Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 717) (1891 04 21)
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- a. TH tinal Ta __ Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mail Rates. Copy right 18 81, by BEADL E AND ADAMS, —_ 21, 1891. No. v7. 82.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Pree, Vol. XXVIIL No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK, - ) HI ! ESS \\ 1) a >) iN) a ni Mey on nt hi < AL \ ‘ IM ot ail a mney | | ll MOVE-ON tm GRAND CATCH. BY JO PIERCE, “AUTHOR oF “SPICY JIM,” ‘‘ PAVEMENT PETE,” ‘“ TARTAR TIM,” ‘‘ WRESTLING REX,” ETO, Hye} Hil CHAPTER I. i HT il —~ BANISHED FROM HOME, CoLONEL ANDREW FENTON brought his hand down forcibly on the table beside him, “No, sir!” he exclaimed, ‘ From this hour you are no son of mine!” * And that means—” “That you leave my house at once; that your connection with my office and business ceases a_i ~~ — ET Nace : now; that in all ways you will have to look out “TVE GOT TER STOP PETER,” CRIED THE IMPRISONED GAMIN, ‘‘OR THIS PRISON WILL for yourself, henceforth!” HOLD ME TIGHT.” ] " . Penne Pet Ds al}
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2 Randolph Fenton’s face changed color as he gazed at his indignant father. The interviow had been long and stormy, but, indignant as the colonel was, his son bad not looked for an ulti- matum as radical as this. disheartened him, ‘*But, father,” he remonstrated, “if you carry out your threat you will punish an inno- It alarmed him; it | cent person.” ‘** Prove it!” ‘* How can I?” “The question is timely!” Colonel Fenton re- torted, with sarcasm, Randolph’s figure became more erect, and his eyes flashed with spirit, | “You mean that innocence cannot be estab- | lished where guilt exists, but your decision to | condemn me cannot change the facts, I rest upon the assertion that—I am innocent!” The father’s face softened for a moment. “Then, how has the damage been done? How have secrets gone outside our office which were | known only to you and me?” “T have told you, sir, that I don’t know, | More than that, I have racked my brain to get even a theory, and failed.” ‘*It may not be the only failure. I have lost a huudred thousand dollars in the last six months, simply because some one has constantly under- mined me. If I bad a purchase arranged, some one bought abead of me; if I contemplated a sale, knowing it policy to sell, all efforts to save my- age from loss were frustrated by some one who had heard of my secrets. In brief, my business has gone to the dogs, and some one else has made the profits I ought to have made,” ** And now yoususpect me! Does not my.suc- cess depend upon yours?” “Tt may, or may not. If you have reaped the fruit of treachery you have madé more in six months than you could have made in years, by acting honorably.” ‘* Still suspicious!” “‘Suspicious? No! Iam convinced! Before I spoke a word to youl had positively decided that you were guilty—” ** You admit, then, that you condemned me unheard?” ‘“*Unheard? You insult me, boy!” the colonel cried. ‘‘I tried to prove your innocence, myself, at first. I bired the keenest, most honorable of detectives to ferret out the mystery. They dis- covered that certain men had injured me finan- cially, by getting abead of me iu unknown ways, and that you kept the company of these men. Even then I would not believe; I told them I would see for myself; I did see. I saw you with the-men who had engineered the deals against me —the open agents of my secret foes.” ‘* What of it? Are the aforesaid agents not pe of upright character and highly respect- e ‘*They have been—” ** Are they not now?” ‘*T can bring no charge against them.” ‘¢ Yet you condemn me for being in their com- pany! And I was there only because they were eer sae men. There was no significance in my call.” ‘‘ There is significance in the way that secrets known only to me and you have gone out of our office, and enabled the before-mentioned agents to make a pile of money for some one at my ‘ex- nse! Randolph stood silent, too proud to say more. His father regarded him curiously, but with un- abated sternness, ‘*-You say you cannot prove your innocence?” **T said so.” ‘You are guilty!” ‘** Have it as you will, sir!” ‘*T trust you are ready to leave my house?” “7 am, sir!” 5 - Randolph left the parlor with a proud and indignant air. His hand was on the knob of | the street door when his father, who had fol- | lowed, interposed: a You forget your trunk and personal prop- Randolph turned quickly. * T forget nothing, sir!” ? **-You had better do your own packing. ‘*T have no packing to do; no trunk to carry, You say I am no longer your son, and have ordered me from your house, I go, Mr. Fenton,, but not with the belp of your expressman. I take no trunk, no personal property; nothing save the clothes I have upon my back, and an unblemished character. If Iam to be a beggar, I will not be abore my class!” Once more turning the young man went quick- ly out of the house, and down the street. Once, Colonel Fenton made a motion to call him back, ’ but checked the paternal impulse. Instead, he r:) Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. returned to the parlor, sunk into a chair and buried his face in his hands, ‘‘ Heaven help me!” he murmured; “ I have torn my heart-strings asunder!’ Then, after a pause, he added in a busky voice: ‘‘ And Heav- en help the boy I have loved so well!” Meanwhile, Randolph was still walking. He walked a long while, heedless of the direction he took, and conscious only of the indignation surging in his mind. . He was twenty-four years old, and had been, until the last hour, a youth who hoped to achieve much among his fellow- men by earnest devotion to business. Now, all was changed; be was an outcast; be had been sent adrift with a father’s condemnation upon him, and he smarted under the mental Jash, Tne gathering shades of night finally aroused him from abstraction, and brought him back to the realities of life, but when he looked around he failed to recognize bis whereabouts, He was on a street, narrow, unprepossessing and grim. Ancient old houses,low and time- stained, stared upon him, and numerous dirty children played in the dirty street, Truly, he was in a quarter very different from that where stood his father’s aristocratic dwell- ing. The puzzled look was still on his face when a small sharply-pitched voice sounded near him: ‘* Lost anything, mister?” Randolph turned and saw a ragged boy of about fourteen years. ‘*Notbing but myself,” he answered, ‘Ts if wu’th payin’ a reward fur?” ** No!” young Fenton answered, with emphasis. ‘* Rewards are never paid for tramps.” ‘* Not unless they’re wanted in prison.” Randolph was turning to leave the young questioner, but the last remark checked his de- parture. He looked more attentively at his companion. The latter was evidently indigenous to the quarter where Randolph found him, and, like the dim old houses, subject to the sovereign rule of King Poverty. The boy wore the king’s livery —the garments on his person, originally of the cheapest kind, were old and shabby. Divers smears of dirt across his face were not neces- sarily of the King Poverty livery, but the boy had them, Rags nor dirt, however, had been able to crush a naturally buoyant disposition; it gleamed in his bright, shrewd face, and twinkled in his big, steady eyes. “Who are you?” Fenton asked, ** Mosquito Jack!” ‘* What?” ‘* Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin, ‘*-You’ve adopted an odd name.” ‘“‘Didn’t "dopt it. Name was given me at bap- tism, You see, my parients couldn’t ’gree on my classic appelatation, My dad, he wanted ter call me George Washin’ton Adams Jefferson Jackson—an’ some more on ’em, which [ disre- member; while my marm was dead seton heyin’ me called Clarence Percy Claude Jasper Oscar Fitz-noodie—pooty fair kind o’ given names, only a leetle elongated in parts; an’ my gran’- marm said it must be Hezekiah Elipbalet Zach- ariah; an’ they wuz bevin’ it bot w’en a mus- keeter lit on my nose an’ bit me soI yelled like Yizen, That settled it, an’ I was christened osquito Jack right off, smack!” : The hoy made this remarkable statement with great gravity of countenance, but the pire in his bright eyes showed he enjoyed bis joke, ‘“* Such a peculiar occurrence is equaled only by your veracity asa chronicler, Do you live near here?” ; ‘‘ Right there! Want ter hire a room?” Randolph had been talking because he had nothing else to do, but the practical question turned his thoughts into the same channel. He was homeless and must sleep somewhere. If he had been left to himself he would, of course, have gone toa hotel, but the inquiry came at a moment when he was open to impressions, He looked more critically at the dingy old house. Why should he not turn toa shelter of the kind atonce? Those who lived there were poor; so was he, Some had no money, prob- ably; he had but little, Perhaps they had em- ployment; he had none, Why not sink to bis new level, at once? ‘* Who keeps the house?” ‘*My a’nt, Mrs, Sariab Brown,” Is it an honest place?” “None honester.’ ‘*T'll go in and see your aunt,” ‘* Poller on!” For a moment Mosqnito Jack had looked sur- prised, but the expression soon disappeared. He crossed the street. Reaching the curbstone, be looked around, and, seeing Randolph at his heels, again looked surprised. .In pointof fact he had not expected the stylish-looking young man to follow him; he had regarded the latter’s words as no more than a joke; and whem he noticed Randolph’s decided air, he’ gave evi- dences of disapproval which the young man would have noticed under some circumstances. At the threshold the guide actually stopped, but Randolph spoke curtly: “Goon!” Mosquito Jack went. He led the way toa seedy parlor, and then summoned Mrs. Sarab Brown. She proved’ to be a thin woman, much given to sighing, but seemed too weak of nature to be vicious, That she had an eye to business was shown by the manner in which, despite several wandering glances at the appli- cant’s clothing, she let him a room, It was high in the house, and the plainest of rooms; it was scantily furnished and equipped with a*ragged carpet; but the price was mod- a pee he engaged it with all the philosophy possible, Mrs, Brown left him, but he detained Mosqui- to Jack, and conversed with that eccentric per- son until they were quite well acquainted, Jack finally pleaded work to attend to, and Randolph was alone, Later, he noticed that there was no key in the door of bis room, and as such a thing seemed very essential, he de- scended to interview Mrs, Brown. On reaching the hall he heard her voice in the parlor and entered. She and another woman were its only occupants, ‘“‘Mrs. Brown,” he began, ‘‘I fail to find—” The second woman, toward whom he bad hardly glanced, oe to her feet with a cry and, a moment later, her arms were clasped around Randolph’s neck. CHAPTER II, SOMEBODY'S MISTAKE. ‘Bertram! Oh! thank Providence I again see you!” were the words which rung in Randolph’s startled ears, bits He struggled stoutly to cast off the encircling arms but in vain. The woman clung to him and murmured words of joy and tenderness, real or feigned, while he writhed about in alarm. He had the suspicion which those of the higher classes often feel for the babitations of the lowly born, and had wondered before leaving his room whether it would prove that he was ina den of thieves. Now, the tenacious hold of the woman’s arms led him to fear attack from some more dangerous foe, and he broke away as soon as possible, “What in the world do you mean?” he cried, with mixed indignation and suspicion, ‘Should say she meant ter rumple yer shirt- collar, by Ebenezer!” quoth Mosquito Jack, who had just entered the room, ‘Bertram, is it thus you receive me?” de- manded the strange woman, sadly. ~ ‘Should remark that the thusness o’ the re- ception was on t’other foot!” commented Jack, ‘¢ My name is not Bertram,” sharply answered Randolph. ‘*T have long doubted that, myself.” ‘* Your doubts are well founded.” ‘At least, I hope I have no cause to doubt you !” ’ ‘* What am I to you, anyhow?” ‘* My busband!” “ Your husband?” ‘¢ Cricketty-jim !” : , The last unique expression was from irre- pressible Jack, but Randolph looked only at the woman. He saw she was young and far from ill-looking, but bis opinion of her was decidedly below par. 5 “So you are a blackmailer!” he exclaimed. “ Bertram! how can you?” F \ With this reply, and it was really pathetic, the young woman burst into tears. If they were feigned, the acting was well done, “You wrong Mrs, Dalton, sir,” interposed the landlady, with dignity. ‘I don’t understand this scene, but if you think ber capable of in-— juring you, or any one else, you are mistaken,” ‘At any rate, I am not Bertram, nor am 1- her husband—I believe that is what she said.” — The young woman’s head was lifted. ‘Do you deny that we were married?” ‘*T do, emphatically; I never saw you before,” “T suppose you never even heard of Lena Curtis?” \ “T never did.” “‘ My worst fears are realized!” “Your fears I know nothing about, buf I If youare — don’t stand between you and them, acting a part, I assure you it will avail you — nothing; if you are laboring under a genuine — ‘; gh a ~
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, Pee. ". or a vhs), ? Mo squito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. mistake, take my word when [say [am not this Bertram of whom you speak.” RKandolph’s manner bad grown less aggressive. The young woman gave every evidence of real grief—even of sincerity—and he regarded her more critically than before. She had a kind of delicate comeliness which approached to beauty, buat was hke that of one who had seen more than her share of sorrow. ‘*This thing should be cleared up!” asserted Mosquito Jack, thrusting bis unclean hands deep into his pockets and looking wise. ‘‘ Marriage ain’t no common thing; it’s an onspeakable cat- astrophe; a ygnawin’ distemper o’ the heart; a calamity o’ mustangdonic proportions, It takes at least two ter git married, an’ sometimes all o’ the wife’s relations wants a voice in the bill o’ fair. Discords, dislocations an’ divorces then foller, Let us look inter this kerlamity joodici- ally?” 4 The speaker turned gravely to Randolph: “Mrs, Lena Dalton here is a single married woman, an’ the only husband she’s got she ain’t got, He’s skipped an’ left her in the soup, but she ain’t ‘in it,’ an’ he’s ‘out o’ sight.’ She thinks you married her; you think not, You may both be wrong. Mebbeshe married you, but you didn’t marry her. Kin that be it?” Light and careless as the self-styled Hustler Gamin’s remarks were, they were not without ood effect. He covered a pause which enabled ena to dry ber tears in a measure, while Ran- dolph fully decided that he was not among per- sons whose object was blackmail. Of course be was uot thena fit subject for such a scheme, but his expensive clothing gave a wrong idea of his financial means, ‘** Let us settle this affair,” he continued, more amiably. ‘I don’t think we need to quarrel. Do you still think that I look like your hus- band?” “You are my husband; you are Bertram Dal- ton!” Lena insisted, but in a hopeless way. Randolph made a deprecating gesture. ** Will you kindly tell me your story?” She told it—a story tuld many times, with but slight variations, She bad been a shop-girl. She met a young man who was well-dressed, handsome, aristo- cratic and, judging by the money he spent, rich, He saw and admired her; made her acquaint- ance; courted and married her. He took her from the shop, freed ber from all labor, bired comfortable rooms, and was very attentive for a year. He had never been at home—at her home —regularly, but accounted for his absence at various times by saying he was a commercial traveler, — Finally, he disappeared altogether. He left with her two bundred dollars, and a note which stated that he was going to Europe, and sbe would never see him again. She never had seen him again—‘ until now,” she added, looking at Randolph. “ You still insist that I am he?” ‘* What else can you expect?” ‘Naturally, I could not expect anything else; this is the one thing not to be expected. It is a ease of mistaken identity, for I never saw you before, as I have stated.” Lena looked at him with moistened eyes and saddened face, and then sighed. She was not a determined woman, and, having previously de- cided, that Bertram Dalton had deserted her permanently, and would never live with her again, she was ready to accept a refusal now— not willingly, but as a matter of necessity. Nevertheless, her faith that Randolph Fenton was Dalton remained unshaken, Mosquito Jack gave his head a wise nod. ‘‘Can’t you prove an alibite, mister?’ he asked. _ “An alibi ?” repeated Randolph, impulsively. “Certainly! I can show just where I was all the time you knew Dalton, and prove that I was elsewhere—” He stopped short. He was no longer Ran- dolph Fenton, with rich and highly-respectable relatives to certify to bis good character. By whom could he prove what he alleged? Only the members of his father’s household could establish the fact that be had always been at home of nights, and, as he felt then, he would sooner go to prison than call on his father for help. Ho bad given his name to Mrs. Brown as Peter Woods, and Peter Woods he must remain. _ * Le’s go right over and see yer alibites,” ad- big. ti the practical Hustler Gamin. Randolph could not help being confused, and each of the trio noticed it. Naturally, too, they ascribed his confusion to conscious guilt. ‘* There is no haste,” he observed, awkwardly. _ “T will, in due time, establish all I assert.” ee LL Lena regarded him in the same mournful man- ner, a fact that appealed to his sympathies strongly. **T suppose you feel hurt,” he pursued, ‘‘ but I wish to disabuse your mind of the idea that you are receiving fresh wrong from your husband, Whatever he has done, he does not enter into this scene; I am not he,” “Sbe don’t b’lieve you, mister,” remarked Jack, ** For her sake, I wish she could.” ‘What erbout your sake?” ‘*T repeat, I can readily prove that I am not Dalton.” “‘ Wives do git mixed now an’ then,” declared Jack, philosophically. ‘“‘Our courts are jest jammed with cases where women claim men who don’t want ter share their matromonial affiections, I allow it must be that gals ain’t critikel enough when they git married; they should take a good, square look at their hus- bands, so’s ter know ’em next time, Mebbe a better way would be for each gal ter brand a private mark on her hubby, as the Texas cattle- owners do on their steers, ’Twould be a good idee, I allow!” The Hustler Gamin looked thoughtfully at the ceiling, and then emphatically added: ‘oT would, by Ebenezer!” “Mrs. Dalton,” continued Randolph, touched by her patience, ‘‘ you can rely upon me to help you all I can. I wish you would get rid of the idea that I am a heartless knave, and regard me as an honest man who is willing to help, not in- jure you.” It was asking a good deal of her, when her faith in her own judgment was so strong, and it was but natural that her manner remained tbe same as before, “Mr. Woods,” said Mrs. Brown, ‘I'll tell you how you can settle this.” “ How?” “Take her to your home, and let your parents testify that you are not, cannot have been, this Bertram Dalton,” Randolph hesitated, ‘*T bave no home,” “Parents?” ** No!” he answered, bitterly, ** You hesitate and are confused. if you are telling the whole truth?” ‘*T have not advertised to tell all my private affairs; I simply say I can prove I’m not Dal- ton. ‘* By whom?” d Tbat you will learn when I see fit to prove it! Randolph, still smarting under his own mis- fortunes of the day, was not in a mood to be cross-questioned so suspiciously, and the manner of his answer was quite as ungracious as his words. Mrs, Brown was not a resolute or vixen- ish woman, but she bad seen a good deal of the dark side of life; enough so she had little or no faith in mankind. As a result, she now believed Randolph guilty, and, on receiving his last an- swer, turned to Lena and nodded knowingly. The young man saw this movement, and felt freshly aggrieved, He was going out of his way to offer aid to Lena, and was only met with doubts. He saw the folly of continuing the con- versation. “Mrs. Brown, the room of my door bas no key,” he remarked, abruptly. ‘If you willgive me one, [ will return there.” The key was handed over at once, ‘Mrs, Dalton, if you will refrain from spread- ing this absurd rumor about me, you can rel upon me to belp you to the extent of my abil- ity. Adding these words, Randolph turned and went up-stairs. He was about to close the door of his room when he saw Mosquito Jack in the way. The youth had softly followed. ‘Ef you don’t mind, mister,” he remarked, “Til come in an’ talk politics an’ policy with yer.” - Company would keep Randolph’s mind par- tially from bis home troubles, end he allowed Jack toenter. “* Women is queer critters!” asserted the Hust- ler Gamin, gravely. ‘Is this common?” ** What?” “* Fer lonely, lovely an’ lorn maidens ter claim you fer a cash-pervider.” ; ‘* You mention cash, Do you think this Mrs, Dalton is a blackmailer?” ‘Bless your dear beart, mister, no/ Lena ain’t on the make, There’s Cheslington dead gone on her, an’ a-sighin’ like a bellus fer her, an’ a-beseechin’ ter love him; but she won’t even say ‘ Boo!’ ter him.” ** Who is he?” Why is this, ie Mister, I ain’t a mind-reader, an’ ef I wuz, | his mind might not make Sunday-school peroo- sin’ matter, Everard is a gay young buck who dresses like a royal dook o’ London, an’ pays | his bills, That’s all my respectable aunt, | Sariah Brown, widder, dares ter ask him. Ketch on?” | “7 infer that he’s a man about town who—” “Pm that, too, but I don’t find the Uncle Sam dollars that Everard does. Man about town! Say, | kin show you ez mucho’ New York as any guide-book kin tell, Want ter be piloted *round?” The boy spoke eagerly, and Randolph was not at a loss to understand that he wished to earn ajdollar, *“*T know too much of New York, already,” was the bitterly-spoken answer. “Show! Go way! Why, it’s the boss city o’ the world!” ** Granted !—for those in luck.” “That’s why it suits me wal!” quoth Jack, with a humorous smile, This new acquaintance amused Randolph. **Do you suppose you could show me any- thing new?” “Do I? ‘Wal, I should exclaim, Ebenezer! What shall it be? I hev it! All young bloods like ter specerlate; I kin show you a broker’s orfice in a garret, where deeds are done that rattle the king’s o’ Wall street!” CHAPTER III. RANDOLPH GETS INTO HARD COMPANY. Mosquito JACK had unconsciously touched a tender spot when he alluded to speculation, and Randolph was about to stop him short, but the conclusion of the sentence was so unexpected that the Fenton outcast changed his mind. ‘* A broker’s office in a garret?” he repeated, *¢ Jes’ so.” * Where?” **Ob! down yonder.” ‘* Why is it in a garret?” ** Owls an’ foxes operate mostly at night, but they git more chickens thanbawks, Dark deeds need dark nights!” ** Don’t speak in metaphors, You have inter- ested me, and I would like to know more about this place. ‘Down yonder’ is very indefinite, but I infer that the place is far from Wall street and financial centers. Why. is this? Who runs it? What is there irregular about their mode of doing business?” ‘“*T kinder stagger under the weight o’ your questions, but I never lose my feet. As a dic- tionary I ain’t much, as a guide, I am the best sence Daniel Boone. Ef you want ter see the piace, ante up one dollar, coin o’ the realm, an’ foller where I lead.” ‘But I want to know more of this place—” *Can’t tell yer nothin’; a painful impediment in my ears prevents me from talkin’ much; butef you want ter see, my ears won't interfere with yer eyesight—or ef they do, I'll pin em back out o’ yer way.” ** But bow can we gain access toa place where all is done on the quiet?” ‘*There’s a club-room where all kin go in ef they bev’ the password, an’ the broker-: flice is nigh it. That’s all I kin tell.” That was all Randolph learned, at any rate, for Jack proved to he too obdurate to yield to persuasions. He bad interested his companion, however, and Fenton determined to make the -venture. That it was a venture he was well aware—it might be one of great danger—but he was accustomed to night-life in New York, felt able to care for himself, and bad been rendered reckless enough by Colonel Fenton’s treatment to dare dangers he would bave avoided at any other time, ‘*T'll go,” he announced, ter. You are goin’ where poverty rubs shoul- ders with itself, but uot with purple an’ fine linen. You must hev’ some old clo’se.” Here was a rock of difficulty, for Randolph had only the suit upon his back, but the self- styled Hustler Gamin was equal tothe emergency. There was a store near at hand where a suit eould be bad for avery few dollars, If Ran- dolph went, he must purchase, Bitter and not,a little discopraged, Fenton had a vague idea of iidedibtn out asa coal- beaver, street-laborer, or something of the sort. Why not find his level at once? He went out with Jack and purchased a suit at a price he considered almost a mere nothing, True, the garments were very coarse, and did not promise to endure hard service well, but he thought them just suited to his new level. When he had put them on even Mosquito Jack smiled gravely. : ** Wouldn’t know ye, by Ebenezer! You look “You don’t want ter wear them clo’se, mis- —
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_ Johnson, reeling in Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. twice as big as you did. They must be easy, fer they don’t seem ter touch ye now’ers but on the shoulders. Still, they’re better than a blan- ket, fer they’ve got legs an’ arms.” Thus eccentrically equipped, Randolph fol- lowed Jack out of the house, As they went down the ill-kept, poorly-lighted street, he wavered for a moment, kless as he felt, be realized that it was an act of folly to go with a stranger into a place of which he knew nothing. It might be a resort of thieves, and Jack might be their decoy. He looked sharply at the boy as they passed a street-lamp. His face was keen and bright, as well as somewhat mischievous, but good nature and humor lurked in the big eyes and the quaint mouth, ** Tf he isn’t honest,” thought Fenton, ‘‘ Nature has put the wrong brand on him. [I'll see the adventure out.” They reached a big, rambling old brick build- ing. The lower floor was devoted to business purposes, but the guide led the way up-stairs, and to a door, the location of which he certainly knew well. ** Look keerless, innocent an’ tough !” directed Jack, turning bis head for a moment; then he threw open the door, The club-room lay before Randolph. Jack was going ahead in a free-and-easy manner, and despite his former intimation, there was no one to remonstrate against it. Peace and good wil] seemed to prevail, and there was no visible ar- rangement for preventing strangers from enter- ing, though Randolph took it for granted that he might have been stopped had it not been for Jack’s presence, He saw a Jong room, with a second room be- yond it, the two being connected by big sliding- doors. A cheap carpet was on the floor; cheap pictures were on the wall; cheap furniture com- pleted the furnishing. The room was well filled, but not by honest workingmen, Randolph thought. The air was blue with tobacco-smoke, and several pitchers of beer sat on the table. Reading matter was there, too, but mostly in the shape of so-called sporting-papers, gaudy with sensational illus- trations, But it was to the men that Randolph looked mostly—men and boys; for balf of the crowd were less than twenty-one, and some not over fifteen. He at once decided that, though they might not be criminals, they were not of the stuff of which good citizens are made, Avoiding the long table, the guide conducted Randolph to a small table at one side, where only one man was sitting. “Hullo, Gulliver!” quoth the solitary man, “ Hullo, Flippy Jim!” returned Jack, calmly. ** How’s yer muscle?” ee So-so,” ‘*Who’s yer frien’?” ** Peter Woods,” ** Intrerduce me,” “ Peter, turn the axles o’ yer eyes this way. Look at Mr. Flippy Jim, street delegate o’ this sassiety.” Jack performed the introduction gravely, and Randolph, much to his disgust, had to acknow- ledge the ceremony. Of all the persons present Flippy Jim was the worst looking. He was very ragged, and his sepply of dirt put dis rags to the blush, He had a red face, in the mid- dle of which was a nose yet higher colored{ and several sizes too large. In brief, he was a typ- ical bummer. ‘Don’t remember seein’ you here afore,” ob- served Mr. Flippy Jim, ‘ but then, I don’t know allo’ the boys. Yer see, I’m a bit exclusive, an’ don’t mix with Tom, Dick an’ Harry. I come ©’ gentle blood, sirs.” The speaker tried to straighten up with pride, but only brought on a fit of drunken coughing, “ He’s N. G.!”-tersely whispered Jack to Ran- olph. “Gentle blood,” repeated Jim, when he re- covered his breath, ‘“ 7 father was own cousin ter a Vic, an’ my mother was a Roosban duke—I mean, princess. I move in ‘%way-up sassiety, here. You know Michael O’Dowley?” “Sartain,” replied Jack. on this beat.” ‘Zactly. Wal, Mike—Move-on Mike, we cal] him—has engaged me ter help him run this ward, an’ I’m goin’ ter doit, I know Everard Cheslin » too, an’ the firm o’ Smythe & ‘*He’s the copper «‘ They sells pools on the races,” Jack explain- . ed, to Randolph, pointing toward the rear, ‘Great place in thar!” asserted Flippy Jim. zh Fis chair, “* Pool-sellin’, stock- obbin? _the li —don’t know what they don’t do there; but it’s all on the square.” Randolph was not pleased with Jim; in fact, he was one of the most offensive wretches the young man bad ever seen, monument of rags, dirt and drunkenness that he was, Wishing to get rid of him, the former turned to Mosquito ack, ** Suppose we see the other place, now?” “ W’ot place?” “The one you were to show; the alleged banking office,” explained Randolph, lowering his voice. ** Don’t think we kin get in.” “Why not?” ‘’Tain’t open ter the public.” ‘“‘ But you promised to show it to me,” * Not the inside |” ‘* What do you suppose I care for the outsido? Come! I’ve paid my money, and I want you to keep your word, I trust you have not played a trick on me?” ‘* My frien’,” gravely answered the Hustler Gamin, ‘‘ I can’t do w’ot I can’t do. I didn’tagree ter show you the carpet in that orfice, an’ let you set in the big arm-chair, fer there may be no arm-chair there, an’ 1 never seen the carpet, myself. You see that orfice isa very private lace, an’ unless a feller is in the swim, he must satisfied ter look at the knob on the door!” “The long and short of it is you have deceiv- ed me!” Randolph was angry, and strongly tempted to rise and leave Jack to his chosen company, but that young citizen, with unfailing good-humor, remonstrated : “Now, don’t talk that way; you just my feelin’s. I never agreed ter show ye the inside, an’ didn’t know as you wanted ter see it. I kin show ye the door, an’ that’s all I know anything about. What's done inside is done right sly an secret, I’m sorry ef I’ve raised false hopes, or disa’p’inted ye; an’ as fer deceivin’ on ye, why, I'll hand yer money right back ef you feel [ ain’t acted on the square.” This statement was so frankly made that Mosquito Jack recovered his lost place in Randolph’s esteem, ‘* Never mind the money, but if you can give me insight to the workings of that banking office, so called, do not fail to do it,” ** That sleek-lookin’ feller over there is John- son, the pool-seller, an’ he’s really in cahoots with Cheslington, I ain’t no doubt. Hullo! there’s Ches, now!” A flashily-dressed man eo them, joined Johnson, and was soon shaking hands with him. ** Come into the office,” requested Cheslington, in a tone not so low but that it reachec Randolpb’s ears, ‘I’ve got a new pointer on that down-town speculator, and we'll make a how] at bis expense to-morrow!” They went on, Randolph turned to his guide and exclaimed: ‘* Jack, I must see the inside of that office!” CHAPTER IV, ON THE THRESHOLD OF A SECRET, RANDOLPH was excited. He was in just the right mood to receive impressions, and, with his curiosity already aroused by the alleged secrecy attending this strangely situated ‘‘ office,” he bad been strongly moved by Cheslington’s last words: ; “ve got a new pointer on that down-town speculator, and we’ll make a haul at his expense to-morrow |” Significant words, when the condition of Colonel Fenton’s business house was considered. Randolph was not a person by any means wild and visionary, but an earnest desire to in- vestigate this matter had seized upon him, Cheslington, he bad read ata glance. Flashy as the average sporting-man usually was, he had that in his facial expresston which told of a man who lived by his wits, and cared not whether his ways were those of honor, __ Jack, to this last ‘Sh!” returned Mosquito assertion, ‘‘ Don’t put too much hydraulic force inter yer voice.” The Hustler Gamin looked around apprehen- sively, but Flippy Jim was nodding over an empty beer-glass, and the rest of the frequenters of A rae ay seemed unconscious of the group by etable, « ‘This ain’t a Sunday-school meetin’-house,” added Jack, in a lowvoice, ‘‘There’s some here who are rank p’izan, an’ would oo as soon ker- wallop us as not. Sing low while we're bere!” ‘*T want to know more about those men,” “We'll fix it, ef possible, but ef these tiger- lambs git on ter the fact we’re mousin’ arter secrets, we'll go out 0’ here so fast you could play | a game o’ checkers on our coat-tails.” ry ‘ ‘was saying, ‘tis that you go too ‘*T am prepared to believe all you assert, and will be duly cautious, But I want information, and am willing to pay for it.” ‘** Cheslington an’ Jobpson hev locked the orfice- door.” ** So I noticed.” ‘* Wal, we’re shut out.” : ‘*But can’t we work some scheme to listen at some other point? I see you have no great amount of love for this gang, and I dare say you are not averse to earning five dollars,” ““My soul ain’t bound up in money,” Jack re- torted, ‘‘ but I’m willin’ ter give a pard a lift when [ kin, But about this orfice scheme, I don’t see how we kin work the riffle ’thout ru+- nin’ a powerful sight o’ resk; 1 don’t, by Ebe- nezer |!’ ‘* I’m willing to take the risk, if you are,” The Hustler Gamin looked curiously at Ran- dolph. ‘* You're in a reckless frame 0’ mind, an’ the frame is like a cat’s whiskers, broad enough ter be wisible at long range. Dunno erbout your wild an’ resky plans; they might git J. J. Marsh —w’ich is me—inter the p’izenest diflikilty on record!” The speaker glanced around at their compan- ions, and Randolph did not fail to appreciate his doubts, Still, he was too eager to drop the point, and he continued to press it, Jack medi- tated, and finally remarked: ‘Ef your life is so much no good that you want ter resk it, mebbe I kin put you in a way ter do it.” **Do so, and you sball be well paid.” ‘Shoot the pay! Money is all right fer a small job, but when a feller resks his neck, it’s ay enough ter git away with it unbroke, See ere! Et’s a double-header, an’ likewise laps tie win- der o’ the wash-room over yender. ow, ef we kin crawl out o’ the last winder itll take us to the fire-escape, an’ we kin cavort over an’ heark at the orfice-winder, All this we kin do if—if— if! An? the biggest if o’ the whole gang is, 7 we don’t git ketched an’ flamdoodled.” It was plain that the Hustler Gamin bold as he undoubtedly was, did not approve of taking so much risk, but the outcast scion of the house of Fenton was in a mood for any hazardous ex- loit. } 4 He caught at the-chance held out, and urged it so strongly that Jack finally yielded. They arose and passed through the rearmost of the two rooms Randolph had first seen. — As before, they attracted no attention, Rough as the members of the club were—and lawless, too, as many of them were—they*were not ex- clusive, Strangers often came in with mem- bers, and the membership was so large that few poeenaed to know every face that rightfully longed there, Back of the second apartment was the wash- room, and this was found untenanted, Mosquito Jack threw up the Moma | ‘‘Hustle fer keeps!” he dirécted, “hurriedly. ‘* Et’s now or never, an’ ef we git ketched, good- by, Ebenezer!” ; Both crawled out on the adjacent floor of the fire-escape, and the window was closed bebind them. Randolph looked at the dark expanse be- ond, mi It’s a ticklish situation,” he admitted, — “Ticklish! It’s like playin’ keerds without ary trump. Once Jet tbe alarm sound, and where would we be? Kin we fly? Mebbe you kin, but I’m never fly unless nigher sublunatic things; which means, on the ground. Mind you, Mister Peter Woods, ef we git seen, we've gutto ~ go down the fire-escape. I’d jest as soon be ex- cused— Hullo! he don't hear me, at all!” Randolph had gone to the other window, so iJack devoted his time to looking thoughtfully around, Beyond them lay the usual area of back yards, and it was adark and pokerish place at that hour. The Hustler Gamin had been through the usual experiences of boys, but a race among the yards with the members of the club in pursuit was. something he did not covet, ts ‘‘They’d jest as soon blaze away at us with revolvers as ter eat hash!” be muttered, Randolph was at the window, The shade was — lowered, but the upper sash was down a little at the top, He moved the shade, and saw Ches- lington and Johnson. They were smoking, and, lounging in easy-chairs, seemed to be taking life _ easy. ; m es : r. ; 18 “The only trouble with you, Pe haa “Don’t | make a good thing?” eee “ Yes; but you ought todo better. This snaj can’t last forever—” _ medi . AR: “Right! 1f we go in toodeep it would burst Outside the orfice winder is a fire-escape. -
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Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin, eS wea in no time; they would know the game was be- ing worked, and investigation would lead to dis- covery. You are too bold, Johnson—reckless, _ would be a better word.” “The races don’t pan out blocks of dust in winter. Your line, though, is even all the year around, and if I were in your place I’d make 9 Wall street shake,” **Look you!” Cheslington returned, with evi- dences of annoyance, ‘‘{ am playing a fiddle with one string. Suppose that string breaks, where am I? Again, putitin this light: I de- pend wholly on the old man and his clients, If I go in too deep I run two risks: first, | may, by making business poor, drive away all the old man’s customers; second, I shall surely raise his just how we get pointers.” ‘You may be right.” Tam.” “*Do you know how the old man takes it?” ‘* Word comes to me that he is beginning to hop like a cat on a hot stove. There are losses in his business; there is a constant drain; ven- when he bas a pet scheme all ready for action, somebody steps in and plucks the plum just ahead of him—and all this in spite of the iron ry, guard of secrecy he throws about his office.” Johnson laughed, “Ten't it funny?” ** While tne lucre comes our way—yes.” * Keep it up, old chappie!” ’ “The very latest report,” added Cheslington, thoughtfully, ‘‘ is that the old man is beginning to look darkly at his son—his trusted utility man. I’ve been thinking, this evening, that it and got fired.” Suddenly, the window of the wash-room was flung open. One of the members of the club put out his head, and, naturally, Randolph and Jack became objects very much visible to his eyes, 4 ‘* Spies!” he cried, **Scud, mister!” exclaimed the Hustler Gamin, , 'urriedly, catching at young Fenton’s arm, The latter was all wrapped up in the conver- sation in the office, which, deeply interesting from the first, had just reached an absorbing point, and the interruption was most unwel- come, He actually hesitated to leave, but the words spoken by the man in the wash-room as an exclamation was repeated as a shout, and Mosquito Jack forcibly pulled bis ally back. Ker er < - f if ; ‘* Down the fire-escape, or yer name is Dennis Ny i KK, Mud!” he declared, sharply, ¢ st Randolph needed no more urging. Their arch-enemy was yelling like a trooper, and cap- ‘ure certainly would follow if they lingered. Fenton an to scramble down the small rungs, closely followed by the Hustler Gamin. e who had given the alarm had ceased to be so noisy, but many voices, in a lower key, were aow joined in a chorus, which made a confused humming above them. Questions were asked so _. treely and rapidly that answers were far from xi distinct, but, just then, Randolph looked up and ; saw a man on the fire-escape, Pursuit was sharp, Just then, too, Randolph found himself at the end of the iron ladder, though not down to the ground, ' f ** Go on!” urged Mosquito Jack. / ** But the ladder stops here.” ‘a: ‘* We mustn’t, ef that does, Drop!” b pee Fenton hesitated. He had due regard for the ag <r ee erratic ‘ them to such atest. He looked up anxiously, i? yea saw men peering down all along the flooring A above, ; ‘* I see him!” cried one, ‘*Give him a shot!” ' Randolph hesitated no longer. Releasing his hold, he moved toward the ground in swift, helpless flight. CHAPTER V, eo THEY FACE THE POLICE, if RANDOLPH’S thoughts at that moment were occurrence, for Mosquito Jack had come reckless] Bes z ran together, but both were soon up. ‘ suspicions so that he will investigate and learn | tures that ought to succeed well go to the dogs; | wouldn’t be odd if the son fell under suspicion ! | breathlessly, as he vaulted over a fence. solidity of bis bones, and did not like to put’ | i directed, hurriedly, ‘‘We’ve got ter shake our hoofs!” ‘““There they be!” declared a voice above, ** Shoot them!” It was the advice of some hot-headed person, and if any one had a revolver, he was prudent enough not to use it, ‘*Down to the basement door, and we'll run them down yet!” cried a second speaker, Some of the club-men were not inclined to wait for a way so slow, and as Randolph poised on the top of the first fence, he saw a pursuer dangling from the fire-escape, ready to drop. Randolph went over into the next yard, where agile Jack had already preceded him, ‘*It?3 slow work,” admitted the boy, “ but what bothers us will bother them. Jest keep the pot a-b’ilin’!” Jack had not exaggerated in regard to the first part of his remark, and as Randolph sur- veyed the long stretch of yards on both sides of them, his courage wavered. ‘“*How are we to get out of the square, any- how?" he asked, doubtfully. ‘“ Thar’s an alley over yender. Jest keep up yer grit, an’ we’ll suon be out o’ the woods,’ ‘“ Unless they make use o’ the street, and set a guard at the other end of the alley.” “True, by Ebenezer!” Jack could not combat the idea of danger thus advanced, and bis own spirits were not much lighter than his'companion’s, Several pursuers were coming after them in the same way they were traveling, but of them there seemed to be little need of fear; everything depended upon whether the alley was guarded, They approached the deciding point, ‘*T see no one, from here,” observed Randolph ‘*Mebbe they’re bidin’ inside, But see here, Peter, I know the copper on this beat, an’ he’s wy friend; Move on Mike, they calls him, an’ he’s a right good chap, Ef there is a ructionI shall act innercent, an’ Mike may be good enough ter let us bamboozle bim,” “Try it!” ' “ Here we be!” : They reached the alley, and started through, but had gone only a few steps when they met several men who were moving quite as fast as themselves, ‘* Here de th’avin’ crathures be!” crieda deep, eats voice, and a strong hand seized Mosquito ack, ** Hold up, Mike!” cried the quick-witted boy; ‘you hev got the wrong pig by theear. We ain’t them; it’s only mean’ my friend, Pete. We're lookin’ fer them.” * Ts dat you, Mosquito Jack?” ** Sure!” **Oh! you've been lookin’ for dem?” ‘*- Yes; but nevera sign do I see.” “ Begorra, Oi’ll soon yun thim down, Dey don’t escape Move-on Moik!” Tbe patrolman swung his club fiercely and passed the fugitives, intent upon discovery. ‘*Keep right with Mike,” whispered Jack, to Randolph, ‘“* We've fooled bim, an’ now the rest is easy ef we hev decent luck, Mike is a brick!” Led by the policeman they emerged from the alley, reaching the connecting back-yard just as two of the foremost pursuers vaulted over the fence, ‘Here dey are, de tha’ves!” cried the blue- coat. ‘‘Begorra! if dis job don’t make a ser- geant ave me, O1 shall not bave me roights\” He pounced upon the pursuers, ‘* Yield, in de name ave Liberty an’ de Con- stitution ave de United States, or Oi’)l club de Kreg off ave yez!” he declared, flourishing his club, , “Say, let us alone, will you—” ‘“‘Niver a let-alone, will Oi! ‘You'll be marched to de coort an’ tried for high tr’ason, begorra!” ‘** But you've got the wrong men—” ‘ ‘“Wrong nothing! Oi’ve got you, an’ O7rll hang on in de name ave de State ave N’ Yorruk!” “Say, Mike—” » ‘Call me Officer O’Dowley, ye thafe!” ‘‘But the thieves are gettin’ away all this while. Don’t you know me, Mike? I’m Ted Smith.” ‘Saint Patbrick defend us!” The officer found ke had been shaking and menacing one of his personal acquaintances, and a member of the club, onsiderably -abashed he released his hold, but his ardor was unchecked, ‘We'll foind thim assassins, or tear dis block all to pieces!” he declared. ‘They came right to this alley—” a A Over the fence, mister!” the Hustler Gamin ** Dat’s phere you’s mistaken, for Oi was on de lookout all de toime, Dey’re in hoidin’ near here Scatter, fellers, an’ search ivery yard. can’t git away!’ Officer O’Dowley’s word was law, and the members of the club proceeded to assist him. ‘*Keep right at Mike’s heels!” Jack directed, nudging Randolph, ‘It’s the safest place, now. Ef we stan’ rigbt up ter the crib an’ take our corn with the rest, nobody won’t suspect us.” This was sound advice, and Randolph imitated Jack in adhering to it, The young man was the most unhappy of the whole party. Danger of seizure was not past, and be was chagrined to find bimself in such a predicament, He had entertained bigh ideas of honor, and now only lack of identification stood between bim and arrest, Move-on Mike had zeal, if not the best of judg- ment, and he beat around the back-yards for a long time, but, finally, he and his assistants were obliged to confess that they were beaten. It was the general opinion that the ‘‘ thieves” resiijed in the block, and had re-entered their ber-e by the rear door. ; Ail parties adjourned to the street, where the members of the club bade Mike good-night ani returned to their quarters. Only Jack and Raniclpbh were left with the doughty knight of the locust. “ Begorra, Jack,” quoth Mike, ‘Oi shall get no serge:nt’s berth out ave dat!” ‘* Better Juck, next time, officer.” ‘*Well, Oi should vociferate! Say, such a thing as dat can’t occur on my beat an’ go ur- punished, Oi’ll have dem spalpeens or bu’st! Oi’ll cast out a drag-net, an’ get dem into it, alive or dead, You bear me?” ‘* Bet yer life, Mike; and you’re solid, too.” ‘Watch me do it, Jack! Watch de drag-net nab’em! Oi say, who’s yer frien’?” ** Peter Woods, is his name,’’ ** Peter, Oi’m glad ter see yez! Anny toime you want a favor on dis beat, call on me—any- thing in r’ason, you understand, Oi have no great pull wid de saloons, for Oi’m not a drinkin. © man; but Oi sthand by Liberty an’ de Consti- tooskun, ivery toime!” And Move-on Mike waved his club as if it were a battle-ax, with which he intended to oe every enemy of his above-mentioned idols, Jack saw that Ranolph wished to get away, so they bade Officer O'Dowley good-night, and walked down the street. ‘Quite an eppisod!” remarked tbe Hustler Gamin, oy. ' “Thank fortune we are out of it in safety!” fervidly added Fenton, ‘*Do you think yer got paid fer the fire-escape plot?” SeViae, 7 “ Queer pay!” { “T overheard something in Cheslington’s of- ‘Oh! did yer? I hope ‘twas beneficial, fer T’ve cast my lot with you, stranger though you be; an’ ag’in’ them club chaps. Shouldn’t want ter find I'd spllt my chicken-dough all the way round,” ‘* Jack, you have been very useful to me, and I am grateful. What will come of it 1 don’t know, sol can say nothing definite at present. One thing, however, I desire further—absolute silence on your part concerning this adven- e. ; ‘* Wal, I should echo! Don’t s’pose I’m goin’ ‘round ter advertise the fack that I’s one o’ the so-called thieves, do yer?” **No; but I wish you to be very quiet in re- gard tome. You and I have bee me acquainted in an odd way, but I like your style, and hope it may be kept up. We have a secret in which we are mutually interested, and about which we must say nothing. Furtber tban that, suppos: we keep up our alliance? We may be useful to each other?” ‘** Peter, you’re a trump! I couldn’t ’a’ said it better than! you’s did, an’ I admire yer elocu- shion, grammar, sentiments, eat scattery /— which is Latin fer ‘and so forth,’ Yes, well be pards; an’ I hope we'll continner ter hitch hosses wal, I like yer style!” Jack gravely shook hands with Randolph, and the compact was made, ‘ ‘When near Mrs, Sarah Brown’s boarding- house, Jack left his companion to go on an er- rand, and Fenton entered the house alone, went to his room and retired, a It was long before he slept; bis mind was crowded with thoughts which made him nervous. and feverish, and he tossed and turned restlessly on the none too comfortable bed, The dav had been the most eventful in his career, For weeks past he and his father had Dey ee
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Lg vd v4 Psi Say Bean Tet) ea av} *% . ig ar. 7 Ar? / ¢ * . b- ¢ j - Bs. ere SE rhs nd A er Rete Bere BaP Ale: “aol a MI h Kear dé _—e =e q - ha 3p * nt > . + ‘ 4 ’ Lye #. a3 irk % 6 Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. discussed the mysterious operations against Col- onel Fenton, which were so seriously affecting his business, but without gaining any light. Of late the colonel had been curt and ungracious to him, but the son had attributed it to the busi- ness troubles, and when, on returning to the family residence that afternoon, he had been ac- cused and driven from home, it was a complete surprise. : What a change a day had brought forth! He, the elder son of the wealthy speculator, was now a penniless outcast! He still felt burt and indignant over Colonel Fenton’s treatment, and, with the pride and fire of youth he assured himself that he would never again enter the paternal home. Before going out with Mosquito Jack his plans for the future had oscillated between a careér as a street la- borer and exile in some foreign country, but other thoughts were now in his mind. What about Everard Cheslington and his se- cret business? “Nearly all the conversation overheard while on the fire-escape was stamaped on Randolph’s mind, and as he reviewed it, it became more and more suggestive. Was Uheslington the man who was bleeding Colonel Fenton so sys- tematically? Viewed on the surface there seemed to be any quantity of evidence, but, to offset this theory, came the question: What means bad Cheslington of knowing any- thing of the colonel’s business? How could he know anything about it, when Fenton had never made any confidant except his now discarded son? It was a stubborn question, and Randolph’s spirits often fell—fell only to rise again. Hope would not yield to logic; it seldom does, So the young man planned on, vowed to follow up the possible clew, prove his own innocence, if possible—prove it only to reject proudly the forgiveness the colonel would tender; and then leave father, friends and home forever, and be a bitter, cynical exile. At this point, very properly, the schemer fell asleep, maT CHAPTER VI. FENTON’S DOUBLE, RANDOLPH awoke in tue morning feeling weary and lame, but consciousness of this fact soon left him. He looked around the barren, poorly-furnished room and contrasted it with the luxurious apartment in his father’s house, where he had been the morning before. For a while he was disheartened, but courage soon re- turned, ‘I am young and strong,” be thought; “‘ why should I lament lost advantages? Society and nonsense never interested nie, I now have a chance to fight the world on my own hook, and Pll try todoitlikea man. First of all, ’ll try to prove that I’m innocent of the infamous treachery charged against me by my father; then [ll cut loose from the old life and see what Yankee pluck can do for me. My first step, I take it, is properly to introduce my stomach to Mrs. Brown’s culinary treasures,” He dressed and went down-stairs, In the hall he met Lena Dalton, whose face lighted up with a bright smile, and, somewhat Zz his surprise, she advanced and started to kiss im. He retreated promptly. ; ‘* Pray don’t take me for Bertram again!” he remonstrated. * Don’t what?” le **T would suggest that you omit such demon- ’ gtrations until later.” * But we are alone,” ** Are you sure? Bertram maay be near.” * He is near!” ‘*What! have you found your husband? Al- low me to congratulate you—” ‘* How strangely you talk!” Lena exclaimed. ** Are not congratulations in order?” * IT don’t know. Seriously, I don’t know what to make of your conduct.” “Nor L of yours.” * It is simple in the extreme,” * But after what you said, last night, why should you avoid me so?” ‘* What did I say last night?” * That you would ackuowledge me as your wife, this morning.” * The dickens I did!” Randolph stared blankly at Lena. She was as meek, refined and ladylike as ever, while in her face was a curious mixture of hope, doubt and uncertainty. ** Certainly, you did!’ ' * Are you joking, or deranged?” Her persistence aroused all of his previous fears of blackmailers, and he used more stern- ness than ever before. Lena’s eyes filled with | poor I am financially, but I want my just po- tears, “T don’t know what to make of you,” she sigbed. ‘““If you are more at sea than I, you are a subject of pity, Your assertion that | promised to acknowledge you as my wife cannot be taken lightly, however.” “You made the promise!” “Lot Mrs. Brown and Jack be called, They heard all of our talk—” ‘* They did not hear a word!” s No?” ‘*No! We were wholly alone!” ‘* Madame, we stood in yonder parlor with Mrs. Brown and Jack—” “Tt was not then; it was when I met you up- stairs, and you know it, You will yet force me to lose all faith in you, Bertram. It was bad enough to desert me, and then deny me; but when, after you promised to acknowledge me as your wife, as you did when we stood in the hall up-stairs, and then deliberately go back on your word, it is cruelly unjust. It really is, Ber- tram!” Randolph gazed blankly at the speaker, If any one’s manner ever indicated sincerity and truthfulness hers did, but her claim was aston- ishing. ‘*T did not see you in the upper hall,” he as- serted, as soon as he could recover breath, ‘* Until now, [have not set eyes on you since I parted with you in the parlor, in the presence of Mrs. Brown and Jack!” ‘* Bertram, have you no regard for the truth?” Mosquito Jack suddenly made bis appearance, ‘Strikes me you two folks need an umpire, referee, ambassadress, one o’ the sev’ral or a good ’eal o’ both. Never knowed a fair maiden an’ brave man 80 woundedly at sixes an’ sevens in my life, Ter hear yer go on, a feller would think both on ye was the miserablest liars out- side o’ perlitikel offices—they would, by Ebene- zer!| Now, as an impartial disvorce cricket an’ criminal lawyer, I’ve listened on the sly ter you, an’ I mean ter step in an’ restore humony an’ family infection. I?m a peacemaker, 1 be, an’ any caliber is up’ards o’ thirty-two,” he Hustler Gamin had removed his battered bat, and stood before them with an air cf pro- found gravity, such as seemed befitting an ad- jucator of matrimonial tangles. ‘* Let us grapple with this conundrum,” he added, ‘‘ an’ either win or git p’izonly throwed, Both on you owe it to yourselves ter explain your way ont o’ this wrangle, or you'll lose my good opinion; [ can’t admire a precarivator.” ‘* Prevaricator,” suggested Randolph, me- chanically,. ‘*So I said, an’ so tis, In English, the word is liar! Now, Lena, whatsort of a giraffe did you meet up in the hall?” She silently indicated Randolph. “Tell us all about it.? Lena began the story in a listless way which ag that she had no confidence in the re- sults, _ “Tt was very late, and I thought every one but me had retired, I grew thirsty, and, as there is no running water in my room, went to that which has been vacant since Mrs. Persellus moved out, «Ia order to see, I lighted the gas at the end of the hall. i **T obtained my drink, and came out into the hallagain, Right ttiere I met Bertram.” She nodded to Randolph, who heard in silence. Her air of veracity again impressed him strong- ly, and he greatly wondered what this mystery was which made himslf a bone of contention. “ Bertrand started as if he had rather not have met me,” continued Lena, after a pause, “and then stood still. I spdke and asked the vague question: ‘Havent you retired yet? He said, ‘ No,’ briefly. “* Bertram,’ I went on, impulsively, earnest- ly, ‘I want you to think carefully, to-night, be- fore you go to sleep, and see if you will not do ae tome. I know I am not a fine lady, but trust I have ordinary intelligence. \In any case, | am your wife, and I love you. To me this is a matter of life or death; I live with ou, or die alone. This is my frame of mind. hink of it!—and I your wife!’ *** You are my wife!’ he returned. ‘*T felt the blood rush to my face, §**T)o you admit it? I cried. ‘** How can I deny it? *** You denied it before Mrs. Brown,’ ‘** Why spread one’s secrets broadcast? he asked, _ “** But, surely, if you intend to acknowledge me, you wonld not object to having Mrs, Brown know of it. Bertram,’I went on, eagerly, ‘I care not how humble my lot iu life, nor how sition by your side, Promise me,’ I urged, tak- ing his hand, ‘that you will acknowledge me as. your wife, Don’t leave me until you promise!’ Under the strength of her recollections Lena had lost herself, as it were—unconscious of those who now heard her, she repeated the conversa- tion dramatically, but without regard to effect, , for of that she thought not. Suddenly rousing, she looked at Randolph and added: . “Then you bent and kissed me, and declared: ‘To-morrow morning, Lena, I will acknowledge you as my wife!’” ‘* The dickens I did!” cried Randolph. “The record is beat; time, 2:11, minus 5!” quoth Mosquito Jack, enigmatically. Young Fenton rallied. ‘*State the exact time when this occurred,” he directed, ‘* Tt was quarter to twelve.” ** An’ T let’ you half-past eleven, Peter Woods,” added Jack, seriously. ‘' You jest had time ter get here,” ‘* Be silent, boy! Where did this mysterious Bertram go, after leaving you, Mrs. Dalton?” “You went to your room, I presume; I did not watch.” ‘The man was not I, but, unless there are a dozen inen who look like me, you really met your husband, that time. When I entered the house, last night, I saw no one, and no light was burning ia the hall, The natural inference is that I was just too late to encounter my double, Now, why was he here? Jack, can he bea lodger here?” ‘* Not fer Ebenezer! ‘Then he was a visitor, or a thief, please summon Mrs, Brown?” The landlady was called and closely ques- tioned, but she declared that she knew noeone who looked like Randolph; that no lodger in the house was in the habit of receiving such a caller, as far as she knew; and that on the previ- res evening no stranger had called to her knowl- e ee The outer door was always kept locked; if a stranger had come in, it must have been in com- pany with some lodger. “Have your lodgers gone out?” Randolph asked, ‘*No, sir. All are now at breakfast.” ** Will you ask them if any one had a caller?” The landlady went to the dining-room, but soon returned with her report. ‘** All of them say they were in the house, and in bed, at eleven o’clock, and not one of them bad a caller during the whole evening!” ‘* Ebenezer Augustus!” exclaimed the Hustler Gamin, ‘*T guess, Peter Woods, the joke is on you! Randolph was dumfounded for a moment, but his mind cleared, and he reached a new con- clusion in regard to Lena. He requested per- mission to see the landlady in private,yand she conducted him to the parlor, ‘* Mrs. Brown,” he then observed, gravely, ‘Lena Dalton is deranged!” ** Impossible!’ **T tell you she is the victim of,a hallucina- tion. She did not see any such man as she states, and I strongly suspect that Bertram Dal- ton exists only in her imagination, As for her assertion that I am her husband, it is not true. I’m going to prove it by remaining right here, whereas, :f 1 had been a man who once deserted her, I should not bave returned here, last night, after once getting out of her sight, should 1? Rely upon it, she is deranged!” ‘*She’s as sane as you or I!” declared Mrs, Brown, ‘‘and I know it.” ‘* How do you know it?” ** Because I do!” ‘** Do you believe that she talked with a man in the hall, last night?” My U believe she talked with you, just as she said! A knock sounded at the door, and one of the other boarders entered, ‘“‘T hear there’s a discussion,” he remarked, looking at Randolph with no friendly eye, “ and am able to putin my mite, What says about the talk in the hall is true; I was in bed, but my door was ajar, and 1 could both hear and see them, The persons talking were Mrs, Dalton and this man ”--pointing to Fenton —‘‘and she tells the story straight, He did promise to acknowledge ber as bis wife this morning!” 4 ‘* Tt is false!” cried Randolph, angrily. ** We will see, sir! This case is not my funeral, but [ won’t see a woman misused when she’s friendless, I’ve sent for a policeman, and he shall deal with you, Mr. Woods, and see done, Ah! here’s the officer, now!” No such man here,” Will you rs. Dalton — justice
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ee ee ee CHAPTER VII. JACK CARRIES A DECOY. ‘* BeGORRA! phat sort ave a family fistival hev you’s called me in to sittle now?” The speaker was the promised policeman, but to Randolph, angry and worried, he did not prove so terriblo as was to be expected. He was in citizen’s clothes, and his good-humored face was that of Officer Michael O’Dowley. ‘Whois de man, and who de woman, who have got tired ave bein’ happy an’ wants to cut loose from dheir moorin’s? Bad idea, Oi tell yez; bad idea! My advice is, niver cut loose from your moorin’s, unless ‘your vessel is foun- dering phera she is, See?” ‘* We want you,to hear Lbis case, Mr. O’Dow- ley, and give your opinion,” explained the offi- cious stranger. ‘ **Oi’m just de mon for dat, Bring on your par- ties, an’ Move-on-Mike will sittle derow. You kin all depind on justice, too, you’s can; for my pole-star ave action is Liberty and de Constitu- tion, See?” *Them’s the figger!” agreed Mosquito Jack. bag ss anybody kin do the job, Micnael is the hLuckleberry.’ ‘Waith, an’ you’re roight entoirely!” agreed the officer. Randolpb Fenton stood with set lips and con- tracted brows. Were all these people leagued ainst him, and was the scheme one of black- mail? He thought better of Jack and Move-on Mike than that, but the most credulous person would have been ill] at ease under such circum- stances, The parlor door was closed, and Lena told her story. Raudolph then put iu his general denial, but changing his course on the former occasion, did n t offer to prove an alibi at the time when Lena claimed that Bertram Dilton was living with her. If Officer O’Dowley was at all practical, he would see at once that the quickest solution of the mystery lay in the alibi, and Randolph was too proud to call on his father for assistance, Move-on Mike listened attentively. “ A pecooliar case; a very pecooliar case,” be remarked, wisely, when every one had finished. ‘Tt needs a long head to grapple wid it, an’ it’s lucky you’s come to me! Om de mon to un- ravel it, Oi have no saloon pull, an’ niver drink intoxicating liquors, but Oi depind on the dess ave Liberty an’ de Constitution, an’ sildom get Jift.” , “That's so,” Jack declared. dandy!” ‘“John Marsh, Oi thank you for your good worruds. Now, to business, Dis case is simple, an’ dere’s no lies been towld; but Mrs Dalton, ye’re in dhe wrong whin you claim Peter Woods. ‘You’s married a mon above your sub-stratum in Mike is a Jim- _ social life, an’ be’s deserted you loike dhe Mlack- ‘ was not hard to see, too, uard he was; but it wasnot Peter. "Twassome eller dat looked loike bim, an’ you was das’aved by dhe resimblance,” ts / “That's it,” Fenton added, with an air of relief, , ** Certain.” * But the man in the upper hall?’ Mrs, Brown asked, “Somebody bas lied, but it wa’n’t Mrs. Dalton. She met her husband dhere joost as she says, and all dis talk took place, Unluckily, she thought it was Peter Woods, an’ dhe ’aisy way she went at him gave him achance to worrum outavedhe fix, He did it n’ately, an’ Oi take off me hat to him!” ** Bat how did he get into the house?” * Tt?s me opinion he came at dhe door—though he may have been a burglar—an’ dhut somebody is lyin’ to shield him, Kape me oidea sacret, though—kape all sacret dhat you’s hear me say joodicially. Oi hereby take up dis case, an’ Oi’ll run it through. Me drag-net is out, an’ the ra’al Bertram will soon be in !” “What Move-on Mike says, goes!” comment- ed Jack. . R “Sure, John! As for dis case, Oi’m more in earnest than usual, an’ Oi’m bound to wiv. Oi have no saloon pull, but de Goddess ave Liberty an’ de Constitution will pull me through, Oi’ll ketch Bertram Dalton, or cut de buttons off me blue coat!” ok tant : Randolph was getting ifsight {into a circle of life of which he had befors known nothing, He saw that all of his companious looked up to a superior being, and it that the knight of the was a power in his neighborhood, ; e himself, though as wise of air as an owl, bore his honors meekly, and, though in- pt a ag self-praise, at times, showed a dispo- sition to Officer O’Dowley as to locust be fair to all—sometbing that many : Mosquito Jack, the Hustler G amin. 7 other law-givers would do well to take example from. ~ Mrs. Brown and Lena were impressed with his declarations, and, for the first time, the lat- ter admitted that it was possible she was mis- taken in her identification of Randolph as Dal- ton, Ste spoke the word ‘ possible” faintly, and looked at Fenton as if imploring him to rise and assert that she was right, not wrong in the identification. Having smoothed over this matter, Randolph took occasion tospeak privately with O’Dowley. ‘What kind of a place is that ‘club,’ where the trouble was last night?” ‘*Dhere’s beer in thats crowd, an’ dhere’s froth,” ** Good and bad, eh?” “ec Yis.” **Do you know Everald Cheslington?” “Oi know no good ave him—an’ nobad. Oi wish Oi did, for Oi don’t take much stock in him.” ‘* What is his business?” ‘** Begorra, Oi think it’s swindling, but divil a bit ave proof can Oi get.” ‘* I think so, too.” ‘* Shows your good sinse!” ‘* Can’t we investigate this man?” Move-on Mike meditated long and deeply before he answered: “Tt might bedone, but Oi don’t know how to get at him. He’s sly, dat flashy gent is.” **T\] tell you bow ter git at him.” It was the voice of Mosquito Jack, who, with his usual faculty for overbearing all that was said, had come near enough to get the drift of the present conversation, ‘When [ left you last night, Peter Woods,” the boy continued, ‘‘I had an idee in my noddle as big asa boarding-house turkey, an’ I set the idee on eggs ter negotiate fer a hatch o’ turks, I s’pected [ had a tip which would enable me ter learn where Everard bung cut when at home, and I worked the tip fer all she was worth, Result: I’ve got the locate o’ his home-base, an’ a portable diagram fer gettin’ at kim.” “What is it?” : ‘*Why can’t I take a note ter Everard, pur- portin’ ter be from a feller who wants ter speck- erlate, sayin’ as how the writer has heer that Everard, old boy, kin make men rich fer a con- sideration, an’ he wants a chance, There’s some uess-work an’ a pile o’ cheek in the scheme, but ’m ther boy ter work it. En?” Randolph did not approve of the plan, and was abont to say so frankly, but Move-on Mike at once declared that it was just what was needed. He carried the day, too, and, though Fenton expressed the fear that they would succeed only in alarming the game, the idea was acted upon, Failing to convince his companions, Randolph wrote the note on about the same lines laid out by Jack, and the latter was sent to deliver it. The self-styled Hustler Gamin marched off in a business-like and confident manner. He was accustomed to rough life in New York, and, as he assured himself, Cheslington ‘‘could not eat him,” no matter how he took this bogus. appli- cation, Finding the place which Cheslington made his home, Jack perceived that it was a house rather above the average in neatness, externally, though on a street neither clean nor bigh-toned, and not free from bard characters. There was no trouble in gaining admission to Mr. Cheslington, but the boy actually was daz- zled by the room into which Le was shown, It was large and elaborately furnisbed. Luxurious and costly furniture stood on the rich carpet; a great mirror flashed the light of the sun across the room; paintings of no mgan merit were hung on the wall; statuettes of fine design appeared here and there; and bric-a-brac of all kinds, and all in excellent taste, filled the otherwise-vacant recesses. In an easy-chair sat Mr, Everard Cheslington, himself, his feet elaborately slippered, being on a second chair; a gorgeous diamond pin flashing between the lapels of his rich bouse-coat, and a eo te smoking-cap perched on his well-shaped head. A scene like this Jack had never seen before, and he ‘gazed in open-eyed wonder and silence, Mr, Cheslington was shrewd, and, often hav- ing to make people of lowly life useful to him, always aimed to be polite and agreeable to all, He now let Jack have his fill of wonder until the boy broke the silencs with the impulsive excla- mation: , ‘ “Ebenezer Angustus! but didn’t all this cost a ad ee PO ay Sh pe ; y young friend, it dil.” Everard agreed, “You're ie boss, I take it?” i a “Tam.” Or ye ‘yer a dollar no Vanderbilt could ekul this! ** You think it pleasing, I take it.” ‘Pleasing! Say, thar ain’t nothin’ like it in no other place in New York—leastways, I don’t reckon so, Course you’ve traveled more nor me, but that’s my idee. Anyhow, it’s boss, an’ Vd give a dollar ter hev my room fixed this way. Why, [ain’t got no carpet, 20 lookin’-glass, no pictur’s, an’ none o’ them!” He pointed to the statuettes, thename of which he was unable to tell. ** My son,” pronounced Mr, Cheslington, grave- ly, ‘‘ you may yet have greater luxury than this, The road to all this pomp of life is marked by milestones upon which you will find inscribed these legends: ‘ Brains’—‘ Pluck ’—* Luck’—‘ So- briety’’ — ‘ Uprightness’ — ‘ Christianity.’ Put these milestones along the road of your career, and all things will come to you that’s good.” “Dil stick ’em up, by Ebenezer!” ‘* Now, to business!” “Sartain! Excuse me fer delayin’, but I wuz razzled-dazzled. Here’s a note a feller give me fer you, an’ I hereby hand it over, trustin’ yer Honor will peroose it ef the writin’ is legger- ble,” And he handed over the decoy. CHAPTER VIII. JACK GETS INTO TROUBLE. CHESLINGTON received the letter and, smok- ing lazily, read it through slowly. Mosquito Jack tried to get a clew to his thoughts by studying his face, but the person in tbe easy- chair was not made of such plastic stuff as to let every feeling betray him. ‘* Who gave you this letter?’ Everard finally inquired, looking up. ** Anurew Ray, is his name.” **Do you know him?” ** Only by sigbt.” ‘* What kind of a man is he?” ‘Thar ain’t no flies on him, mister,” ‘* What is his business?” ‘Spect he must hev an income,” gravely an- swered Jack, ‘‘ Never seen him do any work, an’ he’s often loafin’ around by day. Wears a sprakler in his sbirt nigh about as full ©’ glitter as yourn. Mebbe he’s an anarchist, fer I heerd him say once that the blamed perleece ought ter as all sent ter Sing Sing, so decent men could ive, Everard meditated and read the letter again. Jack was shrewd enough to suspect, without the aid of tell-tale facial signs, that the sharper was troubled; and this was a fact. Everard realized that some stranger had a clew, or partial clew to the secret, which he did not want any outsider to know. The question was, how should he be dealt with? Had he been a friend of one of Everard’s friends, he would have approached openly, if at all. He came secretly; there was danger in such a man, How was he to be dealt with? How could Everard move so as to best assure his own safety? Laying the note down the sharper began con- versation with the messenger on trivial matters, His manner was careless and indifferent, out- wardly. It might have deceived many persons; it did not deceive Mosquito Jack. | He knew be was under fire, in a figurative sense. He was equal to the emergency; he met Everard’s gaze calmly, and talked withcut signs of perturbation, “Tl answer this,” observed Cheslington, anon. He went to the table and wrote a note. Then he rung the bell and a negro appeared, ‘*Take this to the address on the envelope,” he directed, ** Ain’t I ter carry it?’ Jack asked. “You can remain with me,” _ “But I calkerlated on an extra half-dollar fer takin’ it back.” ; ‘Pll give you the money.” ‘ s) "Leven o'clock, too. I’ve got ter go, any- ow, Jack rose. So did Cheslington, who walked to the door and locked it. ‘ ** You will still further favor me with your company.” The sharper removed the key, and Mosquito Jack realized that be was a prisoner. ‘* Say!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ what kind of a go is this?” ; ‘*T always like to know where I stand, and in- tend to know now, You may be all right, and then, again, you may not. The writer of that note professes to be eager to do certain business with me, make gets the missive [ have jast sent.” m \ If he is what he purports to be he will baste tocome right here, as soon as he « a
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ae fh goes . re = wreKere = saa ws -™ own up what you know already? ; fe @hitt takes ten years!” 8 Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. Jack’s spirits took another drop. Randolph had signed a fictitious name, and given a false address. If the colored man took the letter there he would, of course, return with the infor- mation that no such person was known there, and tben it would go hard against the Hustler Gamin. ** What hey I got ter do with your trade with bim?”’ * 'That’s what I wish to learn.” **Do you ginerally lock a feller up when he ‘comes bere with a note?” ‘Tf 1 suspect him,” jporent benezer! what do you suspect me of! ‘** You don’t know anything, I suppose, about a fire-escape racket?” Cheslington eyed Jack closely, and the latter knew it was a question by which the sharper, acting from knowledge, or as an experiment, hoped to see the messenger betray guilt, 1f such existed. Mosquito Jack was equal to the emergency. ‘* Eb?” he returned, innocently. ° ‘* Fire-escape, back-yard, police chase!” re- peated Cheslington, slowly. ** Don’ know nothin’ at all w’ot you’re talkin’ about. Confouncded myster’us critter, you be! Clams, chickens, chowder, cheese, chimpanzees! Pe does that sound? See how rydicerlous ye e? Jobn J. Marsh was growing indignant, and he mimicked Cheslington’s solemn manner in a way which would have been laughable at an- other time, ‘You are a plucky chap, I see,” returned Everard, ‘*Pluck? See here, mister, you’ve made a ris’ner 0’ me, an’ the thing goes ag’in’ my grain. ere we be rizbt in the boss city o’ the U.S, A., an’ a citizen like nie is tol’ be must be a captyve, Mister, the citizen is goin’ ter bev somethin’ ter say erbout that/ Open the door, or I|’ll smash a hole through it!” As Jack spoke heraised one of bis feet, and the heavy shoe looked so formidable that Ches- lington attempted to avert the calamity by seiz- ing him, but he was neatly evaded. Another moment and a vigorous kick from the Hustler Gamin splintered a panel and open- edasmall hole to the ball, Then Cheslington seized him, “You young demon! what do you mean?” he demanded, fiercely. ‘* Hands off, or Til sarve youthe same way.” ** No, you won't!” Jack was struggling in bis captor’s hands, and the latter put out bis strength and dragged bim back. Throwing him into a chair, the sharper glared at him venomously. ‘* Now, what are you going to do?” ‘* Smash the rest o’ the door, later.” / ** You won't get a chance,” ** Anyhow, I’ve already opened an avenoo fer oxengen an’ hydrogen ter sift in,” ‘** You will pay for the damage.” **Say, you consarned, red-headed, weak-eyed dude, what d’ye take me fer? Goin’ ter pay fer defendin’ myself, be I? I guess not, Ebenezer Augustus! I’m a law-abidin’ citizen when let alone, but I kin thrash around an’ be wounded onpleasant when I’m misused. Make a note of it, an’ let me out afore I scream fer the per- leece!” “Tt will cost you dearly to try it. Come! let us wind up our skirmish and be sensible, You were sent here by some one who thought to plky me for an isnocent, but I’m not built right to act the martyr. am onto your game and shall defend myself; hence, your best way is to | own up.” ** Ain’t got notbin’ ter own up to.” ‘Tt is false!” “Oh! mebbe you know my biz!” “ T tell you Iam onto your game,” “Then let me alone, will yer? I don’t know it, an’ can’town up, I’m ionercent of all things I ought ter be, by Ebenezer! Let me go, will yer? Jack attempted to rise, but Cheslington held him, and, foiling his efforts, laughed derisively. ‘* Poor | fool!” he commented, ‘ it’s a_ wonder pout mother lets you go out alone, You lack rains!” | The boy ceased to strugglo and looked his cap- tor in the eyes; the last words bad touched him deeper even than the speaker had intended. ** Mister,” he answered, very quietly, ‘* you’ve got your way now, an’ you’re runnin’ the Me machine fer all it’s worth, but don’t you forgit one thing: [shall be clear some time, an’ when I be, I won’t forgit you. Dll even this thing up Why should I- in’s— . pipet Y Dorus rose, lifted a chair and swung itupover — his head, Se be “Shut up, or Pll do ye up so you won't nebber | moah be heard from!” he grow] d, savagely, : } ) a |
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y, fain pape Sz aa ¢ a =. x oat 4 Salita a A Set xthid<! .; nad a 7, ~ te me Ys ae ; leave him. ‘glass as was intended. Peter!” shouted the prisoner. Peter! This way!—up stairs!” x i “Dor seh at vend ene for awhile, and esses, lorie Jack, the Hustler Gamin. — * General, I cave, but you’s the first negro I | ever knowed that was a rascal!” - Mosquito Jack turned away and had no more to say to the guard, while Dorus sat down and glared at him in a fashion tr uly piratical. If he had any heart git was not to be touched by ap- peals for mercy, and the Hustler Gamin wasted no more words on him. Half an hour passed, and then the bell in the room rung. Dorus looked thoughtfully and sus- picivusly at the prisoner, evidently reluctant to Then the tblack man went to the window and closed the upper half of the shut- térs. ‘You can’t git out,” he remarked, scowling, ** an’ ef you make a racket Pll—see you agin] With this dark hint he went out, locking the door bebind him, but, unmoved by the threat, Jack was on his feet in a moment, He looked eagerly around, as if hoping that an avenue of escape, or & weak spot, had been revealed to him suddenly, but was doomed to disappoint- ment, Investigation proved that the solid shut- ters at the window were proof against attack. “No use; but ef I can’t pit out, mebbe I kin use my eyes a bit. Tl see!’ He set a small table against the door and | mounted to the top. The table was weak; it ereaked and swayed under him, but he perse- vered. Over the door was an uncurtained tran- som, and through this he hoped to get sight of something of interest. He was not disappointed. The room was directly opposite the head of a flight of stairs, and as be looked out he had view of Shot the hall of the floor he was on and that below; and in the lower hall two men were standing i in conversation, One was a stranger; the other was— Jack’s face ligbted up wonderfully. ** Peter Woods!” he exclaimed. ‘* Whoop! the tide has turned, an’ they’re here ter rescue me. Hy Ebenezer! T mast yell at Peter!” He tried to turn the closed transom, but in vais. He glanced around the room; then sprung down and secured a dilapidated old boot, which, evidently, was Dorus’s property. “pi make a hole through ef I hey ter pay fer my satisfaction!” be declared. Again he mounted to the table, but one look | through the transom was enough to make the triumphant look fade out of his face, ‘* Peter’s goin’ away!” he gasped, in dismay. Sure enough, The man in the lower hall, upon whom he had based his suddenly-conceived hopes, was already at the outside door and, plainly, about to take his departure, | “They've bamboozled him somehow, an’ he thinks I ain’t here, He'll go an’ leave me!” Suddenly the boot went upward and was | poised for a blow. | “T’ve got ter stop Peter,” cried the impris- oned gamin, “‘ or this prison will hold me tight!” Down came the boot, but it did not break the At just the wrong time the table, which had continued to creak and groan uader the Hustler Gamin, bowed to one side, groaned louder than ever, and then went vied sideways and lay as flat asa collapsed bal- . sire Jack? He was nearly as flat as the table, for he had gone down with it, making a tremendous noise; but he was not long to be kept in that position. | If ‘Peter Woods” was ‘still near it behooved him to be on the alert if he wus to besaved, and, | seeing he had no further means of reaching the. transom, he began to hammer on the door. “Here I be, Peter!” he shouted, at the top of his voice. ‘This way, Peter! Help!—help!" CHAPTER,.X, THE KEY IN THE BLACK MAN’S POCKET, Tue door suddenly opened in the boy’s face, but it wasnot ‘‘ Peter” whoappeared. “Instead, it was Dorus, who looked fiercer than ever, * What de furies you mean by all dis racket?” the guard angrily (demanded. ‘Want me ter hit you in de mouf?” For an answer Mosquito Jack tried to dodge him, but was neatly caught. Dorus began to force bim back ward. ‘“*Here I be, ‘The negro kicked the door to, and hustled Jack yack and dumped him down in a chair, _** Now, yon set dar!” he ordered. ‘‘ We’s had ort +h ob dis fool-work, an’ doan’ you forgit it. quiet, or I'll sernsh you out flat; Yo! "ot jack heard he did not say so; be was look- #2 ue pod the door, eagerly hoping to see it open—to ds S appear; but Peter did not come, but crept down the stairs. No one was in the lower hall, and all was quiet. The outer door was locked, but be quietly turned the key, passed out and hurried down the steps. Q stood on the street, with the star-dotted heavens i him and an open way to the right and the eft With quick steps he hurried toward bume. He no longer had any fear, for he was not the aa son to be kidnapped on the streets of New ork. A few minutes’ walk took bim to Mrs, 3rown’s boarding-house, and he entered at once, No one was in the parlor, and he hurried up to Randolph Fenton’s room. Entering, he found that young man calmly smoking a Cigar, but be sprung up at once, “* So you’re back?” he exclaimed. ‘* Well, Lreckon!” “Have you had trouble?” ‘*Not an artom!” returned Jack, with sar- casm, “Then what bas kept you?” ** Peter Woods, what do you s’pose has kep’ me? ‘*T am ata loss to know. I bave been worry- ing about you, but prevented from doing any- thing by the fact that I was robbed of our ally. Officer O’Dowley was detailed for special duty, and sent away, or I should have insisted upon his going right to Cheslington’s house,” Mosquito ~ Jack's eyes were sparkling with in- diguation. ‘* Wanted ter help me, did yer?’ ‘** Certainly I did.” ** Then hy didn’t you come when I called to yer for help?” “Called te me for belp?” echoed Randolph. Pie, flattering himself he hed awed Jack into sak saesstt-Too aed ave ase bs | ely Goes Hesse kios shake NS ba wecet a silence and a harmless condition, released the boy and proceeded to put the room to rights, Muttering his indignation he picked up the frag- ments of the table, and then gaye long and care- ful attention to the boot, to see if damage had been done that dilapidated piece of leather, All the while the door was unlocked, and Jack looked expectantly to see bis friend ‘enter, but when several minutes had rolled on he was forced to one bitter conclusion: he was not to be res- cued. He did not take it kindly. ** Peter must ’a’ heerd me!” be thought; ‘* he ain’t deef, an’ I yelled loud enough to penetrate anybody's ear-drums, He heerd me, but didn’t come ter help me. By Ebenezer! that ain’t right!” Many an older person would have arrived at the same conclusion, and the boy’s zeal in the cause took a sudden’ drop. If he helped Peter Woods, why should not Peter help bim? When satisfied that all hope was past the pris- oner settled down to his fate, and did not try to disturb Dorus’s taciturnity, The latter fast- ened the door, put the key in his pocket, glared at Jack, aud then lay down on the floor as calm- ly as if that were the or dinary way of occupying one’s time. Another period of waiting followed, The clos- ing of the shutters would have made the room entirely dark had not Dorus lighted the gas; but this step prevented Jaek from knowing anything about the passage of time, He believed night had come, but could not tell positively, Dorus maintained bis position on the floor, and lay with closed eyes, but the slightest movement on the prisonei’s part brought them open, Sev- eral times Jack believed the guard to be asleep, | ‘‘ That’s w’ot I said.” but he was deceived so often that be was at fault, “T don’t comprehend, ” He wished the negro w ould sleep, and sleep ‘Ef you’s so interested in my affairs, why | didn’t ye give me a lift when you was in Ches- lin, ton’s house?” *“T never was there.” ** But I seen you.” ** When?” ‘* Why, this very arternoon!” Randolph looked bewildered for a moment, and then returned somewhat sharply: ‘* This is no joking matter.” ‘Bet yer life it ain’t! That's w’ot I thought when you te or at the foot o’ the stairs, an’ I was at the top an’ yel!in’ toyer fer help likea Sioux Injun, Yes, I yelled; butdid you come? Nary come! You’ jest left me to my fate; me, yer own agent w’ot wuz doin’ your own business, soundly. In the black man’s pocket was the key of the door. If he conld get that key, and have a very little time, he felt sure he could escape, It was not likely any one was on guard in the hall, He could hear po sound in the bouse, and the rumble of an otcasional team in the street was so loud and distinct as to suggest the idea that travel had died away with the close of the day, and that the occasional teams were all that were passing. It was a favorable time for escape, but—the 4 was in Dorus’s pocket, ow Jack coveted that key! Miserable bit of deformed brass that it was, he would rather have it than a glittering dia- mond, an’ got gobbled in doin’ it, Peter Woods, that’s If Dorus would only sleep and give him a | w’ot you may call standin’ by a feller’s frien’ Ss, chance! but ef it’s your style o’ doin’ it, I don’t keer ter be your frien’. No, sirree, Ebenezer!” ack was something of a philosopher, and, de ite a degree of grumbling, bad felt that Peter Woods would be able to explain away his ap- parent desertion of his ally, but this idea had vanished, Peter bad taken a position, which aroused all of the boy’s spirit, and be poured out this address with indignation and sarcasm, Randolph looked at him blankly. *T don’t understend at all, but if you really mean that I have been in Cheslington’s house, you are all wrong. I have not been there!” ‘* But I seen you there!” ** Jack, you seem to be sincere, so let us get down to this subject in a systematic way. ou are laboring under a mistake, but we may be able to explain all. I have not been in Chesling- ton’s house, and have been greatly troubled about it. The idea has grown upon me that it was folly to let you go there, Cheslington has several times been in this house, in days gone by, to visit his friend who had the room up- stairs, until a fortnight ago. I said, this morn- ing, that he must have seen jou here, and would recognize you, but you thought not. Did not the result prove me right?” ig hess yee regarded Randolph in a pecu- The black man yawned, moved his head as though to get an easier position, looked indolent- ly at the boy and again closed his eyes, Ten minutes later he began to breathe more beavily than at any time before. The captive’s blood seemed to move with a jump. Was the time of hope coming? Was the grim guard actually succumbing to sleep? Jack watehed bim unceasingly. Never before, perhaps, bad any one been so interested in the evil black man. His very breath was precious to Jack, as long as it was spent in slumber. Time passed. Jack coughed; the black man_did not stir. Jack moved his chair; he called Dorus’s name; he rattled his feet. The guard did not move or open his eyes, “Now for it!” whispered the boy. “Its a desp’rit undertakin’ ter git the key ont o’ his’ pocket, but it’s got ter be done or my name is Got-Left. Il tr y it!” He rose from the chair, and Dorus remained oblivious of the fact, as far as could be seen. With the ligbtest steps possible be approached the big form on the floor, Still there was no evidence that he was observed. The crisis carae when be had to run his hand into the negro’s pocket, for it was work of the most delicate nature, Was it possible he could do it without causing alarm? He made the attempt. Gently, slowly he introduced his hand, but, | the ball. try as he would, it seemed to him that the heav- “You have beard me say I was not there, iest sleeper must be aroused by such an effort. | John. Inow repeat it; your eyes deceived you.’ Down went the hand—lower, lower; it touched | & By Bbenezer! then it was your ghost! the key. ‘*The man looked like me, did be? He drew back, but the rough born of the key ‘“‘ Did be? I should asseverate!” caught, He disentangled it and persevered, ‘From your position up-stairs you could not Tbe key was fully in bis band, at last! have seen clearly—” The Baio slept on, It was genuine slumber: | “But I did! The light was good, an’T never tor he ha rey up the treasure. I take a fancy ter Vaeagnite. Ja moved lightly to the door, He fitted the co as silently as possible; he | goes: but, great uns, he was your dead enue} turned the t * This is stranre.’ dimly-ligh “Say,” cried Jack, with sudden wb irit, “kin his gaze. it be the feller was Lena es husband?” i Set aot an’ y«u sbajl hear,” he directed. The story was told, Randolph did not once interrupt until Jack declared that he saw him in had a better chance; never! t back; be opened the door, The and deserted hall was revealed to He paused not to view it critically, you, Peter, an’ ef you say you wa’n’t there, it
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10 CHAPTER XI. FLIPPY JIM. In his bewilderment Randolph had not before | thought of the theory which Jack now advanced, but it wasso striking that he could not fail to give attention to it. ‘“‘There can’t be more nor a bushel o’ fellers that look like you,” pursued the Hustler Gamin, * an’ as we know by Lena that there’s one, why | not kinder sift’ the chaff an’ see ef there’s any grain in it.” ‘““Do you suppose this man was there to see Cheslington?” ‘“Duono. He was talkin’ with a chap who wuz a stranger ter me, but Everard might ’a’ been close by, jest out o’ my sight. Say, I can’t}; hardly v’lieve tvat wa’n’t.you, by Ebenezer!” Randolph reiterated bis denial, and fully con- Mosqu | } vinced his young friend, but the latter harped upon the subject until the unknown became a person in whom both felt a keen interest. Who was he? What was he doing at Cheslington’s house? Was he really Bertram Dalton? They only abandoned these speculations when Randolph returned to the subject of Mosquito Jack’s unlucky errand. What was to be ex- pected from it? Jack was back safe and sound, but wily Cheslington now knew that some one was working against him, and would be a hard person to catch. Randolph was almost dis- couraged, and spoke of giving up the struggle. **Don’t yer doit!” his ally advised, with em- phasis, ‘‘ I don’t know the secret o’ the bee that is stingin’ you, but I say, le’s fight it out! I’m interested, I be; an’ now we hev saddled the hoss, I want ter ride him. Cheslington is a mean scamp, that’s sure; he’s legitermate game, an’ we’re nat’ral hunters, Le’s foller right at his heels, do no barkin’, but pull him down when we kin,” Fenton did not answer. It was a matter of keen regret that they were no nearer solving the mystery of Everard Cheslington’s secret busi- ness than before, and Randolph was tempted to give up. After all, what proof had they that the sharper had meddled with Colonel Fenton’s financial affairs? “ Perhaps I had better go to work somewhere, and think no more about proving myself inno- cent in the eyes of a man who has driven meout of his house,” was the bitter reflection. Officer O’Dowley now appeared, fresh from his special duties, and eager to learn the result of Mosquito Jack’s venture, The report did not please bim, “ Begorra! Oi’d give me nixt month’s wages to get wan crack at dhat crook’s, head!” he de- clared. ‘‘The way they abused ye, John, was atrocious, but niver you moind, Move-on Moike is sthill on ‘deck, an’ he'll give thim a lesson they won’t forget. Dhis is just dhe chance Oi’ve been lookin’ for, an’ if the Goddess ave Liberty an’ the Constitution don’t go dead back on me, Oi’ll earn a sergeant’s berth by baggin’ thim scoundrels!” The honest patrolman was as enthusiastic as usual, but, this time, he did not fire Randolph in like manner. ** How will you do it?” the latter asked. ‘*How? Not by a saloon pull, for Oi have have none, but by me wits, begorra!” Fenton did not find anything very encourag- ing in this statement, It was a good deal easier to talk than todo. He therefore sat in silence, while Movye-on Mike continued his words of as pate In this line he captured Cheslington, xed guilt upon him, had him brought before the court and sentenced; and then contemplated himself as a sergeant, F All this pleased him, but did Randolph no good, and matters remained at this point when O’Dowley went out to go on bis beat. Fenton was not in good humor, and, rejecting Jack’s quiet hint that they could enjoy them- selves that evening by ‘“ telling stories,” he left the house and set off on a lonely walk, He had no definite destination in his mind, but, half unconsciously, went toward his old home, A block away he paused and hesitated to go further. There was danger that he might en- counter Colonel Fenton, end this he would not do willingly for many dollars, but the fascina- tion was so strong that he could not resist. “Til go on the opposite side of the atreet,” he thought, ‘* and ought to escape discovery.” He was soon facing the family home. No perceptible change had come over it. Lights burned in the parlor, and in his father’s room, but no one was visible. ; ** T wonder if they are all happy but me?” he muttered, bitterly. ‘* Aunt Evelyn, sister Althea . and brother Wayland were always affectionate to me, but the human mind accommodates itself to situations as a pliable garment yields to the ito Jack. the Hustler Gamin. form of its wearer. Iam an outcast now, andI | misfortune was continuing just the same as dare say they are all reconciled to it.” He felt guilty when he conceived this idea, for he had the best of reasons for believing it false. Between himself and each member of the family the kindest relations always had existed, and there could be no doubt that there was deep grief in the Fenton house. when he was at the office. His innocence was being established by the unknown enemy of the Fenton business house. In due time Randolph neared Mrs. Brown’s | boarding-house, but did not reach it without en- counter. He was suddenly accosted by what he at first thought was a beggar, but wbat svon re- But who could be a philosopher at his age, | solved itself into a form whose rags and red face when unjustly banished from home? proclaimed him Flippy Jim, the rounder seen a4 After awhile he walked on and was fast leav- | the club-room. | ing the neighborhood when, turning a corner, | hé came face to face with a second young man. Fenton stopped short, but the other pedestrian after a moment of surprise, seized upon bis han joyfully. ** Randolph!” be cried. are here again!” Yes, Wayland; it is I.” * "You have just come from the house—” ‘Wrong! 1 bave not been near the house,” ‘Then | am just in time to go with you—” “No, Wayland; I am not going.” ** But you have seen father?” “cc No.” “ Let me call him,” ‘* Most decidedly not; I will not see him!” ‘But Althea and Aunt Evelyn—” ‘Not even them! Mind you, brother, I bear ‘* Thank fortune you them no ill-will—how can I?—but I am an exile | an’ I know the way, | ‘*Hallo, Peter!” Jim saluted, in a wheezy voice. * Hallo!” ~ - Seen you at the club-room, yer know.” ‘ Yes,” ** Out fer a spree?” **] have no money for a spree.” ‘“No? Sad fack! Melancholy spetterkle! Nor me, Peter; nor me\” Flippy Jim wiped his watery eyes, and ap- peared deeply affected. Randolph did not covet such company, for the old rounder was simply disgusting, with bis dirt and odor of liquor; but Jim had taken him by a button, and he was an unwilling captive. Jim rallied. ‘Want ’er make some money?” he asked. ‘* Who does not?” “You’n me kin do it ef we work tergether, Ever you hear of a man from yonder house, and an exile I intend to re- | named Everard Cheslington?” main. I should not have seen you bad we not chanced upou one another, Understand me, Wayland, I do not care less for you, and Althea, and Aunt Evelyn, than I did of old, but Iam no longer a Fenton, and, until I am able to match every one of Colonel Fenton’s dollars | with a dollar of my own, lam astranger to all | of Jim’s rags and dirt. the family!” CHAPTER XII. MORE NEWS FROM THE DOUBLE, Fuippy Jm had caught Rundolph’s interest at one stroke; the latter no longer wished to break away from the rounder, and he lost sight He was shrewd enough not to betray unusual interest, and carelessly **My dear brother!” cried Wayland, “don’t | returned: talk like this}’’ ** How would you have me talk?” ** Don’t make the innocent suffer for the—” ‘“Wayland, I know I owe you only good wishes, I know how kind and brotherly you are—” 7 “Don’t speak of me, Think of Althea and Aunt Evelyn.” ‘*T do—with kindness,” ‘Then come with me and see them,” “ No!” ‘But why not?” ** Because I am exiled from that house. There, there! don’t argue the poiut, Wayland, I bope” —here the exile’s voice grew sarcastic-—‘‘ that Colonel Fenton’s business has prospered to-day, now I am out of the way.” ‘On the contrary, all bas gone wrong.” ‘* Strange!” ‘‘ This morning he planned a deal, but, in the closing hours of business, when he would have plucked the plum from the tree, somebody nabbed it just ahead of him, It was the old story, but he can’t lay this to you, Randolph. As he planned it all after you left, you can’t have been the rock in his way. I judge that he realized this, for there was a very grave and thoughtful expression on his face. He probably realized—he must havé done so—that he had accused you wrongfully, Vl wager something that if you now go to the house you will be re- ceived warmly by him,” **T shall not go!” ‘But, Randolph, Althea and I are _ heart- broken by tvis affair. For. our sister’s sake, come home!” ‘“ No!” was tbe firm response, ‘‘ You urge the point in vain, Wayland. I should be a clod were I to overlook the treatment father gave me. I was innocert, yet be drove me out of his house, I shall never enter itagain; I am an outcast; [am no longer a Fenton. Ay; I even have changed my name, There! say no more; you can’t move me. Who has taken my place in the private office?” ** No one,” “*Tsn’t there a person in New York that the colonel can trust?” ““T don’t know. I feared he might ask me, but I should have refused the invitation, I want nore of the secrets of the firm, and, in afy case, would not take a position from which you had been ousted so unceremoniously.” For half an hour longer the brothers talked, and Wayland used all of his persuasion to change Randolph’s purpose, but_in vain, They finally separated, and ‘* Peter Woods” started foward his new home, He had refused to inform Way- land where he“was staying, being resolved to sink from sight entirely, as far as his relatives were concerned. Although he did not wish his father further financial misfortunes, he experienced consider- able satisfaction from the fact that the reign of ‘* Ever hear of him? I believe the name was mentioned at the club; was it not?” “ Very likely,” the rounder agreed, ‘Ts he a friend of you's?” Jim scratched his chin until the bristles there rattled loudly. ‘* Wa-al, I can’t exactly claim him as a friend, fer I ain't very often spoke to him, yer see; but l’ve drinvked in the same saloon!” * That’s about the same thing.” | ‘ Rverard 1s a mighty fly boy.” “Ts he?” “Bet ver life! Thar ain’t nobody in this ward who kin make more money than him, though how he does it bas always been a mys- try. He ain’t no great shakes at keerds, an’ when he sets down ter play poker he ginerally bas a pair o’ deuces, or & bob-tail flush, an’ no better. Heucely, Ches can’t be gittin’ his livin’ at gambolin’. See?’ Flippy Jim seemed to be maundering on in ae bummer fashion, and Randolph encouraged im, ** What is your theory?” Jim looked around cautiously, and then low- ered his voice to a husky whisper. ‘*T think he’s bleedin’ some rich dooks.” “« By blackmail?” ‘* Not edzackly, but by stealin’ their secrets in some way. I dunno how, but ef I could read writin’ ’d soon find out, “ee How?” Flippy Jim produced a big brass key. ‘7 take it yer optics sees that? Wal, that’s a mascot, thatis. It’s the key—or one on ’em— ter Cheslington’s cffice, up in the club buildin’!” The key sparkled dully, but, nevertheless, it fascinated Randolph, : ‘¢ Where did you get it?” he asked. : ‘Found it on the floor, where it fell out o’ Everard’s pocket. Jee-whiz! but didn’t I slew it inter my pocket on de run! Says I to myself, says I: ‘James, yer chance has come,’ an’ I pocketed the key, Why? ‘cause I’ve been in his office; often done errands fer him. Hev seen the papers that fill his desk; papers that repre- sentaheap o’ money. Heerd him say, once, that one little slip o’ paper he held was exquivalent ter bund’uds o’ dollars, ef put right end on fer the stock money. . Great old ure is that office, Peter, an’ the papers in the desk is jest as goo: as gold. Here’s the key, yér see, an’ I could bya in an’ get all them secrets, but I can’t read. ea?” : Rancolpb listened with rapt interest, The key to Everard Cheslington’s office! That meant a good deal to him, and he coveted the well- worn bit of metal. He said nothing, and Flippy Jim continued: 4 : ‘* Don’t s’pose you want ter go inter company wid me, do yer?” : “In what?” + Hie ‘*Makin’ a raid on that office, gittin’ his — secrets, an’ then makin’ money out o’ them,” , — \
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Jim. “Do you know that would be burglary?” “ We needu’t take nothin’ away.” ‘Tn any case, it would be breaking and enter- ngs >) B Don't see why, ez long ez we don’t merlest nothin’. We only want his secrets, I’ve heerd it said he has some high- toned speculator on the hip that he’s saltin’ bad. Why can’t we git a shake at the dice-box?” It was a strong temptation. It might be ab- surd to suppose that Cheslington was the man who had _ been systematically swindling Colonel Fenton, but it remained a fact that some one had been doing it. Why was it not as likely to be Cheslington as any one else? Randolph won- dered if it actually would be a misdemeanor to | enter the crook’s office under such circumstances, Did not the end justify the means? *¢ Wish you'd chip in,” added Flippy Jim, The words suggested another theory. Ches- lington had been put on bis guard by Mosquito | Perhaps he intended to strike back, dolph, Jack’s visit. Was Jim a safe man totrust? What if he was acting as a decoy for Cheslington? Carefully be studied the bummer, who gave no evidence of secret purpose, though his ap- arance was certainly disreputable enough. he fascination of the venture was too strong to be resisted, and he yielded to his fate. “What if I agrée?” he made answer. “Why, you kin read the dockymunts, an’ I'll do de rest. One turn o’ this key opens the door.” ‘* But how can we evade the members of the clu?” ** Wait until they’ve gone away.” ** Suppose we are detected?” “We sha’n’t be, Ive studied tho sittervation until I’m dead sure on’t, yer see, We'll wait until erbout one o’clock, an’ then slide in nice an’ light-footed, an’ no solitary pilgrim will chant a note of alarm, The old buildin’ is quiet asa grave after half-arter twelve, Oh! there never wuz a safer snap!” “Pll go in with you!” ‘** Good boy, Peter!” ‘* Where do we meet?” ‘‘ Why not right here?” It made no difference to Randolph, and he said so; then, after a few preliminaries had been attended to, they separated. Randolph went on toward the boarding-house, but not in a light- hearted way. Although actuated by the best of motives the coming work dampened his spirits, and he felt like a man who was about to take the first step in crime, impelled by fate. At times, too, his doubts were renewed in re- |} gard to Flippy Jim, The man was sn utterly worthless specimen of humanity, an Randolph was ready to believe him a criminal by will and in pratice; certainly, he could not see how any one could sink so low and retain any sense of honor, A fit subject for a decoy was Flippy Was he a decoy, in reality? : Reaching Mrs, Brown’s house be was met at the door by Mosquito Jack. “Say, Peter, you're jest in time,” the boy ex- plained, ina low voice, ‘They’re hevin’ a con- fab in there, an’ you are bein’ mentioned, fre- quent.” ‘* Who is there?” “ Aunt Sariah an’ Lena Dalton. Sence they come in they are havin’ a great pow-wow over w’ot you said to Lena at the corner o’ Broadway an’ Houston street, awhile ago.” “1? I have not been near that corner, nor have I seen Mrs, Dalton outside the house.” _ “ They said they seen you.” ‘* Has my double shown up again? I must see these women at once!” He unceremoniously entered the parlor. Lena and Mrs. Brown were there, but be thought the ‘glances they bent upon him did not have much good will in them, “What is this I hear?” he demanded, ‘Has my double been seen again?” ‘We saw you /” asserted Mrs, Brown, “* Will you never learn to discriminate between me and my double? I learn that you thought you saw tme at the corner of Broadway and Houston street but I have not been near there in a month,” Mrs. Brown held up her hands in horror, but ~ even she realized the folly of again arguing this disputed point. It was clear, however, that she was prepared to insist that she had seen him there, __“T grow more and more interested in this _ Bertram Dalton,” declared Randolph, ‘and shali be glad to have you tell me just what has occurred, __“ This bas occurred, Right after I got my work done I went out with Lena, and we were is walking near Broadway and Houston when all y 3 Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. at once a voice spoke her name, around. A.cab had driven up to the curbstone and was following along by us, and in the cab” —the landlady paused, smiled sarcastically, and added what evidently wasnotin her mind; ‘*In the cab was Bertram Dalton!” “Go on!” Fenton urged. ‘*He asked me to walk on fifty feet or so, to give him a chance to speak privately with Lena; and I went. She must tell the rest, berseif.” ‘* You said,” eagerly began Lena looking at | herself, added; | Fenton, and then, checking ‘* Bertram said that the time was near at hand when he would keep his promise and acknow- ledge me as his wife. not done right—** ’ve been a scoundrel!” were the words he used, but he need not have spvke so severely. Anyway, he declared that he had let ignoble pride stand in his own light long enongh, and was going to turn over a new leaf.’ “T devoutly hops he will!” exclaimed Ran- “So do I,” coincided Mrs, Brown, nodding wisely, and looking at her new lodger. ‘* Bertram declared that he was going to make our marriage public inside of a week, ‘ A change has come over me of late,’ he said; ‘a very serious change. Events have occurred that ought to touch a heart of granite. Mine is not barder than that, if I have acted the villain in the past, and I will undo my evil work if I can. There are some preliminaries to arrange before I can present you to the world, but by to-morrow evening I can name the date, I want you to meet me at Central Park, at eight o’clock.’” “A distant trysting-place,” Randolph com- mented, “Tt is to be at the entrance at the corner of Fifth avenue and Fifty-ninth street.” A sudden idea occurred to Fenton, “Do you think it safe?” ** Safe?” ‘*Yes, The Park is dark in many places at that hour, and these places are deserted at times, The principal frequenters of the Park at that hour are young couples, who are usually too much absorbed in each other to be company for any one else. Policemen are nut common, I remember, a few steps beyond the entrance you name, a singular)y dark walk which leads off to the left through descending ground, I don't know Bertram Dalton, but my opinion is that a once-ileserted wife would not do wisely to take that dark path with him at that hour!’ CHAPTER XIII, A HAZARDOUS VENTURE, Lena looked at Randolph wonderingly, ** What do you mean?” she asked. ‘*Bertram Dalton,” Randolph answered, ‘‘ has shown a strong desire to get rid of you in the past. May he not be a man desperate enough to accomplish his purpose at all hazards? In plain words, would your life be safe in such a lonely place, wita bim?” Mrs. Brown looked startled, but Lena impul- sively cried: ‘*'You wrong Bertram by the suspicion, He may not be perfect; itis true that be deserted me, bis own wife, because I was below him in social life; but, sir, he is incapable of crime, I would trust him any where.” “ Woman-like!” ‘* Women is queer critters!” added Mosquito Jack, sagely. “T think Mr. Woods is right,” declared Mrs. Brown. ‘ You must not meet the man there,” ‘**T know it will be safe,” “You must vot risk it.” : ‘‘T have promised Bertram,” answered Lena, with unexpected force, ‘t and I am going to keep my word, I shall meet him just as I have said!” Mrs. Brown remonstrated; Randolph did not, It bad occurred to him, suddenly, that no better chance ever would be offered to see his double, By all means, let Lena meet him, and he—Ran- dolpb—would be near to protect her, and to see what Bertram was like. So he planner, but what lay between himself and that hour? An- other night must intervene, and in that night he was to accompany Flippy Jim on a hazardous expedition, Would he be able to get to Central Park on the following evening? The insinuation against Dalton bad done more to shake Lena’s faith in her belief that Ran- delphi was he than anything else, and she now gan to wonder that sbe ever bad made such a mistake, Alike as the two were, she began to see points of difference in voice, form, hair, eyes and manner—or imagined she did, Randolph no longer had much place in her ‘ He frankly said he had | | We looked ee EEE ee thoughts, which all turned to Dalton, ard her air-castles were built high and in dazzling style. Fenton went to his room, and, as usual, Mos- quito Jack accompanied him, On this evening the young man would have prefered to be free from all company, for the shadow of coming events was over him darkly; but it was not easy to get rid of the Hustler Gamin. Jack remained until, as the time approached when Fenton was to meet Flippy Jim, he rose and began to exchange his usual suit of clothes for the cheap garments recently purchased un- der the boy’s guidance, **Goin’ out?” Jack asked, pre go A ** Where?” ‘**T don’t know where I shall bring up.” ‘** Let me go, too.” “*T can’t. If I were going on one of our prowl- ing expeditions I should be glad to baye you\ along, but this is different.” BS V hy do you puton yer Giant Grim suit?” **T must wear something.” ; ‘You said that was fit only fer a burglar trip,” ‘* We sometimes change our winds,” ‘* Wish you’d change yourn an’ let me go,” *T would, if I could.” ‘*Where’d you say you’s goin’?” ‘** Pll tell you to-morrow.” Mosquito Jack was pertinacious when he set out to be, and, in this case, he felt that he had reason whey interested. Randolph’s manner, as well as the change of clothes, indicated that something unusual and important was about to occur. Few persons were quicker to read signs than Jack, and he was now all on fire, in a figu- rative sense, Love for adventure and curiosity alike beset bim—hence lis persistence, He took the last retuff quietly, and said no more about it, Rand :Jph finished his toilet, watched the time, and fivally prepared to leave the house. Jack yawned as if he were the sleep- iest boy in New York, and walked toward bis own room, drowsily answering his fri uc’s ** Good-night!” The moment Fenton’s eyes were off of bim »li the sleepy signs vanished as if by magic, und his bright eyes gleamed brighter than usual. “Ebenezer Augustus!” he muttered, “ wot sort of a go is up now? Peter has got some risky job on hand, an’ it wouldn’t s’prise me an artom ef he means ter begin where 1 left off, an’ try ahack at Everard. Resky chap, Peter is; an’ I feel it my duty to look out fer him!” As soon as pursuit was safe he was out of the house, and following close after Rancolpb. There was no reason why pursuit sbould fail to be successful; Fenton did not once look around. He walked on rapidly until the place of meeting was reached, Flippy Jim was there already, and ready for business. Jack saw them converse for a few moments, and then start off together. ‘* Funny!” muttered the observer, ‘ Ef Peter keeps sech company as that a great while he will bev a nose on him like the head-light of a loco- motive. But that ain’t w’ot Peter is lookin’ fer; he’s got some desp’rit game on hand, an’ it trou- bles me. I wouldn’t trust Flippy Jim ez fur ez I could sling an ellerpbhunt by the tail, an’ ef be’s ig: fer Peter, Peter is liable ter come ter rief! Beset with these fears Mosquito Jack followed on, nor was he surprised when “ Peter” and Jim aused at the door leading to the club-room, nowing that, according to the rules of the or- ganization, the place should be. deserted at that hour, the spy was curious to see what would be done next, Flippy Jim fitted a key and opened the door. Jack was startled., ‘Say! there’s mischief afoot!” he commented, quickly. “Jim never got that key by honist means, an’ as I don’t see_bow he could steal it, how did he get it? By Ebenezer! it looks ter me as ef he had been hired ter lure Peter in!” The two men had entered and closed the door. Jack was wise enough to realize that his own proper mode of procedure was to go at once to Officer O’Dowley, but he first mechanically os the door. Greatly to his surprise, it opened reely. The key remained in the lock, and he surmised that the old rounder had turned it with the in- tention of locking thé door, but, unknown to himself, had failed, : Temptation was thus put in the Hustler Gam- in’s way; the temptation to see for himself what was being done. He entered fully, locked the door and crept up the stairs. ‘ Raadolph and the old rounder had preceded him. The club-rooms were vacant, but the sick- ening odor of beer and tobacco-smoke remained, ,
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4 . Sen aan - oo * = ee . . 12 Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin, Flippy Jim passed on without losiog time, and soon reached the door of Chesligton’s office. There he paused and listened for some time, with the alleged object of making sure no one was within. Fenton had chance more than ever to wonder if Jim was trustworthy, but it was too late to turn back, turn back, The rounder suddenly stood erect, ** All seems serene, your Highness!” he ob- served, ‘* We will now pass the portals of the tiger’s den, an’ proceed ter stick pins in the fero- cious beast’s royal sides, Selah!” He opened the door. Producing a match he lighted the gas; the room had no occupant save themselves, Randolph looked around eagerly. At last he was on the scene’of Cheslington’s secrets, some- thing that had agitated his mind almost con- stantly since he imperfectly overheard that con- versation from the fire-escape, First view of the place, however, was somewhat di<appointing ; no great secrets sprung into view at the opening of the area to view—it was like the office of some bonest business man. Flippy Jim relocked the door, and then pushed back the top of the desk. ‘** Here we be!” he remarked, cheerfully. Fenton looked anxiously at the neatly arrang- ed papers, of which there was a generous supply. ‘** An’ there’s the secrets,” continued the old rounder. ‘‘ We can’t expect nothin’ but w’ot the “a age tell, an’ I hope a good ’eal from ’em. I’ve n a poor man all my life, an’ old age is gittin’ me in its clutches, Now or never is my time ter fill my pockets with honest metal. Go for the papers, Peter; go fer them!” andolph took out a document at random, It was a single sheet of paper, partially covered ser words scrawled in pencil. He read as fol- ows: *« B. Q. C. dropping. Sell at once! D. holds fast and booms his stock. Evidently intends to force things. Being well backed, is likely to succeed. Should say, buy L. A. 5 as much as possible. ‘* Wy Cu Cor. Mem.” Many readers would have found tbis a hope- less jumble. Notso Randolph Fenton, He had read tbat message before—or, rather, one pre- cisely like it, It was a telegram which had been received in Colonel Andrew Fenton’s private Office, less than a week before, It had come from a corresponding member of a syndicate to which the colonel belonged, and, on the strength of it, the elder Fenton had speculated heavily—specu- lated and lost. The young man stood staring at the paper, actually startled by the discovery, until Flippy Jim’s voice broke the silence, : ** W’ot does he say?” Rando'ph aroused, He had been partially pre- pared for such discoveries, and, though scarcely able to credit his good fortune, managed to rally and realize that the rounder must not be let into the secret. He read the message aloud. ‘Wot in p’izon doeset mean?’ Jim demanded. ** Et’s all wuss than Choctaw!” There was nothing obscure to it as far as Jim’s companion was concerned, The abbreviations were all well known in the Fenton office; he had been accustomed to them for years. He replied: **T see no key to it, bere.” **Drat the luck! I don’t see how they make use 0’ sech rubbish, nor where they got it.” Randolph could have echoed the last part of the statement. The m e was there, but where had the conspirators obtained it? CHAPTER XIV. IN THE DEATH-ROOM, ** TACKLE the next!” Flippy Jim suggested, Randolph obeyed, and found a paper similar to the first; one, too, which he as readily récog- nized. It bad been received in Colonel Fenton’s Office; its advice had been acted upon as far as the attempt went, but some one had been just ahead of the colonel, and had reaped the benefit, Investigation showed that each and ever paper in that pigeon-hole was of like nature, here lay the secret of Fenton’s mysterious , losses—the secret as far as penetrated; but the greatest puzzle of all still remained: How had Cheslington obtained copies of private telegrams, and; obtained them, too,*before they reached the colonel? ; oe * This is all rot!” declared Flippy Jim, in dis- gust. ping,” ‘J N6rising,’ ‘5 7 steady,’ an’ all that ‘ubbish? Grapple with dockymunts in some other hole, an’ see what they say.” ndolph was not reluctant, and the search ‘went on, He sat at the desk likeeone in his “Wot do we know about ‘B2C drop- own Office, going over paper after paper, while the rounder stood beside him. Jim never before had regretted the lack of education as he did then. The enigmatical nature of the papers left him no ray of light, and inability to read com- pelled him to act a passive part; he could do no more than listen. Now and then he looked searchingly at his ally, troubled with the fear tbat he might be the object of deception, but could neither prove nor disprove his doubts, Oneconsolation alone remained; he had brought a flask of whisky, from which he frequently drew encouragement, If the younger man had a monopoly as a reader, Jim was similarly situated as to the liquor; Randolph declined to share Jim’s folly. Further important discoveries were scarce. There were papers showing that the conspirators bad prvfited by the knowledge dishonestly gained, and memoranda of numerous transac- tions, but not a word which would throw light on the still dark points, Also, there were many papers in regard to horse - racing watters, whick indicated brisk business in that line, Flippy Jim grew disgusted. ** Say, do you understand all this rubbish?” he demanded, at last. ‘* How can I guess the ciphers?” * 'That’s the p’int.” ** Possibly [ could find some one who would be able to guess what it means,” ‘*Tt's worth tryin’; but, say! do you s’pose all the rest 0’ the papers is like them?” ** Looks that way,” ‘* Then le’s clear out!” ‘ road br discouraged?” “TT discouraged! I’ve got all the ‘2B 9,’ an’‘G C 3 1D’ that I want; I hev, by gravy! Ef there’s any daylight ter be got by an expert out o’ the papers, it’s jest ez wal ter gobblea fistful an’ take away, as ter go over another bushel, an’ only git‘2 FOOLS’ ter reward us, which same cipher is mine, an means ‘ 'T'wo Fools!’ Them is me!” ‘* Perhaps you are right, The utter absence of letters, and other direct evidence, goes to show that Cheslington was too shrewd to pre- serve anything which would betray him. Hoe has done his secret business—” ‘* Dishonest, too, Pll bet my head!” ‘* A safe wager, [ think. Anyhow, he’s done his business and left no sign,” Randolph put the dete to rights as far as possible, but retained enough, of the papers to satisfy his desires. He was Fehotved to take them to Police Headquarters, and let the detec- tives there solve the rest of the mystery. Ashe rose from the chair he noticed a new circumstance. ‘* Where does all this smoke come from?” he asked. ‘“¢Dunno,” Jim answered. ‘*The room is full of it.” “Yes; tickles my noses,” ‘* Well, it’s not our affair.” The young man reclosed the desk, and then they turned to leave. Flippy Jim unlocked the door and essayed to open it—it did not respond readily. “Sticks!” he remarked, and jerked at the knob, without success. “ Thats odd,” commented Randolph. ‘‘ Let me see!” _ He first tried the key and made sure the bo!t was turned back, and then pulled at the knob, The door was fast, ‘What kind of a ding-dasted thing is it?” Jim demanded, ‘Can’t imagine why it should act so. Let me have a heave at it!” He gave another jerk which produced effect, bunt not in the way he desired. He snddenly went over on his back, and scrambled to his feet | holding the knob in his band; it had been torn from the door, ‘*Hannab Isaac!” he ejaculated. we ter get out now ?” | ‘We must use the window. It opens out on the fire-escape, and by means of that, we can gain the wash-room easily. The only trouble is, the broken knob will reveal the fact that in- truders bave been here.” 1t was not the only trouble, as he found to his sorrow. iron shutters were on the window, and when they tried to open them they found the shutters immovable, If Mosquito Jack bad been present he would have found in this fact a reminder of his experience at Cheslington’s lodging-bouse, for when means of unfastening f ‘“* How are them were looked for, the effort ended in failure, AD ‘ef we ain’t prisoners!” Flippy Jim ejaculated, — ‘] don’t understand this,” Randolph admitted, Coie with a troubled air. ‘It is not strange the window should be fastened, but why does this door, through which we entered so readily, baffle us now?” “Say, you don’t s’pose we're in a trap, do er?” mee If the door is fastened on the other side, it did not fasten itself.” “*T b’lieve it is fastened.” ‘“‘Then we have enemies in this building, who have trapped us. What will they do next? Perhaps, even vow, they aresummoning enough of their gang to set upon and overpower us!” The idea alarmed Flippy Jim, and he began to wring his hands and lament in husky tones. If he had ever been a bero that noble quality had been consumed by the fiery waves of alco- hol with which bis stomach so long had been in- sulted, and the quality did not show, then, He could act the yelping cur, but not the aggres- sive mastiff. He soon had fresh cause for alarm, , ’ “Jim,” Randolph exclaimed, ‘‘ do you notice how tbick the smoke is getting here?” ‘Yes; I see it.” ‘Tt does not come from any ordinary cause. As the window is closed it cannot drift in bere and an ordinary fire in this building ought not tosend smoke around in this shape. Can it be the place is on fire!” The old rounder’s red face grew pale. ‘On fire!” be gasped. ‘‘On! ob!—they hev found us, shut us in, an’ now set fire ter the buildin’! They’re goin’ ter burn us alive! We are helpless, an’ they kin do it. a-crackin’ now! We are dead men! oh !” He danced wildly about and his voice rose in a screech which would have been laughable at any other time; whisky had spoiled bis voice, and it was far from musical, He ran to the door suddenly and began to hammer on it with his fists. ‘ ‘*Lemme out!” he screeched, ‘I ain’t done nothin’, I ain’t; twas this other feller with me, I ain’t fit ter die, an’ fire will kill me quick. Lemme ovt! Vm vurvin’ up! Ob! oh! oh!” ‘Be silent, coward!” commanded Randolph, sharply, dragging bim back from the door, “You can do nothing by appea ing to men who have doomed us to death. If such men actually are there, pleadings are useless; if we are in er- ror in supposing such a thing, we may be able to escape. Come! let us together fling ourselves against the door, avd demolish it!” j t was not easy to get Pippy Jim in condi- tion to belp in this direction, but he finally ral- lied a little. The attempt was a failure, how- ever; the door withstood all of their attacks without showing signs of ;weakness, The situation was growing serious, for smoke had gathered in the room until breathing was a matter of difficulty, This accumulation puzzled Fenton until be saw it was all entering at one point, and investigation revealed an open regis- ter there, from which the smoke was pouring. Worse than this, be found it was out of order, and could not be shut off. ; “ We must stop it, or smother!” he exclaimed. “You said you could bear the crackling of fire. I hear nothing of the kind, and it may be all the fire is in an imperfect furnace, which sends up smoke, as well as heat. Here! Help me with this carpet, and we will see if anything can be done.” The carpet was quickly torn up and banked against the register, but the pian was not wholly successful. The rapid influx of smoke was checked, ee more or less beet sifted in, adding to the quantity already there, Flippy Jim coughed and sneezed, and fell to weeping in an absurd fashion, “ “We are dead men!” he asserted. “Ob! T know we are, an’ we ain’t fit ter die. We came bere as burglars—” “Perhaps you did, but not I!” “An that’s an awful crime, Ob! oh! We sha’n’t never be forgive, an’ now we've gotter di-i-i-ie!” _ * The last word was prolonged to a screech, and Flippy Jim—‘“ flippy ” no longer—flung bimself on tha floor and clawed around frantically with avis) " his dirty bands, ; eg Onee! i086 Randolpy fiercely attacked the door; once more he failed, It was of heay; material, and not a joint seemed strained by bis exertions, Ts RAG: They were in a veritable nea He could not doubt that thei were owing to more than chance, e fastened door an}, the in-coming smoke all preved that buman cunning was working against them, and, naturally, he arrived at the conclusion that foes were outside laughing at their dilemma, — Perhaps Cheslington was one of them, Ey fae ai I hear the flames — - misfortunes r, sa funk bie ig ee eee eal 4 ts ~~ a ee eee if
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a5 . Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. eS Geena ee ne OT a TS SS EE SaaS NR TCU! SN | The air was almost unendurable, and he, too, dropped to the floor, in order to avoid being suf- focated. And while both were so helpless, the over them like a funeral pall. CHAPTER XV. JACK TAKES A HAND, WHEN Mosquito Jack entered the old build- ing, he found that he was not to be a partici- ; pant in the secret quest nnless he made himself more forward than he intended. He was just in time to hear the office-door locked behind Ran- dolph and Flippy Jim, and when he went out on the fire-escape, the iron shutters again baffled him, He returned to the club-room. ‘“May as well halt an’ take things easy,” he muttered, as he sat down in the easiest chair. “Dunno as I keer much ’cause [I ain’t in it, fer ef Peter Woods prefers Mr. Jim Flip fer a pard, x why, be kin hev him, Birds of a feather flock tergether, ve heerd. Why should the spirit 0’ mortal be proud! But Pll stay here an’, when Peter comes out, let him see that my name ain’t Dennis K. Mud so much ez he thinks fer!” This plan comforted the Hustler Gamin for ity awhile, but he soon grew ambiticus, He had bis opinion of the old building and those who occu- pied it, and realized that a better time to explore never would come, Like Randolph, he had a keen realization of the fact that he did not belong on other people’s f property, but he also remembered the harsh ah ' treatment he had received at Everard Chesling- + ton’s hands, and felt that be had a right to baffle a crook, if he could, Anyhow, he was now started on the venture, and might as well make a thorough job of it. There was but one room on that floor which ay he never had explored, and ne set out to see ee what it was like. Entering, he found a table a in the center, with an abundance of chairs ' around the side, and was wise enough to sus- er pect that it was a committee, or directors’ room. At the further side was another door. He opened it and saw a stairway beyond. Securing a lamp he went up boldly. He had not expected any great discovery th there, but had barely paused at the head of the a ivi stairs, to look around, when a peculiar sound broke in on the silence, fa “Ebenezer!” he ejaculated. ‘‘What’s that? ti Didn’t know I’s in a telegraph orfice, but ef that ain’t a telegram masheen, I ain’t no ear fer s music,” ‘4 Advancing toward the sound he found a little table in one corner, and to the table was affixed agenuine ‘telegram masiieen.” He had seen enough of them before to be sure that it pre- sented no variation, and it was ticking and clicking away merrily. Its presence there was truly surprising. \ “What in the world hev I found in this old garret?” Mosquito Jack exclaimed in wonder. The instrument clicked on calmly. “Ebenezer Augustus! but don't I wish I aa, Cee could read them ticks! Great pity my eddifica- ba, tion hez been so neglected, fer I need know- ledge now more than a cat needs two tails, A telegram masheen up here? Say, w’ot does it mean, anyhow?” No wonder he was puzzled. The room was the uppermost in the bodse, and a very incon- venient place for a telegraph office. But it was not that, nor was any railroad office near. Jack could see no possible use for the little in- i strument, pa; _ ‘What be you sayin’ anyhow?” he wondered, ae and spoke the words aloud. ‘Click, click, clickety-click! All them sounds mean somethin’, but I couldn’t tell one on ’em ef I’s ter be made president fer doin’ it.” ' He punched the machine with his finger, and then eyed the wire which descended from the roof and then rose again, ‘Some o’ Cheslington’s funny biz, I’ll bet!” he ‘* He don’t git his livin’ like an his own in regard to Ever- at man would not hesitate smoke still sifted in, and, finding no outlet, hung | SC ee After a short while the Hustler Gamin’s cool- ness returned in @ measure, and be cautiously opened the door a little. Once more he had plain view of the men. They were standing within a few feet of the office door, and Ches- lington was talking rh remeed to his companions. His voice was so much lowered that Jack could hear nothing, and great secrecy was being ob- served; but the spy did not fail to notice the gestures toward the office door, ‘* Ebenezer Augustus! but ain’t Peter in a fix, now! Ches is on ter the racket, an’ he’s got Peter caged. When my rash young frien’ comes out Ches will sort 0’ eat him up as a cat does a mouse. Peter, you’d better took John Jay Marsh along with yer, an’ set him at the outside door as a guard!” Jack’s keenest sympathies were aroused. He did not believe bis own proximity was suspected, but “ Peter” and Flippy Jim were in a fix. For the time being they were caged; when they came out, Cheslington would have them at his mercy. The Hustler Gamin tried to think of a way by which he could warn his friend, but in vain. ** Best ery 2 I kin do is ter get out, myself,” he decided, ‘* but I don’t see how I am ter doit. Unless I kin reach the roof, I’m erbout as fast penned up as Peter is. I'll see w’ot kin be done.” He returned to the attic. There was one win- dow, and it was closed up with the same kind of iron shutters he had seen below. When he tried to open them he found them equally hard to move, Cheslington had shut his guilty secrets in well, There was a skylight in the roof, but at such a point that he felt little hope of reaching it, He decided to have another look at the enemy be- fore trying, and again descended to the com- mitte room. Cheslington and his allies were still there, and their manner was one of dogged resolution. ‘*They can’t stand the smoke a great while,” Everard was saying. ‘* Suppose the scheme don’t work?” inquired a second man, whom Jack recognized as Johnson, / of tke borse-racing combination, ‘The pipe was made to convey heat, notsmoke—” : | “‘T have it fixed so smoke will come. Don’t fear!” “Tt’s a bit rough on them,” ¢‘ Why did they meddle with our business?” ‘Of course they’ve brought it on themselves.” “That is it exactly. We must either take prompt steps or throw up the snap we have bad solong. Bertram Dalton is weakening and lia- ble to peach at any moment; we want one or two more good financial deals before our ship goes down, Just let an important message go over the wire and I’ll sock it to old man Fenton for every dollar I can get out of him.” “But how am I to wind up in a blaze of glory?” lugubriously asked Jobnson. ‘* You have played the races immensely to your profit, and ought to be well fixed. As you intimate, it’s the off season with you nowfbut you can’t expect theearth, Anybow, you won’t getit. Affairs are drawing to a crisis; Colonel Fenton has driven out an innocent son, only to find that losses continue, and the train can’t run much beyond the end of the track.”, ‘Is what little we are benceforth to get worth the deed we are now doing? ‘* Those men,” Cheslington replied, pointing to the office, ‘‘ came here as spies, and of all things on earth a spy is the most despicable—” ‘* We, and ali other knaves, think so,” laughed Johnson. ‘Tbe man who howls agaitst spies is never living on the square.” ““That’s about so, but never mind; I don’t allow any one to treaG on my toes with im- punity. Those men tried it, and you see the re- sult. I’ve turned on the smoke; their room is full of it by this time; and they will smother like animals in their dens.” Mosquito Jack’s hair seemed rising when he heard this plain statement of the case. ° ‘In a few minutes all will be over,” Everard added. ‘ The Hustler Gamin turned and rau up the steirs. . ** All will be over, will it?” hemuttered, ‘ Not ef Ikin help it! Got a p’izon scheme ter make Peter an’ Jim inter smoked pork, hev they? Ebenezer Augustus! but there must be some hustlin’ done here! Move-on Mike an’ his club is wanted, an’ wanted bad, Up the roof | go!” of the timbers of the unfinished attic, moments he managed to progress favorably, ? a 4 yi) Lindh ® ‘ tot ie Drei Sie de 3 x fA Sa ea hala cee i a a ee ee ee ee eee He glanced at the skylight, and then lay hold | door, L and es- | street was being repaired in front of the build- sayed to climb up to the window. For several | ing/and several up-torn paving-stones lay in a Pp: but, finally, his hand slipped, and he fell heav- ‘ily back tothe floor, = ; J ao | SG ese beds rae oF SE ES Ba apes Oia ‘ 4) fey een yee CHAPTER XVI. LEADING THE ATTACK. Mosquito JACK was considerably shaken bodily by his fall, but his courage remained unimpaired. He leaped up at once, ‘*That’sone fer you,” he acknowledged, ‘‘ but it takes three falls ter win a match. Here's at yer, ag’in!” Once more be climbed, and with less speed and more care than on the former occasion. He was strong and agile, and perseverance took him to the a gs «si at last. e broke the sash and glass with his foot, secured a hold above, and, after a struggle, drew himself up to the roof, He felt the effects of his efforts, but did not dare to pause. Gaining bis feet be started on, but almost instantly tripped and fell. ** Ebenezer Augustus!” he exclaimec, ‘ I’m gettin’so I tumble around like a baby. Lost erbout all faith in myself, by gum! Hullo! what’s this? A wire, an’ that’s what tripped me. Part o’ Everard’s telegraph system, an’— say, what’s this?” A telegraph wire crossed the roof of the house, but was broken in a way which impressed the Hustler Gamin as peculiar, An elbow of the wire descended through the roof, and then rose again to resume its old course. When he saw the instrument in the attic a vague suspicion bad finally dawned upon him, and it now received fresh force. _“ Wire-tappers /” he uttered. ‘* That’s w'ot uy Everard’s secret biz is. An honest wire hap- ha pened ter cross this roof, au’ Ches made dishon- est connections with it, Yes, sirree! Il] bet a hat I hev the key ter the racket, By bis little scheme he gets all messages aliead o’ them fer whom they’re intended. No wonder he an? ° i, Jobnson hey been makin’ money out 0’ the races, ‘ an’ other things. Everard, l’m onter you, an” there will soon be a sizzlin’ o’ hurt meat on the gridiron. Wire-tappin’, is it? Ebenezer! but won’t Officer Mike’s drag-net jest about scoop them rascals!” Jack could not pause to dwell upon this dis-~ covery, and he hurried to the fire-escape., He had felt but little hope of being able to reach that means of escape, but the fact that the upper ‘window was so near made it possible to drop to the upper balcony. It was a hazardous plan, but be did not hesitate, Carefully he lowered himself over the eaves, hung at arm’s-length, and then dropped. There was a moment cf anxious suspense, and then he alighted in safety. Without pausing he scram- bled down the ladder. : ' When he passed the shutter-closed window of t the office he not only smelled smoke but beard a Orvarsing within. Knowing he could give no elp he did not pause, but continued his descent and was soon in*the yard. Once there he took the same course he and Le Randolph ad pursued on a former cccasion, ie reached the alley and}bastened to the street. Almost the first person he saw was Officer O’Dowley. . ‘*Say!” be cried, seizing the patrolman hy the sleeve, “you want ter hustle! Peter is bein? ~ cremated in thar!” d “St. Patrick! phat’s that you say?’ demanded the guardian of the night. “Everard bas got Peter an’ another feller sk shut in a room, an’ is smotherin’ them with ‘a smoke,” e ‘* Where'd he buy de cigars?” . ‘Say, can’t you understand? It ain’t cigars, but assassination, by gum! Mebbe they’ve set fire ter ther house; [ dunno, but this much is sartain: Peter*is pris’ner, an’ Everard has let on smoke ter do him up.” ‘*Murtheration! an Oi sthanding oidle here? Begorra, here’s de chance for action, an’ if Oi don’t hev them crooks in me drag-net, me name ain’t Michael Patrick O’Dowley! Oi bave no saloon pull, an’ don’t drink; but the Goddess ave Liberty an’ de Constitution is me pole-star ave loight, Come on, John, an’ if this noight don’t make a sergeant ave me, Oi’ll not have me de- serts, Come on!” While talking Move-on Mike was burrying toward the door, which he now reached. © * Oil demand admittance in the name ave the \ dess of—” ' f ‘Smash it in, Mike! That's the Goddess you want ter rely on,” Jack advised. ‘ he val gtr you's roight, Jobn, an’ Oi’ll do it.” he aber looked doubtfully at the heavy " aS ut suddenly saw his way,clear. The ne pile. One of these be secured, and, swinving it. aloft, burled it against the place where tie ) ck. was located. Tbe door flew open. te r pee tly ac
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— 7 —? SS eS Se a. Ee a ‘_ The round _ anade of the building, 14 ‘Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. “Hurry!” the Hustler Gamin uiged, ‘‘ Peter may be drawin’ his last breath.” “ Begorra, Oi’l] see that he kapes on br’athing for tin years after the last one is drawed.” Officer O’Dowley ran up the stairs with agility which put Jack op his mettle to follow by his — Then they flung open the door of the club, Cheslington and three other men were there. Up tothis timeit had not occurred to Mos- quito Jack that they were daring ominously strong odds, Realization of the fact came now and he felt troubled, but the gallant patrolman was not in the least alarmed. _ “Surrender, wan an’ ali!” he commanded, waving his stick. ‘‘Oiarrest youin the name ave the Goddess ave Liberty an’ the Constitution, an’ don’t divil a wan ave yez dare to lift his hand. You hear me?” Cheslington tried to look innocent. ** What joke are you springing on us, officer?” he asked. ** Joke!” echoed Michael, fiercely. ‘ Joke, is it? Begorra, ef tin years in Sing Sing is a joke, dat’s de kind ave a mad-dog dis jokeis, Open dat door!” He pointed to the office, ‘** Really, Mr. O’Dowley—” ‘*Open dat door!” thundered Move-on Mike. ** Really, I shall complain of your conduct—” With heavy steps Michael crossed the floor, making straight for the door, but Cheslington og the way and put up his hands scientifi- cally. ““Go for him, boys!” the crook cried to his allies, Move-on Mike uttered a roar and struck two dlows. The first beat down Everard’s guard, and almost broke his arm; the second dropped the fellow, half-stunned, to the floor, By that time, however, the other men had recovered their wits, and they set upon the officer to- gether. Jack felt that he was wanted in two places at the same time, but could not be oblivious to the fact that ‘‘ Peter Woods” might even then be breathing his last in the smoke-filled room. _ The crooks had strongly secure the coor, but in such a way that any one could open it from that side. Jack began to scatter the impedi- ments, working with zea]. All the while he could hear Move-on Mike fighting his battle, but dared not stop. At last the way was clear. He flung the door open. A cloud of smoke rushed out, He was almost blinded, but promptly dashed into the death-trap. He stumbled over some- thing and almost fell. It was the prostrate form of a man, and he seized and dragged it from the room, It was Flippy Jim. He turned back, but had only reached the threshold when anotber man appeared, crawling like a snake, “Peter!” shouted the Hunter Gamin, joy- fully, and he seized upon his friend and aided ‘him to where the air was pure. Then he reclosed the door and turned to see ‘how Move-on Mike was progressing. Michael was all right. Two of his late oppo- ments were prostrate and insensible, and the wther two were subdued. They were on their feet, but, plainly, much the worse for having got in the way of his potent stick, The gallant offi- cer was breathing heavily. “* Begorra!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ dis is wan ave the most interesting experiences Oi’ve had in six months, If vou’s have anny more ave the kind around here Oi’d thank you to trot thim out so Oi kin limber up me joints a bit more!” **Tve got Peter out,” observed Jack, **Oi bad me eyeson yezalldhe toime, ye— Hullo! here’s de roundsman!” Another officer had walked in, When passing the building, the open, broken door had arrested Sy attention, and he had come to learn the cause of it. “ Here we are!” aicily remarked Officer O’Dow- ley. ‘‘ Four ave de biggest crooks in New York, an’ all bagged an’ ready tor Sing Sing market, You kin take your pick, sor, but Oi ask for me due credit.” Randolph appeared, staggering, but lodking like anything but a dead man. ““T desire those men) arrested for attempted murder!” he declared. ‘“*Sure, an’ they shall be arristed; yes, an’ ivery wan shall be convicted an’ sint up dhe Will _ river, Moind dat, now, an’ begin ter repint al- nks!” an was some time in getting the facts of the case, but, when he did, be aided Mike in rendering Cheslington and his companions helpless. Then a complete examination wus ready, ye s There was no more found in the office than Randolph had seen before, but, just when the hopes of the adult investigators went down, Mosquito Jack came to the rescue, ‘*] kin explainthe whole game!” he declared. ** What was it?” ‘*They’re wire-tappers, Got a telegram ma- sheen up-stairs by w’ich they cut off the mes- sages as they go erlong, an’ so make mouey on races, an’ other things,” Randolph found the assertion intensely inter- esting, and he bade Jack lead the way to tke in- strument. This the boy did, and a general ex- amination was soon made. It was found that Jack was right, and the business of the conspira- tors was made plain. Fenton now had clew to the whole of his father’s business troubles. Before, he had learned who made the taoubles; now, be saw bow it was done. No wonder the wire-tappers had been able to forestall the colonel’s projected moves when they secured the points before he did. He had been using a semi-private wire, as Randolph well knew, and it was clear that the wire they saw was the same one, At last, the way was clear for the young man to prove his innocence of all charges of treach- ery. Relief bad come to him and Flippy Jim just in time, They were still suffering from the effects of the smoke, but, probably, not injured, per- manently, Move-on Mike pinched Jack’s arm and whis- pered: me Begorra! me drag-net has got thim, an’ though you deserve most ave the credit, Oi think you’ll see me a sergeant soon!” CHAPTER XVII. MEETING THE ‘‘ DOUBLE.” ‘* WiTH my innucence established in one way, I intend to prove it ir another, to-night!” It was the day after the scenes last described, and Randolpb Fenton sat in bis owh room as he made the remark to Mosquito Jack. Cbesling- ton and his allies were in captivity, but, at Ran- dolph’s earnest request, the police had agreed not to make the arrest public until another day had passed. Randolph, too, had given Jack a history of the troubles which had made him an outcast from home, only withholding his real name, ‘*T reckon you’re thinkin’ o’ Bertram Dalton,” the. Hustler Gamin replied. a“ I am,” ** You intend to nab him?” : **T shall be at the place where he promised to meet Lena, to-night. If becomes, I'll know who this double of mine is,” “Good! But you ought ter hev a perleece- ” “*T shall have one. Officer O’Dowley has asked for a mght off, anu will accompany me. Your look is one of eagerness. Do you want to go with us?” ‘* Bet your patent-leathers!” ‘© You shall go,” “Thank you! With yer innocence all proved, I s’pose you'll go back home.” No!” replied Randolph, with empbasis. “My father wrongfully accused me end drove me away from home, The step waS final, and no reconciliation can be had. I am going to fight my own way in life, and, after showing my father how be wronged me, bid him farewell forever!” Mosquito Jack shook his head in grave disap- proval of this decision, but did not try to com- bat it. Still, he hoped and believed a reconcili- ation would yet fellow. They waited patiently for the time to come when they could act their part, but were os: e- ; ful not to let Lena suspect their intentions, spite the advice of the landlady, the young wife | persisted in her determination to meet her recre- ant busband, and Randolph was glad it was so. At the proper hour, Randolph, Jack and O’Dowley madé their way to the Park, and, after a little conversation with one of the gray- coated guards, took a position where they could watch, but were themselves concealed by busbes. Fenton had been quite rightin his assertion that the place was dark; nothing more favorable could be found, They had expected to see one of t»o persons who were to meet—ifg indeed, Dalton came— arrive before the other, and it was a surprise when, as evidence that they bad met outside the Park entrance, Lena and a young man finally esed the gate, walking side by side, and mov- ing toward those in ambush, Jack touched Randolph’s arm, ‘*There’s yer ‘double!’” he whispered. There was no answer; the young man was speechless, He saw the ‘‘ double,” but found him no stran- ger. Lena’s companion was as familiar to * Peter” as his own right hand, and hecould not have spoken a word, He recognized his own brother, Wayland Fenton ! ‘*Looks a heap loike yez!” Movye-on Mike commented, Still Randolph was speechless; be was dum- founded, The young couple left the main walk and turned into the smaller, darker path. When near the ambushed men, Wayland paused, “Let us not defer action, Lena,” he began, abruptly. ‘Il want this matter settled, Are you still so mad as to wish me to acknowledge you as my wife?” ‘* Bertram,” was the quick reply, “‘I am your wife, and you are all I have in the world, I don’t want to live un!ess we can be together.” ‘* My. treatment of ycu bas been cruel, mean, infamous.” ‘* There was a time in the past when it was all IT could wish. I look forward to the future with bope.” ** Suppose I am a criminal?” ‘* You would still be my busband!” ‘* Lena,” Wayland cried, ‘‘ I don’t deserve such a woman as you, and, for your own sake, I am sorry you ever knew me, If you loathed me, hated me, knew me as I do myself; if you knew how infamous I am—” ** But, Bertram—” ‘Listen, and you shall know all, 1 am not Bertram Dalton;:my name is Wayland Fentcn, I am of a family rich and—well, all but me are honorable, I met you; loved and married you. But the most ignoble kind of pride stood in my way. You were poor; the curse of riches was upon me, and I would not present you to the world as my wife, I bad married you un- der a false name, and when I saw fit to desert you, you had no clew to my identity. One thing let me say right here: I did not desert you be- cause I was tired of you, but, lacking moral courage to do what was right, I saw no way out of the wretched muddle. Lena, how can you listen patiently while such a wretch tells his story?” ‘* Because T realize how hard it was for you.” “And you? Was the heavier burden on my shoulders or yours? But let that pass for now, You must know me as | am! “T am the younger son of Colonel Andrew Fenton, an honorable, noble man. I have a sister who is good; a brother whose heart knows no guile. I bave been tbe black sheep of the flock. While posing at home asa model young man I have been wild and reckless, my position as traveling agent for my father enabled me to hice this fact, as I also hid the fact of our mar- riage, ay year ago my worst, most infamous folly began. I had made the acquaintance of one Everard Cheslington,@ man about town, He was, and is, a wretch, but I was long ignorant jnst how evil he was. In a moment of weak- ness I told him of my father’s business, and the guards thrown around it. I was too ambitious at that time. was getting only a mdderate salary. ‘*Cheslington made a proposal tome. It was tbat we putin a, telegraph instrument, tap the private wire, and go into speculation on our oven hook, on the strength of the private advices mv father received. ‘‘ Fool that I was, I consented. The deed was done; the work begun, But how did it work? I had not thought if should injure father’s busi- ress, but only make money side by side with him. Instead, I Jearned tbat every dollar we made was at father’s expense. I implored Ches- lington to give up the work. He laughed; said he had a good thing and should keep it; and added that I dared not go to Colonel Fenton and tell him the truth. a “He was right. Coward that I was, I dared not confess the truth; the work went on, But, I did not sbare in it. I withdrew, and Chesling- ton had it all to himself. ; “The crisis came when my father, after vainly looking for explanation of his losses, erroneously decided that ndolpb, my brother, must be guilty—Randolpb, the noblest, most honorable of men, He was banished from the house, and I remained—I, the vilest of all wretches! ‘T tried to find Cheslington, but failed, Once, I went to Mrs. ‘Brown's boarding-house, knowin he used to visit a friend there—I was admittex by a lodger, who was too indifferent to care whom he was letting in, as you will remember, My father was getting rich; I. It was then I met you, —
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vr | BRA Chin 53 aos ond Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. 15 Twice I bave called at Cheslington’s own poarding-bhouse, but have always been told he was out, ‘Tena, you know my fullinfamy. To-morrow morning I shall tell the whole wretched story to father, and then go away forever, to be an exile, penniless, disgraced, hopeless. you risk your fortunes with such a creature?” Wayland had spoken rapidly and vehemently, his voice often falling, however, to a tremulous piteb, That remorse was strong within him no one could doubt, and Lena’s devotion did not, waver, ‘*My husband,” she answered, “if you have sinned, you have suffered. I believe in you still, and if you will allow it, my place shall be by your side while our lives last. Whither thou goest, I will go!” You shall, Lena!” he exclaimed, ‘and may 1 prove a different man in the future. In twenty-four hours the new life shall begin. My crimes will make me ah exile from father, sister, brother and home; your forgiveness will be the | light of hope to my path, my brave little wife!” Randolph Feuton stepped from cover. ‘* Brother!” he spoke, simply. Wayland recviled. ‘* You here!” Yes, brother; and here to say that I have heard all. More, [ shall intercede with our father for a repentant son. I, too, have been meditating exile, but I grow wiser. Let us leave all to the future.” Move-on Mike took Mosquito Jack by the rm. ** Come, lad,” directed the honest policeman; ‘our place ain’t here. L’ave dhe brothers to patch it up.” “Ebenezer Augustus! who’d hev thought this?” ‘* Begorra, it’s odd our fri’nd niver suspected who his double was,” - Prob’bly he placed too much confidunce in bim. Jack’s surmise partially covered the ground, but there was more toit, Randolph and Way- land looked alike, and strangers thought the re- semblance remarkable, but those who daily saw could not see the likeness as others dix, ben hunting for his double, Randolph hought of bis own brother. ve a notion itll all end well,” declared Mike? ‘Oi hope so, for dhe Goddess ave Lib- erty an’ dhe Constitution would be burt bad if a family was broke up out ave dhe trouble,” ‘Correct, by Ebenezer!” _Two days later Randolph resumed his place in his father’s office, and announcement was made of Wayland’s marriage. The friends of the Fen- tons never knew that any trouble had occurred, and the recon@iliation was complete. Tbe col- onel was only too glad to give Wayland a chance to repent, for he had a strong dose of repentance to take, himself, All is now happiness in the family; Randolph is again trusted and happy; Wayland and Lena make a devoted couple, their friends say. Cheslington and bis allies were tried and sent to prison on outside charges easy to find, but, as a reward for Everard’s silence covering Way- land, all his crimes known to this story were allowed to rest. Officer O’Dowley won much honor, and con- siderable money from Colonel Fenton; and the temporary failure to be appointed sergeant did not worry him so very much. He and Mosquito Jack resumed their old life, waiting, perhaps, for fresh adventures by which they could win renown. Jack, already, was a hero, THE END. _ Beatle’s Half-Dime Library, BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR. 2 Yellowstone Jack; or, The bag Te 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Wurricane BU; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. Mustang Sam ; or, The King of the Plains. ht-tlawk or, Fighting Fire with Fire, A hers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path., Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. B1 Fhe Rarranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. % Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide — B55 The Kine of the Woods: or. Dame| Boone’s Las! Trail. 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. rall. ‘ : Home Stretch. Crazy, the Man Without « Head. TOS Light-Heart Lute’s Legacy. ES oh a Can you, dare | BY OLL COOMES. Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. | 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. H 81 Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Renger Spy. %4 Wawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger. 88 Rollo, the Boy anna. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman, 148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 153 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Prospect Pete ; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters. 208 The Boy Hercules tyor, The Prairie Tramps, 218 Viger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Picks or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 22k Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Disguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon; or, tininbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Bow Ranchero. 409 Brercules; wr, Dick, the Boy R A417 Webfoot Mose, the Tramp 0 ive. 422 Baby Sam, the Boy Giant o! ellowstone. | 444 Little Buckskin, tne Young Prairie Centaur. 457 Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Upidemic. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. i 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, 661 Old Kit Bandy’s Deliverance. Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. ; Dauntless Dan, the Freelance, or Old Kit Bandy in Arcadia. BY JO PIERCE, i Bob o’ the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street. The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom, Hotspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. The Lawyer’ Shadow; or, Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 504 Five Points Phil, 509 Jack 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 ofthe Sixth Ward. 641 Jeff Flicker. the Stable Boy Detective, 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 5659 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective. 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter. 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, GOR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. 614 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 628 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlern Hummer. 639 Sunrise Saul, the Express-Train Ferret. 649 Gamin Bob, the Bowery Badger; or, Scooping a Slippery Set, 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator. 694 Spicy Jim, the Only One of His Kind 706 Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detective. BY PHILIP 8S. WARNE, 67 Patent-Leather Joe; or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 7S Capratm Arizornh ; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game. 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leether Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Duelist; er, The Mountain Vempires. 888 A Tough Boy; or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornado; or, The Outcasts of the Glen. 878 Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 888 Little yj ae or, Caught in His Own Trap. 401 Little Shoo- ly or, A Race for a Ranch, 408 Little Leather- Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse, 481 Little Ah Sin; or, The Curse of Blood. 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the olines. 480 Three Jolly Parda, 517 Jim Gladden’. Deputy. 527 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue. : 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down, 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. 574 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs, 598 Keen Olem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy Blazes; or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. 685 Oklahoma Hi, the Blue-Coat Scout. 648 Happy Harry’s Big Find. 664 Cheeky Charley, the Special, BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER. 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Deughter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise. 200 The Boy Bedouina; or, The Brot!ers of the Plumed Lance, 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Romer the Animal King: or, Round the World. 265 The Tiger Tamer; or, The League of the Jungle. 881 Black N&ek, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trall. BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Glants of N . 498 Cactus Burr, the Man at aa Lack. 587 Old Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. p44 voy porrit,, the ae Detective. = e Lig ngs . The Mystery of tne Island. 688 Plucky Paul, the Boy Pronpectek. Pere ya tes BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Asa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 199 Featherweight. the Boy Champion of the Muskingum. 228 Ozark Alf’; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Petective;: or, Weasel. the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quarteville. 811 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of ChackaluckCamp, 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon’s Vendetta. 0 Clip the Contortiontat: or, The Montana Vigilantes. RY ALRERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes of a Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. ase i Ginner, te Sart Trapper. sie hand oe Ruek of Angels and His Bo ar Tt New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks Zod Traps in Gotham, / 458 New England Nick: or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, | 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince, 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Half-Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorado in New York. ae BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, dlall.) 284 Old Rocky « ** Boyees; or, Benito, tne Horse-Breaker 246 Giant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George’s Pard. 297 The Tarantula of Tavs; or, Giant George’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos. 827 Creeping Cat, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Parde, 882 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. $44 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. 849 Wild Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. 857 The Rauch Raiders; or, The Siege of Fort Purgatory. 864 &nap-Shot, the Boy Kanger. 875 Chiota, 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 Lariat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Daisy from Denver. 427 The Three Tratlers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage. 442 Bluff Bill; or, The Lynx of the Leona. 455 Little Lone Star: or, The Belle of the Cibolo, 684 Cache Carl, the Chico Giart ¥ BYL IEUT. A. K, SIMS. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 589 Tom-Cat_ and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 601 Happy Hans, the Dutch Vidocq. 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Triad 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task. 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Ivan’s Great Combine. 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank. 665 Jolly Jeremtahs the Plains Detective, 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scont. Billy the Gypsy Spy. Siraple Sim, the Broncho Buster. The Mesmerist Sport; or, The Mystified Detective. BY MAJOR E. L. 8ST. VRAIN, | Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. : Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette. 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of‘ Sand.” B59 Durango Dave, the Youhy “bony sn Wrestlers 871 Kingbolt Chria, the Young Hard-Shell Detective. 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mountain Mail-Line. BY ROGER STARBUOK. 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s pom org 114 The Black Schooner; or, JibaJunk. the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoon; or, Lost Among the Floes. 848 Fire-Heela: or, Old Skinflint, ths Death-Shadow. 854 Big Horn Ike, the Hill Tramp; or{The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Lirht-house, 870 Brenker Ren, the Reef-Runner, BY BRACEBRIDGE HEMYNG. 89 Island Jim: or, The Pét of the Family. 91 The Captain of the Club; or. The Rival Athletes. 101 Jack Narkaway in New York. BY JACK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY COL, A. F. HOLT. 899 Black Buckskin: or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon. 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485 Littie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, S23 The Dandy sport; or, The King Pin Conspirator. 6738 eee 47 Renwood, the Lightning Express Detective. 691 Headlight Harry’s Haul, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-lforse Munters, By Capt Mayne Reio and Frederick Whittaker. 9 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels. By Dean swift. 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Crusoe. (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 22 La Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe. By Juan wis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of Carribees. By 8..W. Pierce.) “a 86 The Boy Clown: or, The Arena Queen. By F 8. Finn. 88S Ned Wylde, the Boy Scont. By Texas Jack. 51 The Boy Fif'es; or, The Underground Camp. By A.C. Irons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi. By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Vutiawed Ear); or, The wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunter; or, heCave of Death. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tiopy, the Texan? or. The Young Champion. By George erson. 128 The Young Privateer: or, The Pirate's Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowstone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New York Boy. By G. L, Aiken. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; »r, Davy Crockett’s Cieckea Trail. By Ensign C. D. Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eved Trapper; or, The Maid ot the Cliff. By Captain Comstock. 817 Peacock Pete. the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lieu- tenant Alired Thorne. 828 The Sky Detective; or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honos.* By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rovers or, The Brother's Re- a6 venge. By rind “ym as 5 Raltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morris, B74 Gold-Duat Tom: or, Ben’s Double Match, a, 4 i. 876 Cailfornia Joe’s First Trail. By Colonel Themes Hoyer Monstery. 418 Blily Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By FS. Winthrop. 475 The Black Ship. By John S Warner. 4 Comanche Pick and His Three Invinelbles. By Heorv J. Thomas. 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. 552 Artel the Athlete. By David Druid. ; 585 Will Waters, the Bov Ferret. , By H. Enton. ; 682 The Dead Detective’s Double. By Gerald Carlton A New isane Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by ail newsdenlers, five sateiver copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, ; ‘BEADLE AND ADAW®, Publishers, 98 William St eet, New ¥erk, Merry Men of Green-
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Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels. 1 Dendweood Dick, the Prince ot the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick’s Detiance; or, Double Daggers. 28 Deadwood Dick in Disguise; or, Buffaly Ben 85 Deadwood Dick in His Castle. 42 Deadwood Pick’« Bonanza; or, The santom Miner. 49 Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Oll. 7 Deadwoed Dick's Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Bick on Deck; or. Calamity é ne, the Heroine. 77 Deadwood Dick’s Last Acti or, Corduroy Charlie. 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville. 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Double Cr 109 Deadwood Dick aw Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 138 Deadwood Dick’s Home Ease; or, Blonde Bi!! 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike; or, AG s Sign, { Gold. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, T cked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dreams; or, The Rivals of the Road. 201 Deadwood Dick’s Wards; or, The Black Hill's Jezebel. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Adventure. 217 Deadwood Dick’s Dead Deal. 221 Deadwood Dick's Death-Plant. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. $09 Deadwood Dick’« Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. $21 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, fhe Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Dueuta; or, Days in the Diggings. $51 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, | he Terrible Vendetta £62 Deadwood Dick’s Claim, 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City, 410 Deadwood Dick’s« Diamonds. 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Care,”” 430 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand, 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Definnee. 458 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Full Hand. 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Big Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick, ’s, Racket at Claim 10, 47L Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Corral; or, Bozeman Bill. 476 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dog Detective. 481 Dendwood Dick, dr., In Deadwood. 491 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s,. Compact. 496 Deadwood Dick, dr.’s, Luheritance. 600 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diggiugs. 608, Deadwood Dick, dr.’s, Deliverance. 615 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Protegee. 622 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s, Three. 529 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducks 634 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt. 5839 Peadwood Dick, Jr., in Texas. 544 Deadwood Dick, dr., the Wild West Vidoeg 549 Deadwood Dick, Jr., on His Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, dr-, In Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Boston, 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago, 578 Deadwood Dick. Jr., Afloat. S84 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Decree. 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin. 600 Deadwood Dick, dr., at Coney Island, 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detroit, 618 Deadwood Bick, Jr., in Cincinnati. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada, 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In No Man’s Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tn Buffalo, 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase Across the Continent 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. 660 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Ivaurance Case. 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines. 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tn Durango; or, ‘ Gathered In.” 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Discovery; or, Found « Fortune. 684 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Dazzle. . 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Dollars, 695 Derdwood Dick, Jr., at Danger Divide. 700 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Drop. 704 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 710 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in San Franciseo, Other Novela by E. L. Wheeter. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon £2 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot 89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. 8 Jim Bludasoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 1 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 0 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter; or, The Boy Detective. SO 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 3 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp, W atch-Eye 3 or, Arabs and Angels of a Great City, Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. Bonanza Bill, Miner. Beas Hob the King of Bootblacks, Solld Sam, the Boy Road-Agent, 7 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. t New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 2 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps. 1 Wild Prank; the Buckskin Bravo. 9 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective, 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventrilognist Hunter 226 &noozer, the Boy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo BAll, the Trail Tornado 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young G)adiator. 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 248 Sierra Sams Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sawm’s Pard; or, [he Angel of Big Vista. 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol: or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. 281 Denver Doll's Victory. 285 Denver Doll’s Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll's Drift; or. The Road Queen. 299 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 *Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia. 880 Little Quick-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville. 884 Kangaroe Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. $89 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. BOR Firat-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher, BEN Vreka Jim, the Gold-Gathererg or, The Life Lottery, 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Neds or, The Secret of Sinb City. B82 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villnin’s Vengeance. 885 Yreka Jim's Joker; or, The Rivals of Red Nose. 889 Bleycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective. 426 Sam Slabs«ldea, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 456 Seulskin Sam, the Sparkler. PAwwK co Jie Seren Rat sh pak pk eh pk 3b BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, Z The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccan.er; or, The Fugitive Yacht, + Dirk: or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lientenants. 75 The Boy Dnellat; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Srouggier. 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Mussar Captain ; or, The Hermit of Hell Gate. 197 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 204 Gold Plume; or, Buffalo Bill, the Pony Expr ider. 216 Bison BU, the Prince of the Reine: or, Battie Il’s Pluck. 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate; or, The Cowboy's Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain,” 245 Merle, the Middy 3; or, The Freelance Heir. 250 The Midshipman Mutineer 3, or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 The Floating F eather: or, Merle Monte’s Treasure. 269 The Gold Ship; or, Merle ndemived. 276 Merle Monte’s Cruise sold Ship Chases 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; o e Pirate's Bride, 284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merie Monte’s Pledge. 2ST Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. $04 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Bemto. the Boy Bugler. 808 Keno Kit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double. $14 The Mysteriou«x Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler's Trail. 877 Bonodel, the Buy Rover; or, The Flegless Schooner. B83 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, BST Warpath WII, the Boy Phantom. 8398 Seawalf, the Boy Lieutenant. 402 LIavdor, the Young Con«pirator ; or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta. 412 The Wild YVachtamanys or, The War-Clou.’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 483 A Cabin Boy’s Luck; or, The Corsair. 427 The Scena Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly ¢ or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Haphazard Marry; or, Tre Scapeerace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Wills or, The Boy Ferre: of New York. 454 Wizard WIIDs Street Scouta. 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sallor Boy Wanderer. 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Conster. 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagavond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Wil!’s Last Case, 487 Nevada Ned, the Revoiver Ranger 495 Arizoun doe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy ; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin BI, the Comanche Shadow. 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 530 The Buckskin Bowers, 5685 The Bue: skin Rovers, 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder ot the Rio. 545 Lieutenant. Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy; or. The Avenging Son. 555 The Creole Corsair. 560. Pawnee BUL, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scont Detective, 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective. 586 The Backeskin Avenger. 591 Delmonte, the Young Sea Rover. 597 The Young Texan Detective. 602 The Vagabond of the Mines. 607 The Rover_ Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Rio Raiders. 644 The Hercules Highwayman. 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Rider Detective; or, Buffalo Bill’sa Boy Pard. 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt. 662 Butterfly Billy’« Bonanza, 668 The Buccancer Midshipman, 674 The Wizard Sailor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover, 679 The Sean Shadower; or, The Freebeot r’s Legacy 686 Orlando, the Ocean Free Flag: or, The Tarnished Name. 692 The Rival Sharps; or, Redfern, the Secret Service Scout. 697 The Scarlet Sombrero; or, The Sharp from Texns 702 Blue Jacket BI; or, The Red Hat Rangers’ Red Hot Racket 707 The Red Sombrero Rangers; or, Redfern’s Last Trail, BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody). 8 Kanaas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout. 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado}; or, The Trapper’s Trust, ss BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective. 122 Phil Wardy, the Bose Boy. 126 Picayune Pete } or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer, Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. Will Wildfire in the Woods, Billy Baggage, the Rallroad Boy. A Trump Bard’ or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, Rob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York, Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, The Hidden Hand; or, Wil! Wildfire’s Revenge. Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers. 189 Rob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed ; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner: or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 25 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two ** Blood«"; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaway: 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’ Joby or, The Young Detective? 298 The Water-Hound: or, The Young Thoroughored. 805 Dashaway, of Daketas or, A Western Lad in Quaker City. 824 Kalph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detectives or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, BAT Wide-Awake Joe: or, A Boy of the Times, 79 Larry, the Levetert or. The Bloods of the Boulevard. 408 Firetly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger? or, The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invinelble Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Rilly Brick, the Jolly Vaganond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive. 479 Detective Dodge: or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket. 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Teo Sharp for the Sharper, b86 The Secret Service Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Tom Bence of Arkansnat or, The Wolfin the Fold. 655 Plucky Paul, the Roy Speculator. 667 Rob and Sam, the Daisy Detertives. 709 The Curbstone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat. RBNINNIAAGM eee eee ASS eoOwwr | : BEADLE'’S« H ALF- DIME« [ IBRARY. Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY J, 0. 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 Withou: 424 Cibuta John; or, Ked-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 439 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Brayo. 506 Redlight Ralph, the Prince of the Road, 514 Srendway Billy's Boedle, 524 The Engineer Detective. 586 Breadway Hilly’s ‘Dittkilty.” 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 571 Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer. 579 The Chimney Spy? or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party 592 The Boy Pinkerton. 605 William 0’ Broadway’ or, The Boy Detective’s Big Innine. 615 Fighting Harry the Chief of Chained Cyclone. 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Act. 640 Barebrek Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgan, the * Pizenest ’? Man of Ante Bar. 669 Brondway Billy Abroad. 675 Broadway Billy’s Best: or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy in Clover. ‘ 696 Broadway Billy tn Texas. 708 Brondway Billy’s Brand, Til Broadway Billy at Santa Fe. Naeite. BY T. C. WARBAUGH. 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of ’76. B87 The Hidden Lodge}; or The Littl Hunter, 47 Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trali. 82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack ¢ or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch, Jr.: or, The Bey Vigilante. 155 Gold T er, the Sp" rt; er, The Gir) Avenger, 169 Tornado Tom; or, [njun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw ; or, The Quen o! Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. | 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Tovknot’s Crusade. 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rosn, the Re Jezebel, 241 Bill Bravo; or, The Rovghs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoli- , tne King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The buckskin Detective, 279 Old Winch} or, The Buckskin Desperadoes. 294 Dynamite Dany; or, The Bowle Blade of Gochetopa. 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona. 826 The Ten Parda; or, The Terror of Take-Notice. 886 Big Benson: or, The Queen of the Lasso. 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Ked Thunderholt’s Secret. 856 Cool Sam und Par’: ov The Terrible Six. B66 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass 3 or, ) he Brceaneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Rob; or, The twin Champions of Blue Blazes. All The Silken J.asso: or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. (4s 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump. the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Fla«h, the New York Fox. 0,” 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. r 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar. 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. A477? The Excciaior Sport; or, The Washington Spott r. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret.” 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detectives 621 Dodger Dick’s Best Dodge. 528 Fox and Falcon, the Bowery Shadows. 538 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick’s Double} or, The Rival Boy Detectives. 558 Dodeer Dick’« Desperate Case, 568 Dodger Dick. the Boy Vidocq. 578 The Two Shadows. 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. 626 The Champton Parda, 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Boy Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. 658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Bengle. 671 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. 685 Happy Hugh, the Boy Musician Detective. 701 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 718 Carl, the Mad Cowboy; or, The Lariat Queen, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 714 Old Misery, the Man from Missouri; or, The Mystery of the Mountain League. By Wm, G. Patten, 715 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret; or, Caging the Cormorants. By T. C, Harbaugh. 716 Deadwood Mick, Tr.’*, Still Munth or, The Second Round in San Francisco, By Edward L. Wheeler. 217% Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin; or, Move-on Mike’s Grand Catch, By Jo Pierce, 718 Lirht-Heart Lute’« Last Trails or, The Gold Crater’s Secret, Ly Joseph E. Badger, Jr. 719 Pawnee Bill« Pledges or, The Cowboy Kidnapper, By Cul, Prentiss Ingraham. 720 Rrondway Billy's Full Hand; or, The Gamin Detec- tive’s Double Snap at Santa Fe. By «|. C. Cowdrick, 721 Maverick Mose, the Ayizona Detective; or, The Wizard of Urkos Pass. By Will Lisenbee. Ready May 19. 722 Dendwood Dick, Tr.’s, Dominoes: or, The Rival Camps of the Northern Border. By Edward L. Wheeler. Ready May 96. 728 Silverblade, the Shoshone; or, The Border Beagle’s Secret Mission. By Jos, E. Badger, Jr. Ready June 2d. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half- Dime Library 10 for ante by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publshers, 98 William Street, New York, |