Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 477) (1886 09 14)
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“SEVENTY I 10K. i nae =e aah i Serer | Copyright, 1386, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, Vo. XIX. $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Beibes % Near, No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. a 7 = ts ie i i AMuih ti — i mit tll slut 4 I The Washington Spotter. BY T. C. HARBAUGH, ‘AUTHOR OF ‘(FELIX FOX,” ‘ TEXAS TRUMP,* “ SILKEN LASSO,” ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I. A DEEP-LAID SCHEME, Jerry JASPER was one of the numerous claime nts who infest Washington. oes little office on a second floor on F street was ates vay frequently invaded by clients, but for all this Jerry seemed to make mon ners He was a wiry man about forty, with a sharp nose anda pair of penetrating eyes, and those who knew him best said that he would get along where other claim-agents would starve. “JUST IN TIME, MY YOUNG FOX!” HISSED 4 VOICK AT HIS EAR, It was getting dark one nighta few months
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2 The Excelsior Sport. ago when Mr, Jasper walked into his office with | made him believe that certain sharks are on the « twinkle in his eyes and threw himself into the | chair at his desk. The letter-carries had just been there and sev- eral letters lay before him for examination. Catching up the top one, Jerry tore it open and glanced over the page before him. ‘* Ho! the letter doesn’t beat him here much if he is on time!” he exclaimed glancing at his | watch. ‘‘ He says he will be here at six, and it lacks but ten minutes of thetimenow. By Jovel there’s a big fee in this case if we work it up sat- isfuctory. “Risk? Of course there’s a risk! but I’ve taken ’em before, and always with success— by Jupiter! always!” The remaining letters did not possess the im- portance of the first one, for the claim-agent threw them back on the desk with an expression of disgust. The ten minutes soon passed away, and, before lookout for bim, and consequently he will reach the city slightly disguised. He trusts me in ey- erything, I tell you, Jerry. It would take me all night to teil you how carefully I’ve pare this yame to the stage it has reached, ou know a good deal of the story already.” “Yes,” assented the agent. ‘‘I can’t see how it can fail—the scheme, I mean.” ‘*FWail? By Jupiter! I'd like to see it fail!” cried Bronson, ‘‘ There’s fifty thousand in it to start with, and, after awhile, more than ten times that sum!” ‘‘ When you get the girl, eh?” Buck Bronson’s face became a smile. ‘““Ah! Jerry, what a shrewd fellow you are!” he exclaimed, slapping his companion on the knee, ‘‘There’s thousands in this game, as I’ve said before. She is a beauty, and no mis- take. Only think of her as the wife of Buck another had fairly begun, in walked a man, at | Bronson sitting here before you! Have a ci- sight of whom Jerry Jasper sprung up with an ejaculation of pleasure. “On time to the second, captain!” exclaimed the claim-hunter. “*T always am,” was the reply. letter?” +“ ea? Jerry’s visitor took a chair, but not before he had closed. the office door and slid the catcb- lock—a sign that no new visitors were wanted there, just then. The man was younger than Mr. Jasper. He was well attired in expensive clothes, and was handsome. His eyes were a dark brown and rather large, and his newly-shaven face wore a mustache poy waxed at the ends, There was an air of coolness about this person tha: would have made good judges of humanity call him a dangerous man. He seemed to possess the cunning of the fox, and the inhuman nature ef the wolf, ‘‘ We are entirely alone, eh, Jerry?’ asked the caller, ‘Entirely so, Buck,” was the answer. **Good! This a scheme which must not be overheard. There’s thousands in is for us, Jerry, old boy—thousands! think of it!” The speaker leaned forward with a glow in his eyes while he talked, and lowering his voice to a whisper, he went on as one of his hands dropped significantly upon one of Jerry’s knees: “ He’s coming to-morrow night. Dve got the scheme more than half mapped out; we'll com- plete it before I go away. He doesn’t suspect anything, Jerry. By Jupiter! the bird is almost in our hands.” ‘‘But he may prove stubborn after we've caged him,” suggested Jerry. uck Bronson’s eyes were seen to flash. ‘*Let him try that game!” he cried. ‘B Jebu! let him try to beat us at our own game, say, and he’ll learn that the traps of Washing- ton can hold as securely as the traps of New York or any other city.” ‘How much will he have with him?” asked Jerry with a good deal of eagerness, ** Hnough to fix us for a long spell, ha, ha! He will come straight to your office—” : “Here?” interrupted the claim-agent, starting ‘You got the back, ‘*‘This is rather public for work of that—” ‘“‘No, not here. By to-morrow night you will be in another part of the city, in another office, anlnotas Mr. Jerry Jasper. We'll fix all that in time. It won’t take long to prepare the trap, but the preparations must be well made, He is as strong as a lion, and it'll take strong meshes to hoid him. He will be met at the depot by one who will know exactly what to do.” “ By you, Buck?” “By your humble servant!” And Bronson leaned back in his chair and smiled at his com- panion. F “ Does the girl know he is coming?” inquired Jerry. ib , “f don’t know, but it is possible that she » oes. ‘*T don’t like that.” i —- it may excite her suspicions, eh?” ae es,” “Don’t let that disturb you, Jerry,” Buck Bronson hastened tosay. ‘‘ Whatever happens, she will never suspicion us. He may come here and mysteriously and silently disappear, but no trail will be left behind. I know how to play games that can baffle the best spotters in the country. I haven’t lived thirty-four years for nothing—not much have I!” ; ‘See here,” suddenly remarked the claim- agent. ‘His very arrival in Washington ought to be unknown to everybody.” Buck Bronson showed his teeth in a grin. “Why will it not be?’ heasked. ‘TI have ee ee eae ee a ee ee eee gar,” Bronson drew several samples of the fragrant begat from his pocket and tossed them upon the table, The next minute the two men were enjoying themselves, and the room was well filled with clouds of smoke. ‘*At what hour will he arrive?’ suddenly asked Jerry. ** At 9:40,” “From Baltimore, of course?” “From Baltimore.” “Will you go over and accompany him to the city?” ‘No; I believe I have told you that I will meet him at the depot here. We’llcome straight to the new office in a Herdic, The chair willbe ready for his reception, By Jove! Jerry, if we could only get that chair patented!” ‘What for?’ inquired Mr. Jasper, with dilat- ed eyes. It would serve a thousand purposes. Lawyers could keep their clients from running to other offices and—” Jerry Jasper burst into a loud laugh. ‘You're rich in experiments, Buck!” he ex- claimed. ‘‘If you ever turn your genius into another channel, you’il astonish the world one of these days.” ‘“‘Mebbe I'll do it, anyhow! At any rate, that chair isa daisy, asa certain gentleman is likely to discover, to-morrow night. By the way, ’mdry. What have you got?” ** Nothing,” confessed Jerry, with a sigh. “Then we'll go down and drink in silence to the biggest scheme above ground!” laughed Bronson. ‘'The time will come, Jerry, when ou can toast the lovely Florence as the wife of uck Bronson, the Excelsior Sport.” A little while later tho office was empty and the door stood slightly ajar. Empty? No! Allat once a pair of feet came out from under an old-fashioned sofa in one corner of the room and then the hands and body of a ! “Gigantic Cesar! another minute and I should have died!” exclaimed the youth, as he got up and stood erect in the middle of the apartment. ‘‘My name isn’t Capital Ben if this doesn’t beat all the squeezing I’ve ever had. I feel as flat as a dollar of the daddies, for it’s a mighty narrow space between that old sofa and the floor. But, P’'ve heard a dandy lay-out, haven’t I? T’ve got onto one of the coolest ames that’s ever been set up in Washington. erry Jasper and Buck Bronson! Ain’t they two seraphs with brass wings, though? Going to play a game for fifty thousand first, and then another for ten times that amount, are they? Well see how things work, my money cherubs, If you had known that Capital Ben was under that sofia, you’d have jumped upon him like two pile-drivers! Ill go bail, if it wasn’t bee that I dropped into your office when I did, erry. What a nice man you are! You can hoodwink the Tenth street widow, but not Capi- tal Ben!” The boy laughed at the end of his last sen- tence, aerk the dust from his clothes and dis- appeared, eé was a well-built, good-looking boy of six- teen, with much natural shrewdness in his ex- pressive countenance. His movements were quick despite his long confinement in a cramped place under the sofa, and when he reached the street below he started off toward the Avenue. Lawyer Jasper and his delectable companion were already drinking to ‘‘the scheme” in a saloon not far from Jerry’s office. ; The boy kept on until he reached Pennsylvania avenue, where he was stopped by a shrill: ** Hello, Ben!” Fs Ser The young detective was approached by a boy about his own age. “Did you see the accident?” inquired «he strange boy. ‘* What accident?” ‘“ Why, the one that happened in front of the St. Mare, awhile ago.” ; ‘““No; I saw nothing,” replied Capital Ben. “What was it?” ‘* A cab ran into a bug lady and her mother. Jehu! I jun ped three feet high when they struck. They picked the old lady — dead, and the young one was in a faint. By Jupiter! Ben, it was affecting to see the old one put her arms about the young one’s neck, and cry ‘Florence! Florence!’ so piteously.” ‘* Florence?” echoed the boy spotter, with a start. ‘‘That’s the name of the young girl Buck Bronson is playing for! To get her gold isa part of the infamous scheme I heard talked Who were the people ran into, containing a young over to-night. Tad?” “‘T think the name is Worcester.” ‘¢ Where do they live?” ‘“‘f don’t know. The young one, who did not appear to be much burt, called a cab, and the two were taken home.” Capital Ben seemed to reflect for a moment, then he left bis companion abruptly and plunged into the first drug-store he found, A moment later his nimble fingers were turn- ing the leaves of a city Directory, and in a little while he found a name that seemed to give a new snap to his eyes: * Worcester, Mrs. Florence; widow. — 14th St.” This was what caught the boy detective’s eye. ‘* Mother and daughter may bear the same name-— Florence,” murmured Ben. “If she is the Florence who knows the man who is to enter the trap to-morrow night, Pll know it. And, by Jehosaphat, Buck Bronson, Vl balk your in- fernal scheme! .It means robbery, if not mur- der, and I’m not Capital Ben if I don’t cut your claws awful close!” The boy shut the book and went out. As he stepped upon the sidewalk, a pair of eyes caught sight of him. CHAPTER II. BUCK BRONSON COMES TO GRIEF, Ir Capital Ben had used his keen eyes to ad- vantage at that important moment, he might have perceived that he was closely watched by Buck Bronson. The Excelsior Sport, as he called himself, was careful to look the boy,over frem head to foot, and at times he :eemed about to spring forward and lay hands on bim, But, Ben was permitted to move off without being touched, Puck following bim and watch- ing him with a hawk’s vigilance. ‘Somehedy’s watching you,” whispered a voice at Capital Ben’s ear, when the boy detec- tive had reached a spot several squares from the drug-store where he had consulted the Di- are - 0?’ demanded Capital Ben. ‘Look over your shoulder,” answered Tad, his friend and informant. ‘It is the big man there in the light hat. He’s followed distance, to my certain knowledge. he goes!” apital Ben had not got even a glance of his tracker, and was greatly disappointed when Tad Trimble announced that he had vanished. ‘‘ Where did he go?” the young spotter cried, shortly. : ‘‘He flitted round the corner yonder.” Ben hurried to the corner, but nobody ina light hat was in sight. ‘© What was he like, Tad?” Tad Trimble described the man ‘so-well that the boy detective could not keep Back an ex- clamation. ‘‘Buck Bronson, for the world!” he cried. “The fellow already suspects me. A year ago, up at the Capitol, J stepped on his toes in a cer- tain matter, and he hasn’t liked me since. Well, there’s no love lost, Mr. Buck, and a collision with you is just what'll make me happy as @ clam at high tide.” “‘Do you know that man, Ben?” asked Tad, **T ought to.” “So do I,” was the reply. ‘‘ What do you know about him, Tad?’ “Nothing very good, you may depend on that. He was going to give me his last night.” ‘What for?” > “1 didn’t choose to get out of his way on Fourteenth street.” ; : ‘“What! was he up there ?”” ou some ! there
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‘¢-Yes, and so was I,” with a grin. ‘*Fourteenth street is the street where Mrs. Worcester and her daughter live,” murmured the young spotter. ‘‘Buck Bronson was up there last night. This establishes the fact that the daughter is the Florence be talked about to Jerry Jasper. Now I’m going to wwansfer my operations to Fourteenth street.” The next minute Capital Ben had separated from his friend and was on his way to the street mentioned. The number given in the Directory as being Mrs. Worcester’s home was well up the street, and the boy had a considerable walk before him. On the way he turned aside and entered a small and unpretentious frame house in which he remained thirty minutes and where, as he showed when he came out, he had improved his appearance. The boy detective made such good time that he soon reached the Worcester house, the ap- pearance of which indicated wealth and refine- ment. The front door was open as the night was warn, and the hour was still early, and Capi- tal Ben sprung nimbly up the steps and laid his hand on the bell-knob, He was about to ring when a certain voice coming from a room alongside the hall caused him to desist. “By Jupiter! Buck Bronson is ahead of me!” exclaimed the boy to himself. ‘‘ He must have made good time, Ah! there is the light hat mentioned by Tad, on the rack. Buck is here sure enough, playing his game no doubt.” The voice in the parlor still continuing, the boy spotter of Washington found himself lean- ing forward and listening with all his might. All his senses were on the alert; he was eager to catch every syllable. “Tm liable to be seen from the outside and pulled away,” suddenly passed through his mind, and then he crept into the hall and halted in the shadow of the hat-rack and its contents, ‘*Now go ahead, Mr. Bronson,” murmured Ben with a grin. ‘‘I’m ready to hear every- thing. The girl will forgive me one of these days, but you, never!” ‘This is not the time for a conversation of this kind, Mr. Bronson,” said a girlish voice of great sweetness. ‘‘ My mother is still pros- trated by the effects of our accident on the Avenue, and constantly needs my attention.” “You can answer now just as well as any time,” was the reply in a tone which to the boy in the hall contained a good deal of in- solence. ‘‘ There is no use in putting this thing off.” “But I must. You will pardon meif I say this.” ‘““A sentence—a word will settle all,” the man’s voice replied. At that moment a voice came down from the second story of the house. ‘¢ Florence?—Flofrence, dear?” it said. ° “Mother is calling now,” pleaded the girl. ‘*T will have to go to her, Mr. Bronson—” ** Not until you have answered me,” was the heartless interruption. ‘‘ By Jove! I could break every bone in your body,” grated Capital Ben a; he clinched his hands. ‘* Buck Bronson is playing a game that is in keeping with his rascally nature. That girl is going up to her mother, or Pll know why not! ‘“ Mother needs me, She may be suffering anew,” the sweet voice continued. ‘Surely, Mr. Bronson, you will not show cruelty on an occasion like this!” “One word—only one is all I want,” was the quick retort. “T can’t—I can’t—” “You must! Tl keep you here till I have your answer; then, and not a moment before, you can go to your mother!” “*T'll see that she goes sooner than that, you brute!” cried the young detective, The next moment he covered the space be- plese the hat-rack and the door with a single stride. His hand leaped to the knob, he turned it and pushed the door open. ‘“‘ Let the young lady go to her mother!” rung out the voice of Capital Ben in tones that start- led the two persons in the parlor. The young girl uttered a cry of astonishment at the boy spotter’s appearance, the man who held her wrist step back and gave him a flashing look. “Ah! it is B ot is it, you young ferret?” wled Buck Bronson as he glared at Capital n in the middle of the room, **Tt’s nobody else, you can bet your boots!” ei ——— eee eee ey | i The Excelsior Sport. was the reply. ‘‘ You will let the lady go up to her mother!” ‘© At your command, eh?” And Buck Bron- son dropped the girl’s wrist and advanced in a threatening manner upon the boy. mind to crush you where you stand.” ‘*Mebbe you'd better wy it,” suggested the boy with aggravating coolness as he drew up his agile figure and looked the man in the eye. **T can do it!” grated Bronson. “That is only your opinion, A trial might convince you that I’m not easily annihilated.” At this juncture the girl sprung forward and ooh herself imploringly between man and oy. ‘* Don’t!” she cried, with a glance at each. ** Of all things, I do not want a quarrel here,” ‘* Shall I throw the young intruder out?” ask- ed Buck Bronson, ‘‘ His impudence deserves a rold medal. Ill toss him into the street, ‘lorence—” ‘You'll do nothing of the kind, my lord Buck!” interrupted Capital Ben. ‘‘Tll leave this house by orders not from your tongue, You might go to your mother now, Miss Flor- ence. She is calling again.” The girl who was a beautiful vou person of twenty took a step toward the hall but hesita- ted, “‘Tt is my desire that you will create no dis- turbance,” she said to the enemies, “T will not,” replied Capital Ben tina tly. ‘¢T came here to see you on business, Miss Flor- ence, but I can wait till you return.” Buck Bronson gave the boy detective a quick look at this, and Florence flitted from the room and flew up-stairs. “You've got more gall than a tramp,” hissed Bronson leaning toward Ben. ‘See hatet you don’t want to fool with me. Because you are known as Capital Ben, the young detective, you have no license to interfere with my affairs. Ive got a notion to throw you street.” The boy looked into the threatening eyes of man who seemed well able to carry his threat into execution, but the young champion did not move an inch, ‘“What are you here for? continued Bron- son. ‘To see Miss Florence Worcester.” ‘*On business?” **On private business.” **'Y ou chose a time when you knew I was here.” T did ates 4 of the kind. I did not know you were here; however, a foreknowledge of the fact would not have stopped me.” “Hil what’s that?” ‘*T guess I don’t have to repeat the message,” replied Ben. ‘**No insolence, my young rascal, or out into the street headforemost you go.” Bronson took a step nearer the unflinching boy and suddenly raised his hands, **'You’ve been tracking me!” he cried. ‘* Not a step!” answered Capital Ben. “You came in because you knew I was here.” “T did not,” “You want to prejudice the young lady, Miss Florence, against me.” ‘“‘T don’t think anybody need do that from what she has seen of you to-night.” Buck Bronson seemed to get furious at this. ** By Jupiter! T’iltoss you through the window if you don’t leave the house,” he hissed. ‘Pm not going just yet,” and Capital Ben seemed to plant himself with renewed firmness on the floor, but the next moment Buck Bronson descended upon the boy like a sudden storm, Ben sprung nimbly aside, and when the eager hand of Bronson descended the boy was five feet away! Buck Bronson uttered an oath. “Git out, or git crushed!” he cried. “I’m a bad man when they stir me up!” And he ad- vanced to the attack a second time. Ben could not dodge this time; he was almost against the wall, but seizing a light chair he threw it above his head, and as the sport came within reach the chair came down with all tho force of the stout young arm, Bronson was not prepared for the blow, and one of the chair-legs hit him above the eye and sent him rina) Sa across the room, As he stumbled against and fell headlong over arich sofa the young girl came back to the room. ‘¢ What has happened?” she cried, with a look at Capital Ben. ‘“‘I thought you promised ” “Yes, 1 did promise to keep still,” interrupt- ed the boy, with a grin. “ But, by Jupiter! Miss Florence, I couldn’t!” into thé | | ec lve ai ee ee eee CHAPTER II. HELD BACK, THERE was a look of tigerish rage in Buck Bronson’s eyes when he got up without assist- ance and looked at the young detective, Capital Ben stood his ground boldly with nis hands still grasping the chair, ‘Pll have pay for this!” blurted Bronson, clinching his hands. ‘‘ You don’t strike me with impunity, you young rascal! Were it not for the presence of this young lady |’d throw you into the street!” It was the same old threat, and Ben could not keep back a smile as he replied: “Pll invite Miss Florence to retire if you wish to try your hand again. I don’t court a diffi- culty, Buck Bronson, but you won’t find me backing out of one.” ‘*No,” spoke Florence, firmly. ‘‘1 will per- mit no altercation in this house. I regret what has already occurred, and I wish you two could be friends.” ‘‘That can never be!” snapped Bronson, “I could ring that pullet’s neck and I give him fair warning now that I will do it at the first oppor- tunity. He understands me, I guess.” The next moment Bronson had changed his tone and was talking to the young girl. ‘*T will come again and soon, for your answer,” he said politely, but with firmness. ‘‘ Mean- while, I must leave you here with that young meddler who professes to have called on busi- ness, Florence seemed anxious to get rid of Bronson and he was not disappointed when he was not pressed to stay. He took ins departure with a mad glance at Capital Ben which was returned with a defiant smile, and the boy was alone with Florence, “T don’t like that man!” the boy spotter re- marked when the door had closed, ‘*Why not?” asked the girl, eying him with interest. ‘*He’s not got got a drop of honest blood in him!” was the prompt response. ‘1s hea friend of yours?” ** He regards himself such.” ‘* How long have you known him?” * About a year.” “Now [Pm going into another field, Miss Florence,” continued Ben. ‘* Have you a friend who is in Baltimore at present?” The girl smiled and the young ferret thought he detected a slight flush on her cheeks. ‘*Of course,” said he, ‘* but I mean, bave you a gentleman friend in Baltimore—one who is liable to come to Washington at this time?” ‘* Why do you ask?” ‘*Pardon me, but I think I have a right to ask,” was the reply. ‘Maybe you don’t know wholam. Iam called Capital Ben, the Wash- ington Ferret, I think your Baltimore friend is in danger.” ‘*No! that cannot be!” cried the girl turning pale. ‘*What threatens him?” ** A calamity which must be averted.” ‘*Indeed it must be!” exclaimed Florence, ‘“‘T will answer all your questions promptly if they concern him.” “Good! Who is this friend in Baltimore!” ‘* His name is Ralph Romaine,” ‘His business?” ‘*Private banker.” ‘“* Are you expecting him in Washington! “Net exactly, though if he reads an account of our accident he will come promptly.” **Does he ever come to Washington with large sums of money?” ‘He comes here, sometimes, to negotiate private loans.” . ‘* What is he like?” Florence stepped to the table and opened a large album, efore she had turned three leaves she found the boy detective looking on, “* This is Mr. Romaine,” she spoke at last, stop- ping at the cabinet of a handsome young man, apparently twenty-five. . “Has he changed since that picture was tax- en?” asked Ben. ‘‘ Not in the Jeast.” ‘* That suits me to a T!” ejaculated the capital detective. ‘I think I could pick him out sim among a thousand people. I thank you for your information, Miss Florence. I think I have all I want.” P * But, why did you want it?” and there was anxiety depicted on the young girl’s counten- ance, ‘*’d rather not tell you now,” was the quick Tegpous. ! ‘*T insist!” cried Florence, with firmness, and Capital Ben by a quick move got out of reach of her hand, of
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’ come?” a ) ne t The Excelsior Sport. “T have to say that insisting will do no good,” he smiled. ‘Then I will write Ralph and tell him not to come to Washington—if too late to write, I will | send you to the telegraph office with a mes- e. “ Even that might not find him.” “Heavens! whatis going to happen?” exclaim- ed the girl, her manner showing that Mr. Ralph Romaine was a very warm friend, if nothing more. ‘* You know more than you want to tell, boy, or you don’t know anything.” “Mebbe the latter,” grinned Ben, backing, hat in hand, toward the door leading into the hallway. ‘‘I think I am equal to the emergen- oy. I have never failed yet, Miss Florence, 0 n’t you promise me not to interfere with Mr, Romaine’s coming to Washington if he wants to Florence gave him a curious, hesitating look. “*T—don’t—know—what—to do,” she replied, slowly. ‘‘If danger menaces him, he ought to be warned.” ‘** He will be and in time, too,” promptly spoke the boy. ‘‘ Will you give me his address, bank and residence?” The girl’s hand moved toward a card-basket, and in a moment it had selected a card which was soon in the boy’s possession. Capital Ben looked at the card a moment and thrust it into his pocket. ‘*Good-night, now,” he said. ‘Should Mr, Buck Bronson put i: an appearance before I get back, please don’t give my inquiries away. don’t care to know his business with you, but I must say that I was an unwilling listener to a part of your conversation.” The girl’s face instantly flushed and her eyes lit up with a flash of indignation. That was enough for Capital Ben. ‘* Good-night,” he repeated again at the door, shee wt your mother will soon recover, and that a 1 your future visitors will be pleasant ones.” He fancied he saw the girl smile over his last sentence, but before she could reply, he sprung across the threshold and was out in the street. ‘“*T don’t call that a water haul,” ejaculated the young ferret, throwing a look of triumph to- ward the house. ‘I guess ’m getting onto the game my old friends Bronson and Jasper are playing. They don’t know I overheard their plans at Jerry’s office to-night. It was a lucky visit; by Jove! it was. To-morrow night the victim is to come in from Baltimore in blissful ignorance of anything wrong. Mebbe if I hadn’t struck Fourteenth street when I did, Buck would have carried his point. He wants Florence to marry him, If she doesn’t like him, and I don’t think she does, why didn’t she say so promptly?” ' Talking thus to himself, Capital Ben walked reflectively toward Pennsylvania Avenue, He now kept a keen eye out for Buck Bronson whom he had a right to watch after what had happened in the Worcester House, He fully ex- ea to see the Excelsior Sport leap from be- ind one of the shade trees and give him another chance to defend himself, but this time without a chair. **Mebbe Buck has gone back to report to Jerry,” mused the boy, and a few moments later he turned into F street and walked toward Jerry’s office. he He was not long in discovering a light in the claim-agent’s window, and a shadow flittin back and forth told him that something unusua was going on there. A tree grew in front of the building occupied by Jasper, and the boy detective determined to see by its aid what was going on in the office, He reached the tree apparently unseen, and in a moment had disappeared like a squirrel among its foliage. Hand over hand Ben ascended until he was on a level with Jerry’s window. Parting the branches with his hands, he leaned forward and looked into the claim-agent’s office. ‘Ha! Jerry, my old friend!” cried the boy at a@ moment’s glance. He saw in the little room before him a man spo a lot of books into a box on the floor. t was Jerry Jasper, Buck Bronson’s pard. ‘* Getting ready to set up an office in another part of the city, I see!” muttered Ben as he watched Jerry. ‘‘I believe that was a part of the programme. A few of your books, a wall map or two, and a desk will complete the decep- tion. Hello! you’re going to move to-night, are you, Jerry?” » At this juncture a one-horse wagon approach- ed the curb and stopped directly beneath the boy’s position in the tree. @ saw aman jump from his seat in the ve- i pe | hicle and enter the open hallway, The next minute he surprised the claim-agent in his office. The young detective next saw the man pick up the box of books and start toward the door, fol- lowed by Jerry, with a wallmap, These arti- cles were deposited in the wagon below. ‘‘Are you going along?’ the man asked the claim-agent, ** Yes,” and Jerry got into the wagon. **’m going, too,” laughed Capital Ben, coming down the tree, and the wagon and its occupants had not proceeded far ere he dropped colaeleesty to the ground, and the lawyer had a shadow at his heels. . The wagon got to going a good gait when it struck the Avenue, but Ben managed to keep it in sight without great difficulty. He was cager to find the trap the two men had prepared for Ralph Romaine, and his mind was fully made up as to his future operations. en the wagon stopped it was before a plain brick house not far off the Avenue, but in a very quiet neighborhood. Jerry unlocked the door, and the wagoner carried tne books inside. ‘**Tt didn’t take Jerry long to find a trap,” re- marked Ben to himself as he watched this oper- ation. ‘‘He is agent for property all over the city as well asa claim lawyer, and he knew where to come.” In a little while there was a light in a window on the first floor and Jerry could be seen un- packing the box. ‘* Now that l’ve run you down, Jerry, Ill go about other business,” decided theferret. ‘* I’ve done a good night’s work so far, and if nothin happens I'll spoil a pretity little scheme by twoo the most unprincipled villains in Washington. They ought not to get the Baltimorean into their clutches. By Jupiter! they shall not if I can prevent!” Capital Ben stopped in the light of the first street lamp he found, and looked at the card ob- tained at Florence Worcester’s. It contained Ralph Romaine’s address, ‘““Pm not going to depend on a telegram!” the rey cried, putting the card,back into his pocket. ‘*T shall see the manin person. He has fallen into the hands of two money sharks, and the fact that he is expected here to-morrow night by Buck Bronson shows. that he is completely hoodwinked.” Capital Ben was determined, He had never scen Ralph Romaine the wealthy Baltimorean; but what of that? His life was in danger and that was enough. Twenty minutes later the boy spotter of Washington glided into the Baltimore and Ohio Depot in time to catch the Express, but just as he was about to enter the cars a hand fell like an eagle’s talon upon his shoulder. “Just in time, my young fox!” hissed a voice at his ear, and as he was dragged away he looked up into the speaker’s face. ‘‘ You were going to Baltimore, were you? Well, you shall remain in Washington and for good! told you once to-night that I’d not forget you, and [ will not, you can bet your head!” It was Buck Bronson again! CHAPTER IV. AN INFERNAL MACHINE, Buck Bronson knew better than to take his little prisoner out through the waiting room to the street for an action of this kind would have given Capital Ben an appeal to the police. The hand of the Excelsior Sport had closed like a vise on the young detective’s shoulder, and he was jerked from the train as it began to move off and hustled from the shed among a lot of freight cars outside, “Thought I'd forget you, eh? exclaimed Buck, glaring like a tiger at Ben as he showed his teeth. ‘‘ You are going with me with no questions and no noise, This is no boy’s game if there is a boy in it,” The street was reached in a little while and Bronson hailed the last cab in line above the depot steps. apital Ben was pushed into the vehicle be- fore he could notice the number or take a men- tal photograph of the driver, and a moment later he was moving off. Buck Bronson sat at his side in silence, and several squares were passed in this manner. ‘What was taking you to Baltimore, boy?” gy oe hoo the Sport. ‘* Business,” “‘ What kind of business?” The aoe Boker smiled to himself. “You're fishing for a flounder ‘ou won't $% Buck Bronson,” he remarked te himself. ‘“ You can pull that string all night if you want to; but I give you a pointer now that it'll do you no- good.’ The boy’s silence seemed to irritate Jerry Jas- per’s friend. ‘You'll open your mouth by and by,” he said to Ben. rou think you are playing an al- mighty smart game, but it won’t turn out so smart after all.” Capital Ben made no reply, and the cab moved rapidly along a considerable distance. When it stopped at last the boy ferret look- ed out and saw a brick house that had a familiar appearance. ‘* Just as I expected,” he ejaculated to him- self. ‘‘Buck has fetched me back to his old pard Jerry. I will soon be interviewed by two of the finest scamps in Washington.” ‘ All at once a hand seemed to sink into the boy’s arm, the door cf the cab was opened and he was helped out. ‘‘The fare is on the seat,” the sport spoke to the driver and Ben was taken to the house as the cab moved off. Buck .Bronson had a deep settled look of triumph in his eyes. He realized that he had made an important catch—one of the most im- portant ones of his life, and he marched the boy toward the house with the air of a victor. He did not jerk the brass knob of the door without ceremony. A light glimmering beyond the shutter to the right of the front door seemed to tell him who was inside, The next moment he found another door in an unlighted hall and Capital Ben was ushered without ceremony into the presence of the claim- agent, Jerry Jasper. This important individual was writing in his shirt sleeves at a desk. He started visibly when the door opened and when he saw Buck Bronson and his captor he uttered an exclamation of surprise. ‘¢ Here’s a rat that has no business at large,” cried Bronson, thrusting the boy forward, with his clutch still on his arm. “That is the young ferret of this city!” an- swered Jerry. ** Ha! you know him, then?” ‘‘-Yes,” snapped the claim-agent. ‘He is always meddling with other people’s affairs, Where did you nab him?” ‘* At the B. & O. Depot.” ‘Getting on the cars?’ asked Jerry changing color, ** Going to Baltimore!” ‘Ts that true, boy?’ and the claim lawyer turned his sharp eyes upon the boy detective. ‘Your friend says it is,” was the reply, and Ben nodded toward Bronson. “What was taking you thither?” A faint smile appeared at the corners of Capital Ben’s mouth, a look of defiance came in- to his eyes s¢ Ho's already played the mum game on me,” grated Bronson. ‘Take a chair, boy, and we'll proceed to business.” There stood near Jasper’s desk a large arm- chair cf peculiar construction. It did not look dangerous, but the boy ferret involuntarily shrunk from taking a seat in it. Bronson, however, pushed him forward and by main force thrust him into the chair. The next moment, or as the boy touched the seat, his arms were pinioned to his sides b flexible machinery, his ankles were secur from below, and his head was jerked back against the chair and held there by a hard rub- ber hand that clutched his throat. The infernal machinery of the chair had been set in motion by the boy taking a seat in it. A laug r conspirators at Capital Ben’s astonishment, and for several moments they enjoyed themselves heartily. ; ‘This is one of the inventions whose model is not in the Patent Office!” chuckled Buck Bron- son. “It isa little diversion of my own, and you see it works like a charm. You can no more get out of that chair till you are released than you can fly. The mechanism of the inveo- tion has been but half unfolded. Ican touch a button above your head and have you slowly choked to death.” ‘“‘You’re more devil than I suspected, Buck Bronson,” murmured the boy. “But never mind, my two jail-birds. Tl get out of your clutches in spite of infernal chairs and the ike, and then I’ll show you Capital Ben’s best hand. “You will now pr to tell us why you were going to Baltimore to-night,” continued Bronson. ‘Go ahead. You can talk very well with the rubber band at your throat.” “Tf you get anything out of me you'll do re niaskabiy well,” was the fearless response. / burst from the throats of the two —
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The Excelsior Sport. **Do you intend to be stubborn?” cried Jerry Jasper. ‘*T intend to keep my own business secrets; if that is stubborness, make the most of it.” The boy saw a cloud of anger darken the brows of the two men. They exchanged quick and significant glances, ‘‘Tet me warn you that we are not to be fool- ed with,” Bronson said in menacing tones, ‘“‘Not for a minute,” chimed in the claim- lawyer. ‘Well, gentlemen, I am not to be coerced.” ‘**Ho! ho!” laughed Jerry. ‘‘ He’s aslick one, ain’t he, Buck? Not to be forced, eh? Won’t tell why he was going over to Baltimore to- night? We’ve got to fix him, I reckon.” ‘Unless he changes his mind.” Capital Ben gave Bronson a look which told tbat changing his mind was furthest from his thoughts at that moment. “Won't you tell us, boy?” asked Jerry. cc No !? Bronson sprung up and came toward Ben’s chair. “Tt is coming,” thought the boy detective. ‘These two villains are going to show some new deviltry.” The next instant Buck Bronson stood beside the chair, his right hand resting apparently on the top of it. ‘ " Jerry Jasper looked from him to their victim with apparent indifference, though the capital ferret saw that he was waiting anxiously for the next move. All at once Bronson’s fingers began to move, d the face of the boy in the chair assumed a purplish hue. Pit The rubber hand at his throat was doing the bidding of the hand turning the screw at the back of the chair; it was slowly choking him to Capital Ben could not move for the strange devices that held him on the seat. “My God, these men are devils!” he ex- claimed. “They intend to kill me in this mon- strous chair, and then they will carry out their plot against Ralph Romaine and the girl, Flor- ence!” Tighter and tighter grew the grip of the mer- j “giless hand! Capital Ben saw the grinning faces of the two -conspirators transformed into the faces of fiends; the nances fresh from the under world. At last the room seemed to grow dark; a thousand nameless pains darted through the boy detective’s body, He thought the end was at hand! He did not see Jerry Jasper lean from his chair and gaze into the darkened face among the mechanism of Buck Bronson’s invention. ‘He did not hear the devilish laugh that rippled - over Bronson’s hips as he pointed triumphantly to the work of his chair. The young detective of Washington was past seeing and hearing things of this kind. ; ; “Hadn't you better take him away?” asked Jerry, looking at his partner. _ Maybe I had, The chair works well, doesn’t 44,2”) _ ,‘ Splendidly.” ; _. Buck Bronson loosened the machinery at the “young spotter’s throat, and his head fell forward _on his breast, ; “He is dead!” ejaculated Jerry, turning ale. ‘You don’t want him alive hustling around Washington, do you?” cried Bronson, giving him a hasty glance, ‘‘ What if the chair has fixed him for good? It must try its claws on a gold prize to-morrow night. The boy is all right; he is forever out of our way!” eanwhile Bronson had loosened the several appliances by which Capital Ben’s body was se- cured in the chair, and then picking the boy up, he left the room, In a little while he came back, and ma ere himself upon a seat near the desk, coolly ligh a cigar. “By Jove! it was a close call!” ejaculated the claim-lawyer. ‘‘ When I saw you come in with that hoy my heart jumped into my throat. We must maks no mistake to-morrow night.” “We will make none,” was the confident re- joinder. ‘‘Somehow or other that boy was oing to Baltimore on business against us. Did lorence send him? No, she does not know.” “‘ He got onto it somewhere,” persisted Jerry. _ -**'Your eye is blue where he hit you with the _. .chair at the house on Fourteenth street.” _ T#11 be all right when the fly enters the web,” laughed Bronson. ‘You will be ready to pr to business at nine to-morrow night. danced before him like counte-— at the important hour you must be here, The chair will be ready for its victim,” “He must not fail to come,” ‘He will be here, for we have caged the boy who was to warn him. The whole game is in our hands now. Florence would not give me a definite answer to-night, but she would not say no. She knows the grip I have on her mother, and she fears that I will not be crossed.” ** And you will not be, Buck?” ‘“By the eternal heavens, no!” And Buck Bronson Sener his hand down with emphasis upon Jerry Jasper’s kneo. “I can put the thumb-screws on the Worcesters and get: money or blood. I prefer a wife first, Ha! ha! But we want to pluck the Baltimore gold-pigeon, and we will do that to-morrow night. Don’t let the young ferret disturb your dreams, Jerry, old boy, Capital Ben, as they call him, has run down his last game—for awhile at least. {ve got business down-town, Take care of yourself,” Sel ier went out, and the claim-lawyer was alone. For a few minutes Jerry Jasper occupied his chair; but he was nervous; his face got whiter and whiter. All at once he rose and left the room. Going out into the ball, which was quite dark, he struck a match, and found a door almost at the end of the passage. He opened this door and entered a small room where he found a trap in the floor. He raised the lid of the trap and crept, rather weak- kneed down half a dozen steps. five minutes later Jerry was back in his new office, where he picked up his hat and started for the front door, ** By Jupiter! the chair worked almost too well!” he ejaculated, and then he locked the house for the night and strolled down the street with the tread of a man of guilt. CHAPTER V. THE FLY IN THE WE%, ‘* WHERD’s Ben?” “‘ He did not come in last night.” ** Not once all night?” ‘‘ He was here in the early part of the evening and changed his clothes.” The two people who exchanged this conversa- oe were a boy about sixteen and a woman past ‘The former was Tad Trimble, Capital Ben’s friend and pard, and the latter was Mrs. Secley with whom the boy detective boarded, Tt was the day after the events we have just witnessed, and the shadows of another evening were falling around the capital. Tad had not seen Ben all day and he was anx- ious. He remembered having seen Buck Bron- son watching the young spotter, and he did not avd an elevated opinion of the Excelsior port, if Tad had seen Ben but once since the espion- age he would have thought nothing of his ab- sence, but he had not enjoyed that privilege, and now Mrs. Seeley had informed him that the boy detective had not been home at all. “‘ Something has happened,” muttered Tad as he walked off, leaving the woman very anxious, “and I'll bet my neck that Buck Bronson is at the bottom of the affair. Just let me get my everlasting peepers on you, Buck, and I’ll know what kind of a hand you hold, or throw up the sponge.” Tad Trimble was newsboy, bootblack, or any thing that offered a living. He was agile, shrewd and a favorite about the hotels. Above all, the boy, like Capital Ben, was hon- est, and congressmen and other men in official station did not hesitate to trust him with im- portant missions, He did not know exactly where to look for Buck Bronson for he was not familiar with the haunts of the sport when in Washington, but he was determined to find his missing friend. Tad remembered having seen the face of Buck Bronson at the window of a certain office in F street, a few days prior to the opening of our story. Tke occupant of the office was well known by reputation to the boy, and when he set his wits to work after his interview with Mrs. Seeley, he wondered if there was any connection between the Excelsior Sport and Jerry Jasper, the dis- honest claim lawyer. “Tt might do to work that lay a little while,” the boy spoke to himself. ‘‘ T’l! just run up to though it’s not likely that I will see Buck’s phiz at the window this time.” borhood of the lawyer’s office, and as he was se- lecting a proper pomt for observation, who should walk out of the ball but Buck himself! “This is bonanza luck!” exclaimed the boy watching the sport as he lit a cigar and strolled leisurely away, ‘I'll just shadow you a while, ee Bronson,” and away he went at the sport’s heels. Buck Bronson was attired in a new suit of clothes which no doubt had just excited the lawyer’s envy and he walked off in them like a king in his ceremonial robes, He had not the least suspicion that a boy with a keen pair of eyes was following him, and he led Tad Trimble a long chase before he stop He took the boy into Fourteenth street where he walked past a certain house several times. Once he appeared on the eve of entering, but seemed to change his notion, and at last went away. After awhile Tad discovered that Buck Bron- son was merely killing time. After an hour’s promenade he tooka chair upon the sidewalk and made himself comfortable. Every now and then he consulted his watch as if for the arrival of acertain hour. During all this time the boy kept an eye on him; to lose him might be to lose Capital Ben, and the boot- black resolved to keep Mr. Buck Bronson in me Slowly hour after hour went by. Night came down again upon Washington. At bye, eight a Herdic cab drove up tc the gutter behind the Excelsior Sport, and he seemed to recognize the driver. The next mo- ment the seat so long occupied by Buck was va~- cated, and the cab was taking him down the Avenue, “This means something,” ejaculated Tad darting after the flying Herdic. ‘‘ Buck Bron- son knew the vehicle was to be on hand at half- past eight.” The boy was fleet of foot and it was no trick to overtake the cab. Used to all manner of devices to get a ride, he seized the cab from behind, and a minute later he was being carried over the smooth Avenue with the man he wanted to keep in sight. Tad had a poor place for a stolen ride, and it required a good deal of nerve for him to hold on; but he shut his teeth and kept his perch with the resolution of a young Spartan. The Herdic kept straight down the Avenue to the front of the Capitol when it turned to the ere and took through the grounds, toward the depot. A minute later it slowed up before the depot itself, and Tad dropping nimbly to the ground quickly dieappeared He was glad that the ride wes over; his body was cramped and his hands were blistered. Buck Bronson alighted and went down into the depot still. watched by the boy from a con- venient quarter while the cab turned and wait- ed near the steps. Ten minutes later a train rattled into the depot and began to discharge its human freight. ‘The Baltimore Express,” murmured Tad as the people came out. ‘ Now I'll see what has become of Buck.” In a short time he was rewarded and aston- ished for Bronson creme up the steps accom- panied by a handscme man who carried a small leathern valise, “Ho! Buck is going to entertain a friend, is he?’ cried the bootblack. ‘I wonder if it’s a case of birds of a feather? The stranger doesn’t look like a person of Buck’s ilk; there’s a good ceal of the real gentleman about him, Ah! I’m afraid Buck will give me no clew to Ben to-night.” Bronson spoke pleasantly yet with a confi- dential air to the man as he led him to the Herdic, and the two entered it without delay. *“ What shall I do?’ Tad Trimble asked him- self, ‘‘I don’t feel like repeating the jolt ve just had; but I b’lieve I ought to for Ben’s sake,” Meanwhile the driver of the cab which held the two men was getting ready to move away and all at once the bootblack darted forward and resecured his old position. é Instead of seeking the great Avenue the driver went up New Jersey avenue and got into F street as soon as possible, Here Tad, whose hands were already blistered found it very difficult to keep his hold. More than once he felt like abandoning his place; he was being jolted almost to death. ; “They're going to kingdom come!” cried the boy savagely. ‘* We’ve gone a mile already and there’s no signs of a halt. The old cab makes | | / such a racket that I can’t understand what they’re talking about inside. [ve heard Buels ‘You can be at your other office to-morrow, but' Ina little while Tad Trimble war in the neigh- | naar dae - ;
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8 The Excelsior Sport. say something about ‘loans’ and ‘good in- vestments’ which makes me think there’s money at the bottom of this adventure. Dll hang on till this cab checks up if it’s in Tampa. This isall for Capital Ben: I must not forget this for a single minute.” The long journey ended at last, just when Tad was ready to drop from his perch from sheer exhaustion. As the cab drew toward a curb, he left his place and concealed himself be- hind a tree. The Herdic had halted before a brick house very plain in appearance as far as the boy could see. A light glimmered beyond the shutter of one of the lower windows. The two men got out and went toward the door, the stranger with the leathern valise in his nd, Tad saw them enter the house. “*T guess that ends the play,” muttered the bootblack spy. ‘‘No Capital Ben here,” and he saw the vehicle move off, with considerable chagrin. Persevering up to this moment, Tad Trimble began to feel that his labor had been in vain. He had started out to shadow Buck Bronson, in hopes of finding the boy ferret of Washington; but the actions of the Excelsior Sport had not rewarded him. Instead of getting a clew to Capital Ben’s whereabouts, he had seen Buck meet a man at the depot and escort him to a certain house. It looked like a matter of business between the sport and the man, who seemed quite willing to be conducted to the place, ‘*T guess I'll go back,” remarked the boy. ‘‘If Ben doesn’t put in an appearance to-morrow, [ll put this case into better hands than mine, But ere I go, ll try to get my peepers beyond that shutter.” The young shadower crept up to the window and put his eyes to the shutter, but to his cha- in he discovered that a heavy curtain hung Cwcen him and the occupants of the room be- yond, if it had any at that moment, : All at once, a voice from the inside sent a thrill through the boy. ** For God’s sake, gentlemen—” That was all! The sentence was broken so suddenly that Tad Trimble started back with a cry he could not suppress. . ‘What does that mean?” he cried, “I never heard a voice like that before. Something crooked is going on in there; sorhe dark work, with Buck Bronson at the bottom of it!” The boy listened again, but heard no repeti- tion of the wi ogee ery. After awhile he went to the door and tried the knob cautiously, but the portal was firm— locked! ‘I’m going to see the end of this!” cried Tad. “By the ghost in Hamlet! if Buck Bronson is playing a cool game for money, I will know what it is! I’ve got a friend on the police who would want nothing better than to corral Buck in some meanness. I know where to find him, and I'll go at once.” Tad Trimble drew back from the house con- siderably excited. He was directly beneath a window in the second-story, and if he had looked a he might have seen a figure leaning over the sill. It was the figure of a man half-way out of the window, and in the right hand was an object like a piece of wood. All at once the man overhead grated his teeth till they emitted an ominous sound, the right hand went backward till it almost touched the house, and then something was hurled straight at the boy on the sidewalk! The next second, with a it cn te cry, Tad, the bootblack spy staggered against the nearest tree and sunk to the ground like one dead! All this was the work of a second. The body in the window disappeared with the swift fall of the boy, but a minute later a man darted from the house and snatched Tad from the sidewalk. ** Here’s another one, Jerry!” exclaimed Buck Bronson, as he appeared in a room occupied by the claim-lawyer. He held the inanimate and bleeding figure of Tad Trimble in his arms. ‘It is the Washington Ferret!” cried Jerry Jasper, turning white. “Not by a long shot!” was the reply. ‘‘ This boy is a fellow entirely different from the young rat we fixed last night, and I bagged him in the nick of time, too. Take up the lamp and fullow me. We'll give Capital Ben some company.” Buck Bronson did not notice that Jerry’s hand shook violently when he picked up the lamp on the desk. The two men left the room, Buck carrying his victim. They went to the trap-door which we have seen Jerry raise, and desceuded the steps into a dark basement, ‘Hold the light down, Jerry,” commanded Buck. ‘‘ I want to lay this one beside his pard. Ah! here we are.” The claim-lawyer held the lamp down, but did not lean forward himself. ‘* Why, there’s nobody here!” cried Buck. A wild exclamation leaped from Jerry Jas- per’s throat. ‘* Nobody—here?” he gasped. ‘*That’s what Pve said,” growled the Excel- sior Sport. ‘‘ Look for yourself. The boy fer- ret is gone!” It looked as if the claim-agent would sink into the hard ground at his feet. Great beads of perspiration started out on his forehead; he lost every vestige of color, ‘*Gone!—Capital Ben gone? Then, by hea- vens! we're in for it, Buck,” he cried. Buck Bronson let slip a furious oath. ‘*Not yet! We'll win this game in spite of the Washington Shadow!” he hissed. CHAPTER VI. FOUND. CAPITAL BEN was missing. Even after his experience with the terrible chair he had effected his escape in some unex- plamed manner. The two rascals—Jerry Jasper in particular —could hardly realize that the young spotter had got out of their clutches, The whole house was subjected to a close ex- amination; but throughout Buck Bronson put on a bold air, and even laughed at times at his companion’s fears. When pushed to the wall, as he was likely to be ere long if Capital Ben had escaped fit for duty, the claim-lawyer would fight like a tiger. ‘*Tf the boy is at large I will run him down before we make another move,” remarked Buck Bronson when the search had been concluded. ‘The haul we made to-night is a big one, of course, but nothing like the one I’ll make for both of us on Fourteenth street in a short time.” ‘* The boy first,” persisted J rag ‘He troubles you a good deal,” laughed uck, “IT acknowledge that. I know something about him,” was the reply. ‘*Then, to please you, Jerry, I begin on him at once. If he is on the street he can’t do any- chine sae away.” ‘*Why not?” ‘The choking he got in the chair will upset him for awhile. He probably went home.” ‘* Where is that;” ‘He boards with a Mrs. Seeley on E street.” “*-You know where it is?” “c Yes. ” ‘*Then you want to loseno time in going there.” ‘*T will not.” iy But you don’t want to goas Buck Bron- son,” . ‘*Leave that to me, Jerry,” laughed the Ex- celsior Sport, and then, with afew words of in- structions the lawyer was left alone. It was nearly eleven when Mrs, Seeley had a caller who was wholly unexpected. He was a well-dressed man with a full beard, which Buck Bronson had not, and, on_ the whole, quite prepossessing in appearance. Mrs. Seeloy kept a few room boarders in her quiet house; they were single gentlemen of humble means, and Capital Ben was the youngest. Mrs. Seeley had not retired when the bell an- nounced the late visitor, and she met him in the hall. ; ‘*T call to obtain the services of a boy who boards here, I am toid,” s-oke the caller. ‘‘I believe he is known on the street as Capital Ben, and I have been referred to him by a member of the police. “The boy is here. I have just come from his room,” answered Mrs. Seeley. ‘ But just now he is in no condition to help anybody.” “Ah! is the boy sick?’ ejaculated the in- quirer, ‘*He is in bad condition. He came home awhile ago entirely out of his head; he has fall- en into the hands of some enemies, I’m afraid. His throat is all swollen, and just now he is in a high fever.” rs. Seeley did not see the eyes of her visitor get a new glitter. ** Could see the boy?” he asked, meekly. ‘“*Tam something of a doctor myself—” B ‘Oh! you are, eh? Then I will be glad to show you in, for Doctor McPherson is overdue, and I fear Ben needs attention.” The unsuspecting woman led the man intoa small room on the second floor where, on a low bed, lay the figure of a well-built boy. It was Capital Ben. A lamp burning on a stand at the head of the couch threw a light over the young detect- ive’s face. The late caller leaned forward and looked into it with a great deal of interest, as Seeley thought. ‘* When did he get home?” asked the man. * About half-past eight to-night.” “Entirely confused, you say? ‘Out of his head, altogether. He said some- thing about Baltimore and Florence, but we connect his sentences.” ‘*Poor fellow!” ejaculated the man, though his eyes gave the lie to the expression of sym- pathy. ~ “Can you do anything for him? He seems to be suffering. octor McPherson’s fever- drops on the table there do not seem to have the desired effect.” ‘¢ Bring me a piece of linen, well wetted,” said the man. **You shall have it.” And Mrs. Seeley hur- ried from the room, The next moment a change came over the countenance of the visitor. His eyes seemed to snap and his hands shut tightly as he leaned toward the boy «gain. “IT was right, my boy ferret,” he cried, ‘TI told Jerry you had probably come back to Mrs. Seeley’s, and here you are, sure enough. It’s a blessed thing you landed here out of your head —a blessed thing for us, I mean. I’m not go- ing to take any chances. While I have you in clutches, 1 am goimg to make the most of i He turned from the bed and leaned over the little stand near by. A moment later he took a small vial from an inner pocket and uncorked it over the tumbler containing the fever-drops. The vial contained some colorless liquid, a few drops of which the man let fall into the medicine, | Having done this, he returned the vial to his pocket. This operation had hardly been completed when Mrs. Seeley came back with a basin and some linen. The man went to work and made two moist bandages which he placed about Capital Ben’s wrists without disturbing him. “Thanks; you are very kind,” said the land- lady when the operation had been performed. “*T think this will quiet him.” ‘‘Tt will have that effect,” was the reply. ‘©When he wakens you will administer a Sn dose of Doctor McPherson’s fever drops. I have examined them and they are all right. Re- member! don’t forget the drops when he wakens.” Mrs. Seeley t Dolsieae prompt compliance with the orders, and the man drew back and looked at the boy. ; “T will call again—to-morrow probably—te see aiter him, and if he is in condition to talk I will make known my business. You need not tell him that I called; it might worry him.” There was a look of unconcealed triumph in the eyes of the speaker as he walked from the room and left the house. . “Talk about luck,” he chuckled to himself. “This is what Icalla gold mine of it. Jerry would jump out of his boots if T were to tell him nty adventures. Doctor McPherson is liable to be surprised at the action of his fever medicine, but Dr. Bronson knows what heisdoing. Doctor Bronson!—ha, ha, ha!” The double-dyed rascal had not proceeded far when Capital Ben awoke and fastened his eyes on Mrs. Seeley who sat at the head of the bed. “‘T feel better,” exclaimed the boy detective. ‘Tam better. I am going to turn the tables om the two sharks,” : The woman tried to quiet him, but he laid one of his hands on her own and went on: ** You don’t know how they entrapped me. It would be a Jong story if I went into details. I have sat in one of the most rascally inventions of the age—a chair that has hands like a human. Iam going back to the trail right away. This is the night for their infamous play—this is the night for Ralph Romaine to come from Balti- more. What time is it?” He glanced at the clock as he spoke and almost leaped from the bed with a wild cry. “Tt is past eleven and he was toreach the ‘city at nine!” he cried. ‘‘My God! you don’t 4
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* feel like they’ve know what is at stake in this game; it is more than money, Mrs. Seeley—it is human life!” ‘He is out of his head again,” murmured Mrs. Seeley who was a woman of powerful hysique, and she pushed the young detective Sriiy but gently back upon the bed. ‘* You wili get all right if you obey the doctor,” she went on. ‘It is time for your drops.” ‘* It is time I should be on the trail!” he cried. *’You don’s know what has happened, Mrs, Seeley. I was in an infernal chair when my senses seemed to leave me, but I am all right now. lam going to play my band.” “Not to-night,” replied Mrs, Seeley with re- solution, and then she fell to pleading with the boy. She told him tbat Doctor McPherson had promised to drop in between eleven and twelve, as he had an important case near by, and that he bad better wait till then. “Tl wait twenty minutes,” Ben continued. “Tf the doctor isn’t here by that time, I go.” Mrs. Seeley appeared satisfied and turned to the table from which she lifted the tumbler containing the doctored drops. ; ** What’s that?” asked the boy detective. ** Hever drops.” “Doctor McPherson’s medicine?” “ Yes.” “All right. once!” Mrs. Seeley laughed, but took upa spoon and made ready to administer the medicine. Capital Ben rested himself on his elbow and waited for the do e. ‘“Don’t give him that!” suddenly rung out a voice that startled Mrs, Seeley and the young spotter. ‘*The man put something init. I saw him do it!” The voice came from beyond the open door and the occupants of the room saw a young girl leaning over the railing of the stair, “(tis the girl, Sally,” said Mrs. Seeley to the boy. ‘She walks in her sleep sometimes.” “ Don’t give him that medicine, I say!” cried the girl again, ‘*The man poured something in it when you were out, Mrs. Seeley.” ‘‘ What man?” asked Ben drawing back from the dose about to be given. ‘‘ Who has been bere? Tell me, Mrs. Seeley.” The woman hesitated. The man who had just left had told her not to mention his visit to the young detective, ‘““He was a man I don’t like,” spoke the girl, appearing at the door at this moment. ‘I got awake awhile ago and found myself on the stair. Isaw Mrs. Seeley go out leaving a man in the room here. He didn’t look at all like Doctor McPherson, so I watched him. I saw him bend over Mr. Ben and mutter something I couldn’t understand, Then he took a little vial from his pocket and poured a few drops from it into the tumbler there. I saw him do all that.” Capital Ben caught Mrs, Seeley’s eye at that moment. Did you admit this man?” the boy asked, “ec I id.” “Was he looking for me?” ‘*He was; _ he said he was referred to you by a member of the police. WhenI told him you were sick he became very anxious to see you and as he said he was something of a doctor, i admitted him.” , : Capital Ben was intensely interested in this man , ‘Describe him,” he said to the landlady. / Mrs. Seeley did so. “T think I know him,” replied capital Ben, but to himself he went on in a different strain: * On the track again, eh, Buck Bronson? I’m no more out of your clutches than you are on hunt of me. What a fine doctor you are!—one of those who always kill their patients. Ill bet my head that Doctor Mc Pherson’s fever drops are not harmless now. This girl, Sally, has saved my life.” > “Pll throw this medicine away if that man touched it,” suddenly spoke Mrs. Seeley, ~ You will do nothmg of the kind,” and the hand of Capital Ben clutched the woman’s arm. [ll make that glass and itscontents worth their weight in gold to Justice. You will keep them as they are atthismoment. My head isallright again though my throat is sore, and my limbs Mech through a windmill, Pll be on deck to-morrow, then look out!” CHAPTER VII. A RASCAL CORNERED, Tue reader can readily imagine that the Ex- celsior Sport walked from Mrs, Seeley’s board- _ing-house confident that his infamous order would be carried out to the letter when Capital ~ Ben awoke, Give me the whole lay-out at ‘ “re The Excelsior Sport. He was in high spirits, and for a while he thought of rousing Jerry Jasper to acquaint him with his sudden success, ‘*Tt was a master stroke, by Jericho!” ejacu- lated Buck. ‘‘I found the young ferret just in the nick of time, and I added something immor- talizing to Doctor McPherson’s fever drops. You don’t catch this fowl for a spring chicken, not much, tra la! ha, ha!” The next day found Jerry Jasper’s office on F street closed, and a sign on the door informed callers that the claim-agent was ‘‘ out of town.” In the afternoon Miss Florence Worcester of Fourteenth street received the following dispatch dated at Baltimore a short time prior to its de- livery in Washington: “Have you seen anything of Mr Romaine? He went to Washington last night at 8:10. Intended to call on you. H. H. Treo,” Florence knew that Trego was the junior mem- ber of the private banking-house of Romaine & Trego, and the dispatch naturally excited her, She replied that she had not seen Mr, Romaine at all, and then Capital Ben’s visit, his suspi- cions and promises, flashed across her mind. The dispatch established the fast that Ralph Romaine had left Baltimore the previous even- ing for Washington, and it also told her that his partner was anxious, if not suspicious. ‘* What if he came and fell into foul hands?” the young girl remarked to her mother. ‘‘ That boy was suspicious; he seemed to think that Ralph was to be decoyed to the city for a pur- »0se. He promised me that he should not leave 3altimore, but he did leave. In heaven’s name, mother, what has happened? Something terri- ble, no doubt!” A little later in the day a manof about thirty- five presented himself at the Worcester house and introduced himself to its occupantsas Henry Trego of the banking establishment of Romaine & Trego, Baltimore, “What could have brought Mr. Romaine to Washington at n'ght?” asked the anxious girl. ‘* Business,” replied Mr. Trego sententiously, and then he went on: ‘Certain parties here have been seeking a loan of fifty thousand dollars. We agreed to accommedate them; the prelimin- aries were fixed before Mr. Romaine left Balti- more. All that was wanting was the delivery of the money, and he came over for that pur- se, ‘‘ With the money on his person?” “Yes; ho carried the fifty thousand in a small leather valise. He was to have been met at the depot by one of the contracting parties, a gentle- mannamed Dubois. We had reasons for believ- ing that our chent was a man of respectability. He had letters from several well known mem- bers of Congress, and always acted the gentle- man. He was to give as security some valuable pro wah in this city which was to be transferred to es: omaine before his return,” Florence noticed a change in Mr, Trego’s tone before he concluded, It seemed to her that he doubted the honesty of Dubois; she knew she did, herself. To the girl it was all the operation of some villainous conspiracy, and when the banker fin- ished she gave him an account of Capital Ben’s visit. This seemed to fully open Mr. Trego’s eyes. ‘* Where is this boy?’ he asked. **{ do not know; he has not been back since, He is undoubtedly a well-known character of Washington, and, es such, cannot be hard to ‘** He shall be found at once!” cried the Balti- morean, S Ido not want any publicity of this matter if it can be avoided, for it might damage our house; but if no clew to Ralph is found by sundown, the matter will be placed in tie hands of the police. Iam inclined to think there has been some crooked work.” ‘***Tnclined to think’ so?” exclaimed Florence, unconsciously repeating the words just spoken, ‘‘ Beyond question there has been foul play, I would not hesitate a moment. This case ought to go to the authorities at once.” “We will wait till sundown,” was the re- sponse, f The girl showed her displeasure at Henry Tre- go’s decision, and when he had taken his depar- ture, she turned to her mother with a flash of in- dignation in her eyes: ‘‘This man is going to let crime take all the string it wants!” she ejaculated. ‘‘ Henry Tre- go values the reputation of h’s business above human life. A crime has been committed, Ralph, our friend, has fallen into the clutches of evil-doers. The whole loan is a sham; this man Dubois is somebody else. He has played his cards for the fifty thousand dollars, I shall not let the matter rest.” es What will you do?” quietly asked Mrs. Wor- cester, ‘*T will set the authorities on the trail. The cannot strike it a moment too soon. In the h near the hat-rack I found a piece of paper after’ the boy left. The writing on it was _hastil CaN ha and read thus: ‘ At the office, F street. 8:30. ‘* What does that mean, Florence?” “T hardly know. It might have fallen from Mr. Bronson’s pocket, and the boy may have dropped it.” “Was there nothing else on the paper?” “It seems to have been the top of a letter- head, for on the back of it was printed ‘ No. — F street,’ and then under it the words ‘Claim Agent, Room 29.’” “The claim-agent may be Mr, friend.” ‘*T will find out.” “But why? What good will this discovery do you, Florence?” “ Ah! mother, we do not believe Buck Bron- son to be an angel of light!” exclaimed the young girl with a faint smile. ‘‘ You know that e is the possessor of a secret that concerns our happiness. He will not scruple to make use of his power. I can never become that man’s wife, and yet he can almost force me to by holding the secret over my head, Why did we ever meet that man?” For a moment there was a painful silence be- tween mother and daughter. “T am going over to F street,” continued Florence. ‘‘I want to know what kind ofa man occupies Room 29, I havea terrible sus- picion against Buck Bronson. Heaven forgive me if I am wrong!” Mrs. Worcester did not interpose to restraim Florence, and ina little while the girl was om her way to F street. Florence was eager to reach the place, and when she did so she found a large building oc- cupied, as various signs at tbe hall entrance told her, by lawyers and claim-agents. Going up-stairs to the first landing, she found Room 29 with little difficulty. On the closed door was a sign reading: ‘* Jere- miah Jasper. Claim Agent and Attorney-ate; Law,” and under it in large characters the. words: ‘‘ Out of town.” Florence went away disappointed. As she was about to descend to the s'reet. a young man came out of a room near the head of the stairs and asked her if she wanted anything. “T wanted to see Mr. Jasper,” answered Flure Bronson’s ence. ‘* He left this morning; said he might be gone some days. It’s kind of singular, too. Jerry is not given to sudden flights.’ The last sentence had a strange sound to the girl, but she made no reply and left the builds ing. a Jupiter Pluvius! what does that mean?” cried a man who saw Florence step upon the sidewalk. ““Shades of Cesar! but that’s the Worcester irl, and no mistake. Something's up. Maybe had better get ‘out of town’ as rapidly as possible, What fetches her to this part of the city? Nobody would have recognized Jerry Jasper in the person who made use of these words, A full beard and new clothes bad completely altered his appearance. He would have deceive ed those most intimately acquainted with him, and of course Florence, who had never seen him to her knowledge, was not likely to know him. ““T would have jumped the town when Buck did, only I’ve got to get back into my office be- fcre { go,” Jerry continued. ‘TI can’t do that till after dark, or some of the boys might recog nize me. We're pretty well fixed now, but Jupi+ ter! I feet like a pullet on a hot griddle all the time. Buck knows when to make himself scarce for a few days, and by this time he’s out of the district disporting himself m new pase tures,” : By this time Florence had got quite out of sight, although the sharp eyes of the rascally lawyer had followed ber some distance, Jerry continued to hover in the vicinity of his office till night came, and the occupants of the rooms in the building shut up and went home one by one. j Tt was nearly eight o’clock when, on tip-toe, Jerry Jasper stole i the steps and inserted a key into the lock of his door. ‘A fellow’s got to be almighty cautious these | times,” chuckled Buck Bronson’s pard, as he crept into the silent little office and found his way to the desk. ‘I’ve been in ticklish places before, but this one plucks the plum over them all, There needn't be no fears, though, if we
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; ‘ play it clear through. I’m willing to quit now with what we’ve already got; but Buck isn’t oing to stop short of the girl and her money. ll be no one-horse claim-agent after that event —not much!” Jerry fumbled through the desk for several minutes, and uttered a growl because he could not find what he wanted. “‘Ttlldo no harm to turn the gas on just a little,” he resumed to himself. “I’ve got to have some light here, for there’s a paper or so I can’t trust here during my absence. I was a fool for forgetting them when I went off this morning.” So Jerry struck a silent match and turned on the gas ‘‘just a little;” then he went to work at the desk. At last he found the object of his search, a legal-looking document, and thrust it into an inner pocket. ‘‘Now for the hiding-place till the affair blows over!” he exclaimed, closing the desk. ‘** Have you got a good one, Jerry?” ‘Tne villainous lawyer almost leaped from his chair. Every vestige of color fled from his ae and his eyes seemed about to fly from his 400d, * You?” he cried, glaring at the person who stood in the doorway. ‘‘ Where did you come from? Buck told me—” ‘That he doctored my fever-drops, eh, Jerry?” was the interruption, The claims lawyer did not speak. He looked like a person who had suddenly lost power to articulate; to the boy in the door he was a ludicrous object. ‘*T guess Pll come in, Jerry,” continued the visitor, as he advanced into the office. ‘* You don't have infernal chairs here, I hope. Now, Mr. Jasper, you will tell me two things: What has become of Ralph Romaine, of Baltimore, and where is Buck Bronson?” Capital Ben, the city ferret, had halted with- in three feet of the astonished man at the desk, and his keen black eyes transfixed him. ‘This is a deep game, and somebody is liable to swing tor it,” the young sleuth went on, sternly. ‘‘ Therefore, it behooves you to make ’ a clean breast of the whole matter, Mr. Jasper. ‘You are as deep in it as Buck Bronson.” For a second the lawyer looked at the boy, and then a tigerish flash filled his eyes. The next moment he sprung up with a cry of rage, and before Capital Ben could meet the attack he was upon him like a wild beast! CHAPTER VIIL. IN THE OLD TRAP. WHEN cornered, Jerry Jasper would fight, and cornered he now was by one who knew of his crimes, As we have just said, the attack was so sud- den and ferocious that the young sleuth could not resist it. **'You’ve got more lives than a cat!” hissed the desperate lawyer at Capital Ben’s ear. ** You'll have to look out now, for the man what's got hold of you is no slouch!” Ben already knew this, for the grip of the rascal was like the full force of a vise, and he ~ resolved to meet it to the best of his ability. ‘*You'll find me no child, Jerry,” muttered Ben; and he began to combat the man with a strength which he did not seem to possess, The two went to the floor, with the lawyer on . top, but the boy managed to avoid the hand that sought his throat for the purpose of ad- ministering a deadly choking. The tussle was making considerable noise, which the claim-agent did not want. What if somebody should rush in upon the scene and discover him (Jerry) in a false beard and new clothes? What if the boy should de- nounce him to whoever might come? This would never do. ‘“*Confound him! we'll get him some other time,” ejaculated Jerry, and then, not without | some difficulty, he disengaged himself from the fight, seized his hat and rushed out, leaving Capital Ben in possession of the field, e boy detective realized in an instant that Jerry was gone, ** 1 can’t afford to lose that man,” cried Ben, springing up. ‘“‘ He will tell Buck Bronson that I am_ still on the trail, and the two will slope.” Tho boy hurried below to the sidewalk, but arg was already out of sight. “T lost him after ail,” muttered Ben with a good deal of disappointment in his tone. ‘I thought I knew Jerry Jasper pretty well, but I find I donot. I did not think he would show fight under the circumstances; I rather thought vo ee es a) ‘The Excelsior Sport. my accusation would cow him. He showed his teeth, though, didn’t he? After all, he is the kind of a para Buck Bronson needs.” our notion, Mr. Trego, but that’s not the style ere. Ill report when I see proper. Now, sir, you will let me play my hand out. Good: Capital Ben walked away inno happy frame | night.” of mind, and scarcely knowing in what direc- tion he was moving, he reached Pennsylvania avenue before he was aware of it. Ain’t you Capital Ben?” asked a voice at his side, The boy looked up and saw a well-dressed and good-looking man of thirty-five. ‘**My name is Trego,” continued the man. *“And I’ve been looking for you ever since I came to Washington.” **Are you Trego, of the firm of Romaine & Trego, bankers, Baltimore?” ‘pam, ‘Well, have you found your partner?” There was a faint smile at the corners of Ben’s mouth as he put the question. ‘“No. That is what I want tosee you about,” was the answer. ‘I suspect foul play.” “* He came here, then?’ a“ Yes i] **On business, I suppose?” **A Mr. Dubois wanted to borrow fifty thou- sand dollars,” Capital Ben gave utterance to a prolonged whistle. “They struck him pretty high,” he ejacu- lated. ** They ?—whom do you mean?” ‘‘ Why, the rascals who coaxed the fly into their net!” was the reply. “Then you know something about it?” ex- claimed Mr. Trego. **T ought to. r. Romaine was very foolish. Is this the way the house of Romaine & Trego does business?” The man flushed and frowned. “We'll not talk about that,” he went on. **T want to know what has become of my part- ner. I don’t want the matter to gain publicity by being put into the hands of the police. If the money and Mr. Romaine can be restored, no questions will be asked. You understand?” “See here! I don’t do business that way!” cried Capital Ben, stepping back and looking at the man in amazement. ‘I never compromise with crime.” ; ‘* Think of the standing of the house.” “Think of the villainy that has lured Ralph Romaine to Washington!” exclaimed Ben. ‘“* Your partner has a friend here who wants to see him as badly as you do, and she wants to see the two villains punished, besides,” ‘** Miss Worcester, eh?” ‘* Florence,” answered Ben, with a boy’s fa- miliarity. ‘“*I guess I will run this game as I think best, Mr, Trego.” The man bit his lips under his glossy mus- tache. ‘* Tf I corner the pair there will be publicity,” continued the boy. ‘The whole scheme will be brought to light and the world will know that Ralph Romaine foolishly came to Wash- ington with fifty thousand dollars on his person to meet a stranger named Dubois; but who really was one of the adroitest rascals unhung. If I had not been caught in the B. & O. Depot the other night by this same scamp, Mr, Ro- maine would not have come to the capital; but itis too latenow. Iam in this case now for all it’s worth.” eee —_ee—s_ee—aoeeeeeee——— Sun UUUSEIrememeenneneneneese eee re ‘*But you won’t call in the police, will , you?” ‘* Not till I need thera, and I may not need them at all.” ; ‘“*T hope you will not. What will you take to work the case up without publicity; to recover the money, or what you can of it, and—” “There! that will do, sir,” and the hand of the boy sleuth fell upon Trego’s arm. ‘ Re- member what I ‘have already said: I work this case up the way it suits me, IfI find the pair there will be a public trial. Mr. Romaine will not object to it from what I have heard of him.” The eyes of Trego seemed to flash. **T sha’n’t pay you a dollar!” he exclaimed. “All right,” laughed Ben. ‘“‘Go back to Baltimore and take care of the bank. If Mr. Dubois wants another joan tell him you can’t accommodate him; but he won’t be likely to call, ’'m thinking. Good-night, Mr. Trego.” ‘What! are you going to expose the whole affair?” exclaimed Romaine’s ape moving after the boy. ‘I tell you I don’t want it done.” Capital Ben stopped and wheeled upon the n man. “What makes you so anxious to hush matters up?” he cried, as he drew his handsome figure to its true hight and looked the Baltimorean in the eye, ‘‘ They may do things in Baltimore to i he young detective turned his back on Trego, and deliberately walked off. If he had looked over his shoulder he would have seen a very mad pair of eyes following im. “*Confound him! I didn’t think he was that kind of a person,” murmured the Baltimore “ Ain’t there any way to head him off? If he should catch this Mr. Dubois I may have to go on the witness-stand, and I don’t relish the prospect.” Capital Ben soon passed out of sight and did not pause until he stood in front of a brick house in a certain quarter of the city tolerably well known to him. ‘*T'm going to give the old place a thorough scouring,” he said to himself. ‘‘ Here is where I got a taste of Buck Bronson’s infernal chair, and to this place [ believe Ralph Romaine was decoyed.” The front door of the house, which seemed en- tirely unoccupied, was locked, and the boy trans- ferred himself to the back yard with the inten- tion of forcing an entrance from the rear. The night was rather dark and the neighbor- hood was still, and the boy spotter found noth- ze disturb his investigations, e was only a short time in reaching the rear of the house, and a little work at the back door let him inside. Once since his escape from it he had made @ brief examination, but the present visit was to be thorough in hopes of obtaining a clew to the mystery that hung over the disappearance of Ralph Romaine. The boy removed his shoes when he entered the house, and groped his way toa door which he found unlocked. He was let into aroom which appeared to be quite large, and utterly devoid of furniture. ‘*T expect to find all evidences of late occupa- tion removed,” murmured Ben. ‘I only want to find the trail where it naturally begins. If the Baltimore victim found the trap in this old house, I want to know it.” The big room yielded the young ferret noth- ing, and he exchanged it for another across a hallway. All at once he found a desk in the darkness. The discovery caused him to utter an exclama- tion of satisfaction. A moment later he was examining the room with a match. He found an old-fashioned desk vg chair, but not the devilish one he had tried. ““They’ve got no use for the trap now,” re- marked the boy. ‘*The pigeon-pluckers have flown, but what I want is to find the pigeon.” Room after room afforded no solution of the mystery, but the young sleuth did not despair. *« Pll go down to my prison,” he cried, at last. ‘*T think I can find it,” and he soon found the trap-door leading into the cellar of the house, When he was half-way down the steps Capi- “oo Ben heard a noise that brought him to a t. “It was more than rats,” he murmured, and then he listened with all his might in the gloom that was intense, Again the noise was heard; it was very like a human groan. Capital Ben drew a match across the rafter overhead and thrust forward the cocked revolv-. er he held in his hand. As the little flame shot up the darkness was relieved and he saw a sight that took him for- ward with a bound. Feats ‘My God! is it you, Tad Trimble?” cried Ben, bending over the body of a boy lying on the ound, tia 1t’s all that’s left o’ Tad,” was the rejoinder in a feeble voice, “I thought they finished you, en? “Not yet!” laughed the youngsleuth. ‘How came you here?” Tad Trimble the bootblack proceeded to nar- rate his adventures which are already known to the reader. ‘*Ben, there is a man somewhere beyond that wall,” the bootblack suddenly said, his hand designating a certain wall as he spoke. } The words thrilled the city sleuth. ‘ve heard him off and on ever since I came te | my senses in this place,” continued Tad. Capital Ben sprung up and went to the wall to which he applied his ear. He heard nothing. The wall itself was apparently solid. If there was acellar beyond it must be reached fronm another part of the house. a
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x Afni The Excelsior Sport. Re a | **Can I leave you for a moment, Tad?” asked mn. ‘Yes; find the man beyond the wall!” was the reply. ‘He may be a victim like myself.” Capital Ben went up the steps and disappear- In a minute he was sounding the floor of a certain room in the old house, At last the rigid search yielded a trap door, and without fear the young ferret dropped into an unknown place, The next moment another match was called into service, and its light illumined the place. The cellar was empty! Capital Ben searched every corner. ** Am I too late?” he cried. All at once his hand struck something ase 4 rojecting beyond the stones in the wall, tC) a forward, clutched it and drew it out. It was a business card and on the back of it was a scrawl, as if written in the dark: “‘T am Ralph Romaine of Baltimore. Will nobody avenge me?” read the scrawl, **T will!” exclaimed Capital Ben. CHAPTER IX. BUCK BRONSON’S PLAY. A COMPLETE search of the underground re- treat yielded nothing but the card with the scrawl on the back. Capital Ben returned to Tad Trimble, who anxiously awaited him. : ‘Ralph Romaine has been in this house, but he is not: here now,” the young sleuth remarked, *“‘T have not heard him for some time,” was the reply. ‘‘The rascals have removed him—whether dead or alive, I do not know; but I will find out, ” “ How?’ “Teave that to me. Tho Baltimorean’s ex- perience in the chair did not kill him, I have evidence to this effect on the card I found in the cellar. I am now going to have you taken to the city hospital, Tad. The stick thrown at you from the upper window of this house has iven you a severe hurt. We will practice a ittle deception about your wound for the pres- ent. Remember you were hit by some person strange to you, and squares from this house. You will be Dick Daggett at the hospital, and not Tad Trimble.” . The bootblack looked at Ben in an amazed manner, “Do you think Buck Bronson and his pard will come back?” he asked, * “ After a while they surely will, if they think none of their work has been discovered, We will risk it at any rate.” The injured boy listened to the boy detective’s plans and quietly acquiesced, and not long after- ward Tad was helped into a cab at a point several squares from the trap, and Capita. Ben ordered the driver to a well-known city hospi- tal. ““T believe I have something worth reporting to Florence,” murmured Ben, as he came back in the cab alone. ‘The girl has a stout heart in her, and can listen calmly to what ’ve got to retail. Tho mystery looks very dark about em Romaine, but we'll clear it up by and In the mean time Florence Worcester had gone back home from her trip to the building, occupied by Jerry Jasper, the rascally claims lawyer when he was at home. The young girl wasmuch disappointed at not finding the man she wanted to see, and she went home in no enviable frame of mind. She had not formed a very happy opinion of Mr, Trego, the partner of Ralph Romaine, His desire to suppress all publicity about the crime that had been committed for ‘the honor of the house,” as he termed it, made the young girl in- dignant, and if Mr, Trego had awaited her arri- val, he would have heard some decisive lan- guage, ; Florence reached home without accident and had hardly finished the narration of her ad- ventures to her mother up-stairs when the tinkle of the bell started her, — The girl hastened down-stairs to answer the summons herself. The next moment she started back with an ejaculation of amazement which she found it impossible to suppress. Buck Bronson stood before her! If some departed friend had risen from the dead Florence would not have been more sur- rised. Pes Aha! good-night, Florence,” smiled the oily rascal as he glided into the room. ‘A rather late call, I must confess, but ‘ better late than never,’ ha, ha!” SS ————————————————————————————————— ————————— ———— _-- OoO——————————n———————————————— ww eSeSeeeesesesesF Florence gave the man a sharp look and seemed about to dismiss him from the house but his mien told her, as it were, that he would not depart until he was quite ready to go. Instinctively the young girl led the way to the parlor and turned on the gas, She hated the very ground this man walked on. She felt assured that he had to do with Ralph Romaine’s disappearance, and she hated him all the more for this, Upon one thing she was resolved, and that was that the interview should be brief. “‘T am here on delicate business,” continued Buck. ‘You recollect, Florence, that I did not get your answer at our last meeting. I am here for it now. Will you become my wife?” The suddenness of the question drove all color from t e young girl’s cheeks, but only for a moment, ‘*Couldn’t you postpone this interview?” she asked, flushing as suddenly as she had paled. “No, It can’t be postponed another hour.” He took a step coward Florence who seemed to shrink away with a quiver. ‘“T want a fair answer—no half-way work,” he went on. ‘ You know what I know about your father. You know I can blight your family name with a word. You know that your father‘was a—” ‘Wor heaven’s sake stop!” cried the young girl. ‘‘Don’t utter the word you have on your lips. Let me think that my father was not the man you say he was,” “Then, say you will become my wife,” was the arswer. ‘‘ What can you have against me anyhow, Florence? I’m as handsome as the average man, and I can hoe my row wherever I am placed. Because I have gambled a little—is that it?” * No, no!” cried the girl. ‘I don’t love you, Buck Bronson, I never—never can!” ‘*Ho! ho! Is that all?” laughed the villain. ‘““You will think better of me by and by. I don’t want to blight your life, Florence. I’m averse to showing your father’s affairs up as I ean. You can prevent it all, and by becoming my wife,” or look of the girl was fast becoming a stony glare. ‘**Come, come! no fainting,” he exclaimed suddenly clutching her arm. ‘‘I sha’n’t leave this house without your reply. I came here for it, and I'll have nothing else!” The girl broke from his grasp. “Then you shall have it!” she cried. ‘I am going to face the worst you can do, Buck Bron- son, I will never become your wife!” "The answer seen-ed to stun the rascal for a minute, “You don’t mean that, Florence,” he ex- claimed. ‘‘Tevery word of it.” ‘Think of the family name.” te I do,” ‘Think of your mother who will be disgraced by the blow I can deal.” **T think of her.” Florence Worcester faced the rascal and spoke through her teeth. All at once Buck threw himself into an arm- chair, and placing his thumbs in the armholes of his elegant vest, looked derisively at the girl. “Pd like to know what put you in this frame of mind,” he went on. ‘The other night you would have yielded if that street spy had not come upon the scene.” “Then is not: now,” was the quick response. **T think I have told you plainly enough, Buck Bronson, that I will not marry you.” You didn’t speak in riddles, that’s a fact,” replied Buck, smiling faintly. ‘Very well. Your refusal is a challenge for me to do my worst.” ‘You can do it if you like,” ° ; ‘By Jupiter! Iwill do nothing less!” cried the rascal. ‘‘ Before to-morrow night Wash- ington society shall know that the daughter of the late Chesney Worcester had a thief for a father!” : The malignance with which the last sentence was uttered, almost staggered the young Yirl. “T’ve got proofs for it, too,” he went on, his eyes sparkling with rage. ‘I’ve got the papers that were not found in your father’s desk when he died.” “Tf you have them, who is the thief?” cried Florence. ‘‘ We always suspected you of hav- ing access to father’s office, and by your own confession you brand yourself dishonest. Go and deal the blow. We will prepare for it the best we can.” Buck Bronson sprung from the chair amazed at the coolness of the fair creature before him. This was the girl whom he expected to make eee ee eee his wife as a part of the infamous double game he was playing. Not content with the plot against Ralph Ro- maine the Baltimore banker, he was striking for still higher stakes, and for a wife who was out of the most beautiful women in Washing- m, “You can’t prepare for this stroke of mine,” he said to the young girl. ‘‘ You had better re- consider your resolution. It is not quite too late yet.” “Never! a thousand threats like the kind you have held over my head would not make me rescind,” “Foolish to the last.” he laughed with deri- sion as he moved toward the door. ‘‘T’ll make you feel the hand of Buck Bronson before the sun sets to-morrow. You think I won’t, but wait and see, [ve played cool hands in my time—” ** And an infamous one the other night, if the truth could be got at!” interrupted Florence looking him in the eye. She saw the city villain start under his well- kept demeanor. ‘That. arrow went home,” she murmured. ‘*Buck Bronson knows what became of Ralph Romaine. What would I not give if Capital Ben were here to follow this man from my house?” “You think you hit a mark that time,” smiled the Excelsior Sport, recovering in an in- stant. ‘How are you going to meet my blow? I'd like to know.” ‘“* Deal it and see,” cried the girl with an air of mystery. ‘** Another challenge, eh? All right! Let me bid you good-night, Florence. When the blow falls you need not come to Buck Bronson with a reversal of your answer. It will be too late!” She made no reply, and he walked from the parlor across the hall and into the street. ‘‘Merciful Heaven! what bave I done?” welled from the young, ir!’s heart when she heard the door close. ‘He will do it. He will brand my father a felon; but I could not be- come his wife!” There was no one nigh to catch the figure that sunk unconscious to the floor, but on the street outside there was some one to throw himself upon Buck Bronson’s trail as he left the house. And that somebody was a boy with keen eyes and a stealthy, noiseless step. It was Capital Ben, the young ferret of Wash- ington! CHAPTER X. ON THE ALERT, ‘Jupiter! I did not think the girl would show that much spirit,” ejaculated Buck Bron- son when he found himself.on the street again, and totally unaware that Capital Ben was at his heels, “I don’t know about making the play I threatened, but something’s got to be done. The other play is still unknown, and the papers have thrown out no hints, as Jerry fear- ed they would. We've got the fifty thousand safe enough, but I want to finger the girl’s for- tune. The only way to do that is to marry her, but that chance seems to have gone glim- mering.” When the Excelsior Sport turned the first corner from Florence Worcester’s house, he no longer looked like himself in the face. He had hastily adjusted a full beard which completely altered his appearance, and with this on he kept his way toward the Avenue still followed and watched by the boy. If Buck had left Washington since bis success- ful play against Ralph Romaine he had come back for a certain purpose. He had not heard of Jerry Jasper’s contest with Capital Ben in his office, and he (Buck) still .believed that the potion he bad added to the fever drops at Mrs, Seeley’s had “‘ fixed” the young spotter for good, Therefore, Ben was the last per.on he expect- ed to see on his trail at that hour, The boy resolved not to lose sight of the a, and the addition of the false whiskers “idea throw him off his guard. Buck strolled down to Pennsylvania Avenue as if he wasin no hurry, and the boy keeping him in sight, saw him look searchingly at the people as if he were seeking some particular person. **Mebbe he’s looking for Jerry,” muttered Ben, and the next moment he saw Buck nod to a man who stopped end went back toward him. ** Just_as I expected!” cried the city sleuth, “That is Jerry Jasper for the world. Don't look like himself, but it’s him allthesame. Hat there they go across the Avenue, toward the market!”
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f i= 10 The two men had joined and were crossing the wide avenue toward a park or plot of trees on the south side and in front of the market. In the center of the plot is a pond, the surface of which is dotted here and there with the broad leaves of a water lily, and across the water is thrown a footbridge, which enables people to pass back and forth. The keen eyes of the boy saw the two men reach the bridge, and while he watched them they stopped and leaned against its side, ‘Now for a confab,” ejaculated the young sleuth. ‘* They are going to say exactly what want to hear. Can’tI get to take it allin by a little work?” It was torture for the boy to stand off and see the two conspirators talking confidentially on the bridge. Their figures were discernible, and as the bridge had no passengers at that hour, they were not disturbed. "or a few minutes Capital Ben worked his wits, and then he started up the Avenue and crossed above the plotters. A minute later he was among the trees of the plot and his body was moving like a snake through the grass toward the bridge. It was a hazardous crawl for the ferret of Washington; he knew that if either of the ras- cals discovered him his life would not be worth a bit of paper, but for all this, he covered foot after foot of ground, and gradually drew near the conspirators, Fortunately for Ben the vicinity of the bridge was well shaded by trees and bushes, and the backs of the men seemed to be turned toward him. He could hear nothing as he advanced, but his eyes constantly watched the talkers, and now and then they glowed with a look of triumph. At last Capital Ben reached that end of the bridge nearest the Avenue, and under the dense shadow it threw he paused and caught his breath, The conspirators were in the middle of the structure directly over the water. It would be a task to reach them. ‘*By Jericho! nothing shall baffle me now!” exclaimed the boy detective. ‘‘I came here to find out something, and I don’tintend to go back without doing it.” A little while later he was moving toward the center of the bridge by means of the irons and timber underneath. lt was a difficult feat, for a failure, a mis-catch, would precipitate him in- to the water and | ut him at the mercy of the two rascals. Inch by inch and hand over hand the dauntiless boy moved forward. hen he sto eee at ite he found himself di- rectly under Buck and Jerry, and, what is more, he distinguished their low, earnest voices, much to his delight. Capital Ben — hardly conceal the joy of his successful play y, and with his face pressed against the timbers ‘of the bridge he prepared to take advantage of his shrewdness, “We can’t make a second move till we've set- tled with the everlastin; hag weasel,” he heard Buck Bronson say, didn’t you finish him in your office, J We ou admit that you had him on the floor, but yet you jump up and run away.” * Confound it! I expected to see a cop run in Po second,” replied the claims lawyer, in no -humor at Buck’s rebuke. “The prisoner was safe when you left him?” Vibe? *“* He won’t compromise, eh?” “Who talks of that?” exclaimed the Excelsior Sport. ‘‘Do you think I’m fool enough to let the bird go till the last hand has been plaved— “Not that, Buck, but—” “T failed at Florence’s house to-night, but only for a_ time,” was the interruption, in the Excelsior Sport’s well-known tones, ‘“¢-You don’t intend to give her up, then?” “Not by any means! There’s a hundred thousand Yollars where that girl is, and I’m not fool enough to let it go just because she said ‘no’ to-night. Do you want to withdraw from the game, Jerry?” **T do not.” “All right; then we play it out together. I'm a man of many disguises, I can outwit this young spy who has given us so much trou- ble. The next time Pll see that he doesn’t get through my fingers.” “Tl have a say in that little matter, Buck,” rong the boy, who was clinging like a mon- to the iron under the bridge. ‘I’ve made manza strike to-night, sure enough, and if Pm not match enough for you two, Pll throw myself from G. W.’s monument!” The Excelsior Sport. ‘What's to be the next move?” asked the law er, after a minute of silence. *m going to De, my game for the girl and the ducats. The bird in the cage is safe.” . ‘*But the weasel is at large,” suggested erry i: the weasel!” grated Buck. ‘I got the bird from the first cage to the new one by myself, and J think you could have taken care of the boy.” Jerry Jasper made no reply, and if Capital Ben had seen him at that moment he would have caught a frown on his face, ‘See here!” suddenly cried Buck Bronson “the next time you have a chance at Capital Ben you want to save on him. You can trust our Jehu, Dick Dodson. He is thought to be one of the squarest cabbies in Washington, but he’s safe for us. I happen to know that he served a term at Sing’ ing, and rather than have that exposed, he'd go through fire and water for us. ‘**Oho! so that’s the string you pull on Dick, eh?” laughed the en? he ‘* That’s only one of several I’ve got,” was the reply. ‘‘When that one works like a charm, what’s the use of pulling any other? He’s play- ed fair with us so far, Jerry, and he'll continue to the end. Hello! what was that?” This sudden question was occasioned by a slight movement of one of the young, sleuth’s limbs, which dislodged an old wasps’-nest, caus- ing it to fall into the water with a splash. apital Ben held his breath. He caught a glimpse of a man leaning over the railing of the bridge, with a pair of glitter- ing eyes on the alert. “Tt was a water-rat,” remarked Jerry, ** Mebbe it was, but I don’t like rats of any kind,” was the reply. ‘‘I don’t see anything, that’s a fact: but, hang it all! where did the rat go to, anyhow?” Capital Ben involuntarily drew back. He knew that an investigation would expose him to the two villains, and probably put a sud- den ending to his career. He had cause for alarm. “*Let’s get away from here,” Jerry Jasper said. ‘ Its no place to talk, anyhow.” " ie Age many water-rats, eh, erry?” laughed uc “Not that, but, by Jupiter! this is Washing- ton, and we're wanted, ou know.” ‘Do you feel the halter draw, old boy?” and the Excelsior Sport laughed again, The claims lawyer muttered a reply which the breathless boy under the bridge did not catch, and then the two men moved ‘toward the Avenue. ‘Well, I should say it paid me!” chuckled Capital Ben, as he listened to the sound of foot- steps. ‘‘ I will proceed to pull the same string that has helped your game along, Buck Bronson. I happen to know the man whom you e¢all Dick Dodson, though that does not happen to be his realname, Every bone in my y aches, but I can ae up with that for what P’ve heard.” The fo oes mice Capital Ben was moving back toward the street, but he no longer exer- -_ the caution he had "indulged i ina short time fore. When he reached the Avenue the conspirators had disappeared, and he did not attempt to find them. Half an hour later, a man holding a pair of lines on the seat of a cab was accos by a bright-eyed boy, whose feet were planted among the spokes of the front wheel. ello, Dick! I want to be driven to the man who is in Buck Bronson’s new cage!” the boy exclaimed. The cabman rétoiled with a strange cry. **Oh, you needn’t put on so much surprise!” continued the boy. ‘*Do what I say, or Wash- ton will hear of your experience in Sing ing CHAPTER XI. NETTING A TARTAR, THE boy detective could not repress a smile at the consternation his words had created in the hackman’s mind, The man looked like a person who suddenly hears his death sentence. ‘*T want to see the man you drove with Buck Bronson from the depot the other night,” con- tinued Capital Ben in the same stern tones he had used before. ‘‘ You are not going to escape me, Dick Dodson. {fam thoroughly acquainted with your history, and I will spread a little of it before Washington if you attempt to play any bluff games. Shall I get into the cab, or would you rather have me on the seat with you?” —weaeeeeS""kmMP_avxXrC(C SS - ‘ ee A singular gleam appeared suddenly in Dick Dobson’s eyes. It did not escape the young sleuth’s notice. “Tf I must take you to where you want to go I prefer to have you inside,” he replied. . oe you really, Dick?” thtetied Ben. * Yes, “Tl be accommodating,” and the boy got down. ‘‘ Now, you will take me straight to Ralph Romaine’s pleasant quarters, or there will be an unpleasant occurrence in which you may figure as the central character.” Capital Ben opened the door of the cab as he finished, and with a last admonishing look at Dick Dodson, got inside. “This fellow is shrowd and without scruples,” muttered the city ferret. ‘I must watch him from here, for a seat with him might expose se to the sharp eyes of Buck Bronson or Jerry asper.” The cab rolled away with Ben on the seat in- side, but with eyes on the alert. Dick Dodson whipped the horses into a good. gait and the vehicle passed up the Avenue, turn- ed into the White House grounds and came out beyond them headed for Georgetown, Capital Ben kept his seat and noted his sur- roundings, but said nothing, On, on went the cab. Georgetown was reached, but Dick Dodson kept on, “Am I going to the world’s end? cried the boy spotter, and then he thought of halting the fur ous driver, but held his peace. The vehicle did not slow up until the aqueduct bridge, leading across the Potomac, was reach- ed. Beyond the river ay Rosslynn and Arlington. Dick Dodson drew up at the toll-house on the bridge, and fumbled in his pockets for toll money which he found after a search; then the cab moved on again. It was dark on the bridge, but far to the left Capital Ben could see the thousand lights of Washington, and the electric flash of the dome of the Capitol. “This tool of Buck Bronson’s is playing a game!” exclaimed Ben. “If he thinks he is oing to take me into the wood beyond Ross- ynn, he will find himself mistaken, I have given him all the string he will get. Now I will show my hand.” The next moment the boy sleuth opened the door of the cab and hailed the man on the seat. ‘* Pull up!” he cried. Dick Dodson kept on as if he had not heard the command. “‘Pull up there, I say,” repeated Ben in a louder tone. ‘* Well, what is it?” asked Dick in a surly tone as he leaned toward the boy, while he did not stop his team. Where is this man?” “* A little further on.” ‘*Tn Rosslynn?” ‘A little beyond. You don’t sup would give bim a public residence, eh?” “* Maybe not.” ~ I on’t think he would, and neither do ou. Capital Ben made no reply for a moment, but he did not shut the door. Beneath the bridge flowed the Potomac, with here and there the giimmering light of a pers boat. The water seemed hundreds of feet be- low, yet it was not far, as the young detective knew. If he was to be taken beyond Rosslynn, upon the somewhat lonely road that winds wearily to Arlington, he would be in great peril. The look given him by the ex-convict driver in Washington had told him that a desperate man was in his employ, and that he would have to use eyes and ears to advantage. He noticed that after his conversation with Dick on the bridge the cab moved slower. At last it came to a halt. It was the darkest part of the old structure, mie Capital Ben felt that something was about ha OO What's up?” he called to Dick. ‘“* Harness broke,” was the answer, as the cab- man swung himself from his perch, “That is a lie!” cried the boy, ‘Get back upon your seat, Dick Dodson, or 0 let all your history out.” The man looked furious. He stood within three feet of the open carriage-door, and saw ae figure of his young passenger braced on the Buck eM Pirhe Baltimorean is not over here, and you know it!” Capital Ben went on. ‘I have given you all the string you are to get. I wanted to see what you would do, Now, turn back and
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_—* show me Ralph Romaine, or suffer the con- uences of failure.” he burly cabman came suddendly toward the boy detective, and his face almost touched him as he leaned forward and exclaimed. “Pll show you who masters me, you young city weasel!” he next second he came at Ben with all his force, blazing eyes and eager hands, and before the young detective could thrust a weapon into his face, he was clutched savagely and forced back into the cab! ‘Did you think I would show you the man you want to find?” hissed Dick. ‘Fool you are if you did! Yes, I’ve been in Sing Sing, but you'll never get to tell it in Washington!” And the boy felt a pair of demon hands at his throat, Capital Ben struggled with all his might. He knew it was a combat of life and death, and that he was pitted against a man who would show no mercy. His agility stood him well in hand now, and he suddenly showed Dick Dodson that he had not been misnamed the Washington Weasel. All of a sudden he twisted from the cab- man’s hands, and heard his success greeted by a mad vath. ‘“‘Not yet, my boy!” cried Dick springing again to the combat. ‘There is toomuch at stake to let you slip through my hands—entirely too much.” Capital Ben found that despite bis success the struggle was by no means ended. Did he think it was? Dick Dodson came back to the fight with re- newed resolution. Shutting his teeth hard he dashed at the slip- pery boy, caught him savagely and forced him —into one corner of the cab. “Tm going to drop you into the river!” Capi- tal Ben had hissed in his ears, ‘‘ Confound your prying nature, you deserve no better fate than this! The next man you shadow will bea spirit in another world.” ‘* Merciful God! this man is going to master me!” passed through Ben’s mind as he found himself yielding unwillingly to the superior strength of the ex-convict. ‘If I fall from this bridge into the Potomac,my hunt for Ralph Romaine will end here,” He felt the breath of Dick Dodson on his cheek; the strong hands of the driver were lift- ing him from the cab. t that moment the boy’s fingers touched the revolver which had been knocked from his grasp at the first onset. > A thrill passed over his frame at the touch, and he took new hope. ; * Aha! you’ve found the dropper, have you?” suddenly exclaimed Dick. ‘Yes and for you!” cried the boy. A moment later he raised the weapon and touched the trigger. The interior of the cab was filled with the stunning i Capital Ben felt the hands of the convict driver suddenly loosen, and at the same moment the horses started madly away! Thrown back by the abrupt start, Capital Ben lost his footing, and when he came to his senses again the team had left the bridge and was dashing like mad through Rosslynn! A sudden impulse took the young detective to the door but a look showed him that it would be folly to leap out with the cab going at that terrific rate! “Tf Thad the lines!” cried Ben, and then he continued through clinched teeth: “Ill get possession of them or lose the whole game!” Rosslynn with its few little frame houses was in a minute, und the horses were dashing toward Arlington. The boy spotter got out upon the step of the swaying cab, and caught at the iron about the driver's seat. It was worth his life to miss the iron, but his arene closed about it, and the next moment he had swung himself forward, and was grasping a pair of lines on which his life depended! raced in Dick Dodson’s seat Capital Ben pro- ceeded to the task before him. The two strong horses seemed to get new strength and fright with each revolution of the wheels. é The boy clutched the lines and tried to check them, but it seemed in vain. : He threw himself back on the seat with the leather lines wrapped about his hands and worked with all his strength. His hat was gone, and the night wind that came down the lonely road tossed his bair in every direction. Ali at once the front wheel struck a bowlder and the flying cab careened. Capital Ben could not keep back a sharp cry of terror; he was The Excelsior Sport. lifted from the seat and then flung back upon it as if from the hand of a giant. anne next second the wheel struck another rock, ‘* Heavens! we are getting off the road!” cried the boy. With wonderful presence of mind he tried to bring the mad team back into the road. The effort almost took his strength. ‘* Don’t these horses never let up?” cried Ben. ‘* By Jupiter! Dick Dodson will have to get out a search-warrant for his property if we keep cn! The wild team kept on till the city ferret saw a fringe of trees on either hand. **1ll run ’em into the woods and risk it!” he exclaimed. He did not get to perform this feat, for that second the cab struck an obstruction and pitched to one side. This time it did not right itself as before, and Capital Ben, clinging to the seat and the lines was dragged on at a speed that threatened speedy death. CHAPTER XII. A BOLD TRICK. Two hours after the tussle on the bridge be- tween Capital Ben and the convict cabman, Buck Bronson, about to enter a well-known hotel in Washington, felt a hand on his arm. There was something in the touch that startled im. As he turned, which he quickly did, he stood face to face with Dick Dodson. “Captain, the devil’s to pay!” were the driver’s first words. _“* For what kind of goods?” laughed the excel- sior sport. ‘“My cab’s a wreck and one horse is nearly dead, and all on account of that street weasel called Capital Ben!” Buck Bronson uttered a ery. ‘*Come up-stairs. [I’ve got a room in this house!” he exclaimed. “I want the whole story. The boy again, eh? By George! I’ve got to shake him off.” Dick Dodson followed the sport toa room on the third floor of the hotel, and was waved to a chair and told to spin his story. He began at the beginning, told how he was suddenly accosted by the young detective, and ordered to drive to the hiding-place of the miss- ing Baltimorean, how he ok the boy through the President’s grounds, and on to Georgetown, till the aquednet bridge was reached. Then came an account of the struggle in the cab, told in the cool vein of a practiced crimi- nal, and listened to with almost breathless in- terest by the excelsior sport. **T wasn’t looking for the shot he fired in the cab,” continued Dick, ‘‘The bullet, fired at random, tore the skin over my temple and threw me back upon the bridge. It sent the horses off, too, sent them at breakneck toward cargo ag ‘* With the boy?” ‘« With the Washington Weasel!” ‘¢- You followed, of course?” * As soon as I got able. When I got up I could hear the cab rattling up the road far be- yond Rosslynn, and I knew at once that some- thing would be ruined. I started after the run- aways on foot. The people of Rosslynn told me that the horses went through the place like a bolt of lightning.” : ‘¢ Get to the end of the story!” cried Buck im- patiently. ‘‘ I don’t want to follow you step by step, You found the turn-out?” “Yes!” spoke Dick through set teeth. ‘I found all there was left of it—in a ditch at the top of the hill.” ‘Tn bad condition?” “The cab was splinters—looked like it had | been dragged some distance over the road. I've got to get a new rig, sir.” ‘¢ We'll sec to that, Dick. What had become of the boy?” ‘“‘ Heaven knows.” , ‘You got no trace of him?” — ‘** None, only a hat which I picked up just be- fore I struck the cab. There was blood on the lines where a person would be likely to take hold of them. I found the horses in the woods half a mile further on. I’ve got to have one new horse, too,” “You shall have it! I think you did your duty as far as you could, Dick.” “By Jupiter! but for the p'stol I would have had the young weasel in the Potomac! That's what I took him over there for. I wonder if he thought I would take him to the right place?” Buck Bronson laughed, but suddenly became serious. eo” = oa . ~ ii ‘Did you make any search for the boy?’ he asked. ‘*Tt was no use. He wasn’t on the road, nor under the cab; and the wood was too dark for business, I was anxious to get back to Wash- ington to see and to post you, captain. If the boy is able to be around after that racket, he’s dangerous. Idon’t want him about with what he knows about my residence in Sing Sing,” and Dick lowered his voice when he got to the last sentence. ‘* How do you think he got onto that, captain?” ” he Excelsior Sport shook his head. ‘*} shall be on the lookout for him from now on,” the convict cabman went on. ‘I guess I don’t want him around any more than you do, Captain Buck. If he escaped withouta scratch, he must be a pardof Old Nick’s. He didn’t stop the horses; I could see that. They upset the cab, dragged it over the read a piece, and then kicked loose.” ‘* Maybe he got out before the catastrophe oc- curred,” suggested the sport. ‘“‘Tt must have been that way,” was the re- sponse. ‘ Whatif the young fox is crippled somewhere in the woods beyond Rosslynn? ** Or dead!” “Yes, or dead!” cried Dick. “ Vdnearly give my other horse if he was in that fix over there! If I had got him into the Potomac, there would be no more trailing by that ferret!” Buck Bronson drew his watch and looked at it. ‘6Can you get a new team, Dick?” ‘Vee; “ To-night?” “Right away. Iknow where my credit is good for a turn-out.” “Get a buggy at once and meet me at Kighth and the Avenue. We'll see what became of the shadow.” Dick Dodson’s eyes instantly dilated. “* Are we going over the route?” he asked, “Weare going to get at the bottom of this mystery. Getoutthe rig atonce. I'll meet you at the place named.” The next minute Buck Bronson was alone, “The chances favor the boy; Ill bet my head on it!” he ejaculated. ‘I can’t play the double ame out while he lives to shadow me. Dick odson nearly relieved me of his rascally espion- age ata So He did better than chicken-heart- ed Jerry Jasper who let the boy go when he had him in his clutches. The weasel to-night, Flor- ence again to-morrow.” The Excelsior Sport walked from the room and went below. The full false beard he wore quite altered his appearance, and nobody in the office recognized him as Buck Bronson one of the best known characters in Washington. He knew it would require some minutes for Dick to be at the appointed rendezvous with the rig, so he lita cigar and picked up an evening paper which lay on the desk, lancing half carelessly over the last page his eye alighted on a name that instantly command- ed attention, “ Hello! what’s this?” he cried, and then he read the following paragraph which deeply in- terested him: “Tap TRIMBLE AT THE Hosprrau.”” “Tt turns out that the boy, Dick Daggett, who was received at the Children’s Hospital potenies is Tad Trimble, the well-known bootblack and newsboy. He is suffering from a severe wound on the head and is delirious at tim’s. In one of his quier moments, when told that his hurt might prove fatal, he gave his true name and says he was assaulted by a well- known sporting character of tbe city whcese name he has not yet divulged, The boy is suffering greatly and is conscious only at times. The surgeon in cbarge hopes to get a full confession from the boy, during his pext lucid period, when the person who made the assault will be arrested.” Buck Bronson read breathless to the end of the paragraph which was skipped by hundreds, and not seen at all by many more, ‘ “T don’t want things to take a turn like this!” he cried, throwing the paper down. “TI thought the boy had no chance to get out of the cellar but here he is at the hospital, and on the eve of giving me away. Jerry would light out lively if he saw this.” The Excelsior Sport left the hotel in no pleas- ant mood. He seemed to be between two dan- gerous fires—between Capital Ben’s shrewdness and Tad Trimble’s confession, He reached the street with his brain in a con- fused whirl. ‘“‘Tf I could be two minutes alone with the boy at the hospital he wouldn’t give anybody away!” he hissed. ‘‘ But they wouldn’t let me see him if I went there, No! I’ve got to at- eae > ee
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a ty ane od URMERE Riker ae ee NETS en Wan ON oon eee ae ge il pp oe 12 tend to the other one. Capital Ben is the dan- ger I’ve aot to look after now.” He walked up the street, to the place where he was to meet Dick Dodson with the rig. Though he kept his eyes on the alert, he could not see that anybody was watching him. The convict driver was not yet on hand, and Buck leaned against an adjacent tree and began to wait. Five minutes passed away, and then Dick drove up, looking anxiously for him. ‘“‘Great Ceesar, captain, we needn’t go,” ex- claimed the ex-convict, leaning toward the Ex- celsior Sport, as he came forward. “Why not?” “The boy’s in the city.” Buck Bronson gave utterance to a startling exclamation. “ Alive in Washington?” he cried. ** Ho’s nowheres else.” *“ When did you see him?” ** Not two minutes ago.” ‘* Where?” “*He’s down the walk a jittle ways, with his eyes on us now for a thousand!” The Excelsior Sport turned with a half- smothered oath. ‘‘Turn about and drive slowly toward him,” he whispered to Dodson. ‘Be prepared for anything. Keep close to the sidewalk, and if I throw the boy into the buggy, clutch him with one hand and drive off like tury. I’m playing for both of us now, as much for you as for me,” The lips of the convict cabman met firmly and his eyes flashed. ‘You can trust me, captain!” he cried, ‘‘ The boy was at the second tree down,” “Pll find him,” Buck Bronson turned back as Dick began to bring the horse about. ‘*Now, my living shadow, Ill show you a trick which you do not think is in the game!” he chuckled. ‘* You got out of the smash-up safely, but the cyclone now on hand will destroy you. Wait and see!” A glance told the Excelsior Sport that the cabman was obeying his injunction by keeping close to the sidewalk, and with itching hands and eager eyes he went forward to play his trick. ** The second tree, Dick says,” muttered Buck. ““Ah!.TI’ve got my peepers on the ferret al- reety Now, I'll show you my play, Capital en. ‘ A boy was leaning carelessly against the tree and not watching the man, who came up with the tread of a cat. All at once Buck sprung forward and caught the boy in his hands. At the same moment Dick Dodson drew up at the tree. ** See here, mister, I’m no rat!” cried the boy, struggling in the villain’s grasp. _ Buck Bronson made no reply, but lifting his victim from the ground, he tock a step toward the street and forced him into the buggy. ** Now, Dick, do your duty!” he cried, and the next moment the buggy was flying down the Avenue. CHAPTER XITII. FACE TO FACE, “THatT’s what I call decidedly slick!” laughed Buck Bronson in undertones, as he walked from the scene of his exploit. ‘‘ Dick knows where to drive to, and I think [ have seen the last of the weasel’s shadow game, Nobody appeared to see my play; the Fates were in my favor, and I guess there’s only one more trick to take—the hundred thousand up on Fourteenth street!” The Exceisior Sport was confident that his op play had rid him effectually of Capital en, Already the bugey carrying Dick Dodson and the boy bad vanished, and Buck had nothing to’ occupy his mind for the time. After a short stroll, he stopped suddenly and turned back, “1 believe [ll see how my bird is getting along,” he ejaculated. ‘‘We’ve got to bring matters to a crisis soon. I'll see if his mood has changed since I saw him last,” Forthwith Mr. Buck Bronson quickened his gatt, and after a long walk he drew up in front of a large old looking and secluded house in the suburbs of Washington, The front of the house was almost entirely hidden by dense untrimmed shrubbery, and could not be seen from the rickety gate. It was one of those houses for sale of which Jerry Jasper was agent, and from outward appear- ances a better place to keep a prisoner could not be imagined. we Buck Bronson passed up the unkempt walk and ca ares among the shrubbery at one corner of the house. % ina laa a Na Sends ———ssn The Excelsior Sport. In a little while he reappoared at a rear door which he opened with a key which he took from under a decaying wooden step, and entered the old house. The place was furnished inside, but the fur- niture looked old, as it really was, Buck Bronson found a stair at the foot of which he stopped and removed his shoes. Then he stole up the steps and stopped at a door near the head of the landing. Drawing a revolver, the Excelsior Sport in- serted a key into a lock, turned it without noise and opened the door, The next moment he shut the door behind him, transferred the key to his pocket, and was recognized by a man who sprung up from a couch and started toward him. Buck Bronson’s eyes flashed when he saw the man in the light of the lamp on a small table near by, and he made a menacing gesture with the revolver that kept the prisoner of the room at bay. ‘You are here yet, I see,” the sport cried with a smile. ‘‘How do you like your quar- ters? The man who was young and handsome, though his features showed traces of suffering, seemed about to resent the inquiry with an guianee of anger, but Buck saw him check the esire, **’You know how I like it here,” he exclaimed. ** When is this to end?” ‘‘ When I have played my game clear out,” was the reply. ‘**Didn’t the game end when you got the oe. T brought from Baltimore?” SE INOs ‘“By a piece of shrewd villainy that has no para el, you got fifty thousand dollars from us, “You may call the trick what you please, Mr. Romaine. It was successful all the same,” laughed Buck. ** Yes,” replied the sport’s prisoner biting his Lip; -.S Tam a fool for once, at least.” ‘* This room was once the abode of another man whose money got him into a net,” cried Buck, ‘‘ Those bars at the windows were not ut there for you, as you may have thought. The owners of this property kept a man in this room for ten years, or until the undertaker came and took him away. You are asone dead tothe world, Ralph Romaine. dreads. you are entirely forgotten. Your partner, Trego, came here, looked around a little, made an inquiry or two, and went home to tell your friends that you are off on a business trip of indefinite length. he police never heard of ,you, the papers know nothing—so you see you are dead to the world,” ‘You are a deeper villain than I thought!” exclaimed the prisoner. ‘‘ What is your price, aCe, Bronson, or Dubois, as I once thought you ‘“My price? I haven’t any!” cried the sport. ** But you don’t intend that I shall always re- main here?” “Why not? Do you think I am going to im- peril the success of my last play by letting you out? Nobody ever comes to this house, save those whom [send here. The person who drops your food over the little transom is a mute whom I picked up years ago. The loudest cries you might make at the window would meet with no response. This old house has been in the market for years, but nobody wants it be- cause of the crime which is supposed to have been committed on the man I have mentioned --- the prisoner of this room.” Ralph Romaine seemed to draw back as he gave the sport a searching look. ““You must have a price,” he cried. “All men have, You dare not name the conditions under which I can leave this place.” “Of course not, for I have none to name,” was the answer. ‘I will call occasionally to see that you are still here, though my silent man will not let you suffer.” The prisoner took a step forward, and Buck saw that his hands were clinched. ‘You don’t want to push maiters!” the sport cried, menacingly. ‘‘ The game I have in hand is going to be won at all hazards. Itis but half- played though. I took a very important trick a while ago, and if you get obstreperous, Ralph Romaine, by Jupiter! I will proceed to very harsh measures!” ‘* Which means that you will not hesitate to take human life?” “T will not hesitate,” was the coolly spoken response. “I am going to be plain with you. My game is for big money and a good deal more. The fifty thousand which you brought to Washington to loan to Dan Dubois, alias Buck Bronson, is only a drop in the bucket. You've ae Hee ee got a hundred thousand in Baltimore. but there is a like sum elsewhere with a very desirable ob- ject attached to it. Therefore, you haven't got money enough to purchase your release, Be patient, and the liberty you want may come sooner than you expect it.” A sudden start by the captive banker seemed to indicate a discovery. ‘I think I begin to see through your game,” he cried, A smile curled the lips of the Excelsior port. ‘* Perhaps you do,” he ejaculated. “I have wandonet why you have not discovered it be- ore, ‘“My belief gives a deeper dye to your infa- mous scheme!” flashed the Baltimorean. “ You have designs against a young girl!” ‘* Aha! the beautiful Florence!” laughed Buck Bronson, in tones that flushed his prisoner’s cheeks, ‘She is worth playing for, don’t you think so?” : i as Romaine looked too indignant to speak, “Tl inform you that I’ve got my net about the girl,” the Washington sport went on. There's a cool hundred thousand where she is, ‘*Take all I’m worth, and leave her alone!” cried Romaine. ‘She is too good to fall into your clutches!” ‘* But just good enough to become your wife, with her splendid dowry, eh?” was the reply, accompanied by a cutting laugh. “I can’t afford to let my chances slip. To-morrow I play the last card on Fourteenth street. It will win the game,” ‘¢ What is it?” “The threatened exposure of her father's felony!” The captive banker uttered a ene ‘““Ah! did you never hear a whisper of it?” continued Bronson. ‘ Judge Worcester, as ad- ministrator, used other people’s money to enrich himself, He made himself a felon to ge up in the world. I have the proofs in black and white. Don’t you see that an exposure would throw Florence and her mother into social dis- Ripert I’ve got the hand that wins, haven’t “Spare them this shame!” cried Romaine, “T am going to, on one condition—that Florence immediately becomes Mrs, Bronson!” Ralph Romaine recoiled. **She has already refused to do this, but when IT confront the pair with the papers they’ll give in,.and Ill take the trick. y Rad a weasel at my heels for a while, but he is out of the way now, and there is nothing to hinder my success,” ““Go ahead!” cried Romaine with flashin eyes, ‘There will be a turning pomt one these days, Buck Bronsop, and then, by the eternal God! we will see how justice is adminis- tered in this country.” ** Justice!” echoed ihe Excelsior Sport with a derisive laugh. ‘t That is played out in America. The shrewdest man wins and holds the stakes. You will see, Romaine, that I have won so far. To-morrow I play the big game out.” He walked backward to the door, irserted the key ey, into the lock and covered his prison- er with the cocked six-shooter, Ralph Romaine stood in the center of the room Hike a man ready to leap at an enemy, and it was evident that the revolver in the hand of the desperate sport was all that held him back. All a once Buck threw the door open, and sprung across the threshold. The next moment the door closed with a bang and a key clicked in the lock, ‘Safe yet!” cried the sport as he went out, “lve got to get rid of that man before long, He’s a white elephant on my hands,” The villain left the house and went down the furzy walk in front, At the gate a man sprung into the path and forced Buck to recoi] with his hand on his re- volver, ‘*T thought you’d be here!” cried the man, ‘Ah! is it you, Dick?’ was the reply. ‘* Where is the sidewalk?” ‘ “Hang me, if I know, captain. The boy you rer into the buggy wasn’t Capital Ben at all. Buck uttered a startling cry. CHAPTER XIV. QUICK WORK, At that moment, concealed by the shrubbery and not twenty fect from the two men, stood a well-built boy with a pleased smile at the cor- ners of his mouth and glittering eyes, 4 young weasel I caught on the ee rr ere
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_o- oo 7 oe We Aint dnts _ transom, and when he dropped The Excelsior Sport. ** Of course you tossed the wrong boy into the You can’t get out by the transom, Mr, Ro- bug-y, Buck Bronson,” muttered the young | maine; we spy. a And it is fortunate for me that you did 80, ploit, I think I’ve found the Baltimore oriole’s cage, and I’ll make the most of it, too!” he surprise of the Excelsior Sport when told py his tool the convict cabman that be had caught the wrong boy was complete. He had seized the youth on the sidewalk with- out so much as giving him a second look. As he was about Capital Ben’s size, and stood at the tree designated by Dick, he took it for granted | | dogging your footsteps after that ex- | that he was the Washington Weasel, and acted | accordingly. ; Dick Dodson soon discovered the mistake, and some distance up the Avenue he drew rein and pitched the unknown boy unceremoniously into the street. The cabman’s next move was to find Buck Bronson, but that worthy bad vanished, and after a futile search of several of his city haunts Dick had come to the old house there to find the sport as we have seen. The boy in the shrubbery saw the two men move toward the city proper, and when they were lost to view he turned toward the house, Capital Ben, for the een was the agile de- tective, was convinced that the mansion con- tained the man he desired to find, but its silent and deserted look seemed to overthrow his con- victions. Not a noise came from within, and Ben looked like a ghost as he moved about among the rank shrubbery, or listened in various places, Against one side of the house grew a heavy vine that appeared strong enough to bear a man’s weight, and seeing that one of the upper windows could be reached by it, the young spot- ter began to ascend along the wall. He reached the window and went to work on the per working cautiously, but with all his might. fter awhile the window yielded and Capital Ben crossed the sill, and dropped into a room about which he knew nothing. For a while he tried to examine the place in the dark, but did not succeed to his satisfaction, then he struck a silent match to discover that he’ was ina large apartment, well furnished with furniture thickly coated with dust. The boy detective soon left this room and got into a corridor that led to a stairway. His match was out and he was in darkness in. bay felt his way along the hall to a door. He turned the knob and pushed inward, but the portal did not yield. ‘ ** Nothing here,” he cried, turning away. At that moment the sound of a quick footstep struck his ears. ‘What was that?” , He went back to the door and listened, ee y Jericho! there’s_a man beyond this door!” parted his lips. ‘* He is listening just as " am, I can hear him breathing beyond the oor. Drawing back a step Capital Ben leaped at the transom and caught the top of the door frame firmly, ‘* Who's in here?” he called, in a loud whis- 1g A cry of surprise was tho reply. ‘Tam here,” spoke a voice beyond the door— the voice of a man. *“ Are you friend or foe?” “Tf you are Ralph Romaine, of Baltimore, I am a riend.” “‘ T am he.” Capital Ben could not keep back a ery of ex- tation. “Found at last!” he cried. **Now, Buck Bronson, I will give you more trouble than ever! \ pansies of Sones, By Siw foot he Gtow his up, and began ork his way through the Be hme decidedly difficult job, . “Pm liable to stick here,” lnughed Ben, be- tween his breaths, to the man who wai d for him impatiently in the room below. ‘“T seem to fit this transom to a T, but in spite of it Py wriggle through.” It was twenty minutes’ work for the boy spotter to force himself through the narrow to the floor be- low he was caught by the man, who broke forth into exclamations of joy. : , “Tve made a pT deal of noise getting re!” exclaimed Ben. ‘‘ Who is in the house des yourself?” *‘A guard who is a mute.” ign ange aeons for it,” a the boy. uck and his Sing Sing ve gone © the city, and we can get out at our leisure. must try the door.” Capital Ben, who knew a good deal about door-locks, went to work on the one before him, but he soon discovered that he had under- taken a gigantic task. The boy looked dispirited, “Til have to get the key!” he exclaimed. ‘Buck carried one off, no doubt, but the jailer has another,” “What! are you going to tempt fate by rob- bing the mute?” cried the Baltimorean. “‘ He is as strong as a lion, and, for all I know, may not sleep in the house.” *'You can get out only by the key,” was the rep'y. “Vl skin through the transom again, and make the attempt.” There was no other alternative, for Ralph Romaine could not force his body through { narrow space above the door; therefore, he helped Capital Ben to the transom and saw him work his way out. The young sleuth began to search the house for the sleeping quarters of the banker’s mute guard. With the tread of a cat he went from room to room, but found no one, ‘““T guess we’ve got to force the door, if it rouses the dead,” he murmured at last. ‘TU take a bed-post from the bed I sawin one of the rooms, pe with it Pll open the cage of the Baltimore bird.” With this resolution foremost in his mind, Capital Ben glided back to the room where he intended to begin operations. As he crossed a hall, a puff of wind blew into his face. He stopped instantly, ‘*A door is open!” he exclaimed. shut when I was here awhile ago, has come in or gone out—which?” _ The question was a puzzle to the young detec- tive, but after awhile he continued toward the room he intended to visit. “Great Caesar! the man who opened the ‘door came in!” he suddenly exclaimed, and the next moment he was looking at a man who was un- dressing before a mirror, _ Capital Ben saw that the man stood unstead- ily before the glass, and that, to use a trite say- ing, all his fingers were thumbs, In short, the man was intoxicated, ‘A little too much W ashington laughed the spotter while he watched t before the glass, Jasper!” “Tt was Some person oison,” id e man Great heavens! it is Jerry the | | | | 13 ness into the lock, turned it sharply, and threw open the door. Ralph Romaine came out with a cry of tri- umph, and a moment later Jerry found himself hurled into the room, and heard a key turned on him! CHAPTER XV. BUCK STICKS TO HIS SCHEME. JERRY JASPER became furious when he found himself a prisoner in the room that had opened its door to the victim of Buck Bronson’s tran The events of the past few minutes had com- pletely sobered him, “What a fool I was for not dusting when I had a chance!” he exclaimed, mad at himself, ‘*T suppose I will be kept here till the authori- ties arrive and pull me in for assisting to defraud, and heaven knows for what else. Can’t I get out of this place? By Jupiter! there’s the tran- som! I think I can wriggle through it.” Capital Ben and the Baltimorean were leaving the grounds when the rascally lawyer divested himself of some of his outer clothing, and attacked the transom, his only avenue of escape. The only chair in the room helped him to the goal of his ambition, and he was soon pushing through the opening. When midway he stuck, and all his efforts to proceed an inch further proved futile. ‘ Nor could he get back, though he tried with all his might, Jerry was ‘‘in a fix,” and he began to curse himself and Buck Bronson like a Flemish trooper. He next began to storm, to raise his voice and to pound the door with his fists; but all in vain, Nobody came to his rescue and no voice re- sponded to his frantic cries for help. Meantime the Excelsior Sport and his tool, Dick Dodson, had gone back to Washington yroper, bent on running Capital Ben to earth. he two desperadoes recognized the danger that menaced their schemes while the boy was at large. His reenpnssens told that be had escaped uninjured from the furious runaway on the Ar- lington pike, and that, unless he was soon caught and caged the double game would amount to nothing. The eyes of the two men were on the alert. They had resolved to resort to the most se vere measures. Dick was ready todo anything, and Buck was determined that the Washington At that moment the boy had obtained a good | Weasel should not baffle him now, look at the man’s face, and it was enough to tell him that it was the claims lawyer and Buck Bronson’s pard, Capital Ben stepped into the room on tiptoe; the man did not hear him, _ “Why, hello, Jerry ing the lawyer’s arm. - te here. Give us your hand!” who had come © sport's friend recoiled and stared at the | doesn’t know you, bo upon him like a ghost, i Don’t go back on me, J erry!” conitaed Ben witha laugh. “T haven't seen you since we separatedin your office, Going to bed, eh? No, no, my old pard. Let me trouble you to open the left-hand door up-stairs,” This demand, as well as the pistol in Capital cd right hand, seemed to sober the claim- agent. _ “T unlock nothing!” he cried, fixing his flash- ing eyes upon the boy detective, “ By George! if you don’t get out of here, I'll grind you to Por Not 8 bad hat, J Not so as that, Jerry!” and Capi stepped back and suddenly covered ogee with the revolver. “I am playing my game out, Jerry Jasper,” he went on sternly, ‘I don't intend to parlcy with a scoundrel like you. You know who is in the room up-stairs; "you were not too drunk to know that there was a bed here for you. You know where the key to Ralph Romaine’s door is. You will get it at once and go straight to the lock, or Jerry Jas- per will never more do business on F street,” There was something terribly resolute in the look and tones of the boy who faced the F street lawyer. Jerry Jasper felt a shiver pass through his frame when he looked over the revolver into the glittering eyes behind it. ‘Come, Jerry; move along!” cried Ben, The man started off with compressed lips, Aas get even for this!” he said between set ‘I sha’n’t object if you do,” was the reply. he lawyer went straight to the door of the ‘imorean’s prison, and touching an unseen Spring in the wall found a conceal aor The next moment he inserted it with sullen- old boy!” he cried “Vm almighty 'dlad to | “‘T would like to know_how the boy at the hospital comes on,” said Buck to the convict cabman, ‘The evening paper said he was like- ly to give me away, and I want to find out if that event is likely to occur soon. Give me to- morrow yet, and the game is mine! The youngster’s name is Tad Trimble. He is at the Children’s Hospital, in the accident ward. He Syncs j Dick. Go there on find out ow he is, and report as soon as possible at my room at the Mordaunt,” 8 ‘a Dick Dodson hurried away on his mission, and reached the hospital as soon as possible. A. cautious inquiry about the wounded boy gained the information that he was likely to recover, and also that he had refused to reveal the name of the man who had almost taken bis life, “This news will suit Buck!” exclaimed the cabman as he turned back. ‘ He can now go on with his game. After to-morrow he will put me on the Avenue again with a new team, and I will feel like somebody once more.” Buck was waiting for his tool in an up- stairs room of his hotel. He was alone, but had wine and cigars on his table. All at once a knock sounded on his door. The Excelsior Sport sprung up and hurried across the room, Opening the door cautiously, he found himself face to face with a man whom he did not recognize at first. “T am err Trego of Romaine & Trago,” said the man advancing into the room, A sudden flash took possession of Buck Bron- son’s eyes, “Be seated Mr. Trego,” he replied. ‘What can I do for you?” The villain was coolness itself, and he knew that he was in the presence of Ralph Romaine’s partner. ee sar — a chair ps sf ane on: ou wil pardon me, bu now that yo are the Mr- Dubois who engaged to borrow ditty. thousand of us a few daysago, Mr. Romaine came here with the money, and has not return- i Well?asked Buck without moving a mus cle, 7 “TI am willing to compromise,” continued.
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14 Trego. “I don’t want any publicity in this matter. I will not have the house dragged into any controvers¥—we can’t afford it. If you will give us the securities agreed upon we will jet the loan stand.” Buck Bronson could hardly keep back a smile. He leaned back in his chair and looked coolly atthe man beforehim. Heseemed to measure his physical strength by a closescrutiny from head to foot. ‘“Where is Mr. Romaine?” Buck suddenly asted, ‘Ah! that we do not know,” was the reply. “*T will transact all necessary business,” ‘* He was to have done it.” Trego started. , sie What! haven’t you seen him sinco he came to Washington?” he cried. ‘*No; did he really come?” The Baltimore banker almost leaped from his chair, ‘Yes! He came the night agreed upon,” he answered. ‘‘I believe you met him at the depot.” ‘I?’ cried Buck, leaning forward. ‘‘Seehere; this is a serious charge if Mr. Romaine has mysteriously disappearec. “You don’t want to get me into trouble, Henry Trego, I understand that you have been here sometime. Why have- n’t you tried to unearth thescheme you hint at?” “The honor of the house, sir—” ** Widdlesticks!” interrupted Buck. ‘* Would you take ten thousand dollars and let the mat- ter drop?” ‘“‘T'd rather have papers securing the whole loan.” Buck burst into a laugh. ** Give me the fifty thousand dollars I was to have borrowed, and the papers are yours!” he cried. ‘‘ By the way, you’d sooner have the loan secured than find Romaine, wouldn’t you?” Henry Trego’s face grew ved. **Go home, or tell the police all you know or suspect, and bring your house before the people by its loose way of doing business,” the Wash- ington sport went on. ‘I still want the fifty thousand, but I don’t give up the securities be- fore I getit. Mr. Romaine probably went fur- ther on, As to my meeting him at the depot— who told you this?” The Baltimorean stammered and looked down. ‘* Very well! I’ve got enemies in this town, and you’ve probably found them. No, sir! I haven’t seen Mr. Romaine. I can give you no information concerning him. Ihave lostmoney by not getting the loan bargained for, I can come on your house for damages.” Mr. Trego seemed startled by the last remark, and did not try to prolong the interview. Buck Bronson’s coolness had met him at all points, and had outwitted him, a, Trego left the sport in a happy frame of mind, ‘“There’s nothing like sticking to a lie when ou’ve got one to suit you!” Buck laughed, when e found himself alone. e A little while after Buck had another visitor more to his liking—Dick Dodson, fresh from ihe hospital. ‘““Tad Trimble is likely to hold his secret a few days, which will be long enough!” cried Buck, when Dick had reported. ‘‘ By to-morrow night I will have a wife, and will be the nom- inal owner of one hundred thousand dollars. Help yourself to the wine and cigars, Dick. I ‘wonder what has become of Jerry? I haven't seen him since our talk on the Market bridge.” Almost at that very moment a policeman, accompanied by a boy, entered an old house in the suburbs of the city and found a man hang- ing from the transom above a certain door. ‘Hello! here is Jerry!” cried the boy, spring- ing forward, but the next moment he recoiled withacry. ‘*Great God! this man is dead!” The officer came up and looked ot the tran- som’s prisoner, Yes, the claims lawyer was dead! CHAPTER XVI. THE WEASEL’S VICTORY. CauGHrt in his own trap and unable to extri- cate himself, Jerry Jasper had met the severest of dooms, death! Capital Ben and the policeman succeeded in getting the body from its singular position, and left it alone in the old house. ‘What are you going to do with the other man?” asked the blue-coat. * Leave that to me.” ‘* He will be on the lookout for you.” ‘‘T am ready for him!” laughed the boy. ‘* Dick Dodson will also be on the alert.” ‘So he will, ready to help Buck Bronson in any game that he invents. I owe Dick one for ‘ BS 5 ee eo ‘ TT The —xcelsior Sport. ‘ ‘his desperate attempt to throw me into the | Potomac from the aqueduct bridge. When I | found the cab being dragged over the Arlington road, I gave myself up tor Jost, and when I was | every bone in my body was broken. But I | escaped with a few slight bruises, which I con- sider a miracle, and I got back to the city as quick as possible. It wasfun for me to see Buck rm up the wrong boy and throw him into ick’s buggy, and when the sport started off, L knew he would take me tothe Baltimore banker. Don’t you think I’m able to hoe my own row?” and Capital Ben looked up into the officer’s face and laughed. ‘*'You seem to be,” was the reply. The young spotter, once more in Washington, had cause for keeping his eyes open. He knew that he had to deal with two decided- ly dangerous men, and that he must not relax his vigilance for a moment, All at once his keen eyes caught sight of a man who recognized him at the same time. It was Dick Dodson! The next moment Capital Ben had covered the distance between Dick Dodson and himself, and in a stern voice he spoke to the cabman: **Don’t attempt to elude me, Dick. If you step from my side before I give permission, I'll blow the Sing Sing story.” The man ground his teeth and looked madly at the boy. The pair continued down the street for a mo- ment, when Capital Ben called a policeman. The convict driver started back, but the boy covered him with his finger. ““T want that man held!” the boy said. ‘* For what?” “ Attempted murder.” In another instant Dick Dodson was in the officer’s hands. “Tl settle for this!” he grated, glaring at the oy. ** Yes, but the settlement will not be made be- fore y-ur return from Sing Sing,” and Capital Ben turned and walked away. At the hour of ten the next day Miss Florence Worcester, of Fourteenth street, heard the tinkling tones of her door-bell. The young lady seemed to be waiting for some one, and she quickly hurried to the door, Buck Bronson was on the step, a smile lurking at the corners of bis mouth. Florence received him with more cordiality than he evidently expected. “T am here for the last time,” began Buck, turning upon the beautiful girl in the parlor. “*T don’t want to deal the blow 1 referred to when last here. It will crush you, and your mother, Florence. I have come to give you one more chance.” ‘* What is that?” asked the girl, ‘* Become my wife to-day and [ will burn the compromising papers in your sight.” At judge’s daughter was silent for a mo- ment, ‘*T never could believe that father was guilty of this felony,” she cried. “If you have the apers—” ‘Here they are,” exclaimed Buck, tapping his breast where a certain fullness denoted an inside pocket. ‘‘The proof is overwhelming.” ee found the papers in father’s desk, you sa if I did.” ‘* What are those papers?” ‘*Certain forged copies of wills intrusted to his keeping.” “*T am very ia said Florice with a smile that puzzled the Excelsior Sport. ‘‘I have a packet here that might interest you,” As she finished she stepped to a little stand the drawer of which she opened before the sport. ‘* Here are papers which were found late last night,” she went on, placing a package of folded paper's on the table. ‘‘ These are the wills with which my father dealt,” Buck Bronson started, but soon came to his own rescue. “T donot doubt that, but the papers I hold are the wills he used—the forged ones!” “Ah!” ejaculated Florence. ‘‘ Father wrote the documents he executed. In all the genuine wills you will find a private mark peculiarly his own. The key to that mark is in this package.” ‘*Who have you employed todo this work?” he asked, unabashed by the girl’s words. ‘‘ Why, I can break down all this play. You don’t think to shield your father by work of this kind, do bein What is your final answer, Florence? I ugh at that package and its contents. Found late last night, eh? Perhaps! The man you have called: to Bad aid did not complete his work till then, I suppose. Become my wife to- | pitched into a ditch I believed for a while that’ day, or I crush tke Worcester name, and snd you disgraced into the streets of Washington !” Buck Bronson could not help noticing that the eyes of the girl flashed indignantly. ‘*This seems to be your last play,” she cried. ** And you make 1t alone?” ‘*] make all my moves alone.” ‘The last play your partner, Jerry Jasper, made was alone also,” The Excelsior Sport started toward the girl. ‘* What do you mean?” ‘*He died alone in the old house last night.” ‘* Who says so?” ‘*One of the persons who found him dead in the trap he caught himself in.” As Florence vee she stepped quickly to a door near by and flung it open. ‘*T found your pard in the trap, Buck Bron- son!” exclaimed a voice, as a boy stepped into the room, and threw up the glittering barrel of a revolver. ‘* The Washington Weasel!” cried the Excel- sior Sport. ‘¢ And your late prisoner also,” said another voice, and Buck uttered a startling cry as he staggered from Ralph Romaine, the Balti- morean! “You are right, Buck—this is your last play,” continued Capital Ben, whose bright eyes seem- ed to dance with delight. ‘‘The papers on the table I found myself in a secret compartment in the wall of Judge Worcester’s office, Their ex- istence with his private mark on them, proves your papers to be forgeries, made to help out your double game. You will be wanted for a more serious crime than forgery. Thefew drops of prussie acid which you poured into my fever drops at Mrs, Seeley’s will end your career for @ time at least.” **Who says I did that?’ demanded the man standing almost against the wall of the parlor with eyes aglaro like a tiger’s. ‘‘ Sally, the sleep-walker of the house will say it,” rephed Ben. ‘‘ The contents of the tumbler have been analyzed, and the results sustain the girl. I guess the game is up. Your scheme against the Baltimore bankers netted you fifty thousand, slick and clean; but the last play is a failure. Where’s the wife and the hundred thousand, Buck?” There was no reply. “Do you want my answer now?” asked Flor- ence, smiling. P ‘No! the fight is not yet at an end!” cried the thunderstruck sport. ‘‘Not with Dick under arrest?” asked Capital Ben. ‘‘Come, Mr. Bronson, We want to see you safe in the hands of the Jaw. You won’t burn your papers in Miss Florence’s presence. Mr. Romaine is willing to lose his share of the fifty thousand,” ‘Indeed I am,” answered the young banker. «You played the scheme well. Dubois, or Bron- son, whichever you are. The police will be called in now. If you move a hand or attempt to escape, the boy who has spoiled your game will touch the trigger!” : : Capital Ben grinned behind his revolver, and Ralph Romaine went to the door. Buck saw that the game was up. Cool to the last, the Excelsior Sport went to prison with several ugly charges over his head. The double game had met with an ignomin- ious failure, thanks to Capital Ben, the tireless young spotter of Washington. Buck Bronson was tried on the most serious charge, and sent to prison for twenty years. Dick Dodson, the convict cabman, also went up for a good term for his attempted murder of Ce ital Ben on the Potomac River bridge. Tad Trimble, the bootblack spy, came out of the hospital at last in good shape, and plies his double vocation as of old. Henry Trego, Ralph Romaine’s tner, proved a defaulter, thus proving Buck Bron- son’s assertion that he was guilty of some crime. He fled from Baltimore before Romaine returned, and never came back to pay for his villainy. aa A short time ago the fair Florence became the wife of Buck Bronson’s prisoner, and the most interested wedding-guest was a well- dressed boy with keen black eyes, This boy had vindicated Judge Worcester’s name by finding the long-missing wills, thus de- stroying the insult which the ey meen tte intended to heap upon the family if he failed in his double game. Capital Ben was well rewarded for his splen- - did work, and he is still to be found in ington, ready to take a hand in the ferreting out and the shment of crime. THE END.
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“*: 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-Leather Joe}; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmen 175 Captain Arizona; or, Patent-Leathor Joe's Big Game, 198 Oaptain Mask; or, Patent-Leathor Joo’s Defeat, 819 Despard, the Duelist; or, The Mountain Vempires, 888 A Tough Roy or, The Dwarfs Revenge. B68 Little Tornado; or, The Outcaste of the Gleam, 878 Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. B88 Little Oh-my 4 or, Caught In His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo-F ly; or, A Race for a Raneh, 408 Little Leather-Breeches; or, Old Jumbe's Curse, 481 Little Ah Sin, or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the afines. 480 Three Jolly Pards. GAT Jim Gladden’s Deputy. BY OAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 18 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darion, 89 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Daughter, 48 Diek Parling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance end Lasxao; or, The Children of the Chace, 184 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Oaptain, or, Skipper Jabes Coffin’s Cruise te the Open Polar Sea. 800 The Boy Bedouina; or, The Brothers of the Phumed Lance, 914 Wolfang, the Robber of the Rhine, 249 Milo Romer, the Animal King; or, Tow Rownd the Werld Wanderer. 965 The Tiger Tamer} or, The Leagos of the Jungle, 681 Black Nick, the Demon Rider, 895 California Joe’s War Trail BY BUOKSKIN 8AM (Major Sam. 6, Hall.) asa Ola Roeky’s *Boyooss” or, Benito, the Yeang Hesse reaker, G46 Giant Georges or, The Ang’l of the Range, 876 Arizona Jack} or, Giant George's Pard, 897 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George's Revenge, S07 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo} or, The Tarantula of Tacs, 827 Oreeping Cat, the Caddo} or, The Red and White Pards, 888 Frio Fredy or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. 644 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild Wolfs or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front, 657 The Ranch Ralderss or, The Siege of Fort Purgatery, 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger, S75 Chiota, the Creek} or, The Three Thunderbolts, 681 Bandera Billy or, Frie Frank to the Froat. S92 Romeo and the Reds; er, The Beleaguered Raneh. 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Dalsy from Denver, 487 The Three Trailers; or, Old Rocky om the Rampage, 448 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona: 455 Little Lone Stary; or, The Belle of the Cibels, BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight, the Boy Champion of the Meskingum, 898 Ozark Alfy or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 888 The Typo Detectives or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp, 9965 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartsville, 811 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, 8223 Nomo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon's Vendetta. 840 Clip, the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY J, 0. COWDRIOK, 860 Bilver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Gold King} or, For Bevea Years Dead. 420 Fhe, Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Withest a 4294 Cibuta Johny or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Ban, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disoo Dan, the Daisy Dude. 4090 Broadway Billy, the Bootbiack Brave, 606 Redlight Ralph, the Prince of the Read, 614 Broadway Billy’s Roedie. 684 The Engineer Detective, BY JO PIEROE. 89T Bob eo” the Bowery } or, The Prince of Mulberry Strest, 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob's Boom, 452 Hotspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective, 460 The Lawyer's Shadow} or, Lake’s Legaag, 473 Jaunty Joo, the Young Hores-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detestive, 504 Fire Pointe Phil G09 Jack Jaggers, the Butcher Boy Detestiva, 516 Tartar Tim; or, FivefPoints Phils Menagesia, 626 North River Nat, the Pier Detective, BY OAPT. MARK WILTOR, 956 Young Kentack; or, The Red Lamo, 870 Blizsard Ben; or, The Rict at Kone Camp, O86 Josh, the Bey Tenderfoot. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. VO Dawe Dtaky ov, The Yellow Chisel Vengeance. ST The Land Pirates; «, The League of Devil’ tant, ‘Tes ecdtcccher Guan oy Te Lan ea BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG. 89 Island Jim; or, The Pet of the Famiiy. 91 The Captain of the Club; or, Tho Rival Athletes, 101 Jack Markaway in New York, BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE, 86 Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas. 90 The Drend Riders er, The Texan Duelist, 99 The Tiger of Tuoss or, Dandy Rock’s Angel 115 The Mad Miner}; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom, 181 The Golden Mand; or, Dandy Rock to the Resese. 164 Dandy Rock’s Pledges or, Hunted to Death, 178 Dandy Rock’s Rivals or, The Haunted Maid of Tacs, BY OAPT, J. F. ©. ADAMB, 84 Gregon Sols or, Nick Whiffirs’s Boy Spy. 46 Glaans-Eyo, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hacel, the Boy Trapper. 66 Nick Whiffier’s Pet; or, Ip The Valley ef Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Scout of the Yellowstone ZO Old Zip’s Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Wooda. 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie, 85 Buck Buokran; or, Boss, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Pete; or, The Wild Huntress, 2651 Light-house Liges or, Osceola, the Firebrand, 257 The Lost Wuntersay or, The Underground Camp, R88 The Bcalp King: or, The Human Thandervok, BY ROGER STARBUOK, 25 The Boy Captainy or, The Pirate’s Daughter, 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar, 259 The Golden Harpoon y or, Lost Among the Floss. B45 Fire-Heels; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp} or, The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Light-honuse. 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner, BY WILLIAM R, EYSTER, 19@ Dandy Darke} or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Franky or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Para, BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Seay or, The Vailed Lady, 186 Cool Deamond ; or, The Gambler’s Big Game, BY HARRY 8T. GEORGE. £0 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Ranger. 44 Kattling Rube} or, The Nighthawks of Kentucky, 59 Old Ulekory 4 or, Pandy Eliis’s Scalp. 108 During Davy} or, The Trail of the Border Wolf, 166 Hickory Harry or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy. 172 Thunderbolt Tomy or, the Wolf-Horder, BY JAMES L. BOWEN 10T One-Eyed Sina; or, The Abandoned Forest Home. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies, A Story of Texas, BY ©. DUNNING OLARK, 185 Oaptain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains, 280 The Yankee Rajah or, The Fate of the Black Shoresé, BY GEORGE O. JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney, the Unknowa, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 618 The Demon Doctor, . BY OAPT, ALFRED B. TAYLOR, U. & A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed irleen. 194 Buffalo 151!"s Bets or, The Gambler Guide, BY CHARLES E. LASALLE, 60 Hurt Bunker, 'h« Trapper, 62 The White Bulfalv. A Tale of the Northwest, BY JOHN J. MARSHALL. “0 Roving Ben, A Story of a Young American, OT The Vutlaw Brothers, or, The Captive of the Herpes, BY MAJOR E. L. ST. VRALN, 989% Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit, 801 Leadville Nick, te Boy Sport, 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prinos, 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartetta, 858 Tombstone Tom, the Arisona Boy of “ Sand.” 859 Durango Dave, the Young Champion Wrestler, 871 Kingbolt Ohris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective, 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide, 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountvin Mail-Line, BY WM. G@. PATTEN, 489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bod Meek, 519 Captain Mystery } or, Five in One, BY MAJOR HENRY B, STODDARD, Ex-Seout, 806 Neck-Tie Neds ot, The Dug-Out Pardes, 846 Rapier Raphael, or, The Swordsmon of Zacatecas, 891 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies, 898 Kid-Gleve Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King. 406 The Mad Man-Hunters or, The Mystery of Gebtcn 605 Powell's Para; ot, The One-Armed Giant, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARBON, 278 The Three Trappors; or, The Mountain Menstes, 888 Indian Jee; or, The White Spirit of the Hills, BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood, or, The Twelve Avengum, 66 Single Handy er, A Life for « Life, 72 Mad Tom Weatern, the Texan Ranger. 887 Len Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete's Beoeg, BY JAOK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Oabin Boy. 820 The Sea Borcerens} or, The Boy Bkippes, BY FRANK DUMONT. 120 The Branded Mand or, The Man of Mysterp, 127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Road. 140 Blue Blazesy or, The Break 0’ Day Roys of Rosky Gas. 1T1 Ebony Damyj or, The Rival Leagues. 185 Evil Eyey or, The Vultures of the Rio Granda, BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U. & N, 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Raye 180 The Sea Tratler; or, A Yow Well Kept, 192 Oaptain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Poiut, BY HNARRY MAZARD, 828 Arkansaw Jack} or, The Scourge of the Mines, 829 Red-Skin Tomy or, The Demon's Trail, $42 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw. BY OOL. A. F. HOLT. 899 Black Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Coayem 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King, 4865 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’. 498 Oactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck, BY FREDERICK DEWEY, 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Bhota. 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective, MISOELLANEOUS AUTHORS, os ‘The Wild-Herse Hlunters. By Capt. Mayme Reid ane & Adventures of Baron Munchansem, 18 Gulliver’s Travels. By Doaa’swift 14 Aladdinyg or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Orusoe, (27 Iilustrations,) 18 Sindbad the Sallor, His Seven Voyages, 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crases, By Juan owls, 88 The Ocean Bloodh Th Carribees, By 8, eepeanes on, The Red Pirates of the 86 7h Boy Olowns or, The Queen ofthe Arena, By Frank . Finn. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 ibs Boy Rifles; or, The Undergreund Camp. By Archie » trons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lieut.-Col, Haseltine. 98 Robin Mood, the Outlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- wood, By Prof. Gildersleeve, 105 Old Rube, the Hunte Th Ola Rube, ~ unter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain 112 The Mad Hunters or, The Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texany or, The Young Champion, By George oreon. 128 The Yeung Privateers or, The Pirate’s Btrenghold. By Harry Cavendish, 148 Sharp Sam tom The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. 287 Dusky Darrell, Trapper; or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowstone, By Edward Emerson, 261 Foraus Fearnaught, the New York Bey. By George L. en. 266 Killb’ar, the Guides or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail By Ensign C, D, Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Kyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cig, By Captain Comstock. ; 81T Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville, By Lice tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives o, A Boy's Fight for Life and Hones, By Major Mickey Free. Ral River Rover; or, The Brother's Re- Bee eee rree peailinn, Dissg 865 Baltimore Ben, the Bootblack Detective, By A. P. Morris, 8v4 Gold-Duat Tomy or, Ben’s Double Mateh, By George HB, Morse, 876 Califernia Joos First Trail, By Celene] Thomas Hoyer Monstery. 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F. 8. Winthsop. 440 Little Foxfoot, the Geld Bowe Kid, By Arther 0, Grissom. 475 The Black Ship. By Joh 5, Warner, he Dick 484 ane tts and His Three Imvimeibles. By 698 Wisard-Arm, the Dendy Sport. By Arthur ¥. Holt, A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library ts for sale by ait newsdealere, Ove eunts por copy, or sont by mail om recelps of atx conte cach. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 06 William Sirect, New York.
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x iit ie = os ? al: 4 a A, q Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. AS SIT EET ASE TEI BY EDWARD L, WHEELER, Dendwood Dick Novela. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Rond, 0 Double Maggrers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Battalo Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. 8D Vi tia Ivan, tie Boy Claude Duval. 42 Vhuantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, Omaha OL; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. | Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. Deadwood Dick on Deck; or. Calamity Jane, the Heroine. 77 Corduroy Charlie 3 or, Vendwood Dick’s Last Act, 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 104 Deadwood Dick’s Device: or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Dendwood Dick as Detective. 129 meen est Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Guleh. 188 Blonde BI!)3 or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Game of Goldy or, Deadwood Dick's Big Strike, 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. 195 Dendwood Dick's Dreamy; or, The Riv: Is of the Road, 201 The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Dexdwood Dick’s Ward. 205 Dendwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture. 217 Captain Orack-Shot, the Girl Brigand, 221 Sugar-Coated Sam j or, Che Black Gown, 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs. 268 Deadwood Dick's Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 268% Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail 809 endw qed Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of regon, 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flata. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- gings. 851 Deadwood Diek Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. 862 posewese Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro ‘late. 405 Deadwood Dick In Dead Clty, 410 Desdwoud Dick’s Diamonds ; or, The Mystery of Joan orter, 421 Deadwood Dick In New York; or, A “Cute Care.” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand, 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 418 Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 458 epee wee Sam, of Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full Jand, 459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- Up. 465 Plitto Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim 10, § Av1 wares citt Bll; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral. ATG Humboldt Marry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Dog Detective, 481 Moll Mystery; or, Dendwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood. 491 vince Pistol, tho King of the West; or, Deadwood Diek r’s Compact. fo ce Cristo, Tres or, Deadwood Dick dey Inheritance. end woo ck’s Diggings ; or, Dr, Death-Grip’s § \° 508 Deadwood Dick’s Deliverance. ee ete 615 Deadwood Dick’s Protegec. S22 Deadwood Dick's Three, Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloeven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon, 82 Bob Woolf’; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 89 Death-Fuce, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 53 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team, 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective. 80 Rosebud Roby or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner}; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand. 88 Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, ada Chet; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, E e@3 or, Arabs and Angels of a Great City, le the Young Speculntor, -Kdged Dick, the Sport Detective. Chip, the Girl Sport. 125 Benanza Bill, Miner. 188 Boss Bob the King of Bootltacks, 141 Solid S the Boy Road-Agent. 145 Dr ventar Borves, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob's uist Hunter, etective, nts, ista. poll Ths ar, The Road Q 3 or, 1” Lt ueen. Toll-Taker. Bie 1 shee ulck- ity it or, BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. #9 foi Cingcer, tie Gant Trapet ol Ginger, ni ee ‘ His Boy Pard. Bee oe ON etek Tale of Thets nod Traps in New England Nich ick, the Circus Prince, £8 Lass Teo eder snntiab mess Delditive, .* i e ‘ - 515 Cool Colorado 1 in New York. a Gotham, fek; or, The Fortunes ofa Foundling. é BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM. 7 The Flying Yunkee? or, The Ocean Outcast, 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccan er; or The Fugitive Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship; or. The Rival Lieutenants. 75 Vhe Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf. Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Sinuugier. The Sen-Devil ; or, The Midshipinan’s Legacy. The Murnsar Captiuing or, ‘lhe Hermit of Hell Gate, Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter. Gold Plume 3 or, The Kid-Glove Sport, > Bison BULL, the lrince of the Reins. Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer. Crimson Kate; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy , or, ‘The Wreelance Heir, 250 The Midshipman Mutineer ; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 abe Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure sinna, The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. Merle Monte’s Cruise; or, Tne Chaise of “The Gold Ship.” Merle Monte’s Fate}; or, Pearl, the Pirnte’s Bride. The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 2 Billy Bine-Eyex, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 604 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler. 80S Keno Kits or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Donble. 814 Ear Mysterlous Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long rail. 877 Bonodel, the Roy Rover; or, The Flagless Schooner. 8483 The Indian Pilot; er, The Search for Pirate Island, SS7 Warpath WILL, the Boy Phantom, 898 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Inodor, the Young Consptrator ; or, The Fatal League. 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta, 412 The Wild Yachtaman; or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly; or, A Middy’s Vengeance, 446 Maphazard Warry ; or, The Senpegrace of the Sea. 450 Wizard Will; or, The Boy Ferrey of New York. 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouts. 462 | me Born Guido}; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer. 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster. 474 Floray or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Wi!l’s Last Case. AST Nevada Ned, the Revolver Hanger. 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack, 497 Buck Taylor, King ot the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Midd or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 511 The Outlawed Middy. 5620 Buckskin BILL, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers in Buckskin, BY OHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective, 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Deg Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Raga. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods, 165 Billy B agree, the Railroad Boy, 170 A Tramp Card; or, Will Wildfire Wits and Loses, 174 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York, 179 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 188 The Hidden Hand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. yt Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; cr, The Smaggters, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed ; or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Fleck, 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 5 285 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two “ Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chiengo, 262 The Young Sleuths; or, Rollicking Mike’s Het Trail. 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective, 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad im the Quaker City. ¢ B24 Ralph Rendy, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, Thé Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger}; or, The Entrapped Cachier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invineible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. A779 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman ; or, Toe Sharp fer the Sharper, BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Jack; or, The Tra i 4s Black John the faslah mete er, The Outlaw’s Retreat. 5 Murricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 9 Mustang Sam 3 or, The King of the Plains. 6 Night-liawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, Dainty Lance the Boy Sport, Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Resene. The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 4 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path. The Boy Parda; or, Dainty Lance Unmaske. Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City, The Barranca Wolf}; or, The Beantiful Deeey. The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, Old Double Fist tr ‘The Strange Guide. The King of the Woods: or Daniel Boone’s Laat Trail. Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. ce ee Srece — SUA Somarro= Rowe i at BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS, ‘ ill Biddon, Tra ) 8 Seth Jones; cd or, T. ‘ “y Captives of the Frontier. ‘he Fate of the Sioux Captive. el. e Boy a me The a. Taland. un nter}; or, eo nge Horseman. h Inlf- Blood ; or, The Panther of the Plains. 271 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man. opis : f 4 oes oe, Me She ke, A ved aia 5 a a gt sv ADLE’S*H] ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. No Double Numbers. BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody), 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie, 55 Deadly-Kye, the Unknown Scout. 68 Border Kobin Hoody or, The Prairie Rover. 168 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’a Prust, BY OLL COOMES, Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. The Dumb Spy. Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide, Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. Pelaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. @4 Wawk-eye Marry, the Young Trapper Renger, S8 Rollo, the Boy Kanger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman, 148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter. 146 Silver Star, the Koy Knight. 158 Fagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the bey Captain. 202 Prospect Pete ¢ or, The Young Outlaw Hunters 208 The Boy Hercules: or, ‘The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dicks or, ‘Trapper Ton’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Yeung Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Dixguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Bunger 260 Dare-Devil Dan; the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkakin Mike, the Boy Sharp:hooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger, 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 400 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webtoot Mose, the Tramp Detective, 422 Raby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone. 444 Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedfoot Fred 3 or, Old Polar Saul, 468 Tamarae ‘Tom, the Big arg 0 Boys 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. wy ARS — Ol me) BY T. ©. WARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of 76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter, AZ Nightingale Nat; «1, Tne Forest Captains, 6A Dandy Jack 3 or, The Outlaws of the Oregem Trait. 82 Kit Warefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight .! ack 5 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiown Charley the White Mostunger. 189 Judge Lynch, Jr.t or, The Boy Vivilante. 155 Gold Trigger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger, 169 Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core. 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw ¢ or, The Quen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet 3 or, Little Topknot’s Crosade, 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravo; or, Tie Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoll«, thé King-Pin of Bowle. 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winch or, The Buckskin Desperadecs, 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowle Blade ef Cochetana, 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger ully, 16 Old EcHpse, Trump Card of Arizona, eae The ‘Ten Pards Lo The Terror of Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Larne. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thunderboli’s Seeret, 856 Cool Sam und Par; o The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. ¢ Captain Cutinss; or, The Brecaneer's Girl Fee. B96 Rou h Robs; or, The Twin Champions ef Blee Mew. All The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose ef Raneh 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 426 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Slenthn; or, Red Rolfe's Pigees. 461 One Amalenh Fifty; er, The Last Man of Keno Bar: 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 477% The Excelaior Sport: or, The Washingtes Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. B12 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’s Best ge. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. B27 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue. By ?. S. Wame, 28 Fox and Falcon, the Bowery Shadows. By T. C. Harbaugh. 529 Deadwood Dick’s Danger Dueks, By E. L. Wheeler, 580 The Buckskin Bowers. By Col, P. Ingraham. BS1 Daisy Dare, the Sport from Denver. By William @, Patten, 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Breeke Forrest. 588 Wrestling Rex, the Pride ofthe Sixth Ward. By Je Pierce, 584 Dendwood Dick’s Death Hunt. By E. L. Wheeler. 585 The Bue! skin Rovers. By Col. Prentiss Ingrabase. 586 Broadway Billy’s «“PiMkilty.” By J. C. Cowdrich, &87 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Sleuth. By J. W. Osbee. B88 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. By T. C. Harbaugh. 589 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Texas. By Edward L, Wheeler. 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marander ef the Rie, By Gelonél. Prentiss Ingraham. ‘ BAL Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. By Jo Pierce, 542 The Canyon Pards. By Frederick Dewey. Ready December 13. bAB8 Dodger Dick’s Double. By T. C. Herbangk. Ready December 20. ie yen te wd 9 the W "4 te Pontuset Dicks dress ts &45 Lientenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte, By Co). P. Ingratam, Ready January 3. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library 5s for sale by ail newadealers, five: eenta per copy, or sent by mali on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND A, Publishers, 6s 98 aes Street, New York -