Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 502) (1887 03 08)
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j if \] | * : i , ed LaoMallatalll tall) \ \ SMM WAN AWWA } Yj GQ 9 at it at ~SORS SUNT g ricer Copyright, 1887, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, March 8, 1887, ey $2.50 a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. f { { | i] | Price, 5 Cents. The Octopus League of New York. BY T, C. HARBAUGH, AUTHOR or “rerrx FOX,” “TEXAS TRUMP," “PHIL, FLASH,” ‘* CITY SLEUTHS,” ETC., ETC., ETC. CHAPTER I, e THE MANACLED WRIST. Iw one of the nooks of Union Square not pene trated by the electric light, a man occupied a ' settee alone. — ed yo!” EXCLAIMED THE BOY. ‘YOU ARE TO WALK THE STREETS OF NEW YORE FRARLESS IN THE LIGHT OF BaY,” He had come directly to it from the bysy streets beyond, as if he knew just where to find it, and when he had seated himself he lighted a . cigar and began to smoke, t was one of the rarest nights of be summer, and the park was filled with and loungers of both sexes. In the shadows'at .
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2 the trees the settees were occupied by young people with a single exception, an this was the one where the silent smoker sat alone—shunned, as it seemed, by everybody. If any person had noticed him particularly, it would have been seen that he did not display his . right hand, and that the sleeve on that side was pulled well down. And if the inspecter could have raised the sleeve, he would have seen a band of steel about the wrist. it was a broken manacle! . Whether the man had but recently escaped from justice or not, he did not look much like a hunted person, nor did he try to avoid the looks people cast at him as they strolled by. e might have been a tenet the pair of dark eyes that shone in his head possessed the gleams of youth. His face was covered with a short beard, and his clotbes were good, though me had seen a good deal of service. ith his left arm thrown carelessly over the back of the park settee, and the right one hang- ing at his side with the band out of sight, the man enjoyed his cigar and watched. His og were constantly on the alert. He did not seem to notice the ple who came along, but for all his apparent indifference toward them, he saw every one with a hawk’s vision. Once when a policeman came by he started slightly, and his right arm seemed to hug his side closer without effort, but it was only for a moment, for the night-watch was soon out of sight. a Why don’t he come?” muttered the man at last. ‘‘He said he would be here by nine o’clock, and it has just struck. I[ put depend- ence in him, and he knows it. He must not fail me.” At that moment a boy came along—a boy about seventeen, with a good as fee ag and a handsome face. His eyes were black like the man’s, and his step was quick and airy. “Ah! on time!” ejaculated the occupant of the settee as he caught sight of the boy, and the next moment the lad was at his side. ‘* What kept you?” asked the man. ‘* Tt is just nine.” ‘Tt struck three minutes ago, and three min- utes are three ane to me, you know,” The boy smiled in the speaker’s face, ‘* Well, never mind that,” laughed the smoker. ‘*'You are here, and that is good. What have you to report?” * Not much,” “* Have you seen Olive?” ** Not since yesterday.” ** And the Ootopus—what of it?” “* Oh!” cried the boy, clinching his hands, “it is still at work.” ‘Tt will always be at work,” exclaimed the man, bitterly. ‘‘It will suck the blood of new victims while the old ones remain powerless. Here! touch my wrist, boy,” and the man lifted his right hand. ‘Ah! that is the manacle of crime; that steel band is the one the law put on at the beck of the Octopus, the most villainous league that ever cursed any city. I steal from my yy hoeree to meet you here. I dare not stand in the lamplight three minutes. I dare not go back to my own—you. know why. And all the while the us goes on. The police ae powerless; the Mulberry street detectives look for me, the League’s victim, while they continue to let the e draw in its victims. Is this never to end? I to die in the dark, driven to death with this manacle at my wrist?” “No!” exclaimed the boy. ‘* You are to walk pee streets of New York fearless in the light of y: ** Ah, Ben, that ig prophecy, but I fear it can never be fulfilled.” The boy flushed to the temples. “T thought you were going to trust me,” he half-rebuked, “So I amt so Iam!” was the answer; * but I ‘ot impatient, I want to bea man once more; want to see the Octopus broken up... When will you report again?” **To-morrow night.” ** Here, of course, if the weather is good; if it is not, at my den. Remember,” “T will not forget.” ‘‘Be swift, be careful! More than life is at stake. You have all the qualities of a good de- tective, boy. And then you have a personal in- terest in this deep, dark puzzle of the mighty city.” ay never forget that,” averred the boy. “My lifs is devoted to this case, I have sworn it against the Octopus, whose hand I felt years o, for I believe that it was the Octopus League that branded me on the shoulder.” E Branded Ben, the Ni A strange smile came to the man’s counte- ance, “ Ah! who knows!” ‘he exclaimed. All at once be sprung» his feet and appeared about to break away like a startled stag. ‘To-morrow night! remember!” he said in a low tone; then he touched the boy’s hand and walked away. Ben not only watched the man, but followed him beyond the limits of the Square. : He saw that he avoided the light as much as possible and that when he struck Fourth avenue he kept in the shadow of the build- ings till he turned into the Bowery. All the time the boy was at his heels, and al- though the man walked rapidly through the Bowery with its motley crowds, the young sleuth kept him in sight until he turned into a by-street which was almost dark. Even here the boy ferret did not leave the man, but continued to track him until he darted down into a basement door and suddenly disap- The man with the manacle was at home again! Then Ben turned back with a satisfied smile on his lips. ‘*‘T don’t wonder that he gets impatient!” mused the lad. ‘I wonder that he submits as he does: but there are the courts—and the merciless judges! He has been through the mill and has a horror of it. He knows that the Octopus of New York has fastened its infamous suckers on his life, and he fears its power. And I ame ‘ted to break it up!—I,a boy who was branded in the cradle, by the chief of some league! I don’t know what I can do till I try!” and the boy laughed as he darted across the street. “Hello! my young Bedouin!” exclaimed a voice as Ben struck the sidewalk again. ‘‘ Fish me a match from your pocket. I want a light!” The boy looked up and found himself face to face with a man of thirty, tall, well dressed and handsome, though rather dandyish in appear- ance. He was holding an unlighted cigar between his fingers while he waited for the match he had demanded. “T know you, Mr. Joe Jolly!” mentally ex- claimed Ben as he furnished the match. ‘‘So a tert of the Octopus is out airing itself, eh? hat fetches you down the Bowery at this hour? I'd like to know. New kids on, too! Ob, my fine rascal! I'd like to walk you into Captain Williams’s presence and astonish him with a recital of your deeds! The time will come, though, or I’m not Branded Ben!” In the mean time the man, Joe Jolly, had lighted his cigar, and handed Ben a quarter for the favor he had extended, — ‘ The young night ferret did not hesitate to ac- cept the piece, and the next moment the dandy was walking away. ‘*T wonder what hard work earned this quar- ter?” queried Ben, as he slipped the coin into his ket. ‘‘ You’re very liberal with your wealth, oe Jolly! You’veseen the time when a quarter looked as big as the clock in City Hall Square; but now in patent-leathers and kids!— Oho! what a time you are having!” It seemed that Ben could not resist the tempta- tion to follow the man he had run across so un- expectedly, and before Mr. Joe Jolly had passed out of sight, the ferret was-at his heels. If the man had any particular destination in view, he did not show any haste, for he strolled leisurely along, much to Branded Ben’s dis- st. ? ; eral at once the boy lost sight of Joe J any. fora minute, and when hesaw him again, lo! he had a ate and not a chance acquaintance either. An p onrpetng fed omen pleasure and sur- rise esca the $s lit ? . “T didn’t think (fide meet Major Bullion here, Joseph; but I’m ready to encounter an kind of surprises,” laughed the Night Ferre “What! are you for a talk? It’s all in the Octopus family. right in!” ” The two men, watched by the boy, turned to- ward the open door of one of the concert saloons that infest the Bowery, and went in. The next instant the young shadower had fol- lowed them. r A thick cloud of cigar smoke hung above the seats and tables of the place, and almost ob- scured the stage at one end of the room. Joe Jolly‘and his friend, who was a fine-look- ing middle-aged man with a full face and a heavy mustache, dropped upon a couple of chairs at one of the tables, while the boy slid int» a. seat near by, half-bidden by the table. ght Ferret. going into Baby s a “Well, Joseph, no clew yet?” began the big man. “No; but he is in the city.” | “‘ Pd like to have proof,” was the reply. “ {f he is here he is in hiding; he dare not show bis head above the surface. The girl knows noth- ing angug him, but you have that matter in your S Joe Jolly smiled, and threatened to break into a laugh, ‘She don’t tell me every thing, you know!” he protested. "No, but you ought to know something. When did you see her?” ** Night before last.” “Well?” ; ‘“‘She told me that rhe had seen enough Joseph Jolly.” ‘“‘No! You went a little too fast!” exclaimed Major Bullion with a frown. ‘ But now about the other scheme. The plans are completed, and the Octopus—” ; At this moment Ben heard a step behind him and the next minute a heavy hand dropped upon his shoulder. “See here! You're eavesdropping! We don’t allow it! Get out!” and the hand of the speaker lifted him out of the chair. ‘: : The next moment the boy was on the side- walk, ejected by Baby Bell, the proprietor of the place. of CHAPTER II. HARD TO BEAT, “THat’s a sudden discharge!” exclaimed Branded Ben when he got his breath on the sidewulk in front of the concert hall. His ejectment bad been performed without ceremony, and he seemed to feel the impress of Baby Bell’s fingers in his flesh. ‘‘Baby ” Bell was a sarcastic misnomer, for its r was a veritable giant, with hands like a pugilist’s, and with a strength like a lion’s, e attended in person to all disturb- ances in his place, and bis frequent interference had had a ems effect. Nobody wanted Baby Bell to lay hands on them, for very often those hands were clinched and “‘ ugly.” Branded Ben, the boy ferret, bad been carried from the place almost before he knew what was up, and the om proprietor had left him on the sidewalk without a word. In the house the boy heard the orchestra in one of its wildest flights, and now and then an outburst of laughter from one of the patrons; but he knew better than to tempt the anger’. of Baby Bell by going back. He wondered if Major Bullion and Joe Jolly had resumed their conversation which had just reached a very important point for him when the ejectment took place. _ Fortunately for Ben’s feelings nobody of any consequence had witnessed bis misfortune. Two or three street loafers were hanging around in front of the ‘‘ hall” when the boy came out in the grip of Baby Bell; and they laughed at the sight; but Ben did not care for them, e wanted to see what became of the two con- federates inside, but, above all, he wanted to hear something about that new scheme which Major Bullion intended to unfold. Unfor- tunately there was no way for him to attain his.desires. “We'll get even for your freshness, Paby Bell!” decided Ben, as he walked down the street a few paces and then halted. ‘The Qctopus is having a night session in your esteblishment, and you have seen fit to protect it. One of these days, my Bowery giant, I'll recall this lit- tle incident, and to your displeasure.” For more than an hour the boy detective oc- cupied a rather secluded ton the sidewalk and watched the entrance to Baby Bell’s place, He saw everybody who came iu and went ont) - that time; but neither Major Bullion nor oe Joll red.) °! Was vi Possible that the two men had re- mained so long? ae | ee “Hello! what are you piping now?” sudden- ly cried a voice at the boy’s elbow, and he turned to see the good-humored countenance and sparkling eyes of a boy of his own size, Ben gave utterance to an exclamation of Pie ave syou ,ever been fired out of Baby Bell’s?” he. asked, elutcbing the youth’s arm, “Never.” pen “Well, I have, and just awhile ago too, I came out like a ramrod fired from a cannon, and all because I was listening to a little ecn- versation between two men,” “Ho! nothing more?” laughed Ben's compan- i young detective shook his head,
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SS z is > : 7 3 . PO biti — Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. | 3 left the room while Major Bullien leaned toward Baby Bell with his cunning eyes atwinkle. ‘This is the best play the Octopus has ever made!” he laughed. ‘That is, the, stakes are the biggest, though it takes some good playing. We've fallen afoul of the right victim. See what nice work I had done!” and he opened the box on the table and took out a singular-looking bit of iron which he fastened on to tke end of a little steel rod. His next move was across the room to the fire in one corner, and Branded Ben saw him thrust the rod and its fixture among the coals. “T guess I'll have to do the work,” he went on, coming back to Baby Bell at the table. ‘‘ Joe’s hands are too tender for this kind of a job, He would flinch just when we want a steady nerve.” Five minutes later Joe Jolly reappeared ac- companied by a youth who was astranger tothe watching Ben. He was good-looking and well-built, and his eyes were bright and expressive. Major Bullion greeted the boy witb an excla- mation of pleasure, and shook him cordially by the hand as he came forward. “You know what you are here for?” asked the major. The youth nodded. “We can meke you rich if you submit to everything.” “« How rich?” asked the boy, eagerly. The three men smiled at the question. “ Richer than you ever expected to get,” was the answer. ‘“ We want you to beN olan no longer, You lose that name to-night. ‘Can't I ever claim itagain?” “Perhaps not.” The boy seemed to hesitate, and Ben thought he saw him shrink from the table. bracelet, which was certain to be recognized on sight, he carried it to Prince Mordecai, who altered it in a manner that render it saleable. This was the old Jew’s trade. He had carried «<PDick,” he went on, “I want some informa- tion from tae seat of war. I want to know svhether the elegant Joe Jolly, or another man calied Major Bullion, though that is not his name, is ia there. You know Joseph?” it on in another quarter of New York until the ‘** You bet I do!” was the answer. police were about to fasten on him, then he had * But not the major?” suddenly disappeared, and was lost as if the “Not the major, or not by that handle.” waters of the ey had received him in their ‘Well, he is a big man with a pompous mus- oper <ache which does him honor,” smiled Ben. +6 Ef t is not our duty just now to inform the Joe Jolly is in there, the major isn’t far away. | reader how Ben formed an acquaintance with Go in and see,” the Jew, ‘nor why his knock was the open The young detective’s spy moved away with | sesame to the secret and mysterious quarters of eagerness, and Branded Ben began to wait for | the old lapidary. his reappearance. Branded Ben watched him eagerly whenever ‘+ Not in there,” suddenly a the spy at | he went to the place. The rk little eyes the end of five minutes. ‘‘ Baby Bell even isn’t | snapped treacherously, and the boy detective on band.” sometimes felt uneasy in Prince Mordecai’s The Night Ferret started. workshop, but he had a hold on the old fellow «They didn’t come out by the front door!” he | which he thought would prevent him from serv- ing him any shabby tricks. n the present occasion Mordecai seemed dis- posed to play fair, for he o ned a narrow door at one end of the room and signaled Ben with a look to follow him. They entered a room which was quite dark, but the Jew found a stairway, up which he con- ducted Ben to a long hall, also without light. At the end of this hall there was another stair, and in a small room at the head of it a heavy ladder leading to a trap-door in the ceiling. ‘Now, mine fr’ent, you shoost wait for Mor- decai,” remarked the Jew, and Ben saw him mount the ladder with the agility of a young inan. He disappeared in the hall above, but at the end of a few minutes he came back with spider- webs clinging in long filmy threads to his clothes. ‘Dey peze at home,” announced the Jew with decla “Not if they thought you were on the watch. They are not in Baby Bell’s place, and I heard the man in charge tell one of the proprietor’s special friends that he wou.d not be back again to-night.” “The Octopus is spreading its feelers!” the young detective decided at once, and having hanked his friend for his help, he turned his back to Baby Bell’s establishment and walked away. bi make another effort to find them!” he resolved. “Something cunning is in the wind. I haven't been on the trail of the Octopus League all these weeks for nothing. I know a few things pretty well. I have discovered one of the monster’s feeding-grounds.” The next moment Ben was walking rapidly down the Bowery. He kept on till he reached Broome street, where he turned west and pro- ceeded to Baxter. a twinkle in his eyes. ** Oh, yes, some time-or-other, you can go back “Dm getting quite near!” he smiled to him- ‘How many?” asked Branded Ben. to your name,” continued the major, with a self. “ | my fine lot! if you thought that Prince Mordecai held up three fingers slightly | glance at Joe Jolly and the Baby. Branded Ben could not find one of your haunts, yn “ But as long as you're in our employ you can’t you have deceived yourselves,” e boy detective leaned against the wall and | be Ned Nolan. e will give you full instruc- drew his shoes. “You can go back to the bench,” he remarked to the Jew. ‘I am able to attend to this little business.” “You moost not alarm them!” warned Prince Mordecai, grasping Ben’s arm. “T value my life too highly for that !” was the quick response, and slipping from the old man’s grasp Branded Ben sprung nimbly up the ladder and disappeared, Old Mordecai looked at the opening for a mo- ment, and then, with a sinister smile and a shake of the head, turned back to his workshop, two stories below. ; The boy Night Ferret found himself in a loft among spider webs and other of the usual fea- tures of a place of the kind. A wide board stretched before him in the darkness, and he crept along it without noise. The distance seemed endless, but at length Ben halted over a spot which could not have been in the Jew’s house. Beneath him was a streak of light, and the New York ferret stooped and put his eyes to it. “ Aha! I’ve run them down for all!” he ex- claimed. ‘‘The Octopus may be shrewd, but tions when we see fit. Are you ready” “Yes,” responded the boy with more prompti- tude than the young detective expected. “Then take off your coat.” A sudden pallor seemed to sweep over the youth’s countenance, for his eyes had caught sight of the little furnace where the object at the end of the steel rod was red-hot. But shutting his teeth hard as if he had resolv- ed to go through with the ordeal, whatever it was, he took off his coat and waited for further orders. “We have got to mark you in such a manner that it will make you a certain person in the eyes of the law,” Major Bullion declared. “In other words, we have to brand you with a hot iron.” The boy started with a light ery which the peo seemed to wring from him despite his re- solves. “The pain will be momentary,” suggested Baby Bell across the table. “ You see, we can’t succeed without branding you. Everything de- pends on the brand.” “Go abead !” The boy spoke the two words through his Route: and Joe Jolly browght the furnace for- ward. “You are not going to disfigure I hope?” Ned Nolan asked with a smile. 1a ~ “We wouldn't do that for the world!” laughed Major Bullion. ‘Weare only going to put a little brand between your sboulders. Ah! here we are. Do you want to be blindfolded?” The boy’s figure seemed to straighten an inch, Five minutes later the boy ferret darted into a dark alley and glided along a wall almost as noiseless as a cat. : He could barely see his hand before his face, but after awhile he reached the light of a gas- jet that burned in a globe above a door. Almost sieeoy evar the light was a door sunk in the wall of a brick house that did not seem to be inhabited. Ben knocked three times on this door near the bottom of it, and shortly afterward it was open- ed, and he bounded in. The door had apparently opened without hu- man help, for ye seca, ted the caller. He was in a short way at the end of which a lamp occupied a bracket, and proeeeding to it the boy detective found another door, which he med. MM It is me, Mordecai,” he announced, ap roach- ing a man who sat at a little bench with his eyes shaded, and under them the peculiar features of the Jew. The man was very old, but his eyes, deeply sunken and dark, were very bright. The work- bench before him was covered with small steel tools of every description, and others, nippers and the like, were arranged along the wall back | some of its haunts are known. of the bench. _Ben_ was looking down into a room well- Ben knew that the strange force which had | lighted and supplied with several chairs and a opened the front door was operated by a little | table. ‘ steel bar under the old Jew’s feet, The place had three tenants at the time and “ Vell, vat is it, mine fr’ent?” asked Mordecai the boy ferret’s eyes snapped as he named them — apt inary — called by certain | to ator Bi ini 4 le—as he turn e battery of his peculiar or Bullion, Joe Jolly and Baby Bell! ve. upon the boy who stood beside him. i m “T want to know if certain people are at ny “No!” he exclaimed, and then he laughed home,” answered Ben. r, CHAPTER III. though bis teeth seemed to chatter. : The old man started and then laid down the : THE WORKINGS OF A PLOT. During the next minute Joe Jolly’s nimble elegant diamond cluster pin he was working on BRANDED BEN had found the trio again. fingers were occupied in removing the youth’s when the boy detective came im. ‘As he lay at full length on the board in the | sbirt so as to display the fair white skin between “ Vat you wants to know for, eh?” he exclaim- darkness of the old garret he had the crack in | his shoulders. . ed. ‘Ef you keeps on you'll spoil all mine peez- | the ceiling directly under bis eye, and it was It was a sacrilege to mar it at all, and the boy ess.” large enough to let him see the whole room be- | in the loft, who knew that he was branded for “But Pl make you richer than they ever | low. é life felt like disturbing the trio with a loud can!” was the answer, ‘ Holdon, Mordecai! I| After looking awhile he discovered a small | shout. ‘ don’t want to force you to do ge You | box at the side of Major Bullion’s chair, and in “Steady, now!” cried Major. Bullion, as he can keep your seat if you want'to. I guess I | one corner of the room stood a tinner’s petal took the branding-iron from the fire and motion- can find another way.” f . furnace, in which were a lot of live coals. ed to his companions to seize the boy and hold “No, mine boy; i only joking eee the} ‘ What are these fellows up to now?” ejacu- | him fast. “We'll be through in asecond. Iam ‘We vill see Gio Jer, slipping from the chair. lated the boy ferret. ‘That box and the little | going at it now.” ef dey peeze at home shoost now.” furnace mean something. They intend to inau- The next moment the big villain stepped to- Ben could not:suppress a smile as he saw the rate or complete a villainous scheme of some | ward the boy whose flesh was at his mercy, and old man shuffle across the room. Find. I will see what it is.” all at once the red-hot iron was thrust forward! Prince Mordecai was one of the strange char- The next moment Major Bullion leaned back The next second Ned Nolan started forward acters of New York. Long before the opening | in his chair and picked up the box. with a wild cry, which was cut short by Baby of our story he had gained a reputation for lapi- | “I guess we're ready for the work,” he ex- | Bell’s hand at his mouth, and the disgusting odor dary work, which had made him famous in a | claimed with a look at Joe Jolly. ‘ You can | of burned flesh came up to the unseen witness of certain way. = ; fetch him in.” the terrible scene! se Whenever an adroit thief secured a fine pinor! The young dandy instantly sprung up and! There was not a vestige of color in the face of
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4 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. the branded boy; and he hung like a dead per- son in the hands of the two men, ‘‘ It 1s a splendid job!” ejaculated Major Bull- ion as he snatched a moistened rag from the box and applied it to the wound. ‘This little play is worth a cool hundred thousand. Ah! the boy has fainted, Take him back, Joseph. He'll be all rigbt m a few days.” Joe Jolly had to carry the youth from the room, while Major Bullion cooled the branding- iron and made everything snug again, There was a triumpbant look in the man’s eyes and he grinned whenever he encountered Baby Bell’s gaze. f ““Now, if Joe gets on well with the girl, as of course he will, despite the rebuff he talked about to-night, the Octopus will score two victories in- stead of one!” smiled the major, ‘‘ By to-mor- row night we will have some kind of a report from our sleuth-hound concerning the missing felon. We must find that man, Baby.” The proprietor of the Bowery cuncert hall nodded assent. ‘* He is somewhere in the city, for I am certain he came back here, after his escape. Olive does not know anything about him, so Joe says; but le must be found!” By this tame the little box and the furnace had been stored away in a secret cupboard in the wall, and Major Bullion was coming back to the table when Joe Jolly reappeared, The dandy had something important to com- municate; his looks showed this. ‘The Lynx is back!” he said with a grin on his face. ‘* Before his time, too!” added Major Bullion. ‘Show him in, Joseph!” Joe Jolly eepped to the door and admitted a man, who took off his hat as he entered the presence of the two rascals at the table. ‘* You were not required to report till to-mor- row night,” exclaimed Major Bullion. A smile instantly covered the visitor’s face. ‘*T can keep my report then,” he grinned. ‘‘ If you don’t want it now—” “Oh, we'll take it any time!” was the inter- ruption. Ben could not take his eyes from this man called the Lynx, He did not appear to weigh one hundred unds; his face was a dirty parchment color devoid of any adornment. is body was slim and without an ounce of surplus flesh upon it. On the top of his head was a bald spot which glistened like a polished dollar. His eyes, too, bad a vivid glitter, and were black and restless. His ears were too large for his head, and, alto- ether, he was a person calculated to make a be- older smile. But Ben could see that he was a shrewd per- son, and his manners told the boy ferret that be had entire cont.olof himself. — . When Major Bullion interrupted the Lynx to say that we) What take his report at any time, the Lynx advanced a step as he said: ‘*T have found him |” ‘“‘Cephas Corson?” cried Major Bullion. ‘Yes, Cephas Corson!” “Thank the fates! across him?” ‘*In Union Square.” ** When?” * To-night!” ‘Go on, Mr, L Tell us all about it, Ah! we are out of the woods by your work! You have found Cephas Corson! t means liberty and millions to us!” The Lynx did not stir. He waited quietly till the major concluded his g.atulations, “T found him on abench in the park,” he said, ‘ At first he was alone, but by-and-by he had a companion.” ‘ “ Who was he?” od& yr who is sometimes called Branded Ben on Mul Where did you run Major Bullion. “Did you follow the man en ‘ : Aye you know where he lives?” “There can be no escape for him now! Of course you cannot be mi egy Age **T don’t see how I could be. He wearsa m on his right wrist, and I heard him tell y enough to settle his identity. “1A part see tirae T lage the shrubbery , to ime in behind the settee he cocupled'? tid Sapir’ your life wouldn't have been worth caught you!” exclaimed Jee. ‘But he didn’t catch me!” was the quick re- | Olive unconsciously exhibited an eagerness that: sponse. ‘“ When can we get him?’ asked Major Bul- ion seriously. “At any time! He meets the boy shadow in the park to-morrow night.” ** No, he doesn’t!” mentally pr grea Ben. “To-morrow night, then! This time the law will leave no door ajar for him! By Jove, Mr, Lynx, you deserve to be crowned king of spotters!” Ten minutes later the room was dark and Ben went back to the ladder. He had seen and heard enough for one night, and what a revelation it had been! “Ts the Octopus to prove more than my match?” he cried, ‘‘ Ah! we shall see!” CHAPTER IV. JOE JOLLY SCORES A POINT. AxsovT an hour after the occurrence of these events a young girl who occupied a second floor room on one of the quietest streets that lead off from the Bowery, was summoned to her door by a knock, Tripping lightly across the room with a smile on her face as if she expected to greet some one who would be welcome, she opened the door to see a man who was already bowing with his hat in his hand. At once a look of aversion came to the girl’s eyes. “T beg your pardon, Olive,” began the man who was our acquaintance, Joe Jolly of the Octopus League. ‘*I can not remain away de- spite your rather cold words; but this time I am here ona matter of business which may concern you.’ 4 The fair creature started slightly and seemed to wonder what kind of business could bring Joe Jolly to her humble lodgings at that hour. ‘Walk in,” she replted. ‘‘But I must say now, Mr. Jolly, that our last conversation can- not be resumed.” A sinister smile played at the corners of the young man’s mouth and under the glossy hairs of his dark mustache; and the next moment he had accepted the girl’s invitation and was in the room. Ina, little while Joe Jolly had taken a chair and crossed his legs, Olive was not far away, near a neat sewing table, and her manner told him that she was waiting for him to begin the business of which he had spoken, “By Jove! she gets prettier each time 'I see her!” mentally ejaculated the dudish rascal. “When she is twenty, she’ll be the handsomest woman in New York! She doesn’t know what she’s worth either, and we'll take care that she shall not till the Octopus is ready to rake in the stakes,” Then Joe Jolly cleared his throat and threw a bland smile toward the girl. “‘T happened to stumble upon an advertise- ment which may refer to-you,” he began, diving aband into aninner pocket and fishing up a small memorandum-book, ‘ Indeed, I may say that, after a casual investigation, I believe it does concern you.” The fellow was bunting for something in the book while he spoke, and Olive’s eyes were bestowing on him a good deal of attention. At last he found a slip of paper which had once been a part of a newspaper column, and when he had glanced over itas if to assure himself that it was all right, he leaned forward and handed it to the girl. The following moment Olive read as follows: “Olive C-—— of 211 B——— street. Danger threatens your best friend,and good luck awaits you if matters are handled by an experienced person. Do not trust any thing to a boy, but answer this in pee. or put it in the hands of a man who is will- ng to serve you.” , The advertisement ended without any address, though the girl could see that it had not been published in that shape. She looked up at Joe Jolly and fond him look- ing away asif he thought she had not read the bit of paper. ** There is no address,” she remarked in a man- ner that brought the young man back to thesub- ** Ab, no—none now,” he exclaimed. ‘In cut- ting it from the paper I accidentally ruined the address, but that did not prevent me from doing you a little favor.” ‘Then you know who sent the ‘personal’ to the—” : “The Herald !” ejaculated Joe. ‘‘ Yes, Imade it a point to see what was in this matter. “‘ And you found the party?” made Joe Jojly’s eyes sparkle, “IT thought I could pee up abrave job!” he. exclaimed, ‘I’m nochump if Ido wear kids and smoke five-cent cigars. I’ve got the fly in the net almost before it has been spread.” ‘“*T found the party,” he replied to Olive’s eager question, and his eyes fell upon the paper still | held by the girl. ‘I must say, Olive, that there is a good deal in it.” ‘“* Tt really means me, then?” ‘It was meant forno oneelse. J didnot have to read it twice before u thought flashed across my mind. I determined to get at it'as far as I could, but, really, nothing can be done without you being on the ground, “*T cannot guess what this strange advertise- ment can mean,” answered Olive. ‘I have few friends in New York, and I cannot comceive what danger can threaten any one of them. As for the good luck that awaits me, I am perfectly contented with my present condition.” Joe Jolly threw a half-contemptuous glance around the room; he saw the plain furniture, the second-hand carpet and the sewing-machine whiéh was seldom idle during the day and far into the night. He could not think how Olive could be satisfied. with a lot like hers. “ “That is all very well,” he said, ‘‘but my motto is ‘when you can better yourself do it.’ I don’t think a person ought to neglect bis friends. That ‘personal’ says one of yours isin danger. Don’t you want to ward it of ‘* Yes!” exclaimed Olive. ‘‘ But what did you discover?” Now was the spider’s time, ‘*T found out just enough to render the whole case very aggravating,” he answered. ‘‘ The advertiser is very cautious. Skhe—” “A woman, then?” interrupted Olive, ‘Yes, and an afflicted. one, too! She is Sige ioe to keep her chair by a disease which is slowly taking her to the grave. Were it not for this, instead of inserting this ‘ personal,’ she would have come to you. I told her ere I left, and you will pardon my assurance, Olive, that I was your friend, and tha* I would, to the best of my ‘ability, represent you in this matter, The lady does not try to be mysteri- ous; she told me m a few words that she will unhosom herself to you.” ‘* Would she not trust a friend whom I might designate to represent me?” asked the girl. ‘“*To an extent which might be embarrass- ing,” was the quick answer. ‘If you. do not wish to do anything at ell, I am sorry.” Joe Jolly ecased as if he had nothing more to add, and reaching toward the table, picked up. his hat. ‘““Where is this lady?’ inquired Olive. ‘Not far off; ten minutes’ walk, perhaps; but no time at all for a cab.” The girl hesitated. She did not know any- thing very tad about Joe nag but she had never admired the fellow since he had tried to force some little attentions upon her. She had seen him sometimes op. the street, always well dressed, and always at Jeisure. She hed often wondered how he managed to live without work, and once when she asked Branded Ben akout him, she received a reply that threw but little light on the subject. A few evenings before the present interview she had told the Bowery dan y that his com- pany too often was not agreeable, but she had not used the plainest of language. The girl’s little bome was her world. The most she knew about the outside had come to her through the boy ferret, who told her a good deal about the different classes of the great city. Her own observations had been limited; and most of these bad beeh con- fined to the various parks which she had visited on holidays. ‘“T would like to help you in any manner I can,” Joe Jolly suddenly resumed, breaking in upon Olive’s hesitation. ‘‘ I am confident there is a good deal in the ‘ mal’, The lady wishes to befriend you. She can be reached in a little while if you will take the trouble. Ido a insist, for you are your own mistress, ive, The girl seemed to decide at the close of Joe Jolly’s last sentence. ts don't like the streets of New York at night,” she exclaimed. ‘ih “A eab will insure a safe trip,” was the re- nse, ‘1 thought you might want to see the lady who takes such an interest in your welfare, therefore I ——— acab with me. I am sure thirty minutes will see you back here in some than you are now.” | ; wre will go!” cried Olive, and Jee Jolly watched ; ae ee
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that controlled this fortune, and ‘her as she opened the door of the little wardrobe ‘and took down a hat. “Tt is like finding a bank!” ejaculated the ‘sleek knave, as his eyes sparkled with the victory of villamy. ‘The Octopus League can con- gratulate itself on having three of the levelest heads in Gotham. The girl is mine; and the fortune, too!” Olive was not long preparing to follow the man, and when she turned to him she was ready to depart. **T must be back here in thirty minutes!” she exclaimed. “We need not make it that,” he replied. ** With good horses to jolt us over the streets, we shall accomplish our errand in a short time,” The deluded girl locked the door behind her and put the key in her ket, then she went down to the sidewalk with the rogue, and he handed her into a cab which stood in the gutter. A moment afterward away went the vehicle and Olive felt a thrill when she found herself being carried rapidly away. . If a thought of personal danger entered her brain, she did not attempt to ret ace her steps. Ah! if she had, she would have discovered that it was ‘too late. On, on went the cab out of one street and into another; now the gaslight fell upon it, and now it was in the shadow of tall buildings, The girl began to grow impatient. oa this tae short ride Joe Jolly had prom- ised? More than ten minutes had elapsed already. All at once she leaned toward the window of ‘the vehicle and looked out. At that moment the cab turned a corner and ‘Olive saw the ruins of a once handsome build- ing. R I am more than a mile from home!” she mentally exclaimed. ‘That building was on fire when I last went to the park!” All at once she turned away and looked at Joe jolly, om the opposite seat. ‘*Weare never going to get there!” she ex- claimed. The sport of the Octopus League broke into a laugh that thrilled the girl. Like a flash the truth came all at once. ‘‘T am duped,” she cried. ‘* There is no lad waiting forme! I demand to be taken back, will appesl to the driver!” She darted toward the door of the cab, but a peed quicker than hers caught her and drew her The next moment a damp handkerchief was eas against her face, and in a little while live fell back upon the seat, colorless and ap- parently dead! It was another victory for the Octopus CHAPTER V, FERRET AND LYNX. “T HAVE got to be cautious now, for I have ‘the Lynx to contend with!. He doesn’t look very stron;, not much stouter than a match, ‘ut he is as quick as acat,and as cunning asa fox. I saw enough of him last night at the meeting of ‘the Octopus League. He has found the man with ‘the manacle, has even tracked him home, and the League wants to lay its hands on him again!” Branded Ben talked thus to himself when the day that followed his night of adventure was «closing over the Sis we The young Nig t Ferret had humble quarters not far from Prince Mordecai’s retreat; and he had kept pretty close to them during much of the day. ‘A s yet he did not know much about the spot- ter in the League’s employ; be remembered hav- Wm him several times at the ferry-houses, but had never suspected that he belonged to Major Bullion and his companions. Branded Ben knew that the design of the Oc- ttopus League was this: ; A fortune valued at one hundred thousand dollars, if not more, was coming to an heir who could not be found, Somehow-or-other the ‘Octopus had learned the conditions of ms will it was now about to substitute a boy for the true eir, Branded Ben had witnessed a part of the scheme in the burning of the victim; and he knew that when the wound healed the League would Loree the boy as the heir, and, in all peer lity, swindle some person out of his right- } . ? iat te nly crim that could be upon jor ‘ion an is oe Jolly and Baby Bell. pa HES was & us trio, (rr a NS nm Branded’B _ — : mie n, the Nig Like the great sea-monster whose name the League had taken for its own, it reached every- where for victims. More than one sleek Bightrobbery, more than twen infamous schemes of different kinds, kept the trio in money. aby Bell’s Bowery den was a cloak to cover his real profession, and a dozen plots had been hatched there between the three members of the League, . Some years prior to the opening of our story & man was arrested in the vault of a certain bank, which had just been robbed. The doors of the vault had been blown open, and the man, when found, was half insensible, He protested bis innocence, said that he saw the doors of the bank ajar, it was late at night, and that on approaching them, he was struck by a man and carried into the bank, where he found two men at work on the safe. It was a plausible story, and the courts might have taken it for truth if the man could have produced evidence of a good name, This, alas! he could not do, He had just come to New York; he knew no- body in the city; he refused to give any account of his past life, and to put an end to it all, two men came forward who swore that the man had served a term for burglary in a western peniten- tiary. The two witnesses were Major Bullion and Baby Beil. The prisoner denounced their testimony as in- famous; he swore that cne of the witnesses was his lifetime enemy; the scene in the court-room was thrilling in the extreme. Major Bullion’s evidence and that of his asso- ciate decided the issue. The prisoner was sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary. He again declared his innocence, and was taken away. Some years after the trial the Octopus League heard that the man had escaped. an ee gang feared vengeance, for the prisoner’s last word in the court-room was a threat of the kind. It would not do to let him run at large, espe- cially since during his imprisonment the Octopus ae made a very important discovery about im. It was for the purpose of unearthing Cephas Corson that the Tynx was called to the cam Major Bullion had the strange-looking shadower in-his power; and be knew that if tbe Lynx could not find the escaped felon it would be use- less to look for him. If Branded Ben had known that the Lynx was in the employ of the Octopus, he would have de- voted much time to the parchment-faced fellow ; but he had never caught him with either of the three villains, hence his ignorance of the link that connected them. The boy ferret had heard enough during his sojourn in the dark loft over the League’s quar- ters to know that Major Bullion intended to en- trap Cephas Corson who was the man with the manacle whom we first introduced to the reader in Union Square Park. The victory was to be won on the night after the Lynx’s report, and as its shadows n to steal over the city, Branded Ben slipped from his lodgings ready to oppose his cunning to the e's On his way to the basement ocomries by the manacled man, Branded Ben concluded to drop in upon Olive, whom he had not seen for several days. When he arrived at her door he found it lock- ed, and several raps failed to get any response. What can*have happened here?” mused the Night Ferret. ‘Olive is never away at this time.” He turned the knob and tried the door, but without effect. “TI think the young leddy went away,” sud- denly spoke a voice bebind him, and the boy turned and confronted another sewing-girl who lived in the same building. ; ‘* Went away?” cried Ben, leaving the door in an instant. ‘‘ When did she go?” “ Last night.” ** Alone?” oy ‘I don’t know, She hada gentleman in her room awhile. He’s called several times o’ late, I think.” ; ‘“« Was it Joe Jolly?’ exclaimed the boy detec- tive, a sudden thought flashing across his mind. “T don’t know, sir.” “* How do you know he had called before?” “T thought I recognized his voice.” . “You did not see the man.” > ** Not last night, but I have seen him?” ‘* Well, what is he like?” “He isa sort of dandy, whom I would never tolerate,” was the reply. ‘He wears kids at all ht Ferret. times as if his hands were too nice to meet the air ‘That is Joe Jolly for a thousand! If Olive weut off with that rascal, she is in danger!” He did not speak the sentence aloud, but the girl might have read it by his countenance. “Can't I get into Olive’s room?” be asked. The girl glanced up at the transom. ‘*-You might get in that way,” she replied. T will try!” exclaimed the young detective, and the next minute he was half-way into Olive’s room, The sewing-girl went back to her own quar- ters, leaving Branded Ben to his own employ- ment. “Tf Olive went off with that kidded scoun- dre] under the influence of some adroit story, she may have left some clew behind,” he men- tally exclaimed, and in a little while he was searching every nook of the girl’s humble room, “This is a mystery!” he cried when he found himself at the end of the hunt. ‘‘ What would make Olive run away with Joe clipe Ad I never told her much about the fellow: but she did not fancy him; I can’t remain here. I must warn Cephas Corson of the descent about to be made upon him by the Octopus. _He must net fall into its clutches again! The League knows that he is its sworn enemy, and that he will not rest until the crime of the bank robbery and the perjury have been avenged,” Branded Ben was about to turn to the door when he heard a slight noise like the click of a key in the lock, he next instant he drew beck half-hidden by Olive’s ved, and waited. Somebody was at the door. Was it Joe Jolly, or Olive herself coming back? The boy ferret did not have to wait long for the door slowly opened, and a figure with cat- like tread slipped into the room, Ben saw it from the first and his eyes sud- denly got a new sparkle when they noticed the visitor creep toward the wardrobe. “You go to work withoutany preliminaries,” inferred Branded Ben. ‘“‘ There is but one key to Olive’s door and you have it in your posses- sion. Of course it came from Olive.” The night-caller was at the wardrobe, and the keen-eyed boy saw him plunge into its dark re- cesses, All at once Branded Ben flitted across the room, but his soft footstep was beard, and the person in the wardrobe turned with a light ex- clamation of surprise, He held a small tox in his hand. You don’t want to show your teeth, Mr. Lynx!” called out Ben, the ferret, as he recog- nized the intruder who seemed to stand aghast at the sudden discovery. ‘‘Why did you come, and not Joe J av Tke person before Ben stepped forward de- spite the menacing eyes, but he did not relin- quish his hold on the little box. ** Who are you?” “ A person whom you don’t want to see just now,” was the Tay ** T know that you are the wed spy of the Octopus, the hired man of Joe olly, the kidded sport!” ‘** Then you know entirely too much, my street hound!” was the quick response, and the next second the Lynx leaped at Branded Ben with all the agility of the animal whose name he bore. The boy ferret was .caught at the throat by the long sallow fingers of the spy, and as he was forced across the carpet, the box which the Lynx held by a handle on the lid descended with crash- ing force upon his head. t was an unexpected attack, and one full of ae and vengeance, he Night Ferret fell back over the bed, and the hand that had gripped his throat relaxed. “Merciful heavens! how long have I been here?” cried Branded Ben, when he came back to consciousness and started from the bed, ‘‘The Lynx is a thunderbolt if he is lean and hungry- looking. Let me see! It is eight o’clock. and ibe, Ootones was to seize Cephas Corson to- night!” ith this cry that sent a thrill through him, Branded Ben sprung toward the door, He might be too late to save the man with manacle! CHAPTER VIL A NEW MYSTERY. Ben did not tarry long in Olive’s room after be regained consciousness, — The danger that threatened Cepbas Corson, the man with the manacle, was enough to make him fly at once to the rescue. i In a little while he was in the vicinity of the “ti iaelie JNA 4
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glided down t ' of “ Pinkie!” through the hall, and after a min- felon’s hiding-place and on the Jookout for the Octopus League. During the journey Ben had put on a slight disguise which was sufficient to prevent him from being recognized by any but the keenest eyes, ve found the street as quiet as ever with its many dark nooks and cellar-ways. Here and there he met a pedestrian, but neither of them ‘was Cephas Corson on his way to Union Square for the meeting proposed at the last interview. Branded Ben crept be the street until he reached the steps that led down into the fugi- tive’s den. All was still. ‘ Was he too late, or had Cephas Corson gone to the park? After a moment’s inspection of his surround- ings with a vy of keen eyes, Branded Ben e steps, and rapped lightly on the elon’s door. There was no response, and then he turned the knob and walked in. “ Cephas, I am here!” ejaculated the boy, in cautious tones. There was no reply to these words, and Ben went on through the darkness until his hand found another door which he opened. There were two apartments to Cephas Cor- son’s hiding-place; the front one was his watch- house, the one in the rear his hiding-place. “Can they have been here?” Ben asked bim- self, as he stood in the darkness on the thresh- eld of the second room. ‘‘It may be that he has fled to the secret place.” The, boy shut the door behind him and struck amatch. The little flame leaped up from his hand, and revealed the interior of the little apartment. “What is this?’ burst suddenly from Ben’s throat, and then he started forward with a wild cry. % My God! the Octopus bas been here!” A moment later Branded Ben was bending over a human body which lay at the end of the room, and his little light was falling upon the ghastliest sight he had ever beheld! The dead man—the man was dead—lay on his back, but there were no eyes to stare at the young Night Ferret with that terrible look of the lifeless. The face was mangled beyond recognition, though there was but little blood on the floor. All at once the boy’s hand darted downward and clutched the corpse’s right arm. ““Difl they leave the manacle?” he cried. “ Ah, no! they took eyen that away!” Branded Ben saw that a probably an iron band, had been drawn forcibly over the right band! is match went out when he made this dis- covery, and he was alone in the dark with the man! The boy ferret did not strike another match for he had seen enough. “There must be swift work now!” came through his teeth, as he went back into the other room. ‘ After all his years of waiting for ven- nce they have. silenced him. It was terri- By don, sure enough! The Lynx found the trail for them—the Lynx who invaded Olive’s room. tonight and gave me a sample of his fury. } will begin. the hunt at once.” Branded Ben left the basement and passed up to the street again. *“*T don’t want to appear in the Hie ol tion,” he reg ge “The police can have the soysteny to their satisfaction until I choose to solve it. As I live though, this shall be the noose that strangles the Octopus!” The young sleuth bad never b en seen with @ephas Corson in his retreat and the people who occupied the house above the basement did not know him. “T can begin here,” he murmured as he walked up to the door and jerked the bell. A young girl with a grimace that rather spoiled her looks answered the ring. She held the door open for the boy to enter; but Branded Ben leaned against the jamb and . Where is the man who lives below you?” “‘ Isn’t he there?” asked the girl. Branded Ben shook hishead. “ Oh, maybe he went away with the gentle- men who called awhile'ago.” “ Ah! he had visitors, then?” “ec Yes.” “ How many?” “Two I think; but Pinkie saw them, she was at the window when they came.” “ Call Pinkie.” The girl turned about and sent a shrill cry ute a flaxen haired girl of fifteen made her ap- pearance, “‘ Here, Pinkie; this gentlemen wants to know abovt the people who called on the man in the box awhile ago, You were at the window, you know?” ‘There were two at first, then another came, and when they went away there were four.” “Four!” ejaculated Ben almost taken from his feet by the statement. ‘‘T counted ’em because I thought it so strange for the man in the box to go off with anybody.” “ Did he go away?” “Who else did if four went out when three went in?” cried Pinkie, with a leer. “You beard no noise?” ‘““ We hear noises enough in our own house.” The boy drew toward the step. ‘“‘ What were the three men like?” he asked. “Two were rather large, the otber not so much so,” was the rather vague description. “ And the man who went off with them?” ‘“‘ He looked like the man below,” was the re- |" sponse. The "boy ferret did not pursue his investiga- tions any further, but gave the girls some com for their trouble and walked away. “Three men entered the house, four left it, and yet one remains behind dead!” he ejacu- lated when he found himself some distance from the place. ‘‘ What does it all mean?” and then he added, with a smile: ‘‘ We will let the Mul- berry street ferrets try their hands on the case for awhile.” An hour later the police department received through a mysterious source word that a mur- dered man lay in a certain basement not far from the Bowery. ; As usual, the matter was quickly attended to, and the occupants of the frame house above the cellar, the two girls included, were taken off as witnesses. Nobody knew anything about the murdered man; he had occupied the basement for some time, seldom went out, and then only at night, had no visitors, and was not on terms with any person in the neighborhood. The girl who had seen the three men enter the basement could give no minute description of them; she was a poor, blundering witness, who was frightened by the stern coroner, the police officers and the crowd. ° “Ts there anybody in the crowd who thinks he can identify the deceased?” asked the acting coroner, glancing over the little assemblage when the last witness had been examined, ‘“‘T think I can, your Honor,” said a voice. “Step forward—this way!” cried the officer, and a igre young man edged his way through the crowd. ‘Your name, sir?” ‘* Joseph Jolly.” “Where do you reside?” “Tn the city.” “Occupation?” é Hat-store clerk, out of employment at pres- ent. A smile went around the crowd as our friend Joe Jolly announced his profession as he stood in the middle of the room with his hat held lightly in his gloved hands. -If he was a clerk he bad not seen service for a long time; the Bowery had known him for several years in succession. ‘Very well, Mr. Jolly, proceed and tell us what you know about the deceased,” said the master of the ay sot «His name is Cephas Corson,” answered Joe. Some years ago he was sentenced to ten years imprisonment for burglarizing the Manhattan Bank, Some time ago he escaped, and has eluded the officers ever since.” The coroner glanced at a tall man who nodded slightly, and then signaled to Joe to proceed. Of course I know nothing ahout the man’s death,” continued the dandy of the Octopus League. ‘‘I merely identify him—that is all!” ‘How do you know him?” asked the tall man just mentioned. He was one of the best detectives in New York; Ferdinand Fox they called bim. ‘‘Oh, I recognize bim by a ings of his left hand which you will see is off at the first joint,” was the answer. “Then, a day or two since I saw him in Union Square Park. Some of you may recollect that I appeared as a witness in the Manhattan Bank burglary case when Cepbas Corson was convicted.” The detective nodded again and drew back. “Why didn’t you report Cephas Corson’s whereabouts to the authorities when you discov- ered him?’ asked the coroner. : Joe Jolly twirled his hat on bis kidded hand, and seemed to flush. “JI may have thought the man had been unished enough,” he stammered in an admira- le manner, with which opinion some of the lis- teners seemed to agree. Mr. Joe Jolly was not kept on the witness- stand any longer, and finding that he was not, wanted farther, he stole from the place and walked away with a very happy smile at the corners of his mouth. It was evident that he had done an act of which he was proud, and the smile broadened om his face as he hurried from the spot. “You combine the impudence of Satan with the coolness of a sand-bagger, Joe Jolly!” ex- claimed a voice in his rear, and at that moment the speaker put himself quietly on the Bowery sport’s trail. *‘ You can swear to anything that promises to assist the Octopus League, so won- derfully elastic is your countenance! 1 thought one of you would be hanging around the in- quest, and that’s why I made it a point to be on hand,” Joe Jolly never looked behind him, Why should he? He walked away unconscious that a boy who had heard his testimony was at his heels. If he had looked back and seen him, he might have recognized him as the youth whom Baby Beli had ejected from his concert hall for eavesdrop- ping. The trailer of course was the Night Ferret, Branded Ben. CHAPTER VII. , BEN IN THE TOILS, TuE young ferret kept at Joe Jolly’s heels in hopes that he would give bim a clew to Olive’s whereabouts. Branded Ben no longer doubted that his friend, the beautiful sewing-girl, had fallen into a neat trap set for her by the Bowery sport, for the description he bad received of her visitor tallied with Joe’s appearance. But Joe Jolly was not disposed to lead Ben to Olive’s hiding-place, even if he knew it. He kept ov till he struck the Bowery, into which he turned, and led the young detective a quick pace to the Baby’s place of amusement. Ben paused at the door. He had not forgotten the treatment he bad re- ceived at the hands of the proprietor of the mene and he now hesitated about following Joe — the forbidden threshold. f course he longed to see whom Joe would meet at Baby Bell’s after his testimony at the inquest; and he was equally anxious to keep the Bowery dude in sight. All at once Ben darted away and disappeared down the first street he reached. A few yards from the corner he plunged into an 1 and ae at the door of a low-storied brick ouse. It was opened by a middle-aged woman, who uttered an exclamation at sight of him. “T want to trade clothes with Dick for awhile,” explained the young spotter. “ What's up now?” asked the woman, in evi- dent surprise. “Never mind! Show me to Dick’s wardrobe} ll leave all my wealth in my clothes, so Dick won't be the loser if I never come back.” In a moment Branded Ben was shown into & cramped room and left alone with a lamp, “Dick's wardrobe consists of one suit of clothes and two pairs of boots,” laughed the boy as he divested himself of his outer garments an ot into others which he found at his service. ‘7 don’t think Baby Pell’s keen eyes will detect me when I am through. The Lynx is not likely to be there, and I will not meet the fellow whoa gave me the box at Olive’s house.” When the boy finished the change and had darkened his eyebrows, he lookea quite unlike Branded Ben, aud bidding the astonished woman good-night, he went back to Baby Bell's, “Now for the lion’s den again!” be decided, as he opened the door and walked boldly in. The orchestra was in the midst of a noisy piece, and the room was pretty well filled. The young shadower walked forward to one of the seats, and composed himself as if he had come to enjoy the performance, ‘All the time, however, his eyes were on the alert, and they saw and studied everybody in the lace. ; He saw that the Baby was not at his usual Jace; but he could not see anything of Joe lly. “The fellow has given me the slip!” ejacu- lated Ben in tones of disappointment. ‘Can it be that he canght me on his track, an?— The branded boy stopped very suddenly. for at that moment a door at the rear of the stage
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i . / 5 “to see Mr. Lynx % Sranaco made its appearance. Ben’s eyes were on him in an instant. Joe Jo. M was followed by the more portly person of Baby Bell, and a thrill of ese ran through the boy’s frame when he saw the fellow who collared him from the place a short time before. The two came down the aisle directly toward Branded Ben, and Joe Jolly dropped into the seat directly behind him. “By Jove! I laugh about the trick yet when- ever I think about it!” cried Joe, looking up into Baby Bell’s face. ‘‘ Tt was very neat,” was the answer, ‘Neat? I should daintily remark!” laughed Joe, taking a cigarette from arich case, ‘* The major will congratulate me when we meet. It was wholly a scheme of my own. As I have said, Ferdinand Fox was the only person out- side of the coroner who put in a remark.” The next moment the Baby was called away and Joe was alone. ‘‘ By Jupiter! I was in hot water all the time at the inquest, but I won’t confess it!” he said, in audible tones to himself, words which the sharp ears of the boy spotter managed to catch, “There is something about the drama in the cellar which may never be solved, and it puz- zles me a great deal. I wonder who the man was?” Joseph brought his audible meditations to a close as tbe orchestra finished its play, and dur- ing the next few moments he enjoyed his cigar- ette in silence. Branded Ben from one end of the seat in front stole occasional glances at hin, and wondered what he could be thinking about, ‘¢ He wonders who the man was?’ murmured the young Night Ferret. ‘What man? He swore at the inquest that the dead man was Cephas Corson, the escaned felon, but now he talks about the mystery of the cellar, and won- ders who a certain man was! Aha! Joe Jolly, you are trying to pea me again, I see; but if good work can circumvent you and the Octo- pus, it will be done!” All at once Baby Bell came to the Bowery dude and tapped him on the shoulder. Joe Jolly started. “Ferd Fox was just in here inquiring for you,” said the proprietor of the hall. “The Old Harry!” exclaimed Joe. What does that detective want with mef” “Something about your testimony at the in- quest mebbe, “Well, I don’t want to see him.” “T thought so.” ~ “ And you told him, what?’ ‘That you weren’t here.” “Thanks! Where is he now?” ‘* He’s gone out.” ““Then I'll proceed to make myself scarce,” ejaculated Joe. ‘‘I want time to consult the major, and to get my thoughts together. I want too. If the major drops in here tell him I'm at—let me see—yes, at Number — West Canal. Ferd Fox will never think of looking there for me!” . git oy A moment later Joe Jolly hastily left his seat and disappeared beyond the narrow door at one end of the s , and Baby Bell returned to his place behind the counter. “Number — West Canal! I guess I’m not likely to forget that,” exclaimed Branded Ben, as he moved toward the front door a few mo- ments after the Bowery dude’s departure. “From some cause or other he doesn’t want to meet the detective who heard his testimony at the a Within the next two minutes the boy detective was on the sidewalk in front of Baby -Bell’s , and a smile of satisfaction twinkled [ his eyes as he moved away, ‘This is one time I didn’t feel your claws at my collar, Baby Bell,” ejaculated the boy, “TI will leave you for the present, and pay my Fe te a lijtle while longer to the dude of the topus.” ; ‘As for Joe Jolly, he had emerged into an aliey in the rear of the concert hall, and was eaichig: rapidly away. His aim was to reach Canal street as quickly as ible, and in order to prevent recognition, he left the Bowery and turned into a less public thoroughfare. This time he had nobody at his heels, for Branded Ben was not particular about ding him on the street, for he had overheard his destination, and was himself on his way to the ey 3 ye spot. To a be nore knows the ins and outs of New Y like young detective, there is alwaysa “short cut,” and on this occasion Branded had one at his service. Darting through several alleys, which mate- ae shortened the route, the nimble spotter reached Canal street in advance of the Octopus rt. He at once to look for the number named by Joe, and found it after a little hunt, It proved to be a two-story brick house with a — on the first floor, and the door which ed into the dwelling part of the building was to the left of the rg The pawnshop had been closed for the night, or Branded Ben would have entered it in search of certain information; but as it was, he was compelled to loiter around till Joe should ap- pear. He had to wait ten minutes for the Bowery sport, and when he heard the peculiar ger i 7 of his man, he drew back into the shadow of the building and held his breath, Joe came on and stopped at the door beside the pawnshop, then he took out a night-key and entered, but not until he had swept the immedi- ate vicinity with a searching look. a at once he opened the door and darted in- side. “Quick work!” ejaculated Branded Ben. ‘I know one of your new hiding-places, Joseph. I wonder if Olive shares it with you?” And the boy looked up at the lightless windows above the pawn store. All was still again after the Octopus sport dis- appeared; his arrival was not announced by any light in the windows; the whole house continued as dark as before. ‘‘T would like to know who keeps this shop, and whether the person manages the whole house,” muttered Ben. ‘‘ Joe Jolly is not likely to quit it for some time, and Major Bullion, the head of the Octopus, may appear. There’s nothing here for me now, though there may be to-morrow.” And the young ferret walked off with a final look at thé Bowery sport's retreat. Branded Ben had not gone ten yards ere the side door opened without noise, and a head with an enormous ra) of ears was thrust out. “T guess I'd better see to’him!” hissed a voice as the eyes in the door sighted the boy’s figure. *“ We can’t afford to have any foxes on our trail just now.” The door was closed and the speaker stepped forward. If he wore shoes they did not give any sound on the sidewalk, and as he approached Ben, he took from his bosom some hing very like a towel. The next moment he went forward with his eyes on the boy detective, and with the cloth dangling from one of his lengthy hands. The street was comparatively deserted at that point, and the stealthy person at Ben’s heels was timing his movements so as to catch the boy in the shadow, The keenest ears in Gotham could not have heard the approach of the villain. He kept on at a respectful distance from the boy detective until the dark shade of a high building was reached. Then he sprung forward and tbrew the cloth above his head, He was within three feet. of Branded Ben, Suddenly the hands that held the strangler’s net darted forward, and the cloth dropped over the young ferret’s head! It was the quick work of a second. ‘Great heavens! what is this? cried Branded Ben as he was jerked back and almost thrown off his balance, ‘I am in the toils of the Oc- topus!” _ His exclamation seemed to need no confirma- tion, for at that moment he was thrown to one side, and the mouth of an alley swallowed both Ben and his captor! CHAPTER VIIL A REPTILE IN KIDS. Ler us at this point, kind reader, leave th young Night Ferret, and go back to another im- ortant character of our story who demands attention. Our reference is. of course, to Olive, the girl whom we saw inveigled into an adroit trap set for her by Joe Jolly, the Bowery dude. Olive in the cab was at the villain’s mercy, and when she fell back upon the seat with a damp handkerchief pressed against her face she knew nothing more. Joe Jolly had planned his game with a good deal of shrewdness; he had inserted the deceptive advertisement for the express purpose of carry- out his scheme, and we have seen how it hoodwinked the young girl. When the cab stopped, as it did soon after Olive’s lapse into unconsciousness, Joe Jolly ate up the form of his victim and stepped “ opened and the smiling face of the Bowery dude . — > Ceti i he ye A row of houses of different sizes was before him and he carried Olive into one of them while the cab rattled away again. The girl thus entrapped by the dude of the Octopus did not come to her true senses tntil the light of another day streamed in at the win- dow near which she lay. Her head was racked with pain, and objects swam before her eyes for a few moments. It did not take her long to recall some of the events of the past night, and she traced them with a good deal of distinctness up to the mo- ment of her faint. She was not in her own humble lodgings as she could see at a — The furniture about her was new and strange ‘land when she went to the window she found that the glass was painted on the inside, and that she could not obtain any view of the world beyond. With a resolve not to inhabit the place, Olive went to the first door that met her gaze. It was unlocked, to her surprise, and she opened it to look into a room occupied by a —— who appeared to be asleep in an arm- chair. ‘““ Where am I?’ demanded the girl, as she walked forward and touched the woman’s arm. The woman who was large, almost a giantess and not very handsome looked into Olive’s face and laughed. ‘‘Where are you, my child? Why among friends!” she exclaimed. ‘‘The manner in which I came here does not indicate this,” cried Olive, flushing. ‘* Will you let me go back to my little room?” “Not to-day, my darling!” and thinking that Olive was about to start forward, the woman lifted her weight from the chair and caught her arm. The girl tried to break from the grasp but it was firm, and she was obliged to desist. Olive saw that she was no match for her Amazonian guard. “You will see a friend when he comes,” cried the woman. ‘* Joe Jolly?” “Never mind. Wait and see!” And the woman sunk back into the chair and looked at Olive in a half ferocious manner, Five minutes had not elapsed and tbe girl was back in her room, when she heard voices, and the next moment Joe Jolly entered with his bland smile and triumphant look. He came into the room twirling his hat on his gloved hand, and dropped into a cbair, and crossed his legs after his usual manner. Olive knew she had to deal with a cool, calcu- lating rascal; a tiger with sharp nails under velvet paws, and she studied him some time be- fore she spoke. “Ts the woman in yon room the one who wanted to see me?” she asked. A smile appeared at once at Joe Jolly’s mouth. ‘‘ What if she is not?” be inquired. Olive’s _ at once flashed indignantly over the studied insult. ‘‘ Whether she is or not, I want nothing to do with her!” she exclaimed. ‘* Ah! you have formed a poor opinion of Mrs, Peebles!” ejaculated the Bowery dude. ‘ But let me come down to some matter of fact, Olive. You may not pardon some of the events of last night, but I assure you that they were under- en for your good.” What! the decoy advertisement, the chloro~ orm— Joe Jolly put up his hand, ‘Really, you are very severe on me,” he in terrupted. ** You will not let me proceed, I see. ** Go on,” replied Olive, eying him closely. ‘* What ever becane of your father?” “You have asked me this question before,” was the reply. ** Ah, so I have; and you told me—” “That my father disappeared the first day we arrived in New York frum England.” Joe Jolly bowed with a twinkle in his eye. “T seem to recollect that,” he remarked. “ Why didn’t you write back to your relatives — the pi akc ‘i Because the o ing one, m ndfather, Thomas Coombs, sdemtoned my estiaee because she married against his will!” exclaimed tke girl with a show of pride. ‘“T know that,” smiled the Octopus dude. “Where did you get the information?” ex- claimed Olive. leaning forward. “ Never.mind,” and Joe Jolly gave his hat a new spin. ‘‘How would you like to be some- body? I mean, Olive, how would you like toex- change your present life for ome more conge-
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oo ““T like my life very well.” » “Oh, you want to bend over the machine day after day, eh?” : ‘*It brings me’bread, and is not all work.” ** What if I should tell you that, by a single act, you could become one of the richest young women in Gotham?” ‘* That were impossible!” cried the girl. ** Oh, no; quite probable,” was the quick re- sponse, ‘* Look here, Olive,” and Joe Joll leaned forward, almost dropping his hat. ‘“ if you will become Mrs, Joseph Jolly you will be worth fifty thousand dollars in your own right.” Olive started and uttered a sharp ery. ‘** Maybe you don’t believe it?’ the sleek young rascal went on. ‘‘ You’ve got papers concern- in: — birth, haven’t you?” O ive said *‘ Yes” before she thought, and a moment after she spoke she wished she had left the word unsaid. “I thought so. All you have to do is to pro- duce those papers at a certain place; but you cannot do that until you have a husband.” The girl gave the villain a look that non- plused him, ‘** Let me explain more fully,” he continued, * Your grandfather is dead, and has left you his sole heir under certain conditions, The main condition is that you find a suitable bushand be- fore yw receive one shilling of the estate. Your grandfather was rather eccentric, but he had an eye single to your future welfare. He probably knew something about the annoyances to which a young girl with fifty thousand dollars would be subjected.” Olive heard the fellow through with a gather- ing smile at ber lips, ** And you propose to place me in possession of - fortune eg ay my husband!” she ask- ed, watching Mr. Jolly closely. “ There is no other way by which you can get it! ‘*Then the fortune never touches my fingers!” exclaimed Olive, as she rose from her chair and drew her perfect figure up before the disconcert- ed scamp. ‘I will keep the proofs of my birth and of my mother’s marriage. The fifty thou- sand dollars can go if you must come with them !” ; Joe Jolly looked up at the girl, and did not know whether to smile or frown. Olive was in terrible earnest; her bright eyes confirmed the language of her lips; she despised the reptile in the chair. iz ‘All right! Go they shall!” ejaculated the Bowery sport in very ill humor, ‘The hus- band will come all the same.” * You?” H ** Joseph Jolly !” laughed the fellow, till Olive started back with almost colorless cheeks, ‘**Don’t you see, girl, that there’s only one way out o’ this snap?” he went on, and at the same time he left the chair and came toward her with his gliding motion, which reminded Olive of a serpent. ‘* Why, there’s no power in New ein that can prevent you from becoming Mrs. olly! A strange sensation of faintness stole over the eo she thought of her situation, and beat it 0! **I say that I will never become your wife!” she exclaimed. ‘May the vengeance of Heaven fall upon me if I ever stand with you before a priest. Villain, reptile, I loathe you! You are playing a deep game for my legacy if you have told the truth about it. Take it all and let me A laugh of derision was the wey Olive got, and when it ended, the Octopus dude put on his hat and walked toward the door. ' * Am I to be kept here?” cried Olive, ad- vancing. . ‘Is this to become my prison until I put myself and my fortune into your hands?” “Yes! I drop the mask at last, my girl!” was the reply, and Joe Jolly turned upon Olive with a look that almost chilled her. ‘*I want the leg- acy that waits for you across the water, don’t you see?” And he laughed satanically, “ We are playing two games at once, but Iam man- aging this one. Did you ever hear of the Octo- pus ‘No. What is that?” ** 1t is a League that wins every play it makes, Once in its power, always there!” ** And you belong to it?” “IT have that honor,” admitted Joe, with a mock bow that seemed to make his eyes glitter like a serpent’s. Olive stood before him like a person riveted to the floor. His body was between her and the door, be- yond which she could imagine her Amazonian the chair. i ou can’t get away!” assured the shrewd Sran | rogue. ‘ All the averues of escape are closed. Another sardonic laugh, as the door opened and shut, and she was the sole occupant of the room. The Octopus dude was gone, CHAPTER IX. THE LYNX’S REPORT. WirH his feet upon a table in front of him, Major Bullion, of the Octopus League, was en- joying a cigar in a room of which he was the only occupant. Beautiful rings of fragrant smoke chased one another toward the ceiling, and the major looked contented, The room was expensively furnished and richly frescoed, as if its owner had plenty of money, and had nothing to do but to spend it as best suited his desires. “‘ Just as soon as the brand heals we'll be ready for the grand play!” suddenly ejaculated the chief. ‘Joseph is on the high road to suc- cess with the fifty-thonsand-dollar scheme, and I guess the man with the manacle wrn’t bother us any more, That little affair still puzzles the Mulberry stree ferrets!”. And the major Jaughed. ‘“‘ By Jupiter! it mystifies some other people, and I never knew he had an enemy besides ourselves! The Lynx did us some splendid work, for with- out him we could not have found Cephas Cor- son!" As the man finished he turned to a box at his elbow for the purpose of taking a fresh ci when for the first time he discovered that he had a caller. ““Hello! When did you come in?” exclaimed the major, starting violently, though the per- £0n whom he addressed was a boy about seven- nD. . ** Awhile ago; that is, I came down-stairs, you know.” ** But you did not knock.” ‘* Yes, I did; but I guess you didn’t hear me,” was the reply. ‘* How is the mark gettin, “Tt must be healad. more.” “Ts it plain?” “Very plain. I think it was a good job.” And the boy swoiled, much to the major’s ap- parent pleasure. ‘““T want te go out a little while to-night,” re- sumed the boy. ‘*Tnto the street?” cried Major Bullion, almost dropving his cigar. “Yes; but I will avoid everybody,” was the quick nse. : ‘You can't do. that. Some of your old ac- oe will meet you and call you Ned olan, which might complicate matters in the future. Ycu know you have lost that name; that you are to appear in court by-and-by as Lennox Lyons, heir to a tremendous estate, The brand settles your identity: no court can overlook it; and besides, we've got the papers that substantiate your claim, I don’t want you on the street, Lennox,” The boy looked disappointed. He was the same person whom Ben saw mark- ed for life by the Octopus League, from the loft over Prince Mordecai’s old shop. The boy had lost some of his natural color by being cooped up, when he was used to the free- dom of the streets, but he was still rather good- looking and had pti, iP black eyes. Major Bullion studied him for a moment, and then asked: ‘Why do you want to go out?” on?” don’t feel it any The boy dropped his eyes and blushed. jv I'd like to see Lona,” he confessed, in low nes. ‘* A sweetheart. eh?” Ned Nolan’s color deepened. ** Where is Lona?” ‘On Greenwich street.” “Your sister?” “ No. ” “T thought so! Well, Lona won't go mad if ou don’t come for a few days. You'll pe to ler the best-known boy in New York if you wait a while. You will be able to buy her a Bere, and to wed her in state, if you want to. hy, boy, ours is the coolest play for big stakes that ever took place in Gotham! We never fail, you understand—never!” “Then I am to be shut up here till you want to use me, am I?” “Yes; it won't be very long, but it will be for the best, Take several of these cigars up to | chief, catching the spy {> ™ “ How long will it be?” asked the boy with a dash of impatience. “I can’t just say, but a very few days. I am getting ready to announce that we have Gidcorered Leubox Lyons, the lost heir of Gen- eral Lyons who died in California a few years | ago guess I have told you all you want to remember during the proceedings. You haven’t forgotten any of it, Lennox?” ““T think not.” “Good! there can be no failure. Lona will greet you with more joy if you stay away awhile longer. Aha! let them beat the Octopus if they can!” z At the end of the man’s sentence a bell jingled over bis head, and he threw a quick look toward the League’s victim. ** Quick! to your room, Lennox!” he exclaim- ed, and the next instant the boy disappeared. In a little while the bell jingled again and shortly afterward the door opened to admit a person at sight of whom Major Bulion started. It was the Lynx! The ferret of the League came forward with a strange gleam in his eyes and pert at the table and looked down into Major Bullion’s up- turned face. ; ‘**Something has happened ?” exclaimed the s countenance in,an in- stant. | ‘* Yes.” “Ont with it! Have they discovered tiat—” ‘* No; the Mulberry street rats have discovered nothing,” was the interruption. ‘*Good for that! Idon't see what else can r, | happen.” | smile came to the lips of Mr. Lynx and he leaned forward as he threw a quick glance around the room. ‘*There are two branded boys in New York!” he whispered. Major Bullion almost left his chair. ‘‘ Two branded heirs in Gotham? This is a thunder- bolt. I can’t believe it! And at this stage of the game, too!” 4 The smile did not desert the Lynx’s lips. He seemed to enjoy the major’s consternation. ‘““Why don’t you go on and tell me?” the chief exclaimed. ‘‘ You've touched off the magazine; now, give me all the horrible de- tails. All the time in the hall without a boy was leaning over the bannister of the stair looking through the open transom at the two men in the room. His eyes were fairly ablaze with surprise, and his breath went out. in short gasps while he listened. It was Ned Nolan, the = branded by the Oc- topus League, and while Major Bullion thought he was in a distant room and far beyond earshot, he was taking in the startling revelation, “Well,” began Mr. Lynx, ‘tI was on duty on Canal street when Joe came back, He was fol- lowed by a boy whom I had met before, a boy who is a keenspy. When the ferret bad followed Joe home I slipped out after him, and in less than no time [bad a net over his head.” “Good!” and the major’s face lit up with de- light, but Mr. Lynx’s eyes said: ‘‘ You’d better wait till I get through.’ “T tripped the young fellow in an admirable manner, and before he knew what bad bappen- ed, 1 had him in an alley near the scene of cap- ture,” the spy went on. ‘In a little while I dis- covered that I had cavght my physical match, for he wrenched the cloth or net off and broke from my grasp, Ina flash I was at bim again, for I knew the value of the prize I had, but he sprung away to be caught in the light of the lamp that bangs over Keno Karl's gin-shop.in that alley.” ‘Aha! you caught him!” laughed the Octopus chief. “Tt was for a moment only,” was the reply. “I seized him by the collar, when, strange to say, his next struggle tore bis coat to the shoul- der, and in the light of the lamp I saw the brand © wears!” ‘““ What was it like?” exclaimed Major Bullion. “Tt is the counterpart of the one you gave tke boy the other night.” ; vay “On the right shoulder, too? “ Yes »” “But go on! You held your prisoner?” “He got away!” The man in the chair seemed to collapse. He sunk back with a grow] of deep disappointment, and his face seemed to lose every vestige of — color. “T thought your hands could hold anything:!” he exclaimed. ) . “IT didn’t hold that young tiger!” the spy an- things “ lin
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swered, ‘‘ but that is no reason why he should remain at large.” ‘*Then you know him?” demanded the major. “I think I do.” **In fortune’s name, who is he?” we Ben Folsom, or Branded Ben, as some call im, ‘*T never heard of him.” * Perhaps not,” and Mr. Lynx showed his teeth ina grin, ‘‘ We don’t hear of everything, you know, major.” ‘* You cannot be mistaken about the brand?” asked the 6 a ie chief, quickly, “*T cannot! saw it on his white flesh as plainly as if it was on your cheek now. The sight almost floored me, for you know I thought—” “ We all thought so!” interrupted Major Bull- ion, laying bis hand on the spy’s arm, ‘“* You know what is to be done now. That boy must be run down! We've got our heir and there must be no other! More than a cool hundred thousand is at stake. Don’t you see how that young city ferret could bother us if he only new a thing or two?” " ‘‘ But, as yet, he knows nothing,” averred the yx. of That is good, Now, sir, we must set a trap for him that will not fail to catch. He was af- ter Joe, eh?” ‘*Yes. He and Olive are friends,” “So! I begin to see through it now. You need not tell Joe or the Baby about the brand- ed boy. We will keep that secret, Mr. Lynx. Great Cesar! what a secret it is, too! If Ben Folsom should dream something, he might bu’st the biggest scheme the Octopus ever under- took.” ‘* He'll never get to!” protested the spy. ‘I am going to show him that I never allow any- body to get the best of me more than once, I thought I had settled him with a box once be- fore, but the next time—ah! the next time, major, [’ll make your eyes sparkle!” ee chief of the Octopus caught a breath of relief. ‘* What about the other case?” he asked. ‘* That is safe!” “The authorities have not discovered who killed Cephas Corson?” “ J ‘“* And what have you discovered about—” The major paused on purpose to be inter- rupted. Absolutely nothing,” was thereply. ‘‘ There is one man whom the world seems to know noth- ing about. Let him go; they have buried him ere this. But what you want, major, is the branded shoulder.” ‘*The Octopus must have it!” was the an- swer. ‘‘ Pledge me ‘that we shall!” and the man’s hand crossed the table to seize that of the Lynx whose eyes glittered intensely as they met the chief’s. That was all the boy on the stairs saw and heard, for he moved away, bis own eyes dilated with wonder, CHAPTER X. BRANDED BEN’S CATCH. Ir was true, as the Lynx had told Major Bull- ion, that Branded Ben had escaped from his grasp after the successful netting near Joe olly’s Canal street abode, e young Night Ferret did not know, how- ever, that the rent in his clothes bad revealed the brand to the League’s spy ; indeed, he was not aware of the rent until he reached his quar- rs. “That fellow is weasel and tiger combined!” ejaculated the boy as his thoughts went back to the struggle with the Lynx. “I must be on the alert if I circumvent him, Joe Jolly is snugly hid in bis Canal street house, and the Mulberry street detectives would give a good deal to find him. But what do they want him for? Ferdi- nand Fox heard him testify at the inquest, and Joseph swore positively that the dead man was Cephas Corson. I might drop in upon Mr, Fox and see what is up.” A short time afterward the boy detective sur- Sy a good-looking, gray-bearded man with a t. ** Ah! the very fellow I was Meio, for!” ex- ¢ ed the man who was Ferdinand Fox, one of the best of New Yorkdetectives. ‘ You have heard of the Jast crime, eh?” Branded Ben made no positive reply. He did not want it to appear that he knew much, if anything about it; he wanted to see ‘what the detective knew. Ferdinand Fox went on and told the boy, who was known as a shrewd Night Ferret who had rendered the detectives cons ble service at different times, a good deal about the mutil- ated corpse found in the basement, and the in- quest which followed. Ben did not say that he had heard Joe Jolly’s startling testimony, nor mention his struggle with the Lynx in the lley, ‘“*T would like to find this Mr. Jolly,” ex- claimed the detective eagerly. ‘‘We have visited several of his haunts, but he keeps be- yond our reach.” ‘*Do you want to cross-question him?” asked the boy. ‘‘More. I want to hint, not very politely either, that I think he deliberately lied.” “In what way?” “He swore positively that the dead man was Cephas Corson, who went up for burglary some years ago.” ‘* He could not be mistakon, for he was a wit- ness at the trial when Corson was convicted.” Ben nodded. ‘* Now, I think I know that the body over which the inquest was held was not Cephas Corson’s.” The boy detective started, but not in a manner that caugbt the man’s eye. He was eager to hear more, ‘“ Who was the dead man?” he asked. ‘““Weare not exactly certain who he was,” was the reply. ‘‘ But Iam positive he was not Corson.” ‘*Corson lived where the mutilated corpse was found?” ‘Yes. And the girl who saw his last visitors swore that three men went down into the ment and that four came out. She was not asked to describe the four men minutely, but I have questioned her since the inquest. She has described them to me, and I believe one of them was ‘the man with the manacle,’ as Corson was known at the prison from which he escaped.” “But the dead man?” exclaimed Branded Ben witha smile, ‘* You have him still on your hands?” “Yes,” laughed the detective, ‘‘and he is likely to remain there for some time. I want Joe Jolly, though. What do you know about his haunts?” Branded Ben did not want the Octopus dude to fall into the clutches of the detectives—not for awhile, at least. He wanted first to find Olive and to get at the bottom of the League’s scheme which had branded Ned Nolan for a pur of some kind. Ben answered Ferdinand Fox in an evasive sort of way, telling him about the Bowery sport’s well known haunts, and omitting the house to which he bad just tracked him, ‘‘We'll find him by and by,” ejaculated the Mulberry street spotter. ‘‘I am going to make it a point to run Mr. Joe Jolly in. He had a motive in swearing as he did. That man wouldn’t perjure himself for nothing. Branded Ben was of the same opinion; Joe Jolly had a motive and a powerful one, too, hen the boy ferret walked from Ferdinand Fox’s presence a new mystery thrilled him, Was the detective’s theory correct? If Joe Jolly had perjured himself at the in- quest who was the man found dead in the base- ment lately occupied by Cephas Corson? “Tam going to try my hand a little at this mystery,” exclaimed the boy to himself as he went down the street, and he did not stop until he reached the empty basement where the man with the manacle had concealed himself for months, He knew it had been visited by Ferdinand Fox and perhaps by other detectives, and he could not hopé to fin ny new clew after the ground had n so well hunted over. He shut the door carefully behind him and went to work, : There was nothing in the front room that claimed his attention; the scanty furniture which Cephas Corson had got along with still remained, for it was not worth taking away. , The back room where he had found the corpse was the one which he wanted to search, A candle which he took from his pocket revealed enough of the a ment to start him off, and in a little while the boy ferret of Gotham was in his element. ‘‘T wonder if Ferdinand Fox discovered that two men had struggled here?” ejaculated the boy as he ran the candle along the wall and saw the marks of t-nails on it, ‘‘ He is keen- eyed, and quick to imagine things. Two men had a contest here. I know that Cephas Corson wore shoes that showed no nails. Ah! I re- member now that the dead man wore boots!” The boy sprung up and seemed thrilled by his discovery, ‘‘ Ferdinand Fox may be right nded Bén, the Night Ferret. > Rade hi =: Faas after all. Now for the felon’s secret chest if I can find it,” The boy ferret went to one corner of the room and pried up a corner of & board with the point of his knife. The next moment he dived one hand beneath it and began to feel in the darkness. ‘This has been left, anyhow!” he ‘ejaculated bringing to light a small box about six inches uare, and locked in a mysterious manner.” Cephas Corson woujd never tell me what this box contains. He placed a high value on it, but it passes into my hands now.” Branded Ben put the board back in its place, and thrust the box beneath his coat. ‘*T can’t pursue this search for my candle is. out!” and as the wick dropped over on his band he threw the stub of tallow away, and stood in the darkness. ‘‘Tf Cephas Corson isn’t dead I will find him; but the coroner has declared him dead, and Joe Jolly has sworn to it. I see the trail of the Octopus through the whole thing. It blurs like a trail of ink across a white sheet. I willgo now and put the little box away till the time comes for it to be opened. A moment later the boy detective would have been in the outer room of the basement if a certain noise bad not assailed his ears. Although he already stood m rayless gloom, he drew back and instinctively laid his hand on a weapon which be sometimes carried. There was somebody in the outer room, some- body unseen between the boy and the sidewalk, and Branded Ben was puzzled to know who it was, After awhile the door between the two rooms was almost noiselessly opened, ard the presence of some one still unseen was felt by the young spotter. Who was it? Branded Ben felt like springing forward and grasping the person who he knew was directly in his front, but then he thought of the box he ewe taken from beneath the floor, and held ack, ““T don’t know as I can find much here,” sud- denly ejaculated a voice. ‘‘ By Jupiter! i-don’t like the place. 1 guess I’ll go back to the cab on the corner. It’s too ghostly here for me, though I had some brilliant plans in my head when I came here. I had better go to Lona.” The voice was that of a young person, and Branded Ben thought he had heard it before—but where? “Tl go away. Fudge! what did I come here for, anyhow? What if the police should pounce upon me, or one of the other people? I’m in the ht place, from what I’ve heard ’em say; but I don’t think the man who lived here was any- thing to me after all!” 4 A footstep told Ben that the speaker had moved back, and then he heard the door swing shut with a slight noise. The next minute the boy ferret was in the outer room, and close on the track of the n who had just vanished up the steps leading to the sidewalk. When Ben reached the street the stranger was still in sight and moving toward the nearest corner. “« He'll find me at the cab about the time he gets there,” ejaculated the young spotter, as hs increased his gait and ran forward with the noiseless bounds of a stockinged prowler. In u little while be saw a cab drawn up close- ly to the pavement, and the person he was pur- suing was between him and the vebicle. All at once the prey passed under the only gas lamp in the immediate neighborhood, and Branded Ben could hardly suppress a startling ery. The next moment the visitor to the basement reached the vebicle and o ened the door. “You can go now to the place I have men- tioned,” he said to the driver as he sprung in. Before he could sbut the deor the agile young city ferret was on the step, and the next mo- ment he, too, was inside the cab. There was an exclamation of smazement which Branded Ben checked by clutching a wrist which he found in the darkness, “T know you, Ned Nolan, branded-by the Oc- topus League,” cried the boy detective. “ lam not going to take you back to it. Don’t say a word or raisea cry. You are going with me. Driver, to No. — Mulberry street.” “Who are you?” gasped a voice in the dark- ness of the cab as its moved off. “Ben Folsom, sometimes called Branded Ben.” “Ha! branded, too!” was the ejaculation. “Yes, and on the right sboulder, like your ” If. “Great keavens! what does it mean?”
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10° The boy. detective laughed. ‘We'll get at the bottom of it all by and by,” he exclaimed. ‘‘ You have escaped from the Octopus League?” “TI intended to go back. I wanted to see Lona,” was the answer, ‘“Well, you'll go with me for the present, I may need you.” * Will you let me see your h.e mark?” “Yes. “Then, I will go,” was the response. ‘“ You - must be the person who slipped through the Lynx’s fingers.” “T am he!” laughed Ben. CHAPTER XI. GETTING AT IT. Tue ride to Branded Ben’s lodgings was made in silence, and when the young ferret had dis- missed the vehicle and conducted his prisoner into the house, he began the work before him. ‘You won't keep me here long, will you?” asked Ned Nolan. ‘‘I am very anxious to see Loua, to tell her I am safe.” ‘* Who is Lona?” be: young friend of mine who sews on Eliza- beth street. ** She does not know that you are being used by ae Bullion and his pards?” “ No Ned Nolan was a strong lad with a bright- looking face, and Branded Ben could not but admire him as he stood erect in the lamplight. “What do you know about the plot?’ asked the New York ferret. ‘¢ What plot?” ‘‘ The one that forced the conspirators to mark you for life.” There was no reply. ‘‘ Ah! I see you don’t want to tell me much!” ejaculated Ben, ‘‘ You want to help the Octo- pus League all you can. I guess you went into the scheme willingly, after all.” “T have been duped!” and then Ned Nolan’s lips closed firmly and he threatened to preserve u stubborn silence. ‘¢ Well, there is another way to the truth,” assured Branded Ben, decisively. - “Do you mean an arrest?” was the quick re- sponse. PThe young ferret smiled and nodded. “My God! you don’t want to drag me into the courts as being connected with Major Bull- ion and his friends?’ exclaimed the Theorie’ tool. : ‘‘ Why not? I’ve got to do something.” The threat seemed to have its effect. ““What do you want to know?” asked young Nolan. “You are a part of the game, I know,” he went on. ‘‘ Major Bullion has branded you ina manner which is e ted to reap for him and his confederates a golden harvest, You were to lose the name of Ned Nolan, and were to be- come a person called—” * Lennox Lyons.” “Yes, What estate are they after?” ° a The one left by General Lyons, late of Cali- “ Worth how much?” = Something over one hundred thousand dol- ‘‘ What is the story? Go on.” ‘‘General Lyons had one son whose where- abouts were not known at the time of his death. He left ali his propecty, to that child provided he turned up within a certain time mentioned in the will. e main proofs of the child’s identity are on his person. On his right shoulder isa singular brand, a description of which does not seem to be known to many persons. I believe it was left by the general to the California courts in a sealed envelope, though a partial descrip- tion was appended to the will.” “‘ How old would Lennox iuyons be if he were alive now?” ‘* About seventeen,” ‘‘ Major Bullion told you all this? He coached you, eh?” te Yes,” ‘What was to have been your share of the es- tate?” ‘He promised to make me the richest boy in New York!” “ But he and his pards were to take the lion’s share, of course.” “*T fear so,” smiled the false heir. for that little scheme,” cried “You have been cooped up in “So much Branded Ben. the League’s headquarters for some time, What do you know about a girl called Olive?” ‘““T have heard her name mentioned. The young man spoke of her.” ** Joe Jolly?” “That is his name.” ‘‘ She is not connected with the Lyons estate?” ‘Oh, no; with quite another one. The young Night Ferret started. ‘When did Olive become an heiress?’ he ejaculated. ‘Tt was one of Joe Jolly’s discoveries. The Lynx knows about it, too.” ‘““Ah, the Lynx?” cried Ben, thinking of the cool and silent sleuth-hound who had gg aa him’ ou the street. ‘‘ You don’t know where Olive is?” ** No, but Joe Jolly does.” ‘Of course,” smiled Branded Ben. ‘Now what have you to say about the man who was killed by some one in the basement? Aha! you know something about that!” Ned Nolan had started at the question, and his movement had not escaped the quick eyes of the young detective. “* One was found dead there, I believe,” replied ed. ‘* Found dead !— by whom?” ‘* By the men of the Octopus.” ‘* Who was he?” ‘« They don’t know.” The boy’s answer seemed to confirm Ferdinand Fox’s opinions about the crime of the basement. ‘What do they say about Cephas Corson?” ‘That is the man’s name!” cried the League’s victim. ‘‘The man found dead in the basement?” Ned Nolan hesitated like a person who does not know what to say, and Branded Ben eyed him attentively. ‘* Ah! you mean that you believe that the man called Cephas Corson by the coroner was some- one else?” exclaimed the young spotter, and he crossed the space that lay between him and the marked boy. “T want all you know,” he went on, touching Ned Nolan’s arm as he looked down into his face, ‘‘The buried corpse is not Cephas Corson’s.” ‘* JT think not,” was the reply. ‘Then Joe Jolly basely perjured himself?” **T believe he did.” ‘Where is the tenant of the basement?—where is Cephas Corson?” Ned Nolan shook his head. “Do you mean you do not know?” “ Yes.” ‘* But the League does?” “It ought to. Major Bullion, Joe Jolly and Mr. Lynx went to the basement. Didn’t the girl, Pinkie, swear that four men left the place?” ‘‘ She did; I heard her,” exclaimed Branded mn. “You have used your ears to some advantage at the League’s headquarters, I_see,” continued the boy ferret with a smile. ‘‘ Do youstill want to go back?” ““T stole out to see Lona. I can see her and get back to my room without being detected.” “Then you want to play this game out for Major Bullion and the Octopus}—you want to be. called Lennox Lyons by the courts?” “Not that, for it is a base scheme!” cried Nec Nolan. ‘‘I am not the real heir. Why, the sore on my shoulder is hardly healed; but those three men are terrible rascals. They will do any- A smile flitted over the boy detective’s coun- tenance. ‘* Now,” he said, ‘*I will show you my mark.” ‘“*T want to see it,” was the answer, and the League's tool watched with a great deal of im- — while Branded Ben bared his shoulder or inspection, All at once a startling cry rung from Ned Nolan’s, throat. “Mine to a ‘t’!” he exclaimed, and then he gi Liggee and looked at the young spotter. in y, you must be Lennox Lyons!” he ejac- ulated, ‘¢ Well, 1’m Branded Ben, and have been for ears,” was the reply, and then he took a step Heard Ned Nolan. ‘‘ Did you ever hear Major Bullion speak about being in California at one time?” “ He told me a story the other night about an adventure in San Francisco.” ‘¢ That’s another link,” remarked Ben to him- self. “I'll get them all by and by Y An examination of the two brands showed that they were exactly alike, only Ned Nolan’s was fresh and not quite healed. “You can go to Lona now if you want to,” said the boy detective to his prisoner. ‘‘ After that you can return to the clutches of the Octo- Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. pus; but remember, not a breath about this meeting |” “Heavens! it would give me away!” was the uick ast “T can’t afford to tell Major ullion that I have been on the streets of New York to-night, Well, I am off for Lona now!” And the youth started toward the deor, glad that the cross-questioning had terminated. ‘“I may want you some time,” suddenly said Ben, looking intently at him, **Tn court?” “* Perhaps.” : “Rut. not while the Octopus League is free to strike!” answered Ned, with a shudder of fear. “ We'll attend to that. But go to Lona, then back to the League.” And the door opened, to shut on the figure of the young tool of the conspirators, Shortly after his departure, Branded Bep went out and gave three signals at the foot of door in an alley. When it opened, as if by some interior con- trivance, he glided in to find Prince Mordecai, the old Jew, at his bench, changing the sym- metry of a stolen pin set with diamonds, The old fellow at first eyed the boy with ap- arent distrust, but a faint smile came at last to is eves and his countenance relaxed. “T want to go up-stairs awhile,” ejaculated Ben. ie ‘You need not show me. 1 can find the ay. And before Mordecai could speak, the boy de- tective was across the room. A moment later Branded Ben had disappeared beyond a door, and then a figure stepped out from bebind a curtained corner in Prince Mor- decai’s workshop and laid a hand on the old Jew’s arm. ‘‘Ho! you miserable old rascal! you’ve been laying a double game, eh?” hissed the man, who Ra a powerful frame and sparkling black eyes. The Jew put on an expression of injured inno- cence, and drew back, but the man’s hand clutched him like a vise and his eyes seemed to emit sparks of fire. ‘ “That young rascal has gone to some work against us!” he went on, glancing fiercely to- ward the door through which Ben had disap- peared. ‘ You know when aaa is at the second landing. Is he there yet?” Prince Mordecai Jeaned over his work-bench a moment and shook his head. ‘* When he gets there you know what to do,” continued the man, “use your ears. By Jupiter! you are on terms with that boy, who is the shrewdest police fox in New York. Ha! he is there now as Yes.” ‘Then, quick !—the trap!” Old Mordecai’s leg moved suddenly under the bench, and a faint sound came from a distant part of the old house. 7 ao that a sure?” — the man. up and see!” was the response. “I'll take your word for it! Look here, old fellow! You must not play one card against the Octopus! If you do, Prince Mordecai will go out of existence like that!”. And the man Major Bullion, snapped his fingers in the old Jew’s face. CHAPTER XII, INTO THE LION’S DEN, Masor BULLION, of the Octopus League, did not go up-stairs to pry into the working of the diabolical trap Prince Mordecai had just sprung, He resolved to take the old Jew’s word for it that the throw had been successful. “Hold on!” he exclaimed, pausing midway between the bench and the door. ‘“ When ha look after him I want you to see whether he has a curious mark on bis right shoulder. Will you do this?” Old Mordecai nodded. ; ‘“‘Mind! don’t forget this. It is important} When I come back you can report.” A moment later Prince Mordecai was the only occupant of the room and Major Bullion was out on the street. ts a little while Prince Mordecai had dis- appeared and was climbing a narrow stair at the head of which was always set the trap he had sprung for the chief of the Octopus, The old Jew’s eyes burned like twin stars in his head and at the corners of his mouth lurked a venomous smile.
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- Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. He reached the head of the stair which was quite gloomy, and as he put out his hand against the wall he touched something that made bim draw back with a cry. **So it is you, eh?’ exclamined the voice that saluted Mordecai. ‘Did you spring that infernal trap?” and some fingers wra them- selves about the old fellow’s wrist like the cold coil of a snake, J ‘Vat trap, mine poy?” ejaculated the Jew. ‘‘ Ah! no lies, mind you!” was the retort. ‘I have never trusted you beyond the length of your nose, Your eyes seemed to give you away the moment I saw you awhile ago. How many people have you sent headlong into the pit you threw open for me just now?” Prince Mordecai seemed to have lost his tongue. A cold sweat had come out on his forehead, and he leaned against the wall and seaport The trap had failed for once, and it was Branded Ben’s hand that held him prisoner. “Mine poy, there must. be some mistake here,” ejaculated Prince Mordecai. * Oh, come!” cried the young spotter. ‘‘ You can no more get out of your infamy than you can swim the Hudson! Didn’tI feel the trap sink under me? You wanted to get nd of Branded Ben, did you?” No answer. “ Well, you are not rid of him,” the boy went on. “I am still on deck as you see, Prince Mordecai, and despite your cunning play I ain liable to remain there. You can go back to our bench. No more traps, mind you,” and Drended Ben leaned forward and spoke the words in the old Jew’s ‘face in a manner that made him recoil again. Then he released the wrist he had held all along and Prince Mordecai seemed glad to get away, Tf the young detective had suspected Major Bullion’s presence in the house, he would not have let the Jew slip so easily. In a short time Prince Mordecai was back in his sbop, but his hands were not as steady as they had been, and while he tried to work he threw many furtive glances toward the door. Branded Ben waited till he thought Prince Mordecai was again at his bench when he moved away and found the ladder that led to the loft of secrets. Five minutes later he was lying along the board with his eye to the crack again, but the room beneath was only dimly lighted and unoc- cupied, Bretded Ben was somewhat disappointed. but he resolved to watch awhile, to see what an hour would bring forth. er passed arded. ; ‘The Octopus must be busy,” he ejaculated. “There is no branding to do now, and Joe Jolly has to keep away from the secret police.” The young ferret crept back to the ladder and passed down-stairs, ‘He was very cautious now, for he had to be on the lookout for the old Jew’s traps and cunning, for the game against the Octopus had reached its mo:t important stage. . One accident to him, one success by the vil- lainous league, would baffle him forever! He stole into Prince Mordecai’s workshop with the noiseless agility of a cat, This time the familiar figure of the old Jew was not visible at the bench, and Branded Ben had to look twice before he could convince him- self that the cunning old fellow was not there. A close examination showed another surprise in store for the boy. Not only was the Jew gone, but the tools of his trade had disappeared with him, his nippers, his jewelry implements, everything! Prince Mordecai had taken flight. “The old fellow was afraid to trust me!” laughed Branded Ben to himself. ‘The failure of trap to catch its prey has alarmed him,” and the young ferret walked to the door that opened into the alley. , 4 When he tried to open it he found it locked, and no amount of work threatened to let him out. ; “‘ This is no prison for me, though Prince Mor- decai may think so,” ejaculated Ben, going back. “Once I left the old trap by the cellar when Mordecai had a visitor whom he didn’t want to have me see, and I guess I can find the route.” The boy passed into a rear room, then down a flight of steps, which he found by opening a se- eret closet, and stood in the midst of intense gloom that reigned within four stone walls. He groped his way to one corner of the cellar and began to remove some stones, which dis- away and his vigil was unre- w EE ——————————————————— — — closed a rayless with some difficulty. Once before he had tried this aa me and it had led him to a grating in the through which he had reached the street. There was something ludicrous in Branded Ben crawling like a rat through the narrow pas- sage, eager to reach the street where he could stretch himself and breathe free once more. ‘Isn't this sewer never to end?’ suddenly ejaculated the boy when he thought he had crawled far enough. ‘‘It hasn’t lengthened since I tried it last. Ah! here I am out of it at ae but where is the grating? I cannot touch i ge, into which he crept e, ey narrow passage and was standing erect, but he could not feel anything above his head. Neither could he see the stars which he knew were | glowing in the firmament, Tn a little while Branded Ben discovered that he was in a place as large as the cellar which he had left under Prince Mordecai’s house. All was dark around him. “By glory! this is a go, sure enough!” cried the young detective. ‘Can I have discovered a new secret way from old Mordecai’s trap? I have known it for a house of secrets these many months, and some of them 1 have found out for myseif. This is a new one if I am in . strange place and I seem to be nowhere else. When the young spotter had explored his sur- roundings he found himself surrounded by the four walls of a cellar, They were strange walls, too, smooth and well cemented as far as could reach. No steps seemed to lead from the place, but at last the boy in his search found a door-si]l upon which he drew himself, and paused for breath. He did not like the idea of crawling back through the narrow passage to Prince Mor- decai’s cellar and starting anew. He wanted to get out some other way. Having found the sill of the door, he was not long finding a latch, and a moment afterward he had opened the door with the caution of one who knows his work. Branded Ben by this action let himself into a small hall which he traversed by groping along the wall. He could only hope that it would lead to es- cape. When he reached another door he paused and listened. He heard no sound, : ‘“‘This house seems to be empty!” he ejacula- ted, and then he opened the second door. The next instant Branded Ben stopped sud- denly and gave utterance to a startling cry. He had emerged from pitch darkness into light and he now confronted a man who was ‘ome the fierceness of a pair of tiger eyes into his face! It was too Jate to retreat! On the table at which the man stood rested a small box with lid open and papers scattered promiscuously over it. But Ben hardly saw the box; he saw only the man, the last one he wanted to encounter there. **My God! I thought the trap finished you!” suddenly exclaimed the man, his harsh voice sounding almost like the roar of a lion to the thunderstruck youth, ‘ Well, if it hasn’t, I will!” And the following second, with the last word still on his lips, the speaker came down upon Branded Ben like an avalanche! The boy was against the door which he had shut, and before he could draw a weapon or lift a band in self-defense, he was in the man’s clutches, ‘‘How many lives have you?” continued the captor, as he started toward the table with the boy ferret, who hardly touched the floor at all. “You're the boy of all boys I want just now. Sit down—there! I want to look at you!” And he chucked Ben into the chair and drew slightly back while his eyes seemed to get as fierce as a tiger’s over an excellent capture. As for the boy detective, he looked up into the man’s face and put on a cool smile. He knew the person into whose hands some unlucky fate had led him; he had tracked him for weelss in and out of the dark and secret by-ways of New York, now under the gas-jets and now through the shadows. nfs He knew, too, that his mission and identity were known to this man. It was a most unlucky, if not fatal affair for Branded Ben. wn at once the man darted at him with a ugh. ‘They say you are branded!” he eried. Major: Bullion looked like a madman, "The Night Ferret had reached the end of the: CHAPTER XII, OUT OF THE GAME. “Yrs, lam branded. What of it?’ cried the boy ferret, looking calmly into the city sport’s face, dark with ion. ‘*On the shoulder?’ ejaculated Major Bullion, eagerly. On the shoulder!” The man seemed to gasp. ‘“*Who branded you?’ was the next question and then before the boy could answer, the han of the Octopus chief was upon his shoulder. “You need not answer,” continued Major Bullion. “I think I know,” and he laughed in a way that seemed to give him great een ‘*Didn’t you know you were walking into a lion’s den when you opened yon door?” Branded Ben said nothing. ‘‘ You're the fellow who got away from—” ‘From your spy!” finished the boy ferret, as a triumphant smile came to his lips.. ‘* You call him the Lynx, I believe?” ** And a real lynx he is!” laughed Major Bull- ion, as if he felt sure of the boy he had unex- pectedly entrapped. ‘‘ He saw the mark on your shoulder. Did you know it?” The young ferret started. ‘“*No? Well, the Lynx saw the brand you carry,” Major Bullion went on. ‘‘Sce here! Why were you watching the man who went into a certain house on Canal street?” ** Joe Jolly?” ; ** Yes, Joe Jolly as you call him,” replied the Octopus chief with a grin. ‘*Mr, Lynx says you were dogging Joe when he tried torope you in,” ‘*T have reasons for watching him.” Ob, you have, eh? Has Joe Jolly ever crossed ou?” 4 Despite his mental resolution to remain calm, Branded Ben’s eyes got a new light at this ques- tion. ~ Joe Jolly is playing a game I don’t like!” he declared. ‘‘He is guilty of an infamous trick against a friend of mine!” ‘Why, Joseph wouldn’t harm a fly!” asserted Major Bullion. ‘“‘ You don’t knew that inno- cent youth, my boy!” “T know him for an unmitigated villain in kids!” retorted Ben. The Octopus chief stepped back and thrusting his thumbs into the arm-holes of his velvet ——, put on air of hauteur that was ridicu- ous. The lion was playing with the kid before pro- ceeding to harshness, and Ben seemed to divine this after this display of poor wit. “Well, if you don’t like Joseph maybe you'd take a liking to me!” the man remarked, leaning: forward. : There was no answer. **Ho! you've shut your talk-trap, eh?’ cried Major Bullior. ‘“‘ Very well, my young clam You'll open it by-and-by, I’m thinking. I thought I'd like to see the brand on your shoul- der, but I’m not particular about it just ncw. You seemed on familiar terms with Prince Mor- decai to-night.” ; “T know the old Janus-faced Jew.” ““And so do I—better than you do, I pre- sume,” assured the Octopus chief. ‘‘ Sit still! I only want to get something at the table.” That ‘‘something” soon turned up before Branded Ben’s startled vision in the form of & strong cord which Major Bullion took from a drawer in the table, and the next minute the boy eetective was being fastened to the chair by the rough hands of the city knave. ‘‘There’s nothing like making sure of the game in the trap!” remarked the major as his eyes sparkled, and ‘ben they fell upon Ben’s face ee toward the documents that littered the table. “ Did you ever see any of these papers before?” he asked. Ben shook his head. “Their contents might surprise you,” contin- ued the major, and then he went on with tho tving process, which be did not relinquish until ~ young ferret was immovably fixed in his chair, Ben’s hands and feet were effectually tied, and a cord pressed against his throat.made bim keep his head hard against the back of the chair like a man in the garrote. Having accomplished the tying te his satisfac- tion, the chief of the Octopus proceeded to ther up. the papers which he put inte the open x. Ben could watch him at intervals, and he saw cae’ Major Bullion handled the papers very care- Y. ‘ “TI guess you can keep house awhile,” soon
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ee ae Se suggested the major, as he took the box under his arm and drew back with a malicious grin. ** This a ees Beer not possess the pitfalls that grace Prince Mordecai’s den, but it is a mean, ol us house for all that. You won’t run away I’m thinking, and when I come back, if J ever do, Vl find you exactly where (['m leaving you!” The emphasized words sent a nameless thrill through the young detective, and he watched Majer Bullion without spealing until he with- drew, locking the door after him. “«Tf I ever come back, I’ll tind These words rung in Branded after the Octopus chief was gone. He looked around upon the rather sumptuous furniture of the room, the lofty ceiling, and the jet that burned over his head. ‘ou here!” n’s ears long After Major Bullion'’s departure a deep si- | lence took possession of the room. The boy detective sat bolt upright in the chair with the cord across his throat and a handker- chief gag in his mouth. He could breathe with- out great difficulty, but could not speak at all! As for Major Bullion, he left the house entire- ly and soon appeared on the street, where he boarded a car and rode some distance. After awhile he entered another house by means of a night-key, and turned the gas on ina handsome room. **T wonder how my prize gets on!” he ejacu- lated setting the box down on the table and creeping up stairs. Five minutes later he opened a door softly, and stole into aroom where the gas was burning cae bed against the wall lay a young person fast asleep or a parently so, and the next mo- ment Major Bullion leaned forward and looked into the placid face of Ned Nolan, the League’s victim. He did not dream that the boy had been from the house that night, nor that he had fallen into the hands of the city ferret whom he had left tied in a chair in an old house. The boy on the bed slept as if he had no ex- citement on his mind, and after a brief inspec- tion, Major Bullion went down-stairs. “Pate has played into the hands of fortune!” he cried, throwing himself into a chair in the room below. ‘ The Lynx was right when he said there was another boy in Gotham who is branded on the shoulder. He has walked into our fingers and I left him where wecan put our hands on him when we want him. Maybe if we had found him sooner— Psbaw! I won’t think about that! He’s got too much fire in him, and besides he looks too gecren for our urpose. The Octopus has the right key to the yons gold-mine. The boy asleep up-stairs is the one for us to win with.” Major Bullion might have continued indefi- nitely in this strain if a bell overhead had not tinkled, and a minute afterward the door opened to admit the Lynx. ‘“T beat you catching whales!” laughed Major Bullion at which the snaky eyes of his spy be- gan to glitter. * ** Who is caught now?” ‘‘The boy who slipped through your fingers.” ‘*‘ The branded ferret?” “ Yes.” The Lynx looked as if victory had been snatched from his grasp; but he put on an in- different air, and then bécame very serious, ‘Why did you let Lennox go out to-night?” he asked, i Major Bullion started and let slip a startling cry. x I did not.” ‘+ But he is out.” ss Now?” ‘“‘ He was awhile ago.” ‘* Go up and look at him in bed!” laughed the Octopus. ‘‘ He’s been there all night.” ‘““T say no!” exclaimed the Lynx. ‘I keep my eyes in my head and I use them when | am at work.” ** And you say Lennox was out to-night?” *“Tdol i ‘‘ By heavens! I can’t believe this. I have just left him sleeping like a rock. He can’t get out, I say.” : The Lynx made no reply, but took a cigar from the box on the table. He was irritated mad, and 'the Octopus chief saw it as be watched him through the smoke. ‘** Where did you see the boy?” he asked. “On the street.” * Did = follow him?” ‘Till I lost him.” The Lynx sent a cloud of smoke toward the ceiling and then cast the half-used cigar into a cuspidor at his feet. ; That isn’t all,” he said, coolly, leaning across the table and looking into the major’s face. “The Mulberry street ferrets are onto it!” ‘*On to what?” cried the Octopus chief. ‘* Joe’s lie at the inquest! It was very reck- less swearing, but he thedght he knew just what to do—the fool!” ** Who suspects?” “ Ferdinand Fox, the best man on the force.” The major seemed to lose color, and before he spoke again, he glanced at his watch and seemed to make a rapid calculation on the dial. ‘*] want Joe here,” he exclaimed. ‘*He won’t come, Ferdinand Fox is turning the city upside down for him.” ‘Where is he?” ‘* At the Canal street haunt.” ‘* Oho! where his last catch is!” ejaculated the major. The Lynx seemed to nod assent, “Tf I am seen on the street foing to Joe it might give him away. Does Ferdinand Fox bb aren you ? “Then you will takea message to Joe—straight to him, you see,” and Major Bullion turned to the table and opened a drawer. ‘‘T carry no written messages,” said a voice — sound made the Octopus chief lift his ead. The Lynx was calm, aggravatingly so. ; “ What do you mean?” Sunindeadtt pal Bull- on. ‘* Tm out of the game!” The pen dropped from the man’s hand and his countenance blanched. **Out of the game?” he echoed. ‘* Yes,” ** We are almost at the end of it. It lacks but one more play and I can make that within forty- eight hours,” ; ‘ Make it and rake in the golden shower,” said i Lynx with a grin. ‘‘ You'll excuse me, I o ‘* Not a bit of it! We can’t spare you.” ‘* Well, (ll have to dismiss myself,” was the answer. Major Bullion made a move as if about to leave his chair. ‘I don’t intend to peach, but I’m out of the game, I say,” resumed the Lynx, backing to- ward the door, with his hand where the major knew nestled a revolver. CHAPTER XIV. THE MAJOR’S ‘' BIG ROPE.” DAYLIGHT was breaking over New York when aman opened a door that looked into a room where a gas-jet was burning. The windows of this room had heavy shutters, and they were closed, ‘* Hal the rat is here yet!” laughed the ef visitor to himself, as his eyes rested upon a good- sized boy who was asleep in a chair near the table under the burning jet. ‘‘I told him he would be just where he is now when I came back, if I ever did, and I cculdn’t help drop- ping in to confirm my remark—to satisfy my- self too,” As the reader can readily guess, the occupant of the chair was Branded Ben, and his caller Major Bullion of the Octopus e. e young Night Ferret was still a prisoner, and the cords that had been adjusted by the eager and vengeful hands of the Octopus chief held him as securely after the long night as when they were first applied. } After he had feasted his brilliant eyes on the boy for a few minutes, Major Bullion stole away and left bim there. “Tt can be done at any time, or not done at all!” the rogue muttered with a dark but signifi- cant grin, as he went back to the street just be- ginning to receive its daily allotment of busy — “T guess the game is entirely in our ands at last. To-night I'll confront Messrs. Pogue & Pandott with the startling information that I have found the lost general's heir, Jupi- ter! what a stir it will make! Nobody knows that Iam the head of the Octopus, To honest New York, i »m quite a different person than Major Bullion—i am. Ha! ha! About the time we rake in the general’s fortune, Joseph will turn up as the husband of O ive, the fifty thou- 2 dollar English heiress. Whew! what a big ouble game it is, anyhow!” Major Bullion was not loth to dismiss the Lynx, when he was assured that the bungry- looking spy did not intend to expose the great sche me. \ r. Lynx had helped the Octopus in various ways, and he bad been paid in full for his ser- vices. He was shrewd and fearless, and the ~ ‘Branded Ben, the Night Ferret, =O" ee ee ee ES a re a ea ee eee co Za ui major thought that his sudden withdrawal at the time was caused by the prospect of a better fee elsewhere. ; During the day the peboges chief did not ven- ture near the place where Joe Jolly was in hid- ing. On the present disappearance of the Bowery dude depended the final result, for if Ferdinand Fox, the Mulberry street spotter, should find Joe, he might force from him enough of the scheme against Cephas Corson to give away the whole plot. The reader has not forgotten the spirited in- terview between Olive and Joe Jolly, the dude’s unblushing effrontery, and the girl’s resolve never to yield to the scheme he-had in hand. Olive had often thought that she might atscme day receive a legacy from her grandfather, but she could hardly believe that the news had reached Joe Jolly and not her. She had been infamously duped by the sleek villain, and the more she thought about the con- spiracy against her the firmer became her resolve to hold out to the bitter end. ‘lhe strange disappearance of her father the first day of their arrival in New York had thrown a cloud over Olive’s life. Her bard struggle for existence dated from that dark mys- ery. She did not know that her father had been the victim of the Octopus League, that the oath of Major Bullion had sent him falsely to prison, and that after long confinement, he had escaped to become ‘‘ the man with the manacle,” and the tenant of the basement on the shaded street. Olive did not see anything more of Joe Joll after her interview until the day of Major Bull- ion’s morning visit to his prisoner. It was growing toward evening when the door of her room opened and the Octopus dude walked in. The young girl was startled by the sudden a pearance, and when she saw the same old smile at the corners of his mouth, she gave him a look | of quiet contempt which he feigned not to see, ‘*Business is business, Olive,” exclaimed Joe, dropping into a chair and crossing bis legs in his usual manner. ‘ Shall it be a husband and fif thousand, or a quiet life here and not a penny?” At first Olive thought not to reply to any of his insolence, but his manner of speech was too mach for her resolution. ** You have been answered, sir,” she exclaimed, “and I need not inform you th:.t | have not your infamy !” ‘* Ho, ho! that’s still the song, eh?” ejaculsted Joe Jolly, bursting into a laugh. ‘I don’t want to repeat the last interview, especially the clcs- ing part. I just drop in to say, my child that I will be back at nine o’clock to-night an that I will not be alone.” ; He uttered the last words in a way that left no doubt as to their meaning, and before Olive could resent them, he turned on his heel and walked loftily from the room, “ At nine o'clock! That means the consumma- tion of the scheme!” cried Olive when she found herself alone once more, and glad to rid of the dude's presence. ‘‘ What bas become of Ben? If he has missed meis he on the trail? Does he know that I have fallen into the clutches of the biggest knaves in New York? My room is at the villain’s mercy, too! What if he finds the pers in the box in the wardrobe?—the papers Prat rove that I am a certain Englishman’s andchild |” . Olive did not know that the papers of which Joe Jolly by the Lynx’s visit to her rooms, an event which we have witnessed. The Octopus dude was leaving noystone un- turned to win bis game. He wanted to get his fingers on the legacy, and to put them there he was ready to stoop to anything, ' A little later in the afternoon of his brief visit to Olive, a man well dressed and cleanly shaved walked into the office of Pogue & Pandott, law- yers, who did considerable business in bunting up heirs to estates. ; The office was a very claborats one on middle Broadway, and the visitor happened to arrive at an hour when the legal partners were sitting around with empty hands and ready for any client. ‘ After the usual courtesies the cailer rubbed bis hands and smilingly remarked: Lyons estate on your list?” “We have.” ment of the legacy, less your comm course, to = = ae heir should he turn up i changed my mind, nor altered my opinion of | dike spoke had already fallen into the hands of © “T believe you men have the General — “And you are ready to guarantee the | > |
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‘Well, gentlemen, I have the honor to state that I have found Lennox Lyons.” Pogue & Pandott started slightly and ex- changed glances, then looked at the man to see if he was not joking. A glance was enough; the man was in earn- est. ; ‘There is no doubt of my ‘find,’” the caller went on. ‘1 have been on the trail for some time. I was always satisfied that the heir was not dead, and my hunt has only proven that I was correct.” ** What is your name?” asked Pandott. ‘*Theodore Wallace.” ‘* Do you live iu the city?” ‘*T am here now.” “Well, Mr. Wallace, your information is somewhat startling.” **T thought it would startle you,” smiled Wal- lace, ‘* Where is your heir?” “Where I can lay hands on him in a little while.” : “You understand that a certain proof must be brought forward before the heir can be ad- mitted to the rights that fall to General Lyons’s son?” “The proof is on his shoulder!” “The Pend you mean ” ‘“The brand!’ ‘You know, of course, that an exact descrip- tion of that brand exists only in a sealed pocket which is in the hands of General Lyons’s ad- ministrator.” Theodore Wallace bowed. “*T am willing to submit my boy to a thorough investigatic mm,” he said, withasmiie. ‘I know him to be Lennox Lyons,” he added positively. “When can we see this person?” asked the } two lawyers in a breath. } * To-day, if necessary,” was the reply. . Attorney Pogue took out his wateh and con- sulted it for a moment, ‘*Can you have him here at seven this even- ing? We are willing to break our rules and have a night session on an important case like this.” “T can have him here,” was the reply. ‘“‘ Of course the interview will be private?” f “Certainly! At seven, then, we will expect te: 7ou and the person whom you claim is Lennox , yons.” “The person who is Lennox Lyons!” ejacu- ; lated Wallace: ‘I see, gentlemen, that you mi doubt my statements, but at seven o'clock all Ve our doubts will be removed. The bey remem- s rs enough of his father to convince any court, and then the mark on the shou:der—that is con- Se clusive!” am ie Five minutes later Theodore Wallace bowed himself out of the office and went down stairs with an audible chuckle of satisfaction. “*T thought I'd open their eyes!” he exclaimed. < “By Jupiter! they'll open ’em again when I ap- pear on deck with the winning card. I haven't played this little game for nothing. They don’t catch an old fox asleep, not when there’s a golden ea henroost in the neighborhood!” and the man an ushed down the street with a laugh on his : ips. waa Not long afterward this same man walked in- } to Baby Bell’s Bowery place and leaned over the counter and looked into the face of the pro- prietor. There was a twinkle in his eyes, ‘‘T'm going to pull the big rope at seven to- night!” he announced. “ going to show Lennox to Pogue & - an excellent ought to be ca look Branded Ben, the Ni — -~ — ST Sates ere 1 The next moment he stopped on the threshold with a cry. The chair was before him, but empty! j CHAPTER XV. THE FERRET’S CUNNING. WE will now go back to Branded Ben. The long night in the silent room of the old house and the cruel cords had quite exhausted him, so that when Major Bullion looked in at daybreak he was in a deep sleep, and knew noth- << the visit of the Octopus chief. hen, the dreary day came on and the boy ferret counted the minutes as they passed on leaden wings, each one seeming an hour of agony. Would the day never end? No one came near to break the silence by which he was surrounded. Although it was broad day in the busy streets the gas-jet still burned overhead. Now and then the young spotter could catch the faint sounds of distant traffic, but the ropes held him to the chair. His hunger became extreme, and thirst tortur- ed him. He realized Major Bullion’s intention in all its horrible details. He was to be left there to die a lingering death! That was to be the triumph of the in- famous League! Night came again, but Branded Ben knew it not, for the close shutters kept every particle of light out of the room, He wondered if the house had no occasional tenants, nobody who might drop in and discover him in the fatal chair. - It was a terrible fate that stared the boy in the face. : All at onee the long silence was broken by a sound that startled Ben, as much as a person in his position could be startled. Somebody was fitting a key or a lockpicker in the door directly before him, Branded Ben held his breath and waited. After awhile the bolt shot back, and the door opened. A face appeared first, and then the shoulders and figure of a man, ** A common thief! I know then all!” flashed across the boy’s mind. The next moment a slight ejaculation burst rom the visitor’s throat, and then he stood still on the threshold, his eyes staring at the boy m the chair. The man had the look of a common house robber, but his eyes were keen and his figure lithe and agile. He did not see at first that the young detec- tive was tied in the chair, and when he did a look of mystery filled his eyes, ‘© Who be you?” he exclaimed the floor to the boy. ‘ What did here for?” ‘For you to do me a service,” was the answer. “I think Iknow you. Ain’t you Bob Blodgett, the Bleecker street ‘ Norway ’?” The man started, and showed his teeth in a grin, ‘“May be I be,” he said. ou??? é ‘*Ben Folsom.” “Oho! the boy who sometimes shadows for the cops, eh?” liding across Sev eave you ‘* But who are ‘* Very seldom. I generally work for myself.” The house-breaker drew Pen eee and looked at the boy, Suddenly he forward and exclaimed: ° ‘* What's here?” - ‘* In this old house?” “ce es,” “* A boy tied in a chair by one of the meanest rascals in New York,” “I see that. He's left his handkerchief, I see,” and the ‘Norway’s’ eyes dropped to the mouth, he had taken from the boy ferret’s and then fell to examining it. _“T guess Pll cut you out!” cried the house- thief, and the next moment Ben’s cords were cut and his limbs freed after the long captivity. ““T owe you a thousand thanks, Bob!” ex- claimed Branded Ben, “* Which you'll ay by {turning me over to the Cops some time, e “Never!” “Then we are quits!” exclaimed the ‘ Nor- and —- he repeated his question. re way,’ : Wpatebe to find = leave you nd out, but n¢ I think,” was the reply. : sa “* Are you going to turn on the fellow that left you here?” “ Ain’t If’ laughed Ben, ‘es ght Ferret. ** Who might he be? Mebbe I know the rogue. ** Doesen’t the handkerchief tell you anything?” ‘*T find the letters ‘T. W.’ in one corner.” ‘““Ab! Theodore Wallace—a vame he uses sometimes when it serves his se! In cer- tain ofrcles he is known as Major Bullion.” ** You don’t say so!” ejaculated Bob Blodgett, his eyes dilating to their utmost, ‘Is this that. rascal’s house?’ ‘“*It is one of his retreats.” “Then I'll find nothing bere, I thought L might make a raise by tapping this place, it al- ways looked so quiet; t if Major Bullion sometimes occupies it, T'll find nothing. He keeps what he’s got in another place.” ‘ ‘*How did you come to know him?’ asked en. The Bleecker street rat laughed. “Tt was rather a funny experience. I can’t tell it all; but I was ratting a room once when two men came in. 1 ran under the bed, and heard them talking strange business over a table. Something about getting a boy whom they could work in some way soas to rake in big stakes. Then I saw Major Bullion for the first time, but bis companion I already knew.” ** Joe Jolly, eh?” “Tt was Baby Bell, of the Bowe ‘One of the three!” ejaculated and then he caught the ‘‘ Norway’s” looked into his face. ‘* Will you tell this story at ancther place if I want you to?’ he asked. ‘*'‘Where’s that?” **Tn court.” ““Great heavings! no,” cried Bob Blodgett. ‘“*T don’t want to adorn a witness-stand with my classic countenance. They all know me, and I'd convulse the court by waltzing into the temple o’ justice. I believe I'll rat this house anyhow,” on he threw a wistful look toward a closed oor. Two minutes later Branded Ben had left Bols Blodgett in full possession of the old house, and. he was once more on the streets of New York. It was almost seven o’clock, and Baby Bell was on his way to the house to discover the empty chair. ‘* In the fir:t place, there’s no telling what the rascals have not done while 1 bave been cooped up in that infamous old trap,” exclaimed the boy to himself. ‘‘ I shall pay my respects to you, Major Bullion, at the first opportunity: and Pj] make it arrive as soon as possible. I remember that, as Theodore Wallace, you used to be in California, where you were acquainted with General Lyons, whose heir is missihg. What made you so anxious to kuow how lam marked? You can only succeed_in your scheme through ” Bra nded Ben arm and ‘Pogue & Pandott, the Broadway attorneys, who. have the Lyons case in hands, They may not bein the office now unless urgent business de- tains them; but I can drop around.” Ben forgot his hunger in his desire to fight the Octopus to a speedy finish, and his excuse for seeking the law firm was to post its partners aboug the major’s deep rascality. _ Ina short time he turned into Broadway and jumped into a ’bus going up-town. He was very eager now, and minutes were hours again, At last the public vehicle reached a certain corner where the young ferret left it and glanced up at a large building. ** Luck is with me again!” he mused. ‘ Some- body has detained the lawyers at their office.” In a little while Ben was at the entrance that led up to the office on the second floor. The stairway was quite dark, and the boy ferret was on the steps when a familiar voice reached his ears from the door, ‘Here we are! Now you don’t want to make any mistake,” ordered the voice, and the young ferret saw a man and a boy come into the hall- wa * oO) I am just in time!” concluded Ben, drawing - back to the dark sidewall as his beart throbbed ‘Wait for me here a minute,” continued the voice that bad thrilled bim a mcment before. ‘* The legal limbs irs may like good cigars. I must not forget them!” and the speaker disap- peared, leaving the boy alone in the hall. Branded Ben knew that the nearest cigar store. was some steps away, and when the man had dis- appeared he bounded down to the boy’s side. “Great heavens! you here?” cried the youth at sight of the young spotter. “Tm nowhere Raya = the se. “The major is going to play ti me, I see. He in- tends to present you as the fost Lennox pte and convince Pogue & Pandott!” “Your hat, then, and ceat. Quick!” | / rp “elsh =: eee a ~—
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14 The boy drew back. ‘*Tt must be done! I know the trick,” cried Branded Ben, following him up. “If you re- fuse, I'll go up-stairs and pour out a story that will put you where you won’t see Lona for a long time.” ‘*T give in,” was the response. ‘‘ Besides, I don’t like this lie I’m playing for those men. What is it you want?” ** Your hat and coat!” Ned Nolan began to comply with the demand, and ina minute Ben had exchanged garments with the Octopus’s victim. ‘* Now, let me play the heir up-stairs,” smiled Ben. ‘* You can fe. I look like you somewhat in this rig, don’t 1? Come to my number early to-morrow morning. Remember! You play fair with me, or you'll see the cops and not Lona!” *“T'll not forget you!” and Ned Nolan bound- ed from the hallway and left the boy ferret waiting for the major. He did not have to wait long. Presently footsteps were heard near the en- trance and the next second Branded Ben saw po well-known figure of Major Bullion at the oor. ** Come along!” the Octopus chief cried to the supposed Ned Nolan. ‘‘ We're a little behind time,” and up-stairs he led the way never cast- a than a casual glance at the boy at his heels, Chuckling to himself over his startling ruse, Branded Ben followed the knave to the attor- neys’ door. ajor Bullion opened it and walked in, “T guess I’m on time!” be ejaculated to the two men who occupied the sumptuous office and whose eyes were already fastened'on the boy de- tective. ‘¢ Punctual to a minute, Mr. Wallace!” replied Pogue. ‘Have a chair. Ah! this is the boy you were talking about?” ‘* This is Lennox!” cried Major Bullion, turn- ing upon Ben in the brilliant light of the elegant chandelier. ‘‘ Lennox, these gentlemen are—” Major Bullion stopped short and his eager ex- pression of countenance changed to one of hor- ror. ‘*My God! what does this mean?” he contin- ued, recoiling from the victory-twinkling eyes of the boy spotter. ‘* What is the matter, Mr. Wallace?” asked the attorneys at the same moment, The Octopus chief was speecbless, ‘‘It means that I’m not the boy he started with!” exclaimed Branded Ben, as his finger covered thé scoundrel. ‘That manis Major Bullion, the greatest vil- lain in New York!” ——E CHAPTER XVI. THE LEAP FOR LIBERTY. THE bewilderment of the Octopus chief was complete, and the two lawyers could not sup- press a smile. Major Bullion could not for the life of Shim see where the startling transformation had taken place. He was only certain that Brand- ed Ben and not Ned Nolan, his tool, stood before him! “T guess a fellow doesn’t have to die in a chair because you leave him there!” suddenly con- tinued the boy with a laugh. ‘‘ I remained just as long asI wanted to, major, but I am here now ready for business that may not suit you.” It was not until the young Night Ferret had finished that the villain found his breath again. Putting on a bold, defiant look he strode for- ward and raised his hand as if about to dash himself a t the boy detective. “That boy is one of the street sneaks who always creeps at honest people’s heels ready for dirty work!” he exclaimed. ‘ v, he is now ; up to some trickery to defeat the ends of justice. o u can listen to him if you like, gentlemen. I do not want to hear his well-coined story, and so I will leave, In a few hours, however, I will re- turn with the proof I spoke of awhile ago,” Branded Ben stood between Major Bullion and the door, and as the Octopus chief started forward, he slid back nimbly and turned the key in the lock. ajor Bullion’s face at once became crimson, “« What do you mean, sir?” he cried clinching his hands. ‘‘ Remember, boy; I want no bluff games by a og ae like you!” “Sit down, Mr. Wallace. Letus give the boy a chance,” ordered one of the lawyers in a voice up a job on me!” wled the major as he re- luctantly dropped into a chair and fixed his mad eyes on Ben. ; ‘‘Now go on,” continued the lawyer to Ben. ‘* What is the charge you bring against this gen- tleman?” Despite the tigerish glare of the rascal’s eyes Ben took a step forward and smiled fearlessly in his face. He did not begin at the beginning of his trial of the Octopus League, but he told enough to open his auditors’ eyes and to make Major Bull- ion’s look of vengeance descend to a stare of amazement. ‘*TIn heaven’s name where did the young ferret get all this?” mentally cried the astonished ras- eal. ‘Why didn’t Mr. Lynx find him out sooner? What was he doing all tbe time?” and then he returned to the boy who was unmasking the League in language that effectually blight- ed its prospects, Every now and then the two lawyers would glance at the man whose villainy was being un- earthed. His face was still crimson, and his hands seemed glued to the sides of the chair he occupied. » All at once a footstep was heard in the hall just beyond the door. Major Bullion started and threw a look in that direction. Who was it?” In a moment the door was tried by some one on the outside, and then a knock was heard. One of the lawyers went forward. “Ts Mr. Wallace here?” asked a voice which Major Bullion instantly recognized. Baby Bell was at the door! Tbe Octopus chief wanted to rush forward, but discretion and a glance from the lawyer seated near, held him back. . There was a smile on Ben’s lip’s; he, too, knew that the Baby was at the door, “Mr. Wallace is here,” answered the lawyer atthe door. ‘ Will you walk in?” The next moment in came the burly Shee! of the Bowery den. His face was flushed; he was excited. He had come to announce to the major that the chair in the old house was no longer occupied. The Baby at once caught — of the major and ge to his side; but, before he could de- liver his message Ben’s voice rung out. That is another member of the League! That man is Baby Bell!” The concert ball keeper sprung back and wheeled upon the boy shadow. ‘“Jupiter|-— You?” he exclaimed getting white, and then he threw a woebegone look to- ward the major, a Jook which said plainly: “T guess the game is up!” *“T don’t know that man!” suddenly cried Major Bullion covering the Baby with his fin- ger. ‘‘ He pretends to know me,I see, I de- mand to be let out. This is no pofice-station. Is this the way Messrs. Pogue & Pandott transact business? By Jove! gentlemen, I'll carry my heir before the courts at once. Good- night, gentlemen!” here was a starein the Baby’s eyes, but it soon gave way for a look of indignation. Major Bullion had denied him! ‘*That man knows me all the same!” declared Baby Bell. ‘* What has the boy been saying?” **T called him Major Bullion of the Octopus League.” ‘*T guess the boy is right.” In an instant the Octopus chief wheeled upon om Bowery bruiser and then took a step toward im, ‘“ Trying to fix things easy for yourself, eh?” he hisssed, ‘‘I hatea rater as I hate perdition! I'll make things hot for youas I goalong!” and he stopped before the Baby, then threw a swift glance toward one of the front windows. ‘‘T’ll make a break for it!” he decided in that moment, ‘There may yet be another Octopus League! This one is on the road to Sing Sing from present ap ances. Here goes!” With a bound the desperate man was at the window and the next moment the sound of shat- tered glass was heard! One of the lawyers opened a drawer to secure a revolver; but he did not touch the weapon in time, for, all at once the figure of Major Bullion disappeared with a triumphant laugh and the occupants of the office were left to stare at the shattered window, “Tt was a leap for life, but it will not save him!” exclaimed Ben with a smile, “ A man like Major Bullion can’t escape long.” At that moment a man was darting down ‘‘T’ll choke Ned Nolan black!” he exclaimed. “The young rascal has leagued himself with the boy spotter! If they think they have broken up the Octopus they will discover their mistake. Ha! ha! they did not look for the jump!” Not long afterward Major Bullion darted into a hall alongside a pawnshop, and surprised a young man fashionably attired. ‘* A little ahead o’ time, major, but, by Jove! I want a witness!” exclaimed the astonished person. “What is up?” ‘** At nine o'clock the beautiful Miss Olive be- comes Mrs. Joe Jolly, and—” ‘* We've got to make some kind of a strike. The hundred thousand is lost,” was the interrup- tion, ‘* What has lost it?” cried the Octopus dude, ‘*A boy—the real Lyons heir—has run us down. The Baby is in the hands of the cops ere this,” Joe Jolly dropped his cane and fell back with not a vestige of color in his face, CHAPTER XVIL. THE END OF IT ALL, BEHIND the bars of a — station, with a charge of conspiracy over his head, sat the well known proprietor of the Bowery concert hall, Baby Bell. The man was thoroughly frightened, but he hoped that certain information which he had iven to Branded Ben, the boy ferret, would get ok out of the hands of the law. The Baby was willing to do anything to ease his condition and brighten his prospects. He de- clared that he had gone into the Octopus League at the instigation of Major Bullion, which was probably true, but once in it he had been a zeal- ous forwarder of its interests. Ferdinand Fox, the detective, anxious to find Joe Jolly, heard soon of the Baby's arrest, and he was promptly on hand after information about the dude's retreat. “ve given the boy all I know,” said Baby 11 The detective bit his lip. He did not like the idea of a boy beating him, but he did not say so, ‘““What do you know about the dead man found in the basement—the man Joe Jolly swore was Cephas Corson, the escaped felon?” asked Ferd Fox. ‘*You’ll have to ask Branded Ben,” was the answer. } The Mulberry street spotter went away dis- couraged. Some time later, Joe Jolly, in lavender kids, walked into a room which was not very brill- iantly lighted. : He was followed by a large man who had been lately shaved, and by a thin person dressed somewhat like a minister. A large woman with black eyes and a hand- some countenance awaited the three men in the room, “T guess everything is ready,” said Joe Joll to Sieatemen. . ve , ‘‘ It is not nine o'clock yet,” was the reply. “Oh, that makes no difference! Bring the bride in,” and the Bowe rt threw a smile at his companions who looked very anxious and nervous. a, The next moment the woman disappeared in an adjoining room, and startled a~ girl who stood at one of the windows with its painted glass, which seemed to shut off the view without, ‘*Come!” she said, touching the girl’s arm. ‘The gentlemen are here.” The person at the window turned with a c and then breaking from the woman’s clute walked boldly into the trio’s presence. ‘* Well, you have come?” she cried, looking into Joe Jolly’s face, which colored under her “Yes, Olive, the hour has arrived.” ‘Which of theso. rentlemen is the minister?” Joe Jolly designatea the thin man with a wave of his gloved hand. z “Oho! this one!” cried Olive, leaning for- ward. ‘*How long has he been out of Sing Sing, pray?” The thin man recoiled as if a ghost had ap- neared before him, and a smile came to Major Bullion’s lips. “This individual is a minister and a gentle man.” cried the Octopus dude, flush‘ng. Ph cinta ae ‘And this one, too, I presume?” exclaimed the girl, turning upon Major Rullion. ‘Of ae course your friends are gentlemen, Mr. Jolly, Se ! a rr re ; which did not sound very pleasant to the Octo- | Broadway with gleaming eyes. j e pus chief. Fortune had favored the major in his desper- : 7 “He will lie! He has backers who have put | ate leap for life.
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Se as | _ . ~ i, a bi <5 a = % but I dare say they are very anxious to get hold of the legacy that awaits me. I have tully de- cided not to become a bride to-night.” Joe Jolly’s eyes got a look that meant mis- chief. The door at his back stood ajar. **Shut the door!” he said, to the woman who | kept the house for him, ‘* There will be a bride | in this house at the end of ten minutes. Prepare | tor the ceremonies Mr. Blanton. The young lady is only a little unwilling.” ' Olive sprung back almost to the door ef the roum sve had occupied ever since her imyrison- ment. **T will show you my friends!” she cried, to the trio, and then throwing a iook into the room, she continued: * This way, gentlemen!” The next second two figures appeared in the doorway, and four revolverscovered the startled three in the parlor. “The boy again!” ejaculated Major Bullion, recognizing one of the pair. ‘* Always on hand, major!” was the laughing reply. ‘*Gentlemen, this house is in the hands of the Secret Police of New York.” ‘““You have betrayed me!” hissed Joe Jolly, wheelmg upon the bousekeeper. ‘*They forced me to,” was the answer. ‘* She tells the truth,” continued Branded Ben, ‘Baby Bell gave your hiding-place away, Joe Jolly, and we arranged this surprise. You've been tov busy over the expected wedding to no- tice everything, and if we have stolena march on you, you ought not to complain at this late hour. The signal now, captain,” The man at the boy’s side put a whistle to bis lips and vlew a shrill signal which brought the | sound of footsteps into the room, and the next | moment six stalwart police themselves. Joe Jolly looked once at the formidable array | and dropped into a chair, Major Bullion threw a glance toward the win- dow, but this time there was no chance for an- other leap to freedom. All saw that the game was up, and that the boy ferret of New York bad won his great play against tae Octopus League! As a matter of course, the members of the con- spiracy had the mortification of finding them- selves behind solid bars before morning. The next day an examination was had at which the whole deep plot came out, and Ned Nolan, who had kept his promise with Branded Ben, | showed his mark in court. / But that was not the only surprise. There also appeared Cephas Corson, the man | with the manacle and the League’s former vic- | tim. He told how.a strange man had sought to rob him, and how he had killed him in self-de- fense, to be seized himself by Major Bullion and his friends shortly afterward and carried | away. This story proved Joe Jolly a deepest dye, and fastened on blackest of crimes. It was a proud day for Cephas Corson, Olive’s long-missing father, when he heard the sentence | that rid New York of the Octopus League, and | j rjurer of the im one of the when he could walk erect, a felon no longer. : For Joe Jolly confessed that the League’s false oaths bad sent bim to prison for the Man- hattan Bank robbery, when the League itself had committed the crime, _ Prince Mordecai, the old Jew. was never heard - of after his sudden flight, and the Lynx did not turn up to betray the Octopus, It is probable that both are somewhere in Gotham to-day, earning a not very honest liveli- hood. | | Branded Ben turned out to be the real heir of the California general, and Pogue & Pandott secured a handsome legacy for him, He rewarded Bob Blodgett, the ‘t Norway,” for releasing him from the chair, and sent Ned Nolan a handsome present when he wedded his | sweetheart, Lona. After awhile Olive gave up her room for bet- | ter quarters, for the English legacy was paid wit out dispute, and Joe Jolly lost what Ben Folsom gained—a pretty young wife, with a neat income, ‘It was justice all arourd at last, and wtth the boy ferret’s victory, ended the dark deeds of the Octopus League of New York, ’ Branded Ben, the Night Fer Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. BY PHILIP 8S. WARNE, 6% Patvent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Unpunin Arizona; or, Patent-Lenther Joe's Big Game 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Duelist; or, The Mountain Vempiies. 82 A Tough Boy ; or, The Dwart’s Revenge. | 848 Little Tornado) or, The Outcasts of the Glen, S78 Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. SB Little Oh-my ; or, Caught in His Own Trap, | 401 Little Shoo-Fly ; or, A Race for » Ranch. 4085 Little Leather-Breeches; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tule of the Mines, 480 Three Jolly Pards. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Daugh er. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance und Lasso; «1, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sw rd Hunters; or, The Land ofthe Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the Open Polar Sen. 200 The Boy Bedoutns; or, The Brot ers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. | 249 Mile Romer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World Wanderer. 265 The Tiger Tamer; or, The League of the Jungle. 881 Black Nick, the Demon River. 895 California Joo’s War Trall. BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) 284 Old Meeky*s **Boyees 3” or, Benits, the Young Horse- Breaker. 246 Glant George; or, Thé Ang’l of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George's Pard, 297 The Tarantula of Tavs; or, Ginnt George’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos, | 82T Creeping Cat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Pards. 8382 Frio Fred or, The Tonkaway’s Trust, 844 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway 849 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wailace to the Fr nt. B57 The Ranch Raiders; or, The Siege of Fort Purgatory. 8614 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger, 875 Chiota, the Creek ; or, The Three Thunderbolts. 881 Bandera Bill; or Frio Frank to the Front. 592 Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleayuered Ranch. 404 Little Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Dalay from Denver. | 42% The Three Tratlers; or, Old Roeky on the Rainpage. | 442 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star; or, The Belle of the Cibolo, BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steambont Boy, 199 Featherweight, the Boy Champion of the Muskingum, | 228 Ozark Alf’; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Detective ; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Feurless Phil; or, The King of Quarizville, 811 The Roving Sport; or, The Prise of Chuckaluck Camp, 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta. 840 Clip, the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY J, ©. COWDRICK, 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Gold King} or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 aye Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without s ane. 424 Cibuta Johny or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 447 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 408 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo, BY JO PIERCE, 8397 Bob o’ the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street, 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom. 452 Hotapur Bob, the Strevt-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or, Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman De-ective. BY CAPT. MARK WILTON. 256 Young Kentucky; or, The Red Lasso, 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp, 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 78 Blue Picky or, The Yellow Chiefs Vengeance. 87 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil’s Island, 87 The HNelplesa land ; or, Backwoods Retribution, 289 The Gold-seeker Guide; or, The Lost Mountain, BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG, 89 Island Jim; or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The Captain of the Clubs or. The Rival Athletes, 101 Jack Harkaway In New York. ret. BY CAPT. J. F. C. ADAMS. 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy. 46 Glasa-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whiffles’s Pet; or, In The Valley of Death, @) The White Iniian; or, The Scout of the Yellowstone, FO Old Zip’s Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, #4 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buckranmi; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Pets; or, The Wild Hantreas. 251 Light-house Lige; or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Sealp King} or, The Human Thunderbolt, BY ROGER STARBUCK. 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoon; or, Lost Among the Floes, 848 Fire-Heels; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow, 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards. 861 The Phantom Light-house. 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner. BY WILLIAM R, EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke}; or, The Tigers of High Pins. 210 Faro Frank}; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pardes. BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Sea; or, The Vailed Lady, 186 Cool Desmond; or, The Gambler's Big Game, BY HARRY S8T.' GEORGE, 80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Ranger. 44 Rattling Rube; or, The Nighthawks of Kentucky. 59 Old Hickory ; or, Pandy Ellis’s Scalp, 108 During Davy; or, The Trail of the Border Wolf, 166 Hickory Harry; or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy, 172 Thunderbolt Tom; or, the Wolf-Herdor. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE 86 Dandy Rock, the Man from Texas, 90 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist, 99 The Tiger of Taos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom. 181 The Golden Handyj or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 164 Dandy Rock's Pledge; or, Hunted to Death. 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The | aunted Maid of Taos. BY JAMES L. BOWEN, 107 One-Eyed Sim; or, The Abandoned Forest Home. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies, A Story of Texas. BY C. DUNNING CLARK. 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef. BY GEORGE C, JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney, the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, WT. 8. A. 191 Baufale Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker, or, The Doomed Figen. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or, The Gambler Guide, BY CHARLES E. LASALLE, 50 burt Bunker, the Trapper. 52 The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest, BY JONUN J. MARSHALL, 40 Roving Ben, A Story of a Young Amorican, 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes, BY MAJOR E. L. ST. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Banilit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince, 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette. 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “ Sand.” 859 Durango Dave, the Yeang Champion Wrestler, 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective, 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide, 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mount in Mail-Line, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Trappersy or, The Mount in Moveter. 288 Indian Joe; or, The White Spirit of the H Ls. BY W. 3. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood; or. The Twelve Avengers. 66 Single Hand; or, A Life fora Life. 72 Mad Tom Western, tye Texan Ranger $87 Ben Bird, the Cave King, or, Big Pete’s Scoop. A New Issue Every Tuesday The Half-Dime Library 1s for sale by at! newsdealen, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, ¢ 98 William Street, New York,
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* £538 } Kansas fing 3 or, Th Ri ’ BE e sine a pon Ao 8 BEADLE’S+ H] ALF- DIME* | IBRARY. bak a . ete tn) Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers, BY EPWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Buffaio Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise, _ BS Wild Ivan, the Boy Clande Duval. 42 Phantom Miner or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza. Omaha Os or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. Dendwood Dick's Eagles; or, Vie Pards of Flood Bar. Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine, Corduroy Charlie 5 or, Deadwood Dick’s Last Act, ‘ Deadwood Dick in Leadville, Dend wood Dick’ Dev lee; or, I'he Double Cross Sign. Peudwood Dick as Detective. 129 Deudweod Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s de Hill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. Gulch. {88 Blor 149 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick's Big Strike. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood ; or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream 3 or, The Rivels of the Road, 201 The Black Hilla Jezebel; or, Dexdwood Dick's Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick's Doom; or, Calamity Jaue’s Last Ad- venture, 7tT Cuptain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. 221 Suguar-Coated Samy or, The Black Gown, . 252 Gold-Duat Dick, A Roinance of Rough. and Tougha, 268 Deadwood Dick's Divide 3 or, The Spirt of Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trall. bug Deadwood Dick’s Big Meal; or, The Gold Brick of regon, , 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducuts; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- gings. B51 Dendwood Diek Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta, B62 poor ens Dick’s Claim; vr, The Fairy Face of Faro hlats, 495 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds; or, The Mystery of Joan urter. 4 421 Deadwood Dick in New York }¢ or, A “Cute Care.” 430 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. 418 Dendwood Dick, Jr. 4148 Nickel-Plate Neds or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Defiance, Sunflower Sam, of Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full Hand. Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- p- ae Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at Claim 10, Bozeman BIIl; or, Deadwood Dick J's Corral. : ilumboldt Harry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Dog Detective, Moll Myatery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Dendwood, Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Compact. Monte Cristo, Jr.: or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Inheritance. Deadwood Dick’s Diggings ¢ or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Swoop. Deadwood Dick's Deliverance, : >» Deadwood Dick’s Protegec, Deadwood Dick’s Three. 9 Pendwood Dick's Danger Ducka, | Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt, Deadwood Dick Jr., in Texaa. Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoeq. Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. £22 Bob Woolf’; or, The Girl Dend-Shot. 89 Denth-Face, Detective; or, Lite in New York, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 68 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix, 61 Buckhorn Hill; or, The Red Rifle Team, 69 Gold Rifle, the spmig “ore hoe| or, The Boy Detactive, 80 Rosebud Roby or, Nugget Ned, the Kikgeht. S4 Idyl, the Girl Miner 3 or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 88 Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet 3 or, Old Annconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 96 Watch-Eye ¢ or, Arabs and Angels of a Great City, 18 Jack Moyle the Young Speculator, 17 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 21 Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. 25 Bonanza Bill, Miner. 883 Bess Bob. the King of Boothlacks, 41 Sol{d Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. + 45 Oa van Ferret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob’s 088 JUD. 61 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective, 7 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps, 181 Wild break; the Buckskin Bravo, ROY Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The by ted ace ona Hunter, 226 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo Ei}, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator, 244 Sferra Sam, tho Frontier Ferret, 24% Sierra Sam’s Seeret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 255 Slerra Sam’s Pard; or, The Angel ot Big Vista, 2558 Sierra Sam’s Rosen) or, The Stolen Bride, 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. 251 Denver Doll's Victory. 2X5 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. 291 Turk, the Boy Ferret. | 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Road Queen, 299 A No, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 *Liza Jane, the Jirl Miner; or, the Iron-Nervéd Sport, B25 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia. 880 Little Quick-Shot ; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 84 Kangaroo Kits or, The Mysterious Miner, Kangaroo Kit's Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood, 858 First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher, 86s Pee dim, the Gold-Gatherer}; or, The Lottery of e B72 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 87S Nabob Ned; or, The Secret of Slab City. 8x2 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, B85 Yreka Jim’s Joker; or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 889 Bieycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam ponctses, the r-Boy Detective, 434 F tema Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 8 Santa Fe dal, the Slasher. 86 Seulskin Sam, tho Sparkler, —_—_ Se ED heeded BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm, F. Cody) Jot of the Prairie, jot of the ly-Eye, the Unknown Scout, n rer Reb’ rank of ood ¢ or, The Prairie Rover. aney Colorad ” ©; or, The Trapper’s Trust, . / ” / = 7 i re vay 4 e FRE ee ita 4 " 4 Weare! S SRT BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRATIAM, Z The Flying Yankee}; or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccancer; or, The Fugitive Yacht. 24 Diamond Dirk or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieutenants, 75 The Boy Dnellat; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 102 Dick Dend-Eye, the Boy Smuggier. 111 The Sea-Devil 3 or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Capt ain or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 204 Gold Plume ; or, The Kid-Glove Sport. 216 Bison BIL, the Prince of the Reins. 222 Grit, the Bravo Sports or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate ; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy ; or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midahipman Mutincer; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 nee Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure siand. 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merlo Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chase of “The Gold Ship. 280 Merle Monte’s Fate ; or. Pear), the Pirate’s Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Bemito, the Boy Bugler, 8 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. the Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler's Long rail. Bonodel, the Boy Rovers or, The Flagless Schooner, The Indian Pilot or, The Search for Pirate Island. Warpath WILL, the Boy Phantom, Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant, Isodor, the You Consptrator ; or, The Fatal League. The Boy Insurgents or, The Cuban. Vendetta, The Wild Yachtsamany or, The War-Clouu’s Cruise. Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, Tie Corsair. The Sea Raider, The Ocean Firefly 3 or, A Middy’s Vengeance, } HMaphazard Harry 3 or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferre: of New York. Wizard WHPs Street Scouta. The Born Guide3 or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer. Neptune Ned, the Boy Conster. Floras or, Wizard Will's Vagabond Pard. Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Will's Last Case, Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kanger. 5 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of 'Texas Jack, Buck Taylor, King of thy Cowboys. The Royal Middy ¢ or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. The Hunted Midshipman. 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow. 525 Brothers in Buckskin, 530 The Buckskin Bowers, 585 The Bue skin Rovers, 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder ot the Rio, 5645 Licutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte, BY CHARLES MORRIS, WII Somers, the Bow Detective, Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. Pienyune bete % or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, Detective Dick 3 or, The Hero in Rags. Handsome Harry, the Boothlack Detective, Wl Wildfire, the Thoroughbred, Black Reas, Will Wildtire’s Racer. Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy, WII Wildfire in the Woods, Billy Baggage. tie Railroad Boy. A Trump Card 3 or, Will Wildtire Wins and Loses, Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York, Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, The Hidden Handy or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. Shadowed ; or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life, Dark Pavwa, the Tiger King. Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective, 0 Tom ‘Tanner; or, The Biack Sheep of the Flock. Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. adow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway ¢ or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago, 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Tot Trail. Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. The Water-HMound; or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in the Quaker City. 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. . 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Levelers or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 2 Invincible Logan, tha Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodge ; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman ; or, Too Sharp for the Sharper. 18 22 26 80 12 az 52 57 62 65 SzrrNIAN be hd BY JOSEPH E, BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Jack’ or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat 65 Hurricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 Mustang Sam ; or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-HMawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash ; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 2 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path. 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmaska. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider 5 or, The Horse-Thievee’ League, 885 Old Double Fiat; or, The Strange Guide. 855 The King of the Wooda: or Daniel Boone’s Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. .-s we fe ief it /- i pia ich. aah vs Ser £0 ie axtlak Ne ER eR SOR oP 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. Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. Hawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Renger. Rollo, the Bo Denier. Sure Shot Seth, th« Boy hifleman. Scar-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter, Silver Star, the Koy Knight. Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. Little Texas, the Young Mustanger, Old Solitary, the Hermit Vrapper. Little Hurricane, th- Boy ‘aptain, Prospect Pete 3 or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps, Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. Dashing Dick; or, ‘Trepper Tom's Custle, Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 8 The Parson De tective ; or, The Little Ranger, The Disguised Guides or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, Dare-Devtl Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. Minkakin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. The Sky Demon 3 or, Ruinbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Mereules: or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webtoot Bea: the Tramp Detective. 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant o! the Yellowstone, 444 Little Buckakin, toe Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul, 468 Tamarae ‘Vom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Epidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan, 4 5 18 27 81 1 58 q1 BY T. C. MARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, Th Boy Spy of '76. BT The Hidden Lodge; or The Litth Hunter, 47 Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captiins, Dandy Juck 3 or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trai). Kit Warefoot the Wood-Hawk. Midnight tack ¢ or, The Bow Trapper. Old Frauasty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 9 Judge Lynch, Jdr.z or, The Bey Vivilante, Gold Trigger, the ‘port; or, The Girl Avenger Tornado Toms or, udm Jack From Red Core. Ned Temple, the Border Boy. Arkansnw ¢ or, The Quen ot Fate’s Revenge, Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 5 Captain Bullet; or, Littl Topknot’s Crusades Plucky Phil or, Rosa, the Re Jezebel. Bil Bravos; or, Tie Roughe of the Roekies, 255 Captain Apoll , the King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Buckskin Detective, 279 Old Wineh?s: or, Ve Buckskin Desporadoes, 294 Dynamite Dans or. The Bowle Blane of Cochetona, 802 The Mountain Detective: or, Vhe Trigger Bar Bolly. 816 Old Eclipse, Tram Curd of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards¢: or. The Terror o! Take-Notice, 836 Bie Benson: or, The Queen of the La so. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thunierbol ’s Secret, BH6 Doel amr cre Har go The Terrible Six, 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective, 886 Captain Cutlass: or, ‘he B ccnneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Robs: or, The | win Champions of Blue Plazes 411 The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranci: Robin. 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. : 425 Texas Trump, tie Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York lox. 445 The City Vomptres; or, [ted Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or. The Last Man of Keno Bar. 470 The Roy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 477 The Exeelstor Sport; or, The Washington Spotten 499 Single Sight, the One-Lyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 512 Poder Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. . 521 Dodyer Dick's Rest Dodzre. 528 Fox eng! oe ay i Rowery “a: ie HS Dodwer Dick, the Doe erret. 548 Wedieae Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES, Sactua, the Chaparral Cock. By Liens. A. K. Sima. Bee Sindy Andy 4 A Good Man Down, By P. S. Warne 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. By J. ©. Cowdrick. 549 Deadwood Dick on His Mettle. By E. L. Wheeler. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenying Son. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. .. > B51 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. By Jo Pierce. : BS2 Ariel, the Athlete. By David Druid, 558 Dodger Dick's Desperate Case. By T. C. Harbaugh. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, By E. L. Wheeler. 5565 The Creole Corsair. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 556 Lariat Lils_or. The Cast fora Life. By Philip S. Warne. 557 Broadway Billy’« Death Racket. By J. C. Cowdriek. 558 The Sure-Shot Parda, By Arthur C. Grissom, 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. By Jo Pierce. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. Py Col. P. Ingraham. 561 Deadwood Dick in Boston. By Edward 1. Wheeler, 562 Blundering Buall, the Hermit Roy Trapper. By Oll Coomes, 568 Dodger Dick, the Roy Vidoeq. By T. C. Har such. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. 4 John W. Osbon. BEG The Reerel service Hoy Deiceitve, By Chirler Moria ¢ Secret “ervice Boy Detective. bi 567 Beadwoed Dick, Jr., in Philadetphia. By Edward L, 568 The Ds f Dod By Lieut, A. K, Sims, ° kiy= Ben, the “On-His-Own-Hook Detective, 569 Brooklyn 570 Cattle the Card Queen, By Col. Prenties Ingraham. 571 Alr-Line Luke, the Young Engineer. By a 9 Wee: 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicaro. iy E_ lb. Wheeler. bz8 The Twe Shadows. | By T.C. Harbaugh, Rewiy July 17, 574 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs. By P.S. Warne, 575 The acd oe n-Rcout Detective. By Colonel Prentiss eady July 31. Ingraham, 576 The Ailver Sport. By Lieut. A. K. Sims. BIT Pavement Pete, the Secret Sifter, By Jo Peres, 578 Dendwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. By Edward 1. Wheeler August 22. A New Iaasue Every Tuesday, Pime Library Is for sale by all newsd whtnieu aun by mail on yecatpé of ots Ba) each, matin: BEADLE AND ADAMA, Publishers, 98 WilDam Street, New York, By Jo \ A tit dy