Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 541) (1887 12 06)
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THIRD EDITION. 4) CS ro 4 \\ 3 hs OU AN ae” Wns \\ \\ lft ft errr reer rr __Entered. at the Post Office at Ne w York, Ne » at 0: Class Mail Rates. ___ Copyright, 1887, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, ______ December of 1h ea B Vol. x]. $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. frit iH pie SEE — a ey CO 2S The Lively Rake in Jericho, BY JO PIERCE, (Of the New York Detective Force ) AUTHOR OF “FIVE POINTS PHIL,” ‘TARTAR 7m,” ‘BOB 0’ THE BOWERY,” te SURLY SIM,” “THE VAGABOND DETEO- TIVE,” ETC., ETC, CHAPTER IT, A SENSATION IN JERICHO. “THE post-office has been robbed !” This ainorioeetit ran like wildfire throu the town of Jericho. pi en It was a startling event in the sleepy town, Sensations were rare there, but they now had ‘HE IS STILL ASLEEP,” OBSERVED one of superlative degree, The people were shocked and frightened, THE TWO MEN ENTERED THE STABLE BOY’S ROOM. ONE, FLASHING THE LIGHT ON THE APPARENTLY SLEEPING JEFY.
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_— _ Bold thieves had entered the Government building and taken away whatever was valuable, and left no clew to their identity. The whole affair was a profound mystery. Crime was a thing almost unheard of in Jeri- | cho, and it was thought that no one In the place was capable of such a misdemeanor; so when | the constable, Elihu Fitch, announced that it | was undoubtedly the work of experienced ** cracksmen,” all were ready to believe him. This only made the matter more mysterious, however. The question naturally arose—‘‘ What was there in the Jericho post-office to tempt profes- sional thieves?” Perkin Knott, the postmaster, stated that there had been only a trifle over thirteen dollars in the cash-drawer, besides stamps, and the lat- ter had not been disturbed, That professional thieves could be tempted by thirteen dollars to made a journey to Jericho—which would cost more than that sum—did not seem likely. Constable Fitch asked another question: ‘“*Were there any valuable letters in the office?” And the postmaster answered: “There were two registered letters in the cash- box, I believe.” “* Who for?” “*] don’t remember, and the record is stolen. Seems to me one letter was for Abram Nelson, but I put up the mail in a hurry last night, as the stage came half an hour late,” “* Tl see Nelson,” The constable did so at once. Mr. Nelson did not know anything about the letter, but tae fact that his brother in another town had owed him ten dollar's led him to believe that it might have been sent, . This was no new light. Fitch, however, remained firm in bis belief— old bands at the business had committed the robbery, and it had been done with a definite pai, = This object was to get something of value. He sent a messenger to Tulip Center, the near- est railroad town, to get a record of any regis- tered letters that had passed through, and then resumed work, 2 He was very anxious to solve the mystery. Toward night something new was learned. From the settlement of Juggle Meadow, a sub-village of Jericho, came one Peter Nichols. He was a man of about sixty years, and known to be rich for a farmer, but his riches helped only himself. He was called mean and miserly, and when he rode to the main village—he was seen there only about once a month—he came in a rickety old wagon drawn by a bony old horse, and was himself clad in garments fit only for a beggar. Frequent mending had kept them whole, but they were patched and darned to a surprising degree, On this ogcasion the first man he met made haste to address him. ‘*Have you heard the news, Mr. Nichols?” The polite address was a tribute to the old man’s money.’ . ‘*No, I ain’t heerd the news,” Nichols an- swered, in a shrill, high voice, as was his habit. ‘¢Tho post-office has been robbed.” ‘** Hey?’ cried Mr. Nichols, his jaw suddenly falling, and his face growing grave. ** Yes, it’s robbed—last night!” * Oh!” and old Nichols meditated fora moment; then his “ye suddenly twinkled and he uttered an audible chuckle of satisfaction. * Tm glad it was last night.” ‘* Why so?” ‘*Hey? Oh! because, because. You_ see, I am just in time to hear the news, and I don’t come inter town often, ye know,” and the old chap’s eyes twinkled more than ever. **Tt ain't often we have such a sensation in Jericho,” added his informant. 0. Is’pose ter-night’s mail ain’t in?’ Oh! no; it’s not due yet for two hours.” “Of course not.” Nichols flecked a fly off his bony horse, and then abruptly added: ‘*T guess Pll drive on;” and away he went. “The old miser don’t care a fig,” muttered the second man, as he watched the dilapidated vehicle rattle away, ‘“ He don’t get any mail to speak of, while «s for feeling for others, he don‘t know how.” Nichols drove on to the post-office, which was located in a general merchandise store, secured his borse, and went inside. Near the door he was met by another villager. ‘“* Don’t expect any mail, do you?” was asked, ‘¢ What ef I do?” snapped Nichols. “ The post-office was robbed last night.” “What of it?” was the surly reply. This was a speech natural to him, but very injudicious at that particular time. People were so stirred up by the robbery that any one who was curt and indifferent at that time cou!d make enemies on allhands, Nichols’s unpopularity in- creased accordingly “Let the old miser alone,” said an angry voice, ‘ Mle never was known to bave human feeling for any one. Don’t he begrudge his adopted girl the food she eats?” There was a chorus of coinciding remarks, but Nichols paid no visible attention to them. Ho proceeded to purchase several articles of Perkin nott, and after objecting to the price of every- thing, finally ended his business. ‘**] think there is a letter in the office for you, Nichols,” Knott then said, and the postmaster went into the corner devoted to the office, ard handed out the letter. Nichols’s eyes were still keen, and as he glanced at the envelope a singu- lar expression passed over his face. He went apart and, tearing the letter open, read it quickly, It was as follows: “Curcaao, Juty 28, 1885. ‘“*Dear Srr:- According to your instructions by telegraph, we send your package one day earlier than at first arranged—by the same mail as this let- ter. It is registered. and, as you requested, care- fully sealed. You are to be congratulared on the successful issue of this work, and I think you will admit. that we have done our work ‘n excellent Due care on vour part will prevent further Respectfully yours, *“*Markin & TooHeY, “ Altorneys-at-Law.” Nichols read to the end, and as he went on his face grew pale and startled. The letter was lit- erally a bombshell, and he knew the full indica- hie of what it contained better than any one else, The postmaster was passing at that moment, and he addressed him: “ Ain’t there any more mail fur me?” “¢ That's all.” ** No—a—registered letter?” The postmaster stopped short. “Did you expect one?” he asked gravely. ‘This letter says thar should be one.” “« Where from?” Nichols hesitated a moment. “That don’t make any difference,” he finally answered. ‘“‘Tf it came last night, it’s lost, ’'m afraid. There were two registered letters stole. I ain’t sure who they were for, for I didn’t take down the address, and the papers are all stolen, too.” ** Ain’t it. your business to take em down?” “ Yes; but I forgot 1t.” “You're a pretty man!” cried Nichols, in his shrillest voice. ‘‘My letter is_gone, and you don’t know anything about it: I must have it back!” ‘Was there money in it?” “'That’s my business,” “You needn’t be so mighty sharp about it,” angrily replied Knott. “Tl have that letter, or make it!” declared Nichols, excitedly, *“You can do what you please about it, but you can’t bully me in my own store. You stop vour noise, or I'll throw you out of the door!” This was a kind of argument which Peter Nichols could easily understand, and he sudden- ly abandoued his previous line of talk. Perhaps he forgot all about the postmaster, for he stood with the letter from Markin & Toohey clusped in a hand which trembled violently. The news soon spread that the old miner had lost a registered letter, and Fitch, the constable, appeared on the scene, “ What's this I hear, Nichols?” he asked. “T don’t know,” was the mechanical reply. “* You've lost a registered letter, eh?” The old man’s eyes suddenly brightened, and he looked sharply at Fitch, “* Yes,” he admitted, ‘Money in it?” “ No ” ‘‘ What was it, then?” Nichols hesitated a moment, **T don’t know,” he then replied. “« Ain’t you got 4 letter there telling you that are istered letter has been sent?” es. ‘Then, of course, you know what was in it.” The constable spoke sharply, for he did not Hie Nichols, and the latter’s face again grew sullen, “What ef Ido? It was my letter, an’ I have a right ter do as I see fit about it. Tis oe to find it, an’ I expect you ter te) shape. trouble. you smart for Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. SSS Fitch gazed at the speaker in avgry sur- prise, ** Why, you old miser! what do you mean by that?” ** Jest what I say!” ““{ don’t think I shall try very hard to help an old ruffian like you. You don’t know enough to use anybody decent.” “That's all very well,” shrity returned Nichols, ‘‘ but it’s your duty ter find that let- ter, an’ you’ve got ter do it! I want it back unopened |” ‘* What's in it that you’re so afraid of?” ‘¢ That’s my business.” * Don’t you waste talk on the old crank, Fitch,” advised a villager, ‘‘ He don’t deservo help from anybody; he’s too mean to’ use any- body decent, and if I was you Id let him and his old letter go.” “Tl have the law o’ you ef you don’t do yer duty!” snarled Nichols. At that moment a new-comer pushed to the front, and in a quiet voice announced. **T reckon I can throw a bit of light on this case!” CHAPTER II. JEFF FLICKER EVERYBODY turned toward the last speaker He was a short, strongly-built boy who looked to be about fourteen years old, but was, really, two years older. He was a resident of Jeriebo, but had been so only a year Beforo that he had lived ina neighboring town, but when his only surviving friend died he had come to Jericho and gone to work in Andrew Payson’s livery-stable. Jericho prided itself on being a semi-fashion- able town, and as the hoy was one of the few who could not afford to dress well, and had no ene: he had been rather looked down upon all. "ho was a bright-faced, black-eyed lad, who looked quite able to take care of himself, and, indeed, his battles with the world had made him older in experience and wisdom than pam- pered children of his actual age. ‘* Hallo!” cried the constable, ‘Shere is Jeff Flicker!” * Jeff Flicker,” by the way, was a sobriquet given the boy with presumed humor. Few per- sons in Jericho knew what his real name was. ** So you can tell us something of interest?” “T think I can. Two men put up a horse at the stable last night, and I believe they’re the ones that did the job.” ‘*Did you know the men#—ever see them before?” “No. They said they had driven forty miles that day, but I know they hed, for I recognized the horse; it belongs in Tulip Center.” The latter place was the nearest railroad sta- tion. ‘““Why do you think they are the ones who robbed the post-office?” ‘“¢They put up their horse at nine o’clock, say- ing that they would stop in town, but woke me at one o'clock, took their team and drove off,” This was suggestive and suspicious, but it did not agai to proof, and the constable said as much, “There is more to tell,” replied Jeff, with a confident air. ‘* The men wore disguises,” ‘¢ How do you know?” ‘ ‘* I tumbled to it first when I saw one of them fixing his red wig on the sly. I knew it was a wig,as soon asIsaw his motions, and then l looked them over carefully. I could almost swear that both of them were ‘ made up,’” “That looks more important,” agreed the of- ficer, stroking his beard, : ‘* But it don’t show that they had any part in the er robbery,” demurred a man stand- ing by. “ Better wait until tho ovidence is all in!” re- torted the youth, ‘before you put in your opinion,” ‘Oh! is there more? Well, out with it!” “T heard them mention Nichols, and speak — about some post-office.” ‘ “You heard this?” cried Nichols, “ Yes; I just did.” “Then why didn’t you put a stop to their work?” the miser angrily demanded, ‘“«T didn’t know anything was wrong. It was when they took the horse away, and I heard nothing at all that was important; it was only a word now and then, I can’t say whether the ffice they mention’ was the one at about it. As for Nichols, they w avenge about him, and I got the idea that they bh visited him, and were then poking fun at Jericho, nor did I hear what they had tosay = na) &
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" y — at ‘* But what did they say?” Nichols asked. ‘The only sentence that I caugbt was that you had been badly sold, and ‘ wouldw’t make any great pile of mouey out of it.’ I don’t know what they referred to, but I thought at the time that they had made some trade with you.” “Did they call on you, Nichols? asked Fitch, ‘‘ or have you any idea who they were?” “No, they didn’t call and I don’t know any- thing about them.” The old miser spoke crustily, and did not seem to like the turn affairs had taken. ‘“‘Tt’s my opinion,” declared the skeptic, ‘‘ that the boy is lying to us. We never could tell when to believe him.” Jeff Flicker heard this remark with unwav- ering coolness. ‘* Nobody is obliged to believe me,” he re- turned. ‘I’ve given in my evidence, and you can take it, or leave it. Dve not got anything at stake.” ‘7 don’t doubt your word, Jeff,” hastily re- plied Fitch. ‘‘There is no reason why you should lie.” ‘* Unless he’s in with the robbers,” suggested the doubdter, maliciously. The boy turned upon bim with flashing eyes. “See here, Ben Trask, don’t you be too tonguey!” he exclaimed. ‘‘I know you hate me—though 1 don't see your reason—but I won’t stand everything. I reckon my record is as good as yours.” There was an approving chorus of comments to this. Trask was not popular, and though he ssed as an average citizer, and had some weight in passing events, his neighbors were oe sorry to see him so svoutly resisted by the oy. **Now you all keep quiet,” ordered Fitch. ** Jeff Flicker is my witness, and I am not going to have bim badgered or misused. You hear me, don’t you, Trask? Jeff, tell me all about those men.” There was but little more to tell. The men had put up their horse at the livery-stable in an ordinary way, but bad aroused Jeff, who slept in the place, in the middle of the night, to take the horse away. The boy persisted in his statement that the horse belonged in Tulip Center; that the men were disguised; and that he had heard them re- fer to Nichols and some post-office, This, simple as it was, might be a clew to the identity of the robbers. Constable Fitch agreed that it eecpeniy was, and he acted accordingly. His first step was to send a messenger to Tulip Center, to try and learn to whom the borse had been let, and to bid the officers there use such means as they could to get a clew to the two men. He had just done this when his first messenger came back, bringing a report from the Tuli Center post-office, to the effect that a eee letter for Nichols had passed through there the previous day, having been mailed at Chicago. The fact was then very clearly proven that Nichols’s letter bad been among the matter taken by the thieves, and the constable was about to go to the old miser when he was ac- costed by Jeff. ‘“‘ Mr, Fitch, that letter was very important,” said the boy, in a low tone. ‘* How do you know?” “Nichols is all broken up. about as nervous as a fish,” ‘The loss of five dollars would break him up.” ‘* But he said there was no money in the let- ” “So he did,” Fitch thoughtfully admitted. “Then what was in it?” 3 *T asked him, and he wouldn’t say.” ‘“‘Tt strikes me that the old man may have a secret he don’t want to tell.” The constable looked sharply at Jeff, He had himself, attributed all of Nichols’s’ odd and “cranky” acts to his well-known eccentricity and meanness, but Jeff was opening a new train of thought. - f “*'W hat secret can Nichols have?” Fitch asked. ‘He is capable of having ‘most any secret,” Jeff replied, somewhat bitterly. ‘*'You don’t seem to like him.” “Do you?” “No, I don’t, Have you any idea what his secret can be?—if he has one. If you know give me the clew; you sha’n’t lose anything by it.” “ Just now I haven’t, but I may get the idea, Ihaven’t any faith in Nichols, though, and it may be that you will help somebody besides him by finding that letter, r hope, Mr. Fitch, that you'll try your best!” and with this Jeff walked away, while the officer looked after bim thought- fully. «here's a queer boy!” hethought. ‘“ 1t has He's moving sae...” eee eee ay ae raw o.oo occurred to me before to-day that he was a Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. Fees ie ches aS . **'You’re a deep one, I begin to think ; but you good deal out of the ordinary run, and that he ain’t deep enough to deceive me.’ has some object in being in Jericho besides working in a livery-stable. I can’t imagine what it is, but, jast now, I haven’t time to fol- low up my idea. I must see Nichols,” He went to the old fellow, and made another effort to learn the contents of the lost Jetter, ‘““That’s my affair,” declared the miser, “Tm not deceiving you.” **' You are keeping something back. There is a mystery t» this case, and )ou could give me light if you would, Mind, [am not laying any blame to your door; I don’t think you know about the robbery, but about the lost letter,” ‘You are wrong now,” replied Jeff, though “Do you want that letter found?’ Fitch | there was a noticeable flush in bis face. ‘tI don’t angrily asked. “Tt must be found!” Nichols declared. ** Well, I won’t try for it unless you act like a paper.’ reasonable being.” *“Tt is your duty ter find it, an’ you’ve got ter | do if!” snapped the old man. ‘You're an officer, an’ a letter is stole. You've got ter find know what Nicbols has lost, but, knowing him as I do, I can’t get rid of the idea that it is a Then why don’t he say so?” ‘*He may not dare to.” ** How so?” ** Nicbols,” answered Jeff, with signs of em- it. What is in it ain’t any more your concern | barrassment, ‘‘has never been considered a than it would be ef a bed-tick was stole ter | very honest man, know what it was stuffed with.” ‘*Keep it up!” the constable retorted. don’t know why I should waste breath on an | old crank like you. have some doubt whether the law requires me to hunt for an article unless I know what it is,” | ** Ain’t [said it’s a letter?’ demanded Nichols, | _ “Are you big enough fool to suppose that it is a letter now? Of course the robbers have not opened it—of course not! Confound it! that envelope is torn open and burned before now; we must look for the contents, not, the letter, | and you say you won’t state what the contents | were. He may have had something sent to him which he would not want every one *T | to see.” The constable looked fixedly at Jeff fora few Let me say, though, that I | seconds in silence. ‘*T will see!” he then returned, abruptly, and with this he turned away. He had gained an idea, and intended to test it | if he could. The idea pointed to Jeff Flicker, and his investigatious would tend in the same direction! Jeff did not try to stop him, but, turning away, went to his supper. This done he re- turned to the stable where be was employed, Two horses were out, but they soon came in, Nichols looked dazed for a moment, for this | and when he bad properly cared for them, the he soon rallied. ‘“What I want you ter do, is ter find the men,” he replied. well,” ** And you won’t say what was in the letter?” ** No, I won’t !” * All right, my hearty,” Fitch sharply re- turned. ‘If you lose your infernal letter it will be all your own fault; you have tied my hands right at the start. It looks very much to ret oe as though you have a guilty secret to ide deme; the constable turned away in indigna- ion. CHAPTER ITI, . JEFF FLICKER’S ADVENTURE. | argument was a strong one and he knew it, but | lad closed and fastened the outside door and sat | down in the little room where he slept—it bein a corner of the stable which was partitioned © “Do this, an’ all will be | for his use. Having sat down, he fell into deep thought ' and became unconscious of all around bim. Constable Fitch bad not been far out of the _ way when he surmised that there was a mys- tery about Jeff Flicker. The boy had an ob- ject in being in Jericho; an object which could not be gained anywhere else; and, after a good deal of patient waiting, he was of the opinion that he was soon to win or lose all. As has before been said, he was general- ly looked down upon by the people of Jericho, and was‘disliked by many who could not have given any clear explanation of their dislike. He was a daily worker in a business which THE stolen letters were not recovered that | was not considered very elevated, to say the day, nor were the robbers found. least, and bis plain clothing made him seem to Following the clew given by Jeff they learned | the ridiculous gentility of the town a person be- that two strangers had hired a horse and car- riage in Tulip Center the previous day. These had been returned at daybreak, in good condi- tion. The men then disappeared, and there was absolutely no clew to them, The ticket-agent at the depot was positive that he sold no such men tickets, and no one saw them take the train. When they paid for the horse the owner there- of had been given view of a good-sized roll of bank-notes, the outside one of which was a hun- dred-dollar bill. This served to increase the mystery. Why should men so well supplied with money bother themselves to rob a little country post-office? During the evening Jeff Flicker accosted the constable, * Anything new, Mr, Fitch?” “ Not a thing, Jeff.” ‘What did the robbers get by their scoop?” “ Thirteen dollars from the cash-drawer; ten dollars from the first of the registered letters— that belonging to Nelson—and whatever was in old Pete Nichols’s letter,” ‘** Have vou learned what that was?” “No. Nichols won't tell,” ‘“* Why not?” ‘**Now you have me. He is a sly old customer who always keeps his business to himself, but he must know that he is running the risk of losing whatever was in the letter. How can we re- one what we are after, if we don’t know what it is “ Can’t you make him tell?” ae sai . “Do you think it was some r es hes Papert’ ee “Yeu. mean,” Jeff hesitating] ‘€some kind of valuable datimneti Ye Mil pen Eas ea your head?” and Fitch ain snarply at t ° ris I hardly how.) he ‘Look here, Jeff, I believe you know more about it than you have told,” “You're wrong, Mr, Fitch; but, it occurs to me that, if it wasn’t money he lost, it must have been a valuable paper.” “ Jeff 1” “Yes, Mr. Fitch” low them in the social scale. He was a reserved boy, who made few con- fidants, and it was not generally known that he had a supply of books in his little room to which he devoted a good deal of bis attention. Unpopular he might be, but he was one who bade fair to rise in the world. He was one of those quiet, strong-minded boys who do not at- tract so much attention as a noisy one, as they go along, but who are pretty sure to make a success in life when they try. For an hour Jeff sat there in deep thought. He did not seem to find his meditations very pleasant, but acted Philoseptiaaa and ended by quietly rising and making preparations to go to bed. This done, he was not long in falling asleep, Silence reigned in and around the stable, ex~ cept for the occasional tramping of the horses, This was a familiar sound, and did not in any be interfere with his rest. He slept on peace- ully. Several hours passed, and the little clock in Jeff’s r om pointed to one o’clock, Then it was that the boy awoke and started to a sitting position. He had a va idea that some sound bad aroused him, and that it was caused by a patron who was at the outsido door, rapping to arouse him and hire a horse, He was, however, bardly prepared for what he saw. There was a light in the stable! Now, this was a very unusual thing. The stable was always kept fastened at night; the door being locked and the windows barred; and his employer was the only outside person who possessed a key to the door, This man never seue there at night, yet there was a light now, and— Yes, some one was in the stable! Two men were there, Jeff looked in surprise, and as be did so the words of challenge which were on bis lips were arrested, The men were not residents of the village; they were entire strangers to bim. Jeff had no idea of speaking after he had made this discovery. He knew that the men were there for no good purpose, and as it was equally clear that they had forced their way in,
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ae Sh rk a ahah ean Sai 5 ¥ weed . : - l ey * are L Pei {- “hed mone aaa Pine, 2 i = eA eal oD ow ied: es id he leaped to the conclusion that they were horse- thieves. He glanced at the outer door, It was closed, and showed no signs of having been tampered with. The men had been in consultation, but one now held the lantern close to the stable floor, and they began a slow and careful search, as though they Talk dropped something. They paid no attention to the horses. Jeff watched secretly, silently sermon yet 6 What were they there for? ‘What had they dropped? questions were not easily an- swered./ ; It was ,, however, that they were not there with any lawful purpose, and as he could not well Oppose them with hope of success, he began to consider how he could give the alarm. He glanced at the window of his room., The bars which had been put on to prevent any in- truder from entering, now kept him in when he ought to be out, e couid not remove them without betraying his purpose by the noise. The men continued their search, and it soon occurred to Jeff as peculiar that they did not confine their search to any particular pojnt. They seemed to be making a systematic ex- amination of the whole stable floor, and no- where else did they look so carefully as in the out-of-the-way corners, ** That’s very odd!” muttered Jeff. His wonder increased as the search went on. It was minute and careful. Every particle of rubbish was moved and,in some cases, poked over as anxiously as the gold-digger looks for the precious ore he hunts for in the sand, hat they sought did not seem to appear, and they finally paused and began to converse, their faces expressing deep disappointment. The words, however, were inaudible to Jeff. Suddenly he had an idea, and one which startled him, RB os Sa not these men be the post-office rob- rs As this occurred to him, he looked at them more narrowly. He had all along insisted that the men who haa ay up their horse with him had been disguised, and did not expect any marked likeness. He looked most at their forms. There he be- lieved that he saw a resemblance, and his sus- picions increased, He grew excited, too. If er were the two who had stabled their horse with him, he believed they were also the post- office burglars, No wonder he was excited. If this was true, the guilty parties were almost within bis reach. Again he looked at the window of his little room. The bars were plainly visible, and showed him that he could not pass, Before, they had seemed a very necessary part of the stable; now, they were hateful enough to his sight. a How can T get out?” he thought, des- perately. “If the robbers are right here, they must be caught. It depends on me to give the alarm, and rally folks, but I can’t do it while I’m here—and how am I to get out?” Sure enough, that was a hard matter to set- tle. If he left the room, he would at once be pounced upon by the men, while the window was Clearly impassable. The men resumed their strange search, and Jeff watched them mechanically, What were they after? Clearly, no trivial matter had brought them bac. to the scene of their robbery, and the only explanation was that when in the stable before they had lost something of value, Presently one of the men suddenly straight- ened up. **See here!’ he exclaimed in an audible voice, ‘*T am for searching the office at once. Dll do it while you hold a revolver at the head of that young hound of a boy. If he wakes up, puta bullet through him. [ll bet it’s in the office, Let’s see.” ‘“‘ All right,” replied the second man, readily. And then both started for Jeff Flicker’s little room, Fresh danger menaced the boy, CHAPTER IV. BOY VS, MEN. Jerr proved equal tothe emergency. There was only one course for him to pursue, and he realized what that wasat once, To remain and face these men would be foolhardy; to run away was impossible; his one resort was to feign sleep, e cast himself down upon his humble bed. which was little larger than himself, assumed, an easy position and closed his eyes, *Y The two men entered the stable boy’s room. AM Dn Jeff Flic ———— ee qe cy j. “sas a “ad es et —: a Stable Boy ‘He is still asleep,” observed one, flashing the light on the apparently sleeping Jeff. ‘* He’d better remain so,” ““ Well, you sit down beside him while [ search, If he opens his eyes, shoot!” ** Bob’s” voice was hard and implacable. Jeff Flicker heard the click of a revolver, but did not move or open his eyes. Satisfied that these men would kill him without compunction if danger menaced them, he was content to tie and feign sleep. He was not in a panic, how- ever, and his cool mind was resolving every chance and seeking for a way to get the best of the men. The search of the room was conducted with the same care that Jeff had before noticed, Jeff had kept the place very clean, and there was no rubbish on the floor; but every corner was looked into and everything moved that was movable, except the bed. As Bob searched he also talked. ‘*T don’t expect to find it here.” “You may.” ‘“*T may find a gold-mine!” Bob retorted. ‘“Tt’s pretty sure that it’s in this stable,” ‘* Unless it’s been found,” ‘*T think we'd heard of it if it bad been.” “T ain’t so sure of that. Suppose this boy had found it. He’s a miserable beggar, and it would have been a rich haul for him. D’ye suppose he would give it up?” The man with the revolver looked sharply at sos = tf ro cer, the el, ‘* What if it’s about him now?” ‘* By Jove! I didn’t think of that.” “Tt may be in his pocket.” * Yes,” Bob ceased work, and stood looking down at the apparently soundly sleeping stable boy. ‘* Shall we wake him up?’ he added, “T don’t approve of it. Can’t we reach him as he is?” ‘* Most likely he will wake up.” ‘*T don’t know. Boys of his age sleep soundly, and some of them could be rolled clear across this room without waking them. Go ahead and search, and if he wakes up, I'll be ready with the barker. The boy won’t ‘bark!’” This point being settled, Bob proceeded with his work. The way in which he did it sug- gested that he was no new hand at picking pockets. His movements were very skillful, and if Jeff had really been asleep, he would hardly have been disturbed, As it was, he feigned sleep successfully. 4 Bob finished the search and growled like a dis- appointed bear. ‘Itain’t there,” he declared. ‘*T reckon it’s really lost,” his friend replied, | ‘Lost! It'll turn up sooner or later, see if it don’t. Such things always do. I’m sorry we ever took hold of this job.’ ‘We got the letter, didn’t we?” “Yes; and we'll have the cash, too.” “‘ Bet your life we will! Old Nichols must feel rusty, [swear. He’s played his little game, and is so much money out—and no paper to show for it. Serves the old rascal right. Anybody mean enough to rob an orphan girl ought to be lynched.” *- If you’re so interested in orphans, why not send the paper to her?” and a sly smile accom- panicd the suggestion. ‘“*T ain’t a fool!” was the retort. *‘ Business is business, and we've got to look out for our- selves. Sadie Pickett must do the same.” Jeff Flicker found it hard to lie there quietly while this talk was going on. For reasons best known to bimself, it was all of vital importance, and there he had to remain like a statue, Despite this, he felt disappointed when Bob suddenly observed that they were wasting time. The men left the room and resumed their search in the main part of the stable. They had no sooner left his den than Jeff was upon his feet. He knew atlast that these men were the post-office burglars and he was more than ever anxious tosee them captured. In some way or other he must escape from the stable and give the alarm, As they went out the light of their lantern fell momentarily upon the wide outer door, and he saw that the key was in the lock. Their mode of operation then occurred to him; they had probably thrown back the bolt of the lock from the outside, ard then, when once inside, had reinserted the key, which had been left banging near the door, and relocked the door. Since there was no secret way out, and the windows were all barred, it now me Jeff's t desire to pass out of the door. If he could reach it, one turn of the key would open a way Of escape. He determined to act promptly, SeOtlve.. tn oe Dropping upon his hands and knees he began to creep along in the shadows with all possible caution, Possibly he could escape with a rush but, in that case, the men would have a go chance to get away before he could sunimom bey hey were now engaged in the search. Silently Jeff moved toward the door. It was a moment of great suspense, and tie chances of reacbing the door unseen were so against him that be watched keenly and was ready for a rush if necessary. Foot by foot he moved along. The men, talking in low voices, seemed ab- sorbed in their work, At last, only a few feet separated him from the door, but he was so near the intruders that it seemed strange they did not hear his move- ments. He moved further, and very cautiously 3 then he slowly arose to his feet. His tand moved forward to grasp the key. At that very moment one of the men suddenly turned about. His actions did not indicate Sate but he could not very well avoid seeing eff. He did see him, and a fierce exclamation fell from his lips His band flashed to bis pocket, and, in a mo- ment more a revolver glittered in the light, Secrecy was then out of the question, Jeff Flicker made one s ring, grasped the key and turned it in the a he bolt flew back, and he tore the door open. As he did so there was @ sharp click-click | ‘* Don’t fire!” cried a voice. The caution came too late; the man did fire, and a bullet actually cut a lock of hair from Jeff’s head, It was a harmless shot, however, and the nimble boy did not give them a second chance, pe 2"? Even in that time of danger he kept bis wits about him, and had secured the key. Once out- side he pulled the door to with a bung. Ina moment more there was another click—he had turned the key in the lock and the men were shut in! He heard fierce exclamations from them, and the barrier was violently shaken. The men were wild with anger and alarm. A smile crossed Jeff Flicker’s face, but he did not wait to see the result of his last act. The intruders, if left to themselves, were sure to escape, sooner or later, and help must be brought: at once. He darted away down the street, his face be- ing toward Constable Fitch’s house. . As he went the racket increased behind tim; the en- trapped ruffians were doing their best to get out, Jeff’s feet seemed scarcely to touch the ground as he darted away, and in a minute he was at the constable’s house. No light was visible, and, believing that the official was. in bed and asleep, he began to hammer upon the door with all his strength. The sconer Fitch was aroused, the better; it would not take the men long to escape from the stable if they worked in earnest, Great was Jeff’s satisfaction when, after a very brief pause, an upper window was sudden- ly raised. Seoall ‘“‘ Hallo! who is there?” demanded a voice. “Quick, Mr. Fitch!” cried Jeff: “Pve got work for you. I think the post-office robbers are in town! I’ve got them locked in the stable. Come down at once, or they will get out and es- cape.” ‘ Pll be there in a second.” The window closed with a bang; there was 4 brief racket inside, and then the constable came hurrying out, fully dressed. ‘“‘T don’t understand this at all—” , ‘Don’t stop to learn,” Jeff replied, quickly. ‘‘ Let it be enough for now to say that two men are in the stable, locked in, and there ain’t a shadow of doubt but they’re the mail-robbers—” “ Allright, Go and wake up balf a dozen men, and I'l] go to the stable atonce. If the rascals ain’t out yet, [’ll hold them there until you bring help. I'll shoot them if they try to pass me!” CHAPTER V. . A LIVELY RACKET. FitrcF flourished a revolver as he spoke, and it was plain to be seen that he had cavght = fever fully, He now gave the boya slight ush. pm Be off with you!” be exclaimed. Then he turned and ran toward the stable. When he reached it he feund the place wholly dark, and it began to look as though the men had made good their escape, but he noticed that the big door was still closed,
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| | | | to the rear. tbe rocks below. ““ A bar from the window?” he thought, At that moment a head became dimly visible Fitch smiled grimly: his game Determined to keep them there He was a good marksman, and he took care not to hit the at the opening. was still there. he raisad his revolver and fired a shot. target. The head suddenly disappeared, and he heard a savage exclamation inside, “There you are, my hearties!” he called out, “* See that you stay there. tries to get out will get a dose of lead!” Utter silence from the stable; all was as still as though the robbers had been miles away. ““They’re no fools!” thought Fitch; ‘and, being the opposite of fools, there is bound to be fun here pretty quick. They’ll make a rush; that’s what they will do; and when it comes I want somebody to back me up, bad !” He looked around somewhat anxiously, but no Fitch was brave enough, but he knew how desperate, lawless men could fight, | sue! one was in sight, and was anxious to have support. There was a slight stir in the stable, “They're coming!” he muttered. So was somebody else. He heard the patter of feet, and three of his neighbors rushed up without any of their day-clothes on except their trowsers. He recognized them, and took prompt measures to let the robbers know that he had help. “Surround the stable!” he ordered, in a loud voice. ‘‘Six of you go to the front, and three on each of the other sides.” Then he added, iu a low tone: “Stay right here, boys; it’s here they will make the break, if anywhere. I reckon Jeff Flicker will soon stir up more help.” * That boy is as lively as a flea,” ** He’s a good one.” “* He is showing up well.” The citizen made the admission rather reluct- antly; he did not like to grant that there was any good in Jeff Flicker. The last word had barely passed his lips when he gave an acrobatic leap. A shot had been fired from the stable, and the lump of lead had passed within an inch of his head. Great Scott! that wasa close call!” he cried. “They’re wide-awalke in there.” ** Look out fora rush,” advised Fitch, ‘ They are merely scaring us now preparatory to the real work. Any of you armed?” “Tye gota revolver,” replied one man; but the others could boast of nothing better than clubs which they had picked up as they ran. Then three more men arrived, and the total force was increased to seven. Fitch sent one of his party to the opposite side of the stable, to watch for developments there, while the others took position to resist a rush. Their number would soon be increased so that he could assume the offensive, which he intended to do as soon as was possible, The robbers would have been stupid, indeed, not to realize the facts of the case, and just as stupid to wait until they were hemmed in past hope. They did not wait Fitch was watching the window when he saw a dark object flash through with almost cat-like quickness. It struck on the ground, and then a second object flashed after it, The robbers had made the expected break. Agile fellows they proved to be, and in a mo- ment they were upon their feet, fair and square and “ pointing” for flight. “ Surrender!” shouted Fitch, in a loud voice, as he waved his revolver. , “You go to perdition!” and with this retort the robbers started off, | The constable fired his reyolver, aiming at the legs of the nearest man, and by so doing he stirred up & good-sized hor- net’s nest, The robbers wheeled, and then their own re- volvers began to work like machines. Lead whistled around the ears of the villagers in a startling way. Fitch felt a stinging sensation in one arm whicd told him he was wounded, The villagers had started in a body to head off the fugitives, but this warm reception alarmed them, They gave ground, and with a scornful laugh the desperadoes dashed away. “ After them!” cried Fitch, ‘* Don’t let them escape.” And he first sent a bullet whistling after the runaways, and then led the Reranit, The robbers had a clear field, and they started down the street at arate of speed which would have done credit to a race-horse; but, after The first man who eer : Acting upon a sudden idea, he hurried around | them came the constable’s party, As he did so he heard a rending 6) sound, and something went rattling down on which bade fair to arouse the w The fugitives, however, soon showe ey knew what they were about. aving reached a certain point they darted from tbe street and ran between two houses— whereupon such of the pursuers as had revol- vers, becoming alarmed, opened a brisk fire— and, seemingly unhurt, disappeared for the time. Fitch’s party followed, though, and, a mo- ment later, were treated to a spectacle which gave them no pleasure. he runaways, as it proved, had tied their horse to a tree, and as they dashed up one of them cut the tie-rope with one sweep of his knife, and ina moment’s time both were seated in the light buggy. Down came the whip, and away dashed the horse with great bounds, Constable Fitch uttered a groan and, coming to a halt, fired the two shots which remained in his revolver with as good aim as possible, Derisive laughter floated back to him, ‘Don’t give up!” he shouted. ‘‘ Pursue! pur- We may get them yet!” . “*Come on, your nibs!” yelled one of the rob- ers, ‘*Try a race with Christmas!” tauntingly advised his companion, ‘** Buy a pair of smaller boots!” “Get the hayseed out of your hair!” These jeering shouts were sent back by the fugitives as they steadily increased their lead, but the constable and his party were full of courage. They ran on until the robbers were nearly gone, and their breath quite so, Just at that moment there was the beat of heavier feet behind them, and up rushed Jeff Flicker on one of the stable horses, The boy, who could ride like a jocky, was seated lightly on the horse’s back, and he soon proved that his héad was as level as ever. “Dll keep watch of them!” he cried. ‘Send out men and have the alarm given; we may be able to stop them by telegraph, if not in any other way. Where they go [lLfollow, and we'll have ’em yet.” R Fitch tried to speak and ask Jeff to give him the horse, but his breath was -hort, and before he could command speech the boy had flashed past and was gone after the runaways, The constable came to a halt. “That boy is plucky, he is,” the officer gasped. “Probably he'll capture ’em all,” derisively suggested the doubter. ®t reckon he'll try.” ‘They'll shoot the little varmint.” ‘**T ain’t sosure of that,” Fitch returned, ‘‘ He’s a good one, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him give a good account of himself.” Unconscious of these comments, Jeff was speeding after the robbers. His was no wild, ill-considered pursuit, nor did he dream of at- tempting to capture the men in single-handed tight. He had outlined his own work in what he said to Fitch, that If he could hang upon the ‘trail of the runaways until day dawned, and they reached a village, he could then give the alarm. He had secured a revolver, but intended to use it only as a measure of defense, should this become necessary; which he hoped would not be the case. There was no difficulty in the pursuit at this stage of affairs, The robbers had re-entered the road which led to Tulip Center, and were plainly visible, Jeff had little fear that they would outstrip bim. He had selected the best horse in the stable, and as matters were otherwise all in his favor, he did not intend to lose sight.of the fugitives, On he galloped, and in a few minutes had so reduced their lead that he eased up. While they were urging their horse to his ut- most, he could keep his own fresh and be ready for any emergency, Jericho village was left behind, and they were now passing along the broad highway. Jeff knew that he had been seen by the men. They turned several times and looked at him, but he kept beyond the reach of their revolvers. -_—. CHAPTER VI. THE BRIDGE BARRICADE, For some time the state of affairs remained unchanged, but as they drew further away from Jericho it became Clear that the ruffians were ill at ease, They had evidently divined Jeff’s purpose, in bess: case they could not fail to see trouble a erates Se by: {eNe grimly. ‘** Nice little game, but I don’t believe it will work,” and he slackened his own speed to cor- respond with theirs, Their next experiment was to come to a full stop, but as soon as they did so Jeff also pulled up, and there he sat upon his horse, cool and smiling. He was pleased to know that he was worrying the desperadoes and making them lose time. The men soon started on again; so did Jeff. They wenta hundred yards, and then once more paused; so did Jeff. Then an angry shout arose. it “Tsay, you fool!” cried one of the fugitives, “what de you want? Why are you dogging us?” “This road 1s free to all, ain’t it?” ‘¢ We'll show you if you don’t clear out!” was the fierce reply. ‘‘ When will you begin?” “Right away.” “¢ All right—begin!” Jeff smiled, for he really liked the situation, Suddenly one of them sprung from the buggy and started back. Jeff felt sure that he carried a revolver, and with another smile the boy turned his horse and rode slowly back, ; While the robbers were fooling around with him they were not increasing their distance from Jericho! : The same idea seemed in the mind of his ursuer, and as he saw that Jeff would nct al- ow him to get to a position of advantage, he began to free his mind in a way more emphatic than polite or religious, Wheeling once more he rejoined his companion, and Jeff advanced to his old position. These wus some Joud and angry talk from the men, who were getting seriously troubled. Whether they recognized Jef! is uncertain, but they did see the damage that any one per- son could do them by thus persistently upon their trail. For a few moments they lingered, and seemed to be consulting earnestly; then, suddenly turn- ing, they gave their horse a cut with the whip, and went off at full speed, After that they did not once look around, but seemed wholly absorbed in getting away trom Jericho, They certainly made good time. _ , At the end of a mile Jeff grew more alert. They were nearing Juggle eadow—the sub- village where old Peter Nichols lived—and there was a possibility that something would happen there, Really, Jeff cid not expect a diversion in his favor, for the hour was still so early that no one was likely to be astir, The village was skirted by Roaring Brook, a stream which was only a small affair during the summer season, but, owing to the peculiar Jand formation, was a brawling river in the spring, when the winter snows melted, was spanned by a covered bridge seventy feet long. Twenty-five feet below was the brook, now only a thread which flowed tortuously through a wider belt of stones. 4 It occurred to Jeff that the fugitives might attempt some trick upon bim in the dark cover of the bridge, and he determined not to go with- in revolver-shot of it until he had seen them emerge from the opposite side-——something easy enough to see, since the road there made a slight bend to the left. Accordingly, he held back somewhat, It seemed that bis precaution had been un- necessary, bowever, for the team dashed through without any pause, and then went roll- ing into the village. c » Once more Jeff urged his horse forward—he. wanted to be close upon them at that point, so that if any of the people of Juggle Meadow were> astir he could give the alarm. His horse dashed upon the bridge at a gallop. All was intensely darx there, owing to the cover overhead, but Jeff had been across many times before, and did not hesitate, The bridge had been solid and safe, as he well knew. He did not know what changes bad taken place. His horse was galloping along when foot- ing failed him in front, and he went down. So did Jeff Flicker. The boy was a fine rider, but he had been totally unprepared for any accident there; and the result, was that he shot forward © like a flash over his horse's head. Instinctively he put out bis hands to break the force of his fall, Down be went, and then a sbarp through his side as he struck something with : It had cut for itself a wide channel, and, at Juggle Meadow, . in shot '
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6 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. Pr ee eT ay force which almost drove the breath from his body; but even then he did not stop. He continued to fall! It flashed i a him that the bridge had been tampered with; that the fall of his horse was due to the fact that some of the planks had been removed; and that from the same cause he was now falling through to the brook below. Once more he made a clutch to save himself; he caught one of the ‘‘ sleepers,” but a fragment of loose bark was all that he held. Down he went. There was an interval of suspense, during which he went erratically through the air, and then he struck in the brovk with a great splash. Instantly a feeling of relief swept over him. He had expected to strike full upon the bare rocks, aud it was a lucky chance which caused him to alight where he did, The water was deep enough to break his fall, and, feeling no ill effects, he made an effort and crawled from the brook. The ruling passion was still strong within him, and, anxious to continue the pursuit, he wondered if his horse had met with any great harm. He arose to his feet, but, as he did so, the sharp pain shot through his side again and his head seemed to swim about in a strange way. He reeled—made an effort to stand—and fell to the ground again. Then consciousness deserted him. The little brook went flowing on lazily, al- most touching the senseless boy—that was the only visible motion near the place. And the night wore on. ieee Jeff Flicker’s wandering senses came back. e opened his eyes and saw the light of day. He was surprised to find himself in such a strange place, but recollection soon returned. He looked up at the bridge above, Five or six lanks had been removed, and it was this which ad caused all his trouble. ** And the robbers got away after all!” He muttered these words aloud; even then he was true to the purpose which had sent him out upon this adventure, Then he thought more of himself. He moved slightly, and found that he was so lame and sore every Movement was accompanied with ex- treme pain. His injury was no trifling matter, He was summoning courage for another ef- fort when a new sound met his hearing. It was the crunching of the pebbles in the bed of the brook. He turned his head to discover the cause, He was no longer alone, A girl who looked to be thirteen years of age come down the bank and was crossing the dry part of Roaring Brook. In one hand she carried a wooden pail, and it was clear that she was coming to the brook for water. Suddenly she paused. Almost at the moment that Jeff discovered her he was seen.in return, and the girl paus:d in great surprise. If Jeff had but known it he did not present a very agreeable appearance, just then, for he was covered with mud, and his clothes were still saturated with water. He, however, was thinking of something else. He knew the girl, and there was an eager light in his eyes. ‘* Don’t be frightened,” he said, quickly. The girl looked at him and said nothing, ** Don’t leave me,” he added. ‘‘T am hurt.” “What are you doing here?” she asked, won- deringly. **T fell through the bridge.” She glanced upward. “Why, some of the planks are torn up.” ““T reckon they are,” Jeff grimly replied, as a new movement on his part gave him a fresh, sharp pain, ‘‘Say, youre Peter Nichols’s girl, ain’t you?” “T live at his house,” she returned, as though her correction meant a good deal. * All right; I thought so. Now, I want you to help me to his house!” CHAPTER VII. A STRONG-MINDED WOMAN, Tuer girl looked somewhat startled by Jeff's last words. ** I don’t know as I had better take you to the house,” she answered, “Why not?” “Mr. Nichols might not like it.” “6 Why shouldn't be like it?” “ He isn’t very—that is, ’'m afraid he wouldn't like to have you there.” * Wouldn’t he take in a sick person?” **T don’t know.” She answered _hesitatingly, and seemed so em- that Jeff quickly added; ‘*T know how it is; Nichols is so mean that he won’t do anybody a good turn if he can help it, and then, only when he’s paid for it. Well, I can_pay him, if he wants, and one thing is sure; I can’t stay down in this hole.” “*Pll get somebody else to help you,” the girl pS replied. “Wait a bit, Sadie. ain’t it?” =X OG, ‘: Pll try to get up, and see how bad I am.” He made the effort, but found that it cost him a good deal of pain, and that he was weak and dizzy. “It’s no use,” he continued; ‘‘I’ve got to have help. Now, I don’t believe there is any- body up in the whole of Juggle Meadow but Nichols’s folks, so I want you to go right to him. He won’t hurt you, and if he comes, U’ll attend to the rest.” “Well, P'll do as you say.” Sadie spoke reluctantly, but, having settled the point, made haste to fill her pail with water, and then went back up the bank, Jeff Flicker looked after her curiously. “| didw’t think it would be in this way that I should make her acquaintance, but it don’t make any difference [I believe that I now see a way to get into Nichols’s house, and just at this time there may be something of interest to be learned there, If I can get a point on the miser, I may be able to seutle up the case which brought me to Jericho, I'd like todo it, and get away.” The boy sat upon the stones in deep thought until he heard Peter Nichols’s shrill voice in the distance. It came nearer, and then Sadie de- scended the bank again, followed by the old man. He turned his sharp, ferret-like eyes upon Your name is Sadie, eff. ‘* What’s this?” he asked, in a harsher voice than usual. “T can’t help you— Oh! it’s you is it? . ‘* Yes, it’s I, Mr. Nichols, and you see I am in a bad fix.” ** You'd no business ter git inter a fix.” ** But I fell through the bridge while chasing the post-office robbers,” “Eh? What?” ‘* Fact, sir; I was pursuing them,” - When? Last night?” ‘* How'd they git here?” “They went back to Jericho, and we got after them. I should have caught them, too, only for the bridge, but somebody had taken up the planks. I believe they did it, and that it was a game to prevent pursuit. You see they are only torn up on the right side—the north track. I suppose they crossed on the south track, but I held to the usual course and came to grief.” ““Why didn’t you ketch ’em?” excitedly de- manded the old man. “I tried hard, but when a fellow gets a fall that knocks his senses out of him, that lays him out for awhile.” ‘* How did it happen?” ; Jeff gave a very brief account of the whole affair, seeing that he had interested Nichols. “And now you see I am laid out,” he added. ; ‘Bad fur you,” the old man said, unfeel- ingly. ‘““Can’t you take me to your house?” “No, no; can’t be done. Out of the ques- tion. Nobody ter take care on ye.” ‘* Pll pay you for it, Mr. Nichols.” “Eh? What? Yow ain’t got any money.” Nichols looked suspiciously at the boy. *‘ [ve got enough to pay you, and T’ji doit. I don’t want to lie here in the brook,” “‘T don’t keep a cbarity hospital,” continued Nichols. “ Haven’t I said Pd pay you?” ** But where’s the money ?” **Don’t you worry about that; I’ve said you shall be paid, and so you shall,” “Well, well, you can come in, but I can’t afford ter do it fur nothin’. I’m a poor man, an’ times is hard; drefful hard. Takes a good ’eal o’ plannin’ ter make both ends meet, nowa- days. It’s hard ter be poor!” Thamiser’s shrill voice dropped to a whine as he made these complaints. Jeff felt like shrink- ing from him in disgust. Nichols was rich fora farmer, and everybody knew it. He had grown rich by economy of the meanest kind, and by dishonest practices just within the pale of the law. oe You shall bave your pay, sir,” the boy re- plied. He hated himself for applying a word of re- spect to such a man, but it was policy. “Then take my arm,” Nichols added, He gave his aid, and Jeff gained his feet once more. Sadie, after lingering until this time, re- treated up the bank. They followed. Every movement gave Jeff pain in his side, and he began to be afraid that some of his ribs were broken, but he persevered and finally gained the top of the bank, By this time the momentary dizziness he had felt on rising began to disappear, and he looked toward the house with some eagerness, Possibly the most eventful part of his life was about to begin, He knew that besides Sadie, who was not Nichols’s daughter, and only there to do what work he could get out of her, the miser’s family consisted of his wife and sister. Mrs, Nichols, who was not the worst woman in the world, was far advanced in second child- hood, and was a mere nonentity. Miss Betsey, the sister, was a spinster on the wrong side of sixty, and fully as bad as old Peter. In fact, she probably had the worst nh 3 of any one in Jericho. eff Flicker was well aware that he was going among hard people. The only one to be de- pended upon was orphaned Sadie, and it was a notorious fact that she was badly abused by Peter and his sister. The outlook was not pleasant, but Jeff knew what he was about and did not waver. Nichols conducted him into the kitchen, and then, raising his voice, called the name “‘ Betsey ” several times. The last sbrill call was followed by the appearance of that person, tall, bony, harsh-faced and masculine. ‘* Here’s a boy, Betsey,” explained Peter, ** What on’t?’ demanded Betsey. ** He’s hurt, an’ [ took him in.” Miss Betsey placed her arms akimbo and glared at Jeff as though be had done her a per- sonal injury. ‘* What ef he is hurt?” she severely demand- d. ‘“Oh! he’s goin’ ter pay me, Betsey.” “Do ye know him?” “ Pve seen him at Jericho.” *¢- You'd better send him to Jericho!” asserted the maiden lady, sternly, as she tried to frighten Jeff by the glare of her terrible eyes. “Don’t be hard on me,- Miss Nichols,” an- swered the boy, with a serious meekness he was far from feeling, really. ‘*I am hurt, and I Mr pay you to be taken care of until I can get ack, ‘* Where’s yer money?” she brusquely asked. * At Jericho.” ‘* How do we know we'll get it?” * Oh! you shall. I promise—” “‘T don’t care a snap for promises!” declared the masculine woman. ‘* Betsey, it’s all right,” began Nichols, but she interrupted him: ‘*'You let me alone, Peter; T know what I am talkin’ about, I’m talkin’ to a boy, an’ I wouldn’t trust a boy as far as I could throw a yearlin’ heifer. I know what boys are—they’re thieves an’ liars!” i And she shook ker fist at Jeff Flicker, ‘There has to be a boy, now and then,” re- plied Jeff, continuing his show of meeknesgs, ‘* Yes, an’ there has ter be fevers, an’ rooma- tiz, an’ colic. They’re all alike.” “ But this boy will pay us, Betsey,” urged old Peter, ‘‘ an’ we are poor—” “You hush up, Peter Nichols!” retorted his very affectionate sister. ‘‘I am doin’ this busi- ness.” It was clear that she was doing it, and just as clear that she was not a nonentity in the family, if Peter’s wife was. She still stood with her arms akimbo, looking as hard, coarse and un- feeling as some ill-sculptured piece of marble, Suddenly she turned upon Sadie. ‘*What are you doin’ bere, Lazy-bones?” she savagely demanded, ‘ Don’t stan’ starin’ like a hyena. Git ter work, or lll trounce ye!” The orphaned girl went away meckly, a startled look in her face. ‘* What's the matter with you, anyhow?” the virago then demanded, of Jeff. * Pve had a fall from the bridge—” **You had uo business ter fall from the bridge, but ef you can pay for bein’ sick, I don’t care, Goin there an’ lay down,” She pointed to the next room as she spoke. ‘Mr. Nichols,” added Jeff, who was not at : all ularmed by ber fierce ways, ‘‘I want some one to ride to Jericho with a message for Mr, Fitch.” **Tll bring a boy here,” the old man cautious- ly replied. ‘‘ You must hire him; I won’t, I'm not goin’ ter pay nobody's bill. Ill get a boy.” And he hobbled out of the room, leaving Jeff with Miss Betsey.
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¥ bP ole ‘ egg a ian | oe ~~? er | Foy mi, es ey [Same * ae oo i. he ja bs 2ex y = _ ‘os a sae CHAPTER VIII. A WOMAN WITH SECRETS. Jerr FLICKER was still the target of Miss Betsey’s most severe regard, but he bore it very composedly, and kept up his mask of meekness. She had told him to go into the other room, and with a polite remark to her he went. It did not prove to be a bedroom, as he had expected, but a big, old-fashioned lounge stood in one corner, and upon this he at once lay down. He was glad enough to d? so. Every moment that he remained standing he could feel the pain in his side, and though it was | less acute than when he first recovered con- sciousness in the brook, he was glad to avoid it as much as possible. Once more alone he summed up bis case care- fully. He believed that he was well enough to return to Jericho village with the messenger, but this he did not intend to do. Chance had made him an inmate of Peter Nich Is’s house, and, for reasons of his own, he | wished to stay there, It seemed an odd choice, | for a more disagreeable place could not be found | in all Jevicho, but he knew what he was about. When he first settled in Jericho he had done so with a fixed purpose, and one which nobody suspected. Events had, of late, taken a forward step, aud he believed that his plans could be served nowhere el e so well as in Peter Nichols’s house, i If his real object had been known, Miss Betsey would have found her worst opinion of boys confirmed—in her opmion—and no amount of money would have induced old Peter to let him remain, Soon after Jeff lay down he heard Miss Bet- sey go upstairs; and then her voice arose in shrill scolding. No doubt unfortunate Sadie was the object of her anger. Jeff frowned at the thought. Just then the door opened. The fourth member of the household ap- peared. It was Peter Nichols’s wife. She was a little, thin-faced, pale, hesitating woman, whose expression—what little there was of it—was that of deep melancholy, Ste looked at Jeff but the vacant expression did not vanish from her face. **Good-morning,” said Jeff. **Good-morning,” was the mild reply. the carriage ready ?” *“* What carriage?” ** The one to take us to the funeral.” * Are you going to a funeral?’ ‘“* Why, of course, We are all going.” She sat down, and, looking at him with her vacant eyes, added like a machine: “The carriages will be here at one o'clock, Of course we sbull all wear our best clothes. If there is any one thing I pride myself upon, it is to make a good appearance at funerals.” “ Naturally,” answered Jeff, pityingly, for he saw that her mind was almost wholly gone, “There is something about funerals that I like,” continued Mrs. Nichols. “It is real pleasant to watch the bereaved ones and see how they act. Some women had rather go to wed- dings, but [ think they are kind of sad. The fe- male relatives of the bride envy her so that they shed a good many tears. They make be- lieve it is because they are parting with her, but that is all nonsense. “We have to be deep in this | world—deep! deep!” é The speaker nodded to Jeff, and a transient leam of Cunning appeared in her eyes. ‘“‘T am deep,” she added, * and I know things which everybody don’t know,” And she nodded again, * What things?” elf asked, eagerly. Mrs, Nichols looked toward the door, and then, seeing that no one was visible, lowered her voice to a mysterious whisper and replied: ** Secrets |” ‘Yes; but what secrets?” **Many secrets; piles of secrets, I fancy,” the unfortunate woman added, with visible pride, “ there are few women know more secrets than [ do.” f ; And she nodded three times in succession, “What secrets do you know?” asked Jeff, who had good reason to be deeply interested, ““Oh! I don’t tell; I never tell secrets. Some- | times I want to. When I go wa funeral 1 fee) so cheerful and happy that I’d like to tella few secrets. Wunerals,” Mrs, Nichols added, Jevel- ing one finger at Jeff, ‘are a woman’s weak rint. When she sees the other women cry she Fools that a lot of old scores are being paid off; that’s why women like to go to funerals.” * Yes; but what about your secrets.” _ Jeff was anxious to keep her to the subject. “ Is Se penne ** What secrets?” she asked blankly. ** The ones you know.” “Ah! ab! Yes; my secrets!” The woman chuckled with visible satisfaction. ** What about them?” Jeff asked the question persuasively, and she leaned forward and resumed her mysterious whisper. ‘“There are secrets in this house,” she an- nounced, ‘‘ which would startle you. The house is fullof them, They hide in the walls, and un- der the floors, and in the cupboards, and every- where, Secrets? I know them all. I could go sue funeral and tell secrets that would astonish olks,” ‘* Tell me one of your secrets, please.” “‘ They are family affairs. If there is a fam- ily that has secrets,” quoth Mrs, Nichols, wag- ging her head, ‘‘it is this family, And such ones, too! Secrets that are dark; secrets that | are deadly; secrets that tell of wrong-doing; se- crets that tell of crime !” The idea conveyed by her last words seemed to frighten her; her expression grew startled, and as a footstep sounded up-stairs she suddenly arose, ““They’re coming!” she whispered, sibilantly ; ““they’re coming, and I must go. Don’t you tell them I have been here: if they knew that I had told any of their secrets they would kill me, Keep it quiet. I'll see you at the funeral.” At the last words she glided from the room, and Jeff Flicker did not try to detain her, He was considerably excited by what she had said. True, her mind was nearly a wreck, but, judging by what he knew, he could not get rid of the impression that there was more than vague talk about what she had hinted. Secrets! She had said that the house was full of them —dark, deadly secrets, that pointed to wrong- doing and crime. Jeff knew her reputation. She had always been a mild, meek woman, who was crushed down by the strong minds of Peter and his sis- ter. How much she had known of their private affairs in the old days was uncertain, but she must have known something. ab cee s that she had been, she was not ind, “Pd give my last cent if I could get her to talk,” thought Jeff Flicker, excitedly, ‘t Pll bet there is that in her mind which, if T could learn it, would end my work at once, I must—l wiLL get her to talk!” It was a resolution which many persons would have pronounced wild, but from that moment it was his great ambition to get Mrs, Nichols to tell the secrets of that house. In a few minutes old Peter returned. He brought with him a boy who was all ready to go to Jericho village; but the boy stated that he thought Fitch and his party had passed through Joggle Meadow during the night, which would indicate that they were still on the post- office robbers’ trail, If.so, they bad somehow passed the bridge in pase probably by taking the lower side, in which case they would find no uptorn planks, Jeff, however, gave the boy a long message for Fitch, and then, having also directed him to bring a doctor, the young fellow was allowed to 20. Shortly after Miss Betsey came down-stairs, stiff, erect, cold and harsh as ever, With considerable severity she informed Jeff that she had prepared a room for him on the floor above, and that be could go to it, but that he must remain in it and not ‘go conjurin’ *round over the house,” Jeff readily agreed to this, and with the aid of old Peter he got up-stairs with less pain than he had expected. In fact, he came to the con- clusion that his injuries amounted to no more toan natural lameness arising from his fall against the bridge, Peter showed him into the room, and was un- usually cordial for him. If Jeff was to py for his accommodations it behooved Peter to use him well. He called attenuion to the bed, and then went below again. : The boy looked curiously around, The room was of good size, but furnished with utmost economy. The floor was without a carpet; the walls without pictures; the whole room without a thing in the way of ornament; and cnly the bed, a bureau and two chairs went to break the monotony of the scene, This was plainness with a vengeance. : Jeff approached the window and looked out. He could see eighty acres of as fine meadow- land as was to be found for forty miles around, and all was the property of Peter Nichols. He had other land, too, but a million dollars would sd Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. = =| ) at mine, | | ele “4 *. not have made him other than what he was—a miser, and the meanest man in Juggle Meadow. “The air of the house is stifling,” thought Jeff, ‘* but now that I am here I will endure it. If Nichols doa’t find out who I am, something may come of it. I must see Mrs, Nichols again, and if I can get her to talking I may be able to get at the old man’s secret, . hope be won’t get I really believe he and bis sister would not hesitate to kill me if they knew why Iam here, A gentle rap sounded at the door. ‘*Come in!” he directed. The door softly opened and some one entcred, It was Sadie, the orphan girl, CHAPTER IX, OLD PETER IS ANXIOUS, SADIE bore a small bouquet of wild flowers in her hand, and they were not sweeter than her | own gentle face, but she laid her fingers upon her lips as she came in, to ask him to be silent, Jeff nodded and smiled. “Don’t let then know I am here,” cautioned the child, “‘ for they would be very angry; but I thought perhaps you would like these Aowers, They ain’t very choice, but they were all I could ret.” ae They are very pretty and fresh, and I thank you a dozen times,” replied Jeff, quickly. ‘*T like flowers—do you?” “ Yes, very wwuch,. Lucy Wells bas a whole, big garden full of them, and I wish I-had, but— but—” ‘** Peter Nichols won’t let you raise them, will ”? a ‘**Do you like to live here, Sadie?” The girl looked startled. “You won’t tell them?” she asked. ** No, indeed.” ‘*T don’t like here. I can’t please them;” and the sigh which followed spoke louder than words. “Your father and mother are dead, ain’t they?” ** Yes;” and her lips quivered as she spoke, ‘“* Has Peter Nichols adopted you?” “* No; I only live here,” **And work hard? I wonder, though, that Nichols ever took you. You were too young to do much work when you came here—bLut | sup- pose he looked ahead.” ‘“He is my nearest relative,and he took me when my folks died. He said it was from charity, but I wish he hadn’t done it; I don’t think | am so very bad, but he and Miss Betsey beat me!” Her meek eyes sparkled for a moment and her small hand clinched, but the exhibition of spirit soon passed, ; ‘* How do you bear it?” cried Jeff, indignant- ly, but Sadie at once made a warning gesture, “Don’t: they will hear you,” ** Sadie,” the boy earnestly resumed, ‘* do you know where Nichols keeps his papers{—written documents, I mean.” “oe No. ” ‘* Haven’t you ever seen any?” ‘* No.” ‘* But they must have some.” “I suppose so, but they are very careful when [am around. I know nothing about their business, and Mr, Nichols and Miss Betsey never speak of private matters when I am around; and they won’t let Mrs. Nichols speak.” ** They are hard people.” The girl only answered with a sigh. ‘““T must go now,” she said, after a pause, “Don’t let them see the flowers; they would be very angry if they knew | had been in to see ou.” 7 “They sha’n’t know it. Don’t you get dis- couraged, Sadie, for folks often find friends when they least expect them. It may be so with you.” The child went out hastily as foctsteps sound- ed below. Then Nichols came up, Jcff con- cealed the flowers, and was lying upon the bed when the old miser entered. “How’ré you gettin’ along?’ Peter asked, looking at him sharply. “Tm a bit easier, sir.” “Youre a pretty brave boy, I reckon.” “Pve got enough of fightin?,” answered Jeff, who did not want Nickols to think Lim of an adventurous nature, **T wish eu captured them rot bers.” VE aE San tt “The scoundrels stole a letter 0’ mine when the post-office was robbed.” ‘* So I heard,” : ‘“* What do folks at Jericho say about my let-
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ter? Here at Juggle Me’dder we don’t git much Pite> my Sk, aemee Vi } ie news.” “They will try to find the letter, Mr. Nichols.” “Think it valer’ble, eh?” “‘ Registered letters usually are, sir.” “Do they pretend ter know what was in my letter? Hey?’ : Old Peter had got around to ask bis question bluntly, and his sharp little eyés twinkled sur- prisingly. ‘* Nobody knows,” Jeff answered. “‘ Folks will guess, sometimes.” ia) Yes.” “To they guess?” asked Peter, pertinaciously. ** Oh! they know it was money, but they don’t know how much,” replied Jeff, shrewdly. Nichols chuckled. “Hum! Hal They do, eh? What’s your name?” “Jeff Flicker.” ‘¢You work in the stable, hey?” “"Yes"Sirs” ** Like it?” ‘* None too well,” “Say, I need a likely boy on my farm, a good, strong, honest boy, who can keep his mouth shut. You don’t want the place, ey?” ‘“if you mean business, Mr. Nichols,” replied Jeff, trying to hide his sudden satisfaction, ‘* ’'d like to talk with you when I get well. I should like to work on a farm,” ‘‘T must have a boy; a good, faithful, prudent boy, who can keep his mouth shut, A hired boy shouldn’t tell all he knows, Hey?” “ Certainly not.” Peter rubbed his hands. ‘¢ We'll talk o’ this later —when I think it over. Perhaps you are just the boy,I want—only ye must work cheap.” ** Naturally, a boy can’t earn so much as a man,” ‘*Sartain not; 0’ course not. *Twould be ab- surd for a boy ter ask asmuch asa man, Hey?” ** You are right.” , “ Just so—just so. But if I hired a boy cheap, and found he could earn more, I’d pay it to him; oh! I would pay him all he earned, I’m a fair man.” Jeff looked at the miserable, would-be wily old rascal in deep disgust, but managed to re- ly: ee No doubt.” *‘ Now, about them robbers, Jeff.” ‘What about them?” “You heerd them speak plain, bey?” “ Yes.” ** Would you know their voices ag’in?” *T think so.” “‘ Did they mention me?” “ Yes.” Old Peter started perceptibly, and his sordid face grew more anxious than ever. “They did, hey? They mentioned me, eh? Come, come, what did they say about me?” Jeff Flicker assumed an air of candor and made answer: ‘““] didn’t hear all, and what [ did hear was rather broken, but I gained the idea that they had, by stealing your letter, secured some writ- ten document of importance.” It was an experimental remark, but it worked well. Old Peter’s face grew gray, and his lower jaw drooped until it seemed in danger of falling off. For a few moments be stared straight at Jeff in a frightened, motionless way; then he wriggled his body until every joint and muscle seemed in insurrection against its neighbors. “Hal That so? They did, et Hang it! they lied! They dou’t know. Liars, all of ’em!” He smote his hand upon his knee viciously, “They lied, by pores a . Jeff experienced a feeling of great satisfaction, The old miser’s whole manner betrayed the fact that he was lying; as well as that he was startled, * Of course,” Jeff réturned, ‘I placed no re- liance in what they said.” — “You did right; jest right. Never believe sech mean, dishonest chaps. Men that will steal will lie, an’ l know it. Say, you ain’t told no- body ’bout this?” “ec No.” “Ha! Good, good! It would be very wrong for you to tell; it would get false stories goin’, See? Hey?” “Oh! I see,” Jeff agreed. ** An’ you won’t tell?” ‘Tt isn’t for me to tell, Mr. Nichols. It is your affair, and you can tell or not. just as you wish. Youand Fitch will have to manage the robbers, only, of course, if € get a chance as} eapture them, I should be glad to do it,” nn “ a : meee saat ’ - Jeff Flicker, the Sta “That's right; jest right. You're a fine boy. I like a boy who can keep his mouth shut.” ‘*T think I can be sharp when I try,” replied Jeff, with double meaning which Nichols did not suspect. ‘*You have done well, an’ ef you keep it up, I’ll see you well rewarded, There ain’t nobody who rewards their friends better than I do,” Nichols tried to beam benevolently, and, evi- dently satisfied, withdrew from the room, Shortly after the Jericho doctor arrived, ac- companied by a man who was acting in place of Fitch, the constable. The doctor made an examination and an- nounced that, in his opinion, Jeff’s injury was slight. When flung over his horse’s head the boy had struck upon one of the sleepers of the bridge. This accounted for the pain and lame- ness in his side, but thera was nothing to show that any bones were broken, or that he was badly burt. Fitch’s deputy reported that the robbers had for the time escaped, but that Fitch hoped to get them yet; that the removal of the bridge planks was, no doubt, a trick of theirs done on their way to Jericho to foil pursuit; that Jeff's horse had been found, unhurt; and that he, the deputy, was ready to carry Jeff back to Jeri- cho, Jeff thanked him, but said that, for the present he would remain at Juggle Meadow. When he bad in a measure recovered, he would return, but that at that time he did not feel like making the journey. So he remained. CHAPTER X. SOMETHING TO BE SOLD. LATE in the afternoon, Constable Fitch called at Nichols’s house. He went to Jeff’s room, and, without much regard for secrecy, advised him to go back to Jericho village at once; adding that the air of Peter Nichols’s house was poison- ous, and that the less he breathed it, the better it would be for him. Jeff quietly declined to leave, but he did not give his true reason. Far from it. He told Fitch that he was not in condition to make the journey, and that ‘‘ as the family were kind” to him, he might as well be there as anywhere, This was for the ears of a chance listener, and he felt almost positive that either Miss Betsey or Peter was listening. The boy fell in the constable’s estimation then, for that worthy rnan was disgusted. If he bad known Jeff Flicker’s real motive it would have been very different. The boy might have said: ‘*T am here to accomplish a great object—to perform a sacred duty. I am not satisfied here —far from it. I am risking great danger by being here, for I am not sure but if Peter and his sister knew all they would try to kill me.” All this was in Jeff’s mind, but he said noth- ing about it. Even if there had beex no danger of spies and listeners, he would not have been so foolish as to speak. He must do his work alone, if at all, and if he made no confidant, no one could betray him. When Fitch went away, Nichols intercepted him. He wanted to talk. about the post-office robbers, There was little to be told. : The constable and his party bad made as sharp pursuit as was possible, but the robbers had escaped, Fitch was not in very good- humor while explaining, The men had escaped him in & way which he could not understand, and though he had sent several telegrams, none had had the effect of heading them off, Consequently he was perplexed and angry. Once more he tried to learn what had bean in Peter’s stolen letter, and when he was again met with a curt refusal, he grew more angry, and after a few plain words to the old miser, he abruptly entered his carriage and drove away. Nicht fell, The evening wore away. Jeff Flicker kept his room, but he was free to admit to himself that he was nearly as well as ever. He felt no more pain, and the lameness in his side was decreasing. He might well have left Nichols's, but be preferred to remain and gain a hold upon the old miser’s regard, if noth- ing more, Sadie Pickett came in for a few minutes dur- ing the evening, but her fear of the old folks caused her to cut ber visit short, Jeff sat at the window and looked out at the wide meadow, the winding brook, the few trees near the roadand the frowning sky, The night was dark, for clonds had rolled up against the heavens. There was abundant promise of rain, ; , ES OR ce tb iat NS SEE, ea Spall Paee, Spegeh rekSty. REE ee =) mo. te ae e. ‘Some one rapping at the door,” he thought. The sound was repeated. Then he heard the outer door opened. ‘* Rather late for a call,” he murmured. “It’s at least half-past nine, and people in Juggle Meadow usually retire before that hour. lL wonder who it is.” He did wonder; he began to feel a curiosity borne of the peculiar circumstances under which he was at Peter Nichols’s house. What would ordinarily have been a very in- significant matter now interested him greatly. A desire to know who the visitor was assailed him, as did the resolution to know. The only way in which be could do this was to go down the stairs, openly or secretly. He meditated. He believed that all the household had retired except one person. This was either Peter or Miss Betsey; he did not know which, For awhile he was uncertain; then he arose, opened the door of his room and listened. He could hear the murmur of voices. He glided from the room. F His shoes had already been removed, and his stockinged feet gave forth no betraying sound. He cautiously descended the stairs. : Reaching the bottom he found himself in a space four feet square. Two doors opened from it, one of which Ted to a closet, and the other to the kitchen. In the latter room the conversa- tion was going on, but he could hear only in- distinctly. » Carefully ho.opened the door a trifie. Luckily, no betraying sound was thus made, He had gained a view of the kitchen. He could see Nichols sitting in a chair at one side, but the other person was not visible. Con- versation, however, became distinct enough. ‘“‘Tt don’t matter who I am,” the unknown was saying—it was a steady, masculine voice— “but I can easily convince you I mean busi- ness. There! there! don’t be alarmed--I’m an honest man, like you.” f “Ef you wa’n’t, there ain’t notbin’ here ter steal,” ‘*T am not a thief.” “* Glad on’t.” . ‘ Peter evidently meant what he said, but bis fears were not yet wholly removed. He had a nervous air not to be mistaken; he was afraid of his visitor. **T don’t understand your roundabout way 0’ doin’ business,” he peevishly added. “Pll come right to the point,” the stranger replied. ‘‘I have something to sell; I wanta purchaser.” f ‘*T can’t buy; I bave no money.” ‘‘Nonsense! You're the richest man in Jug- gle Meadow, Peter.” : ‘It’s a lie; ’'m poor!” snapped the old man. “Morally, you are, no doubt; financially, you are well fixed,” was the cool reply. ‘But don’t rush things so, Peter; hear what I have to sell, Papers, Peter, papers!” Nichols started, ‘* Papers!” he echoed. ‘““ Written, and otber documents.” Nichols’s clasped hands trembled, and he bent forward aad looked at bis visitor with feverish erg ‘* What papers?” ‘* Somebody’s last will and testament, for in- stance,” The old man’s face grew gray. ‘“What is this ter me?” he asked, tremul- ously. , ‘“‘ Possibly, nothing; but there are those who could afford to pay a good price for Somebody's will.’ ‘¢ Why don’t you go ter them?” ‘‘ With your leave, Peter, I will.” " The stranger rose, but Nichols spoke hastily, ‘No, no; set down. I didn’t mean it. This will—how did you git it?” ‘Saved from the wreck, possibly.” *‘ Stolen, more likely.” “We won't argue the point,” was the coo) business-like answer. ‘‘ The point at issue is, want to sell Somebody’s will. Do you care to buy?” ** Suppose,” answered Nichols, slowly, * that I should call help an’ say, Here is the post office robber! What would you do?” “17? was the calm reply. ‘‘ Why, I would break your head, and then go and. sell Some- body’s will to one who would know enough to appreciate it.” * But ef you was ketched?” “if IT was ‘ketched? Well, I assure you I would not be ‘ketched.’ Do you think I am a fool? Do yeu suppose I came here like a blind man? Don’t let your fertile imagination run ny he heard a sound not before audi- — " we = € oa sabe on a pacers - eo eRe Pry | ~ Se s a
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- rightfully yours. y B i ae aa p= away with you, Peter. You are rather a sharp old fellow. Prove it now.” “Do you admit that you be the post-office robber?” , “T admit nothing.” ; * But you claim ter hey what was in the let- ter stole from me—don’t you?” ‘Soe here, my man,” was the sharp response, *‘T am not going to have you put any words in my mouth, I won’t use them. Take my words or go without any. We have fooled around long enough; let us come to business now. I hold Somebody’s will, and certain other papers, which I want to sell. Do you want to buy?” It was plain that the speaker meant all that he asserted; he was resolved to come to busi- | ness, and was nota manto be trifled with by any one. i . eff Flicker was listening eagerly to every word, aud he found it of vital interest. He knew, too, that the visitor was not wandering atrandom. In every way Nichols showed that he was frightened and distressed. The visitor had interested him well. By that time Jeff had gained view of the stranger, but it conveyed nothing to his mind; he did not recognize the man. Old Peter’s words had led him to recognize one of the post- office robbers, but he could see no resemblance. Answering the last question, Nichols re- turned; “JT don’t know howIam ter buy. I ama poor man, an’ money is skeerce—” “Don’t lie, Peter; you are rich,” The miser threw up his hands in reproach, ** Rich!” he shrilly cried. ‘‘ How very wrong. I am ’most as poor as a town pauper—” “How much money did you get from Some- body’s estate?” was the sharp question. ‘¢ Well, when it was divided among the other | heirs—” “There was no such division; you got all. There was, you remember, no will Ths marked significance of these words was n t to be mistaken, ““Somebody,” continued the speaker, “left twenty thousand dollars, all of which went to | Hear me | one Peter Nichols— Be silent, sir! out. Before this you had at least five thousand dollars—and now you talk of poverty! Bah! you old rascal, Iam not to be deceived. Don’t try it—<don’t lie to me, Peter!” he speaker paused fur a moment, leaned for- ward in his chair and impressively added: “Now, do you want to buy Somebody’s will?” CHAPTER XI. TRAILING THE STRANGER, Peter NIcHOLS squirmed uneasily about in his chair. He began to realize that his former line of talk was folly, but be was a most misera- ble man. He wanted ‘‘Somebody’s” will—oh! how badly he wanted it!—but the idea of part- ing with his precious money to secure if made him writhe in agony, literally as well as figura- tively. sy awe much do you want for it?” he asked. ‘Five thousand dollars!” Peter threw up botn hands again. “What?” he cried. ** Not a cent less,” ‘You are mad—mad!” Nichols tremulously affirmed, looking liable to burst into tears, “ What's the racket, Old Hundred?” was the sneering reply. ‘*Does your money-bag trem- ble? “‘T}] never give you any such sum.” a“ No?’ “Never!” * All right; then P'll go to the party in whose favor the will is made.” And the visitor again rose. “Wait, wait!” cried Nichols, “‘No, My business is done here,” “ But I—I want that will.” “Allright. Pass over five thousand dollars,” “But 1 haven’t got it—indeed, [ haven't, It is more than all my worldly possessions com- bined.” : ‘‘ Fool!” cried the stranger, with sudden fierceness, ‘‘do you take me to be so weak- headed as you are? I know every point in this case. When the old man died you were heir- at-law, and inherited all; but you knew, and everybody knew, that the property was not é He had left a will, giving the whole business to somebody he liked a good deal better than you. “This will could not be found; it was not found, despite all the desperate efforts to do so. Now what was its real fate? Your cun- ‘ning brain solved the mystery, You learned that a box of old books peoneing to a former resident of the town, long stor for him by Se Pre ! Mr. Paxraven, had been shipped to him at his new home in Michigan when Paxraven died. ‘** You decided that the will must have been concealed in the box, and you employed a Chicago firm of lawyers—Markin & Toohey; the latter being an old friend of yours—to in- | Vestigate. They did so and the will was found, but—you haven’t got it yet, ‘** Other persons came into the game. You were terribly afraid of losing the will—and the other papers—and you directed Markin & Toohey to send it on a specified date. You rarely go to Jericho post-office, and you didn’t want the package to lie there over night. ‘Other persons had an eye open; a telegram, parporng to be from you, was sent to Markin & Toohey, directing them to forward the pack- age one day earlier than before agreed; the package was sent, and when the post-office was tobbed, it fell into the hands of those who had sent the bogus telegram.” ‘**How dare you come here ter make terms with me?” suddenly, shrilly cried Nichols, ** Well, what is chewing you now?” the visitor asked. ** ‘You have betrayed the fact that you be one 0’ the post-office robbers.” “What of it?” ‘ rf low dare you make terms} You are a rob- er— *“Oh! you tire me, Nichols; you weary me beyond expression,” affirmed the stranger, in a tone of disgust, ‘‘ You are on the barb of the hook, like a_fish, yet you will squirm. More fool you! You dare not betray me—mind, I | have confessed nothing—for in thatcase I would ; produce Paxraven’s will, and your fortune would be swept away from you.” ** Monster!” groaned Nichols, | ‘*T have gone over the case at full length,” | pursued the visitor, wholly unmoved, ‘t to show | you that I know all. Now, when you prate of poverty, you lie—that’s all. You got twenty thousand dollars from old Paxraven’s estate. Now, will you give five thousand for Paxraven’s will, or shall I carry 1t to some other pur- chaser?” The stranger leaned back mm his chair and waited patiently for his answer, Jeff Flicker was not so calm, The boy had For a year. been well paid for leaving his room. he had been upon a certain trail; he was now very close to the game, He had no money to win or lose by means of Paxraven’s will, but he was_ none the less eager to find it—to deprive Peter Nichols of the money he unjustly held. The boy’s eyes glittered like living coals, He had made a resolution, and that was to do his best to le-rn who this mysterious visitor was, Peter was equally excited, but in a far differ- ent way. He wiped the unnatural perspiration from his forehead, and his mean, sordid face seemed to grow more pinched and haggard. “You are a hard man,” he lamented, looking piteously at the stranger. ‘Nota bit. I have an article to sell, and I have my price. You can buy, or leave it alone.” ‘* But the price is exorbitant.” ‘* Indeed.” ** Tt is too much.” ‘¢ Then don’t buy.” ‘¢ But I want the—the article,” The stranger said nothing. He drummed lightly upon the table with his fingers, and seemed in the best possible spirits. Nichols returned to the attack, his object be- ing to lessen the visitor’s price. A long wrangle ensued. Nichols began by offering an insignifi- cant price, and then the argument went on, The old man lowered himself to the depths of hum- bleness; he implored mercy upon himself—and his pocket-book—and actually shed tears at the idea of parting with any portion of his wealth, The result proved that the stranger had wisely set his price high, for, after a long wrangle, he agreed to part with the will for three thousand dollars. Not a cent lower would he go, At last Nichols heaved a disconsolate sigh, “ Wal, I'll give it,” be almost groaned, “Wise man!” ‘Have you the will here?” SN, ” “When can I hev it?” “When your money is ready,” «can’t hev it before Thursday evenin’.” Forty-eight hours hence. That will do.” ** Will you bring the will here?” he stranger looked keenly at the miser. Some fears of treachery were in his mind. Betsey was as strong aS a man, and as eyil as hig ea COTE man was openly stopping OE 3 eee iT Ee Sie eine tt ihn ieee - = i ” any person, male or female, It would be very like the pair to try foul play. He decided to risk it, however. ‘* Yes,” he replied, with assumed carelessness, **T will come Thursday evening at nine o'clock, — the money ready, and you can have the will. At the last words be arose to go. Unfortunately, Jeff Flicker did not hear this appointment. The boy, acting according to the best of his judgment, bad made one mistake. Intending to follow the stranger, it had oc- curred to him that the only way to do this was to be outside the house and waiting when the man came out, This seemed a wise step to take, and really was, yet he lost the chance of hearing the ap- pointment then. While the wrangle wss going on he left his place of concealment, lowered himself from the window of his own room to che lean-to below b means of an impromptu rope made of the bed- clothes: then, leaping to the ground, was soon near the front of the house. He still had his re- volver, and though he hoped there would be no necessity for using it, he held it close in his hand. When the stranger came out, Jeff was ready for work, ; With a curt parting word to Nichols, the masked man moved away. Jeff followed. : The boy did not underrate the difficulty of the task he had set for bimself, nor was he sanguine of success. The extreme darkness was in bis favor, since it would hide his movements, but if, as he expected, the stranger bad a team near at hand, his attempt seemed sure to come to naught, Nevertheless, he followed. The stranger took the road, and Jeff took the field. A low hedge was for the time between them, and by stooping a little, Jeff! was wholly concealed from view. This would not long be the ease, and he expected a change not in his favor. Juggle Meadow was not a large place, and when once beyond the village, difficulties would probably multiply. Keeping at a safe distance he went on, avail- ing himself of every means of shelter by the way. The stranger was duly careful, and often looked around to see if any pursuer was visible, but he did not give the attention to the field that it deserved, The evening had rolled on until it was nearly eleven o’clock, and, according to the fashion of country places, nearly all of Juggle Meadow had for some time been wrapped in slumber, The little hotel, however, was still open, and when the stranger reached that point he calmly entered. ; . Jeff paused in surprise. Cees it be that the i ere? ‘Not by a good deal!” muttered Jeff, after a moment’s meditation, *‘* He has only put up his horse there for awhile--though I wouldn’t sup- pose he wouid dare do that.” The boy glanced »t the shed back of the hotel. In that place there was room to tie a dozen horses, and the space was usually well patron- ized of evenings, though how it was then he could not tell. “Pll watch a bit,” he decided. CHAPTER XII. THE STRATEGIC STRANGER, JEFF FLicKEeR settled bimself comfortably down near a jarge tree opposite to the botel, prepared to watch and think. , considering whether he had sufficient proof to go in, denounce the stranger as one of the post- office robbers, and demand his seizure; but as he bad not been able to detect any resemblance be- tween him and the men he had seen in the Jericho stable, he was uot disposed to be precipi- tate. A man came out of the hotel. “ Another stranger!” murmured Jeff, The person in question was a tall, slender man in a Prince Albert coat and a tall hat. He left the hotel, and walked carelessly toward the shed. “Gct a team in there, I reckon,” thought Jeff. The speaker looked after him thoughtfully. “Where have I seen that man before?” he wondered, ‘“* There is something familiar about him, but Lean’t place him, Odd, by gracious} Here he comes again.” The tal man drove out of the shed and took Miss | the road that led to Jericho village. Jeff gazed after him with the | uzzled expres- He was just then |
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whee oS “~~ OSE RN eg 8 ri gal aon ad Jeff Flicker, the ae Pe Re ige ee ees a still on his face, but suddenly sprung to his eet, ‘“‘By heavens!” he ‘cried aloud, ‘‘it was the stranger |” ° For a moment the boy stood in startled won- der; then he ran to the hotel stable. The host- ler was cleaning off a horse which had just come in. “Tom!” cried Jeff, ‘clap a saddle upon your best horse, and give it to me in a twinkling.” The hostler stood amazed. He knew Jeff well, and there had often been professional favors ranted by his stable and that at the main vil- age of Jericho, but he was now descended upon in a rather alarming way. * Hustle!” exclaimed Jeff; and thea he pro- ceeded to ‘* hustle” on bis own account. Springing to the freshest looking horse in the lot, he backed the animal out of the stall. “Ts it all right, Tom?” he continued. ‘*Of course, if you say so; but what is the racket, anyhow? Is anybody sick, or—” ** Pil tell you later.” Jeff rode out of the stable as he spoke. He had not stopped for a saddle, but, slipping on a bridle, mounted the horse and started, buckling the throat-latchashe went. Reaching the road, he galloped after the stranger, the nature of the road enabling him to ride at full speed without making any great noise. Much sooner than he had expected, he caught sight of his man. He had not quite reached Peter Nichols’s house when he saw the tall man’s team just entering the covered bridge. The pursued moderated the pace of his horse, By that tume he knew that he had to deal with ashrewd man, The incident at the hotel had roved that, The stranger had entered the otel wearing a sloucn hat, light-colored sack- coat and a heavy mustache. He came out wearing a tall hat and black Prince Albert, and his mustache had disappeared. He had-not been gone long enough to make these changes in any of the up-stairs guests’ rooms; so, Jeff reasoned, the wily stranger had not run the risk of hiring a room at all, but, probably avoiding the danger of drawing any attention to himself, had made his changes in some retired place, They had been made with great celerity, too. Dealing with such a man it became necessary to use great care, and the pursuer was not reck- less enough to follow him in a headlong way, Events soon showed him how well he had de- ‘cided. Suddenly the noise of the team made in its passage over the bridge ceased, yet it had not emerged from the covered space. Jeff drew his horse out of tae road, * Another trick?” he wondered. Suddenly, and after the briefest possible de- lay, the sounds on the bridge were resumed, and _ saw the marked team emerge at the further side, Jeff resumed his own advance, Just as he reached the bridge he was surprised to see a second team come out, moving his way. He favored the other traveler with a sharp glance. There was little to be discovered about the man in the darkness, except that he had a full beard and wore a Derby hat: but the horse was not one easily forgotten. It was principally dark- colored, but had four or five large white spots, As the dark shade was not black, this made it a horse not easily forgotten. The driver did not seem to favor Jeff with so much as a glance, but the boy was not indiffer- ent. ‘““What’s up now?” he thought. “I didn’t see that man drive upon the bridge, and it’s very funny be sbould come out at one end just as my game did at the other. Can it be they are accomplices?” His mind went back to the stranger’s inter- view with Nichols, and for a moment he sus- cted that the willof Paxraven had actually n handed over to Nichols, aud the money re- ceived for it just transferred to the man with the spotted horse. This idea was discarded as soon as developed. Plainly, Nichols did not have money enough on hand to buy Paxraven’s will. The old miser would not let any such sum lie idle when it might be drawing interest, ** Whoever this fellow is, I mustn’t let him draw me away from my game,” decided Jeff. “Til go on!” He crossed the bridge. The team he had fol- lowed from the hotel was going on toward Jericho in a quiet way, as though the driver had unlimited time before him, Jeff followed a hundred yards, and then something peculiar happened. The man with the tall hat began to whistle, In itself this was not strange, but Jeff noted something peculiar, nevertheless, He started; looked eagerly at the driver; listened attentive- ly; and ended by galloping ahead until he reached the vehicle. Then a painful discovery was made. The person in the vehicle wore a tall hat, and the horse and carriage were the same that had left the hotel-shed, but the driver was not the man he wanted; it was a young fellow of Jericho; an honest, rather simple-minded youth well-known to Jeff. Another trick of the strategic stranger was revealed, Somehow, he had exchangéd identities with the young man, aud had not the latter taken to whistling in a very familiar way, Jeff might have gone on following him clear to Jericho, Amazed and dismayed, Jeff cried out sharply: ** Alf, what are you doing?” **Goin’ home,” was the placid reply. ‘“* Where did you git that team?” “This is ours: father bought it a few days ago. I’ve had a queer experience to-night. D’ye see this ere hat?” He took off his head-covering as he spoke. ‘*' Yes; where did you get it?” “From a man who tol’ me ter wear it to Jericho, an’ of all the queer things—” ‘* Tell me al) about it.” ‘** Alf’s” way of speaking was usually a very slow way, buc Jeff, burning with impatience, now worked him so zealously that the story was soon told. A strange story it was, Alf. stated that he had been hired by a stranger to doa piece of work which still be- wildered him, but to which he was vaguely re- conciled, This man had received from him his —Alf’s—team, and left in its place his own, Then, by his direction, Alf drove the spotted horse to the bridge and awaited the coming of his employer; and, when he did come, they again changed teams, each receiving his own. Alf also put on the tall hat which the stranger had worn, while the stranger assumed a black Derby which he had carried in his vehicle. Then they separated and each went his way. The change had been quickly made, all being arranged in advance, but simple-minded Alf admitted that, when the bargain was made, it had taken him a long time to see what was wanted of him, and that he was still bewildered. Jeff Flicker was not bewildered; he saw all clearly. Through all the intricacies of this strange af- fair shone the cunning of the stranger. Believing that when he left Peter Nichols’s he would. be followed, he resolved that the pursuit should not be successful. His first step—planned in advance—had been to make the changes in his dress at the hotel: Determined to make as- surance doubly certain he had gone on to the next artifice—also pre-arranged—and made the double exchange on the bridge. But why had he made Alf a confederate? Why had he not used a friend of his own? Jeff also understood this. If he had had one of his friends at the bridge that man would have been followed—if there was any pursuit— and his secret endangered as much as though he was himself followed. Having selected Alf for his blind confederate, he removed all such danger. If Alf was fol- lowed to Jericho no trouble would result; once at Jericho the pursuer would be as much in the dark as ever, And Alf was not bright enough to be danger- ous. Cunning, indeed, had the stranger been, but his scheme had received a check at the very start from a singularly simple cause. Alf had whistled, Had not Jeff Flicker recognized that peculiar sound he would have gone on to Jericho in harmless, unavailing pursuit, and his work would have been thrown away. As it was, one hope remained; the hope of again getting sight of the stranger. He wheeled his horse, ** Good-night!” he cried, to amazed Alt; and in a moment more he was galloping toward Juggle Meadow again, He soon reached the bridge. There he paused fora moment. Flinging himself to the ground he hghted a match and held it close to the ground, His purpose was soon served; he wanted to see the footprints of the spotted horse, and as it was the last horse to leave the bridge, he distinguished them without any doubt on his part. Springing again upon the back of his own horse, he resumed his way, Stable Boy Detective. Pei KS ——-- SEES SO aoe ee | ss . ™. ewer 4 Until the further side of the settlement was reached he went at a gallop. There the road “forked.” He sprung down again, hghted an- other match and looked for the footprints, He found them without trouble, and then resumed his way along “‘ the north road.” He no longer went at headlong speed, how- ever; the distance between the spotted horse’s tracks had told him that it was not being urged greatly, and he did not want to come upon the stranger in a way to arouse suspicion. | ‘Slow and careful is the way,” thought the | pursuer, “T am dealing with a very sharp man, and if I win the game I have got todo some head-work, myself.” ,CHAPTER XIII. CONSPIRATORS AT HOME, THE pursuer rode on, keeping sharp watch forthe stranger, and seeking to sight him as soon as was practicable, Jeff’s every sense was on the alert. Possibly the unknown’s artifices were not yet over, and he would soon lose the clew entirely. He had begun to admire his opponent a good | deal, and through all crept a fixed idea. He de- | cided that the unknown did not live any great ways from Jericho; his choice of Alf as an ally proved that. No other person in the town would have served his purpose so well as Alf, for the reason that no one else was so simple- minded, The man who, being obliged to make a choice, had selected Alf, had been well ac- quainted in Jericho, These meditations were suddenly interrupted. **The north road” led to higher land, and the way was winding, narrow and bordered . with bushes. Reaching one of these bends Jeff sud- denly stopped his borse, A few yards ahead was a fountain of water, and by the road was a trough for the accommo. dation of man and beast. By this trough was a team, and the driver was standing on the | ground. More than this, he was engaged in | some work which at first puzzled the pursuer. The latter backed bis horse out of sight, and tben crept forward as far as he dared. aa occupation of the other traveler became ain, 7 He was washing off his horse. Jeff knit his brows in perplexity, for he saw that this was no careless Pe ser wint but a thorough drenching, made, he believed, with a sponge. Odd fact! But suddenly light flashed upon the boy. 5 Again the strategic unknown! And on this occasion he was washing the white spots off his brown horse ; the white spots had been no more than a cunning disguise— they were merely poe spots—and, now that he was clear of the village, he was removing the last telltale clew to his identity. It was one more sharp trick. “Great head that fellow has got!” thought Joff, ‘‘and I’d never have discovered him if Alf bad not whistled, Vd have gone straight on to Jericho after the wrong man, slow and cautious. As it is—aha! Mister Sharper, I am not yet beaten!” , Smiliog grimly he lay back in the bushes and watted, ; The stranger worked steadily, and took great care to remove all of the white paint, He seemed safe enough. He was on a little- traveled road, and the hour was past midnight, There was little danger that any one would come along, it seemed. He was done at last, and, flinging his sponge into the carriage, he agilely regained his seat, whistled cheerily to bis horse and moved away, | “Tf I ain’t greatly in error, whe are near | your home base, mister,” muttered Jeff, grimly, **and I don’t think I need fear any more of your sharp tricks. If I can keep out of your sight for awhile, I may be able to win the game, after all.” There was a good deal of satisfaction in hav- ing met and defeated all of the stranger’s stratagems, though Jeff was frank enough to admit that he owed his advantage to the fact that ‘‘ Alf” had whistled. bridge would have succeeded, Jeff now bent all his energies to the task of keeping the stranger ignorant of the fact that he was pursued. / They went on for a mile quietly. At the end of that distance a house was reached, and the unknown drove into the yard, Jeff stopped well back and waited, A light was burning in the house, and a man at once came out and greeted the stranger. | Evidently the latter had been expected, He had sprung to the ground, and the two men began Except for this fact the stratagem of the ' a ee ee ar —— sear
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5 Spat a, Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective, oe > > as mkt ee i* ad 7 Oke, Ae » a ee ‘Me li to take the horse from the carriage. Jeff led his own animal to a retired place in the sparse- ly-wooded field close at hand, secured bim and moved toward the house, He had a definite object in view. He knew that the man who lived in the house was named Atwood, and believed that it was he who had come out to assist the stranger, Such being the case, it looked as though he was know- ing to the stranger’s plots, If he was, an inter- esting conversation was likely to ensue, and Jeff wished to hear it. Reaching the vicinity of the house he made an examination of the place, No person was then in the kitchen. The windows were all up, and he soon decided that if a conversation was held there he had a good chance to hear it. He soon selected his position. It was at one end of the main building, where a second building ‘‘cornered” with it, and a heavy wagon stood close at hand. He thought this most welcome shelter, and, later, he had oc- casion to test it. Atwood and the stranger soon returned from the stable, and as the master of the house closed the door, he spoke abruptly: * Well, what luck?” ** Good!” The stranger answered, with cool brevity. ‘‘Have you seen Nichols?” ac Yes.” “Tl bet you didn’t bring him to terms.” ** Don't bet; you'll lose, At.” With this nonchalant reply the stranger sat down, lighted a fragrant cigar, elevated his feet to a second chair, and then settled down with an air of calm respose, ‘** Do you mean to say that he succumbed?” ‘* He succumbed!” ** And will buy the will?” “ Yes. ” ' “* At what price?” ' Three thousand.” The stranger blew a wreath of smoke careless- ly upward toward the ceiling. “Three thousand dollars out of Sld_ Pete Nichols!” echoed Atwood, in wonder, ‘‘ Well, you are a cool cne, Benway!” **My dear At, I have not been to school all these years for nothing. In the School of Knavery I have taken all degrees, and there are few who can beat me. Having set out to beat the worthy Mr. Nichols, I am going to do it.” ““Don’t be too sure,” thought the spy at the window, “Did Pete try to learn who you were?” con- tiuued Atwood. “Wes,” ** And you declined to tell?” ** Naturally.” ** Perhaps i, followed you here?” Benway blew another wreath of smoke and, Sone one eye, watched it critically before he replied. ‘*Perhaps he didn’t,” he finally returned, At, you do violence to my character as a knave when you insinuate such a thing. Do you suppose I could sleep o’ nights hereatter if I al- lowed myself to be overreached by a hayseed farmer? Hardly! Iwent prepared for counter- strokes, and I fancy I prevented any.” He then descrised the means he had taken to revent being followed, ‘You've got a long head!” Atwood ex- claimed. : : “No, I did nothing remarkable; I only used the common sense any man might use if he would, Possibly, though, few men possess horse- sense, but I, a graduate of the School of Knavery, have to possess and use the article, Iam not done yet.” : * And you won't be,” replied Atwood, with the air of a man anxious to show that he is sharp- witted, ‘until Nichols has Paxraven’s will, and you have the three thousand dollars,” Benway blew another wreath of smoke, “Nichols will never bave Paxraven’s will,” he calmly observed. “What?” ** Never!” “Then you are not going to sell—” “Thursday evening, at nine o’clock, Provi- dence permitting,I am going to pass over to him a document, and receive for it three thousand dollars, The document will not be the will. My dear At, you mean well, but you don’t know what respect is due me as a graduate of the School of Knavery.” ““Egad! you’re too deep for me,” Atwood muttered, in bewilderment, * T am shallow—dreadfully shallow. A sharp man zcull see through all my little artifices. N*hols 70n’t; he will be taken in, I shall sell b* © a be gus will, and then I shall take the gen- . years ago. uine will to the person in favor of whom Pax- raven made the will, and sell it at a good figure to her!” ‘* To the child, Sadie Pickett?” **To the child, Sadie Pickett.” Jeff Flicker heard, but was not astonished. He had known all along that Sadie was the per- son to whom Paxraven’s money ought to go; and it was to try and help her, and to perform a sacred duty, that he was in Jericho, ‘‘She has no money to pay you,” urged At- wood, ** Depend upon me to find a way,” was the calm reply. ‘‘A genuine article will always bring money if it 1s valuable. This bona fide will is at present concealed, but when I go to see Nichols I shall give it to you, to bring to me a few hours later.” ‘** Well, I must say youare doing quite a stroke of business; I should never know you for the boy who went West to seek his fortune ten But I’m proud of you.” “Thanks, At. No doubt your wife, who is my esteemed sister, would be the same,” wd “Hardly,” replied Atwood, uneasily. ‘‘ She would be shocked, I suppose. It is well she is away.” ** Just as well, and Pll see her before I drift West again. Just now we are not dealing with woman’s scruples, but man’s practical work. I have made a long journey in this matter of Paxraven’s will, and I want it ended, so I can get back to the ‘wild and woolly West.’ Has our burglar been around?” =NO ** Probably he won’t come to-night.” “IT think he will; he told me to expect him, sure,” “Then let him come. I want to settle with these fellows and be rid of them. I regret that I hac to employ them at all, but, as you know, circumstances demanded it. They did the job on the post-office in good style, but I wouldn’t have trusted them had they known the value of the Nichols letter. They are fools, anyway! Words can’t condemn them too strongly for hah nti back to Jericho just because one of the stupid fools lost a ring in Payson’s livery- sfubles,” Here was light for Jeff Flicker, , ‘They were afraid the ring would turn up and put them in danger, some time,” explained Atwood, ; ‘* And so,” retorted Benway, sarcastically, ‘they proceeded to put themselves in danger at once /” Jeff Flicker’s attention wandered. He had heard a sound behind him like the breaking of a twig. He turned his head. On the other side of the wagon before mentioned stood a man who seemed to be trying to get a view of the room, } Something like dismay assailed the boy. The men in the room had mentioned an ally whom they expected—what was more, likely than that the ally had come? If so, Jeff was between two fires, figuratively speaking. Suddenly the unknown started fcrward to- ward him, CHAPTER XIV. ‘4 BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW!” Jmrrr FLICKER instantly became on the alert. Danger menaced him in all ways, but it was not physical danger that he had most to fear, He had tracked the chief conspirator to his lair, and there he might be trapped if he could be kept ignorant of the fact that he was unmasked ; but if 16 was known that a spy had been near, Benway would at once take to flight and the precious advantage would be lost. The ally was coming closer, and something must be done at once, Weak irresolution would surely lose the bat- tle. : Jeff thought of Sadie Pickett—of the work he had long ago promised to do—and his courage arose at once, He resolved to act boldly, and win or lose all. His revolver, of which mention has before been made, had been in his pocket, but he now drew it quickly and left his covert with a quick, determined step. The unknown man was advancing around the end of the wagon with his gaze fixed upon the window, ready to drop out of sight at the first sign of any one there, and oblivious of all other things. Snddenly he started back, His attention was suddenly shifted. There in his path stood a human figure, and 4 revolver was pointed straight at his head. Be silent!” exclaimed Jeff, in a low but in- tense voice; “‘be silent, or you are a dead man!” lt was a threat which he would not have dreamed of mney into effect, but it was necessary to grasp and to hold the man’s atten- tion atthe very start. He did all that he boped. The man—whom he now recognized as *‘ Bob,” the burglar—was bold enough, but he was taken by surprise. He was alarmed, too, He could not see his opponent’s face, but the light from the window fell upon Jeff’s form plainly, even as it did on Bob’s face. “Move back!” ordered the boy. ‘' You are safe if you obey me, but don’t tempt me too far, I tell you to move back!” The robber obeyed, He could understand the language of the revolver, as well asof the boy. He retreated backward until Jeff felt no fear that their voices would be audible in the room, By that time Bob was beginning to regain his composure, “What in perdition does this mean?’ he growled, savagely. ; ‘‘Tt means that you are my prisoner.” ‘““ Who are you? “That is not important.” “The dickens it ain’t! Tt is to me.” *¢T will not harm you if you mind me,” ‘“ How kind!” sneered Bob, “But if you disobey, I shall have to shoot ou.” Jeff’s confidence was increasing; he spoke in a. cool, steady voice. A revolver makes a weak person the equal of a strong one, and he realized it then. ‘* Why would you shoot me?” Bob asked. His quiet manner suggested to Jeff that trouble was brewing. ‘*T mean to have things my own way here,” the boy firmly replied. ‘¢ Sort of a superintendent, eh?” ‘* By virtue of this revolver—yes.” $f Who are you, anyhow?” ‘That part is not of consequence.” ‘‘Naturally, I can’t blame you,” responded Bob, in a most oily tone, ‘‘ but, odd as it may seem, I—poor, insignificant chap that 1 am—I want a word to say—” ‘Stop! Hold out your hands or [ll shoot!” It was a sharp, keen commana from Jeff. As Bob uttered his sneering words he had slyly passed one hand bebind him, but Jeff had seen and understood the motion. Bob hada revolver in his bip-pocket, and he intended to wrest the advantage from Jeffs hands, ‘‘Obey me!” the boy added, ‘I am not to be trifled with. Up with your bands!” Bob sullenly obeyed. “ I'd like to know who you are, aud what you want,” he growled, savagely. ‘You shall soon learn. road!” “T won’t!” ““Then you will take the consequences. I ey you that I am not to be trifled with. ) The rogue stared hard at his young opponent. If his face had been visible in the darkness, Jeff would have seen a most forbidding scowl upon it. Bob hated to be beaten, but he was suffi- ciently experienced to know the power of a re- volver. He drew a deep breath, and expelled it from his lungs hissingly. ; “You are tackling a man dangerous to fool with,” he said, in a hard voice. ‘“‘T am able to bear it.” ; ‘** Are you a’friend of the men in the house?” ‘* No matter.” ; : ‘*T have only to raise my voice and ery—” ‘Raise it at your peril, Raise it—if you dare!” ‘‘ Well, what do you want, anyhow?” ‘Go into the road—no; to yonder lot,” Jeff was growing cooler as time passed, He knew that Bob had not recognized him, and he did not believe that the robber knew he was dealing with one so young. In any case it would not do to let Bob escape. If he did, the alarm would at once be given, and then Benway, the head conspirator, would disappear — perhaps never to be seen again, * (ll accommodate you,” Bob repried, after & pause, ‘To the lot we go, and much good may it do you.” He was still far from being subdued, but he saw fit to vielda point. They went as Jeff di- rected, and then, before Bob realized its pres- ence, the boy bad his horse again. “Now for the road,” continued the young captor. ‘** Pass on!” ‘ Anything to oblige you.” traced Bob answered mockingly. _He was still ignor- ant of what was wanted of him, and he wished Go out into the _ ono . dike DataaaaaaneS 4 otal steg © ade
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12 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. his enemy to show his hand, If it proved that Jeff aspired to take him to Jericho, Bob would have something to say and do about it. Before he would submit to sucha thing he would attack his opponent boldly, revolver or no revolver, and run the risk of getting a bullet in his body. They reached the road, “* What next?” the robber grimly inquired. What came next was not expected by either of them. A team suddenly loomed up in the darkness not twenty feet away. The soft earth of the road aud their own movements had prevented them from hearing it before, while the bushes had screene:l it from their view, Its appearance was a sensation, but it affected them in a dissimilar way. Bob started with some alarm, while Jeff Flicker, recognizing the driver, found his voice at once. ** Quick, Mr, Fitch!” he cried. ‘‘Give me help here. Stand still!—don’t you dare to move!” The last words were addressed to Bob, and they were sharp and emphatic to an extreme. All of Jeff’s attention was now upon the man; all his alertness was in force; and. be was de- termined to carry the matter to a successful issue. “Quick, Mr, Fitch!” he again exclaimed. “TI am Jeff Flicker, and here is one of the men you want. Don’t let him escape!” Luckily, Fitch was a clear-headed man, and, having recognized Jeff’s voice at the start, he a from his carriage and took position by the boy. He also drew a revolver and stood ready for business. ‘* What’s the racket?” he asked, : ** That man is one of the pust-office robbers.” ** Are you sure?’ ‘ Yes,” *‘ Then he’s my game,” the constable declared. “Mister, put out your hands!” = ] y ““T won’t!” Bob fiercely replied. You will, or Pll use my revolver. want to be shot, or—” “*Look out!” cried Jeff; ‘“‘ he’s after his re- volver!” Bob’s hand had moved toward his pocket, but he had to deal with a man as bold, and much stronger, then himself. Fitch sprung forward und seized him, and in the struggle which fol- lowed, Jeff managed to secure the revolver in the robber’s pocket. The struggle was soon over, and then Bob was helpless; Fitch had deftly *‘ ironed ” him. **T don’t understand this a particle, Jeff,” then admitted the constable,” but I trust that you do.» Your head is usually level.” “Pll prove that it is now,” Jeff modestly an- swered. ‘“*Go a hundred yards further, and then I will explain.” They went, and then Bob was secured to the carriage so that he could not run away, and Jeff gave the constable an insight to the case, One Paxraven, a citizen of the town of Fac- tory Hollow, had died leaving his property by will to his adopted daughter, a distant relative —the child, Sadie Pickett. This will was not found, and_the property went to the next of kin, Peter Nichols. The latter, for some reason —probably to have a servant he need not pay, or to silence public talk—adopted Sadie, The will, however, bad been in existence; bad been sent to Nichols by somebody ; had been stolen from the post-office letter by Bob and his companion, at sateen order; and then the latter had tried to raise money on it, In addition to this Jeff told nearly all that had occurred that night, much to Fitch's sur- prise. Huis admiration of Jeff was strong, ‘We will arrest Benway at once!” he cried, ‘* No, we will not,” Jeff quietly answered, Do you _——_ CHAPTER XV. THE NOCTURNAL GUIDE, THE constable showed surprise, ‘* Not arrest him?” he echoed. ‘ Why not!” ** Because we should spoil everything by doing so,” Jeff replied. ‘As it is now. we have a de- aN advantage, but one false move may ruin all. ‘“¢ Explain.” “We now have one of the post-office robbers; we know the plot, and who is at the bottom of it?” “ Yes,” ‘It isa matter of great importance that we get that will, isn’t it?” ‘* Decidedly so,” Fitch agreed, ‘‘It seems that old Pete Nichols has for years been holding what he knew was not his; that Paxraven’s meney really belongs to the child, Sadie Pick- e ‘* Just so; but in order to secure her rights we must produce the will.” setae ‘‘Now recall what I told you. Remember that I heard Benway say to Atwood that the will was hidden somewhere, but that when he went to Juggle Meadow to sell the bogus will to Nichols, Atwood was to follow a short time after with the genuine will—exactly why, I didn’t learn,” **T think [ see what you mean.” **Tmean this: If the genuine will is concealed, we may arrest Benway and beas far as ever from getting the will—in fact, knowing Ben- way’s determined nature as I do, I fear that the will might be forever lost to us.” ‘* You are right to a dot. Goon!” ** Consequently, I would suggest patience. Why not wait until Thursday night; let Benway sell the bogus will to Nichols; and then, just as Atwood is about to deliver the genuine will to Benway, seize both of them?” Fitch hesitated a moment, “You forget that we have captured ‘ Bob,’ ” he fhen replied. ‘** When it is known the news will spread like wildfire. Won't it frighten Benway off?” “Why need it be known? It is now night, and you can take Bob secretly to Jericho. Why not do it, shut him up, and keep mum until you have also nabbed Benway?” ** By George! you have a long head!” Fitch cried, ‘““Remember that I advise this because the will is now hidden, We don’t know where, Let the hider produce it, and then we will nab him and the will, too,” ‘This matter don’t admit of argument,” re- plied the constable. ‘* You have got it all down as fine as silk, Of course werun a slight risk in giving Benway liberty for two days—he may skip out—but [ don’t believe he will, Tl follow your plan, Jeff, anyhow.” “I think the result will prove satisfactory, Mr, Fitch,” Jeff modestly answered. ‘*Then it’s all settled. Tl take our prisoner to J ericho at once, Will you go there with me? “Not if I can regain my room at Nichols’s unseen, If I skipped out in the night you can rest assured that Nichols is sharp enough to get suspicious. To-morrow, however, Ull announce that I feel better, and go over to Jericho.” * All right, my boy. Of course you'll yo with me to Juggle Me’dder. And | want to say that you have done some noble work, it when my story is told,” ‘Never mind that, Mr. Fitch; I am not after glory. All I want, is to see justice done. And now let us goon.” They did so, and drove on with Bob by his side, on his horse, When Juggle Meadow was reached Jeff re- turned his horse to the hotel stable, and, learn- ing that noone but the hostler knew that he had had it, first paid for it and then pledged the ne — to mention for two days that he had used it. The boy then went toward Peter Nichols’s, The house was dark and silent, and when be re- gained his room by the same way he had left it, he had every reason to believe that no one knew of the fact that he had been moving about. Considerably encouraged by this he sat down in the dark by the window and began a review of the events of the evening, They had been most important, and his heart grew lighter than it had been for many days. ‘| think that Iam near the accomplishment of my work,” he thought gratefully, ‘I sin- cerely hope so. I don’t like Jericho, and if I can once fulfill my promise to the dead, I will gladly leave here forever.” A. sound atthe door suddenly attracted his attention. He turned, and was surprised to see the door open, Peter Nichols’s wife appeared, fully dressed, and bearing a Jampinherhand. Jeff was somewhat startled, but she softly closed the door and came toward him with a mild expres- sion on her face. “You are the boy,” she said, ina low voice, ‘‘and | wanted to see you.” ‘Can I help you, Mrs, Nichols?” he asked. “T want to talk with you; I want to tell you what a strange house you are in.” “Ts it strange?” ‘Tt is,’ the woman answered, with a nod, ** This house and those who live in it drove me insane,” ‘Why, you are not insane,” “Yes, lam; I am cunning enough to know Fitch re-entered his carriage Jeff followed ] 1 To you be- longs all the credit, and I wiil sce that you get it. I always knew that I should be,’ I was here in the midst of secrets, crimes, disgraceful plots and cruelty. I was not so bad as Peter Nichols and his sister, so they tried to keep me’ ignorant, and what { did know they compelled me to hide through my fears. They ground out my heart and life, and at last I went crazy. It is a bless- ed relief to be crazy; 1 don’t fear them any more.” Calmly she made this statement—a statement that Jeff knew to be true in one respect, at least. Mrs. Nichols had not been a bad woman; she had been weak, and Peter and Miss Betsey had made her very life a burden. ‘* And,” the woman added, ‘‘I don’t know that I am now afraid to tell their secrets.” Jeff unclosed hislips to speak, but she went on steedily: “Secrets! This house is full of them. Secrets that are dark; secrets that are deadly; secrets that gnaw at the vitals like a vampire sucks blood. Such a place as it is was never seen be- fore, Thirty years I’ve lived here, and never a ray of sunshine, Will there ever be a change! f tell you plainly fhat it is the hope of my life to one day be free; free to go to funerals, and such places of amusement. How fine it would be! Fuverals, young man, are a woman’s weak pint. Lots of fun I’ve had at such places.” She nodded her head rapidly, while Jeff gazed at her pityingly. She was honest and well- meaning, and Peter Nichols and his sister had wrecked her life and her reason. “ Would you like to leave here?” Jeff pitying- ly asked. ‘* Would I? Ishould say so. You don’t know what it is to stay year after year in a house where secrets abound—dark, deadly, vampire- like secrets. I fancy there are few houses which bave more than this one, and I know them all—oh! 1 know such a lot of secrets!” She clasped her hands and seemed filled with delight, but suddenly aroused. “Come with me,” she directed, ‘Sand I will show yoy one secret.” .“ Where are we to go?” *“*To the rear room. Come!” Jeff hesitated. What if the noi-e of their movements was heard by Peter or Miss Betsey? The danger checked him only a moment. There was nothing to be depenied upon when Mrs, Nichols acted, but the possibility that she had a definite idea in her mind aroused his interest, He decided to follow, She opened the door again with great caution, and they passed into the hall. AJl was silent there; all would have been dark except for the light she carried. She opened another door, and he saw an un- finished room where dust and cobwebs hung on the barren, skeleton-like walls. It was the fam- ily store-room for odds and ends, and there was a multitude of them, great and small. Boxes, barrels and ofher rubbish barred the way. Mrs. Nichols closed the door and moved to- ward an old cupboard. She .opened the door, and then paused and looked at Jeff. ‘Tt is here,” she said; ‘the secret which has troubled me most. It was a hard thing to do,” Jeff had no words of reply ready. The women turned again to the cupboard, and, reaching inside, brought out a square, pastebuard box, It was half-full of papers, of which nearly all seemed to be letters. She turned them over rapidly, and then suddenly seized one and held it up. . ‘*The secret is in there,” she continued, tap- ping the envelope with her finger. hey think it is burned, but it isn’t; it is hidden here, and I hid it.” ‘Not a very secure hiding-place,” Jeff ob- served, A cunning look appeared on the woman’s face, “Tt is the last place in the world they would think of looking; they never look at these let- ters. I dared not hide it anywhere else, for if they had found it stowed awey in an out-of-the- way place they would have killed me, If they ever find it here they will suspect nothing; they will not know that I tried to save it. Looks at it! ; With an abrupt movement she placed it in his hands, 5 * Look at the recor’ of crime!” she exclaimed, Jeff did not hesitate to avai! himself of this chance, and with more than idle curiosity he took the letter and turned it over so that, the superscription on the envelope would be visible, i ae addressed to Peter Nichols, but it was something more than this fact which made him start so violently. . : The chirography was not new to him, Every line and curve was very familiar
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] Wea oe aE PG Tesi ee a ay aan eee ee ee Sah a I Oe 2 2 et Se } fis 7 Des ry "Jeff _ From the writing his gaze turned quickly to the postmark, and then he determined, then and there, that the letter should in some way remain in his possession. He tried to speak, but agitation prevented. ** Don’t th nk,” resumed Mrs, Nichols, with a stately air, ‘‘ uhat because we are poor we have no secrets here. We have—secrets that are dark; secrets that are deadly; secrets that burn the brain and palsy it.” ‘*No doubt,” Jeff replied. ‘‘ As for this mat- ter, may I take it to my room?” She meditated. ‘“ Yes,” she finally replied; ‘‘ you ma the letter and keep it until I call for it, have always wished I could confide it to some one; you are ae the person. Take it; watch over it; and don’t let any one see it.” Breathing a sigh, as though relieved, the de- ranged woman started out of the room, Jeff | followed, and with him went the unknown record of the letter. CHAPTER XVI. PAXRAVEN’S WILL. THURSDAY evening had arrived. A light burned in the kitchen of Peter Nich- ols’s house, but the cheap, shabby curtains were down and no one outside could see what was transpiring inside. Outside, a superficial glance would not have discovered evidence of anything unusual. Appearances, however, are often deceptive. From the rear of the bouse came a man who crept, rather than walked, along the bushes | which grew at the west side of the house. Mov- ing thus he came upon another man who was lying behind one group of these bushes, take |! P Se o's < : ea , eee ee ee Oe Fae iets oA gaat ioe i." hee a Ps Fe a A a he a | he were a pickle and shea bottle of vinegar which yearned to swaJlow him. “ A pleasant evening; a most charming even- ing,” said Mr, Benway, blandly, smiling upon | Miss Betsey. ‘‘The air is deliciously balmy, and the katydids are singing as though they were practicing a carol.” “Hang the katydids!” surlily broke iu Nich- | ols. _‘* Let’s get to business,” ‘Ina moment. Miss Nichols, I.could1t help noticing, as | came in, what a fine place you | have in that deep window for hanging flowers. | A few choice plants properly suspended—” | “Sir,” interrupted Miss Betsey, her voice , Won't ask your advice, an’I won’t have any | flowers there, anyhow !” ‘*Come ter business; growled Peter. raven’s will?” ‘Yes, Mr. Nichols—” ‘* Then show it!” “‘ Charmed, I’m sure!” Nothing could banish Benway’s smile, and his | manner remained as bland as ever under these | curt remarks of his companions. He knew that | he was torturing their sordid natures, and de- ' lighted in doing it. Calmly he laid a folded pa- ' per upon the table, Bes Paxraven’s will,” he said, nonchalantly. | Nichols grasped the paper, | to burn as he looked, and Miss Betsey hung over his shoulder eagerly. The paper at last lay spread out before them which looked like the coveted document, and the miserable wretches thought of nothing else. Benway watched with a scornful smile. come ter business!” ‘*Have you brought Pax- Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective His eyes seemed | | bogus will in his hand, his young face stern and menacing. One moment Nichols was dumfounded, but color then came to his face with a switt rush, ‘“You young hound!” he cried, springing fore ward, ‘* give me that paper or I’ll kill you!” CHAPTER XVII. THE LAST ACT IN THE BATTLE. ‘“‘PrTeR NICHOLS, you are my prisoner!” The old miser had not reached Jeff Flicker; a strong hand seized and drew him back, and the taking on the note of a saw beset by a file, | above-recorded ominous wcrds were deeply “when I put any flowers in that ere window I | spoken in his ears. He turned and saw Fitch, the constable. “Your jig is up, old man!” the officer an- nounced. ‘* You have had quite a run of luck, but you have come to the end of your rope.” Miss Betsey sprung to her feet, ‘‘That paper!” sbe shrilly cried. ‘It is mine; give it here, boy!” ‘‘Keep off!” ordered the constable. ‘ Hold the paper, Jeff.” “*T will, sir.” “ But it’s mine—” : “Tt belongs to law,” Fitch declared. ‘“ Even if you had it—even if you bad burned it, as you tried to do—it would have availed you nothing. It is not Paxraven’s will. Your late visitor victimized you; be passed over a forged will; ae the genuine one still exists, Im brief you ave paid three thousand dollars for a paper not: worth a straw!” Nichols uttered a loud cry, but attention was: | then drawn to Miss Betsey. She fell backward Re | into a chair, and then, before a man could Neither man seemed surprised, and he on the | was glad then for the sake. of decency that the | touch or save her, rolled to the floor in convul-- ground barely looked up. ‘* Anything new?” asked the creeper. aa No.” ‘‘ Has the door been opened?” “ No. ” , ‘* Keep your eyes well open. He may be re- connoitering at some point,” ‘+ Let him stare!” With this peculiar reply the second man hug- ged the ground still closer, while the creeper crept back toward the rear. Pausing near the corner he looked west. From this point he bad a good view of the road, and he watched sharp- ly and patiently. hat was the meaning of his vigil? In his room Jeff Flicker sat by the open win- | dow in such a position that he could see the man by the corner of the bouse, This man he watch- with close attention, as though expecting some sign from him. Jeff bad twice been to Jerichg since the events of the previous chapters, but be had not re- mained. He complained of a pain in his side, and announced his determination not to work for awhile. Accordingly, he paid Nichols a small sum of _ money and remained with him; and he showed reat interest in the art of farming, asked Nichols many questions about it, and did con- siderable light work which greatly pleased the old miser. ; Work from a paying boarder was something Nichols could appreciate, The old man was building great hopes on Jeff. The boy was an orphan; if once he could get | - bim in his clutches, he thought that he would | have a big chance. Jeff could not expect much ay, and every one near Peter Nichols had to cote and work hard. ae Suddenly the man by the corner of the house started back. He came a few steps toward Jeff’s window; he waved his hand, and Jeff re- ied by a similar gesture. deff quickly arose. ** Now for it!” he murmured aloud, Then he crept to the door of his room and opened it a little very carefully. The hall was dark and still. He had removed his shoes, and he now moved across the hall and down the stairs. While doing so he heard the outer door open and close, * Reaching the position where he had once be- fore acted the listener, he cautiously opened the oor a very little. He thus gained view of the kitchen. Peter and Miss Betsey were there, and with them was—Benwa ok ot ~ _ The graduate of the “* School of Knavery ” bad never been calmer or more at his ease; if he had been among his dearest friends his smile would not have been more pleasant and frank. On the other hand, Peter looked at the visitor ly, surlily, hostilely and venomously ; while i ‘sey sat as stiff and stern as a marble 4 ‘ - statue, and regarded Benway much as though ee will he hoped to sell them was bogus. Villain that he was, he lacked the meanness of that evil pair. They devoured it with their glances. first | reading it through to make sure of its terms, and | tnen subjecting it to a different examination. | that it was genuine, and he defied their powers of penetration. It was soon over, Survey it as they would they could see nothing wrong, and. their last suspicion soon vaniatied they believed the will | : /and turned toward the covered bridge. | Benway smiled; tbey were trying to make sure | sions. The knowledge of the swindle practiced upon them had dealt her a blow which migbt. prove fatal, In the mean while Benway had left the baa lere was not a sign of danger to meet even bis shar eyes, and now that he had sold the bogus will and got his money be felt much safer. ‘ Believing that no one had connected him with, the robbery of the post-office, directly or indi-. rectly, he felt safe to go and come freely, The genuine, This point seemingly settled, the next | failure of ‘“* Bob” to appear at Atwood’s had _ thing was to pay over the money. The misera- | caused him lazy surprise, but not a rumor of ble pair were well worth seeing then. As old Peter drew out his bank-notes his hands shook until the bills rattled loudly, being Bob’s capture reached his ears. Reaching the bridge he sat down and began to hum a song in a careless vein, but stopped asa fresh from a bank, and his mean, selfish face | man came down the road ten minutes later, . seemed to contract, wither, and grow gray. | Miss Betsey sat bolt upright, her face the image | | | | of stony despair, her gaze fixed upon Benway’s smiling countenance as though she would gladly strike him dead with the power of that gaze, | Not a word did she speak, however, until Ben- way bad counted the money and stowed it away in his pocket. Thev she did speak, ‘*T suppose you think,” she said, venomously, | ‘that you hev done a big thing. You ought ter be proud on’t: it isa fine thing ter rob the old an’ ig pose If there is sech a thing as jedg- | ment, I guess you'll git your share on’t.” “Thank you, Miss Nichols; I am glad to get | your opinion,” answered Benway, bowing and smiling as blandly as though he had received a high compliment. ‘I was always partial to the ladies, and I have a sincere admiration for you. I take it you are as brainy as you are witty and | handsome. And now I must go, much as I hate to tear myself away. Let me advise you, dear | Miss Betsey, to put some hanging flower-pots in nae big window; you will find them charming, | na— | ** Go!” gasped Miss Betsey, almost stifled with rage. ‘Go, an’ never let me see you ag’in!” “The best of friends must part. Tra-la-la!” With this airy farewell he turned and left the ' house. Two great tears rolled down Peter Nichols’s face, and his sister’s eyes blazed fierce- ly. How big—how very big that three thousand ollars looked then! : ‘* We are ruined!” moaned the miser, “‘ Yes,” replied Miss Betsey, in a hard voice, ‘but we have this, an’ it shall never turn ag’in’ us!” She lifted the bogus will and thrust it toward the blaze of the old fashioned candje which stood on the table, but before the fire could seize upen it Something else did. A human hand glided past her arm and grasp- tri coveted document, snatching it from her She recoiled, while Peter sprung to his feet in an agon of terror. Jeff Flicker stood before them, holding the | He advanced; it proved to be Atwood, ‘Here I am,” announced Benway. right?” “ Yes.” ‘¢ Got the will?” “ Yes,” “‘ Give it me, and Ill make the next move.” Atwood extended the paper, but Benway’s hand never touched it again. A light figure flitted from the corner of the bridge, a hand which was not Benway’s snatched the will away; and Paxraven’s money bade fair to go- right at last. . Jeff Flicker held the will! A fierce, startled exclamation burt from Benway, usually so cool, but his day was past. Fitch was there with his men; they surrounded the plotters and fought them toa standstill; and in a few minutes both Benway and Atwood were prisoners. They were led toward the hotel, By the time that the place was reached Ben- way had recovered his coolness, and when they entered a private room and Fitch handed him a chair he thanked the officer gettin smiled genially, and then gave his chief captor a cigar. All this without hope of helping himself; it was a part of bis cool nature, and he mesnt to “ All uphold the dignity of the “ School of Knavery,” | Fitch showed wills. : ‘Now, my man,” said the constable, “ you will do yourself no harm, and you may help yourself a good bit, if you will tell all about this affair.” ‘ “Why, of course I'll do it,” replied Benway. cheerfully. ‘* You see, Pete Nichols knew that there was a genuine will which gave the proper- ty once belonging to Paxraven to little Sadie Pickett; and he finally learned that said will had in all daprentaty drifted West in an old box to one Clifford Searles, an ex-Eastern man. Nichols got Markin & Toohey, lawyers, of Chi- cago, to look it up. They did so, and sentit im the genuine and bogus st. ‘* Before it was sent I got wind of the game, and being anxious to turn an honest penny, I came
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—_—-- Stable Boy Detective. © ‘ East and engaged two burglars to rob the Jericho post-office. Bya forged telegram we got the letter there one day ahead of Nichols’s expectations. That’s all I know, except that I forged a will and sold to Pete, and that if you fad let me alone I would soon have got the real will into its real Owner’s hands. She is Sadie Pickett. I would bave done this because of my love of justice—and bard cash!” Benway laughed merrily, and blew an im- maculate wreath of smoke upward, daintily hold- ing his cigar in his fingers as he did so, ‘This will has had an odd experience,” said Fiteh, thoughtfully. ‘‘Old Mr, Paxraven but two near relatives; Peter Nichols and lit- tle Sadie Pickett. Nichols was his heir-at-law, but Paxraven had Sadie living with him, and he left ber all his property by this will. ‘*Tt was known that the will had been made, but it could not be found when Paxraven died. The property went to Nichols, who also took Sadie. It was not an act of benevolence; he has made a mere slave of the child, and she has been abused by both him and Miss Betsey. ‘““f am now able to say what became of the will when Paxraven lay dying. It was stolen at Peter Nichols’s request. He hired a man named David Orriston to do it, The latter was aman who was the victim of drink, by means of which his moral nature had been dwarfed and blunted. ‘*He stole the will, was paid for it by Nichols, and then, oddly enough, remorse overtook him, He seized a chance and thrust the will intoa box filled with old books and papers, ‘‘There the matter rested for a few years, Orriston supposed that Nichols took the old box when Paxraven’s effects were disposed of. Really, Nichols, not. having any interest in the books and papers, shipped the box to Clifford Searles, another distant relative of Paxraven’s, generously stating that it was Searles’s share of the estate. ‘* A few months ago a rumor reached Nichols that the will, for the disappearance of which he had never been able to account, was in the old box. He communicated with Markin & Toohey, the lawyers. Searles, on receiving the ol: box had been angry at receiving sucha ‘legacy,’ and had placed it in his attic without examina- tion. Thus Markin & Toohey, by buying the aa books, box and all, in a sly way, got the will. ‘* The said will is now where it will not be lost again, and Sadie Pickett will at last have what Paxraven wished her to bave—his whole prop- erty. I aman officer, and have done my best in the case, but I am free to say that the credit belongs, not to me, but to one other here present,” And he placed his hand upon Jeff Flicker’s shoulder. ‘* Whatever I have done,” Jeff quickly re- plied, ‘‘ has been a sacred duty. I have some- thing to tell which even vou don’t suspect, Mr. Fitch, You know that ‘Jeff Flicker’ is only a light pame given me when I came to Jericho. The name I gave here was Wilson, My real name is Ralph Orriston, and I ama nephew of that unhappy David Orriston who stole the will for Nichols. “T will not comment on my uncle’s course more than to say that when his death drew near he repented most sincerely, and, believing that Nichols had the box of old books, he made me premise to come here and see if I could get the will. Knowing that Nichols was not given to reading. he hoped that the will had remained undiscovered in the box. ‘“* When I came here [ was afraid that Nichols would recognize me if I went direct to his house, and I first went to work in Payson’s livery stable, intending to seize the first chance to en- ter Nichols’s house, ‘You know the rest, and now that the will is recovered my duty to my unfortunate uncle is done,” ** And well done, too,” declared Fitch. _‘Excellently well done,” agreed Benway, airily. ‘‘ Young Jeff, you are a good one; you really ought to join the School of Knavery.” ‘“‘T am content with catching iis graduates!” retorted Jeff, quickly. The story is nearly told; it only remains to notice the changes of the seven years that have ensued since Jeff Flicker’s <a The end of Peter Nichols and Miss Betsey was worthy of their miserable lives. The woman had aseries of convulsions and died, while old Peter, before he could be brought to trial, grew so weak-minded that he was put in an asylum, where he died. The loss of Paxraven’s fortune was, really, the death-blow of both. Greatly to Fitch’s chagrin, Benway escaped 95 AzHorT, THE Axman. By Anthony P. Morris, 10¢ the law through one of the law’s se ta then Benway abruptly left for the est again. “Bob” and his accomplice in the post-cifice robbery were sent to prison. Little Sadie Pickett, thanks to Paxraven’s | and | 95 Dovste Dearu, By Capt. Fred. Whittaker, 10¢ 97 Bronze JACK. By Albert W. Aiken -. 10¢ | 98 THe Rock Riper. By Capt. F. Whittaker.. . 10¢ | 99 Tax Giant RIFLEMAN. By Oll Coomes 10¢ 100 THe FRreNcH Spy. By A. P. Morris.... 10e money and a good guardian, grew up to bea fine girl, and the other day she was happily married. To whom? man” was Jeff Flicker. It need ican be said that the “ happy ] Her gratitude was only exceeded by her admiration of him, and in becoming his wife she united her fortunes with | those of a man bound to make an honorable record in social and business life. THE END. Beadle's Dime Library 1 A Harp Crown. BY Philip S. Warne........... 2 THE DareE-Devit, By Col. P. Ingraham..... 4 8 Kir Carson, Jk, By Buckskin Sam 4 Tur Kipnaprer. By PhilipS. Warne.... .. ° 5 Tux Fire Frenps. y A. P. Morris erase 6 Witpcat Bos, By Edward L. Wheeler ...... 7 Deatu-Notrcnu, Tux DEsTROYER. Oll Coomes.. 8 Tue HeapLess HORSEMAN. By Mayne Reid... 9 Hanpy Anpy. By Samuel Lover ve 10 Vipocg, THE F’RENCH PoLice Spy. By himself, 11 Mipsureman Easy. By Capt. Maryatt ne 12 Tue Deatru-SHot, By Capt. Mayne Reid... . 13 Parnaway. By Dr. J. H. Robinson... ... et 14 THAYENDANEGEA, THE ScouRGE. Ned Buntline. 15 Tue TIGER SLAYER. By Gustave Aimard.... . 16 THe Waite Wizarp. By Ned Buntline..,.... ‘ 17 NiauTsuapDE. By Dr. J. H. 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va? iz +3 i ; cea Manne Or e iF, 1" +24 BEADLE'S« H ALF- DIME« | IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers, * = BY PHILIP 8. WARNE, 6T Patent-Leather Joe: or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 175 Caprnin Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Duellat; or, The Mountain Vempires, 888 A ‘Tough Boy ; or, The Dwart’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornsde 3 or, The Outcasts of the Glen, STB Little Jingos or, the Queer Pard. BSS Little Oh-my § or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Little Shoo- Fly ¢ or, A Race for a Ranch, 408 Little Leather-Breeches 3 or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood, 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 450 Three Jolly Parda. 517 Jim Gladden’sa Deputy. 627 The Jolly Pards to the Reacue, 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WITITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien, 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Daughter, 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Munters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the Open Polar Sea. 200 The Boy Bedoutns; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 ile Romer, the Animal King; or, The Rownd the World ancerer,. 265 The ries Tamer}; or, The League of the Jungle. 881 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trail. BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) 284 Old efigeks"e ** Boyees;” or, Benito, the Young Horse- Breaker. 6 Giant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range. 7 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George's Pard, 297 The Tarantula of Taos; or, Giant George’s Revenge, B07 The Strange Pardy; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taoa, B27 Creeping Vat, the Caddo}; or, The Red and White Pards, B82 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. 844 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild olf’; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front, 857 The Ranch Raiders: or, The Siege of Fort Purgatory, . 864 Snap-Shot, the Boy Ranger. 875 Chieta, the Creek; or, The Three Thunderbolts. 881 Bandera BILL; or Frio Frank to the Front, 892 Romeo and the Reds; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. 404 Little Lartat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Dalsay from Denver. 427 The Three Tratlers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage. 442 Bluff Bills or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star}; or, The Belle of the Cibolo, BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Aaa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight the Boy Champlon 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 Quartzville. Sil The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckaluck Camp, B22 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon's Vendetta, 840 Clip, the Contortionist; or, Tha Montana Vigilantes. BY J, ©. COWDRICK, 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Gold King ¢ or, For Seven Years Dead, 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a ame. 424 Cibuta Johny; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 435 ee pam nek Dude. rondway ¥~ the Bootblack Bravo. 606 Redlight Ralph, the Prince of the Road. 514 Broa way I ae Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective 586 Broadway Billy’« ¢ Diftikilty.” 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’s Death Racket. BY JO PIEROE. 897 Bob o’ the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street. 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob's Boom, 452 etree Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadow; or, Luke’s Legacy. A72 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 504 Five Point«a Phil, 509 Jack Jaggers, the Butcher Boy Detective. 516 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil's Menagerie, 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 588 Wrestling Rex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward, B41 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective, BSL Nick Netcle, the Boy Shadow, 559 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective, RY CAPT. MARK WILTON, 25 tuck: or, The Red Lasso, 356 eee Ke or, The Riot at Kero Camp, 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID, 78 BI , The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. 8ST The Lok ir csbae or, The League of Devil's Island, 187 The Helpless Hand: or, Backwoods Retribution, 289 The Gold-seeker Guide; ot, The Lost Mountain, BY MAJOR NENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-8cout, 806 Neck-Tie Ned: o: ug-Ont Pards. 846 apter Ra ey fe The Swordsmen of Zacatecas, 891 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockler. 898 Kid-Glove Kit ana Parad; or, The Gold King. 406 The Mad Man-Hunter ; or, The Mystery of Golden Gulch, 505 Powell's Pard; or, The One- Armed Giant BY BRACEBRIDGE NEMYNG. 89 Ialand Jim; or, The Pet of the Famil 91 The Captain of the Club ‘ y- 101 Jack Markaway in New ag Rival Athletes. BY ALBERT W, AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer, ZY Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 248 Joe Buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, lhe Fortunes of a Foundling. 464 Nimble & ick, the Circus Prince. 498 T'nos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!-Breed Detective, 515 Cool Colorado in New York, BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas, 90 The Drend Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Taos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom, 181 The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 164 Dandy Reck’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death, 178 Dandy Rock’s Rivals or, The tiaunted Maid of Taos. BY CAPT. J. F. C. ADAMS, 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffles’s Boy Spy, 46 Glaas-Eye, the Great Shot of the West, 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whifiles’a Pet; or, In The Valley of Death, 60 The White Indian; or, The Scout of the Yellowstone, 70 Old Zip’« Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, 81 Lightning Jo, the Terrer of the Prairie. 85 Buck Buckramy or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Old Grizzly and His Peta; or, The Wild Huntress, 251 Light-house Lige; or, Osceola, the Firebrand, 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp, 288 The Scalp King: or, The Human Thunderbolt, BY ROGER STARBUOK. 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar, 259 The Golden Harpoon s or, Lost Among the Floes, B48 Fire-Heela: or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow, 854 Rig Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Liht-house, 870 Breaker Ken, the Reef-Runner, ‘ BY WILLIAM '. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke; or. The Tigers of High Pine, 210 Faro Frank ; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards, BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion ofthe Sen; or, The Vatled Lady. 186 Cool Desmond ¢ or, The Gimblew’s Bie Gay. BY TTARRY ST. GEORGE. 80 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, the Ranger. 44 Rattling Rube; or, The Nighthawks o Kentucky, . 59 Old Hickory ¢ or, Pandy Ellis’s Scalp. 108 Daring Davy 3 or, The Trail of the Horder Wolf. 166 Hickory Harry ; or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy, 172 Thunderbolt Toms or, the Wolf-Herder. BY JAMES L. BOWEN 107 One-Eyed Sim: or, The Abandoned Forest Home. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies. A Story of. Texas, BY ©. DUNNING CLARK, 185 Captain Paul: or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Suereet. BY GEORGE ©, JENKS, 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 618 The Demon Doctor, BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, U. 8. A, 191 Rntale Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed teen. 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 tha Northwent BY JONUN J. MARSHALL, 40 Roving Ben. A Story of a Young American, 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes. BY WM. G PATTEN. 489 The Diamond Sport: or, The Double Face of Bed Rock B19 Captain Mystery 3 or, Five in One, 681 Daisy dare, the Sport from Denver, BY MAJOR EF. L. 8T. VRAIN, Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit, Sor Lendville Nick» the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince, 888 Brimatone Rob, and His Lightning Horse Qua 852 Tombatone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “Sand,” BEY Durninee tyes the Youny ‘hams ion W reatler, 871 Kingbolt Chris, the Young Hard-Shell Detective BRO Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide, ; 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountsin Mail-Line, BY EDWARD 8, ELLIS. 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper, ‘ 8 Beth ones! big eonptlves of the Frontier, vat Todds or, The Fate of ti ant f mevhet Balt Ladlod ie Sloux Captive. The Boy Miners; or, The Enchanted Taland. The Munted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman. The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains, The Muge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man. 10 21 98 82 254 271 -_ BY MAJOR LEWIR W. CARSON. 278 The Three Trappers; or, The Mountai . 288 Indian Joe; or, HRS White Spirit of the i BY W. J. HAMILTON. 68 The Red Brotherhood; or, The Twelve Avengers, 66 Single Hand; or, A Life for a Life. 72 Mad Tom Weatern, the Texan Ranger. 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop. BY JACK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 820 The Sex Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY FRANK DUMONT, 120 The Branded Hand; or, The Man of Mystery, 127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Road. 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rosky Bae, 171 Ebony Dany or, The Rival Leagues, 185 Evil Eye; or, The Vultures of the Rio Grande, BY LIFUT. if. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bays 180 The Sea Trailer; or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY WARRY HAZARD. R28 Arkanaaw Jacky; or, The Scourge of the Mines, 829 Red-Skin Tomy or, The Demon’s Trail, 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw, BY COL. A. F. HOLT, 899 Rlack Buckakin: or, The Masked Men of Death Canyor, 419 Kenneth, the Knite-King. 485Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Giants ef Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man trom Hard Lack, BRT Old Ruckeye, the Sierra Shadow, 5664 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner, BY FREDERICK DEWEY, 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots, 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective, 5642 The Canyon Parda, BY ARTHUR C. GRISSOM, 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid. 558 The Sure-Shot Pardas, BY LIEUT, A. K. SIMS, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock, 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Worse Hunter B " Frederick Whittaker, 4 y Capt, Mayne Reld end 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver's. Travels, By Dean >wift, 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp, 16 Robinson Orusoe, (27 Hlustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages, 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinsen Crusoe, By Juan sews, 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribevs. By 8, W. Pierce, 86 The Boy Clown; or, The Queen of the Arena, By Frank S. Finn, BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 51 The Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp, By Archie C, Irons, 96 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freed lesisal By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. nechootsteat sie SEnare 98 Robin Iood, the Outlawed Ear): G wood, By Prof. Gildersleeve, ark or, The Meee 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. . 112 The Mad Hunter; or, The Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe 124 Tippy. the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By Goorg er eon. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of a Friondless Boy. By J Alexander Patten, 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowatone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New York Boy. By coorge L, er. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; °r, Davy Crockett’s Crooxed Trait, By Ensign ©, D. Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cli. By Captain Comstock. sock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadvil " year Alited Thorne. ville, By Liew Rky Ibe*ectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Lis ap 5 Staior M ickey Free. / yee Life and Honor Iph, the River Rover net Rete By Ned Bun tline. 3 or, The Brother’s Re 865 Baltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective, By A, P, Morrig 874 Gold-Dust Toms or, Ben’s Double Matcl., By George He oree, 876 Callfornin Joe’s First Trail, By Colonel Thoma Hoyer Monastery. 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F, 8. Winthrop. 475 The Black Ship, By John 8, Warner. 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invineibles By Henry J. Thomas. 528 Wizard-Arm, the Dandy Sport, By Artbur F. Holt. 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Breoke Forrest. 552 Ariel, the Athlete. By David Druld. ; A New Issue Every Tuesday: The Half-Dime Library 1» for sale by a1 newsdeakess Gap cents por copy, or sent by mall on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE ANP ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Strect, New Weak,
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ee eg ag eee mene er NI eae A ee c . =" ae ue ae P s P a OR ; Wife tr. ab tae BEADLE’S+H ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at tne Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers, BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novela. 1 Dendwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Dagwrers + or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance, 28 Buffalo Bens or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. 85 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 42 Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, 49 Omaha om or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. bi Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar, 7B Deadwoed Dick on Deck; or. Calamity Jane, the Heroine, 7 Corduroy Charlie; or, Deadwood Dick’s Last Act, 100 Deadwood Dick In Leadville, 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 enaween Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s suicn, 188 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base, 149 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike, 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivuls of the Road. 201 The Black Hilla Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venture. 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. 221 Sugar-Coated Sam jz or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Dust Dick, A Romance of Rough« and Toughs, 68 Deadwood Dick's Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 68% Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. 809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of regon. B21 Dendwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- gings. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. 862 mead were Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro ats. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 410 Dosdweed Dick’s Diamonds; or, The Mystery of Joan orter. 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Care.” 480 Deadwood Bick’« Dust; or, The Chained Hand, 4485 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Defiance, 458 aeEere Sam, o! Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full and. 459 Flush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- Up. 465 Phitto Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at ‘aim 10, A771 Bozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr's Corral. A476 MWumboldt Harry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Dog Detective. 481 Moll Mystery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Dendwood, 491 Prinee Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick ‘ Jr's Compact. 496 Monte Cristo, Jr.t or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance, 500 Deadwood Dick’s Digginass or, Dr. Death-Grip’s Sweop. 5608 Deadwood Dick’s« Deliverance. BIS Deadwood Dick’s Protegee, 522 Deadwood Dick’s Three. 529 Deadwood Dick’s Danger Ducks, 644 Deadwood Dick’s Death Hunt. 589 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Texas, 644 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoeq. 549 Deadwood Dick on Ilis Mettle. 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick in Boston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia, Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler: 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Bob Woelt’; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 6S Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team, 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooters or, The Boy Detective. 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 88 Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob's Reappearance, 92 Canada Chet}; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, 96 Watch-Eye; or, Arabs und Angels of a Great City, 18 Jack Moyle the Young Speculator. 2 Gilt-Kdged Dick, the Sport Detective 1 Clanamon Chip, the Girl Sport. % Bonanza BIL, Miner. 8 Bows Bob the King of Boothlacks, 1 Solld Sau, the Boy Road-Agent, 5 Cantgfn erret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob’s ‘ons Job. ; 1 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective, 7 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps, 1 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, 9 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. 8 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, 6 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective. 86 Apollo BAll, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Ghadintor, 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 248 Sierra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Ange! o! Big Vista, 258 Sierra Saim’s Seven} or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joey the Koy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs. 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen, 281 Denver Doll's Victory. 2X5 Denver Doll’a 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. BOB Liza Jane, the Jirl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. B25 Kelley, Mickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia. B80 Little Quick-Shot ; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville. BBA Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner, 889 Kangaroo Kit’ Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood, First-Class Fred, :he Gent trom Gopher, dod AT ad SEN Fh WWW « BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody). 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand, 19 The Phantom Spy} or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Fye. the Unknown Scout. Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover, 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, ? The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccan er; or The Fugitive Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirk j or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship3; or, The Rival Lieutenants. 7S The Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Woll. 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Smuggier. 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Capt nin or, he Hermit of Hell Gate, 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter, 204 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport. 216 Bison BAIL, the Prince of the Reins, 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer. 229 Crimson Kate 3 or, The Cowboy’s Triumph, 237 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle the Middy 3 or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midahipman Wy utineer 3; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 . ed Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure sland, 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned, 276 Merle Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chase of “The Gold Ship. 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirnte’s Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge, 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. $04 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler. B08 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 The Mysterious Marauder} or, The Boy Bugler’s Long rail, 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover? or, The Flagiess Schooner, BS8 The Indtan Pilots er, The Search for Pirate Island. 887 Warpath WILL, the Boy Phantom, B98 Seawall, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 Invdor, the Young Conspirator; or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgent; er, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild Yachtsamans or, The War-Clouu’s Cruise. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Sea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly 3 or, A Middy’s Vergeance. 446 HMaphazard Harry; or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret of New York. 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouts, 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster, 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Will’s Last Case, AST Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kanger. 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys: 508 The Royal Middy ; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow, 525 Brothers in Buckskin, 580 The Buckskin Bowers. $35 The Bue skin Rovers. 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder ot the Rio. 5645 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte, 550 Lafitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Son, 5655 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee BI, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy D-tective, 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Petes or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Boothlack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. . 152 Black Resa, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 7 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy, Will Wildfire in the Woods, Billy Baggage. the Railroad Boy, A Trump Card 3 or, Wil! Wildfire Wins and Loses, Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, The Hidden Hand or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge. Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; cr, The Smugglers, Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. Shadowed; or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life, Dark Paul, the Tiger King. Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. Tom ‘Tanner; or, The Black Sheep et the Flock, Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashawany ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’ Jobs or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-HNoundy; or, The Young Thoroughbred. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in the Quaker sity. 824 Ralph Neady, tue Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard. 408 Firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. A423 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. A82 Invinelble Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond, 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 4279 Detective Dodge; or, Tho Mystery of Frank Hearty. BOL Hoots, the Boy Fireman or, Too Sharp for the Sh oota, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Secret Service Boy Detective. =e BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Murricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 Mustang Sam ; or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-Hawk 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. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Pards; or. Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca Wolf} or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide. 855 The King of the Woods: or Daniel Boone’s Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. BY OLL COOMES. 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew, 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Kuilfe, the Prince of the Prairies, Al Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 6S The Border King; or, The Secret Fre. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranyer Spy. 74 HWawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper R nger 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, th- Poy Rifleman. 148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter. 146 Silver Star, tle Boy Knight. 158 Eagle KL, the Boy Demon, 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper, 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Prospect Pete 3 or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trspper Tom's Castle, 228 Little Wildire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 ‘The Parson De tective ; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Disguined Guide ; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger, 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, 272 Minkaskin Mike, the Boy Sharprhooter, 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. $00 The Sky Demon j or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-hing Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 41Z Webtoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone. 444 Little Buckskin, the Young Prairie Centaur. AD? Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul, 468 Tamarac ‘Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River kyidemie, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Troinn. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. BY T. ©. HARBAUGIEL 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, Th- Boy Spy of '76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Litt Hunter, 47 Nightingale Naty or, Tne Forest Captiins, 64 Dandy Jacks: or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trais. 82 Kit Haretoot the Wood-Hawk. | 94 Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch, Jr: or, The Boy Vigilante. Trig er, the i or, The Girl Avenger. 169 Tornado Toms or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkanaaw ¢ or, The Quen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Geld Hunter, 215 Captain Bullets or, Little Tonknot’s Crusade, 281 Plucky Phils or, Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. 241 Bill Bravo; or, Tie Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoli:, tne King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winch 3 or, The Buckskin Desperadoes, 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowle blade of Cochetopa, 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Buily- 816 Old Eelipsae, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pards: or. The Terror of Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lavso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thunderbol.’s Secret. B56 Cool sam. ne Par's o- The Terrible Six, 846 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cut!ass; or, he B ccaneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Rob: or The ‘win Champions of Blue Blazes, All The Silken Late <o¢ or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump, tie torder Rattler, 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires; or, Red Rolfe’s Piveon, 461 One Against Fifty; or, ‘The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Boy Shadow ; or, Felix Fox's Hunt. AT? The Excelsior Sports or, Tie Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’« Best Dodge. he rox and Falco the Rowe ponies 8 odger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 inode Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives. 558 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, she Boy Vidocq. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. B70 Camille, the Card Queen, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. B71 Air-Line Fuke, the Young Engineer. By J. C. Cowdrick. 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago. By E. L. Wheeler, 578 The Two Shadows. By T. C, Harbaugh. : B74 Old Weaxel-top, the Man with the Dogs, By P. 8. Warne- 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective, By Colonel Prentise 56 te Silver tiperte, By Lisct A: 81 4 e Silve ort. By Lieut. A. K, Sima. Br? Potement Petal the Secret Sifter, By Jo Pierce. | BTR Deadwood Dick, Jr, Aflont. By Edward L. Wheeler. 579 The Chimney, SpPy3 ©; Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. By J. C, Cowdrick. 580 The Outenat Cadets or, The False Detective. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. By George C, Jenks, D Dick’s Drop. By T. C, Harbangh. Dod eer Ooly the Man With a Shadow. By Lieut, A. K. Sims. Dendwood Dick, Jr., in Denver: By Ed. L, Wheeler, Will Waters, the Bov Ferret. By H. Enton. BSG The Buckskin Avenger. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, BAT Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. By Wm. G. Patten. BSS Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. By Jo Pieree. BS9 Tom-Cat and Pard; or. The Dead Set atSilver City, Br Lieut. A. K, Sims. Ready November 6. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s., Deeree. By E. L. Wheeler. Ready November 13. 591 oy e, the Young Sea-Rover. By Col. P Ingraham, eady November 20. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. By J. ©. Cowdrick. ; Ready November 27. 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. By P. S. Warne. Ready December 4, 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. By T. C. Harbaugh, Ready Deeember 11- A New Issue Every Tuesday- The Walf-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New Yerk.