ‘‘ Mr, Morey has not been found,” continued Felix’s fair interviewer, ‘‘and I want you to take the trail.” While more than half suspecting something of this kind, the boy was startled by the speaker’s bluntness. : He had already familiarized himself to some extent with the strange disappearance of Mark Morey, the rich broker, commonly called ‘the Naboo.” by his acquaintances, and the newspa- per reporters. Three weekg had eee since the Nabob was last seen by any of his friends. He left his pri- vate office at the close of business hours, one af- ternoon, and entered a cab, as was his wont when he desired to be driven home leisurely. Since the ciosing of the carriage door upon the broker, no person of his acquaintance had seen him. - It was known that he had taken with him cer- tain moneys amounting to several thousand dol- lars, but not sufficient to tempt the thugs and secret Villains who play for high stakes in the great city. This disappearance was enough to afford food for gossip. In a certain sense he was one of the best known men in New York. Everybody knew the Nabob; he was handsome, forty-five, a widower, was always dressed well, and was lav- ish with his money. If the mayor had mysteriously disappeared as had Mark Morey, there would not have been more comment. The papers had all discussed the strange events connected with the broker’s disappearance, day after day they told the interested thousands that no clew bad been found. Everything pertaining to the case was read with avidity; it sold thous- ands of papers which otherwise would have con- tinued to burden the news counters. Mark Morey’s partner—the broker firm was “Morey & Marxe”—and Estelle—the girl who had invited Felix Fox to the elegant residence up-town—had put the best detectives to be had upon the case, and the reward was offered of five thousand dollars for the Peosery of the Nabob’s whereabouts, and the arrest of his ab- ductors, if the theory of abduction should turn out to be correct. It is safe to say that when Felix went to the Nabob’s house every policeman and detective in New York was on the lookout for the clew which thus far nobody could grasp. Had the Nabob been murdered? There were hundreds who had already an- swered this question in the affirmative, and several prominent papers did the same. The morgue been watched by thousands; the waters of the docks were scoured nightly by lynx-eyed people in boats, but the mystery of disa rance remained as deep asever. _ Felix Fox had no exaggerated opinion of his ‘Tt can’t be that the Nabob has turned up qualities as a detective; he was but a stout boy of seventeen with a good figure, quick as a cat, and a keen eye. e had grown up almost among the detectives of the metropolis; and he knew the dark streets and alleys of the city as ee messenger boy knows the great thorough- ares, As we have said, he was surprised when the young lady told him that she had sent for him to take a hand in this mysterious case that had startled the whole city. “Don’t you overrate my ability, miss?” asked Felix. ‘*T am sure I do not,” was the quick reply. **T want you to do what you can to find him.” “Then you don’t believe—” The boy checked himself, ‘*No,” said the young woman, “TI do not be- lieve he has been murdered; still,” in a lower tone, ‘‘ one does not know what the bad men of New York will not do. I do not believe the wild stories afloat to the effect that he was lured off by a beautiful woman who lives out of the city. These stories are cruelties; they deeply hurt me who know him so well. There isa die bolical plot of some kind; he has fallen into the clutches of some people who are playing a deep ame. I havethe utmost confidence in you. ou will not say ‘no.’ You will undertake this case—you will find him!” and the girl-woman, with outstretched hands stood pleadingly before the Boy Shadow. “‘T will, or leave the business!” exclaimed Felix, his dark eyes becoming animated. ‘Ac this moment I haven’t the slightest idea where the Nabob is, but I will find a clew, or join the wharf rat brigade at half pay!” The young lady seemed about to seize the boy for joy, and might have done so if a man had not entered the parlor unannounced, Felix saw him first and the quick eyes of the boy thonght he detected a lurking flash of hate when their gaze met. ‘¢ You are just in’time, Rogers,” said Estelle, facing the visitor, who was a young man of thirty, of rather dark complexion, with a smooth face and piercing eyes, almost black. ‘‘ This is Mr. Fox, the youn detective who has won so much fame in his calling.” ‘* Felix, miss—just Felix Fox; no mister in his!” said the boy, Seer slightly, at. which Estelle smiled and continued: ‘*T sent for him to give him a chance to solve this terrible mystery. Felix, as you object to the prefix ‘Mr,’ this gentleman is Mr. Rogers Marxe, Mr. Morey’s business partner.” Felix, who had been looking at the visitor ever since his entrance, executed the usual in- troductory bow, and said under his breath: ‘*Rogers Marxe, eh? This is the fellow who wants to be Mark Morey’s son-in-law, as well as his partner! Well, that’s pint No. i, or [ma saw dust operator!” ‘** Do you think you can strike the trail?” ask- ed Marxe, still eying Felix with much intensity. “He says he will!” exclaimed Estelle, before the young spotter could reply. ‘‘T will say that you have the biggest con- tract ahead you ever undertook,” continued Marxe. ‘At the end of a successful trail lies five thousand dollars, young man. You begin where the best detective: of the country leave off. I shall compliment you highly if you should solve this unpleasart affair.” — ‘Tam sure he will!” cried Estelle, springing to the boy’s side, and seizing his ped: ‘* Re- member! I “ And fail I will not!” echoed Felix firmly, and as he spoke he looked into the young broker’s face and caught the sneer that was al- ready half-formed on his lips. ‘“No, you don’t like me, Rogers Marxe,” de- cided the boy spotter. ‘‘I can see that with half an eye, and I am ready to tell you that there’s nota grain of love lost—not if I know gold from pewter.” , Then he turned to Estelle, and told her that he must be off. . : ** T will let you out,” said the young lady, and the next moment the pair were in the hallway and at the front door. ‘““You must not let Mr. Marxe discourage you,” said Estelle, as she threw n quick glance over her shoulder toward the parlor. ‘*Nothing shall do that,” was the sponse, rs may report within two not for two weeks.” ‘Only find him,” urged the young lady. ‘Find him? You can bet the Nabob’s for- tune that Felix Fox will solve this mystery! Good-night!” He was on the street again and a moment uick re- ys, or | later was hurrying away. have your word that you will not’ “Pve got no easy case on my hands this time,” muttered the Boy Shadow. ‘“ The Fiat! back there has given me a puzzle that has baf- fled the best—Shrewd Simpson among them, But my word is out that I will not fail, and I must not. By Jupiter! I believe I would have romised that girl anything. So Iam after the abob at last! In less than forty-eight hours I will have somebody after me.” In less than forty-eight hours? Not far behind the boy walked a man whose step was springy and almost noiseless. There were a number of pedestrians on the sidewalk, but this particular one kept a certain distance between Felix and himself, and his eyes watched him like the eyes of a lynx. The Boy Shadow had a foe at his heels al- ready. CHAPTER II. AN ADROIT RASCAL, WHEN Felix reached bis lodgings, which were on the second floor of a plain-looking house on the Bowery near Bayard street, he was sur- prised to find a man waiting for him. There was nothing about this person that at first attracted the young shadower’s attention. He was about the medium hight, had light brown eyes and a full beard, and appeared to be about forty years of age. ‘*T have been waiting for you,” he said to Felix. ‘“My name is Harris Hodge. I don’t live in the city, but in New Jersey near Morris- town, if you know where that is.” Felix nodded; he well knew the place men- tioned. ‘*T am here for the purpose of finding some stolen property,” continued the man. ws Baxe you consulted with the police?’ asked the boy. ‘*T have not, and I don’t intend to,” was the reply. -‘‘I don’t want to make a hue and cry over a few things that have but little intrinsic value, I believe that a still hunt by one shrewd person like yourself will accomplish more than a chase by half a dozen policemen. Shall I state my case?’ “Tf you want to,” Teepondes Felix, “but I cannot promise beforehand to take it up.” “*Got your hands full, eh?” “Yes. Just now I have an important case.” “Tecan make mine very important to you,” the Jerseyman assured, quickly. ‘‘ Al] the money in the country is not on Manhattan Isl- and. We have our share of the chink in Jersey, and some of us are pretty well fixed, too,” and the man twisted his lips into a smile and winked at Felix. “Go on; I will hear your story,” and the young shadower spoke decisively. “T live with my mother, a widcw lJedy near Morristown,” began Mr. Hedge. ‘Our only help has been a young man named Ben- oso loss, who attended to the horses and ooked after the fires and so forth. Qn the night of the tenth, which is just two wecks ago, a trunk was broken open in my mother’s rcom, and some yery valuable articles taken cut. I was not at home that night, being in Trenton, whither I was decoyed by a letter, which I am sorry I forgot to bring with me to the city. My mother was drugged by the thief, who en- tered at a window, and the robbery was com- mitted. Our authorities failed to find any clew, but I have been a little more successful. “Two days ‘after the robbery our hand, Ben- jamin Bloss, disappeared suddenly, and I after- ward learned that he went 1o Morristown. and bought a ticket for New York. I expect you will say that it is not much use to hunt for one man among nearly two millions of people. I admit that it lcoks like foolishness, but that man must te found. I discovered in bis room some pieces of paper which, when I had put them together, turned out to bea letter which he had lately received from a certain perey here. I have not the letter with me, but I can repeat it word for word. Do you want it?” ** Go on,” said Felix. ‘Tt ran thus,’’ continued Harris Hodge: “New York, June 7th, —. * Why don’t you burry on the job? The market is ened. now, and the goods will command a fine pre. The Broad street ‘find’ promises to return ig results in a few days. The city is getting over the excitement. The cops and the detectives are off the scent. Now hurry up your job, and bring along the goods. Nosreay.” Felix Fox gave a slight start when the man finished, but Mr. Hodge did not appear tonotice ~ it. “That is the exact reading of the letter which Benjamin Bloss got several days before the rob- bery at our house,” he said. “There was a
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wie py y The Boy Shadow. gold watch and some money in the trunk, but they were not. touched. The missing objects consist of an old-fashioned gold locket, that con- tained a miniature, and a packet of very im- portant papers. These papers prove my mother’s | claim to a large estate in Scotland, which claim is disputed by certain parties over there. I be- lieve that those papers are ‘the goods’ spoken of in the letter; but about the Broad street find | mentioned, I know nothing, although I believe I have read something about a missing Broad street broker called the Nabob,” ‘¢ There is such a person missing,” said Felix, ‘but I can’t connect his disappearance with the robbery at your house.” ‘Nor I, only if the ‘ Broad street find’ refers to him, the person who planned our robbery knows something about the case.” ‘““Mr. Hodge, you ought to be a detective!” exclaimed Felix, with a smile. ““T want to get away from New York as soon as I can,” was the answer. ‘‘ Won’t you help me a little with my case? Find out for me, if you can, who this ‘ Nosegay’ is, and I'll see tnat you're well paid. The letter was written in a cramped hand, as if an old man handled the pen. Aman in Norristown said it looked like it was written by a Jew.” “A Jew, and signed ‘ Nosegay?’” ejaculated Felix. ** Yes,” answered Hodge, with a smile. The boy detective was silent for a minute, during which time the eyes of the Jerseyan watched him narrowly. “T will try to do something for you,” he said at last. ‘“‘If you will come here to-morrow night at seven, [ will report.” “ That’s business!” cried Harris Hodge. “‘ You shall never have cause to regret the assistance you render me in this case. How much do you want in advance?” And he thrust one hand into his pantaloons pocket as if about to pro- duce a pocketbook, “ Not a cent,” said Felix. that way.” ‘*Then I will increase the reward we have offered for the stolen papers, which was two hundred dollars, The man who pronounced the writer of that letter a Jew says he can describe eople by their writing. Hesaysthat Benjamin Bloss's correspondent is an old Jew, who has the look of an adroit rascal, and that he is crippled in the hand that holds his pen. But there may be hundreds of such people in this city. Give * Nosegay’ achase, anyhow, and I'll be here to- a night at seven, sharp, to hear your re- ort. ‘“‘Tll do my best. I always do that,” replied Felix, with a smile, and the next moment he had dismissed his visitor and was alone. ‘* What lucky fortune is this?’ he exclaimed, almost before Harris Hodge had reached the sidewalk below, “‘ Herecomes a man from New Jersey, and in telling me about a robbery in the interior of that State, gives me what may be a clew to the missing Nabob! Jehosaphat! this is luck! The letter undoubtedly referred to Mark Morey when it mentioned the Broad street find. That affair has baffled the police and the detectives, and the excitement has cooled down just as the letter says. And ‘ Nosegay’ is said to be an old Jew with a crippled hand. I know such a person, and of all men in New York, he is the one to engage in dark work. I don’t care much about the missing locket and papers, I want to get at the bottom of this Broad street mystery, and I must not forget that I promised Estelle Morey to get there.” Felix remained in his room, and did not fol- low Harris Hodge down upon the street. There was a gleam akin to victory in the Jer- seyan’s eyes, and his steps were quick and light as he hurried away. Suddenly about two squares from Felix’s lodg- ings he was met by @ man whom he recognized, with a laugh. " “ What luck, Harris?’ asked this person of the boy’s visitor. . “IT think I’ve put him on the trail,” was the reply. ‘‘ He reports to me to-morrow night at seven, at his room.” “We will see about that,” was the reply. ‘‘ What kind of a lay did you give him?” “IT told him about the robbery at our house near Morristown, Jersey; that we had a hand who got a letter from New York signed * Nose- gay,” which letter an expert SayS was written by a Jew witha exippled hand. I saw his eyes leap when I gave him that lay. And in order to fasten the matter I repeated the letter, and sot into it a bint about the Nabob. I did it well, too, Larry. I fixed the whole thing up in his room before he dropped in.” “* He didn’t suspicion? “T don’t work eT eee 3 “That I wasn’t Harris Hodge from Jersey? Not a bit of it. For once the sharpest boy in New York has been completely hoodwinked. We'll go down and post Moses. He may drop in yet to-night,” The two men hurried along together. In a little while they turned into Baxter street, and found themselves among the Jewish clothing stores that for several squares line the western side of that thoroughfare. The Jew shops of Baxter street open early and close late; and the two men brought up against more than one son of Abraham as they ran the gantlet. At last they dodged into one of the many clothing shops, and passed to the back part of the store before they accosted anybody. “Vat is it, my fr’ents?” said a Jew of about sixty, who suddenly made his appearance as if he had come up through the floor. ‘Talk to him, Harris,” said one of the men in a whisper as he turned back, ‘‘ You know how to deal with this night-hawk.” “See here, Moses; we've got business for you,” said Harris Hodge, looking sternly at the old Jew. ‘‘ Your store may be visited yet to- night by a boy who is looking after the gold pigeon of Broad street.” “ Veeping Rachel!” exclaimed the Jew, start- ing back. “Tt will be worse than that if he gets on to ou,” said the man, who seemed to enjoy the ew’s fright with an inward pleasure. “*T vill shut my shop at once, an’ s’help me gracious—” ‘** You will leave this shop open!” interrupted Harris Hodge, with anair of auchority. *‘* That boy will come like a customer perhaps; you may even sell him a suit. You must get him into your back-room and then you must touch the button. Do you understand, Moses?” “Ven aml terhaf rest? I sleep mit mine eyes open every night, und I hear—” **- You'll hear the click of a sheriff's trap if that boy succeeds!” hissed Hodge. ‘** Who sends him here?” gasped the Jew. “YT do! A young woman put him on a cer- tain trail to-night, If he wins,woe to us; if he fails, we're rich!” CHAPTER III. THE JEW’S CUSTOMER. THE eyes of Moses Meck, the Jew, seemed about to start from his head when Harris Hodge turned on his heel and walked toward the front of the store where his companions awaited him. ‘¢ Look a-here, my fr’ent. T’ink uf my vife an’ childrent,” said Moses, following the stern man up, his face as white as his future shroud. ‘*Can’t ve git along mitout touchin’ der button on dat poy?” “Try itif you want to,” said Hodge, coldly, over his shoulder, and then he turned full upon the Jew. ‘If you want to feel a rope tighten under your chin, try it, I say. Just let that young spotter alone and enjoy the consequen- ces. ‘¢ Spotter, eh?” ejaculated Moses. “ That’s what I said, if my memory serves me well,” was the reply, “¢ Ven vill he come?” ‘ He’s liable to drop in at any minute. You'll have to keep a sharp lookout, for there’s no tell- ing how or when he'll come, Now, sir, do your duty, and Moses Meek will continue to serve Mammon and the devil on Baxter street.” A moment later Hodge joined his companion, with a chuckle, and the detestable pair of first- class villains walked from the shop. “‘T vish I could plot out der day I got ac- quainted mit dose men,” murmured the Jew. Veeping Rachel! but dey gifs me more trouble den al mine business. Dey haf got dere thumbs on me an’ I moost do dere bidding, Father Apraham! is dere no vay for Moses Meek to escape?” The Baxter street Jew ~ont to the rear of the store room and opened a dou» which led into a small room not over seven feet square, It was dimly lighted by a lamp that occupied one of many shelves filled with valises, te clothes and unsalable goods of many descriptiéns. The dust of months, if not of years, lay thick upon them and moths had corrupted all that was cor- ruptible. ? A thorough inventory of that little room at the time of which we write would have revealed some odd articles, for at the back of a number of shelves were goods for which detectives and pases had looked everywhere save in the right place, . Moses Meek migh doa legitimate business as a clothier, but he had taken into his store goods eee eS — — a that were not his own, and some articles for which blood had been shed. The old Jew on the night in question shut the door of his treasure-room softly yet tightly be- hind him, and took down the lamp. oving to- ward the further side of the apartment he ex- amined a dark little object that looked like the head of a large nail that had been driven into the wall. The examination seemed to satisfy him. “T haf ter doit. If I don’t he says I vill hear der click of a sheriff’s trap, an’ my gracious! I don’t vant ter hear dat, If der poy succeeds ve’ll be poor; if he fails, rich! As dat is der cave, he vill fail!” The Jew spoke the last sentence in determined tones as if the money consideration involved in the affair had decided bim, and it probably had. , He put the lamp on the shelf and went back into the store-room. His family lived in the rooms above the shop, and he could hear several children romping overhead. He walked to the front door, but Harris Hedge and his companion had disappeared. Baxter street bad its usual gaslight pedestrians, and Moses eyed the younger ones closely, for he was watching for the boy who was expected to come to the trap. “Hasn't he got around yet?” asked a voice so near the Jew that he started back as if a pair of handcuffs had snapped at his wrists. ** Who dere you mean, my fr’ent?”” he asked, and then he saw that he was confronted by Har- ris Hodge, but minus the full black beard worn by him during his visit to Felix Fox’s quarters. ‘“Oh, ish it you? No, he has not come, an’ I wish ter gracious he’d git run over by a hack or kilt some other vay before he comes.” ‘‘ No such interference like that, Moses, my Judean seraph,” laughed Hodge. ‘‘The boy may be a little slow, but he will come. I put a suspicious lug in his ear a while ago, and don’t you forget it, Moses.” “T haf peen lookin’ at all der young snipes vat pass, but no poy come in yet,’ ‘When he comes you want to do your duty. Remember! if he wins, woe to us; if he fails, we are rich.” “* How rich?” asked Moses, ‘Nearly as rich as we want to be.” ‘Rich enough ter puy der Prooklyn Pridge?” grinned the Jew. “‘ Blamed near it,” was the reply, and Hodge looked serious as he spoke. ‘‘The keeping of that boy allows us to play the other big game through. Moses, he is capable of taking up the trail where the best spotters of New York have quit disgusted, and of following it to the end.” ** Dot poy?” “Felix Fox, the Boy Shadower of New York, the same Nemesis who hunted down your friends, Silas Sharp and Darius Dodge, a few months ago,” The Baxter street sheeny recoiled as if the boy spotter in person had touched him. “Den, py Heavens! I owe him von!” he ex- claimed through close-shut teeth, ‘“* Harris, my fr’ent, go und hunt him up; pring him here an’ let Moses Meek avenge der death uf his fr’ents, Vere is der young spotter now?” ‘On his way here, I hope. But here is a cus- ° tomer.” The Jew did not_have many customers after sundown, but as Harris Hodge spoke a man stopped among the various articles of wearing apparel displayed on the sidewalk and commenc- bd to examine a pair of pantaloons. Leaving Hodge, the Jew bounded toward the man and fastened on him in an instant. ‘Good evenink, my fr’ent,” smiled Moses. “‘ Vas you looking for a nice bair of bants? Vat you tink of dose, eh?” And the Jew lifted one leg of the garment and held it admiringly before the man’s vision, ‘ Dose bants cost me eleven tollar, Isell’em to you for five an’ a halluf. Step in an’I will wrap dose bants up for you.” ‘“What’s your stock inside?’ asked the man glancing into the store, which was one mass 0: cheap clothing. f “Der pest in der city!” exclaimed Moses, catching the man’s arm and almost draggin him forward. ‘1 kin fit you out in a suitg enough ter call on der mayor in, an’ too cheap to talk apout,” " In calmer moments Moses might have been struck by the willingness of this stranger to be dragged into his store, but now he was so ex- cited over the prospects of a sale that he took note of nothing else. ‘A sucker has swum into Moses’s net sure enough,” said Harris ratty ere he glided away and Toft the Jew to scale his catch fh the usual manner.
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Moses did not see the rascal move off; he saw nothing but the sweeping profits on a pair of pants, if not on a whole suit. The customer was a person apparently about thirty-five years old. is figure, which was slightly above the usual hight, was well built; his breadthof shouldersindicated great strength, his movements agility, and his eyes, which were black, keenness and bravery. He was not overly well dressed, and Moses was ready to declare that he needed a whole suit, ‘‘ Now, my fr’ent, here is clothes fit for der gods,” exclaimed the Jew, waving his hand, which had one missing finger, at the contents of counters.and snelves. ‘I vill proceed ter sell you a bair of bants or a suit vat vill oxcite der millionaires of Broad and Wall. Take off dat coat and try on dis. It stood me at dirty tollar, May I die in my ped to-night, if it didn’t! but as it is you vot vants it, I villlet it go, with bants an’ vest, at eighteen, ef I go to der boor- house to-morrow.” If the customer had not offered resistance, Moses would have divested him of his coat ina moment. **See bere! I don’t propose to be strip like a convict!” flashed the man. ‘I didn’t come here to be crowded into a moth-nest.” “Moth, my fr’ent! Weeping Rachel, my son Isaac bought der goods and oxamined ’em before dey let der London house. Dis bootiful coat vas made for you.” ‘¢ Moses Meek,” said the man, and his hand fell upon the Jew’s arm and tightened there. “Who was that man in front of your store when I came up?” ; The Baxter street clothier suddenly grew a trifle paler, “Vat man?” he asked, **You know! Wasn’t it Harris Hotspur for the present, Harris Hodge?” ~ “Grave of Joseph, no!” cried Moses. ‘ Dat man keeps a grocery on Grand street,” The customer laughed, and his dark eyes twinkled, but the gleam of merriment soon ed. “That fellow was Harris Hotspur and you know it,” he said, solemnly. ‘‘ Moses, I want to see you privately a minute, Let’s go into your little room,” “Thaf none. My store is my office!” “‘Do-you want me to throw you through the door of that little room which begins at the end of thisf’ was the retort. ‘‘I am one of these men who are not. to be trifled with. Will you go peaceably, Moses, or shall I take you to the room?” ““T vill go,” said the Jew, meekly. The two men moved down the narrow aisle between the counters, and although the stranger released Moses’s arm, his eyes appeared to look him through, ; oi Moses feared the man, but all at once his eyes flashed as if for joy Did he think of the button in the wall? Without a word he led the way to the treas- ure room and thé two walked in, *t Now, my fr’ent, vat is it?’ asked the Jew. “Simply this: T want. the hiding-place of ‘Mark Morey, the Broad street Nabob! Iam a man-hunter. I am Shrewd Simpson!” A terrible cry rose from the Jew’s lips; he fairly stagger to the wall. ‘Keep your hands down!” said the unmasked man, coolly. ‘If you lift them to touch the infamous button above your head, Tl give the coroner a job!” CHAPTER IV. FELIX ON THE TRAIL. Prerwaps the terrified Jew wondered at this moment why the man instead of the boy had come. He had been told to look out for Felix Fox, and Harris Hodge had not said a word about this cool fellow who called himself Shrewd Simpson. It was a confrontation totally unlooked for, and Moses Meek seemed to have lost his breath while he leaned in fright against the wall. Sbhrewd Simpson! He had heard the name before, but he had never seen its owner, Moses was one of the most notorious ‘‘ fences” who inhabited that quarter of the city, and it was his duty to keep posted on the police and detectives, but here was one who s in his treasure-room and.a man who knew about the button in-the wall and about the mystery of the Broad street broker. It was some moments before the Jew found his RaDENS after the visitor’s last words. ‘‘Vat.do I know about dot Broad street man? Noding! ‘pon my birthright, Meester Simpson, I knows nodings apout him. Iam only a poor , ° ES a PAS EPS TENE RE PR EI “~epSr at 3p The Boy Shadow. Jew vat sells clodings to keep his little family from de boor-house, an’—” ‘*T can’t stand here and listen to lies like that,” interrupted Shrewd Simpson. ‘‘ A poor and honest Jew doesn’t have a fellow like Harris Hotspur about his establishment. I have never failed on a trail. I have the dead wood on the gang that worked the Broad street lay. Come, Moses, play fair and save your neck.” “‘T know nodings,” persisted Moses. ‘‘ I can prove py my vife Sarah dot I knows nodings about dot Broad street panker. Sarah!” He called his wife before Shrewd Simpson could interfere, and the next moment there were feet on the stairs that led upward to the little room. The detective’s countenance showed that he did not want to be interfered with by a woman just at that time, but he saw that it was one of the unpreventable events, and he was forced to abide by it. In a minute the little stair-door was burst open, and a veritable giantess made her appear- ance. “Sarah, dot man says I know apout der Broad street panker vot is missing,” said Moses instant- ly appealing to his wife as he pointed at the de- tective. “Do you?” flashed the Jewess, and despite her bulk, she cleared the two last steps at a single bound and came toward Shrewd Simpson like a springing tigress. The Now York detective involuntarily. re- coiled; there was something both dangerous and ferocious about that woman, ‘Make him take dot pack, Sarah,” cried the Jew. ‘‘He would send us all to der prison, or der boor-house.” ‘* Keep off!” cried Simpson who had backed to the wall. ‘‘I didn’t expect to encounter a pythoness, but by the eternal! I will show no mercy if Tam touched,” He raised his hands in self-defense, but they were knocked down by the fury that confronted him, and the wife of Moses Meek was upon him before he could throw her off, “Dot ish right! Shoke der spy!” cried the Jew as he bounded to the woman’s assistance, and between the twain transformed into per- fect furies, Shrewd Simpson was pressed against the wall until he’was ready to believe that he had walked into a den of lions. He struggled with all: his might, but the in- furiated pair were too much for him. ‘“*Vat he say now, Sarah?” exclaimed the Jew looking into the flashing eyes of his wife, ‘““Nodings, Moses. ebbe dish man pe’s dead!” — “Dead?” A sudden pallor overspread the Jew’s face, Sarah the tigress took her clinched hands with difficulty from Shrewd Simpson’s. throat, and ‘ot up. P Moke took the lamp from its shelf.and held it with trembling hand over the human body that filled one corner of the room, “‘ Feel his pulse, Sarah?” he said in a whisper. The woman got down and placed her finger at the detective’s wrist. “It is dere yet, Moses, but. very feeble,” she said looking ne into the scared and anxious face of her husband. ] ‘** Shall ve revife him?” “ And go to Sing Sing? No!” was the response spoken without a second’s hesitation, ‘He knows toomuch, Go out and watch the store,” “* Vot you do?” asked the Jew as he hesitated. “Go and watch the store!” repeated the wo- man, ‘Vat if somepody comes in who pe’s on dere lookout for Shrewd Simpson? Moses, py der grave of Joseph, ve are in der shadow of de gallows!” That declaration was enough to start the Jew, and a moment later he was in the store- room and among his motley array of goods. Composing himself as well as he could, he walked to the fror’ of the room and halted at the door. : ‘‘Dot poy isn’t goin’ ter come. I don’t vant him to drop in now,” he said to himself. ‘ Ven he does come—” Moses stopped suddenly, for a man had stopped before him. This person was well dressed and sported a short, full beard and green goggles, Moses seemed to recognize him at once, for his eyes gleamed with a strange light. ‘Look here,” said the stranger in a whisper, which could be heard several feet from where the pair stood. ‘‘I want to tell you that a shrewd boy called Felix Fox has taken the trail of the Broad street mystery, and you have 'to look sharp if you don’t want him to win the game. If wecan hold out a few days longer i i ey > ray we'll get all we're playing for. Remember! look out for that boy. in this city.” The speaker’s hand fell from the Jew’s arm and he was gone in a moment. ‘“‘T knows you, Meester Marxe,” ejaculated Moses, following the retreating figure with his eye. ‘* You are Mark Morey’s bartner, an’ you lays a pig game. Ven it ish all over I vill ave a holdt on you, an’ may I never see Cheru- salem, if I don’t pull der strings mighty often!” Moses went back toward the little room and at the same time a boy rose from behind a counter laden with gocds and bounded into the street! ‘Can that really be Rogers Marxe, the Na- bob’s partner?” exclaimed the boy. ‘‘ I met him a short time ago with Estelle in her parlor. He is playing a deep game as the old Jew says, and I will find out what becomes of him. Rogers Marxe in beard and goggles! That is a new transformation for the Nabob’s partner, but lk bet my head that it means more deep devilment. than one can shake his finger at.” The boy, as the reader can easily guess, was Felix Fox, and he lost no time in spotting the man who had just left the Jew’s shop. If he had known what was transpiring at that ° moment in a certain part of that building, he might not have followed the man in goggles with so much avidity. He led Felix a long chase, for he did not stop until he was in Broad street. ‘* He’s going to the office,” said the boy to himself. ‘‘ I’m going to know what takes - ers Marxe there this time of night.” Sure enough, when the boy spotter came to a halt it was before a large building, between two of the second-story windows of which a little sign in gilt lettering bore the words: “MOREY & MARXE, PRIVATE BROKERS.” “* Just as I expected!” exclaimed Felix, as the man whom he had followed dodged into an open hallway. ‘If I am not mistaken, I am gettin onto, a clew that has bothered the best of the Ss. More Me Marxe had their office on the second floor. The business which they carried cn there: had been established by the Nabob’s father, and he had left. it to his son, who had increased the: fame and riches of the house. Rogers Marxe, the junior member, was shrewd in financial matters, and cunning in all. things. It was said that he was the accepted suitor of Estelle, and that the wedding had been post med by the mysterious disappearance of he Nabob, Be this. as it may, the man was acting very strangely for an honest person. He would have: started if he had seen Felix Fox at his heels. The boy did not enter the hallway until a light in one of the upper windows told him that the brokers’ office was occupied. Then he en- tered the building and crept softly up the ste As he knew exactly where to find the office door he proceeded directly to it on tip-toe. It was locked, as he expec to find it. The boy halted at the door, and glanced up at the tran- som. “ve got to see what is going on in there,” he murmured. ‘J did not follow you for noth- ig hee Marxe.” ith a boy like Felix there were no obsta- cles that could not be overcome, He was the only person in the dimly lighted | corridor which was as still as death. He went to work atonce. __ By standing on bis toes he could gresp the top of the door frame, and clutching it firmly, he drew his body up until his eyes were above: the bottom of the transom. It was a stirring moment for the boy spy. Almost at the same time aman came up the: stairs a few yards away, He mastered step by step with a stealthiness which showed that he was bent on mischief. 3 Felix meanwhile was looking into the broker’s. office by means of the transom. His body was” hanging along the door, and the sharp edge of the frame was cutting his fingers; but he had grated his teeth in a resolve to stand it out, so- nea was he on the trai] he thought he had struck. He saw Roger Marxe stooping before a large office safe which he had «just opened. The man had discarded the gog¢les, but still wore the beard 4 Felix saw him take from the safe a packet of paper», which he conceaJed in an inner pocket: é is the shrewdest fox ~ ~~”
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RIES ETMEEES TSS. 6 Sor are The Boy Shadow. of his coat; then he shut the heavy steel door and made the combination secure once more, The eyes of the boy spotter gleamed with tri- umph at this discovery; he was ready to let his hold slip and to drop back to the floor, The gas-jet that burned all night in the corri- dor showed Felix hanging along the door, It revealed him to a man whocame upon the scene suddenly and without noise. This night-prowler was in his stocking-feet. He was well built and active as a cat. His teeth met suddenly as he came toward Felix like a shadow gliding over the wall. His noiseless strides were panther-leaps. All at once one of his hands darted at the boy clinging to the door-frame, and the next half- second Felix was in his clutches, A lowery rose from the boy’s lips; it was a ery he could not help. The man jerked him down, but he did not have to. The sinking clutch had loosened Felix’s hands. ‘Here, captain, in there!” said the spotter’s captor, striking the door with one hand, and then for the first time Felix saw the fellow’s face. It was one he did not recognize, but the eyes looked familiar perhaps in their ferociousness only. 2 moment after the knock somebody on the inside came toward the door, and the lock click- ed, Felix crossed the threshold in the clutches of his captor, the door shut behind him with the musical snap of a spring catch. “This night-weasel was hanging along the door,” said the man, addressing Roger Marxe, who had donned the green goggles again. ‘If ou don’t know him, Ido, It1s Felix Fox, the ja Shadower of New York.” he broker uttered a re “There is danger while he lives,” the man went on, “‘Then he must die!” said the Nabob’s partner. CHAPTER V. THE SECRET TUNNEL, Ir isthe same night. The hour is half-past ‘eleven o'clock, and the clothing shops alon Baxter street greet the late passers by wit closed doors; their queer owners, the Moseses, Abrahams and Solomons of Jewry have counted the gains of the day and gone to bed. Here and there an all-night drinking shop is open, and the frequenters of that disreputable quarter of New York indulge in their late amusements, cards and liquor, The clock of a certain saloon known every- where by the sententious name of ‘‘ Jacob’s,” in- dicates the exact time mentioned above, and a man comes in. This person is not unknown to the portly in- dividual behind the bar, for both nod slightly as their eyes meet. “ Jacob’s” is three doors from Moses Meek’s, and not far from an alley. Nobody ean tell how this saloon got sandwiched between two clothing stores, but there it is as the police know, and Jacob, the proprietor, sells beer, while his neighbors sell suits, The man who came in at half-past eleven, pe scheme through the saloon and lett it by a back oor, He found himself in a small hall which was very dimly lighted by a gas jet that smoked the wall. At one end of this hall was a closet, which the man opened with a key which he took fron? his pocket, He entered the dark place and shut the door behind him. It closed with a snap. Stooping down, he found an iron ring in the floor which he caught and twisted from left to right, then he pulled upward and opened a trap. If he had held a match in his hand, he might have seen a flight of steps, but he evidently knew they were there. A moment later he descended into the dark- ness, letting the door down over him, If he counted the steps, he must have found that they numbered seven. When he reached the bottom he stood on damp ground, and near a wall which he touched with his elbow, “{ don’t want any light to guide me,” said this man, addressing himself in audible tones, **T’ve been here before and I know just where togo. There’s precious few places I don’t know in this city, big as it is, but I never come to this one unless I’ve got work on my hands.” He moved forward down a narrow way which was not wide eno gh to admit of two persons walking abreast. The width was not uniform either, as if it was a tunnel hastily constructed, The man did not remain long in this subter- ranean passageway, for he soon found another flight of steps, and, from the top one, knocked against a wooden covering, n a little while a response came, and a tra door was opened, revealing an old man, Jewis in cast, holding a lamp in his hand, ‘* Py der fleece of Gideon! Meester Harris, is dot you?” was the sentence that greeted the man underground, ** It is nobody else, Moses,” he cried, emergin from the place and shutting the ps j himself. ** What has happened? You look as if you had seen your father’s ghost.” **S’help me gracious, I vish I had seen him!” said the Jew, who was our old friend Moses Meek. ‘‘ Vare ish dot poy?” ‘* Didn’t he come?” **'No; but a man did.” ‘Who was he?” ‘* Meester Harris, you know dot man vat vas lookin’ at dose bants ven you vent avay?” “Ves.” ‘*He vasn’t vat he represented, Dot mans, Meester Harris,” and the Jew spoke very slow- ly, ‘‘dot mans, I say, was worse dan dot poy.” ** What!” ‘* Dot vas Shrewd Simpson,” Harris Hodge started back with an oath on his lips, ‘‘Shrewd Simpson, the independent detec- tive?’ he exclaimed. ‘See here, Moses, what are you giving me?” The old Jew raised his hand solemnly and re- peated his declaration. ‘* What did he want?” asked the rascal. ** Dot Broad street man.” **The Nabob?” ce Yes.” ** How on earth did Shrewd Simpson find this trail?” ejaculated Harris Hodge, ** He ish sharper than dot poy.” “Not sharper. He can’t be that,” was the reply. ‘‘ He has the faculty of stumbling onto trails. Where is he now? You did not let him get away after he told you what he was after?” A smile stole over the sallow and oily face of the Jew, and Harris Hodge saw his deep-set ae eyes twinkle in the light of the lamp he held. “Aha! I see that he did not get away!” con- tinued Hodge, who knew how to read by ex- ression. ‘¢ What tells you this, Meester Hodge?” v vour eyes,” laughed the man, ‘ Where is he? The Jew went to the stairway that led u from the little apartment to which he had ad- mitted Harris Hodge and opened the door. On the board he struck his bony knuckles, and called ‘‘ Sarah!” in a low voice. The answer came in the appearance of a wo- man who weighed nearly three hundred pounds, and the moment she caught sight of Hodge ber eyes lit up with the light of some infernal triumph. i ‘*Dot womans 1s worth her weight in gold,” said the Jew. “By Jupiter! I'd like to have it,” grinned Hodge. ‘* Had it not peen for her we would all pe in der Toombs dish minute, Veeping Rachel! but she went for dot Shrewd Simpson vot come here to find dot Broad street panker!” ‘ By this time the big Jewess was standing be- fore Harris Hodge who almost felt like shrink- ing from the savagery of her eyes, **'Vare is dot spy, hey, Meester Harris?” cried Mrs. Meek leaning suddenly forward like a top- pling pillar. ‘* He is vare he finds nodings.” ‘“*T don’t doubt that if he came in contact with you,” smiled Harris Hodge, who knew that in a contest of strength with the Amazon he would stand no show, ‘*‘ But show me where he is or tell me—” ‘““Gif me your lamp, Moses, I vill convince Meester Hodge dot Shrewa Simpson vill never find dot gold king of Broad street;” ‘* He is dead, then?” The sentence seemed to lend the Jew’s cheek a deathly pallor, ‘* Dot is a secret vot Sarah keeps,” he said. ‘¢ She vill not tell me vot she did mit dot man, | nor vill she Jet me see him,” fhe Amazon looked at Hodge from behind the lamp she carried and seemed to laugh with her eyes, ha Come,” she said turning toward a door that led from the back part of the room, and giving her husband a look of authority she continued: ‘*Stay vare you are, Moses, or go up to der children,” Hodge followed the woman from the room and into a back building which was a closed | | door, 5 structure almost destitute of anything like furniture. ‘* Moses might have let that man go, but he fell into my fands,” she said as she gave the lamp to Hodge and bent over the bare floor, The next moment the Jewess raised a door which was so neatly fixed in the floor that Harris Hodge did not notice it. s cellar?” exclaimed the man léaning for ward, ‘* A well!” said the woman. *“‘ Jupiter! is he down there?’ and the eity villain turned upon the grinning mountain of flesh and almost recoiled from her gaze. There was no need of a reply, but the finger of the woman pointed downward, and sho laughed till her eyes seemed to dance under their dark lashes. ‘That's all,” said Hodge, ‘I don’t want to know anything more. One thing Ido know, and that is that | never want to fall into your clutches.” The door fell back again, and the woman was about to conduct the plotter into the store when he touched her arm, ‘* How is he ?” he asked, ** Safe. Ask me no more questions,” ‘‘T must—one more. Does he show any signs of weakening?” “ce Yes.” ** Good!” The two turned back into the little room, Sinn was quite dark until illumined by the amp. ‘* Moses must be in the store; the door is open, I see,” said Harris Hodge. The door that led from the treasure-room into the store-room proper stood wide open, an un- usual circumstance, If Hodge had looked at the Jewess at that mo- ment he would have seen that she was startled. She sprung across the room, lamp in hand, and squeezed herself through the door. A moment later, a wild ejaculation rung in Hodge’s ears, He ‘pounded into the store-room. The Amazon was bending over a man who lay on the bare floor, It was Moses, the Jew, All at once she darted at her husband, caught him up, and shook him as if she would jumble his bones together. Life came back to the Jew under such a terrible shaking, and his eyes opened, ‘‘ He—ish—gone!” he gasped. “Great God!” cried Motes. “Holy Peter.” exclaimed Mrs, Meek, and dropping her husband upon the bare floor, she turned, ran into the little room, and rushed up- stairs, Oe CHAPTER VI. TWO BIRDS AT LARGE. Harris HopGs, or Hotspur, by which name he was known to the people of his class, stood spellbound over the prostrate Jew. The giantess had disappeared, but he could hear her mounting the steps with more than her usual agility. Suddenly he stooped and seized the Jew. What 5 happened?” he demanded, shaking him vigorously. ‘‘Who has Nabob?” There was no reply, for Mrs. Meek bad let Moses fallso unceremoniously that he had re- lapsed into unconsciousness, and Hodge in his rage and disgust threw him upon a pile of cloth- ing. Then he turned into the little room with the intention of following the giantess, but when he reached the stair he encountered her coming down, ° ‘Tt was not him,” she said, meeting Hodge’s questioning look. ‘‘It was somebody else if he saw anything at all.” Hodge looked and felt relieved. ‘‘ Mebbe the person is concealed in the store,” he said, after a moment’s reflection. He walked into the store-rocm and lit the gas, after which, revolver in hand, he searched every nook between the treasure-room and the front The search revealed no traces of any. body, and he came back to the Amazon with ‘a sneer on his lips. ‘*He must have fainted at his shadow,” he said with a glance at Moses, who was still un- conscious on the heap of clothing.‘ If one man is in the well and the other where he was, we have nothing to fear.” ' § But dot poy?’ asked the Jewess, anxiously. “Oh, we'll get him,” laughed Hedge, ‘* He may come to-morrow, When Mcses comes te you will tell him to play the button without fail when the young fox comes.” ‘*Tf he doesn’t, I will,” was the reply. A minute afterward Harris Hodge was escaped (—the JNA
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- _ visit he 8 threading the subterranean corridor which ex- tended from ‘ Jacob’s” to the Jew’s shop, and in a little while he was sampling the heavy beer usually sold at the saloon. The hands of the clock now denoted a quarter after twelve, and Hodge was about to leave the saloon when a man came in whom he instantly recognized, “Where have you been all night?” asked the new-comer as he joined Hodge, and the two passed to the sidewalk together. ‘In several places, I’ve just come from the Bastile. Everything is right there now, but we've had a narrow escape.” “* How?” asked Hodge’s companion. ““Shrewd Simpson got on the trail somehow or other; he went to the Bastile and faced Moses,” “*T wish I had known that ten minutes ago.” “ Wh ” “T saw Shrewd Simpson, then.” sid ess not,” said Harris Hodge, with a laugh. ‘‘I’d bet my head, Larry, that you saw somebody else.” ‘ ‘*What’s my eyes for?” cried Hodge’s compan- ion, with a show of resentment. ‘‘ Don’t I know Shrewd Simpson when I see him? He can’t hood- wink me with any of his thousand-and-one dis- guises, I saw him awhile ago and I know it.” ‘“*Tf we were at the Bastile I would convince ou to the contrary,” was Hodge’s answer. ‘I had the pleasure of looking into that man-hunt- er’s grave.” ‘* Who fixed him?” ‘*'The Jew’s wife.” “*She told you so?” “Yes, and I have every reason to believe it.” ‘Larry looked puzzled for a moment. “Where did you see this man whom you took for Shrewd Simpson?” asked Harris, “On Mulberry; he has been living there of late, you know.’ ; ‘“‘T” know the number, but you have been deceived, Larry. The Amazon fixed him be- yond doubt.” Larry shook his head; he was not willing to admit that he had been mistaken. al ‘“‘T'm going to convince myself before morn- ing,” he said. « ‘By examining the well?” = No. I shall not invade the Bastile any more to-night. This man, Shrewd Simpson, is not as shrewd as he pretends tobe. He stumbles on more clews than he ferrets out, and then he tries to carry every thing with a high hand. He is a dangerous man, though.” “* And Felix Fox’s friend,” said Hodge. At mention of the boy spotter’s name Larry laughed and caugbt his pal’s arm. “Talk about narrow escapes, Harris,” he said. ‘‘ By the green fields of Eden, we had one to-night.” “ Ww e?”? ‘‘ The boss and I,” Larry went on. ** Marxe?” asked Hodge lowering his voice. ‘“‘T should remark. Think of catching the most dangerous boy in New Ycrk hanging to the door frame of the office and looking at the boss at work o’ some kind.” ‘* Did you do that, Larry?” cried Harris. ‘“‘Didn’t I, though?” grinned the city tough. “‘Didn’t I doff my boots and sneak upon him when he thought 1 was miles away? Didn’t I pounce upon the night weasel and land him be- fore the boss before he knew what was up?” ‘Where is he now?” asked Hodge, “Dye think he’s loose?” laughed Larry with a devilish chuckle while his eyes assumed an ex- pression of ferocious triumph. ‘*‘I’d sooner un- chain a half-starved dog and walk off with a jiece of meat in my pocket. You know that, rris. “* Of course I do, Larry; but I’m anxious to know what you did with the young ferret. You and the boss had him in your power after bt re him, and of course you didn’t let im go “ Bet your life we didn’t, Harris. The dis- covery made the boss turn white, but when I told him that it wouldn’t do to let the boy go he t a little of his color back and said that he to die.” * And he died, of course,” said Hodge, look- me at Larry. here was noreply, but Larry took a cigar from his pocket, and proceeded to light it. ‘“‘T want this game played out as soon as pos- sible,” he said throwing the match awav. “‘Something is going to happen almighty soon if the girl holds out much longer, I believe I'll isi r. “ You?” cried modes, stepping back and look- in amazement at his pal. The individual who addresses you,” was the + * a The Boy Shadow. reply. ‘I'll call on her to-morrow at her house. I can get myself up in a style that’d deceive the Prince of Tophet, and I reckon I’ve played some shrewd side games in my time.” ‘* But what will you do when you go to see the girl Estelle?” ‘*Tll convince her that the best thing she can do is to marry Rogers Marxe right away. I will pretend that I’m a fortune-teller or some- thing of the sort, and before I leave she will be- lieve that when she is the wife of Marxe, the Nabob will turn up safe and sound.” ‘You can’t cram any such stuff into her head, That girl is educated and refined, and takes no stock in the black art.” “There is right where you’re wrong!” ex- claimed Larry. ‘‘She has consulted three as- trologists since the Nabob’s disappearance.” ** And they told her—what?” **T don’t know all, but I know just what to tell her. I’m on the inside you see, Harris, and I will play a hand to-morrow that’ll end this little game of ours within a week.” “You can try it, but I wouldn’t,” said Hodge with a shake of the head. ‘ At what hour will you play the hand?” ; ‘* About ten to-morrow forenoon. Just loaf about the Nabob’s residence and see the renown- ed Persian astrologer Nezzur-Adden make his appearance,” ** You don’t know Persian?” cried Hodge, with a laugh. ‘*T don’t have to, to her. You see Iam an Englishman who has been astrologer to his Majesty, the Shah at Teheran. I’ve played this role before, Harris, and always with suc- cess.’ : ‘* Does the boss know of this?” “No. It’s a play entirely my own. You know that if the girl ‘becomes a Marxe, we get the whole amount; if she does not, we get a smaller sum.” ** And quarters in, Sing Sing, eh, Larry?” ‘* Roomsin Hades, first!” grated Hodge's pard, ‘“We have him in our clutches, and we can work a new game and an almighty big one, if he gets smart on our hands. * This is the crisis of the play, Harris, When such fellows like Shrewd Simpson and Felix Fox get on the trail of the missing Nabob, it is time for us to make a ten strike.” “That is true. boss?” ** At the office.” The two men walked from the spot where they had conversed in low tones and a square away they separated for the night. “Pll be around when the Persian makes his appearance to-morrow,” said Hodge. ‘You ean play that trick, if you want to, but I wouldn’t.” ‘** No, you can’t, old fellow!” was the answer, and the two villains parted. Harris Hodge turned away with some inco- herent sentences on his lips and hurried down- town. ‘*Tm going to draw on my banker,” he said to himself, a little further on, ‘It is pretty late, I know, but I’ve got to have the chink.” It was past one o’clock when he reached the building that contained the office of Morey & Marxe. ‘“‘Tam not too late,” he exclaimed, seeing a light in two windows on the second floor, ‘¢ Something important keeps the boss up.” Harris Hodge mounted the steps and knocked lightly on the office door; the next instant he heard a step approach it. When the door opened he saw the face of the Nabob’s partner, who started on seeing him, Hodge glided into the elegantly-furnished room without an invitation; he saw at a glance that Marxe was about to quit the office when he ap- Where did you leave the are’ ¢ ‘¢ Well, sir, what is it?’ said the partner in no ood humor, ‘*T want a thousand,” said Hodge coolly. Rogers Marxe started and his jaws met, “Pva got to have it,” continued the city des- perado, ‘* You know the agreement—” began Marxe. ‘*Can’t help the agreement,” was the inter- ruption, and then the villain leaned forward and continued: ‘‘ I want a thousand right away, and you know better than to refuse me!” Rogers Marxe bit his lips, but got up and went to tho safe. CHAPTER VII. HODGE GETS THE THOUSAND. THE gleaming eyes of Harris Hodge followed the broker eagerly. They saw him stoop end work the combina- tion, and when the heavy door was pulled open, ; ; he noticed that the safe was almost large enough to hold a man. , Perhaps it was the reputed wealth of the house of Morey & Marxe that lent an additional light to the city desperado’s eyes; he leaned forward in his eagerness. ‘** There isn't an available thousand here,” said Rogers Marxe after he had pulled out several small iron draws. “I want it all the same,” said Hodge. ‘I’m not going away from here till 1 have it, or—” He stopped suddenly, for Marxe was looking over his shoulder at him. ‘* How were you going to finish that sentence?” said the broker with a show of resistance which was only superficial. “Do you really want to know, Mr. Marxe? I'm not going away from here without that money. There!” ‘* But there isn’t a thousand in the safe.” “*Let me look,” said Hodge leaving the chair. Rogers Marxe moved toward the money-chest and laid his hand on the door as if to swing it shut. “Let that door be!” thundered Hodge, sud- denly displaying a revolver. ‘‘If you shut it, by heavens! Pll spatter it with your brains! Now! I want a thousand. I must have it.” ‘“* After a few days you'll want more.” “Tf I do I know where to get it,” grinned the thug. ‘‘ Let me inform you, Rogers Marxe, that you are inmy power now, and you will have to pony up whenever I get flat. It mayn’t bea pleasant reflection for you, but it is terribly true nevertheless.” . “Terribly true” it was, and the broker never realized before what it was to be wholly in the clutches of a man like Harris Hodge. ‘*Play fair, be square, and you will find me no hard fellow to get along with,” Hodge went on. “Tve got to have this money now, I will not say that I may not need more before long.. I make no promises. You will have plenty at our command ina few days. When the girl ecomes your wife Bh will have more money than you need, Hat’s a thousand to you now?” The speaker’s eyes moved to the safe when he ceased. They told Marxe that he would talk no more, and that nothing would satisfy him but the amount already named. ; ‘‘The game may fail,” said the broker, “The money first, talk afterward,” was tbe answer. Rogers Marxe turned to the safe and counted out one thousand dollars in bills which he handed to Hodge, who examined them rapidly and transferred the whole to his pocket. “The game cannot fail,” said the blackmailer. ‘*T understand that the Nabob shows signs of weakening. Estelle must become your wife in- side of a week. She will dosoif she understands that the Nabob’s safety, nay his life. depends om it. Are you discouraged, Marxe?” “‘ Nothing discourages me, but I don’t like the situation. Already a boy has struck the trail. There is no telling to how many people he con- fided his discovery.” ‘He tells nobody,” said Hodge confidently. ‘Felix Fox keeps his own secrets, but I under stand that he will never look through another transom,” The Nabob’s partner started. ‘Tt was a good thing that agi?! caugbt him in the act,” the rough went on. ‘T’d give a tew to know how that boy struck the trail, Did he whine, Marxe?” ‘* Not once,” said the broker, ‘*Hé faced us with the mien of a lion. For a boy of his age. he is remarkable.” | : “Larry didn’t give him much rope, I sup- ose?” ‘“*T don’t know.” ‘What! didn’t he fix him on the spur of the moment?” exclaimed Hodge. ‘““No, He took the hoy off with him. I have not seen the pair since.” ‘But you feel assured that he will trouble us. no more?” “Larry told me that he would not.” “That settles it, but I would have thought. that he would have fixed him here.” Rogers Marxe glanced down at the rich carpet. that covered the floor of the office. ‘“‘T see; blood on the carpet tells a story,” said — Hodge, witha smile. ‘* Larry did the best thing after all, I guess, He knows bow to play many shrewd games, He is going to play one to-mor- row. ‘What is that?” asked Marxe, mechanically. ** Why, don’t you know? He is going to pla the Persian astrologer, and the girl is to be tole \y by the stars that if she don’t become Mrs, Marxe Ps “eo Get = ‘Sera is7 —* > +
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at: eMets Veutiare ) ae ~ a | oy Mell - " i % The Boy Shadow. that the Nabob will come home ready for the fine mausoleum he had erected in Greenwood.” Rogers Marxe paled suddenly and started for- ward with a wild exclamation. “Ts he going to face Estelle?” he cried. ai! ¥ cannot impersonate a Persian astrolo- ger. y God! does he want to spoil the whole game?” “Not by a long dive,” laughed Hodge. “Larry has too big an interest in the game it- self to do anything like that.” “He must not try it,” said Marxe, like a scared man, ‘* You will see him before to-mor- row?” “T don’t think I will.” “He must be seen! What put this foolish idea into his head? The girl—Hstelle—will sus- picion something the moment he tells her the pretended message of the stars, She will accuse me of being in collusion with the astrologer, He shall not play that hand.” ‘You'll have to see him and reason him out of the play, then.” ‘* Where will I find him?” “ That’s hard to tell.” ‘* What places does he frequent?” ‘¢ Oh, he has a dozen favorite loafing places,” Rogers Marxe took out his watch and gave it ag ance. ** Where does Larry board?” ho asked Hodge. ‘¢ When he wants a bed he goes to Papa Pick- lock’s.” “Where is that?” ‘‘Mulberry, near Grand. Several of the boys have rooms there. A little red light hangs over the door.” : Marxe got up with a countenance which showed that he had determined to seek the place mentioned by Harris Hodge. ‘* You may find Larry there and you may not,” said Hodge looking at him. “T will try. emust not try this game of his. ltisdangerous. A shrewd man would see s+ 2? “You and Larry for it,” was the retort. ‘TI wouldn’t be afraid to trust him.” There was no answer for Marxe was anxious to uit the office. Three minutes later two men emerged from the building and walked off together. The street was almost entirely deserted, and the two men walked a square before they met any one, and then it was a night watchman who did not notice them. Already Rogers Marxe had again donned the false beard and green goggles and no longer looked like himself. The addition of these articles had so altered his personal appearance that the most lynx-eyed man-hunter would have been puzzled. tA he Harris Hodge went with hima number of uares and then bade him adieu for the present. Marxs made the pir promise before parting that if he saw Larry he would send him to the Broad street office early after daylight; but when Hodge walked away he looked back and chuckled after the vanishing figure of the broker. , “In the net for as long as we wish to hold you, and by George! that will be while you’ve got a dollar, Rogers Marxe!” he exclaimed, ** The sooner you marry the girl the sooner we’ll have a new bank todraw from. I’m willing for Larry to play his game to-morrow, for I am convinced that he will not blunder. He’s never blundered yet. As for the Nabob, we can_ work a new lay there. Whoopee! Larry and I will be able te go on Wall street if we keep on a while longer. I could go there with a thousand to-morrow. They talk about pinching times. can’t see how they can be that when a thousand is to be had for the tal There’s nothing backward about me when I want to replenish my pocket.” And the city tough walked down the street laughing over the game he had played successfully. : As for Rogers Marxe, secure in his disguise as he thought, he struck Mulberry street as soon as possible, and hurried up the west side eager to reach and on the lookout for the place called Papa Picklock’s. ad he name with no additional explanation by Harris Hodge, was enough to tell the broker that it was no honest place, and he was well enough acquainted with that part of the city to know that its locality was decidedly against it. The long journey in the loneliness of the ante- daylight hour came to an end at last, and Marxe found himself in front of a rather rough lookin three-story frame building over the hall door of which hung 2 lamp with a red globe on which was visible the number of the place. is was Papa Picklock’s, FQ _ —————_————————— ———n—n—aoOoOonm—————— CO n—n—_— nm ——————— SS = Marxe saw nobody near, and as the hall door stood ajar he stepped forward and pushed it open, The steps were furnished with very worn mat- ting and the man thought he made an unusual noise as he ascended, On the floor above he found a small room which had an office-like appearance. It had a short counter at one end, three or four chairs and a broken settee. There was an odor of to- bacco-smoke in the room, ‘* Two months ago I wouldn’t have come here for the world, but now I have to,” said Marxe to himself. He moved forward to the counter over which burned a gas jet dimly, and saw behind it a fat man with a florid face, asleep in a chair, This yersonage must be Papa Picklock, thought the broker. He had come there to find Larry, and he would have to awaken the sleeper. As he leaned forward to do this he heard a step behind him. Of course he turned. ‘*Don’t disturb that man,” said the person whom he confronted. ‘‘I want to see you on private business, Rogers Marxe. That beard and those goggles become you well.” The Broad street broker recoiled with a cry; his senses seemed to swim, CHAPTER VIII. THE ENTRAPPED FOX. In the mean time, what had become of Felix Fox? The reader will recollect that we left. the boy spotter in the private office of Morey & Marxe, and in the hands of the Nabob’s partner and the man who had caught him looking over the tran- som, We have heard Rogers Marxe tell Harris Hodge that this man had taken the boy away, and that he (Marxe) knew nothing about his fate, With Felix at large, the game being played by the conspirators could not succeed; the boy threatened to prove too shrewd for the whole gang. ~ He exhibited no signs of fear when he sudden- ly found himself confronted by Rogers Marxe and his confederate Larry, and he did not tremble when the broker’s lips pronounced his doom. ‘*T guess you’d better make certain of me for personal safety,” Felix said, looking at Marxe. ‘This is a cool, shrewd game you fellows are playing; it has baffled the cops and the ferrets for nearly amonth. A mighty big game, I call it, Mr. Marxe. And the stakes are worth play- ing for, too.” The broker glared at the boy, who was fierce- ly eyed by Larry, whose fingers touched the butt of a revolver. “Mebbe you'd like to know when I got onto your scheme?” continued Felix. ‘It wasn’t very long ago, but I saw something when I was at Estelle’s house. Rogers Marxe, you know where the missing Nabob-is; his disappearance is your scheme, and the plot was carried out by your assistants. That man is one of them,” and he looked at Larry, ‘I know him. There are precious few of the New York thugs whom I don’t know, and Larry Lolan is an old acquaint- ance of mine.” The broker’s accomplice frowned and let slip an oath, ‘‘ What's the use o’ prolonging this in- terview?” he said. “None at all,” replied Marxe, Larry’s hand closed on the boy’s shoulder. ‘** Come,” he said almost.lifting him from the chair in which he hed seated him. ‘* You need not think that you're goin’ to get away. This is one o’ the traps from which there is no es- cape. ‘Make it certain,” said Marxe’s eyes as plain- ly as if his lips had spoken, Larry understood the look and nodded. Felix Fox went from the office, and down the stairs, with Larry Lolan at his side. One hand of tho city desperado held his wrist as if it was in the grip of a vise, and his eyes watched the boy spotter with the intensity of the hawk, There was no jerking from that grip, and no- beay knew it better than Felix nimeel?, ‘“*[ wonder where he js going to take me?” murmured Felix, as he was led along the desert- ed sidewalk. ‘‘A man like Larry may have a dozen secret places besides Papa Picklock’s where he sometimes lodges, They caught me in a trap of my own making to-night. I wasn’t expecting Larry to appear on the scene when he did. I saw only Rogers Marxe and the business he was transacting in the office. This is the tightest place I have ever been in, and it be- hooves me to play the best hand I ever played, a i 93 I promised Estelle that I would solve the pnks tery of the Nabob, but this doesn’t look lke flattering success,” Larry soon got out of Broad street with his prisoner, crossed Broadway into Greenwich, up which he walked to Cedar. All this territory was known to Felix; he had explored it a hundred times. *T am going toward the river,” he said to himself, Carry has his mind on a place where he expects to end the career of Felix Fox, but we will see how he succeeds,” The actions of the man who had Felix told that he was confident of the outcome of the zame he was playing. Whenever he looked own at the boy his eyes grew full of triumph. He kept on toward the river until only a lit- tle distance intervened between him and the dock, All at once he turned into an alley, walked down it some distance, stopped and in- serted a key into a lock. ‘‘We have stopped at last,” muttered Felix, glancing up at the outlines of the building be- fore him. ‘‘I don’t know this place, but it is one of Larry’s retreats.” By this time the desperado had opened a door, closed and locked it again. All was dark about the boy spotter; he could not tell to what kind of a place he bad been brought. Larry, however, found a stairway despite the gloom and the two ascended, Felix mechani- cally counted the steps; there were sixteen, The stair led them to another darkened room and to another flight of thirteen steps. The bo knew that he was on the third floor of a build- ing when he was stopped. Larry leaned away and struck a match on the wall. As the blaze flashed up Felix saw a small room with two chairs, a couch and one window, which was protected by a network of iron bars, ‘“You know what the orders are,” said Larry, speaking for the first time since leaving Rogers Marxe, “I have been played ag’in’ before, but never by you, I think.’ ““That is true,” said Felix. ‘' There was a time when I had you foul for a crime that would have landed you in Sing Sing, but I let ou go. The villain st-rted-and laughed somewhat de- risively as he leaned forward, “Tsee, You are playing your game now,” he said, looking into Felix’s face, , “Tam not,” said the boy, fearlessly, ‘I can tell you when, if you like.” “ Well?” “Tt was for the O'Hagan diamond robbery. T had ven for that, there was no mistake. The night before I was going to effect your arrest you crossed the Cortlandt street ferry. A young girl accidentally fell between the boat and the wharf. You happened to be standing near by and you saved her life at the risk of losing your own. It wasa brave act, Larry Lolan. I saw it all, but that didn’t clear you of tLe crime for which I had run you down, but it did save you from Sing Sing.” ‘** How?” asked the city rough mechanicaliy, ** [ hadn’t the heart to deliver you over to the authorities after that,” said Felix, ‘‘ although, if I had done it, [ wouldn’t be here now,” ‘* That’s a pretty story an’ there may be some- thing in it,” the crook laughed. ‘ You were very clever not to send me up after that. You one know what I did after I saved the girl.” Yo.” “*T picked her pocket,” A flash of indignation lit up the boy’s eyes. ‘* How much had she?” * Only a few dollars,” ‘That beats all the mean tricks I ever heard of!” exclaimed Felix. “Tt was probably all the money the girl had in the world.” ‘*] think it was,” said Larry heartlessly. ‘*] wish I had seen that act at the time!” the boy went on. ‘It wovld have riveted on you certain chains I had already forged. When the girl thauked you for saving her life her pocket had been picked.” : ‘*T guess that’s about the size of it,” grinned Larry Lolan. ‘But that doesn’t break the force of our game ag’in’ you. You have tracked us in a new game, and we can’t afford tolet you ” ““You and Rogers Marxe, you mean?” said the boy. ‘‘ No difference to whom I refer,” was the an- swer, ‘I have fetched you to one of the com- pletest man-traps in New York. The floor be- neath your feet is so shrewdly adjusted that at any moment you are liable to fall sixty feet—to certain death, of course! I have orders, you know, to put you out of the way. You are
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nas ir? ag ars ney AA Se Stn, Si oat a P of ruinous to a certain scheme while you remain at large.” ‘You mean the mystery of Mark Morey!” cried Felix. ‘‘I have found a clew to the mis- sing Nabob and you know it. The man is not dead. He is detained for a certain purpose in a certain place in this city. Larry Lolan, you are in the employ of the man who is to be bene- fited most by the infamous plot that has been formed against the Broad street Nabob.” ‘* What is that man to you?’ hissed the crook, ‘* Personally nothing,” said Felix. ‘‘I have never spoken to Mark Morey in my life.” * But you have seen the girl?—Estelle sent for you 97 ** Yes, she invited me to her home. I went, of course. She put the mysterious case into my hands, and I promised her to find the Nabob,” “Do you think you will?” grinned Larry, leaning torward suddenly, oT will.” ' The man laughed outright. “T am going to have a say in that!” he ex- claimed, ‘I don’t think you'll interfere in the hand I am playing. It is a bigger game than the O’Hagan diamond play was. Have you dis- covered that the Nabob is not Estelle’s father?” “T never thought of that, but she loves him, all the same.” ‘* Loves him dearly, I should say,” continued Larry, ; ** She has a lover who is in Europe just now— *“And a man of whom she thinks more than she does of Rogers Marxe, the Nabob’s partner,” said the boy plotter. ‘* And yet this man Marxe expects to make her his wife.” ** Which he will do!” the crook said, shutting his lips hard behind the declaration. ‘‘ You haven’t broken the shell of this big game, Felix, It is the shrewdest one ever gotten up in Goth- am # there’s millions init. But, never mind, I am going to leave you here. I am not afraid to do this. for I know that Larry Lolan is to be tracked no more by the young Fox of the Bow- ery.” Tho man stepped back with his eyes fastencd on Felix, and the boy detective saw, deep in their merciless depths, the gleam of a tiger’s triumph, “This isn’t a big room, but it does the wrk always,” Larry went on, glancing around the apartment. ‘‘ The loudest cry gets no further than the walls. A gun might be fired here and nobody outside would hearit. Good-by, Felix.” The speaker had locked the door; his left hand was behind him, : All at once he touched an unseen spring, and the door opened. The next moment the young spotter was alone, : For several minutes Felix stood where Larry had left him, then he went to the iron-barred window and looked out. At first all was dark to him, but he presently saw the thousand and one street lamps below him; he was far above the pavement, ; All at once the floor seemed to give way be- neath his feet! Felix clutched the bars of the window and clung there tenaciously. “Tarry, the thug, was right!” ho thougnt. “T am in a death-trap.” Then he put his feet down; they touched noth- inv, Fe looked downward, but all was dark. The floor had disappeared! CHAPTER IX, FELIX IN LUCK, Fewrx thought rapidly in that awful moment. “ff Tlet go I am doomed. I shall drop into a pit, and never see a trail again, I will hang here while life lasts.” Thus the boy spotter spoke while hoe clung to the iron bars of the window, his whole weight on the irons, which threatened to cut his fingers to the bone. The room about him was now dark, the gas which Larry Lolan had lighted seemed to have ’ been extinguished when the floor dropped; an atmosphere with an unpleasant odor came up from below. Summoning all his strength, Felix drew his body up and climbed to the window-sill, where by grasping the top bars he rested tolerably well, and there he clung and caught his breath. For ten minutes affairs remained in this con- dition, and then « peculiar noise told Felix that the floor was coming back to its plane At last it seemed to be permanently fixed. Felix could not remain on the narrow sill. His position kept him in constant pain, He feared to trust the floor, which worked by some unseen machinery and was a trap, still he could nat stay where he was. : rry thinks me at the bottom of his pit, pat The Boy Shadow. IT can go down,” he said; “‘ but if he discovers that I am not there, he may spring the trap again.” Felix left the window-sill and lowered himself | cautiously to the floor. He pressed the boards firmly, yet with caution, but found them appar- ently solid. When he left the window he drew off his shoes and groped his way to the couch. It was still a terrible moment for the boy spotter, for he’ could not tell when the floor might open again. ““T must get out of here,” was his constant thought and frequent exclamation. ‘‘ This un- certainty is as bad as death itself.” But the question always recw'ring was how was ho to effect his escape? Nerved to the utmost, Felix began to search for the door by which Larry had left the room, It did not take him long to tind it, but, when fcund, it was locked. Atter awhile the boy detective struck a match and began to search the room, with the light shaded by his hands, The stillness of death scemed to have taken possession of the house; his stockinged feet made no noise as he glided over the floor, ‘“This floor was put in motion by a spring somewhere in the house,” said Felix. ‘ It is Larry’s work, and as I am still alive, I sup- pose he considers me dead at the bottom of the pit.” This was exactly the case, Ti he could have followed Larry Lolan when he left the room, he would have seen him de- scend the stairs to a small apartment that was pretty well furnished, “Tve got the rat where I’ve long wanted him,” ejaculated Rogers Marxe’s tool. ‘I always suspicioned that he was one of those who trailed me for the O’Hazan diamond work, I know it now. By his own confession he had me run down when I saved and plucked that girl at the ferry. Ho struck a trail to-night at the office that would soon end our game if we let him follow it up. But the rat dies for his smellin’ qualities, The sharpest boy in New York will now take a downward plunge.” Larry spoke the last words through clinched teeth, and walked across the room. He ran his hand up the wall until it touched an object about as large as a door-knob, The next moment he disclosed a lid by touching a spring, and his fingers found the end of a cord in the wooden box, ** Now, good-by, Felix Fox!” continued Larr jerking the cord which had a knob at the end, **You have reached the end of the Nabob’s trail.” For several moments afterward Larry stood motionless with one ear pressed againt the wall. He seemed to be listening for certain sounds be- yond the room he occupied. All this time he held the cord he had jerked. ‘*T guess that did the business,” he said at last, and then he pulled on the cord steadily for a moment and heard a noise that seemed to satisfy him. Before Larry left the room, he opened a con- cealed sideboard in the wall and took a drink from a bottle which he found on its shelf, “ll go to Jacob’s and find Harris,” he said, and the minute he bad locked the house behind him he was hurrying awey. We now know why Felix Fox was not molested after the replacement of the floor of his roum, Larry Lolan, the city crook, did not dream that his trap had failed. If he thought of the boy spotter while he walked from the house, it was as a dead body in darkness, and where the sharpest detectives of Gotham would never find him. As for Felix, he grew bolder as the moments waned and the floor remained immovable. He found the gas-burner that protruded from the wall, and ventured to light it, This showed him the whole interior of the man-trap, the door, the place where the floor divided, every- thing. While the door resisted all his efforts to open it, Felix could discover no keyhole, which con- vinced him that it opened when a secret spring was touched. He had noticed that it had opened for Larry when his back was turned toward it; this indicated the prcparice of a spring. The boy spotter had had a good deal of experi- ence with secret springs and mysterious doors, It stooc him well in need at the present time, After an hour’s work he seemed ready to give the whole thing up. The cuuning of Larry the thug had baffled him. ‘ Tt was getting on toward daylight by this time and the boy was anxious to escape, if escape was in the question, while it was yet dark. Every now and then he looked up at the win- dow, expecting to see the first gleams of day z peeping through the iron bars, ‘Larry may have touched the eee the heel of his boot,” said Felix, and the boy went to the couch and put on his shoes, Going back to the door he recommenced the search. ‘ ee inch of space he pressed firmly with his eel, ‘*They have baffled me!” exclaimed the boy, “‘T have escaped the horrors of your pit, Larry Lolan, to meet a worse fate, You may not visit this place for days. Sbhrewd Simpson may cage you and you ‘vould not tell him that I was your last victim, I hate myself for not taking you for the O'Hagan crime when I had you. let your act at the ferry save you. And you rob- bed the girl afterward! I ought to die here for my leniency then.” Felix brought his heel down with mad empha- sis on the floor and started toward the cot. The next second there was a strange noise be- hind him; he turned with a singular cry. The door was open! If a bomb had fallen at the boy spotter’s feet, he would not have been more completely sur> prised. What search had failed to reveal, accident had accomplished, His heel striking the floor in wrath had found the concealed spring which had opened the prison door! Felix was not the person to hesitate at a mo-~- ment like this, He went down the steps to the room below, found the door that led from it, and descended to the first floor. He was anxious to inspect the pit where Lar- ry supposed him to be at that time, but he dared not stay in the house. The front door was found to be locked; there was no spring to open it. Felix was not to be defeated bY. a bolt and a key; he went to a win- dow near by, raised the sash, and dropped al- most noiselessly upon the sidewalk unseen by any one. ‘This feels like liberty,” muttered the boy. ‘“‘ The cage is empty, Mr. Lolan, and the fox is pone to prove the most dangerous tenant it ever ad. Youare one of those fellows who have great confidence in your inventions; you may not go back to your trap for days. I will not be surpris d if you never go back to it.” he boy did not quit the place until he had fixed it in his mind beyond all possibility of miss- ing it should he want to find it in the future. When he moved off it was witha gleam of victory in his eyes. Be pulled his hat over his forehead and hurried along the streets in the dark hour that ushers in the dawn. Nobody seemed to recognize him, and he was not long finding his little room on the Bowery in which, as the reader recollects, Harris Hodge told him the story intended to decoy him into the clutches of Moses, the Baxter street Jew. Felix was tired when he entered the humble uarters which he occupied when not at work. Nothing had been disturbed; the littleroom had had no visitors during his absence. Feeling the need of rest for the next exciting play which he knew was before him the ney spotter threw himself upon a couch and fe sleep. While he slept the new morning dawned and the Bowery took a new lease of life, Felix’s sleep was too deep to be disturbed by the rumble of the elevated cars that ran past his window. | The sun wa3 trying to brighten New York when he opened his eyes. Seeing the light stream- ing in at his window, he sprung out of bed but immediately started back for a man was asleep . in a chair not ten feet away, ‘By Jupiter! it is Shrewd Simpson!” ex- claimed Felix, and the next moment his hand descended upon the. sleeper’s shoulder starting him at once into wakefulness, : ‘“‘ Here! what do you know? cried Felix. “TI have beaten you, for I have found a trail which leads to the Nabob. Where bave you been?” ‘¢ Some place where you never was,” Was the reply. ‘‘ Il have been clawed by a tigress, choked into insensibility and thrown into a well for dead, And all because I had struck the trail of the missing gold-bug.” Felix uttered a loud exclamation. “Then wll work together, Shrewd Simpson,” he said. ‘‘ Let us first compare notes,” ‘‘Go ahead,” said the independent detective. ‘Tell me all you know first.” CHAPTER -X. SHREWD SIMPSON’S STORY. No boy ever had a better listener than had Felix Fox in the person of Shrewd Simpsom, the — : hotspur detective, ae . oe o>» Lash a * nat ¢ - 4, oe = ‘ s
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Felix omitted nothing, and not once was he interrupted, though Simpson at times seemed about to do so. **That is my story,” said Felix, when he had reached the end of his narrative, the principal events of which are well known to the vender ** Now give me your story, Simpson, and we'll put our heads together and beat this shrewd gang.” ** Beat it?” laughed Shrewd Simpson. ‘‘ We're bound to be at it. They'll be on the lookout for us, but what does that matter? They may try a new hand, but it willavail them nothing. You want my story, eh?” “‘T am waiting for it,” said Felix. “*T will begin when { went to Baxter strect to confront Moses, the Jew,” continued Simpson. ‘‘T was confident that I had connected that sleek old fellow with the mysterious disappear- ance of the Nabob. When I reached the shop, and found him in the door in company with Harris Hotspur or Harris Hodge, as you know him best, Felix, I would have bet my head that I was not on the wrong trail. WhenI got into the store and marched Moses back to his treas- ure room, I knew beyond a doubt that I had made no mistake. I told the old rascal in plain language that I wanted to know where the Na- bob was. He spluttered and went off ata great rate declaring his innocence, and finally called in his tigress wife who came like a storm. ‘* Jehu! may I never meet such a living being again!” exclaimed Shrewd Simpson, after a ause, as if the memory of his encounter with Mrs. Meek caused him to shudder. ‘* She came at me like a maddened beast, and before I knew it her two hands, armed with clawsas it seemed to me, were at my throat, and my senses swam before I could lifta hand. Moses came to her assistance, and I heard words that convinced me that that infernal pair knew something about the Broad street banker. To get to the end of the first installment of my story, I was choked into unconsciousness and knew nothing until I found myself half under water in a sma]] Jlace that had stone walls. In an instant it flashed through my mind that I had been thrown into a well, anda minute’s inspection even in the dark confirmed it. I believed that I had been dumped into the place for dead, and my first thought was of escape. The water was not deep, but the narrow place was intensely dark, and the air was almost killing in its impurity. “As soon as I could get to work I was climb- ing the stones, which served my purpose admi- rably, and I soon reached the top. Everything was quiet about the premises when I lifted the covering of the well and crept out. There was no noise in the shop, but above in the third story there was a dim light at one.of the windows. I determined to get into the shop again at all hazards, for Ihad not done with Moses and his secret. I found my way into the treasure-room, and thence into the dar aie where I was when Moses received a visit “rom Harris Hodge, who, I am sure, came by some underground passage from somewhere, The tigress took Hodge out to show him the pit into which she had dumped me, and during their absence I happened te make a noise which brought Moses into the shop. ** As luck would have it, the old Jew came suddenly upon me, and so great was his fright that in a moment [ had the old fellow at my feet inaswoon. Tohim Iwasa person back from the dead, for he had seen his wife drag me in- sensible from the house but a short time before. Not wishing to remain in tho shop, which I knew would be searched when the woman and Hodge should discover Moses, I made my escape. “Tt was one of the narrowest escapes of my career. By Jupiter! I can feel the claws of that tigress at my throat now. If you don’t want to enjoy their clutch, Felix, keep away from the Jew’s wife.” “T may have to deal with her before this game has been played out,” said Felix, ‘‘ After you left the shop what adventures did you have?” “After midnight I accidentally ran across a certain man who wore heavy goggles and a beard.” “You did?” exclaimed the boy spotter, “ Why that man was—” ‘* Rogers Marxe, eh?” laughed Shrewd Simp- son. “It was nobody else. knew him by his gait, which can deceive no person who has ever watched him. When I saw him alone on the down-town streets at that hour I became his shadow, and I thought he would lead me back to the Jew’s. But_I was disappointed. Rogers Marxe led me to Papa Picklock’s.” Felix Fox gave vent to an exclamation. ** Larry Lolap has a room there,” he said, The Boy Shadow. ‘*T know that. Marxe went up to the little office on the second floor. I wasn’t far behind. Papa Picklock was on guard himself in his usual after-midnight condition—asleep in his chair behind the countar. Iwas certain now that Rogers had come to see Larry. When he started across thetroom to waken Papa I opened my mouth, and he turned like a person shot. There is where I missed it again, Felix. They say I am too fast for a man-hunter and I guess they are right, Maybe I should have let Marxe rouse Larry, but I didn’t. I told him that the goggles and beard became him well, but that 1 knew him all the same. He was thunderstruck. | I told him that I wanted to see him on private and important business, and that we would adjourn. He made no reply. I had Rogers Marxe at my mercy then, and fool-like, thought I could keep him there. But I didn’t.” Shrewd Simpson smiled ashe finished. The boy spotter was eager to get to the end of his narrative. “T got that man down on the street,” con- tinued the detective. ‘‘ Not a soul was in sight.” I am Shrewd Simpson and you are Rogers Marxe, I said looking him in theeye. ‘I can hold you for the abduction of Mark Morey, the Broad street Nabob.’” “ That was bold,” said Felix. ‘Of course it was, but they say I rush things sometimes. What do you suppose Rogers Marxe did when I said this?” ** Denied the charge, of course,” said Felix. **Hodid nothing of the kind,” was the re- ply. _ ‘‘ All at once he flew at me like a panther and I was thrown against a building before I could resist. It was the unexpected that hap- med that time, I tell you. I think I must have left the impression of my body in the well I struck; it was nearly as bad as falling into the hands of Mrs, Meck. Rogers Marxe got away as he could easily do in the stunned condition I was in. When I got upon my feet again he was gone, and I had to walk off, beaten twice in one night. I came here to find you; Felix, and seeing you sound asleep, I dropped into this chair to wait for the end of your nap.” The boy detective said nothing for a moment after the conclusion of Shrewd Simpson’s story. ‘Tm afraid—” he began, but catching the de- tective’s eye at that moment he stopped, and his glance fell. ‘“‘-Yes, I made a mistake. Shrewd Simpson quickly. at the game as soon as | see it. I was never cut out for a detective, I'll throw up the sponge.” ‘* Not until we have found the Nabob and baf- fled these gold hawks of New York!” exclaimed Felix. “Lam not going to blame you, Shrewd Simpson. They will change their tactics now; they will get a new hand, and a to play it successfully, Larry Lolan may. have discovered before this that I am not in his trap, and Rogers Marxe will see that he is more than suspicioned; he has been accused. What will they do?? Shrewd Simpson shook his head. ‘* They will do this for one thing,” continued Felix. ‘‘The hunted will turn hunters; de- pend on that. The game takes cn a new phase from this time. If the Nabob isalive he will be taken to new quarters, and we, Simpson, will receive the benefit of keen eyes and, perhaps the knife or the revolver,” “T am ready for the battle!” exclaimed Shrewd Simpson. “Hang me fora broker! if I don’t walk into the private office of Morey & meee fe day, and play a hand that will bea daisy!’ “Going off again in a flash,” laughed Felix. ‘** No, Simpson, you will do nothing of the kind.” The hot-headed detective cooled down. “Til put a bit in my mouth that'll hold me down,” he said to Felix, ‘ But, Jehu! don’t I want to pay Rogers Marxe for throwing me into that brick wall!” ; ** You shall do it,” was the boy’s reply—‘‘ you shall do it, soon. Wait and see.” I see it now,” said *¢ Confound it! I fly CHAPTER XI. LARRY’S FAMOUS PLAY. Ir Shrewd Simpson was astonished when Rogers Marxe turned upon him and threw him against the building, he was not more thunder- struck than was the broker himself when he heard his name mentioned in Papa Picklock’s, Followed and unmasked by a detective? It was something terrible to think of. When he saw Shrewd Simpson stunned by his falling against the wall, he hurried away; it was no place for Rogers Marxe. He dared not go back to Papa Picklock’s, for 9 the hot-headed detective might follow him there and actually arrest him. Of course, he wanted to see Larry Lolan, but he had to give it up. It was nearly day when the broker reached lodgings. “T must catch Larry early in the day,” he said to himself, ‘‘ He must not be permitted to play the Persian astrologer to Estelle. If he does, he will give the whole thing away. Enough has just happened to employ Larry and Harris. This man who calls himself Shrewd Simpson must be run down and put out of the way.” Rogers Marxe did not sleep long, for he was up at an early hour and on his way to the Broad street office. He had Harris Hodge's pledge that if Larry was found by his confederate, he should be sent to the office, but Hodge was not going to hunt Larry up for the purpose. At that hour Har- ris, with a part of the thousand dollars left, was taking a snooze at a place as disreputable as Papa Picklock’s, and Marxe was destined to wait in vain for the tool he was so anxious to see, Meanwhile the hour for Larry’s visit to Es- telle was drawing near, and between nine and ten o'clock in the morning Hodge stationed him- self near the Nabob’s residence so as to get a peep at the Persian astrologer when he should appear. t ten precisely a carriage rolled up to the house and the driver opened the door to let out a man who was attired in elegant broadcloth, glossy boots and hat and a waxed mustache, which gave him a foreign air. ‘** Jehu! can that be Larry?” exclaimed Hod who was near by with eyeson thealert. ‘If he had not told me that he was to get bere at ten entirely transfigured, [ would not call that man my old pal. Ah, itis Larry! There goes the private signal for me if I am around.” The astrologer-crook ascended the steps in front of the mansion and rung the bell, hen his summons was answered, he presented a card and bade the servant carry it to her mistress, Miss Estelle. Upon this card gilt-edged and delicate was printed this inscription: THE GREAT NEZZUR-ADDEN, REVEALER OF Horoscopes To His High Majesty THE SHAH OF PERSIA. All languages spoken, This rather ostentatious card was carried to a beautiful young woman who glanced at it and with a smile told the servant to admit this im- it Si personage who had favored her with a call, In a little while Larry was shown into the éle- phant drawing-room, and for the first time in his life, he found himself in the presence of Estelle. The crook when ‘fixed up” was decidedly handsome. He seemed to have left part of him- self at Papa Picklock’s, and, to an innocent person like Estelle, there was nothing about him to indicate his true position in society. “My lady,” began Larry, after his obsequious bow, “‘the stars have sent me to you, and I am here by_a high command which { dare not disobey.” “In other words you have come to reveal something,” said Estelle, who seemed to place much confidence in Nezzur-Addin. “That is it precisely. Ah! to reveal some- thing! You are in distress, my lady. A dear friend and protector has disappeared suddenly and mysteriously. Iam certain that the stars have found him.” The young girl was seen to start. ““TDo you say this?’ she exclaimed, “Not I, my lady, but the planets and their mysterious influences speak through me,” replied Larry rather Pompoeaey. “Tf this is the case | must thank you for this visit,” said Estelle. ‘‘What did the stars re- veal?” “The secret of the mystery of Mr. Mark Morey’s disappearance, but, my dear young lady, the revealment can only take place under cer- tain conditions. I am controlled by the in- fluences of the planets, I have cast Mr. Morey’s horoscope because I became interested in his case. I have with me the results of my labors; they are here.” As he finished, Larry drew three small cards from an inner pocket and spread them on his hand for Estelle’s inspection. One card was green, the second red, and the third pale yellow, They were covered with dots and lines, the dots
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Ate tes be = M - 4 a i a ee us 4 . sain —— * ee _ supposed to be stars, the lines the pathways of planetary communication. Estelle leaned forward and looked at the cards with much curiosity; after a moment’s inspec- tion she looked up at the false astrologer, ‘*'You have spoken of conditions, What are they?” she said. “This card names them,” replied Larry, tak- ing up the green pasteboard. ‘‘ Before J can re- veal the secret of Mr. Morey’s disappearance, you must accept the august proposition I am authorized to announce. The stars have told me that a very fine gentleman seeks your hand. I am sure he already possesses your heart, Miss Estelle. Before the great secret can be revealed, ou must promise the planets, through their umble servant Nezzur-Adden, to bestow your hand upon him within five days.” ** And unless I do—what?” ‘“T must depart with the secret unspoken.” said Larry, assuming a sad tone. Estelle was silent for a moment, then she rose, and walking to one of the front windows parted the curtains and looked out. The carriage was still before the house and across the street a heavily-built man was walk- ng up and down, smoking a cigar, stelle saw this in her brief sojourn at the window. When she came back Larry took hope; her countenance had undergone a change; he was sure he was master of the situation. * Harris said I couldn’t play this role; but I'll show him,” he said to himself. ‘I’m better at a game of this kind than the regular Nezzur- Adden himself, if there really is such a person. I win this game for the boss to-day.” Estelle took the chair again. ‘‘T am anxious to know what has become of my friend,” she said. ‘The stars will tell you.” ‘* That is, they will reveal the secret if I prom- ise to become a bride within five days?” Larry bowed. ‘“‘ Will they tell me where Mr, Morey is, or will they restore him?’ “They will restore him?” ** But who is this person whose wife I must become?” ‘* His name is Rogers Marxe.” There was a slight start on the girl’s part. ** Mr. Morey’s partner!” she exclaimed, “I do not know that,” said Larry, ‘I only speak what the heavens have revealed. This rson to whom they wish you to give your hand is handsome, wealthy and highly educated. Of his business relations I cannot speak. Within two days after the marriage the mystery of Mark Morey will be a mystery no longer.” ‘* Why do you not report this to the police?” “The planets send me to you,” was the quick response. ‘‘I have never seen Mr, Rogers Marxe; the stars have selected him for your life partner. In Persia everybody obeys them; the shah himself would wed a menial if the ea through the royal astrologers, selected er.” “‘T cannot give this promise,” said Estelle, *“T must have time for reflection.” Larry got up and threw arapid glance around the room. As far as he could see they were its only occupants. He saw more than one object. which his evil fingers longed to clutch; he knew they would find good storage at Moses the Jew’s, or a profit- able sale at Papa Picklock’s. “Then you reject the message?” he said to Estelle. ‘‘ You do not believe in horoscopes.” “T have not said that I do not,” was the re- ly. Pt Do you think I would come here with a false one—I who have cast them for his High Mighti- ness the Shah?” **T have not accused yon of deception.” ““You have visited astrologers since Mr. Morey disappeared?” . There? “They have told you that Mr. Morey will come back before long, but they gave you no real satisfaction. Ab! you see I know what the charlstans told you! If you reject the message I have brought from the mysterious bodies that control our lives from their places in the hea- vens, all will be lost. If you become the wife of cee Marxe within five days Mark Morey will appear; if you refuse, the mystery of the Nabob will never be solved.” “Ts this final?” asked Estelle, gazing into the face of the false astrologer, “Tt is final!” wastheanswer., ‘I never bear two messages from the stars to the same person when one has been rejected.” ‘*‘T am obliged to reject the one you have de- Estelle said, wig faintly. | Sivered to me,” ane _ Sc urtinaspaentdte ey " ae The Boy Shadow. A sudden light flashed up in Larry’s eyes; he was near the oor when he spoke again, “You had better do this,” he said. There was a hidden threat in his tone, and for a moment he looked like Larry Lolan the city desperado, ‘‘T am determined,” said- Estelle. marry no man after this manner.” “‘ Then the Fates will fall upon Mark Morey!” almost hissed Larry. ‘*Upon Mark Morey they shall fall!” “* Beware!” ** What! do you threaten me?” ‘‘ No; the stars are still speaking,” There was no reply, nia Larry reached the door which Estelle opened for him. ‘Ah! I forgot to recompense you,” peiely said the Fas “The Astrologer of the Sha cannot afford to carry star-messages for noth- ing.’ **T can She drew forth as she spoke a little purse, that made the crook’s eyes flash, His fingers itched to grab it and make off. Estelle opened the pocketbook and took out a ten-dollar bill, which she extended to Larry. There was no hesitation on the crook’s part, for he took the bill and bowed his thanks as he thrust it into his waistcoat pocket. The next moment he was on the step. ‘“‘Good-morning, my lady,” he said, doffing his hat, ' ‘*Good-morning, Mr, Lolan!” was the re- sponse, Mr. Lolan! The name, accompanied by Estelle’s manner, seemed to stagger the crook from the large stone step. She knew him! And all his play had been for nothing. Larry seemed struck speechless by the mere mention of hisown name. As the sound of it died away, the door was shut and he turned and walked toward the carriage. “Td give a thousand to know how she got onto me,” he muttered. ‘ I’ve been hit before in my time, but never a blow like that. Talk about thunderbolts from clear skies; this is a first-class one, and no discount on its force either, I must keep this from Harris, and, of course, from Marxe, If the girl does not think that he sent me to her, we'll win yet. Nezzur- Adden, my old chap, I think this 1s one game you've lost.” And Larry tried to laugh, but the attempt was a failure, As for Estelle, she went back into the draw- ing-room and confronted a well-built boy, whose eyes were full of victory. ‘What do you say now?’ the youth ex- claimed, ‘“ You were right, Felix Fox. That pretended astrologer was y Lolan. His own name staggered him.” ‘*T knew him on sight. Him read the stars? He’ll have the rules of Sing Sing read to him before he’s much older!” CHAPTER XII, AN UNBENDING PRISONER. It was a little past high noon of the same day when Harris Hodge walked into a certain cloth- ing shop on Baxter street. ‘“Where’s your father?’ he said toa young man who was a youthful presentment of old Moses, so well known to the reader, ‘ “He has gone away,” was the reply. ‘Out 0’ town?” . The young Jew hesitated. ‘*Mehbbe you don’t recognize ms. I am Har- ris Hodge. Now, where is your father?” The last words were accompanied by a look which accused the youth of lying, and Hodge stepped forward as he spoke them, “My father is up-stairs, entirely prostrated. Dot man what he saw in der store last night—” ‘What man?” ‘Dot man, Meester Hodge; der von what creeped out o’ der vell after he was dead,” ‘*Shrewd Simpson?” ** Dot’s der man.” — : Hodge laughed, but he’ did not bring any as- suring color back to Isaac's face. “‘See here! You don’t. mean to stand there aud tell me that Shrewd Simpson is alive after passing through your mother’s hands?” ‘* Tt ish even so.” **T recollect now that Larry claimed to have seen him alive after the occurrence here,” cor- tinued Hodge. story, and I don’t like to in yours,” “Tt was dot man an’ not a ghost dot frighten- ed father. He saw Shrewd Simpson in this shop.” gt tee nee 4: ~ ate x 7 : ih hah ak in St i RN ia : : tA ead at " v4: | taken avay “TI didn’t put any faith in his | st - “‘The—Old Harry!” he exclaimed. ‘Larry was right then, after all. Your father is up- stairs, eh?” ‘*Endirely prosdrated. He vants der prisoner efore der whole thing gits into the hands of der bolice.” ‘* Pll see about that,” said Hodge. He went into the stolen propeniinoom of the establishment, and ascended the stairs, ‘*Who ish dere?’ asked a voice beyond the door, at the head of the steps. Harris gave his name, and was admitted into a long room, which was darkened and foul of air, The person who admitted him was Mrs. Meek, the amazon, “Harris! Harris! Veepin’ Rachel! I haf waited for you,” said a voice from near the front windows, and the next moment the crook was looking down upon the old Jew, who occu- aria dirty cot that sent out an unpleasant smell, The old man had undergone a wonderful change within the last twenty-four hours. If he had not found him on his own bed, Harris would not have recognized him. ‘‘Harris, my God, I vas dyin’,” continued Moses, as Hodge took a seat on the edge of the cot. ‘‘Dot man vat ve put into der vell ish at large, an’ der house o’ Meek vas crumblin’ over my head.” ‘* Not much, Moses. We are ‘a winding up the business to big dividends,” laughed Hodge. ‘**T von’t be here when it ish wound up,” said the Jew. ‘Der pird vat we caught must go.” “Not yet,” said Hodge. ‘*He ish in my house, an’ vile he ish dor it ish not safe. Harris, for my family’s sake, let dot man out.” At this juncture Mrs. Meek stepped forward and touched the crook’s arm. He looked up into her face. *‘ That man must go,” she said firmly. ‘‘ Moses and I don’t want the police to find him here. | We go to Sing Sing if they do; you know that, ig ees : he desperado sprung up, ‘* Let him remain a Site while longer. We will win the game within forty-eight hours. We are going to play a hand that cannot fail. We can’t take him away without preparation.” ‘* He must go,” said the Jewess firmly. Harris was on the puint of replying sharply and with insolence when his gaze happened to fall on the amazon’s hands, and in a second he thought how they had clutched and mastered Shrewd Simpson. “The children know that we haf a prisoner,” said the Jewess. ‘I caught Rachel listening at his door to-day. She goes out on the street.” “She does!” cried Hodge. ‘‘ Where is the child now?” ‘“*T don’t know; but Rachel is not likely to spread her discovery.” ’ “She must not! The child should be kept in. “‘T can’t look after elefen children,” said Mrs. Meek, a gleam of resentment in her eyes, “Dot leedle Rachel come to me an’ say, ‘Daddy Moses, who ish dot man up-stairs?” said the old Jew on the cot as his wife finished. “Dare ish no man up-stairs, chile, I say, but Rachel shakes her head an’ say, ‘ Dacdy Moses, I heard dot man talk.’ Harris, ven you can’t deceive a leedle girl, how vill you fool der bo- lice? Dot mat must go!” ‘Tf he goes you may lose a thousand dollars,” said Hodge. The old Jew shut his eyes for a moment, and his thin hands closed on the bed covering, “Tt ish ‘lose a t’ousand an’ stay out o’ Sin Sing,’ or get it and go dere mit Sarah. I vi lose it!” For once in his life Moses Meek had decided against the accumulation of money. ‘*T must see this man, and thent will report,” Harris Hodge said. ‘‘T understand that he has nearly come to terms,” He stepped back and looked at the woman, who exchanged looks with Moses, then she led him to a stair-loor in one corner of the long room, and held 1t open while Hodge drew a heavy false beard from an inner pocket and ad- justed it on his face. “Tm all right now,” he whispered to the woman, and the two went up the steps, At the head of the stair there was a strip of heavy velvet carpet which led to a door in @ partition wall, and Hodge and the Jewess drew up before it. : “I go in alone,” said Harris, ‘You stand here till I want to come out. I will kngw what is to bedone when I have seen him.” Mrs. Meek inserted a key into a lock and — turned it slowly; the key made no noise, 4 ‘| «4 a, ga" ies 3 ns! ee " re J ay a ty - ww ae: eae os =< = »/ Me ae = 4 e \
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“‘ Now,” she said in low tones to Harris. The next moment the door opened and the New York crook crossed the threshold; a slight noise behind him told that the door had shut again. Harris Hodge wasina room which was almost | dark, but in one corner wasa gas jet that burned dimly. The carpet was soft under his feet; if he had inspected the walls he would have found them apparently yield to his touch. Before he had time to move, the light flashed | up, and the crook found himself face to face with a fine-looking man, who came toward him. | This person looked, in the gaslight, like a | man nearly, if not quite, fifty years of age. His figure was a little above medium hight, well rounded, and elastic. Thera was a certain springiness in his step which was observable as he came forward, and when he halted, Harris Hedge saw the dark eyes and finely-chiseled face of one of the best known men in New York, “Ts this never to end?’ asked the prisoner. . | “You are one of the men who can answer that | question. What do you say?” ‘‘Tt depends on your action,” was the response, ““We will listen to no terms but those already proposed—an oath of eternal secrecy, and a let- a+ to Estelle that will make her Rogers Marxe’s wife.” e The prisoner drew back with his eyes fixed upon the cool crook. If Harris Hodge had glanced downward, he would have seen two hands suddenly clinched. ‘*'The same infamous terms!” he said. ‘‘ May I rot here before I will consent!” “Very well, if that is your pleasure. There is a good likelihood of your rotting here, Mark Morey,” said Hodge. “The police have ceased to look for you; the detectives are all thrown off the scent, and the girl doesn’t take much inter- est in the missing Nabob.” ‘* Hstelle?” cried the broker, Hodge nodded, but looked through his long black lashes to note the effect. ‘< Tt is an infamous lie!” exclaimed the Nabob, advancing so threateningly that Hodge invol- | untarily stepped back, and raised one hand. “Don’t repeat the hell-coined falsehood in my presence! Estelle forgetful? No! she loves me as she always did, and yet Iam not her father. Since I came here I have fathomed this daring game. Tam to sell Estelle to Rogers Marxe for my liberty, and am expected to swear eternal secrecy besides. My disappearance is to be ac- counted for by a lie which I suppose has been coinedfor the purpose, and I am to continue to do business with this man Marxe! What does he pay you for this infamy?” : ‘“T get my share,” said Hodge, with the cool- ness of a born desperado, ‘‘ You can bet your bottom dollar, Mr. Morey, that we don’t work for nothing on a job of this kind.” “‘T would suppose not, with the shadow of Sing Sing about your feet. Go and tell Rogers Marxe that the oath will never be taken by the Nabob of Broad street, and tell Estelle, if you dare, that she must never become ;that man’s wife. I can remain here. I know that no sound can leave this room. It was prepared for me when I came. You see Iam in good health. I can hold out with the best of my enemies.” **-You can have that consoling thought if you want it,” the crook said. ‘* You won't write the letter? you won't take the oath?” a“ No!” Harris Hodge seemed to bite his lip. **T thought you showed signs of weakening a few hours ago,” he growled. ‘‘T did that to see what effect it would have in certain quarters,” said the Nabob, with a smile. ‘‘I amas firm asever. No compromise with Rogers Marxe and his tools!” “That settles it,” hissed Hodge, withdrawing toward the door and cocking a revolver. ‘* We- 1 play the game out without the oath and the letter, New York has already forgotten you, Mark Morey, and you may suddenly and soon forget New York!” The next moment Hodge’s foot touched the bottom of the door, and when it opened he re- | joined the Jewess on the outside, ** When can you take him away?” asked Mrs. Meek. ‘He must stay here till we bring him to terms. T’d sooner undertake to transport a tiger than that man as he is now. He must stay.” , “He cannot,” said the Jewess as firmly. “Shrewd Simpson wi!] search the building.” Hodge seemed to think that the amazon was about to fly at him; he stepped back and drew his revolver. j “Keep that man where he is till I order his release, or I’ll send you and your husband to Sing Sing!” cried the desperate crook, The Boy Shadow. pi CHAPTER XIII. CLOSE QUARTERS. ROGERS MARXE occupied the private office of Morey & Marxe on Broad street, and was the sole occupant of the place when the clock struck three that same afternoon, The man was not at his ease; despite his de- | termination to keep cool he had exhibited a good deal of nervousness in the business transactions of the day, but not enough to excite any sus- | picion, He had failed to find Larry in time to tell him that he should not visit Estelle as the great Per- sian astrologer, Nezzur-Adden, and he was now wondering whether the crook had actually prac- ticed this audacity. | He had been asked fifty times during the day | about the missing Nabob, and to each questioner he had replied that no clew had yet been discov- ered. He was hopeful, however, that one would | soon be found and that the people connected with Morey’s disappearance, if it should turn out that he had been abducted, would be caught and punished. ‘**T hope I won’t be troubled any more to-day,” said Marxe, as his last business visitor took his departure. ‘TI have more important business than stocks and loans on my hands just now. I want time to attend to it.” He was cut short in his remarks by the en- trance of aman at sight of whom the broker started and flushed more than half-angrily. ‘Harris says you want me,” said the visitor, dropping intu a chair near the desk. It was Larry Lolan, the crook and self-styled Astrologer to the Shah of Persia. He was now attired in good but not elegant clothes, the broadcloth swit and shiny plug hat had disappeared, and his mustache showed signs of having been lately waxed. “ Yes, I wanted you very badly last night,” said Marxe. ‘IT am afraid you come too late now.” ‘* What has happened?” “That is for you to answer. Have you play- ed the Persian astrologer before Estelle?” The crook'started slightly and found the eyes | of the broker fastened upon him. ‘*T want you to be ‘‘square” with me,” con- tinued Marxe. ‘This business is connected with the main game. You have been to see the girl—Estelle?” ‘¢ Confound it, I have,” confessed Larry. ‘* What put that notion in your head? ‘* Mutual benefit, colonel,” was the answer ac- companied by a slight twinkling of the villain’s eyes. ‘“‘ You sold me, you know, that the girl had already consulted several astrologers and what they to d her, and I forthwith made up my mind to playa little hand I’ve played before with flatteing success, ” “J didn’t want that play made, It wasn’t policy. It didn’t succeed, did it?” ‘Not to any great extent,” smiled Larry. “TI did my best, colonel; the failure can’t be proper- ly laid at my door,” “Didn't the girl suspect you?” asked Marxe eagerly. * Suspect? she called me by name.” Rogers Marxe seemed ready to bound from his chair. ‘* Her shrewdness has puzzled me ever since,” continued Larry, ‘She listened to all my flub- dubbery and did not unmask her battery till [ was leavin’ the house; then she said ‘ good mornin’. Mr. Lolan.’ Jehu! if it hadn’t been for my collar, ’'d have jumped out 0’ my hide, I | was Larry Lolan to her all the time 1 was try- in’ to play the astrologer, “ As fortune-teller you told her what?” ‘* { informed her in proper language that the stars would restore the Nabob as soon as she be- came Mrs. Marxe providin’ the ceremony took place within five days,” “You told her that?’ exclaimed the broker suddenly losing color, ‘Nothin’ else,” said Larry. “If she was credulous enough to consult several fortune-tel- lers I thought she'd listen to one who used to | dish up Star news for his High Mightiness the Shah. I did it all for you, colonel; I had your | interests at heart all the time.” Rogers Marxe bit his lip. you beforehand that the scheme would fail,” he said. ‘I would have told you that last night if I hadn’t encountered a certain disagreeable man on Mulberry street, ‘© Who was he?” **A man called Shrewd Simpson.” “He recognized you where!” ** At Pana Picklock’s.” “The man is alive then! I told Hodge that had seen him since the Jewess of Baxter o “T could have told | street introduced him to the depths of her well. How did youescape from him?” “Tused force. I threw him against a build- ing and got away.” “We'll fix him, colonel. The man is a little too hot-headed to play a cool hand. He will show up soon and fall into our hands.” ‘*He must! I don’t like the situation of affairs. I wish you had not played that astrologer ame to-day. I have an engagement with {stelle to-night and if she should suspect that we were in collusion there might be an un- pleasant scene,” ‘You've got to put on a bold front and_lie it through, colonel,” said Larry. ‘tThe Na- bob is safe enough yet, but his keepers are weakenin’ a little, The escape of Shrewd Simpson does it, you see.” me te the boy should escape also, Larry—” ‘“‘He can’t do that!” interrupted the crook, “You saw my eyes when I Ned him out o” this office colonel?” “ce Yes,” They told you enough, I guess. on We have the hot-headed detective to deal with an’ he is nobody. Go an’ see Estelle; swear, if necessary, that you never heard of the Per- sian astrologer, and seeif you can’t bring mat- ters to a crisis.” Larry glanced at the safe as he finished. ‘** Colonel Ud like to have a little cash to day,” he said, ‘You cen take it out.o’ my pay when a oar settlement is made. I want five hun- dred.”. Marxe frowned but dared not resist the de- mand. He had lately had a similar experience with Harris Hodge, and he knew Larry Lolam too well not to hand over the amount desired. When the five hundred had been paid the crook seemed to regret that he had not asked for a thousand. As he stuffed the money into his waistcoat ne he glanced out of the window near which 1esatand gave a sudden start. ‘“‘'There’s the man now!” he exclaimed. Marxe sprung forward as Larry’s finger pointed across the street. ** Does that look like him?” asked the crook. “ Like whom?” ‘“Shrowd Simpson. I refer to the mar standing near the curbing with a cigar in his mouth,” Marxe leaned forward and eyed the man close- ly for some time. “He doesn’t look like he did last night,” he said, slowly. ‘¢ But it is Simpson all the same.” “He is on the watch?” ‘“That is just what he is doin’. Keep an eye: on him for a while, an’ watch me throw him off the scent. It isn’t very hard to fool that man.’” Larry glanced once more at the person whom he called Shrewd Simpson, the independent de- tective, and left the office. Marxe heard him on the stairs for a moment, and then lost the sound of his going, For a few moments the man on the opposite side of the street retained his postion, but all at once he gave it up and started off. It was evi- dent to the broker that he had caught sight of Larry and was following him, Marxe watched Shrewd Simpson from the window until. his figure was lost to view, and then he picked up his hat. ‘‘Now is my time to leave,” he said. ‘* The dog is decoyed away, end I can vacate the office without being watched. I am going to force the crisis to-night. If Estelle does not promise: to become my wife I will play the darkest and. the coolest hand ever played in this or any other city. He went out, down upon the street, confident that Larry was able to take care of the man he called Shrewd Simpson, The best part of the afternoon had vanished, and the shades of evening were descending upon the city. Rogers Marxe stepped into a ciger store and purchased several choice Havanas. This was his daily custom. Having transferred two from the counter to bis pocket he stepped to the lighter near the door with the third one in his hand. Just as the cigar touched the flame he glanced out of the open door, y A pair of eyes were upon him; he saw them instantly, and then he noticed their owner, & well-built boy with a bootblack’s kit swung over" his shoulder. Marxe lit his cigar and went out. ; ‘Shine ’em up!” exclaimed the boy, springing toward him. A thrill passed like an arrow to the broker's heart. ‘‘Come up into the office,” he said,
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“ All right, captain, I’m your hgamlehersy ‘when there’s a job on hand,” the boy answered, after a second’s hesitation, Marxe led the bis 4 up-stairs, and the boy at his heeis did not see his eyes flash—but the boot- biack’s orbs flashed, too. The broker unlocked the office door, and the two went in; the door closed behind them with a click. “T’ve got him now,” muttered Marxe, be- tween his teeth, as he walked toward his desk. ‘* Somehow or other, Larry failed; but, by the eternal heavens! I will not.” The next moment his hand touched and drew ! a revolver, and the weapon clicked as he wheel- ed upon the boy. “You can’t fool me, fclix Fox,” he hissed, and his face flushed madly, ‘* You have reach- ed the end of the game as played by you. You have outwitted the man who caught you hang- ing to my door, playing the spy; but you can’t beat the man who faces you now.” The bootblack went back a pace and then planted himself firmly before the Broad street broker. He did not change color, ‘* What are you going to do?’ he asked, look- ing into Marxe’s face for a moment, and. then glancing at the revolver in his hand, ** You admit that you are Felix Fox?” ““T am Felix Fox,” was the answer, ‘‘and I am anxious to see you. Sit down and listen to me, Rogers Marxe. No? Stand, then. I am going to have my say. The man who last left this office was Larry Lolan, He will never come ‘back here to report. We have found the trail of the missing Nabob. We've got all the ‘threads in our hands. If I am not at a certain ‘place by four o’clock you will be in the hands of ba law!” a arxe appeare gasp. ‘* How much do you want?’ he asked. ‘A million dollars more than you've got,” laughed Felix, and then he quickly continued: “*T wouldn’t touch a cent of your money for all Gotham, and I’m free to say that the leeches you have attached to yourself have bled you treely. This game of yours is more for gold than love, isn’t it, Mr. Marxe? You have an engagement with Estelle to-night. It must be kept. You must not be a minute behind time. Remember! if you fail to show up, the whole bottom of this big game of yours will fall out with a noise, I have got fairly to work. You need not go to Papa Picklock’s after Larry—he isn’t there. You need not drop into‘ Jacob’s’ on the look for Harris Hodge; you wouldn’t find him if you did. You will go to Estelle’s as if nothing had happened. You fail at your peril, Remember, Roger Marxe!” The astounded broker did not recover till the door had opened and closed. Felix Fox was gone! CHAPTER XIV. ALMOST FOUND. Tue boy spotter smiled to himself when he swung the bootblack’s kit over his shoulder and went down-stairs, ; “Undoubtedly Rogers Marxe wishes me in China or elsewhere!” he ejaculated. | | “The mo- | the young Jew ‘Hezekiah Hamilton. I’ve just got in from Peapod Sg Jersey, and mother told me to buy a pair of breeches as soon as I got to York.” **Dot vasa goot mother. I vish ve all had ’em, my fr’ent. Now Meester Hamilton of Bea- bod Ridge, dose bants was actually made for you. Der dailor says ven he prings ’em down here ‘Ef any o’ does Hamiltons come along let ’em haf dose bants at. gost.’” ** That’s almighty clever,” said Felix. ‘* Didhe | mean only this pair? I doan’t like the color ex- actly.” “Dat offer includes all der goods we carry. Der same dailor makes ’em all to our order, an’ as you vas one o’ dem Hamiltons you shall hef your choice at gost.” With the last sentence Felix was pounced upon by the young Jew and hustled into the shop, baggage and all. Isaachad become an apt pupil of his father, and long before the commencement of our story, had graduated in the art of selling ready-made clothing. The young Jow found the supposed Jerseyan rather hard to please, although evidently deter- mined to purchase. More than twenty pairs of ants were shown and rejected. Isaac came pes dollar after dollar until the garments seemed about to be given away. Felix more than once glanced down the lon room towar.l the little apartment where severa exciting scenes of our story have taken place. Did he know what was beyond and above the door that led to it? Was heaware that the long- missing Nabob was on the third floor of that building in a room where the loudest cry was no more than a whisper? Certain it was that the boy detective had not visited the Jew shop for nothing. At last Felix found a pair of pantaloons that seemed to suit him, but he offered Isaac a price that seemed to take his breath, ‘* Veepin’ Rachel! we must lif!” exclaimed the young Jew. ‘‘ Dose bants cost us sefen tollar an’ you offer but three. Mine fr’ent, do you vant to send der whole family to der boorhouse an’ der pauper’s grave? Gif me six tollar an’ dose bants shall grace yer form.” Felix was immovable. “Three or nothing.” ‘J vill haf tosee my sick fathcr,” said Isaac, ‘* Stay here, mine fr’ent, till I come pack,” and the clerk marched off with the clothes, “Hold on! I don’t like tostay here,” cried the boy spotter. ‘‘If some thief ’d drop in and steal while you were gone, I might be blamed with the job.” Isaac stopped and looked at Felix who had come forward. It would not do to leave the shop entirely un- watched, not even fur a few moments. There were hundreds of adroit sneak-thieves who work Baxter street, snd the Meeks had suffered by their depredations, The young clerk cut the problem by opening the door of the treasure-room and sounding a singular call, na moment it was answered by a young, spakytentoped girl of seventeen, and the shop was left in her care. Felix went Sprstaine close behind Isaac, and ed him to the cot occupied by his ment he saw me before the cigar-store he knew | father, whose grip on life seemed very frail in- me despite my get up, and when he invited me into the office he thought he was getting me into atrap. Ha, ha! Rogers; if there were no worse traps than yours in New York we'd be well off. You will go to the Nabob’s residence according to your engagement with Estelle, or you will land somewhere else about that hour.” Larry and Shrewd Simpson had already dis- a and Felix did not attempt to find either. “lve got to work fast if I succeed,” he con- tinued, ‘1 will now invade the classic precincts of Baxter street for the trail leads in that direc- ion. Night had succeeded the evening shades when a boy who looked as though he had lately arrived | from the country appeared susteDy. to Isaac | the old Jew’sson as the young He the shop. The boy was Felix, and his general make-up, ineluding the old-fashioned though not very fat carpet-sack that he carried, proclaimed him an easy victim to’ the clerk. *'What’s them breeches worth, hey?” said Fe- lix, turning to Isaac w'o came forward with the alertness of a leopard. “Dose? Elefen tollar. my young fr’ent.” **Who made ’em?” ‘‘A man vat makesder pest bants in N’y York. Vat ish your name” Dey vas made for you : ; rew was | ‘watching spider-like for a customer in front of deed. From the shock produced by suddenly seeing Shrewd Simpson when he was supposed to be dead, the old Jew had not recovered; but when he saw the boy and the pantaloons, and caught the connection between them, the gleam of avarice came back to his almost lusterless eyes, “Three toller for dose bants?” said old Moses slowly. ‘Isaac, my son, git my shroud out, an’ let me depart in beace. Dose bants vas made to sell. "Who bese you, poy?” Felix leaned over and caught the old, man’s | eyes. In an instant he thought he saw him start, ‘*T want to see your father,” he said to Isaac. ‘* Moses Meek, I am here on important busi- ness, The sudden change in the boy’s looks and tones made the young clerk recoil. ““Go down, Isaac,” said the old Jew and the | next moment Felix and Moses were the only oc- | cupants of the big room whose only light was a gas flame which did not begin to dissipate the shadows, ; ‘“*f am here for the Kabob.” said Felix. ** Don’t cry out nor let slip a falsehood. Felix Fox and—” “ Veenin’ Rachel! ter poy I vas ter watch for!” interrupted Moses, **T don’t doubt that. I was to be drawn into your trap by a trumped-up story by Harris Hodge, but the scheme didn’t work, though I “f —— ~ ee pers rm , r ' “ylagrsteed on 20 | =o | I am: man down there never gets into this room | | +e ene am now under your roof, Moses, Iam here to give you your choice of two things—continued existence here or life in Sing Sing!” The Jew seemed about to leap from his couch at the announcement. Felix darted down and clutched his wrist. »** Remember; liberty or Sing Sing!” he cried. Old Moses fell back with a groan, ‘Quick! take your choice,” continued Felix. ‘‘The game is near its end, and there is no time to lose. Shall it be Baxter street or Sing Sing?” There was no reply. The Jew lay motionless on the rags of the cot beneath the boy spotter. ‘* Heavens! the man is dead!” cried the boy, He put a finger to the old shopkeeper’s wrist and found only the faintest semblance to a pulse. ‘Dead or not, I can’t stophere,” Felix said, moving back. ‘‘I must solve the mystery of the Nabob now or never. Ina moment I may be discovered—” He stopped suddenly for the door at the fur- thest end of the room opened and a child came in, Felix sprung toward her. ‘¢ Show me to the man you have up-stairs or somewhere, Quick!” The child, a girl of eight, glanced from Felix : toward the cot where her father lay. ! te you Daddy Moses’s friend?” she asked. es.” ‘Then I will show you. Come this way, please,” The boy detective followed the child from the room to the stairway that led to the third floor and without accident reached the door tha stood between him and Mark Morey. ‘¢ He is in there,” said the child. ‘¢ Where is the key?” ‘‘Oh, Mamma Moses keeps that, was the an- er. ** Where is she?” ‘She went over to Mrs. Levi’s after supper. I will go and tell her,” Felix tried to restrain the girl, but she was p.) gone in a flash, as it were, and be was alone. by ‘*Here is a pickle,” muttered the boy. “I don't want to encounter the tigress of this es- ¥ tablishment before she knows anything about the choice I gave her husband, Coan it really t be that only a door separates me {from the Na- bob of Broad street? Have i actually found Ae him at last?” The Loy detective turned upon the door and struck it with his cline! ed hand. “Td give my right Land for a key now!” he z said. ‘* My blow did not seem to sound in the ’ room beyond the door. Heavens! There is some one moving below. Some one is coming up-stairs!” Felix drew a revolver and sprung toward the a head of the-steps. He was not certain who was bs F coming up, but he knew that it was some dan- a gerous person, All at once there burst into the room the figure of a ponderous woman who was a Colossus to the boy. A “The tigress!” cried Felix, recoiling a step, and then he threw up the hand that held the six- Mm shooter. ; an “T have found the lost Nabob, and I want the eg door opened that leads to him,” he said to the aie woman whose aspect was simply ferocious. ‘TI > ar make you the proposition I made your husband “a awhile ago. Jf you liberate Mark Morey, you : shall not be molested, for you have been the ay ra tools of the worst gang in the city; if you refuse a I will see that you go straight to Sing Sing! see? The door yonder leads to two places: the /Na- he bob’s prison and the State dungeon! We've got : > all the threads of the crime in our hands, Mrs, >. ee Meek. The men you betray shall never lift a “ae finger against you.” 4 “Can you promise that?” cried the .Jewess, i Be See slipping forward. S aes a ‘*T can and Ido. Now open the door.” 2 The wife of the old clothier thrust one hand i into her bosom and drew forth a peculiar key, - The following moment she was at the door, ¥;! } Sree a: ‘Some man is down there!” she suddenly exe Ji claimed, wheeling upon Felix and glancing toe «| ward the stair, and then she seemed ready to sink to the floor. - “What did you say about protecting me Fe from the people we have served?’ she went on, f., ‘““My God! the man below is Harris Hodge!” Already there was a man on the steps. ‘TY will protect you!” said Felix firmly, ‘ The 5 alive.” And he went toward the stair with a a flash of fierceness in his eyes. v ey ray: _ CHAPTER XV. eh Ge HOW LARRY _“‘ FOOLED” SHREWD SIMPSON, he Mzantrme, Larry Lolan was playing wha
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Te a> \ 7 EN AI OOO” a ‘ } vs The Boy Shadow. he called ‘‘a capital hand” against Shrewd Simpson, the independent detective. The reader will recollect that he left Rogers Marxe’s office for the purpose of taking Simpson from his Oey on the opposite side of the street, but he did not see Felix who, in the guise of a bootblack, saw his movements, but did not fol- low him. Shrewd Simpson appeared very willing to be Ied from duty by the city rough, and Larry could hardly conceal his joy when he glanced over his shoulder and saw the detective at his heels. ‘‘He sha’n’t escape me as he escaped the Jewess,” he muttered. ‘ Just keep at my heels awhile, Shrewd Simpson, and Tl show you a little game that catches the oldest birds.” If Larry could have known the detective’s feelings at that moment, he would not have been so profuse in his gratulations. If Shrewd Simpson sometimes did some things which cooler-headed men of his class would not sanction, he was Larry’s match in acumen, Ho was, moreover, as brave as a lion and had been known to make arrests from which the bravest officers shrunk, He never lost sight of Larry Lolan, and the rough had not gone far before he found Simp- son on his side of the street, and only a few steps behind him. “T told Marxe that I’d get this watch-hound away and I have done that. I’m not going to stop there, though. I failed to play Nezzur- Adden to my satisfaction to-day, and I believe I owe a part of that failure to you, Mr. Simp- son. You told Estelle that I was Larry Lolan, and nobody else. Who else could have told her? Larry threatened to lead Shrewd Simpson a long chase, but the detective did not seem to care, He seemed to have plenty of time on his hands. All at once Larry was stopped in an unexpect- ed manner. As he turned a corner he was brought face to face with a crowd of people who blocked the sidewalk. It was im le to penetrate the mass, and the New York rough with an oath inqui what was the matter, He was told that a well-dressed man and a stranger had fal- len in an — fit, and was then dying on the sidewalk. , / There was nothing in this announcement to attract the crook. It was only one of the every- day incidents of city existence. “'There’s no apoplexy there,” said a man, who appeared from the inside of the crowd as Larry was about to turn away. ‘‘ He was trying to cross the street before a borse-car’and failed; ot hit and tumbled onto the stones. Half a Soren suw it. They’re coming with him now, Stand back there, please.” The next moment several men appeared carry- ing the unconscious body of the victim of the accident. A big policeman broke away through the crowd, : a rey leaned forward, and in a second he was looking into the man’s face. ““Hades and horns!” cried the tough, as his became riveted upon the bloodless but ndsome face on the stretcher. ‘* That is Clyde Caldwell, the girl’s lover who was in Europe, When did he get back?” The men and their burden had passed on, and the crowd was closing in behind again. Larry forgot Shrewd Simpson. “We don’t want that man in the game now,” he said to himself. ‘From what I’ve heard of him he is capable of giving usa good deal of trouble. Estelle cannot know of his return. She was not looking for him. Did somebody cable him to come back?” The unconscious man had been taken away, and the crowd was rapidly dissolving. ‘Ts he badly burt?” Larry asked a man who had witnessed the accident, “Qh, no, knocked unconscious and bruised a little. nothing more,” was the reply, rte eh pope i he oa “They found papers in his et that show him to ‘A a Mr. Caldwell, of Thirty first street.” Larry knew he had made no mistake; the man certainly was Estelle’s absent suitor, and ey: ag take him h ey going to “a ome?” the Crome Y going asked ‘* When he comes to,” waa the reply. Larry moved on, ey seria got to be done,” he said between his teeth. “‘This man must not be allowed to come into the game now. Estelle must not know that he has come back, By heavens! he shall not see her! I know where he lives. A man knocked down by a street car and badly bruised isn’t going to call on his woman before he is himself again.” The man stopped suddenly at the end of his sentence and looked after the stretcher and its occupant, but both had disappeared. All at once he thought of Shrewd Simpson, “By Jericho! this unexpected accident took Simpson clear out of my head!” he exclaimed. * Where is the watch-dog now?” Larry tried to answer his own question by throwing shrewd glances around, and for sever- al minutes his eyes searched fox-like for the man who had lately been on his track. Sut not a glimpse of the detective could he catch. ‘“Well, he wen’t go back to Broad stre: t, any- how, or, if he does, he won’t find Marxe in the office. Dye thrown kim off the scent, but I was going todo more than that, I intended to fix Shrewd Simpson forever! There was to be ne well business this time.” The crook did not quit the scene of the acci- dent until he was satisfied that the hotspur de- tective was not there, then he turned abruptly and darted down a narrow street at a sudden turning of which he plunged into a hallway. The house entered by Larry was a notorious resort of criminals of all descriptions, and was not far from the spot where the crook had lost sight of Shrewd Simp-on. ‘Larry shut the easy swinging door behind him and opened another at the side of the hailway. The next moment he stocd in a small room fur- nished with a counter and shelves on which were a number of liquor bottles and colored goblets. This place, known to the fraternity as “ Para- dice Lost,” was not strange to Larry. He had entered it a thousand times before, and his cred- it was good enough to let him run up an occa- sional account with the proprietor, As a usual thing from three to ten crooks were always to be found in the drinking room of the ‘‘ Paradise Lost,” but this time Larry was not confronted by any, consequently he need treat nobody but himself. He walked straight to the bar, which was pre- sided over by a little man who was almost hide- ously pock-marked and had but one eye. He grinned when he saw Larry, whom he seemed to recognize, and took down a certain bottle, as if he knew his customer's exact wants. Larry wey the thick glass full and threw back his head, to down the red-hot contents at a single swallow; but the next instant he lowered his hand, sprung back, and turned half-way und. Over the shelves hung a mirror, and the crook had seen in it the reflection of a face he was not looking for in “* Paradise Lost.” ‘Hold on! I have you, Larry!” said a voice as the crook wheeied, and a revolver lea at his face aS & man stepped forward, ‘‘I knew you would come here, and so, I came and waited.” Ys R There was triumph in every word, and Larry Lolan bit his lips, for he was looking into the ernnes ab Simpson! ry aihaiona a ess the game is pretty we ou contisiee the detecting. vt re “What game?” “The missing Nabob one,” was the answer. Pee are you going to do with me?” snap- rry. Looe you to number three hundred Mul- rry. The crook recoiled. That was the general office of the city detective force, and was not tar away. “You will go, eh, Larry?” continued Simp- son, ‘*Confound it, I have to, I guess! But when you charge me with being mixed up in the Na- ob business, you’re off your base.” Shrewd Simpson nade no reply, but stepped forward before Larry could prepare for a sur- prise, and the click of a steel bracelet told the crook that he was surely caught. A minute later the’ two men were on the street. Larry glanced up at his captor, and then went to work at the handcuffs, It was not the first time he had felt them at his wrists, but they had never beld him long. ' “Now, Simpson, I'l! show you a trick,” mut- | tered Larry, a little further on. The next second he threw up his hands and | struck the detective a terrible blow in the face | with the irons. Shrewd Simpson reeled; the | handcuffs rung on the pavement; Larry was running away! | _ The detective was after him in a moment, a “ es Ei -t_E S Ee Suddenly he sprung down an alleyway. The following second Shrewd Simpson was at its mouth. The glare of a light for a moment showed him | the flying man; he halted, threw up his band, | and fired. | With the flash and the ringing shot a humam | figure halted in flight, and a wild cry rung from a man’s lips, The next moment a man fell for- ward on his face. “They don’t often get away,” said Shrewd Simpson as he moved toward his victim. Midway in the alley he bent over the crook and heard a groan from bis lips, “Yowre right, Sinipson; the game’s about played out,” said Larry. Then the crook’s head fell back; he was dead, — CHAPTER XVI. FELIX WINS A VICTORY. WE go back to Felix in the third story of the old Jew’s establishment, and waiting at the head of the stairs for the man supposed to be Harris Hodge, the cool city desperado and Rogers Marxe’s most dangerous tool. The boy detective did not shrink from the combat which he knew was inevitable, but stood on the landing revolver in hand and waited for the man who had not seen him. Mrs. Meek stood pale and shuddering near the: door that kept the missing Nabob from liberty. With the w of Sing Sing before her eyes, she secretly Wished that Felix would get the best of the fight although under other circumstances: she would have dashed at his throat. “Halt! where you are!” suddenly cried Felix as the figure of Harris Hodge rose above the level of the top step, The crook halted and his hand moved quickly toward a hip pocket, ‘Draw and drop,” said Felix. ‘I have the best hand, Mr. Hodge, and you don’t want to show any agility here. Come up. Don’t be Pan ; this. is a place you've visited, be- ore. . The boy sapped back, but kept the villain covered with odge came or doggedly, His countenance was an admixture of fury and chagrin, “You did it,” he flashed when he caught aight of the Jewish Amazon. ‘‘ You have given the vere game away, and you sball pay for it, is revolver, and ¥ Silence!” said Felix over the pistol. ‘‘ Oper door, Mrs, Meek,” “If you dare!” grated Hodge, and. he would have thrown himself forward if the menace of eye and revolver had not deterred him. Frightened by his look and voice the Jewess | hesitated. “Unlock the door!” commanded the boy spot-~ ter, ‘‘If that man attempts tointerfere he wilh be turned over to the coroner and not to the po- ce, Mrs, Meek took a key from her pocket and in- serted it into the lock, turned it quickly to the right, and then threw the door open. _Aman in his shirt-sleeves was, reading at a little table under a gas-jet. As the door opened he threw down the book, sprung up and then came forward, _ Astonishment, lit up his eyes when he crossed the threshold of what had been his prison; he did not know what to make of a big man held at bay by the revolver of a boy. “You are Mark Morey?” asked Felix. ‘That is my name,” was the reply. ‘The missing Nabcb some people call you. I am Felix Fox, but you don’t know me, which makes no difference, That man yonder is Har- ris Hotspur, sometimes called Hodge. He is one of the two men who have helped, a certain Broad. street smart Aleck in a shrewd little gaine. Do you recognize him?” Mark Morey leaned forward and looked Hodge over from head to foot. “He is the exact size of one of the men by whom I was brought here xeve>~! week> ago, he said, ‘He is oneof the men. There were two were | there not?” a i SS rete “The other is called Larry Lolan. Shrewd _ Simpson is taking care of him just now. You | will exchange places with Mr. Hodge now.” | Felix stepped aside as he finished and pointed toward the open door with his left hand. ‘Walk in, Mr. Hodge,” he said to the crook. ‘* The Nabob gives up his quarters to you with- ; Revolver in hand, he ran in and out among the | out a murmur.” ple like a fox; it was an exciting chase, and ary found that be had a runner at his heels. |_ A dark scowl passed over the villain’s face, | but he did yot move.
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ear. a > ee a oo * been aL j | : "S har ~ Pky eRe as Me The Boy Shadow. ~~ + “ Not going, eh?” cried Felix, ‘‘ You do not want to disobey at this stage of the game, Harris Hudge. Forward, sir!’ ‘*T won't] by heavens!—” ‘** Where 1s Larry?’ asked Felix, “Very well, then,” interrupted Felix, his eye ““On his way to the morgue, Confound it! I glancing anew, as the entrapped rascal saw, over | had to doit, He gave me the bracelets full in the barrel of the six shooter, ‘I suall be com- | the face, and struck out.” pelled to leave you where you are.” ‘Go back to the vest and keep an eye on * I'll go, curse you, city rat!” growled Hodge. | Hodge’s prison,” the boy said. ‘* The Nabob “This game isn’t as near out as you think!” aud [have an engagement with Marxe at Es- Felix’s rh! Bipleas a smile which discredited | telle’s home.” tae crook’s mad assertion. Sbrewd Simpson’s eyes showed hi ish - Harris Hodge moved forward and Mrs, Meek | ment. ; . Bee onsite recoiled as he came near. ‘** You trust bim further than I do.” _ He crossed the threshold of the little room and Felix laughed, and sprung into the cab, which Felix made a sign for the Jewess to shut the | was driven off rapidly, door, an act which was accompiished in the| At the end of ten minutes it drew up in front space of a flash, and the spider was caught in | of the Nabob’s residence, and its occupants his own trap! sprung out, ‘**Can that door be unlocked from the inside?” As he alighted, Felix looked at a small watch wears: oe yours ~ gebeot . which he took from his pocket. rs, Meek shook her head. ‘** Ho will be here in ei i ? . * What is the condition of the front win- palccmcalpp minister lll dows?” he continued turning to the Nabob., CHAPTER XVII. THE HUNT ENDS, ‘“‘They are secure, I canvassed every chance Iris not our intention to describe the meet- for liberty,” was the reply. ‘‘I am convinced that that room was preparec for me beforel | ing of Estelle and the Broad street banker, her came, Isn’t this true, woman?” guardian and friend. . ‘‘Meester Hodge and Lolan worked atita| Felix looked on with a smile of pleasure at the whole week,” was the reply. corners of his mouth, and with a gleam of solid ‘‘T knew it! But how is Estelle?” satisfaction in his eyes, ‘Oh, the ade all serene,” smiled Felix. “This is your work, I want to thank you!” “Thank Heaven for that,” ejaculated the | exclaimed the beautiful girl, coming toward banker. ‘‘ The plot is against her.” the boy spotter. ‘‘I bave not forgotten the promise you gave me when I first sent for you.” ‘* And acool plot it is for beauty and big money. Bnt we've got the twist on the yang “TI guess I got there, didn’t I?’ laughed “You got him, I see!” said the owner of the eyes ina whisper, ‘‘I got the pal, but I had a tussle for him,” now, and there’ll be a sensation for the morning | Felix, ‘‘ When I discovered that Rogers Marxe papers.” was at the bottom of the conspiracy, I knew I - Roger Marxe! He has been arrested, of | would win.” course?” ‘Rogers Marxe!” exclaimed the Nabob. telle to-night.” to-night,” Mark Morey started toward the stairs with an we eager cry. Show me to this villain of villains!” he ex- claimed, as he turned upon Felix with flashing eyes. ‘‘Stand me face to face with this traitor partner of mine and I will give you half I’m ‘ hat is just what he is to do, and the time is up, too, ou will go into yon room and come out only when Estelle touches one of the keys of the piano,” ark Morey would have spoken again, when rit ~~ tones of the ball ag oa all, worth. ; orey sprung back into a room that adjoined ‘* Don’t be rushed,” said the boy spotter. | parlor, God he and the boy Pag aa ea | : if ‘* He is free and has an engagement with Es- | ‘*'You have told me that he was to come here *‘ There’s plenty of time. I have given this wc- | to listen at the door, Estelle stood composed ia man a pledge that she shall not be molested. | the center of the parlor, ready to confront the She and ber husband have been the gang’s tools. | man who had playedso villainously for ber hand, Haris re ate pal have rt Be one little while the servant who had answer- over their heads. iJl you respect the pledge ed the ring entered i , Mecinde ph Ane at Mrs. Meek and an at | Estelle. of ae PERE MHA OWA, FOF the door that shu ge in, ¥ She opened the mes: “I'm going to let the law take its course,” he ni to vane ” he aT aeaee, palais new said. ‘There are some things I cannot forget. The boy spotter snatched the paper from her This woman could have informed tke policefat | band, and read one startling line: any time. Why didn’t she do it? “K wall th ' “You wanted money more than you hated aya wr nade epeinn etorens Poe " crime,” continued the Nabob, addressing the pen ni = BS ef Jewess, ‘“‘ He dared not come!” said Mark Morey, ‘* More than once you threatened to fly at my | fiercely. ‘* He must have suspected my presence throat. If you promise to leave the city within | here, Come, we will go to bin, Felix Fox.” twenty-four hours I will do nothing. If at the It was not long before a cab bore the couple toward Broad street, and Felix was at the end of that time I find you bere I willopen the doors of the Tombs for you. Whatdoyou say?” | Nabob’s side when he sprung up the steps lead- Mrs, Meek was speechless, ing to the office. ‘‘] will answer for her,” said Felix. ‘‘She| ‘The door is unlocked,” said Felix, grasping will go.” Re ee and the next moment he was on the inside, Then the boy stretched out bis hand for the The first thing the boy saw was an open safe, key to Hodge’s prison, and thrust it into a pocket when it had been obtained. with some papers scattered about the floor, A minute later the three went down stairs and | Then he noticed a man seated at the desk, his Felix glanced toward the cot where he had left | body bent forward as if he had fallen asleep in Moses unconscious, if not dead, as the reader | his chair. remembers, He saw the outlines of the old Jew’s figure; they were fixed like the outlines of a corpse. Mrs. Meek went toward the cot. “ Wait,” whispered Felix tothe Nabob, “T want to hear how Moses is,” The two men saw the Amazon bend over the cot, but fora moment only. She sprung up as if a serpent had crept from beneath the scanty cover. ‘* Daddy Moses is dead,” she said, coming to- ward the spectators, ‘* And he never got his deserts, I'll bet my life!” said Mark Morey. Felix and the Nabob turfied away and retired to the store-room below, At the boy’s request Morey pulled his hat over his eyes, and the two hurried down- stairs. i Nobody recognized the missing millionaire in the man who walked beside Felix until the pair were about to enter a cab which the boy had s Morey and the Boy Shadower reached his side at the same moment, and the hand of the broker millionaire fell heavily upon the man's shoulder. ‘* Marxe, look up here!” said Morey, sternly. There was no reply, the man cid not move. ‘‘The message said he was dead, and dead he is!” said Felix. Ina moment the pair had raised the man’s head, and something dropped from one of his hands to the floor. “See here!” cried Felix, picking up a vial labeled “poison,” and holding it up to Morey’s gaze, ‘* This is the last hand he played.” The broker turned away and looked into the | partner’s face. Death had set his seal on the villain’s countenance. ‘* He took his choice between death and a visit to Estelle, and death won,” Felix said, ‘* Now Mr. Morey, if you will examine the contents 0 our safe to see what this man has done since he gan his game, I will go and look after Shrewd Simpson and Harris Hodge.” The Nabob went to work at once, and Felix left the room. He made his way as rapidly as possible to t that moment Felix felt a hand on his arm, and he turned to look into a pair of eyes tbat fairly glistened. | ~ ay ea ee re 8 age Baxter street, and halted before the notorious shop of Moses the Jew. he hour was still early, but the establishment was closed, and silence bad sealed its doors. ‘‘ What has happened?” ejaculated the boy spotter. “A good deal,” said a voice at his elbow. ‘* The man who makes a cage, knows how to get out if it entraps him,” ** What do you mean, Simpson?” ‘‘ Harris Hodge has escaped!” The boy’s first reply was a blank stare, then he caught Shrewd Simpson’s arm and cried: ‘1 can’t believe this! Did the woman let him out?” ‘“No. He forced the window above us, and actually dropped from sill to sill at the risk of his life. Half a dozen people saw the daring feat, but did not know who he was. He was gone when I got bere, and I have been trying to strike his trail. I entered the house by means of the underground passage from Jacob’s saloon, Its only occupant just now is the dead, Old Moses is up-stairs where you left him. His wife and bis children have made off asif Satan and his legions were trooping behind them.” Felix Fox stood sped bonne by this startling and unexpected revelation. His hunt would not be complete without Har- ris Hodge. ‘If he does not know that Marxe is dead, he may visit the Broad street office,” suddenly ex- claimed Felix. ‘‘ Come, Simpson, we must go back there.” The vicinity of the Jew’s trap was soon desert- ed by the two detectives, and they were hasten- ing toward the building in which Felix had left the Nabob. There are several squares between Moses’s place and the broker’s up-stairs office, and the journey was not made in a little while, “ Hark! something is going on up there,” cried the boy spotter, as he reached the broad stair. ‘‘ There is a struggle of some kind,” said Simp- son. Felix sprung up the steps, two at a time, and ran like a deer to the office. Sbrewd Simpson was not able to keep up with the boy. Felix did not hesitate to spring into the room when he had opened the door, The gas-light showed him two men writhing like grappled tigers on the fluor close to a person who sat mo- tionless in a desk chair. } ‘‘ It is Harris Hodge!” cried the boy detective, and the next moment he threw himself upon the uppermost man, , brewd Simpson was not long adding himself to the affray, and Harris Hodge was jerked from the man he clutched. and confronted with a re- volver that menaced his life. < The Nabob recovered slowly, for he was ex- hausted, which showed that Felix and Simpson had arrived in the nick of time. Need we say that the morning papers present- ed the people witb the solution of the mystery of the Nabob? The account made very interesting reading and the New Yorkers, especially the wealthier ones, rejoiced over the destruction of the men who had planned and carried out the most start- ling abduction of modern times, Everybody learned that the cab which took Mark Morey from his office on the day of the crime was driven by Larry Lolan and that the broker millionaire found Harms Hodge inside when he entered. He was instantly seized and choked insensible, and at a certain hour con- veyed to the old Jew’s where a cage had been prepared for him, All this villainy bad been prepared by Rogers Marxe who intended by it to force Estelle to be- come his wife. Felix Fox came in for a large share of the glory attached to the solving of the mystery, and he was not only paid the reward offered for Mark Morey but received other substantial re- cognition besides. Harris Hodge was tried for the crime and re- ceived a lengthy sentence to Sing Sing where he now is, while Larry, bis pal, and Marxe his em- ployer met the speedier fate of the evil-doer, Clyde Caldwell, Estelle’s lover, who was struck by a car, the same cay of bis arrival from urope, had a speedy recovery, and in a short time made the beautiful girl bis wife. If Larry had not been molested there is no telling what might have befallen Caldwell, for the crook already had his eyes upon him, Shrewd Simpson was not unwilling to put on new feathers over his share of the glory, and we wil] not deprive him of one. A brother Jew stepped into on of old Moses’ shop after bis death; but the Amazon and her family never came back, ¥ THE END, — omnes
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se ar ge ei * « . ee 4 7 >. -Degveres — BEADLE'S«H ALF- DIME*[ IBRARY. | Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, No Double Numbers. BY PHILIP 8. WARNE, 67 Patent-Lenather Joe: or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Capourm Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat, 219 Despuard, the Duellat; or, The Mountain Vempires. B88 A Tough Boy 3 or, The Dwart’s Revenge. B68 Little Nornailet or, The Outcasts of the Glen. $78 Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard, B88 Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap. 401 Little ShoosFly } or, A Race for a Ranch. 408 Little Leather-Breeches; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curae of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Pards. ‘ 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Reacune. 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down. 5656 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Pa ef oF, The Doge’s Daughter. 48 Dick Darling, Ke ‘ony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 Bhe eet Captain ; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the Ypen Polar Sea, 200 The Boy Bedoutna; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfang, the Rebber of the Rhine. 249 Milo omer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World Wanderer. 65 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. S. Hall.) 284 Old Rocky’s *‘ Boyees 3” or, Benito, the Young Horse- Breaker. 246 Giant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack}; or, Giant George’s Pard. 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge, 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 18 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo3 or, The ‘Tarantula of Taos. B27 Creeping Vat, the Caddo}; or, The Red and White Parda, 882 Frio penas or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. 844 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front, 8357 The Ranch Raiders; or, The Slege of Fort Purgatory, 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. 875 Chiota, the Creek ; or, The Three Thunderbolts, BS1 Bandera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front. 892 Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 404 Little Larlat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Dalsy from Denver, 427 The Three Tratlersa; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage. 442 Bluff Bill; er, The Lynx of the Leona. A455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibolo. BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy, 199 Featherweight the Boy Champton 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. $11 The Reving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, 822 Nemo, the hetectives or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta, 840 Clip, the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY J, ©. COWDRICK, 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. Z 869 Shasta, the told Kou 3 or, For Seven Years Dead, 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a a me. 424 Cibuta Johny; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Ban, the Daisy Dude. 90 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 506 pedlight Ral hy the Prince of the Road. adway Bal ** Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective 586 Broadway Billy’s ‘ Pifikilty.” 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 557 Brondway Billy’s Death Racket. BY JO PIERCE. 897 Bob o’ the Bowery 3 or, The Prince of Mulberry Street 415 The Vagabond Detective; er, Bowery Bob’s Boom, 452 Hotepur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 46 he Lawyer’sa Shadow; or, Luke’s Legacy. to we abe the Young Horse-King. ly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 304 Five Points Phil. 509 Jack J 4, the Butcher Boy Detective, RES Tartar ‘Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerle. BY CAPT. MARK WILTON. 256 Young Kentuck} or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp. 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfovot, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. B Blue Dick: or, The Yellow Chiefs Vengeance. 7 The Land Pirates: or, The League of Devil's Island. 187 The Helpless Hand ; or, Backwouds Retribution. 289 The Gold-seeker Gulde ; or, The Lost Mountain. BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-8cout. 806 Beck-Tie Ned}; or, The Dug-Out Pards, 846 Rapier 2. 1; or, The Swordamen of Zacatecas. 891 KideGleva Heel, Dandy of the Rocktes, z 4 8928 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King, 406 The Mad MarnHunter; or, The Mystery’ of Golden uien, 505 Powells Pard; or, The One-Armed Giant. BY BRACEERIDGE NEMYNG, 89 Ialand Jim: or, The Pet of the Family. : 81 The Captain Of the Oluby. or, The Rival Athletes, 101 Jack Harkaway iu New York. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Gir). 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 7% Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 2468 Joe Buck of Angels and His Buy 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 ‘nos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!l-Breed Detective, 615 Cool Colorado in New York. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. 90 ‘The Drend Rider; or, The ‘lexan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Tuo; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Deom. 181 The Golden Mandy; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 164 Dandy Rock’s Pledwe; or, Hunted to Death, 178 Dandy Kock’s Rival; or, The |:aunted Mald of Taos, BY CAP, J, F. ©. ADAMS. 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Niek Whitiles’s Pet; or, Ir The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scout of the Yellowstone, 70 Old Zip’s Cabing or, The Greenhorn In the Woods. 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Bueckram ¢ or, Beas, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Peta; or, The Wild Huntress, 251 Light-house Lie; or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Scalp King: or, The Human Thondervolt. BY ROGER STARBUOK. 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-Heels; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Liht-house, 870 Breaker Len, the Reef-Runner, BY WILLIAM bf, EYSTER. 190 Pandy Darke} or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank} or, Dandy Darke’s GoMown Pards, BY COLONEL DELLE SARA. 108 The Lion of the Sen}; or, The Vailed Lady. 186 Cool Deamond ; or, The Gambler's Big Game BY WARRY 8ST. GEORGE. 80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Ranger. 44 Rattling Rube} or, The Nighthawks of Kentucky, 6Y Old Hickory ¢ or, Pandy Ellis’s Scalp. 108 Daring Davy ; or, The Trail of the Sender Wolf, 166 Hickory Harry ; or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spye 172 Thunderbolt Toms or, the Wolf-Herder. BY JAMES J. 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 ©, JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge, 518 The Demon Doctor, BY CAPT. ALFRED RB, TAYLOR, B. 8. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed Thirteen. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or, The Gambler Guide, BY CHARLES FE. LASALLE. 50 Burt Bunker, the Trapper, 52 The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest BY JONN J. MARSHALL. 40 Roving Ben. A Story of a Young American, 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes. BY WM. G, PATTEN. 489 The Piamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock 819 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One. 381 Dalay Dare, the Sport from Denver. BY MAJOR E, L, sT, VRAIN. 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. B0t Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport B12 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 8838 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “Sand.” BbY Duranee aves the Young Shan ion Wrestlers 871 Kingbolt Chria, the Young Hard-Shell Detective. B80 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mount.jn Mail-Line. BY EDWARD 8, ELLIS. 6 Bill Btddon, Trapper, 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of tne Frontier. 10 Nat Todd: or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. 21 The Frontter Angel. 98 The Roy Miners: or, The Enchanted Island. 82 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman. 4 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains, 271 The Huge Munters or, The Steam Prairie Man, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON. 278 The Three Trappers tain Monster, 288 Indian Joe; or, RRs White Spivit of | the Filia. BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood ; or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 Single Handy; or, A Life ee 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 FRANK DUMONT. 120 The Branded Sand; or, The Man of Mystery. 127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Road, 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rosky Bas, 171 Ebony Dan; or, The Rival Leagues. 185 Evil Eves er, The Vultures of the Rio Grande, BY LIFUT. i. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay. 180 The Sea Traller; or, A°Vow Welt Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY HARRY WAZARD. 828 Arkansaaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines. B29 Ked-Skin Tom) or,’ The Demon’s Trail, 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw. BY COL, A. F. HOLT. 899 Black Ruckakin; or, The Masked Maen of Death 419 Sl the Knife-King. aan 485Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, BY J. W. OSBON. * 469 The Rival Glants« of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Lack. 58ST Old Ruckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. BY FREDERICK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots. 478 Tangemand, the Desert Detective. 5642 The Canyon Parda. BY ARTUR C. GRISSOM, 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid. 558 The Sure-Shot Parda. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock, 568 The Dandy of Dodge. . 569 Broeklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Munters. By Capt. Mayne Reld and Frederick Whittaker. ® Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’« Travels. By Dean owift, 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 6 Robinson Orusoe. (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages, 22 FY) Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe. By Juan Lewis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribevs, By 8S, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Olown; or, The Queen ofthe Arena. By Frank » nn, 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 51 The Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp. By Archie + lrons. 95 The Rival Roversay or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. 98 Robin Mood, the Outlawed Eark or, The Merry Men of Green. wood, By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Wunter}; or, The Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion, By George epson. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate's Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adven tures of « Friendless Boy. By J Alexander Patten. arrell, Trapper; or, The G 7% aif ane ay y Exavard -sriboaly ie Green Ranger of the Ye 261 Feraus Fearnaught the New Y irk Boy. By George L. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; »r, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail. ~ By Ensign C. D. Warren, 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Clift, By Captain Comatock. 8°7 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Liew tenant Alfred Thorne, 828 The Sky Werectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honor, By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the iver Rovers or, The Brother's Re- venge. By Ned Bun tline. 865 Baltimore Ben the BootbIask Detective, By A. P- Morris, 8%4 Gold-Dust Tom; or, Ben’s Double Match, By George H, orse. 876 Californian Joe's First Trall. By Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monastery. 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F, 8, Winthrop, 475 The Black Ship. By John 8S, Warner, 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invincibles, By Henry J. Thomas. S28 Wizar? ‘rm, the Dandy Sport. By Arthur F. Holt, B82 The Cowboy Puke. By Etwin Brooke Forrest, 552 Ariel, the Athlete. By David Druid, A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library 1» for sale by ati newsdeatees Sep ents por copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six conta each. BEADLE AND ADAMA, Publishers, 98 William Street, New Yor,
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SAP eae ee Published Every Tuesday. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Buffale Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise, 85 Wila Ivan, the Boy Claude Dayal, 42 Phantom Miner}; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, 49 Omaha O1Ls or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. %8B Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine, 7? Corduroy Charlie; or, Deadwood Dick’s Last Act 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville, V0O4 Deadwood Dick's Device: or, ‘The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 ese waed Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s | Gulch. 188 Blonde Bill: or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. | 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dreamy; or, The Rivels of the Rond. 201 The Black Hille Jezebel; or, Desdwood Dick's Ward. } 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture. 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Gir) Brigand 221 Sugar-Coated Sam; or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Duast Dick. A Roinance of Ronghs and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. | 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. B09 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Jregon, 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozens; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick's Pucate; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- gzings. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. | 862 Peudweed Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro "juts. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Deadwogt Dick’s Diamonds; or, The Mystery of Joan Porter. 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Care.” 480 Deadwood Dick's Dust; or, The Chained Hand. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. AAS Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 458 saunower Sam, ot Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full and, 459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- de 465 Philo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Am . A71 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Corral, 476 Bumbolat Harry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s etective. 481 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood. 491 ey Platol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick r’s Compact. 49@ Monte Criato, Jr.: or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance. aed Deadwood pints Dig ngs 3 or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop, adwo ck’s Deliverance, 515 Deadweed Dick’s Protegee, 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 529 Deadwood Dick's Danger Ducks, 644 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt, 589 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Texas. eis ee het | ea Jr. a rd are Vidoeq. eadw ek on His Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick in Boston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia, Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. | 26 Cloven. Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 2 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 89 Denth-F ace, Detective; or, Life in New York, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., tle Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. 69 Gold Rifle, the phrpehouters or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. 88 Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob's Reappearance. 92 Cunuda Chet 3 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Boll’s Camp. 6 Watch-Eye; or, Aruba und Angels of a Great City, Jack Hoste the Young Speculator, 1t-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. % Bonanza Bill, Miner. 8 Boas Hob the King of Bootblacka, 1 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent, caus ‘erret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob's Boss Joby New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scampas, Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, % Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone hit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Sferra Sam, the Frontier Ferret, 248 Sierra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Ange! ot Big Vista, 258 Sierra Sain’s Sevens or, The Stolen Bride, 278 Jumbo Joe, the Koy Patrol; or, The Rival Hetrs, 27T Denver Doll, the Detective Queen, 281 Denver Doll's Victory. 255 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or, Little Bill’s Bonanza, 291 Turk, the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll’« Drift; or. The Road Queen. Brim mae Pe ed CENs PES rte 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. 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miuer. ’ 889 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. 848 Man tan Mike, the Bowery Blood. 858 First-Class Fred, ‘he Gent from Gopher 868 yoke Jim, the Gold-Gatherer; or, The Lottery of site. 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Nedy or, The Secret of Slab City, B82 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance. B85 Yreka Jim’s Joker; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 889 Ricycle Ben; or. Phe Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 Wigh Wat Marry, the Base Ball Detective. 426 Sam Slabaides, the Beggar-Boy Detective. 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 458 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher, 456 Seulskin Sam, the Sparkier. BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F Cody). 8 Kanaaé Kings or, The Reid Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy! or, | he Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout, 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust. | 666 The Secret service Boy Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. BEADLE’S+« H ALF- JIME« | IBRARY. No Double Numbers. BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 WII! Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Vhil Mardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, WILL Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. Black Beas, Will Wildtire’s Racer. Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. Will Wildfire in the Wooda, Billy Baggage, the Railroad Boy. A ‘Vrump Card or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York, Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, The Hidden Tiand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. Shadowed ¢; or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life. Dark Pant, the Tiger King, 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom ‘Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock, fnin Oharcoal the Premium Darky. 5S Shadow Samm, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway 3 or, A Dakotn Boy in Chicago, 262 ‘The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jinv’s Jobs or, The Young Detective, 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in the Quaker City. 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 855 The Reporter-Detectives or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times, 879 Larry, the Levelers or, The Bloods of the Boulevard. 4038 Firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 425 The Lost Finger}; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invinetble Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, AT9 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boota, the Boy Tiremant or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, etective. AST Shwe FEEEAINNIAANS > ~~ es St} ASArSNKs =< - BY OLL COOMES, & Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew, 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abepithe Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Kulfe, the Prince of the Prairies. Al Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58 The Border Ktmg; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Wawk-eye Warry the Young Trapper Ringer, 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman, Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter. 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 158 Eagle Kity the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, thy Boy Captain, 202 Prospect Pete ; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters. 208 The fer Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps, 218 Tiger Trom, the Texas Terror, 224 Dashing Dicks or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Disguised Gulde 3 or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkeskin Mike, tie Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, tlie Boy Spy. £00 The Sky Denton ¢ or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, tie Boy Ranchero, 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webtoot Mone, the Tramp Detective, AZ2 vier Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone, 444 Little Buckakin, tne Young Prairie Centaur. 457 Wingedtfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac ‘Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper, BY T. C. HARBAUGH 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, Th: Boy Spy of ’76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Littl Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nats +7, Tne Forest Captains. 64 Dandy Jack 3 or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trails. 82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Juck 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen. 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger, 189 Judie Lynch, Jr.t or, The Boy Vigilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Gir) Avenger. 169 Tornado Tom; or, bajun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw?: or, The Quen ol Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter, 215 Captain Bullets or, Little Touknot’s Crusade. 281 Plucky Phil or, Ross, the Re! Jezebel. 241 BA Bravo; or, Tie Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoli , tne King-Pin of Bowie, 267 The Buckskin Detective. R279 Old Winehs or, The Buckskin Desneradoes. 294 Dynamite Dany or, The Bowie Blade of Cochetopa. | 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Buily, 816 O14 Eelipse, Tromp Card of Arizona, $26 The Ten Pards; or, The Terror of Take-Notice, 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitilesas Matt; or, Red Thunderbolt’s Secret. BSH Cool sam and Paras or The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 8856 Captain Cutlass; or, The Brccaneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Rob: or, The !win Champions of Blue Blazes, 411 The Silken Lasso: or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump. the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox, 445 The City Vampires; or, Red Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow ; or, Felix Fox's Hunt. A?7 The Excelsior Sport: or, The Washington Spotter, 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport, 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. 528 Fox and Falcon, the Bowery Shadows. BSR Dodger Mick, the Dock Ferret. : 548 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives. 558 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq. en catiey: as aoe Ti BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, ? The Flying Vankee; or, The Ocean Onteast, 17 Ralph Roysy the boy Buccan-er; or, The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond i irk 3 or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 62 The Shadow ship; or, The al Lieutenants. 75 Vhe Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 102 Dick Dend-Eye, the Boy Smugyier. L111 The Seu-Devils or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Captains or, ‘The Hermit of Hell Gate, 197 Little Grits or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 204 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport, 216 Bison BULL, the Prince of the Reins. 222 Grit, the Bravo Sports or, The Woman Trailer. 229 Crimson Kate 3 or, The Cowboy's Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Midday ¢ or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman M utineer 3 or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 z he Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure Sinnd, 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Crulse; or, The Chase of “The Gold » Vip 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride. 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Siivt Dandy ; or, Bento. the Boy Bugler. 808 Keno Kits; or, Dend Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 rt Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long rail, 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Flagless Schooner, 888 The Indian Pilots or, The Search for Pirate Island, 887 Warpath Wil, the Boy Phantom. 898 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Isodor, the Young Conspirator ; or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild ¥ achtaman ¢ or, The War-Clouu’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, Tie Corsair. 437 The Sea Ralder, 441 The Ocean Firefly ; or, A Middy’s Vengeance, 446 HMaphazard sear 3 or, The Seapegrace of the Sea. 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferrey of New York. 454 Wizard Will’« Street Scouts, 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Conster, 474 Florays or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard, 488 Ferrets Aflont; or, Wizard Will’s Last Cave, AST Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kanger, 495 Arizona doe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack, 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy}; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 507 The Hunted Midxhipman. 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bll, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers in Buckskin, 5830 The Buckskin Bowers, 585 The Bue askin Rovers, 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder ot the Ris, 545 Lieutenant Leo, the San 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. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Vellowatone Jack}; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat. 65 Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Muatang Sam $ or, The King of the Plains, 186 Night-Hawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch. 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Spert. 151 Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue, 160 The Black Glant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy, 168 Deadly af el or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Roy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War- Path. 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Orooked €ale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca Wolf; or, The Beantiful Pecey. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, 885 Old Double Fist ter The Strange Guide. 855 The King of the Wooda: or Danie) toone’s Last Trait 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective: LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 571 Alr-Line Luke, the Young Engineer. By J. C. Cowdrick, 5672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in eager he By E. L. Wheeler. &78 The Two Shadows, By T. C, Harbaugh. B74 Old Wenacl-top, the Man with the Dogs. By P. §. Warns. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective. By Colonel Prentise Ingraham. 576 The Silver Sport. By Lieut. A. K. Sime. 577 Pavement A the Secret Sifter, By Jo Pierce. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Aflont. By Edward L. Wheeler. 579 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. By J. C. Cowdrick. 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. By George C. Jenks. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop, By T; C. Harbaugh. 688 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow. By Lient. A. K. Sims.. 584 Dendwood Dick, Jr., In Denver. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 585 Will Waters, the Bov Ferret. By H. Enton. BS6 The Buckskin. Avenger. _ By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. BS? Old Bombshell, tie Ranger Detective. By Wm. G. Patten. 5S8 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, By Jo Pierce. 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. By Lieut. A. K. Sims 590 Dendwood Dick, Jr’«., Decree, By E. U. Wheeler. 591 Delmonte. tlie Young Sen-Rover, By Col. P Ingraham. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. By J. C. Cowdrick. 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. By P, S. Warne. BOA Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. By T. C. Harbaugn, 695 Deadwood Dick Jr. in Beelzebub’s Basin. By FE. L. Wheeler. Ready December 18. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. By Chas. Morris. Ready December 25. f 597 The Young Texan Detective. Py Col. P. Ingraham, Ready January 1. co 598 Flute, the Sinver Detective, By Gea C. Jenks. Ready January 8. 599 Jim Dandy, the No-Name Sport. By P. S. Warne. Ready January 15. 600 Deadwood Dick Jr. at Coney Island. By Edward LL heeler, Ready January 22 A New Iaasue Every Tuesday. The Walf-Dime Library 's for sale by all newsdealers, five. cents per copyor sent by mail on receipt of aix cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New Yerk,.