Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 796) (1892 10 25)
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Nl Ia ater Th en __ Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N ¥. YX, Post Office. ee IIL 5 ay LWW AWOY f \\ SO WN WO wwe” RA er \ MU ~~ Ww oN es J f a AM a a iT Ft Tt at al i a i alae me Copyrighted 1892, by BEADL EZ AND ) ADAMS, No. 796. 825° i 1 HYUN AELAD ELATED} =i i ——— Sg eer ela | | a Minit a Br i : i | ' | | i | i OR, -* 9IPTING THE SANTVOORD SECRET. Phe Romance of a Remarkable Remainder. ——— BY J. C. COWDRICK, aweror, oy ‘‘ BROADWAY BILLY ” NOVELA, “ THE ENGINEER DETECTIVE,” ETC, CHAPTER I. BROADWAY BILLY NOTIFIED, “WrirrerramM WESTON?” “ That is my name, sir.” “ The detective, called Broadway Billy?” “Abt your service, sir. What can I do for | hod me Can {have a fow minutes with you in private, Mr, Westen?” PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADL EB “AND ADAMS. Petis, No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK, & Cents. [Poa 4 H yr | bn a et io # : my fig . Avil I . : . mit Hi an : = “ = —SSS —_ LE = SSS 7 ————— = SSS BILLY PROCEEDED TO USE THE VAPORIZER UPON THE APPARENTLY BLANK PAQE— HIS BEAGLES WATCHING INTENTLY.
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h ri » —— 2 “ Certainly, sir. Boys, step outside while the gentleman makes known his business.” lt was one forenoon, and Broadway Billy and his ‘‘team” were in the office talking over a case when a stranger entered. He was a man of middle age, well-dressed, and one who bad business ‘‘ snap * about him.’ He made known the object of his visit without delay in the manner quoted, and as soon as the boys bad gone from tne room, said further: ‘““My name is Bryland and I am a lawyer, There is nothing so very secret about the busi- ness which bas brought me here, but I thought it just as. well to speak of it in private. The fact is, you are legatee toa rather peculiar be- quest in the will of the late Elijab Santvoord.” Broadway Billy allowed his face to express something of his surprise, ‘‘T suppose you knew Mr. Santvoord,” the lawyer went on, “A person rarely leaves a legacy to a stranger.” ‘*The person seems to have done so in this in- stance,” responded Billy. ‘I never knew this Elijah Savtvoord, and the name is one I never heard before to my knowledge. What is the nature of the bequest? Isita farm, or something of that sort?” ‘* Nothing like that, sir. As I said before, it is a rather peculiar one, as you will agree when I have told you allabout it. I am inclined to believe there is more to it than appears on the surface. I think it is nothing more or less than a ‘case’ left by will, which you are to work out,” ** Well, it is peculiar, then, surely.” “So called it. Now, Weston, T am a bard- headed man of the world, who can see as far through a grindstone as the next one, and now that you have told me you never knew Santvoord my suspicion seems to be confirmed, And that suspicion is what I have said, that there is more to this affair than is ex posed onthetop. But, I am talking in riddles, of course,” ** Tt isn’t just as clear as it might be, yet,” Bil- ly admitted. “Tl try to make it as clear as I can, and that without futher parley. This Elijah Santvoord was a man of considerable wealth, and he died a few days ago. He left his will in my keeping, with directions that it was not to be opened and read until one week after his death. Day after to-morrow will be the time, and [ have notified all the legatees but you, and f now notify you, to be presént at Mr, Santvoord’s late residence at ten o’clovk on that day. _ * Now, you area detective and Iam a lawyer. Cases sometimes bring our professions together, so to speak, Here is one of the cases, I believe, You area much younger man than I, but this places us upon something of aneven footing in this instance, if I may say so, So much for that, I know the contents of this will, of course, but I have hinted to no one what the bequests are, [ am not going to tell you all, but I am to tell you this, since Mr, Santvoord directed me to do so: ‘Tell the young man,’ said he, ‘to be on his uard, for there will be danger in my bequest or him,’” _ *1 am getting interested in this thing,” Billy declared. a ‘* Not to be wondered at, young man. Your bequest, the mystery aside for the moment, is ove thousand dollars; but whether you will ever receive it or not one upon your ability as a keen-scented detective. This money has been in- closed in an iron box and carefully hid away. If yoa dnd the box you get the money, while if you uo not find it you do not get the money. Do you see?” ‘“*T see there is some inducement laid for me wee myself to the task of finding this iron OX. “That is it, sir; that is it exactly. The be- quests of two others of the legatees are in the same box, and it depends upon your ability whether they ever receive them or not,” ‘There has been, I suppose, some clew left to guide me in my search? If not, 1 fear the out- look will be rather discouraging for the heirs,” “Not heirs, sir, but legatees, These others are no more heirs than you are yourself. Yes, [ have in my possession a letter which I am to hand over to you at the time of the reading of the will, and I suppose that will give you clew sufficient to lead you to the finding of the box,” ‘* Perhaps,” “It is strange, though, for this letter you are to open and read aloud in the presence of all.” “ Well, thatisstrange. It grows more liar at each step. It sounds morelike the whim of a crazv man than anything else,” * Nevertheless, Elijab Santvoord was far from being crazy. He was sound in mind, but was rather liar and eccentric in many thio His will is all straight, and will stand vd ” mse Ww, / : ‘* Tt is needless for me to assure you that I will be on hand, sir. My curiosity has been awaken- ed, and I’m eager to find out more about the matter. It is strangethat Mr. Santvoord select- ed me for euch a task as this, when I never saw or heard of the man in my life,” * Proof that he was sane enough. He knew what he was doing.” j ** What do you mean now?” ‘*He knew the man he was selecting. You are making a name herein New York, Mr. Wes- ton, and no doubt he knew that, aside from the reward of a thousand dollars, you would push = case at your best for the sake of the case it- self. ‘Perhaps. Is that all, Mr. Bryland?”’ ‘*'That is all. Do not fail to be on hand at the time and place I mentioned, Here is the street and number,” He jotted the address upon one of his cards, and laid it on the desk of the young detective. , “T bave already assured you on tbat point,” returned Billy. ‘ And now,” be added, “ before baey go I would like toask some questions regard- ng this matter.” ** Well, [ hardly know about that, young man. Isn’t it a little soon? Hadn’t you better wait till after you have heard the will read? I have told you more already than I set out to tell you.” ** You. have said, in effect, that this case was likely to draw us together,” reminded Billy, ‘We may as well look upon it in that light now. I am not going to ask you ma ig that you are not free to answer. The will itself can rest un- til it is made known to all.” ‘Well, if it is not about the will direct, go ahead.” “You said you hold a letter for me from Mr, Santvoord,” “ Yes,” ‘*Ts it sealed?” “sc Yes ” ‘*- You do not know what is in it?” *T do not.” - ‘* And I am to open it and read it aloud at the time of the reading of the will?” ‘* That is what the direction ia, sir.” to say the least. But, who are “Strange ho, besides me, are interested in this these two w iron box?” : ‘“*T sup I may tell you that, They are two friends of Mr. Santvoord, men whom he had known for years, and whom it was only natural he should remember in his will.” “Their names?” “One is Baptist Hodgerson and the other is Abiel Trotterman.” ‘* Now, what is the interest they have in the iron box? But, you have forbid that. Ofcourse they will be interested in the progress I make to- ward finding it,” “Yes, for, as I told you—their uests are with yours in the box, They will, undoubtedly, pay close attention to your search, That would na se geet It is no more than I shall do myself, “* You have a grain of woman’s besetting weak- ness, too, eh?” ** Tf you mean curiosity, I have, in this matter. 1 must say it-goes abead of anything of the sort I ever met with.” ‘‘Ttis certainly peculiar. But, are we three the only ones to whom he has left anything? I believe not, however, according to the way I have understood you.” “There are six names in the will, all told. Three of these are a son and two daughters of the deceased, To these the bulk of the property has been left, Certainly all his real estate,” ‘* Then hes are not able to guess what has been willed to the other two?” ‘‘ Hang it, young man, I am not on a witness stand for cross-examination, am I?” the lawyer demanded, “Of course not,” answered Billy; ‘‘ but it was my inning and I was only trying to get all the points possible, You can’t blame me for that, can you!” ‘No; but I can’t give you auy more, now. You will have to curb your curiosity till you hear the will read, when you will be able to un- derstand what is necessary you should.” “ I sup so.” “ That letter will no Joubt make plain to you all that Mr. Santvoord desired to know.” ‘“‘And at the same time make it known to everybody else,” Billy complained, ‘“‘I must say I «io not like the idea of that, but, if that’s the way it bas to be, why of course I'll have to accept it as I find it. ; ‘‘It is curious, isn’t it? But, enough; here I an bprnsala away like some old woman. My business here is done, and I'll be off, You can see reason for telling you of this in privacy; \ Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest, eae eal sg Se eg eg SS if 00 want to keep it secret you candoso, I'll bid you good-morning.” The lawyer had straightened up and buttoned his coat with much dignity, and with his last words he turned to the door. ‘*Good-morning, Mr. Bryland!” Billy re- . sponded. ‘It will be just as well for you to keep it from the others that my name is men- ~ tioned in the will,” ‘*T have done so, sir,” ** Very good,” So the lawyer passed out, and when he had gone Happy Harry and Silent Seth returned, ** Well, I s’pose he Jet out what ke bad to sa so mighty secret,” Harry made remark, ‘Is it another case, boss?” Silent Seth bad taken a seat as silent and stoical as ever, but Harry was.on the hunt for information to gratify bis curiosity, and made no bones about it. “I think it promises to be a case, boys,” was Billy’s answer, ‘‘ What it will amount to, how- ever, is more than I can say. There are sevoral peculiar features about it, as you will see.” With that, Billy went abead and told them all about it, the boys listening to the story with keenest interest throughout. Billy knew well that the best way to make them thoroughly use- ful was to fire them with interest, and by the time their talk came toanend they were both sufficently ‘‘ fired.” CHAPTER II. EVERYBODY MYSTIFIED. Two days later, at afew minutes before ten o'clock in the morning, Broadway Billy rung the bell at the residence of the late Elijah Santvoord. Happy Harry and Silent Seth were with him, The door was opened by a bright-eyed colored girl, who, as soon as Billy had mentioned bis name, conducted him and the boys into the par- lor, where a goodly company was assembled, Lawyer Bryland was there, and he greeted , Billy at once and introduced him in a casual way to the others, Billy took a chair where he was partly facing the company, 80 he could atudy the faces of the men and women at leisure witbout appearing to do so, Harry and Seth found seats ther on a sofa in an out-of-the-way corner, where they could hear and see without drawing any attention to themselves. They had no part to pa here, The company was evidently all present, after glancing at his watch, the lawyer waited before coming to business, This gave Billy ample time to look around though he had already observed the number o persons gathered there and taken a passing look at each one, There were two women and some young ladies in mourning, and the yourg detective rightly guessed the women to be Mr. Santvoord’s daugh- ters, Then there were five or six men, Presently, after glancing again at his watch, the lawyer rose and said: “Itisnow after ten, and the legatees being all present, according to Mr, Santvoord’s wishes, we will now proceed with the business of the hour, I will read the last will and testament of the deceased.” He took from his pocket a legal-looking docu- mane, and opening it and spreading it out, called: “Mr, please step this way and ; signatures are yours, and whether ho recognize this paper as the will of the late lijah Sant- ye a's Two mep rose from their places and ste forward, 4 They glanced at the signatures and at the paper, and each gave answer that he did re- cognize the w ‘¢ That will do,” said thelawyer. ~ gentlemen witnessed the signing of this document by Mr. Santvoord, and you have heard them de- sits it to be genuine, t will now read.” The first bequest was to the testator’s son Palmer Santvood, and consisted of some real estate and money in bank, definitely ag and designated. Next followed the names o Cyrus Durand and Mr, Henry Burringer, his two daughters, a Mrs. Morsely and a Mrs, © Woods, who were likewise remembered, There was a brief statement, then, that some friends, servants, and so forth, having been re- membered by the testator while in life, and suitably apportioned, could not reasonably ex- = pect anything fyrther. At tits two or three of the company shrugged, their shoulders and muttered something: could not be overheard. ; Then came that part of the will in which Broad- . way Billy was interested, but, . say whether these — “These two © pped
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at Bava the lawyer read on, ‘*‘ 1 do give and bequeath all and several of certain papers contained in a sealed envelope to his name addressed, the same to be found securely locked in an iron box which 1 bave taken pains to hide away in a secret lace. And to my wronged friend, Abiel rotterman, I do give and bequeath a certain paper to be found iu a sealed envelope and to his name addressed, the same being likewise in the iron box aforesaid,’” The lawyer paused for breath and looked around over the company. Broadway Billy bad been watching the faces before bim while the lawyer read, and at mention of the name Hodgerson he noticed that one man gave a start and was at once keenly alive with interest, Then, at mention of the name Trotterman, another started with a surprised and puzzled expression, looking first at the lawyer and then at the man BRodgerson, whom he sat beside. And it needed no introduction for Broadway Billy to know who these two were, *** And to the rising young detective, William Weston, popularly known as Broadway Billy,’” the lawyer resumed, ‘‘I do give and bequeath the sum of one thousand dollars, together witha sealed letter, the whole to be found likewise in the iron box aforesaid, which it shall be his business to recover and bring to light, But, be it understood that these bequests are conditional, as follows: These three are to open the iron box in the presence of one another and of other witnesses, when the sealed papers must be read aloud in the hearing of all; the iron box, after its discovery, to be beld meanwhile by the said William Weston as sole custodian, he having wer to name the time and place for the open- ing of the same,’” The lawyer made another pause, to note the effect of all this upon the company. Broad way Billy, watching particulary Hodger- son an Trotterman, noted that the former grew slightly pale and uneasy, while the expression upon the face of the latter grew more and more puzzled, The whole company was filled with curiosity, by this time, and individuals were exchanging rs pane with one another, wondering what it all meant, The uests were strange, to say the least, Could it be that Santvoord had not been in bis right mind?” ‘* And bere is the ending clause,” said the law- yer: ““*To the said William Weston, for his guid- ance in his search for the hidden iron box, 1 leave a sealed letter addressed, in the reir d of Lawyer Bryland, This letter thé said William Weston will open and read before the assembled company at the time of the reading of this my last will and testament,” Following this came the closing paragraph of the document, in which the son of the de ; Palmer Santvoord, and Lawyer Bryland, were appointed executors, “And that is all,” the lawyer said, as he folded the paper and returned it to his pocket. “‘The will is all right in every respect. Here, Mr, Weston,” producing a sealed envelope, ‘* is the letter referred to.” Broadway Billy rose and took the letter from his hand,jand turning to the company, said: ** You bave heard, ladies and gentlemen, the conditions upon which this letter has come to me, I will fulfill the conditions by opening the letter here in your presence and reading it aloud.” 6 tore off the end of the euvelope and drew out its contents, There were four sbeets, pinned together at the Top with a paper-fastener, The front and back sheets were of heavier paper than the two with- in, as though intended for covers. The papers were twice folded, aud on the front of the cover was this brief direction: ‘* Preserve carefully intact.” This Billy read aloud, and turned to the next e. ere was fourd the letter proper, but it was quite remarkable for its briefness, It read as follows: “Ty Wruiram Weston, Detective :— “You will, of course, require a clew to enable you to discover the hiddeniron box. Very well. If you do not find it here, look there. “ ELigaAn SANTVOORD,” Broadway Billy knit bis brows in something of a frown over this brief and puzzling direction, and turned to the next page to see if anything futher was to be read. There was nothing more! The remaining pages were blank, and although he turned the «To my dear friend, Baptist Hodgerson,’” papers over, examining them on both sides, there was not another word anywhere. Everybody was mystified, and undoubtedly with good rea- son, ** Ts that all it says?” asked the lawyer. “That is all,” answered Billy, ‘‘Do you think I will find the iron box?” ‘It is bardly probable, if that is all the clew you have to work upon, young man. What do you think about it? **TIf you will notice, this letter speaks only of the clew, The clew is not here, but I am to look for it. Once that is found, I imagine the rest will be easy.” : Just here Mr, Baptist Hodgerson broke into a light laugh, **T think I see through this thing,” he declar- ed, ‘Itis only a joke which Eli jah has seen fit to play upon us,” Mr. Trotterman shook his head. **T can’t agree with you in that, Baptist,” he disputed. ‘ Elijah was too serious during the last year to indulge in jokes. I Jook upon this as something serious indeed.” Broadway Billy listened attentively to these remarks, and watched the manner of each man narrowly. “Can you give us any light upon it, Palmer?” the lawyer inquired, turning to the son of the de- ceased Mr, Santvoord, ‘‘ None whatever, sir,” was the response, ‘You never heard your father say anything pro this iron box, or these peculiar bequests, eh ‘“Nevera word. If any one knew anything about it, it should be you, who drew up the will for bim, Didn’t he say anything about it to you?’ ‘* Nothing in the way of explanation, I made the remark when drawing up the will that it was a very unusual manner of making bequests, but\be allowed that be was the testator and that he knew what he was about,” “But, there can be nothing to it,” declared Mr. Hodgerson, “I cunaot imagine what he should want to leave to Abiel here and me, in so mysterious a way.” ‘Nor I,” joined in Mr, Trotterman. ‘Still, I think he must have been very much in earnest.” ‘But, why should he be so very mysterious about it? Here be has put the iron box away in a safe biding-place, where no one is likely to find it by chance, avd has employed this young man to find it for us,” **T do not know, 1 do not know. ful, to say the very least about it.” “* And what are you going to do, young man?” Hodgerson asked, ‘“‘T am going for that thousand dollars, of course!” answered Billy. ‘*I must look for this clew until I find it, and then recover the iron box.” ‘‘T know, I know; but, where are you going to look?” *“* Why, the direction is plain eee surely, sir, If I don’t find it here I must look there. One thing: Mr, Santvoord bas made no secret about this letter; you all know as much about it as I.” The business of the occasion being done, the company broke up and fell to talking in groups of two and three, of which Lawyer Bryland, Palmer Santvoord, and Bradway Billy, made one. The matter was discussed freely, but the mystery about it could not be penetrated, Finally, when Broadway Billy and his ‘‘ team” took their ieave, Billy was as much mystified as ever, and on the way back to the cffice he had little to say, but he was thinking, and thinking hard, too, It is wonder- CHAPTER III, STUDYING THE SITUATION, WHEN the trio entered the office, upon their arrival there, Silent Seth sat down in his ac- customed place and rested his chin between his tbumb and finger, with bis elbow upon his knee for support. This was tle attitude be generally assumed when anything puzzled him and be wanted to do some deep thinking. Not so with Happy Harry. No sooner had they come in than he advanced to the furthest corner, where he hegan to butt against the wall with considerable force, thus to give vent to his feelings, Broadway Billy Jooked at them for a moment, and then broke into a hearty laugh, ** Why, what’s the matter with you two?” he demanded. ‘Are you trying to butt your brains ovt, Harry? Are you going off into a geal-brown study, Seth?” “Christopher Columbia!” cried Harry, stop- ping his capers torespond, ‘‘ Just as though I i faa Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. 3 Se a A ERR aM ne a Ferree we have got any brains to knock out! It’s only be- cause [ haven’t avy that I’m kicking myself,” * And you call that kicking yourself?” “Well, it ’mounts to the same thing, and I can do this a good deal harder, [ feel that I’m nothin’ but a howlin’ idiot.” Billy Jaughed again,” ‘*And what’s the matter with you, Philos- opher?” to Seth. ‘You look as though you had tackled some great problem that baffled the sages of old. Speak up, and let’s know what's troubling you.” ‘*You know well enough,” Seth responded calmly, be Coures he does,” echoed Harry, promptly. ‘You are puzzled over this Santvoord case?” Billy suggested. “Who wouldn’t be puzzled over it?’ cried Harry. ‘“ Ain’t it enough to make a Japanese joss shed salt, sad weeps? How in the world are we ever going to find that iron box with never even the shadow of a shade of a clew?” Billy laughed, **T see you are both troubled,” he remarked, ** Can’t you suggest something, Silent Seth, as a kind of starter? ‘*Not a thing. I’m puzzled over that letter, What does he mean by telling you if you don’t find it bere to look there?” ‘That is tha first problem to be tackled, my youthful sphinx, and there is the secret of the whole affair, I believe, But, let’s talk it over carefully and see what we can make out of it,” So saying, Broadway Billy took his seat at his desk, while Harry dropped upon {a chair near Seth’s, ; Billy drew the mysterious letter from his pocket and studied it carefully, commenting upon it aloud as he did so, ‘Tn the first place,” he mused, ‘*I am caution- ed to preserve these papers carefully, intact, That means, they are not to be taken apart, or mussed, or sviled in any manner, By this, I take it, Mr. Santvoord meant to impress upon me the importance of them, little important though they seem.” “That's straight, boss,” decided Harry. Seth nodded his approval. “But, where does the importance lie? That is the puzzle, There isa trick about this I am sure, Andit was not intended wholly for me, either, else L would not bave been ‘required to read this letter aloud before the company upon receiving it, W:atdo you think, boys} Can't you throw some light upon it?” ‘Might, if I bad brains in my thinker instead of soapsucds,” Harry made response, ‘* You are gettin’ at it ail right, seems tome. You are puttin? into words what I couldn’t put inte thinks, tryasI would, But, ask the Stoick here, he may Le able to guess the riddle.” “Your brain is all right, Harry,” Billv encouraged, ‘*We bave got bold of an exceed- ingly knotty problem this time, that’s where the trouble lies, But, Seth, what have you to offer?” “If you don’t find it here, look there,” re- sponded the silent boy, with an air of abstrac- ion, ‘That bits it, I guess,” Bily mused, “If I don’t find it here I must look there, The fact of the business is, he has given me work to do, If I want to corral that thousund dollars I bave got to untie a pretty bard knot, I'm like the king’s fool, who was sent There, without knowing where, to bring That, without knowing what, Boys, we have got a tough nut to crack here and no mistake aboutit. Do you think we shall get there?” ‘*T wish yon’d take and ’prentice me out to a hodman,” exclaimed Harry. “I think my weizht of intelleck would fit me for that business nicely.” *¢ Don’t be too rough against yourself, Harry. This thing stumps me as badly as it beffles you aud Seth, Now, Pil take one more look at the letter, and if TL don’t get anv light then Pil give it up for the present, * You will, of course,’ he says, ‘require a clew to enable you to dis- cover the hidden iron bow,’ He is right, there; po man living could discover it without some clew to guide him, if he has hidden it away in a secret place as he says, ‘ Very well,’he adds, ‘if you do not find it here, look there,’ Sweet rtaters! if 1t isu’t enough to make a mule ick! “T should say it was!” cried Harry, ‘' Say somethin’, Seth, if you ever did, II don’t get relief somehow T’ll Le a gibbering idiot the first thing you know,” “Tf you don’t find it here, look there,” repeat- ed Seth, as solemnly as an owl might have said it, could owls talk. “ Jumpin’ Jerusalem! Seth, I’ve a notion to —
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Pear he! cf Ses) 4 hginies 4 brain ye on the spot! That means that we have got to scour the world with sandpaper, And if we don’t find it, why, just keep on till we do. Oh! Ll have had enough of detective business, boss; I think I will go and hire out toa street- sweep, and take my board for my clothes,” They were still talking about the strange matter, and were nu nearer a@ solution to the problem than at first, whea the door opened and awyer Bryland and Palmer Santvoord entered, Immediately the two Loys retired to a distant corner and sat down, leaving their master to deal with the callers, ‘* Well, bave vou had time to think over that peculiar bequest?” asked the lawyer, laughing, “Plenty of time,” answered Billy. ‘I can't make anything out of it yet, however,” “It is a strange affair, as I told you. That letter did not enlighten you much, either, did ‘If anything, it bas made the matter more difficult, for where I expected to get a clew I bave only been told to Jook for one,’ ‘* Had I not been with father to the last,” spoke up Palmer, ‘*I should certainly think he had been out of his mind, But, I know be was not; his mind was clear to the very last,” ‘Did he say anything to you about this?” asked Billy. ‘‘Notbing more than to say he had made his will, aud that it was in the keeping of Bryland, haere he said he wanted it carried out to the very etter. “There is something back of it all, that is positive,” averred Billy. ‘' 1 must go into it and sift it out somehow. Something may turn up to throw light upon it, when once I get down to work in earnest,” ; ** It is to be hoped so, for I am filled torunnio over with .curiosity,” remarked Bryland, ‘ never met with anything like this before in all my experience, But, we merely dropped in to say that, asexecutors, we want to be kept posted regarding what progress you make in the matter, and if you do fiad the iron box, then we want to be present at the opening of it,” “* Very well, gentlemen; I'll do as you request. I would certainly have called you to be present at the opening of the box, anyhow. But, the box has not been discovered yet, nor the clew to me Whateio. ay hink about it, how?” B , at do you t abou anyhow ry- land asked, _ “The same as you yourself, auswered Billy. “That there is something deeper than appears at first sight, eh?” ne “Exactly. Looking at the matter on every side,,I have come to this conclusion: Tbat Mr, Santvoord died with a secret, but one which be has made known and has left in the iron box, to be published by. his friends Hudgerson and Trotierman, He was, perhaps, afraid to trust the box tothe keeping of any one, and so took this means of disposing of it.” __‘* That sounds as though there may be some- thing in it,” ventured Palmer. “It is mere speculation, mind you,” reminded Billy. ‘‘What the secret is, who can say? ~ But, [am of the opinion that it concerns his frien Trotterman, for you noticed, perhaps, that in the will he speaks of him as bis * wrong- ed’ friend,” , : ** Yes, I noticed that,” Palmer observed; ‘* but Mr. Trotterman himsalf is very much puzzled, He says he has no knowledge that he bas ever been wronged by my father, Neither bas Hodg- erson, Both were my father’s closest friends for many years, particularly Hodgerson,” “Had your father any enemy that you are aware of?” Billy inquired. ** He had not, sir.” “IT wonder who it was he was afraid to trust?” Billy looked at the son closely as he put the question, Perhaps he hada suspicion it was he? ** Afraid to trust?” Palmer repeated, ** Yes; he hed some good reason for all this precuution about the secret of the iron box. It seems he did not take a single soul into bis confi- dence regarding it, and that looks as though there was some one in particular whom he would not trust.” “* Well, I don’t know, I’m sure, Bryland here and I talked about it with the two friends, Hod- gerson and Trotterman, after you came away, and they are as much puzzled about it as we are, We cannotdo anything, either, except to trust to you to unravel the srarl for us,” * And it looks very doubtful about my being 8 _ able to do it, I must confess. The first sa de Feiss taes Foe ae teltsadion ba tack are pogtting but _ sett for my guidance are anythin Clear, it | do "Dim to look : don’t find it he 1 ; | | a Broadway. Billy’s Queer Bequest. than that? Whatis meant by Here? Wheream I to look for There?” “It is bewijdering, true enough,” admitted the lawyer. ‘‘ But, onething is quire evident: The deceased had confidence in Hope ability us a de- tective, and he no dout:t believed you would be avle to get at his meaning.” “And Dm afraid he rated my ability too bigh,” Billy declared. ‘If anybody can give me. the key to this riddle, P'd like to have it.” Certain it was that neither the lawyer nor his companion could do that, and after a time they departed. hen they bad gone Billy and the boys talked the matter over more fully, but it baffled them completely, and finally they were obliged to lay it aside for the present and turn their attention to otber matters, Whether Billy would ever be able to clear up the strange case or not, remained to be seen. i CHAPTER IV. BEGINNING THE BUSINESS. Ir was some days before Broadway Billy could devote any time to the new and interest- ing case. Other matters claimed his attention, which had to be cleared up before anything else could be undertaken, But, finally, these were cleared away and an- other signal victory scored; then the detective trio were ready for the new case, 1 Billy had not been altogether idle during tbis time, however, for he had given the case much thought; but, with all his thinking it still baffled bim. There was that more than mysterious letter which the dead man Lad left for his guidance, If be bad left none at all, Billy thought, he would have been as well off as now. One sentence kept ringing in his ears all the time—‘ If you do not find it here, look there,” Was there any sense in that? He doubted it, Yet, here was the caution to preserve tbe pers intact, and surely that would not have n put there if they were of no value. He had thought and thought, but it still baffled him, Now, however, he was ready to give the case his undivided attention, Leaving Harry and Seth at the office one afternoon, he paid a visit to the Santvoord residence. His ring at the bell brought the same bright- looking colored girl to the door, and he inquired for Palmer Santvoord, Palmer was younger than bis two sisters, and was as yet unmarried, He and his father had lived together during the old man’s lifetime, and now Palmer occupied the house alone, He had only a housekeeper, a woman of mid- dle age, and this young colored girl, for his ser- vants, _ The name of this colored girl was Rosa Polka- dot, as Billy bad learned, and she was as bright in mind as she was in appearance, / ‘* Yes, sir, he is in,” she made response to Billy’s inquiry. “All right, Tell him Mr. Weston wants to see him,” Billy directed, ‘* Yes, sir; I know who you are, sir.” ‘*- You remember me, eh?” “Oh! yes, sir.” ‘You are good at remembering faces, then, I take it.” ** Yes; I don’t have to see a pusson but once sir.” She talked with only a slight touch of the usual ‘‘darky” dialect. Billy made up his mind to make ber useful in this case before he was done with it, He was shown into the reception-room, and the girl reported, Presently Palmer Santvoord came down, and greeted Bi iy quite warmly, as he remarked: * Well, suppose you are here to begin Mba upon that mysterious affair of the iron x ** You have guessed it,” Billy assured. “T have been expecting you. Have you yet rg anything out of the queer letter father t ‘“‘Nota thing. It is stillan unsolved enigma. Something about it savors of madness, and were it not that botb you and Mr, Bryland assure me that your father et alae ig sane, I should as- cribe it to a disordered brain. *‘ Let me assure you again that father was per- fectly sound in mind.” ** And you have told me that he said nothing to you ting this iron box, Do you not re- TS Well: pea auil nas ttm, foe HAMTWAT aNd yes no. Yes, for he always e @ confidant of me in most matters; and no, since it seems he wanted to make this matter a secret to know him again, [ have got a good memory, profound, No one knew a thipg about it until the reading of the will.” , ‘Tt is a singular—a very singular affair, TI have come here to bave a thorough talk with you in regard to the matter.” ‘*Very well, you will find me ready enough to talk with you,.for 1 am very eager to have it cleared up, I assure you.” . **7 do not doubt it, Have you seen anything more of Hodgerson, or Trotterman, since the day the will was read?” **Yes; both of them, WHodgerson calls here daily, tbe same as he did when my father was alive, They were close friends, you know, Trot- terman has been in once or twice, and I bave seen him at his own house besides,” ** They were both c’ose friends of your father, and Be friends to each other, I understand.” “ eg, ‘You bave not been able to find in what way Trotterman had ever been wronged, eb?” “No; and it is a mystery not only to me but 40 him and Hodgerson as well. We have all talked it over, but can get no light upon the subject whatever. Some remarkable things have been brought to light, however.” **Ha! that statement is encouraging. What are thase facts?” “You remember the paragraph in the will which spoke of some gifts having been made to friends, servants, and so forth.” ie ‘*T recollect it.” ‘Well, it seems father gave Trotterman a considerable fortune some days before he died, and really insisted upon his taking it, Trotter- man refused at first, but father threatened to sever all friendly relations unless he did take it, 80 if was accepted.” **A considerable fortune, you say?” ““Yes; about a third as much as he willed to me and my sisters al] together. I had always considered father worth much more than was named in the will, and wondered what had be- come of it,” * Hore is a clew, then,” “Where?” ~ ‘*In the statement you have made, The wrong that had been done to Trotterman was something in money matters, and this gift has made it right,” ** You think so?” ** Does it not look so?” “That I admit; but, how is it the man knows nothing about it?” “Tt would be possible, somehow, for the wrong to have been done without his know)- edge, A Jook into the History of these persons will perhaps clear it up. Now I begin to see light ahead.” ‘You may be right, but it’s all a mystery to me, Now there was Hodgerson, who was fa- ther’s most intimate companion, why would father have kept it from bim?” “Tf it was something of a criminal nature, is it likely that he would have revealed it to any ° pe ‘*No; but that is out of the question. My father was honest to the penny. He was as yonest as the sun, You must not think that of him.” - “Very likely so, but you bave not known him all‘his Jife. He lived a considerable num- | ber of days before you were born, There may have been something in his young days—” “No, no, 1 cannot believe it, It would be wrong for me to do so,” **Let us drop it at once. Have-you been thinking any about this queer letter he left for me eet has hardly been out of my mind an hour, sir, ‘You have found no way of explaining it, though?” F | me “ 0,” **T have told you what I think about it. We must give up the idea that your father was not in his right mind. In fact, this gift to the wrong- ed friend seems to prove that. What I need is the clew he left. If I do not find it here T must look for it there, I bave not found it, so where am I to look?” ‘“* Alas!” ‘You have expressed your willingness to help. me in any and every way in your power.” “So I have, and I mean it, too, In fa father told me to render you all the help could,” ‘Hal semething more to work upon, This is growing slowly, Mr. Santvoord. How came your father to mention me to you?” Ve “Tt was in connection with something else.” *‘And what was that some else? You seo, in my line every point is of help, and oc ay Sh et ee os St* 4% <= Ne »
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— + “rv Broadway B easionally it is the most trifling thing that is of the utmost importance, If you really want to help me, do not held anything back.” ‘“*T am sincere enough in what I have said, and I will tell you everything I know. In fact, futher told me to trust you fully; and not only so, but to lend you all the aid I could, secretly, he said, though I do not see the need of that, ‘*Ah-hal We are coming to something now, Mr. Santvoord, as sure as you live. Your father was far from mad when he made that will, Yes, tell me everything you can, and so help me to get a grip upon the mystery to unravel the tangle. Here is a secret to be sifted.” ‘Well, there is a woman in the case, as “There is seldom any trouble going on that hasn’t a woman in it somewhere,” observed Billy, laughing. ‘So it is said, I know; but this particular woman has nothing to do with the trouble, in this instance. She is the daughter of Abiel Trottermav, Her name is Lucrece, I love her, and would seek to marry her, but--” He paused, ‘¢ fs it the same old love romance?” asked Billy, “The stern father says nay, and so the loving couple languish in despair?” e said this in a joking way, and the young man laughed, “Tt isn’t that way,” he said, ‘Mr. Trotter- man would be willing, I know, but tbe ob- pon has come from the other side, And ere is what I set out to tell you: Before he died, my father called ine to* him and asked me if [ loved Luecrece, I told him I did. Then be went on and said that under no circumstances must I ask her to marry me till after your work bad been accomplished.” **More light still”’ mused Billy. ‘*‘We are coming at it, Mr. Santvoord. But, you said he did not mention me to you, did you not?” “Not by name. He'called you a certain de- tective whom he had engaged for a certain work, I should learn all about you, he said, at the time of the reading of the will, Of this I was to make no mention to any one, unless to you, positively. Ttiere, Mr, Weston, you have the whole matter, so far as I know anything about it, You can readily see that I must be anxious to see the matter cleared up.” CHAPTER V. SOMETHING TO WORK UPON. ANY one well acquainted with Broadway Billy coull have seen that he was now considerably hopeful about the case, Things had been brought out which, if they did not throw much light on the mystery, at least served to furnish material upon which to build a beginuing, and the young detective was not slow to recognize them, There were some points easily summed up. Mr, Savtvoord had called his friend Trotterman his “injured” friend, Before death he had made him accept a large sum of money, It looked as though at some time he, Santvoord, had in some way injured him to that extent. Then, too, he had forbidden his son to marry Trotterman’s daughter till after tho mystery of the iron box hat been brought to light and everything cleared up. Hore was further proof that the wrong done had been no trifling one, if Billy read aright, he foresaw some bar to the union which would only appear upon the open- ing of the iron box, Here was something to work upon, but not much after all, Billy recounted these points aloud for young Santvoord’s consideration and comment. “I agree that it looks as you say,” the young man coincided, ‘* but that only makes it all the more of a mystery, for no one can understand in what way father has ever injured Trotter- man,” “No one will understand, either, till the iron box is brought to light.” “I suppose not, and for that reason, if no other, everybody is eager to see it produced. And that rests with you, If you cannot solve the mystery of that letter, no one can. Have you done everything possible toward finding out what the meaning of the letter is?” “*T have tried everything I could think of. I must turn my attention to the mystery itself. Not finding it here, { must look there,” Young Santyoord looked up quickly. ‘* Have you not hit upon it in jest?” he asked,: “That is, in not being able to find the clew hinted at in the letter, I must look to the deeper mystery itself?” ‘ Yes,” “T bardly think so, There is a clew in this letter, but 1 have failed to figure it out. There isa hidden meaning which I have not been able to unearth and understand. Take it and stndy ‘*Oh! I have been doing so, asI told you. It is all a blank to me. Besides, if you can not work it out, no use my trying,” ‘Your father rated me above my ability, I am afraid,” Billy declared. ‘Tt proves he had great confidence in you, Wo doubt he read all about you in the papers, and so made up his mind what you could do,” “Tf you see it in the papers, sir, it isn’t always so, no matter if they claim it is. Iam afraid Bey have rated me too high, and that I'll never be able to hold up my end. But, that aside, This letter is a dead letter for the present, We can count nothing upon it. Did your father leave no word with you for me?” ‘*¢ None, sir.” “He hinted at no way in which you might belp me?” **No, I took it that you would have the mat- ter all in hand, and would be able to direct me.” “You will obey his wishes in respect to the young woman whom you love, [ suppose?” “T shall strive to, unless—” ‘Unless what?” ** Well, you see, I have a rival, and I will not stand idly by and see him step into the place I covet.” “Ha! another complication, Who is this rival?” ‘*Tt is Mr, Conrad Hodgerson.” “Hodgerson again? A son of your father’s friend Baptist?” “a Yes,” ‘*Then you and he are not friends, I take it.” ‘* Weare not foes, so far as I am concerned, but I intend to beat him in this matter if it lies in my power,” ‘*T can see that your father has handicapped you. While you are idle, this other is no doubt free to make love to the young lady, and he may get her promise while you are doing notbing.” Santvoord’s face clouded, ‘* You'll excuse me for speaking plainly,” Billy added, “That part is all right enough,” was the re- sponse, ‘It is pretty much as you picture it, worse luck,” “I’m sorry, Mr, Santvoord. Somehow I take to you and like you. Perhapsican put in a word in your behalf, Anybow, Pll do itif I can,” ‘*No, that would never do, own battle—” “That ig all right, but I can do something here which would be altogether a delicate thing for you to do yourself. I can let the young lady know, in a casual way, what your father has required of you.” ‘* But, you do not know her,” ‘*No matter, I will make her acquaintance, Iam going to make the acquaintance of ever one connected with the affair, and so work it out, The explanation is somewhere, I know; I need only to get hold of the right end to unravel it, ‘Well, do as you will about it. Father told me to trust you, and I’m going to doso, Now, is there anything I can do to help you in your work?” ‘‘T was going to ask you if you had made a thorough search of the house for that iron box.” ‘* Not a place as big as a mousehole, sir, but I have explored it,” ** And have you looked among his papers for some futher clew?” “*T have done that, too. Ihave done every- thing that bas come to my mind, but all to no purpose. I believe you have the only scrap of paper that is worth anything, and that seems to be as good as nothing. I feel dis- couraged,” ** Don’t feel that way, sir. I have the strong- est kind of hopes, now, after this talk with you. You have given me something to work upon, and [ think I can bring the solution after awhile, [did think of asking the privilege of exploring the house, but since you haye done that it will be useless.” * T'll take you through—” “No, [ll take your word for that. You know the house thoroughly, and if you could discover nothing there is no use of my searching, I'll take my leave now, and if anything new turns up Pll drop around again and talk it over with you.” * Tl] be only too glad to have youdoso, And, if I hear of anything [ll let you know.” =, ** Yes, do so, by all means,” I must fight my illy’s Queer Bequest. . 5 They passed out into tbe hall, and young Santvoord led the way to the front door, Billy was behind bim, and it was with a good deal of surprise that he felt something slipped into his hand from behind, but instinctively his fingers closed upon it. He was quick to look, too, and saw Rosa Polka- dot just in the act of turning away from him, Billy said nothing, but passed on, and after a few words with young Santvoord at the door, went out and away. The thing that had been put in bis hand was a piece of paper, as he knew at first, and he did not look at it till he had turned a corner. Then he unfolded it and examined it with all eagerness, He had been puzzled to know what manner of communication tbis colored girl could desire to make to him, As he read it he was more surprised than he had been on receiving it in the first place. The strangeness of it was not lessened in the least, It read as follows: “Mr. WesTon:— “You may trust Rosa Polkadot. She may be of service to you. Judge of her by what you have seen, and by the mann, r in which she delivers this note to you, Follow directions of Jetter carefuily for the finding of the clew, ELivAH SANTVOORD.” To say that Billy was profoundly surprised hardly expresses it, Was the dead alive? It did not seem possible that Mr, Santvoord could have written such a note befcre bis death—that is to say, before he knew whether Billy would take the case or not. Yet, how else could it be?” And if not written by him, then by whom, and with what object? That was hard tu answer. But, Billy had seen the dead man’s writing, and there did not seem to be any doubt about the genuineness of this! ‘There is something doubly strange about this,” he said to himself, ‘‘ The old fellow must have felt pretty certain that I would act for him. And, he must have bad more confidence in this colored girl than in even his own son, That is strange, too, Have J placed too much confidence in Palmer?” He considered that point, “No, he did not think he had made any mistake in estimating the character of that young gentleman, “This certainly is a deep affair,” he declared —just so deep I am not able to touch bottom apparently; but, ’m going to get there if it takes all the rest of the year!” He turned it over in mind carefully as he walked in the direction of his next point of destination. ‘* Yes,” he mused, ‘'I have now something to work upon, That Mr. Santvoord had wronged his friend Trotterman seems clear enough to me, He has made the wrong right as far as he could, Perhapsitis his confession that is concealed in the iron box, and in order to make me determined to find it he has baited the trap with a thousand dollars. He did not know me, for I would work just as hard for the mere sake of clearing the riddle up, But the Bs oy dollars will fitin nicely, too—if get it. He al ey to himself, as that part of it struck him forcibly, And then cameagain to mind the peculiar direction in the letter he had received from the lawyer;—“‘If you do not find it here, look there.” In due time he rung the bell at the residence of Abiel Trotterman, and it was answered by a a youngtwoman whose identity Billy guess- ed at once, He took it to be Miss Trotterman, ‘*Do I mistake in supposing you are Miss Lucrece Trotterman?” he asked, ‘*You do not,” was the gracious answer, ac- companied with a_rosy flush of her cheeks, ‘* And you are Mr, Weston, the detective!” Billy was a little surprised that she should know him, but it quickly came to him that she had been one of the young ladies present at the reading of the will on that occasion, so he ac- knowledged his identity, and making known his business, was invited to enter, CHAPTER VI. THE HODGERSONS IN CONFERENCE, **Goop heavens, father! Is this true, this you tell me?” , **Do you suppose I would waste time and breath telling you a lie?” “ Well, no; Dat just think of it! Why, it moe me power— But, pshaw! you have only n getting off a huge joke, just to amuse your- self at my expense.” ** Don’t be a fool, Conrad, and don’t take me’
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for one, As for your power, I guess the shoe will fit on both feet alike, Don’t brag yourself upon your power while J am on deck, ‘Well, I should say not. He’d sweat us to death if he got hold of that,” ‘“*And you know the sortof man he is and The ray agi father and son—alone to- | must guard your talk accordingly. A detective ether in t ome, The younger man was pacing the floor in an agitated manner, while the elder was leaning back in his chair looking on with steady gaze. ** Tuen it is true?” the young man repeated, ‘** Just as true as that I have tuld it to you,” “That, then, is the secret of the iron box?” ‘* Tt undoubtedly is,” ** And to have that box discovered means—” “It means ruin and death, nothing more or less, for me.” ‘** And that being so—” ‘* That being so, tae iron box must never see the light of day,” spoken with almost fierce de- cision, ‘‘How will you prevent it? That young Weston is a very imp at detective work, and he will as surely unearth it as that he lives,” ‘‘We must not allow himto doit. He has got a oame, I know, but heisason of Luck, I on’t believe the young man has half the ability he is given credit for,” ** 1 don’t know about that. He could not im- pose upon such a man as the police superintend- ent if be had not something to back him.” ** Well, no matter what he is or is not, he must be beaten this time. We must fight him, boy, to the death if need be, and wrest that box from him if he finds it, I am not sure he is going to find it, though. See the meaningless direction old Lige left him, will you!” * Are you sure it was meaningless?” ‘*Tt is Greek to the detective, anyhow, and he will never make anything out of it,” “Can you?” **No. Who could? ‘If you do not find it here, look there,’ What sense is there in such lingo as that? None at all.” * And yet there must be a hidden meaning in it somewhere, since the old man was undoubtedly thorougbly in earnest about it. you, he has made it as secret as possible,” “* Yes, and too secret for any ove to solve.” “Are you sure the young fellow read it all aloud. Is thas positively all the letter con- tained?” “T bad it in my own bands, afterward, and read it for myself. He read every word of it aloud, There was no trick about that part of it,” “* Well, for my part I don’t see what sense is to be made out of it, There is certainly no meaning in it, unless there is a further clew to be found somewhere.’ But, can’t we find that box ourselves?” “ How?” “You ought to be as able to do it as that de- tective, since he has no more information than you have.” _ “I don’t know how to go about it. 1 put ‘young Santvoord up to search the house from top to bottom, and he could not findit. No use for me to go there and look.” ‘**T suppose not,” ‘* Besides, it won’t do for me to appear too in- terested, you know,” ‘*Tuere would be no harm in that, since you and Santvoord were such close friends, and the less, since there is something in the box for you.” “You may be right, after all. But, how and where could I look? I don’t know how to take the first step,” ““And I can’t tell you, that’s sure, But, one thing I do know, if there is a cool thousand dol- lars lying loose in that box I’m going to have it if I can lay hands upon it.” **Woll, and how do you propose to accom- . plish that?” “Do you think it would be a bad idea to let the detective do the work, and lie in wait for aol ag find the box and then wrest it from im “*Tbat_ would be well enough, but I doubt if _ you could play the detective upon a detective,” _ ‘It I couldn’t, [ know who could.” * Whof?” ‘Tim Rittlers.” ‘*Ha! just the fellow we want in this case! Used to be a detective, but fell from grace, and now is ready to pick up a hundred at any sort of job that falls in his way.” *That’s Tim Rittlers, toa T. I know him well, and I know where tc filud him, How will it do to go and see him and take him into the thing with us? He might be able to unearth the iron and so give Weston the shake,” “A good idea, boy, and we'll act upon it. But, there’s one thing to be observed,” And what is that?” < “ Our secret must not fall into his keeping.” / e library of their finely-furnisbed | himse But, afraid of | f, he will want to know all the particulars of the whole affair. He must not be allowed to learn them.” ‘You needn’t fear me, I flatter myself that I am cute evough for him, every time.” “I'm only warning you, that’s all, Then, there’s another thing.” ‘¢ What now?” ** Lucrece,” ‘‘Hal Iam going to take care of Lucrece, dad.” “‘T hope you won’t meet with any defeat in your intentions, thet’s all. The girl is worth the winning, now.” Sne always was,” ‘* Doubly so now, then, since fool Santvoord left Trotterman a third of all he was worth, Gave it to him in person, I mean, There is a fortune goes with the girl, you see.” ‘‘1’m not blind to that, and if I was in earnest before I'll be none the less so now,” ‘*You bave a rival who will test your strength,” A wicked smile lighted up the young man’s face at that. ‘*There are more ways than one of dealing with a rival,” he said, with grim emphasis. “Have a care how you say so,” the father ‘* It would not do to have any one What if something should happen to cautioned, hear you. him?’ ‘‘ Never fear, dad, Our walls have no ears, we know that.” ‘* When will you see Rittlers?” ‘* To-night,” “ Allright; give him the points he will need, but no more. You might say the thousand dol- lars is the main object in view, and promise him a quarter of it.” “Tl do that, Rittlers will be glad for the chance to getin a dig at this Broadway Billy.” “Why so?” “For some game of his the voung detective spoiled not many moons ago. ‘* Well, this may be his opportunity, but he must not do anything on his own account that will implicate us,” ‘ ** Oh! he is shrewd enough not to do that. But, do you think there is any possible chance for that young detective to get hold of the secret you have just revealed to me?” “‘ There isn’t the ghost of a chance,” ** No one living knows it, eh? ' ‘* Not a soul but you and me,” ‘* What if Santvoord told somebody.” ““* He didn’t dothat, If he bad, there would have been no necessity for the iron b6éx.” “ That seems evident enough. Have you seen anything of the detective since he took hold of the case?” ‘Not a thing. very hot.” ‘* Maybe he has given it up,” ‘*Not likely, with a thousand dollars to bait him on, Ob, no, he'll try it, whether he makes a goof it or not.” ** Suppose he comes to interview you?” ‘*T expect nothing else, and I hope he will.” Why?” ‘*T want the chance to press upon him how eager I am for his success, and so forth, and to disarm him, as it were.” ‘ ‘“‘There is nothing slow about you, dad, I find that I am only beginning to get acquainted dng you. I thougbt I was a pretty tough nut, ut— ‘*There, now, my son, none of your insinua- tions, Remember that I am your father, and if you area chip off the old block, so much the better for you, that is all of that.” “*T can now account for some of my deprav- ity of nature—” ‘*That will do, sir, Isay, Because I have re- vealed a secret. to you, that is not giving you any license, Holding secrets of yours, I consid- ered it perfectly safe—” ‘* There, no need to mention any facts, dad.” ‘Our walls have no ears,” <a ‘* No need to speak, all the same. There is an one eatin between us, so let it rest at at.” - ‘You see I knew well enough what I was doing, wd boy. I was not afraid to tell you the story. e have something to work for, you will recognize.” **T should say so,” ** Success means everything—fortune, happi- ness, and all that, Defeat means d ¥ beggary, death: You must see Rittlers and I guess he isn’t working it prepare for war, if it comes to that, At any : Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. — * . _ cost, that iron box must not see the lighi, but must fall into our hands as soon as it is dis- covered, We sleep on dynamite till that end is accomplished.” ’ ’ CHAPTER VII, THE FRUITLESS QUEST. WueEwn Broadway Billy was admitted into the Trotterman residence he made inquiry for Mr. Trotterman. As shown, he had recognized Lucrece at once, though he had never seen her before to knuw her. At the time of the reading of the will she had worn a vail. This home showed no evidences of wealth, and the fact that the young woman answered the bell showed that no up-stairs servants were employed, In truth there was but one servant --a woman for the rough work of the kitchen and laundry. Mr. Trotterman was out, but was looked for at any moment, and the pretty young lady set about entertaining the caller pending her father’s arrival, : ‘*T suppose I may ba excused for asking if you have discovered that wonderful iron box,” the girl binted, during a break. ‘* You thought, perhaps, I had come to invite your father to the opening of it,” Billy re- marked, ‘* Well, yes, that did occur to me,” **T cannot do so yet, however. The box bas not been found, and is no nearer discovery than it was the other day.” . ‘“‘ What a strange thing it is, isn’t it?” ‘¢- Yes, rather.” ‘Papa and I have talked about it a good deal.” ‘And you have not been able to guess the secret it contains, of course?” ‘© No; and, woman like, that is what is troubling me.” Billy joined in the merry light laugh that followed the remark. ‘*Then your father has no ‘idea what it may be, I suppose?” “* Not the slightest,” ‘‘Nor in what manner Mr, Santvoord ever wronged him?” “No, In fact, papa is positive he never did wrong him in any way. He was always kind- ness itself to papa.” ; - “Well, it is past finding out, yet. Mr. Sant- voord certainly had sdme reason for giving your father the amount of wealth he did, something beyond mere friendship,” The girl looked at him wonderingly. **Do you think so?” she asked. **Tt looks so, does it not?” ‘*But, you know they were such close friends. Mr. Santvoord said it wasa friendship offering.” ** And he forced your father to accept it.” ‘© Yes; said if be did not he would sever all re- lations with bim, bow near the poor man was to death then,” ‘* How long was that before he died?” “Only a month or so,” ** The reason I look upon it as something more than mere BS ileus 9 illy went on to explain, *‘is this; He gave Mr, Hodgerson no such gift, and Iam told that he was even mere strongly attached to him than to your father,” ‘*T believe that is true, but, you know, Mr, Hodgerson is very wealthy, bas more than Mr, Santvoord had bimself, while papa was poor.” ‘*That may explain away the point. But, is it not strange that he should have left bequests to both in so strange a manner{—mere papers concealed in a hidden iron box?” ‘Tt is that which puzzles us so much.” ‘* And then the strange injunction he placed upon bis son.” Billy noticed that the young lady showed in- terest at this observation, ** What was that?” she required, “Why, he forbid his seeking marriage unti} the iron hox had been discovered and its se- crets made known, This is strictly private, of course,” The color came and went in the girl’s face, and Billy felt that he had made a good stroke in young Santvoord’s interest. He believed this girl loved Palmer, and now she could understand him, ‘“‘ How very strange!” she exclaimed, ‘* Almost as mysterious as the letter that was left for my enlightenment with respect to the hiding-place of the box.” “* And that really beat everything, did it not® Papa has spoken of it hundred times, and cannot ibly understa what it meant. Really, there is no meaning to it; do you think there is?” ) ; ‘* I believe there is meaning enough there, if Of course papa bad no idea ~ Wake nee - ~ = 4 4 5
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4 é . her, for she knew nothing to disclose, and it don’t understand at all. T could only get at it,” Billy declared. ‘It has cost me a sight of study, but I have been unable to solve it, You may be sure there is a clew in ‘it, and when it comes out I suppose I shall blush to see how very simple it is,” There was something so very frank about this oung lady that Billy felt as though he had Geert her all his life, and his talk was accord- ingly free and easy, But, there was nothing to be learned from was arelief to the young detective when Mr, Trotterman arrived. At bis coming the young lay withdrew, Y * Well, what is thea.mom™ Mr, Trotterman asked, i, ‘‘ Nothing in regard to the case,” was Billy’s response, ‘‘I have called to have a talk with you about it.” “* Then pos have not found the iron box?” * No, have not found the clew toit, That letter of Mr, Santvoord’s is a conundrum.” **As I thought you would discover it to be, J have talked with Hodgerson about it, and we can make nothing out of it. i don’t know what Elijah was thinking about when he put it in so mysterious a way.” ‘*He was thinking about puzzling us all, I guess, and making me earn my money if I wanted tbe thousand dollars,” ‘* But, why need he have been so very myste- rious with his friends?” ‘* Owing to his secret, sir.” “And what of that? We have shared other secrets with him, Hodgerson and 1,” ‘This was something greater, 1am sure, Mr, Santvoord at some time or uther did you an in- jury—” ‘“*No, no, I will not believe that, sir.” “*] think it proves itself, He gave you alarge gum of money, which perhaps only canceled a debt he justly owed you, cannot say as to that, but he had injured you somehow, I be- lieve the opening of the iron box will disclose it,” ** Why did be not disclose it in hfe? He could have been sure of my forgiveness,” ‘*Perhaps you are not the only one be has wronged.” ‘*My dear young man, I cannot bear to hear you talk thus of Elijah Santvoord! He was my friend for years, and has stood between me and disaster many a time. You do not know tho man against whom you raise such suspicions, As soon would I distrust my friend Hodger- son, ‘* Well, well, let us say no more about that, then, Did Mr. Santvoord say anything to you about me before he died?” ‘Not to me,” ‘Did he say anything you could not under- stand, or that you considered strange, or mys- terious, at the time?” “ Well, no, I cannotsay that he did. Hodger- son and 1 were together with him to the last, and what be said he said to both of us, There was nothing secret or mysterious,” ** Ho bad all confidence in you, of course,” r ¥¢ We were like brothers, he, Hodgerson and a “Then let me assure Trotterman.” ‘* What is that?” ‘That this secret .. the iron box was one of age he could not speak to you and Hodgerson n life.’ “You think so?” “Tc stands for itsown proof. Were it not so, he would bave confessed it before he died, Per- hapshe bas wronged Hodgerson as well as you? But, that was not to be spoken of again.” ‘* It distresses me to hear you speak of poor Elijab as having wronged me or apy one else, sir. ? . ‘Let it rest, It,was no secret to him that his son ‘vas ying some attentions to your daughter, 1 suppose,” ‘How came you to know this?” ‘* By observation and ae You have ad- mitted the correctness of it. Now, do you know of any reason why he should have desired this match not to be settled upon unti! the finding of the iron box?” ** Was that bis wish?” “ce It was,” ‘*You astonish me, sir. No, I can see no reason. I thought we were both in favor of it, Certainly I was,” ‘* Cousider it, then, and you may be able to get some ot upon the mystery afterall, Do not speak about it to your daughter or to Palmer Santvoord, but Jet me know what you think about it when we meet next time.” ‘“*T understand, sir, I understand. And yet, I Why should be desire you of one thing, Mr, bad met with poor success, q er man . se Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. this delay till after the finding of the box? Is there some reason why my child is unworthy of— **Or Palmer Santvoord unworthy of her,” sup- plemented Billy. The man gave a start of surprise as that thought was forced upon him, ‘** Impossible!” he cried. ‘I say it is impossi- ble, But, leave me, young man, and let me think it over alone, I will observe silence re- garding it,” ‘*Very well; I will see you again ere long, when we will talk further of the matter,” He took iis leave, and made his next objective point the residence of Baptist Hodgerson, That gentleman was at home, disengaged, and greeted Billy warmly and was eager in his in- quiries as to what had been discovered, **'You will think I am eager,” he remarked, “but who would not be? Iam puzzled to guess what that paper can be that my poor friend left for me in so mysterious a manver,” So. believe, sir,‘it is a confession,” responded illy. “A confession?” ‘* Yes! Iam satisfied the man did a wrong to Trotterman, which he has tried to make right as far as possible, and it is not unlikely that he has something to confess to you as well, You must agree that it looks reasonable, at least.” “What! Elijah Santvoord wrong any one? You are mistaken, 1 am sure you are mistaken, I would have trusted him with my life, the same as I would trust Trotterman., No, no, there can be nothing of that sort. What it is I will not try to guess, but not that. Elijah Santvoord was honest to the last degree, my young friend,” Upon that point Hodgerson persisted, and Billy’s interview with bim was not unlike that which he had just bad with Trotterman, When he took his leave, finally, be ought to have been ices oa with Hodgerson’s love for his dead riend, CHAPTER VIIL BILLY SEEKS ASSISTANCE, WHEN Broadway Billy got back to his office he found restless Harry and Silent Seth eager to learn whet progress he had made, His face answered the question for them, how- ever, a8 soon ashe entered, and they knew he He took his seat at his desk in his usual thoughtful way when puzzled. ‘‘Didn’t get there, did ye, ventured to guess, Silent Seth’s manner voiced the same, ‘No, I have not made much progress,” Billy admitted, ‘If anything I’m more at sea than ever.” ‘*Cbristopher Columbial ye don’t say 60, hy, I was in hopes you would come back with ees sure, Didn’t ye scare up a clew at all? ‘*Oh! I got some points to begin work on, but that was all. There is the sawe puzzle about the letter, If I could only figure out the mean- ing of that to my satisfaction.” ‘ Are ye sure it’s got a meaning?” ‘1m more sure of it now than ever.” “Will ye tell us about it? I’m dyin’ ter know, and Seth isso eager tuat he is speech- “Yes, I will tell you about it,” answered Billy, ‘ for it is a case upon which I desire you to keep yoursolves posted, so if occasion requires you will be ready to take hold anywhere,” Accordingly, he gave bis apprentices the par- ticulars of bis recent interviews. “Now,” when he had concluded, ‘‘ what do you think about it? Seth, suppose you speak first. If you don’t you won't get any chance against Harry.” “If you don’t find it here, look there,” was all the reticent boy had to offer in response, Billy looked at him steadily, in an inquiring way. Pou still keep harping on that, Seth,” he said, “Is it so constantly on your mind that you don’t think of anything else? ‘That is enough to think of at once,” was the rejoinder, ‘If I could only figure out what that means, I. believe [’d have the key to the whole mystery, The clew is right there.” * “ Listen to the Philosopher!” remarked Harry, “He is right,” declared ei “T believe with him, the key to the whole thing is contained in those words, somehow,” ‘Then hadn’t we better put our heads to- gether and figger it out, or else shut up shop and go out of business? If thereism tin the nut, why not crack the nut and have it out?” ‘* Very well; Lagree to that,” assented Billy. boss?” Harry heat” Mapes > “Suppose you do the cracking, my young Vidocq.” “Vm lookin’ around for a handy job at blackenin’ stoves,” and Harry fubsided:—the nut, as be called it, was too hard for him to crack, ** You tell me you have been thinking of this letter, and almost nothing else, Setb?’ Billy then asked, 6"Y ess sir,” ie have you come to any conclusion at all ‘* When be says Here, I think be means right there on the very paper on which the lotter is written,” ’ “That is my impression, too, But, where is the mysterious There?” *T give it up.” ‘Then there is something to work for yet, m silent shadower, If you can solve that part of it the rest will be ars nt “And I’m bettin’ sugar to soap he can’t do it,” cried Harry, ‘ He isa heavy thinker, is Seth, but I don’t believe be carries ballast enough for this problem, It would stagger a giant. Selah!” ' ‘Well, Vil tell you what I’m going to do,” said Billy. ‘* What's that?” “I'm going around and see the superintendent of police about it, If there isa man in New York can solve it, he’s the man,” ‘* Bully fer you!” ejaculated Harry, ‘Tl bet if there is any way of gettin’ at it, he'll show ye the way. Wish I was up in his confi- dence like you are, boss, ‘That was what you used to work for, though, when you was a kid like me and Setb.” J Billy smiled at the ambition of his youthful days, and realized that bis long dream bad at last been fulfilled; s0 he set out tor Headquarters to see his patron. ‘‘ Hello, Broadway Billy!” he was greeted. ‘* Haven’t seen you in some time now, Where have you been keeping yourself? Now you have ot a knotty problem to wrestle with, and I Snow it, What is it?” Billy had to smile to see how promptly his business had been divined by the keen-sighted superintendent, ** You have guessed it, sir,” he admitted. “IT have got bold of a case this time that is loaded too heavy for me, I guess,” * And you want some of my men to help you out with it?” ‘*No, not just that; I want point for me, or give me the myself.” ‘* What is the point?” ‘¢ P}] have to give you the whole matter so you ou to unlock one ey so I can do it can look atit on every side at once, Have you got time to bother with it?” ‘* Plenty of time just now. Go ahead,” Billy gave him the case as it is known to the reader—that is, such as was known to him him- self, and in conclusion asked; , ‘“Now, solve the riddle for me! What is meant by—If you do not find it bere, look there?” “The first part is plain enough” “The first part of the letter?” “That, of course; but I referred now to the first part of that sentencs,” ‘* By here, then, he means—” “The page where youare reading the words,” ‘* So 1 have made up my mind, too, That be- ing so, where is There?” “The next page.” Billy looked at the iron-willed chief of detec- tives in a questioning manner, He had told bim the next page was blank, ** But, there’s nothing on the next page,” he “That is the place to look, nevertheless,” was the firm rejoinder, ‘'I have not seen the | tter, but I bave made up my mind to that,” *¢ Sha)l I show it to you now?” . ‘¢Ves, pow I will look at it,” Billy gave the letter into his hand, and he looked at it long and carefully, Presently he took a magni ying glass from a drawer in his desk and held it over the blank sheet. ‘Hal my guess was right!” he exclaimed, “What have you discovered?’ asked Billy, eagerly. A pen bas passed over this blank page, and were is invisible writing there, as sure as ou live, Billy looked through the glass, and sure — enough there did seem to be indications thata pen had scratched the page asin writing, ‘* How did you guess it?” he asked. “By careful deduction,” was the response.
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‘find it here, look there.’ ‘‘Wrom what you told me ubout Mr, Santvoord I set bim down as a man of extreme care in del- icate matters. Also, he wasakeen judge of human nature. See the note he left with the colored girl addressed to you. He saw you al- ready working on the case—” “ Hal you think, then, that girl can ating Berk writing ovt so it can be read? Whata blind ninny [ have been!” “Don’t condemn yourself, my boy! of experience count for much, you see. I have had todo with this sort of thing before, As to the girl, am not sure she can do this, but a chemist cay.” ‘** But suppose be spoils the sheet, not knowing whatit has been written with, as he might do in testing for it,” “There is something in that,” admitted the great thief-catcher, thoughtfully. ‘‘ Let me see that note you got from the culored girl.” Billy produced it. The superintendent read it carefully and de- liberately. “Your idea may not be arniss,” he said. ‘She may hold the key toit. He assures you that you may trust her, and says she may be of service to you. Then he adds: ‘Follow direc- tions of letter carefully for finding of the clew,” “And those directions are, ‘if you do not Ha! I am to look to My years Rosa Polkadot!” ** You forget that we have already solved the méaning of that sentence, however. Not find- ing it on one page, we were directed to look to the next, There we discovered it all right.” ‘* That’s so, but I believe it has a double mean- ing, Funny Idid not thinkof thisbefore! He recommends the colored girl to me, and then says follow the directions of the letter carefully, The directions are, to look there. I believe this is the key to it, sure.” ** Well, I hope so.” ‘* And I owe it to you that T have got hold of it. I feel like kicking myself now.” ** Don’t mention it, ou see, it was like this: The natural thing to do, after reading tbe first page, wasto turn to the second, The direction was, if you don’t find it kere, look there, The cau!ion on the outside shows the importance of the papers. Putting this and that together, there was the thing in a nutshell,” “Tsee it now, and it’s so very plain that I feel as though I had better give up this business and take to peddling clams, ‘You are inclined to depreciate the help I have given you, I see,” Billy flushed instantly. ‘*Don’t think it,” he cried. ‘‘ But, I know you don’t,” seeing the superintendent smile, *No, far from it; I owe the whole case to you, I believe. But, I have robbed you of enough time, and P’ll slide.” **One moment first, Billy. You have been cautioned to look out for danger, and I suppose you know where to look for it, eh?” i'm not sure that I do, but if I bave a sus- picion it is directed toward the Hodgersons.” ** That’s we quarter! Keep your eyes open there. Be wary of the wary, my boy, is the true detective’s secret of action.” CHAPTER IX. THE OTHER SIDE HEARD FROM. THat night Conrad Hodgerson entered a not very reputable resort and looked around asif in search of some one, Whoever it was he wanted did not seem to be present, and a look of disappointment came over young Hodgerson’s face. Hesatdown, however, aud waited, That he was no stranger there was evident, for everybody spoke to bim, and after awhile be engaged in conversation with a seedy-looking in- dividual whom be addressed as ‘** Turnip,” i ere you seen Rittlers to-night, Turnip?” he asked, ‘* Yes,” was the response, “*he was down at Casey’s awhile ago when I was there, talkin’ with some of the boys,” “*Do you know what he has got on hand for to-night?” ** Nothin’, I guess,” ** Do you think he’ll be up here?” ** Most allus does strike here some time in the eveniu’.” ‘“* Well, I wanted to see him on a little matter of business,” Broadway Billy’s Queer Beque “T might gooutand scout for bim,if you want me to, Mebby I can scare bim up.” ‘* All right, you can do that. Here’s a quar- ter to keep an from getting dry while you are ai 54 it. If you find him, tell him I’m wait- ng.” The seedy fellow accepted the coin as though = did not frequently get hoid of one, and went off, He had heen gone only a few minutes when another person entered the place, at sight of whom Hodgerson’s face lighted up, This new-comer was a thin, dark fellow, with keen eyes and a sbarp nose, and altogether a pinched and hungry look about him, It was the ex-detective, Tim Rittlers, Hodgerson knew the other fellow, Turnip, had not met him, or be would have returned with him in the hope of learning something. ** Hey, Tim!” The new-comer looked around, and seeing Hodgerson, a smile lighted “up bis face and be went forward to where he was seated. ** How do?’ he greeted. ‘* What’s the word?” ‘* Did you see Turnip?” asked Conrad. “ No.” “*T thought not,” ** Why, did you send him to find me?” ‘Yes; but, it’s just as well, I want to talk with you.” * All right, I’m ogy talk or anythin else that comes along, hat is on your mind ** How would you like to make two hundred and fifty dollars?” “I'm in it, you bet!” , ‘* Well, I can tell you hew to do it.” ** Much risk?” ** May be some,” ‘Well, letv’s have it. Ill tell you then whether I’!] take it or not, No killing in it, is there? You know I draw tbe line at that, I take no chances for aseat in the death-chair, you know,” ‘*Ob! psbaw! you don’t suppose J would try anything of that sort, do you? [| gees not, No; this is only a simple game, but it will require cool work, and | thought you would be just the man for it, You have got to hook horns with Broadway Billy if you undertake it.” ** The devil!” ‘* No, not the devil; only the boy detective,” a I'd as lieve tackle the other fellow. What is it? ‘* You think he is a terror then?” * There is nothing like him in this city, for bis years, and never was, I would not want him hot after me, that 1 tell you.” “Then I take it you would have some dread of going after him.” “Whew! Is that what you want?’ ** Tt may come to that.” ‘Then I don’t think I’m in it as much ‘as I was, Two hundred and fifty don’t begin to pay for a job li’:e that, What do you want? ant him captured and laid by on the shelf for awhile?’ “Oh! I see you are getting at it backward, V’ll tell you the thing asitis, and leave you to do no more guessing. Maybe you .won’t come in contact with him at all, but this c°se is one in which he has a band, so you will have to be on the lookout.” ‘That's different. Go abead with the story.” ‘* Well, here is the whole thing in few words: There is an iron box containing one thousand dollars that bas been hid away in some secret place. Broadway Bully is looking for jit to get hold of the thousand. If you can get ahead of him I'll give you a quarter of the money. Will you try it?” ‘*Why, cert, There’s nothing very criminal about that, is there?” ** Not if you are careful about it and don’t get caught,” : 7 rer Who does this thousand belong to ‘* Broadway Billy.” ‘““Whew! That isn’t so pleasant again, But, if it’s his, how is it he don’t know where to put bis hand on it?” ‘*Thereby hangs atale. This iron box was left to him by will, and if he finds it the money is his, It is one of the strangest cases you ever heard of. Isuonose you have heard of Elijah Santvoord?” i ** Can't say that 1 ever did.” ‘* Well, not to be wondered at, for he lived a retired life. He was a very eccentric old codger, and _a very intimate friend of my overnor’s, When he died a short time ago he eft the most peculiar will you could imagine, I am of the opinion he was stuck on the doings of’ this boy detective, and wanted to give him a puzzle to unravel,” st. 4s Yes?” “Exactly. He left this iron box by will, with a thousand dollarsin it, and if the boy found the box the money was to be his, And the clew he left to guide him was more of an enigma than anything else.” ‘ Pshaw !” ‘Yes, a regular riddle, It was a note, and all it said was this: ‘If you do not find it here, look there.’” ‘* What are you giving me, anyhow?” “Im giving you facts.’ That is just as it stands. Now,I want you to set at work and find the box ahead of Broadway Billy.” ‘*T just can’t do it,” ‘Then you give up without trying?” ** You bet. That is noclew atall. + + 5 7 = bios oe a he oe x
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te BA if ot ‘ one fh ' aan t ae ee pa ee eae re ae iy s 1a ) ron oe ‘Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. a, - me wen rary ee 8 ea TA el M gerne eer a 4 Ka Boh in: wall ah “T bave come to ask you if thereis sucha thing as invisille ink,” Billy made known. ' ** Yes, there are several things which answer to that name,” was the reply. ‘* Well, if I handed you a paper supposed to be written upon with such en ink, could you test it without danger of ruining the paper? That is, with no knowledge of what kind of ink had been used.” “Not if it happened that I had to test for all before I struck the right ene, sir.” “That is what I was afraid of.” ** Have you some writing of that sort?” **T bave reason to think so, sir.” ** Let me see it,” **On condition that you promise to run no risk of spoiling it.” ‘“* That 18 understood.” With that understanding Billy took the letter aire bis pocket and allowed the chemist to look at it. At sight of the signature the letter bore the man of science gave a start. ‘““Why,” he cried, ‘‘2 knew Elijah Sant- -voo:'d!” “You knew him? Well, he is dead, as per- haps you have seen by the papers.” ** Yes, I saw the notice of his death. He was a chemist; or, at any rate, he read in the same class with me at school,” **Hal this is coming at it,” cried Billy. **Perbaps you can guess what he has used to write invisibly upon this sheet.” ** it woulda Only be guessing. I may be able to ive you a hint toward finding the secret of it, owever, and if you find it you can come here and I will apply the test.” ** Well, I'll do that.” ‘*Tc is years since Santvoord and I read to- gether. He has never practiced the science, Lt would naturally slip away from him, To per- form any experiments he would have to read up. He may have books in his library. You might find a mark at the very page—” “Say no more,” Billy interrupted. ‘I catch what you mean, and it is a good pointer for ‘*Then there is something else,” the chemist went on. ‘‘He would have to purchase the materials to experiment with, ou may be able to find where he bought them, and what they were. Then we shall have the matter in our own hands, Get that information and come to me again, and Jl) bring the writing out so ou can read it—provided there is any writing ere, * You doubt that, then?” ‘Most of these so-called sympathetic inks leave a faint trace of color here and there. Here is none,” . . “The microscope, however, reveals the trac- ings of a fine pen,” ‘That seems to settle it, then. Two and two make four, The acid and the base brought to- gether make the salt, The proof seems suffi- cient, j After some further talk with the chemist, Billy took his leave and bent his steps in the di- rection of the Santvoord residence, ° Rosa Polkadot answered the door as usual, **T have called to see you, this time, Rosa,” Billy announced. , Tbe girl showed no surprise, but stepped back to admit him, “ All right, sir,” she said, as she closed the door. ‘Come right this way, aud we'll go to the sittin’-room,” She conducted him to a little room at the rear of the parlor, and set out a chair for him, say- ing further: ‘** Poor Mr. Santvoord said I was to help you in work you had to do, sir, and I’m ready to elp.” why didn’t you say something about it be- fore?” ‘*T done jest what I was told, sir,” “Then you were told not to offer any infor- mation till it was sought?” ‘*That was the way of it, sir.” ‘When did your dead master give you the ne which you slipped into my hand yester- a e Some days ’fore he died, sir.” “ What did he tell you?” ** He said a young man would be given work ‘to doin finding a box that he had hid away, and told me to help all I could.” ** Did he say how you were to rom, pou “Yes; he ssid any way you asked me,” “Well, I have come here to find the iron box that was mentioned in the will, Can you help | me at that?” “Do you know where to look for it?” “No; do you?” hail) adios ie. \ ; ge ais 1N 4 ahem Di) CEN Sate SOS . bob emer et u ' fi We 4 weet “ie a gs oe ‘* No, sir.” ‘*Then your help can’t be of much uso to me there. Now, did your master say anything to you about another letter he had left for me?’ ‘* That is the question I was waitin’ for you to ask me, sir.” ‘* You were waiting for me to ask you that? Why so? You must have hoard something about the letter, then?” * ‘* Wait, and I'll show you now what Mr, Sant- Ney said I was toshow you when you asked me at, The girl spoke with very little of the usual dialect. Rising, she stepped to a desk and brought forth from it a sheet of paper, handing it to Billy. ‘* Look at that,” she requested. ‘+I see it,” the young detective answered. ‘*Only a blank half sheet of writing paper.” **That’s whatit is, But, now you watch it and | Tl s’prise you like Mr, Santvoord s’prised me, She had now taken from the desk a small vapor spray, consisting of a bottle with some kind of liquid in it, a rubber bulb, tubes, and so forth, ‘* Hold up the paper,” she directed. Billy did so. ‘* And now keep your eye on it and see what you'll see,” She used the spray, sending a little cloud of vapor upon the page; and in a moment dark out- lines began to appear. These grew thicker and darker, and presently a sentence in bold, black words appeared in view, tbe letters large and easily to be read, It was this: ‘* Tf you do not find it here, look there,” Broadway Billy could only sit and stare at the page for a few moments, his mind filled with wonder at the change that had been wronght under his very eyes, The clew was now within his reach! ‘* What do you think of that?” the girl asked, ‘** That was pretty well done,” confessed Billy, \ pa ita did your master say you should 0 ‘* He said I was to give this bottle to you, just’ as it is, and you would kpow what to do with it. , ‘* And he was right,” Billy cried, taking the coveted bottle eagerly. ‘‘I do know what to do with it, Was there anything more he told you, Rosa?” ‘Yes, there was something more, but I am not at liberty to tell you that until you ask about it, same as you asked about the letter, Mr. Santvoord knew what he was about, sir.” ‘*T begin to believe he did, true enougb.” Billy had now profound respect for the dead man, Whore he had at first looked upon his be- quest as some vagary of a disordered brain, be now comprehended that it was the outcome of deep thinking and reasonable caution, There had been a good excuse for all this secrecy concerning the iron box, The secret it contained must be a great one, indeed, It had been kept from son, friend, and everybody, The one who had been most trusted was this humble colored servant, and she apparently knew little about the box itself, When Broadway Billy considered that he had been selected as the one of all others to bring the box to light and reveal its mystery, he felt pardonably elated, It was an honor conferred upon him, Pa want to ask some questions, Rosa,” he said, ‘* All right, sir, I was told to answer ’em all,”’ was the response, ‘* How was it your master selected you to be the one to help me most in this work?” ‘Cause he knew he could trusé me, sir,” ** Couldn't he trust his son? or Mr, Hodgerson? or Mr. Trotterman?” ‘“*T s’pose he could, but he didn’t, He didn’t tell nobody but mé anything, far as I know,” , ** And what did he tell you?” **You know all about that, sir, far as you have gone, When you ask more you will get more. But, I am to tell nobody else, so it won’t be no use for you to send some other pusson,” Another wise precaution on the part of the dead man, as Billy saw at once. ** Don’t imagine that Ill send any one else,” he declared, ‘‘ Did your master say anything | about what I was to do with this bottle, Rosa?” **T told you he said you would know what to do with it,” ‘* Did he say when 1 was to use it? or where?” ne oy sir.” “ Then that is all left to my own judgment. I 7, po f . ais Oe a Sal: alg has Phe 7 + ; ‘ 4, de \! rl ,- y lay Pa SG SMG LK > think I will go and see Mr. Hodgersoo, seeing that he was your master’s nearest friend, and consult with him,” Billy saw the girl’s eyes dilate at this and knew he bad alarmed her. He had said this only asa test. He had sus- picions against Sod BOrSnis and he wanted to see if this girl had been warned. against him, If such was the case, then it would covfirm his suspicion, ** Don’t you do it sir!” she said in a whisper, “Cause why, I was told p'tic’lar not to Jet him know a thing, and not to let him get anything out of me, I say don’t you do it, sir!” The suspicion was confirmed, Hodgerson’s friendship for the dead man was only a sham{ He bad reason to fear the exposure of the con- tents of the iron box, It was from him that danger was to be looked for, The warning had not been idle, as Billy fully realized now, CHAPTER XI. BROUGHT TO LIGHT, THE colored gir) was silent after that, and it was some moments before Billy spoke to ber. Presently he said: ‘* Your master bas great confidence in you,” ‘* Because he knew he could trust Rose Polka- dot, sir!” ‘* And why wasit he could trust you'so fully? Come, you have been told to answer my ques- tions.” ‘* Because J loved him, and I would have laid down my life for him if be bad asked it, He was good to me after mammy died here. She was his housekeeper for years an’ years,” npene were tears in the girl’s eyes as she said this, Billy understood how it was. : ‘*Do you know what was in the note you put into my hand in the hall yesterday, Rosa?” he asked now. ‘* Yes, sir.” ; “Then you know it said I was to trust you, That being the case, I want you to trust me, since you know your dead master trusted me, Now, what do you know about Mr, Hodger- son?” The girl shuddered, **T know be is a bad man,” she declared—‘' a very bad man!” ‘Then bow was it he and your master were such good friends?” ‘*They weren’t friends at all, sir.” ** Not friends!” “No, au.” ‘Bat, in bis will your master spgqke of him as bis dear friend, and Hodgerson speaks very feelingly of bim.” ‘*Can't belp that, sir, My master hated hina as he bated a snake, and many a time I have seen him shake his fist at the door after he had. been here and gone away again,” Billy was reaping fast now. ‘ . ‘* That's strange. What was the trouble be- tween them?”, ** Hodgerson had some pares over my poor master, something he could not get away from.” ‘That is the way it certainly looks, You don’t know what it was, I suppose?” “No, sir.” ** Does any one else know it?” ** No, sir,’ \ ‘Nor the facts you have told me?” _ ‘No, sir; not even Mr. Palmer, sir, Aud master forbade my mentioning it to a soul,” ‘* How was it with Trotterman?” ‘Tt was differeut with bim, sir. I bave seem Mr. Santvoord weep after he had been here alone. But, he wasn’t often here alone, for Hodygerson was ’most always around some- where,” ‘Then the mystery of this thing seems to be working itself out, Rosa, partly Clear, now,” ; ‘‘ The iron box will make it clear, I believe,” ‘7 know it will, and the iron box is now with- in reach, Did I understand you to say Palmer Santvoord is not at home?” ‘* He isn’t home, sir,” ‘*Then I will take my leave for the present, I shall undoubtedly drop in to see you again be- fore long, Rosa, when you will bave a chance to tell me the rest you know about this matter, and whick you are now holding back.” **T'll be here every bour, sir, and ready to help you ll I can, the same as Mr, Santvoord said, “Ts it possible, Rosa, that you know where this iron box is?” ; ’ ‘“No, I do not know where it is, sir?” ** Then no one knows,” ‘*Mr, Santvoord said no one on earth had any means of finding it but you, and he believed you could do it, witb my help,” = Pi + 4 : t ARP a | 2 re Ne wh ne | pa Spit: hi oF, be 4 ous can see my way ‘ Br ae ya Eh a ¥ . A + oh tin
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“ And I am of the opinion that I could never do it without your help, Rosa, that’s the fact.” When Billy took his leave he went straight to is office, There he found Harry and Seth both wearing pretty long faces, as though something had not gone to their liking. ** Hello!” he exclaimed, ‘t what’s the matter here?” ‘“*Do_we look sort of more-dead-than-alive?”’ asked Harry, “* You don’t look as bright as I have seen you looking many a time, ** Well, it’s cause we're gettin’ stale and rusty settin’ here doin’ nothin’, that’s what’s the matter, “Ha, ba! Is that all? Well, now, just ‘liven up, for I have got hold of the handle of the case at last, and here’s something that will interest you. Harry’s face brightened at once. Seth’s had been no longer, perhaps, than on the day before, 80 it was slower to alter its expression, Both were interested, nevertheless, and crowded near, “* Here is a piece of paper,” Billy said, taking from his pocket the note he had just seen Rosa Polkadot bring out the writing upon, ‘* which when I saw it first, was perfectly white, and while I looked at it this writing appeared.” As he spoke the last words he turned the half nh 80 they might see, and there was the sen- nce: “ If you do not find it here, look there,”’ “* Chestnuts!” sneered Harry, with contempt, Silent Seth uttered something that sounded like a stifled groan, yoy ‘* Yes, the same old gag,” said Billy, laughing, “ but I tell you there was a power of meaning in that, my lads.” ar He told them, then, about his visit to Head- quarters, about the finding out the meaning of the mysterious letter, and all that had taken place since, and by the time he had done the boys were in bigh spirits, ‘““What do you say to that, Seth?” Billy de- manded, as he wound up with his story. ** Immense !” was the ejaculation, “That is what I was trying so hard to get at, and now a heavy load has been lifted off my mind,” Happy Harry, at that, sprung for a newspa- per a began to fan Seth with it with all his wighz, “* Christopher Columbia!” he cried, ‘* You erter know better, Seth, than to say so much ali ip one breath, Don’t you know you are likely ter get out o’ wind and never smile again?” aay smiled, and having had his say, was ent, *“* But, crackers an’ cheese!” cried Harry, toss- ing away the paperand facing to the frontagain. ** Let’s see the rest of this thing, boss, It you don’t want to see me turn toes up right bere, get out that mysterious letter and ’ply the squirter * to it the same as the gal did,” “ Yes, that is the next thing on the program,” Billy declared. ‘‘ Just lock the door there, so we won't be interrupted, and we'll see what can be nade out of it by the same means,” Harry bad the door secured in a moment, and was back again. ’ Drawing the mysterious letter from his pocket, and asking Seti to hold it, Billy proceeded to use the vaporizer upon the apparently blank yay eagles watching intently. here was po result at first, but presently black dots and lines began to appear, gradually spreading, till finally the whole was made plain. There was what was clearly the plan of a room, and under that some figures and writing. The writing read: “To WiLu1AM Weston:— “You have done well, Itnow remains only to follow these directions to recover the hidden ae. Consult with Rosa Polkadot, if in doubt, and she can — Ye tide oles aoe pee eye meeps but yan the , you can F my) unctio: to the letter, Beware of a0 er | pee o * Yours in the other world, “ ELIJAB OORD,”” “ Christopher Columbia!” cried Happy Harry, jumping up and cracking his heels together, ** This is the best thing out of jail! It beats any- thing we have done yet, boss! Whoop! Now I’m) wide awake, you bet, and ready for any- thing that comes up. Say, hold me, or I’ll shed my mins aoe peneen noain tad would say put that letter in a place by it- self, now,” observed Seth the Silent, “ It was seldom he offered advice hke this with- out being asked direct, and Billy looked at him, ie is good power oe aon es pee ve some reason for offering it, I’m sure, What is er aan Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. j “ Well, if there is danger, and they find out by any chance you have made out the secret, they’ll want it, and so I’d say to put it—” At that moment a woman’s screams were heard in the ball just outside the door, there was the sound of heavy feet in rapid flight down the stairs, and with a bound Broadway Billy was at the door, He had dropped the papers upon the desk, and Harry and Seth were with him as he open- ed the door and sprung out, nee Seth had been cut short in what he was going to say. A woman was in the hall, wringing ber hands, and men and womenwere pouring out of every office on that floor, Already there was a crowd, and it was some moments before the woman could calm herself sufficiently to tell what had happened, In the meantime the man who had been heard to make such a hasty retreat down the steps had disap- ared, Aa fact, only one or two had caught a glimpse .8) m, “Tell us, madam, what it is,” Broadway Billy urged. R I have been robbed!” the woman gasped. “A horrid man took my pocketbook and ran with it.” : ‘* What kind of man was he?’ Billy asked, ** Tell me, quick, and I'll see what can be done toward recovering it,” ‘* He was a big man, sir, with awful red bair and whiskers, and he had only one eye—” ‘‘ After him! Harry—Seth?’ Billy cried, “You can’t mistake such a man in a thousand! Hand him over to the first policeman, and have him brought back here. You may come in, madam, and wait, This is my office, and I am a detective.” CHAPTER XII. THE OTHER SIDE MOVES, THIS woman had the appearance of a patient, long-suffering little body, and those around were full of sympathy for her, and denounced freely the wretch who had robbed her. She thanked Broadway Billy for his kindness, but said she must first go and bring her friend, who was waiting for heratthecorner, Then she would come back and wait to see if the ras- cal could be found and made to restore her money. . She went at once, descending the steps in a sorrowful way, while the crowd expressed their sympathy. In a moment she was at the bottom, and had disappeared from sight. Some minutes passed, and she did not return, The crowd in the ball began to disperse, and like others, Broadway Billy entered his office again, i As he did so the thought of the papers he had dropped on bis desk upon hearing the woman’s screams came to him, and he stepped forward to take them up, To his amazement they were gone! He tried to look everywhere at ouce, as a per- son will under such circumstances, wondering what had become of them. He looked on the desk, on the floor, behind the desk, in the drawers, and finally searched bis pockets for them, thinking perhups he had been mistaken about having laid them on the desk, They were not to be found! “No, they are gone,” he declared, ‘I am not such a gilly as not to know what I did with them. I know I dropped them right here, for I did not want to waste a second in getting out, I thought as I dropped them they were a right, and I’d fold them up when I came back.” He scratched his bead in a puzzled way. “Tt can’t be that some one dodged in here and took them during the few moments we were out,” he reflected, ‘* No one would have dared to undertake it, unless— But, it’s folly to think it was alia put-up job, No; the only way I can explain it is that Harry or Seth picked them up and stuck them out of sight on the spur of the moment, Seth spoke about taking good care of them only a moment before. They’ll soon be That conclusion arrived at, there was nothing to do but wait. When five minutes bad passed, however, and the woman had not made her appearance, Billy grew more uneasy, | : Grabbing up bis hat he hastened out of the office, this time closing the door after him, and went down to the street, There he looked all around, first for some sightof the woman and next for Harry and Seth, Neither was anywhere to be seen, . — “This beats the dickens,” he said to himself, “It begins to look as though there was some- thing crooked about the whole matter. But, that seems impossible. Who could have planned and carried out such a game?” He walked to the nearest corner, looking for Harry and Seth, but the two apprentices were nowhere around, ‘* Well, one or the other of them must be back shortly,” he mused, ‘* They have taken different directions on coming out, and harm can’t come to both of them from the same quarter, But, pshaw! my suspicions get the better of my judgment. To think this a plot is to give the other side credit for more brains than I thought there was in the whole combination,” When twenty minutes had elapsed, however, and there was still no sign of the woman, then he was ready to believe anything. She had gone out with the express intention of coming back as soon as she got her friend, and here she had not appeared at all. There was something mysterious about it, And, then, what could be keeping Harry and Seth so tong! If they had not discovered the red-headed man with the missing eye at once, it was folly for them toexpect to find bim, A thousand men might scour the neighborhood and not get a sight of bim, once he had become lost in the Broadway crowd. There were a thousand ways for him to elude pursuit, Broadway Billy was nettled, ‘*Plague on the Juck !” he muttered, as he re- turned to the office, ‘If this was a plot it was a masterpiece, I can’t believe it. And if it was a plot— Sweet pertaters! I think I bad better get up and bustle some if [ don’t want to get left, that’s all, One thing is sure, the papers are gone, and without them I am a lame borse in the race. It is certain, now, they are not bere in the office, and I can’t think Harry or Seth would venture to put them in his pocket,” He had returned to the office and made a thor- ough search for them, but tbey were positively one, 4 With quick resolve he made baste to go back to the Sar tvoerd residence. Meanwhile what of Harry and Seth? When they dashed down the stairs in quest of. the thief, they meant business, and it would have fared ijl with a red-headed man with a missing eye if they had seen such, At the street door they parted, one going ip one direction and one in the other, each keeping a sharp lookout for a man answering to the de- scription given, ’ No such person was to be seen, The adventures of the two boys were quite similar, so we will follow Silent Seth. He bad not gone a great distance up the street, watching keevly both sides of the way, when & heavy band fell upon his shoulder and he felt the cold pressure of a club against the back of bis neck. He turned his head quickly, to find himself in the grasp of a policemen, ‘*What’s the matter?” he asked. ‘*You know what’s the matter,” was the re- sponse. “Not a word out of ye, or l’ll crack your cocoanut with my club.” ** But, I haven’t done anything,” Seth declar- ed, angrily. ‘‘My name is Seth Martin, and I belong to the office of Broadway Billy, the—” “Shut your bead right up!” was the stern command, ‘Ye needn’t tell me anything of that sort. I know what I’m about, Not a word, now, or I’ll make ye sick.” They bad reached a corner, and the policeman yanked Seth around and down a side street with no gentle hand, : Everybody was looking on, of course, but Seth knew enough about policemen and their clubs to obey the orders he had received, so held his ace, ate knew the worst that could befall him wag to be locked up fora few hours on whatever charge the officer had to make against bim. Broadway Billy would see to it that he was re- leased. At the next corner another turn was made, and about half-way down the block a closed car- riage was found waiting. The officer stopped at this, and Seth was hus- tled i ¥ it before he could offer resistance, At this proceeding he knew something was wrong. . Potkenae were not in the habit, he knew, of taking their prisoners to the station in carriages, If be bad any lingering doubt as he was being forced into the vehicle by the officer, it was dis- pelled immediately when two men within laid hold upon bim, The policeman waited near, explaining the
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- son. - matter in some way to the inquiring throng which had quickly collected. - Seth, by this time, had guessed that he was no officer at all, but only some rascal so disguised, and he would have given the alarm, but those who held him had already gagged bim. {It was about the coolest bit of work that had ever been done in broad daylight, The carriage waited a few minutes, and pres- ently another policeman hove into sight from the eee direction with another prisoner, a boy like the first, his was Happy Harry, but he was not look- oe very. happy just then. He showed evidences of having made a struggle, and there was a red imprint on his face that bespoke a blow from the pretending policeman’s hand, “Here’s the other whelp,” the officer cried, on coming up. ‘Into the carriage with him be- fore I break his head for him. He kicked me, and I’d as lief mash his head as not. Sbut up! not a word out of ye! or I'll paste you one that you'll remember a good while,” Harry had not kicked him at all, but bis tongue had been likely to get the fellow into trouble and he had struck Harry over the mouth with his hand. Harry made another offort to let the by- standers know the truth, but both the officers laid hold upon him and he was forced into the vehicle in a twinkling, one of the rascals having clapped his hand over his mouth in doing At once the door closed and the carriage rattled off. “Two of the worst wretches of their age we ever tackled,” remarked one of the pseudo-police- men, then, to the crowd. ‘‘ They are safe fora year at least.” And with that he and his companion walked off, swinging their clubs in the style of the “finest” and acting generally as though they ewned the city and its people together, The crowd looked after them, some comments were made, and that was all. What is everybody’s business is nobody’s busi- ness, and while some in the crowd thought strange of the proceedings, no one questioned it. In a few moments the crowd had melted away, and that was the last of itso faras they were concerned, But it was not the last of it with Harry and Seth, by any means. The two villains into whose hands they bad fallen were not by avy means gentle.with them, and both were gagged and bound effectually. And not on!y that, but while the carriage roll- ed along they were wrapped in separate covers and bound with straps in such a way that they looked like anything but two lively boys. Provision had been made against their smoth- ering, but otherwise they were about as useful as dead boys, so far as helping themselves was concerned. When at last the vehicle came to a stop it was before a vacant store, and the two “bundles” were taken out and carried inside, one upon the shoulder of each man, and the carriage went off immediately. Ouce in the store, the door was locked, The windows had been whitened, and a cloth siga tacked over them prevented any one from looking in, Here the young ferrets were speedily unbound and helped out of the wrappings that bad been put on them, and were taken toa reom at the rear. The gags were taken from their mouths here, and their feet set free, but they were left with their hands securely tied behind ir backs and the door was locked upon them. sel were ba oer darkness, atid ina particularly bad plight, CHAPTER XIII, AN OFFER FLATLY REFUSED. Nor long after Broadway Billy took his leave from the Santvoord residence, before the events last reccrded, an elderly woman rung the bell at the house of the Hodgersons. The door opened, she was admitted without question, and she asked at once for Mr, Hodger- She was shown to the library, where that gentleman was smoking. ‘* Ha! you?” he cried at sight of her. ** Yes, sir.” “« Well, what is it?” “* He has been there, and I listened,” . ee ee right, Well, Lr ae you over- ear ou well, as I promised, **He talked se, ‘ood hie with showed him a letter, She took and she bottle and SB a Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. aquirted something on the paper, and the writ- ing appeared.” * Thunder and lightning! You don’t tell me ‘*That’s what she done, the sly hussy. And then she gave the bottle to him, telling him Mr. Santvoord bad told her to do it.” ** And he took it away with him?” « Yes.” ‘** But, what did they talk about?” *Tcouldn’t Lear very much of it, for they talked so low.” ‘Tell me the little you did hear, then,” 4 Well, he told Rosa she was a smart girl, or somethin’ like that, and said be would come and see her again, And then she said she would be there all the time and would tell him everything she could,” ‘* She will, eh? We'll see about that.” ‘* But, ’'d like to know what it all means, anyhow, Mr. Hodgerson.” “Tt is not for you to know, You are to be paid well for the part you play in it, and that is all that need concern you,” ‘* Well, what else shall | do, sir?” ** Just the same as you are doing now. Hear and see everything you can, and let me know at once. Here is five dollars for this information,” “* Five dollars!” “Yes; and I'll pay you as liberally every time, too, Mind, however, that you are careful not to let any one suspect’ you are coming here.” The woman pocketed the money. ; ‘**T'll be all eyes and ears, now,” she declared, ‘* and there won't a mouae stir in that house but I'll see him,” She went away, then, and Hodgerson fell to pacing the floor, ** So, that’s what it was, eh?” he said to him- self, ‘Secret writing, eb? It is a wonder I could not think of that before. But, now that we know the secret of it the rest will be easy. 1 wish Conrad would come,” He had his wish, for just then the door opened and his worthy son stepped into the room, There was a smile on his face. ‘* Hello, dad, what’s up?” he asked **There’s a good deal up, Conrad, Ihave got the secret of that wonderful letter at last.” “*The secret of it? What do you mean?” ““Why, that blank page was written with in- visible ink,” “The deuce! Why didn’t we think of that? But, bow did you find this out, I'd like to know?” ‘“*By the housekeeper, whom I have bribed liberally, Here’s the simple facts of the case; see what you'll make of them.” With that be made known the part Rosa Polkadot was playing. ‘“Ha! good!” cried his son, ‘* We will make use of that dusky maiden, and now the whole thing is in our hands, The papers will bein our possession before another hour passes, if all works well,” “So soon? What plan have you laid?” “Oh, Rittlers bas bent his mind to it. He is playing for big game, that fellow is,” ** How do you mean?” ‘*He will bear watching. He suspects there is more in that box than I bave told him, and I éan see that he is bound to have it at any cost, But, when he gets it, he’ll get me at the same time,” ‘** You don’t think he would play us false?” ‘“* Not Tim; but, he would make us come up high if he had a good chance to do that.” **That wouldn’t be so bad, but he must not be allowed the chance, You must keep a tight rein on him, Conrad, and see that be does not take the bit in his teeth and run away.” **’m going to see to that part of it.” ‘* Well, what were you going to tell me?” ‘* Why, be has made a bold stroke so as to be on top of the heap atthe first. He is going to weaken that young detective by depriving him of the aid of his boys, and if he can, get hold of the paper at the same time,” ‘That is a bold stroke, Can he carry it out? ‘¢He knows it’s a bold one, but he has made big preparation for it, and it is a long chance for its miscarrying. Thereupon the young man made known the scheme, which can be understood by the reader, vege the working of it has already been reveal- “T can’t say that I like that altogether,” the old Spetasan remarked, “Why not, dad?” : “Tt shows that Tim expects to make a bigger stake than his promised sbare of the thousand pave Fe He has already spent a bundred if a cen ‘Yes; but he is as eager to give Broadway / Na : ‘ a _ 7 ® ~ ee — te yar ii ra wi, is i a ee “ade paket hy is ¢ Beige . era z inet), orcelrcisl “y “ae T* = — Billy a backhander as he is to earn the reward, you see, He planned it all, and meant to carry the game by storm. He has probably given Broadway Billy enough to occupy his thoughts for a time,” ‘*T hope he will get the papers, anyhow, Now that we know the secret of the queer letter, we'll soon solve the rest of it,” ‘Yes, we'll soon have the whole thing now. But, i must goand meet Tim and work with im. ** And don’t leave him and give him a chance to cheat us,” “ Trust me,” The son went off as abruptly as he had come, and the father continued pacing the floor. His brow grew clouded, and yet more so as time went by. This matter was not working altogether to his liking. ‘Tt was a mistake taking Tim Rittlers into it, after all,” he said to himself. ‘Here are half a dozen or more of outsiders preying upon it now, and no knowing where the end will be. Of course, it isn’t likely the others know any more than just the work they have been hired to do, but there’s a risk to run.” No, be was not pleased, and he showed it, Nor was he easy in miod at the prospect in view. When Conrad left the house be did not go at once to meet the rascal detective, as he had de- clared his intention of doing, but went to the house of Abiel Trotterman, It was Lucrece who opened the door, She asked him in, but there was little in her face to show that be was a welcome guest, **Do you want to see papa!” she asked, ‘¢ You know I do not,” was the response, ‘I have come to see you yourself, Ihave come for my answer,” “Tf that is the case, Mr, Hodgerson, you force me to make use of the very plainest language I know how to use, for I mean to have you under- stand me once and for all.” “Then you—” **T will not marry you, sir, now or ever, It will be only folly for you ever to mention it again. eho young rascal’s face had darkened, and now he seized the girl’s wrist. * Listen,” he bissed: ‘* You shall marry me, Lucrece Trotterman, for I have taken oath to it. Iam determined to have you. The sooner you make up your mind to it the better for all concerned,” ‘** Release me, sir!” the girlcried, ‘* You have had your answer; now, go, ou are less of a gentleman than 1 thought, and my estimate never was high.” ‘Oh! you can say cutting things, my pretty mies, but [’)] tame you one of these days, Asif afraid to trast his temper, the youn rascal turned suddenly and took bimself off an away. , ‘*T shall tell papa the moment he returns,” the girl said to herself, as, trembling with in- dignation she closed the door, She had not had time to recover when there was ‘another ring at the bell, and this time it proved to be Palmer Santvoord, ‘““Why, Lucrece,” he greeted, “what is the matter? Have you seen a ghost?” Some thoughts had passed rapidly in the girl’s mind while ber lover was thus speaking, and she resolved to set his mind at rest, ° She remembered the secret Broadway Billy had let out to her, concerning the promise Ehjah Santvoord had exacted of his son, and ve decided to let her lover know his canse was safe, ; ‘*T have not seen a ghost,” she made answer, ‘but [have had a very unpleasant interview, Palmer,” ** With whom?’ with rising indignation, ** Conrad Hodgerson,” Palmer Santvoord’s face flushed at once, and to relieve him of his embarrassment the young woman quickly resumed ¢ ‘He has been almost trying to force meto say yes to bis evit for my hand in marriage, nd to-day I gave him a decided No, Then he began to threaten, and— But, I will say no more,’ “The coward!” cried Palmer, ‘‘ He threat- ened you— “There, there, do not mind it,” the girl urged. ‘He bas bad his answer for once and all, as I told bim, so let it rest.” At that she changed the subject abruptly, and went chatting away about something else, and Palmer could only follow her, Since his own lips were sealed, it was better 80, When he left the house, some time later, he carried with him the clear impression that his forced silence would work no ill to his cause, = Se a ae ve 7 F 2g 0 pow, ed et. | =
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12 In fact, there was a mutual understanding be- tween the lovers, brought about by the young jady, since she knew how Palmer was placed, and that, too, though no word had passed be- tween them concerning it. «CHAPTER XIV. THE BEAGLES BREAK OUT, As stated, Broadway Billy made haste to get back to the Santvoord residence to confer again with Rosa Polkadot, She opened the door to him, and he saw at once that something troubled her. Her face showed it, Her manner was very serious, and she looked around with caution as he came ip, ‘¢ What is it, Kosa?” be asked, ‘There is a spy in this house, sir,” she answer- “Who is it?” ‘The housekeeper, She went out after you were bere before, and after she came back she said enough to let me kuow what she hac been aip to,” 7 ’ ‘* Where had she, been?” "To Hodgerson’s, I suspect. But, don’t let us talk here, Come into the library, for Mr. Palmer is out yet. If we talk low she can’t hear # word there, and I know she can’t see.” The girl led the way. **] s’pose you have come back for the rest of ‘the paper?” she said, in a matter-of-fact way. Billy was quick to catch his cue, an might vot do to Jet the girl know he had lost ‘the papers, ‘* Yes,” he answered, ‘“‘I suppose you have something more for me, and I’m here to get it,” ‘* Here it is, then.” She took from her bosom a folded paper, which she gave into Billy’s hand, Billy opened it and saw a drawn plan, almost the same, as he thought, as that of the now missing letter, as he remembered that one, And across the face of it, where two lines ran, were the words; If you do not find it here, look there,” ‘‘ Heavens!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ Still more mys- tery about it, Rosa?” ‘No, no more mystery this time, sir. I am to tell you the secret, now. You are to take this paper, place it over the one you have, and look through them at the light, then all would ‘be made plain,” Billy geoaned in spirit. ** And is this all you know, Rosa?” he asked, “That is all. But, [um to show you down to the cellar at any time aon are ready to go.” Ha! that was what Billy had been after! Now he knew positively where to look for the missing, or bidden, box, and it should soon be unearthed, As he examined the paper he had in hand, however, he could see that it was not in itself complete, and now, too, as be recollect- ed the other drawing by this, that had been the same, ‘* We will not go to the cellar now, Rosa,” he said in a low tone, ‘If there is a spy in the house she positively must not have a hint that the box is in the cellar, or she will tell the Hod- gersons, I will put that off till another time, ‘This is all for the present.” “Tl keep a still tongue, sir. If Mr. Sant- voord could trust me, you need not be afraid to «do go,” ‘*T do trust you, Rosa.” ** And even if they did suspect the cellar they would not find it, for they have searched there half a dozen times. Master told me to let the search all they bad a mind to,” bi ‘*Then it must be securely hidden indeed, and Trt a but these papers willever bring it to ight. ‘* Nothing. If you lose the papers you never can find it,” Billy took bis leave, studying the case as he went his way. It was plain that Santvoord had wmaistrusted everybody. His putting this map upon tyro separate sheets was proof of it. No one could find it by the aid of one paper alone; he must have them both, In the mean time what of Happy Harry and ‘Silent Seth. : Seth's name fitted him well under almost any een "io Ph deena now, certainly, was anything but happy. When left. alone, aud when the last ae of ber retreating rascals had died away, Harry arry’s was a misnomer: a —_— See “Well, Seth, we’re in a pickle, sure.” -The fact did not need any support from Seth, so he was silent, ‘* We have been and gone and run into a con- sarned diffikilty.” Harry declared, ‘‘ And the most important thing I know of is to find some way of getting out of it, Now, Stoick, buckle your mind to it and let’s hear from you.” Silent Seth had taken a seat upon an empty box, and with his eyes fixed upon a certain spot on the wall he knit his brows and began to study hard, in spite of Harry’s incessant talking, ‘*Those fellows wasn’t policemen at all,” Harry stormed, ‘'I knew that before, and I know it all the better now. What was their game, Seth? What are weinlimbo for? Cbris- topber Columbia! what will the bosssay? Seth, we must get out of here if we have to reduce ourselves to the size of mice and creepout. This move means business, and Broadway Billy needs us now if he ever did,” Seth was still silent. Harry stormed at him, and fretted and fumed around like a caged kingbird, all the time specu- lating upon their fate and the chances for their escape. ‘‘ Why in merry misery don’t you say some- thin’, Seth?” he finally demanded, in anger, ‘*Haven’t anything to say,” was the quiet answer, ‘¢Then it’s about time ye had, that’s all. How are we goin’ to get out of here? Come, tune up, now, if you ever did,” “Dom busy thinkin’.” ‘Thinkin’! What doesit amount to?” ‘“‘What does all your fussing and talking amount to? You are no nearer out than I am, ‘* And I haven't been making half the fuss, Just keep your shirt on for a while and maybe Pl bit upon a plan that will work,” ‘That's all right; but what’s the use of our havin’ our hands tied like this? Dll try and free yours .with my teeth while you are thinkin’, Reckon there’s no use to holler fer help, or they wouldn’t have give us the use «f our tongues.” Seth faced around tu allow Harry a chance to try his plan, and while Harry worked away with his teeth Seth worked away with his brains to study some plan by which they might effect their escape, Harry bad no trifling task to perform, for the cords were strong and had been well tied, but at the end of half an hour he had chewed several of them in two and Seth’s hands were free, “There you are, Stoick!” Harry cried, with his usual laugh, ‘‘ and if you have done as well with your think-masheen as I have done with my teeth, we’ll stand a chance for gettin’ out,” ‘That was a good job,” Seth complimented, ‘Now I'll free you with my kuife, like this, and then Tl tell you something that has come to me, ‘*Quite a speech fer you, Seth; but, I s’pose you haye sometbin’ to say or you wouldn’t talk. Go ahead,” Having now their hands free, both felt in bet- ter spirits, “Yes, I’ve got something tosay, Harry, We are on the ground floor—” ; ** And that’s said to be the best place to get in. That’s what most fellers are after.” ‘* ve got the floor, We can’t get out by the window, for these are iron shutters, and they’re locked. Our only chance is by the door, That is locked, But, we are no weaklings, and can kick like mules if we try—” “‘ Stoick, put it there! That is what I have been trying to get through my hair all along. You are a philosopher, for a fact. We'll kick out a couple or two of panels, and then demolish a plate glass ia front and we're free—” ‘And get gobbled the minute we crawl out eb? Hardly. Once we get out into the main room there, we'll be able to get’ to the roof—” **Come on, my deaf an’ dumb cherub, and we'll kick worse’n mugwumps at a ward prim- ary. Their plan laid, they backed up to the door, and taking hold of each other for support, planted their heels against one of the panels with telling force, But, the door was a stout one, and it wassome moments before they could make any impression upon it. Pretty soon, thougb, the panel began to crack and splinter, and then gave way. ‘“ Bully for us!” cried Harry. ‘ E Pluribus Unum and git thar!” ae A. few more kicks removed the remaining apne, and there was a hole big enough for them to crawl through with ease, They were not long in availing themselves of the chance, and were safe in the outer and larg-- again,” They found the front doors locked, of course, and examination of the windows told them it would never do to break owe of them unless as a very last resort, for it would draw attention aud get them into further trouble, That being the case toey mounted the staiis to the next floor to look around there, Here, at a glance, they saw the prospect was better. ; Tbe windows in front were fastened with only ordinary inside catches, and they overluoked a broad awning. To open one, climb ovt upon the awning, and so gain the street, would be no more than play for two active lads such as they, and they accepted the plan at sight and put it into opera. tion, In two minutes both were safely upon the ground, They were seen coming down the awning frame, of course, and a man demanded to know what they had been up to, ‘* We bave only been up to the second story,” answered Harry, with one of his happy laughs, and without waiting to be questioned furtber he pe ar took themselves out of that neighbor- ood, They had been quick to note the part of the city they were in, and lost no time in getting back to the office, adopting such disguises as they always had with them for emergency. They had not been absent more than an bour, all told. It had been a speedy and fortunate escape for them, , CHAPTER XV. COMING TO A HEAD, On the way to tbe cflice Harry and Seth talked the matter over at length. They could know nothing about the loss of the papers, but they could understand that the woman’s story of robbery had been a “ fake,” As the Santvoord case was the only one the combivation had on hand just at that time, they reasoned that this bad something to do with that, and laid their plans for action in case they did not meet their chief at the office, When they arrived the door was locked, and Billy absent, ‘That settles it,” said Harry, ‘‘ We'll now wade in and do our little part if it takes the freckles off.” Seth was of the same mind, and as soon as they had written a note to inform Billy what had happened and what they were going to do, they set out, Broadway Billy, ashas been sho n, had taken them into the case with him, giving them all the details of it and telling them of his suspicions, so they knew what to do almost as well as he could have told them, They looked upon Conrad Hodgerson as the one who had been at the bottom of their misad- ventures, and decided to get on his track as soon as they could, So, carefully disguised, they made their way to the Modgerson mansion, They bad not been gone a great while when Billy arrived at the office again, after his last interview with the colored girl, He foynd ths note the boys had left, and bis indignafion rose as he read it, He saw the workings of a carefully arranged scheme, and saw thatthe Hodgersons were doing their best to beat him and be the first to secure the iron box, Would sree! succeed? : They stould not, if he could prevent, and be thought he could, band now, if the missing papers were in their possession, but they had not the full clew, without the paper he had last received from — the colored girl, and it was certain that they — would get no help from ber. After thinking the matter over for some min- utes be resolved to play a bold bluff, Sitting down at his desk he dashed off several notices, all worded the same, of which this is a — copy: ** DmaR SIR!-- ‘“You are’ respectfully requested to be present at — the residence of the late Elijah Santvoord at ten -o’clock on Tuesday next to witness the cpeningof Mr, Santv . rd. the iron box, according to tive will of , “Yours truly. iE ib “ WirntiaM WesTON.” ‘ It was a bold play, but it had its purpose, True, they beld ao strong | 7, a bd wipes! 3 4 eu Ad ) é Oy ak ae li Joab te 14 + ay ee iy “ N a Gay . re tite Ue tw Ala At ~ a,
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or one thing, it would lead them to believe the box had already come into his possession, and it might put a check to further search, If not that, it might disconcert the rascals and balk some of their further plans. These notices he addressed to all parties con- cerned, and sent them out by a messenger. That done, he left a note for his ‘‘ team” and set forth anew, When Harry and Seth came in the neigh- borhood of the Hodgerson residence they were in time to see Conrad Hodgerson and Tim Rit- tlers enter the house, They knew Tim Rittlers, having had another case in which be had figureé, and the whole scheme came to their minds at sight of him. He it was who had been the means of their getting into trouble, ‘*That’s the brains of the combination, Setb,” Harry declared, ‘If we can dump him we will boost the boss along bigly. Have got to get up and hustle to do it, though, for Billy says he’s no slouch,” ; Seth shrugged bis shoulders as if to imply that he was ready regardless of the risks, They stationed themselves to watch the house, and waited. With the reader's privilege we may enter, When the pair went in, Conrad conducted Rittlers to the library where the elder rascal * was still waiting for bis son’s return, The rascally ex-detective was the coolest of the three, and immediately assumed first posi- tion, It was plain to the others that they had a man to deal with who meant to make all he could out of the case, After some preliminary talk, Rittlers said: ‘* Well, I now bold the winning band, The boys bave been taken care of, and Broadway Billy weakened, They were his leading trumps in every game. Then, too, I am in possession of that secret letter, now secret no longer, and am ready to search for the iron box,” * Then let us have it at once,” urged the elder rascal, thrown off his guard and showing his eagerness in every word, he ex-detective smiled. “That box is vastly important to you, Mr, Hodgerson,” he remarked, ‘‘I can gee that, How much will you bid for it?” .“*See here,” cried Conrad, ‘1 made the bar- gain with you, and that has got tostand, You are to have five hundred dollars, and not an- other cent, Take that or drop the case,” ‘That's it,” agreed Baptist. ‘*‘ We care no- thing about it.” “Very well, then,” said Rittlers, coolly, “ Pll find it on my own account and take the whole, The cards are allin my hands, Neither of you has read that secret letter, and neither has the slightest clew to work upon, Iam the only one who holds the key.” The father and son exchanged glances, “This is an outrage!” cried Conrad, ‘I dido’t think it of you, Tim, You have always acted on the square before—” ‘And [ll do so this time, but the game is worth more than you have offered, and [ want more. Promise me two thousand dollars in ad- dition to the five hundred, and [’ll serve you like aslave and ask no questions, lll deliver the box into your hands unopened. Another exchange of glances, ‘Do you swear to that?’ asked Hodgerson the elder, te I do.” ** Well, consider it a bargain. I'll give you that sum on the conditions you yourself have named.” “That settles it, We'll have it in writing, if you please, so there can be no chance for a dis- pute, and then we'll get down to business,” At this the others demurred, but the rascal was firm, so it was settled in that way. ‘* Now I’m ready to go ahead,” Rittlers said. ‘‘T have the papers, it is true, but there is a Rosa Polkadot who has a part of the clew, We must make use of her or we’cannot dndit, Do you know her?” He was told who she was, ‘““Good. We must force her to disclose the secret to us, or we must take her prisoner and hold her till she is glad enough to do so. I do not believe the box can be found without her help.” ce Why didn’t you say so before?” “T had my reasons, Now, how. does this strike you! We will decoy young Santvoord away from the house, and then Conrad here and I will go thers and make the girl disclose what she knows. We may find the box, and if do that will settle the whole matter. If we do not, them we can make a prisoner of the girl and se balk Broadway Billy. | 13 Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest. ‘‘That is a good scheme,” approved the old man. They had been now talking a long time. What we have quoted was only the pith of their conversation, While they were still engaged there came a ring at the bell, and a messenger was announced with a message for Mr. Hodgerson. Tbe order was given for the lad to be brought to the library, When Hodgerson read the message bis face assumed the hue of death. “Tt’s all up,” he gasped, and letting fall the paper he dropped back in his chair, ittlers caught up the paper quickly and read it. The effect it had upon the elder Hodgerson told bim how important the box was to him, and he regretted at once that he had not made bis demand five thousand dollars, “Don’t give up!” he said coolly. ‘ If be has got the box, there is time for us to wrest it from him between now and Tuesday, If he basn’t got it, a visit at once to the house will prove it. He couldn’t get it without the aid of that girl, that I know,” ** And we have the letter,” reminded Conrad, .Their arrangements were quickly made. Using the same messenger, a decoy message was sent to Palmer Santvoord, and after he had gone Conrad and the ex-detective set forth, seorene to say the Beagles were upon their track, Their ome was a shrewd one, but, it was des- tined to failure, for Broadway Billy had still the lead in the race, Leaving his office as Jast mentioned, he set out for the Santvoord residence again with more baste than on the otber occasions, with an impor- tant object in view. Knowing what he knew now, he believed the Hodgersons would soon make a raid there for the purpose of gaining possession of the iron box, ,if they could find it, and he wanted to warn the colored girl. Not that he was afraid that she would reveal anything, but for her own safety. efore be reached the house, though, he met Palmer Santvoord coming away in something of haste. They stopped and Palmer’s face showed sur- prise, ‘“ What are you doing here?’ he asked. ‘I was just cominy to your office in response to your summons,” ‘“ Why, that summons was for next Tuesday, and at your house—” ‘*No, no, Read this,” Billy read: “Mr SANTVOORD:— **Come to: my office in all haste. greatest importance for you. “WILLIAM WasTon.”’ Broadway Billy smiled. ‘“This isa decoy!” he explained, ‘I never wrote it. The object of it was to get you out of the house while a search was made for the iron box. I suspected it, and was on my way there to take a hand init, Come on!” Palmer turned about and accompanied him, and they lost no time in getting back to the house, As they drew near, Billy felt a touch upon his arm, and Silent Seth was at-his side. And, as a hasty look around discovered, Harry was not far off. ‘* They are in the house, sir,” Seth informed, ‘Tom Rittlers and Conrad Hodgerson, They have not been thefe many minutes, and we were lying in wait for them waen they come out,” ‘*Good!” cried Billy. ‘*Come right along, and we’ll take a hand in the search. Here is a chance that must not be missed.” Have news of CHAPTER XVI. BILLY GETS THE BULGE, Brity did not like the idea of ringing the bell, for he wanted to take the rascals by sur- prise, but there did not seem to be any other way, 80 they mounted tho steps for that pur- eC. Fortune favored him, Just as he was about to lay hand upon tbe bell-pull, the door opened and the old housekeeper stepped out. The young detective took advantage of the opportunity, and clapping a hand over the wo- man’s mouth he pushed her back into the hall, ~ Palmer, Harry and Seth stepped quickly nD, Palmer secured the door silently, while Billy we | still held the woman, and that done, assisted the boys in binding her, he was taken into the parlor and laid on a sofa, where she was as comfortable as circum- stances would allow, and where she was likely to remain till she was removed, High words had been beard coming from the little rear sittinyz-room, and Billy and his three comrades now made their way in that direction. They stopped at the door, **1 tell you you shall disclose this secret!” Tim Rittlers was heard saying. ‘‘If you do not, it will be the worse for you.” “*T will not disclose it,” was Rosa Polkadot’s firm response, ‘In fact, I could not do itif I would, forI do not know it. Nothing but the papers can give the secret.” **You lie!” cried the ex-detective, ‘ What means this mention of your name, if you know nothing about it?” ‘*T have already. disclosed all I know to the right person, sir,” ‘*To Broadway Billy, do you mean?” “To Mr, Weston.” There was a pause, and the two men looked at each other, ** We don’t believe you,” declared Conrad.. ** Unless you take us immediately tc the hiding- place of that box, you must come with us as a. prisoner,” ‘“*Do as you please about that, for I am in your power,” was the defiant retort. ‘‘ Even if you kill me for it, you could not make me tell what I do not know, and what I would not tel? if I did know,” Broadway Billy was well pleased with what he heard, At this point of the game he threw open the door, and he and those with him confronted the guilty pair. At sight of him Tim Rittlers leaped back and his hand flew to bis hip, but with a quicker movement Broadway Billy had a revolver out and pointed at him. ‘*Think twice before you try that," he cried, “This is the way they do that sort of thing out West, and you are too slow, Bring your hand arourd to sight’at once—quick!” With a grow] the rascal obeyed, ‘* Now, my boys,” Billy ordered, “ search then» and take away their weapons,” Which was quickly'done, and a revolver was taken from each, the rascals eying the lads as they proceeded, wondering bow they had been discovered and released, As soon as they had been disarmed, Billy put handcuffs upon the rascally ex-detective, saying as he did so: “You undertook a big game, my scamp de- tective, but it did not work, This time ycu will get what you escaped before, And you, Hodgerson, I cannot arrest now, but you are to- remain here for the present,” Young Hodgerson was pale, but the ex-detee- tive was black with rage, Billy searched the latter, and discovered upon him the papers that had been taken from his office, together with the written agreement be had so recently made with the Hodgersons, ‘‘This is case enough,” the young detective exclaimed, gladly. “There is no chance for was one to squirm out of the consequences,” e pocketed the papers carefully. ‘* Now, Harry and Seth, and you, Mr, Sant- voord,” he said, ‘ please remain here for the present, while I go with this brave girl to look for the box. Come, Rosa, and we will now see if it can be found,” Together they left the room, and the girl led the way to the cellar. Here she lighted the gas, and told Billy to ex- amine the papers in the manner she before es) pane olding the papers up to the light, Billy put one over the other in the manner indicated Vy arrow-heads on each, and at once a definite direction was disclosed, A single line on each paper made now a cross, and over it read: ‘“** look there,” It was the ending of that puzzling sentence he had seen so many times, and the last word was right at the cross. _** And is this a plan of the cellar?” Billy asked, He looked around as he put the question, com- paring the paper, but it did not appear to be quite the same, ‘* Here is the last belp I can give you,” said the girl, in reply. ‘*Mr. Santvoord said I was to say to you here, Look up!” It was all that was fede: for at once Billy recognized that the map wasa plan of the over- head of the cellar instead of a ground plan, as any one would naturally have expected to find, ** And now I can remain no longer,” the gir) added. ‘It must be you alone to discover the- box, This was the orders, so that'if you wanted: to leave it where it ts you could safely do so.
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(14 I have done my part; the rest is with you and i bave no part in it.” She withdrew, and Billy watched her until she had gone from sight, ‘* A good girl,” be said to himself, ‘‘and one 4 to be trusted. Mr, Santvoord knew what he g was about.” Following the directions of the aad now that the whole clew was his, he soon located the | cross on the paper as identical with one cor- ner of one of the large chimneys wich rested upon the cellar bottom. \ There was nothing to indicate that there was anything false about the chimney whatever, but a very close inspection showed him that one of ee the upper corner sections was movable, That wasenough. Hedid not disturb it, but put out the gas and went up to the floor above. ** Did you find it?” asked Palmer, at once, ‘*T did,” was the answer, ‘‘ And here is what I do now,” With bis words he took the letters and maps, i and in the plain sight of all, burned them to ashes in the grate! “That settles it,” he said. ‘* Without these, f no man could find that box, and I alone bold the Poa fy," secret. Not even'this colored girl knows where Ret 2 7 the iron box is, Noman, save me, can put bis Ly band on it.” a ** Curse you!” grated Conrad; * I'll have it if I have to tear down the house to get it.” “T don’t agree with you,” said Billy. ‘ Mr, : Santvoord here is going to see to it that it is not searched for further, and be will employ competent watchmen to guard the house.” aa | “That is what I will do,” the young man af- we firmed, And that was what he did do, Broadway Billy had not seen the iron box, "twas true, but he had full confidence that it was there, ; ’ Everything else had been disclosed with such exactness, and Santvoord’s device had been so ; thorough, that there was no doubt upon that point, That he should find the box when it was ' wanted he felt sure, anit ri ._ He took Rittlers into custody at once, but wh allowed young Hodgerson to go, as there was oe nothing yet upon which to hold him, ff When he bad disposed of his prisoner, he sought an interview with the superintendent, and to that admirable master of men told the : whole story. geet Upon his advice men were set to shadow the fit) Hodgersons—which was a good idea, as it after- ee ward turned out, y z They had quietly made their arrangements, aud on the day before the opening of the iron nox attemp to leave the city, but were d pped, wy.) At the last moment two men touched them i. 2 upon their shoulders, and a hint that they bad ae better remain at home for the present was sufficient to turn them back. They understood, Ona Tuesday morning, at ten o'clock, there was a gathering at the residence of the late Elijah Santvoord, roadway Billy was the chief personage of the occasion, and next to him, perhaps, was Piet at Lawyer Bryland, The others were those whom ee Billy bad requested to attend. te | Tbere was Baptist Hodgerson and his son py a Conrad, as bold as lions, There was Abiel ; Trotterman, with his daughter Lucrece. And tye there was Palmer Santvoord, together with Rosa Polkadot, Besides these were many others: Happy Harry, Silent Seth, Mrs, Morseley, Mrs. Woods, Cyrus Durand, Henry Burringer, and others, The . company was a goodly one, and at the hour we) named all had arrived, a Broadway Billy then addressed them, stating the object of the meeting, and ended by saying that he would withdraw with Mr, Santvoord to bring the iron box privately, siace its hiding- place was a secret which only Mr. Santvoord had the right to know, So, these two retired to the cellar, and the iron box was found where Billy bad expected to find i it, in the cavity of the chimney. The place was one young Santvoord had never ; suspected, and he was astonished. It was a secret be would keep. The box was carried into the parlor, where «ll the eoppent was, and there it was on a table and Billy prepared to open it, vw Just how yom ye to be Page hae not appear, but it was soon made n, for Seta’ Rosa Polkadot stepped forward and put a amall key into Billy’s band, = ee se es Sir ee te a gs ‘ith that he, unlocked the little box and threw open the » Every neok was craned forward, and especially 7 : " at c 1) Balloo es ri be iii eles = 24 A ER = done, however, did reer Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest, eager were Baptist Hodgerson and his rascally son, The first thing Billy took out was a letter, which he found was addressed to himself, and he so announced, At that moment an exciting scene took place, The now desperate Hodgersons, father and son, sprung forward together, and, seizing the papers which the box contained, were about to tear them to pieces, but Broadway Billy had a revolver at the head of each in an instant, ‘* Drop the papers!” he cried, ‘Or the worse for you! Quick!” His ringing order was startling, and the cravens dropped the papers to the floor and slunk back to their places, Billy then directed Lawyer Bryland to gather the papers up, which was done, and the investi- gation proceeded, CHAPTER XVII. TELLS WUAT THE BOX CONTAINED, “Tr is plain enough,” Billy remarked, ‘ that thege gentlemen,” indicating the Hodgersons, “know what this box contains, It is some- thing they have reason to fear, as I have been aware for some time. I forbid their leaving the room until all bas been revealed, They will be wanted, I opine.” ~ He turned again to the box. The next he took out was a large packet of bank bills, addressed to himself. And following that was a similar packet for Rosa Polkadot, That was all. ; Taking then the letter that was addressed to Leeda he opened it and read it aloud, It ran ike this: “To WILLIAM WESTON;— * The accompanying papers reveal the truth con- cerning a long hidden crime. I earried the secret un- til I could bear it no longer, and have killed myself, though no one suspected that. In lif- I was not per- mitted to revealit and live; in death I can reveal it and fear nothing. Make it known. “ ELIgAH SANTVOORD." Palmer Santvoord and his sisters turned away their heads, in their new sorrow, but this was hardly noticed, for there was immediately a groan and a heavy fall, and Baptist Hodger- son was found writhing on the floor, He was picked up, but he expired in a few moments. His son stood by with folded arms, with a sinister smile upon his sinister face, and for a few moments all was excitement. Conrad’s coolness was noted, and he was asked to explain. ‘*He said he would do it, failing to destroy the papers,” he said, ‘He has taken his own life, that is all there is of it. No worse than Mr. Santvoord did.” The stern business of the hour had to be car- ried out, and when the dead man had been laid on a lounge the lawyer read the other papers, those addressed to Mr. Hodgerson and Mr, Trot- terman, The latter gentleman, by the way, sat with covered face, trembling for what was to come. a paper addressed to Hodgerson was read It spoke to him in scathing terms, anu de- clared his power was broken. It said that proof of bis crime was in the hands of Mr, Trot- terman, who would expose him fully. Or if not, then the detective would do it. It closed by saying that he, Santvoord, hoped that the few minutes he, Hodgerson, would suffer, would be enough to teach him what he, Santvoord, had suffered for years. Then came the reading of the one addressed to Trotterman, It was headed— ‘*CONFESSION OF A COWARD.” It was much greater in length than can be quoted here, so a mere outline of it only can be given. ' The crime had been this; Hodgerson bad mur- dered Basil Trotterman, the father of the pres- ent Abiel, for bis money, Santvoord had dis- covered the crime, and was about to expose it, when Hodgerson canzht him and threatened his lifeif he did so, Hodgerson forced a portion of the money upon Santvoord, and warned him 9 if he ever said a word abvut it he should ea, Santvoord, hesitated, since Hodgerson was a more powerful man than he, and, at that, Hodgerson accused bim of being as guilty as himself, by taking the bribe, and thus held him doubly in. his power, The crime beggared Abiel Trotterman, while it enriched Hodgerson, but for years Santvoord was Trotterman’s mainstay and support, be thusin some measure doing penance for his partin thecrime, But, at last, be could bear it no longer, and took this, means of exposing it after death, a9 ‘* My friend, my dear friend!” criéa Trotter- man, at ti e close of the reading, ‘‘ I can now un- derstand him, He is guiltless, guiltless! But youder wretch, who has dissembled before me all these years, be was unworthy the oame of man!” al And it is well for him that he has passed bee bd yond the reach of the law,” declared the lawyer. Hodgerson was buried, and his son quickly ; disposed of his property and disappeared. Palmer Santvoord and Lucrece Yrotterman were married, and the story of the crime was never mentioned between them, With them Mr, Trotterman is ending his days in peace and happiness, and he loves Palmer for the love his father bore him during ail the years he carried that beavy secret. Tim Rittlers and all his rascally crew were punished as they deserved, Lawyer Bryland put- ting the law upon them with all the force he could bring to bear, and the city was well cid of the villainous gang. Nobody shed any tears —’ when they took the train for their up-river .: bome. ‘ And Broadway Billy and _ his brave Beagles? They are at the old stand, ready for anything that turns up. Billy fairly worships bis boy al- h — lies, and they declare no detective on earth is to be compared witb their chief, All together, ,” they are a Big Three, and well may evil-doers tremble when they turn their attention apon | them, They are “ p’izen” to crime, crooks, and bad men generally, j ' ? : THE END, Beatle's Dime Library. BY JACKSON KNOX—* Old Hawk,» 643 Castlemaine, the Silent Sifter. 616 Magnus, the Weird Detective. 606 The Drop Detective. 595 Wellborn, the Upper Crust Detective. 582 Joram, the Detective Expert. 574 Old Falcon’s Double. * 561 The Thug King; or, The Falcon Detective’s Foe, 548 Falconbridge. the Sphinx Detective. 586 Old Falcon’s Foe; or, The Detective's Swell Job. . 515 Short-Stop Maje, the Diamond Field Detective. m | 509 Old Falcon, the Thunderbolt Detective, e 501 Springstes! Steve, the Retired 494 The Detective’s per 485 Rowlock. the Harbor Detective, 477 Dead-arm Brandt, 457 Mainwaring. the Salamander. 462 The Circus Detective, 451 Griplock, the Rocket Detective, 444 The Mone Detective; or, The Hidder Hand. 424 Hawk Heron's Deputy. 4886 Hawk Heron, the Detective. alcon Detective. BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 106 Shamus O’Brien, the Bould Boy of Glingal. 87 Ths Scarlet Captain; or, Prisoner of the Tower, | A” 53 Silver Sam; or, The Mystery of Deadwood City, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 267 The White Squaw, 234 The Hunter’s Feast. 228 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah, 213 The Wild Huntress; or, The Squatter. 213 The War Trail; or, The Hunc of the Wild Horse, 208 The White Chief. A Romance of Mexico. 200 The Rifle Rangers; or. Adventures in Mexico. 74 The Captain of the Rifles; or, The Lake aba 66 The Specter Barque, A Tale of the Pacific, 55 The Scalp Hunters, A Romance of the Plains, 12 The Death-Shot; or, Tracked to Death, 8 The Headless Horseman. BY DR. NOEL DUNBAR, 604 The Detective in Rags; or, The Grim Shadower, 500 The True-Heart Pards, BY OLL COOMES, 619 Kit Bandy & Co , the Border Detectives. it 148 One-Armed Alf, the Giant Hunter, iY, 137 Long Beard, the Giant Spy. ; 99 The Giant Rifleman: or, Wild Camp Life. 51 Red Rob, the Boy Road-Agent. " Ube 48 idaho Tom, the Young Outlaw of Silverland, i 46 Bowie-Knife Ben, the Nor’west Hunter. 4 44 Old Dan Rackhack, the Great Extarminator 43 Dakota Dan. the Reckless Ranger. j 7 Death-Notch, the Destroyer. ~ A new issue every Wednesday. Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail om receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William street, New York. \
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———_—_ BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, Deadwood Dick Novels, 1 Deadweed Dick, the Prince of the Road. {20 Deadwood Dick’s Detiance; or, Double Daggers, 28 Deadwood Dick in Disguise; or, Bulfal, dem ‘ 85 Deadwoed Dick in His Castle. 7 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza; e-, Tho Phantom Miner. 49 Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omaha Ol. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, Tho Pards ot Fleed Bar, 73 Deadweod Dick on Decks or, Calamity Jano, the Horeine, ’ 7% Deadwood Dick’s Last Acts or, Corduroy Charlie. 200 Deadwood Dick in Leadville, 104 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Double Cress Sign. 209 Deadwood Dick aa Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick's Double: or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghest. : 188 Deadwood Dick’s Home Base; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game df Gold. 166 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Riyals of the Road, 201 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black’ Hill's Jexebel. 205 Deadwood Dick’« 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 Teughs, 268 Deadwood Dick's Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail a 809 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. 821 Deadwood Dick's Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducata; or, Daya im the Diggings. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, the Terrible Vendotta. t) B62 Deudwood Dick's Claim, V 405 Deadwood Dick tn Dead City, 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds, : 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Case.” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Dust; or, The Chained Hand. 448 Deadwood Jr. t 448 Deadwood y A471 Dendwood 1 Corral; or, Bozeusan Bill. A76 Deadwood P 481 Deadwood : 491 Deadwood Dick, f 496 Deadwood Dick, 600 Deadwood Dick, ij dre, Diggings. 508 Deadwood Dick, if a OF Dekaeeed Dick ple pe anes. b & endwo ck, drs, Protegees. 522 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a, Three. ih 629 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducka. ¥ 584 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Death Hunt. ' ’ 589 Deagyeod Dick, Jr., in Texas. i 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild Weat Videos. 549 Deadwood Dick, Jr., on tlia Mettle. 554 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, z 561 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tn Boston, 4 b67 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadelphia, 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicage, 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. 5S4 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Donver, 590 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s, Decree. 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Beelzobub’s Basia. 600 Deadweod Dick, Jr., at Coney Island, 606 Deadwood Jick, Jr.’s, Leadville Lay. 412 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detrolt. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinuaté. 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada. at 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man's Land, G86 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Quoor, G42 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Buffalo. G48 Deadwood Dick, art) ONES eee the Me igi S56 Beaters Pk, S53, tress Oa 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back im the Mixes, 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., (n Durangeys er, “ Gathered In.” 56 Gecareca Bice: divs bhesze Bonanza Hill, Miner. 8 Bona Bob the King of Bootblacka, 1 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent, & Oaptain Perret, the New York Detective. New York Nell -_ on Sow Serk Net the Boy-Girl pre 0 ck of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scampe, Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo, 1D Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective, 18 Fritz to the Front; or, The Vontriloquist Hunter, 26 Snoozer, the Boy Sharp; or, he Aeah Dotensive, 2836 Apollo BAll, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Slerra Samy tho Frontier Ferret. 248 Sterra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprinte, 255 Sierra Sam’s Pardy or, The Angel ot Big Vista, 2558 Slerra Sam’s Sevens or, The Stolen Bride. 27B Jumbo Joes the Boy Patrol; or, The Rival Heéra, 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen. 281 Denver Doll's Victory. R85 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill's Bousnaa. 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll’« Drift: or, Tho Read Queea. 9 A No, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. » B08 ‘Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the lou-Nerved Sport. B25 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia, B80 Little Quivk-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, $834 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. 889 Kangaroo Kit’« Racket, 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. 858 Firat-Olass Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 868 Vreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherer; or, The 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize, B78 Nahbob Ned; or, The Seoret of Slab City. B82 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vougoance, 885 Yreka Jim’s Joker; or, Tho Rivals ef Red Nese. 889 Bicycle Ben; or. The Lion of Lightuing Lede. 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 Wigh Hat Harry, tho Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsides, the r-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 486 Seoulskia Sawa, tho Sparkler. CNS Ra en~ molia BO COS et et pe et ee et et et ~ Life Lottery, RY T. O. HARBAUGH. 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of "6. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Littl: Huater. +3 Tigatte ale Nat nn cheap ey mae an ack; or, Tae Outlaws U) le 83 ys avereds _ Nt “aa < Jack: or, The Boy Trapper. 6 Old Frogs, the Guide; or, The White Queea. Klowan Charley the White Mustanger. 9 Judge Lynch Jr.t or, The Boy Vigilante. & Gold Tr ry the Sport; er, The Girl Avenger, 9% Ternade Tomy or, jujun Jack From Red Core, - % Ned Temple, the Bordor Boy. § Arkansaw ; or, Tho Quie of Fate's Reveage. ~ Navaje Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. & Dpptain Bullet 3 or, Little Tepknot’s Censade. 1 Placky Phil; or, Resa, tho Re! Jozoboi. 1 BI Bravo; or, Tie Reugas af the Rookies. 255 Captain Apell., wo King-Pia of Bowie, 267 The peeks in Dotective. RTP Old Winch} or, The Bucksxia Deaneradecs. B09 The Mountain Thctectivet o, The Triguee ber Balty ountain Detective; er, The ' 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 Tho Ten Parda: or, The Torrer of Take-Netice. B86 Bie Benson; or, The Queen of tho Large, 845 Pitiless Matt; or, Ked Thunderbelt’s Secret, B56 Cool -am sone Mardy or The Ternble Six, 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass; or, ‘he B ccnncor’s Girt Foo, 896 Rough Rob; or. Inve ‘win Champions ef Blue Blazes, 411 The Silken Lasso: or, The Rose of Ranch Rebia, 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter. 25 Texaa Trump, the Border Rattler, 486 Phil Flaxh, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires} or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeoe. 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Kono Bar, 470 The Roy Shadow; or, Felix Fox's Hunt, 477 Tho Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter, 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Whart-Spy Detective. 621 Dodger Dick’s Beat Dodge. pean Tox pad Falcom the tll hee Yodger Dick, the Dock Ferret, 548 Dodger Dick's Doubles or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 558 Dodger Dick’s Deaperate Case, 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq. 578 The Two Shadows. BOA Elite Lane the Street dingor Detective, ” 4 ¢ Lon, the Street oin letec '. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp oa Guard, 626 The Champion Parda, ate 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Bov Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp, | 658 Rilly Bantam, the Boy Beagle. 671 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower, 685 Happy Hugh, the Boy Musician Detective. 701 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. 715 Wide Awako Len, the Quaker City Ferret. 782 Daisy Dell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game, 742 Billy Winka, the Bell Boy Detective. 754 Billy Winks, the Poss Bey Shadow. 768 Eagle Ned, the Boy on Guard. , 780 Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wizard. as cc B3z = BCE et et et et was oes ae BY BUFFALO BILL (Mon. Wm. F. Oody), & Kansas King; or, The Rod Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Apy: or, The Pilot of the Pratrie, 55 Deadly-Eye, tho Unknown Scout. 68 Border Robin Mood; or, The Prairie Rever. 158 Faacy Frank of Colorado: or, The Trapper’s Trast, No Double Numbers, BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRANAM, 7 The elying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast, 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccanver; or, The eves Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirk Lae The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieutenants. 7S The Boy Dnellsts or, The Cruise of the Sea-Welf, 102 Dick rie |e the Boy Smugyier. 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Mussar Captain; or, The Hornnit o! Hell Gate, 197 Little @rit, the Wild Rider; or, The Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 204 Buffalo LIL, the Pony Express Rider. 216 Bison BID, the Prince Of the Reins; or, Buffalo BIIl’s Pluck. 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Orimaon Kate, the Girl Tritier. 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain; or, The Mysterious Ranclere 245 Merle, the Middy fon Tie Heir of an Ocean Freelance. 250 The Midahipman Mutineer 3 or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 The Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure, 260 The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Orulne; or, ° Uhe Gold Ship" Chase, 250 Merle Monte’s Fate ¢ or, The Pirnw’s Pride. 254 Merie Monte’s Pledge; or, The Sea Marauder, 2ST Villy Blue-Eyex, the Boy Rover. 804 The Dead Sirot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler, 308 Deud Shot Dandy’s Double. 814 Tho Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler's Trail, B77 Bonodel, the Ruy Rover; or, The Flnzleas Schooner. BSS ‘The Indian Pilots or, The Search for Pirate sland, BST Warpath WILL, the Trvitor Guide; or, The Boy Phantom. B08 Senwally the Boy Lieutenant; or, The Red Clisped Handa, 402 Iscdor, the Young Conapirator; or, The Fatal Lengtit. 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta, 412 The Wild Yachtamans or, Che War-Cloun’s Cruise, 429 Dunean Dare, the Boy Refugee, 488 Captain Carl, tie Corsair; or, A Cat. Boy’s Luck, 487 The Bea Ratiders ov, The Hawks of the Hook. 441 The Oveun Firefly ¢ or, A Middy’s Vorgennce. 446 Waphazard Marry: or, The Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will, the Wonder Worker, : 454 Wizard WIIll's Street Scouta 462 The Born Guides or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Nea, the Boy Conster, 474 Wizard Will's Vagabond Pard, 488 Wizard WILl's Last Case; or, Ferrets Afloat. 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger 495 Arizoua Joe, the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylor, King ot thy Cowboya, : 508 The Royal Middy ¢ or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 507 The Hunted Midshipman; or, The Young Sea Ranger, Bil The Outlaw Middys; or, The Young Patriot Sen Ranger, | 620 Buckskin BI, the Comanche Shadow. 625 Brothers in Buckskin; or, The Tangled Trails la Texas, 5380 The Buckskin Bowers, B85 The Bue akin Rovers; or, The Pnirio Fugitive. 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder or the Ris. 5145 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte, 550 Lafitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Son. BSS The Creole Corsair; or, The Golden Wings ef the Gulf. 560 Pawnee BI, the Prairie Shadower, 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. B70 Camille, the Card Queen; or, The Skelvton Trail. The Surgeon-Scout Detective. 5680 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective. 5R6 The Buckskin Avenger; or, Pawnee Bill's Pledge. 591 Delmonte, the Young Sea Rover; or, The Avenging Sailer. 597 The Young Texan Detective; or, The Black Braves, 602 The Vagabond of the Mines. 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scouts or, The Rie Raiders, 644 Butterfly Billy’s Debut. ; 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Rider Detective; os, Bufifale Bill's Boy Para, 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt, 662 Butterfly Billy's Bonanza. 668% The Buccaneer Midshipman; or, The Sea Kever’s Ruse, 674 The Wizard Sallor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover. 679 The Sea Shadowerys or, The Freebooter’s Legacy. 686 Orlando, the Oconn Free Flag; or, The Tarniah Name. 692 The Rival Sharps; or, Redfern, the Secret Service Scout, 697 The Scarlet Sombrero; or, The Sharp from Toxna, 702 Bluc Jacket Bil]; or, The Red Hat Rangors’ Rod Hot Racket 207 The Red Sombrero Rangers; or, Redfora’s Laat Trail, | or, The Lariat Quees, at omer Hts Pledger s he Cowboy Kidnapper’s Deom, % dae; er, T Coe eee nunee iilll's Pard; or, The Red Covalty Ratds e3t Ruth Redmond, the Girl Shadower, 787 Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 784 Dick Doom, the Death-Grip Detective; or, The Sharps and Sharks of New York. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 785 Lone Hand Joe, the Committee of oti or, The Spook Steed of the Stove Corral. By Livut, A. K. Sima, 786 Brondway Billy’s Team; or, The Detective Combines Big Pall, By J.C, Cowdniek. 787 Deadwood Dick, JIr., Defleds or, The Prince of Pistol Pocket. By Euward L, Wheeler, 788 Dick Doom in Bostony or, A Man of Many Maske, By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 289 Sam Sheridan, thy Secret Service Special; or, The Jambereo at varly Bird Bar, By Win, G, Patten, 790 Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Case of the Dead Alive. By J, C. Cowdrick. 791 Kit Bandy Rattled; or, The Infant Giant. By Ol] Coomes. — 792 Pendwood Dick, Jr.’«, Double Device; or, The Tus- ale with Satan. By Edward L. Wheeler. 798 Dick Doom In Chicngo; or, The Ferret of the Golden Fetters. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 794 Weadlicht Marry’s Hunt; or, The Railroad Parda’ Tough Run in Satan’ Camp. By Col. A, B. Holt. 795 Kit Bandy in Red Ruin; or, The Young Whirlwind ef the Hills, By Oli Coomes, } 796 Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequests or, Sifting the . Cowdrick, Santvyoord Secret. By J. 297 Dendwood Dick, Jr’.s, Desperate Venture. By Edward L. Wheoler, ’ A Now Inano Every Tuesday. The Half. Dime Library | for sate by all newsdenlem, dive conts per copy, or sont by mall on rocelpt of sx conte each, BEADLE AND ADAMB, Publishors, 98 William Street, New Yerk,
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Hfroadway Billy Novels in B By 490 Bronadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo; or, Brougit to Bay by a Bold Boy, 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle; or, Clearing up a Strange Ca-e. 586 Broadway Billy’s ‘' Diffikilty;” or, Old Rod- man’s Millions, 557 Broadway Billy’s Death Racket; or, The Street Arab’s Wake, 579 Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party; or, The Chimney Spy. 605 Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big lnnings. 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Act; or, The League of the Sworn Seven. 669 Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootblack Brave in San Francisco, 675 Broedway Billy’s Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest, 687 Broadway Billy in Clover; or, The Ruction at Lake Tulare, 696 Broadway Billy in Texas; or, Rounding Up the Red River Rustlers, 703 Broadway Billy’s Brand: or, The New York Delegates in Hard-up Camp, 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Pard Detectives’ Clever Deal. 72@ Broadway Billy’s Full Hand; or, The Gamin Detective’s Double Snap at Santa Fe. %% Broadway Billy’s Business; or, Waking Up Wind Canyon Camp. 78 Broadway Billy’s Curious Case; or, The Mysterious Disappearance at Manitou Bape age a 753 Broadway Billy in Denver; or, The On-the- Catch Combination, 762 Broadway rt Bargain; or, The Three Detectives in Denver. 769 Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective; or, How the City Buzzards Were Brought In, 775 Broadway Billy’s Shadow Chase; or, Materi- alizing the Spocks. 783 Broadway Billy’s Beagles; or, The Detective rio’s Uncanny Quest. 786 Broadway Billy’s Team; or, The Detective Combine’s Big Pull. 790 Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Case of the Dead Alive, 796 Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest; or, Sifting the Santvoord Secret, - wy / by Y 2 ry “ ; i> J p 4 , 7 h i : \ = i ben) Le } ¥ » i “ 4 1) Aon = Mi deg 8 EG ~ ¥ woane* Sa a aff Sa \" $ : \ -" a ek pS. ; \ oy Wats) ~~ ‘ AY mA hae oy , ” ry . SO es be 4 —_ \ Ne askes + > vA — pa 7 x : tie (eg ~ .\ Cc or if | / } at = 4 . * . ¢ } ; Z +] i : ~ 2a - ‘ ; — Latest and New Issues. 788 Dick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Masks, By Col. P. Ingraham, 789 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Service Special: or, The Jamboree at Early Bird Bar, By Wm, G, Patten, 790 Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Case of the’Dead Alive, By J. C. Cowdrick. 791 Kit Bandy Rattled; or, The Infant Giant.. By Ol! Coomes. 792 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Devyive; or, The Tussel with Satan. By Edward L. Wheeler, 793 Dick Doom in Chica Golden Fetters. 794 Headlight Ba Pards’ Tough ; or, The Ferret of the y Col, P. Ingraham. ’s Hunt; or, The Railroad un in Satan’s Camp. By Col. A. F. Holt. 795 Kit Bandy in Red Ruin; or, The Young Whirlwind of the Hills. By Oll Coomes, 796 Broadway Billy’s Queer Bequest; or, Sifting the Santyoord Secret. By J. C.. Cowdrick. werer eaves! tw a "97 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture. By Edward L, Wheeler. 798 Dick Doom in the Wild West; or, Shadowed to the Shades, By Col. P. Ingraham, Ready November 8th. A New Issue Every Tuesday. BEADLE’s Hat¥-Diuer Liprary is for sale by all newsdeéalers at five cents per copy, or sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William street, New York. eadle's lal ime | ibrary. : ,