Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 831) (1893 06 27)
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SD \ Wy A S) ‘ Vy » - em wt AOA WA DWEEZ" . J ‘ \\S WW WY SONY RMMMR™\ LAA AE ccotsearsaccals wi ensis Bese ame Rime ey COcececceceeccccerc rise Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y , Post Office. Copyrighted 1898, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, N 831 $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price, 0. n a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 cents. ) SS — —es \ —— i \ A \\\ \ SLUT \ | \\N 4 | \ June 27, 1893, ol, —— ry | : Detective kit's Diamond Haul, BY 3. G. BETHUNE, AUTHOR OF ‘‘THE THIRD MAN,” ‘THE EYE OF HERCULES,” ‘* THE CIPHER ‘F,’” ETO, CHAPTER I. A LATE CALL, DETECTIVE FELIX SKIDMORE sat smoking in his handsome bachelor apartments, and had gun to think about retiring for the night, when there was a brisk riug at the bell, and the an- swering servant brought a note to his door, with the book of a messenger boy in which to “HANDS OFF! I'LL MANAGE HIM!” CRIED DETECTIVE SKID. sign a receipt for the same.
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The message was from his old friend, Addi- son Livingston, the wealthy banker, begging him to call at once on business of the utmost importance, The detective signed the receipt, consulted bis watch and lighted another cigar. **This must be important,” he mused, ‘ for it is now a quarter to midnight. I should think the matter would keep until morving, but he asks me to call at ‘Low Twelve.’ He is Master of our Masonic lodge and that expression is a favorite with him, Wovder what’s up?” Whils. the officer was thinking, he was act- ing. Is was a cool bright night in autumn, and he donned his light overcoat and hat, drew on his gloves, and swinging his slender cane in one hand, wassoon moving briskly along the main avenue of Bluffton,on his way to the hand- some residence of the banker, in the suburbs of ' the town. That he was expected was proven not only by the bright light burning in the front room up- stairs, where Mr. Livingston had his fine library, but by the appearance of that gentle- man at the door, before the visitor could do more than step upon the porch and extend his hand to ring the bell. ~ The two grasped hands, and the instant the caller stepp2d into the broad hall and doffed his hat, the host shut the door, turned the key, slid the bolt in place and secured the chain. The observant officer was quick to note that his friend was ina state of nervous agitation, that he was striving hard to repress. * answer to his inquiring smile, the banker said: “Tam glad you came so ponents we'll go right up-stairs to the library and will explain matters.” The gentlemen were old friends, and had mt many hours in intimate converse in the library, so that the detective needed no direc- tion as he preceded bis host, into the large, luxuriously-furnished library, with its glowin grate, its bright electric light, its wealth of ric and rare volumes, bric-a-brac and elegant fur- niture, : Skidmore drew off his gloves and overcoat tossing the former iuto the silk hat that he had brought with him, and laid on a stand, at one corner of the room, sunk down into the yieldin lounge, flung one leg over the other, look kindly at his host, who had handed him a Per- sere: and seated himself nearer the grate, and said: “ Well, my old friend, how are you?” Ins of answering the quéstion, the banker inquired abruptly: : oe ‘ ** Are you armed, Felix?” “T always carry a revolver.” “ (ood! You must stay with me all night.” ‘* What's nl Are you frightened?” “T confess I am; my wife and niece are away, ani there are only two servants in the house, and I suspect one of them is absent, That does not matter, however, since they are women, and stupid as they can be.” * What are you afraid of? asked the detec- tive, still smiling, puffing bis cigar, and looking keenly at his friend, with a suspicion that he was just a trifle off his base, ‘‘There’s nothing the matter here, remarked the banker,” tapping bis forehead significantly, and managing to smile in return; ‘‘if there was 1 would send for the doctor instead of you. But I’m afraid of being robbed.” . “ And murdered?” ** Not so much that, though the greater might well accompany the lesser crime, But I am in danger of a visit from some desperate burglars, who have come hither from the other side of the world. Now don’t start with another dread that my mind is toppling. I am agitated, I'll admit, bat my head was never clearer than at this minute.” ‘ _ * You feel nervous because you are alone in your big house; but you have a burglar-alarm all throug h. and you can bring help if it should be a , “But that help must be here, right on the spot! It would take several minutes, and per- haps a considerable while, for: the police to get here and, when they did so, they would be too at the be- “Weill, Livingston, I am willing to concede | ‘that you are compos mentis, but don’t.try me | late. The thieves must be baffled ginning.” | much further, before explaining, or I will bring a physician to preseribe for you, You urged me to call here at Low Twelve, There’s the town clock booming now, so I am a little ahead of time. there’s no hardship in that—rather the other way—and I’m agreeable, Now, having assured me that you believe you are in peril of being . went away, that she should be remembered, and A 2 | The Chicag: You say I must stay with you all night; | robbed, I’m entitled to an explanatiun. So out with it.” Detective Skidmore showed that he felt at |: home by hitching about on the lounge, so that his head lay leg was extended at full length, with the foot of the other resting on the floor, while, with both hands clasped behind bis bead, he calmly looked through the smoke of his cigar into the face of his friend. The latter, in dressing-gown and slippers, sat bolt upright in his chair, legs cross- ed close to the body, smoking with quick, nervous puffs, fidgeting in his seat, and showing by his restless manner that something unusual oppress- ed him, The contrast between the two men was mark- ed. The banker was sixty years of age, thin, somewhat stoop-shouldered, with no hair on his crown, and only a scant fringe of white around his neck and temples, His face had been hand- some in his youth, but was now wrinkled, seam- ed and colorless and his countenance was always clean-shaven. Curiously, however, the mild blue eyes, that twinkled like a boy’s beneath his shaggy brows, had never yet known the need of artificial aid. Doubtless they would have to come to it before long, buf not yet, Addison Livingston, the rich banker, had lived all his life in Bluffton, and was one of its fore- most citizens, He wag a leader in church move- ments, public-spirited, liberal, living beyond re- proach, and, had he chosen, could have held any office in the gift of bis townsmen, But he shunned the pool] of politics as though it was isoned, and continued along the even tenor of is way, well satisfied to allow the honors to go to those who craved them, Two children, a gon and daughter, had blessed his married life, but both died in infancy and the only one who could take their place, even in a slight degree, was his niece Muriel, the daughter of his widowed sister, who frequently visited himself and wife, sometimes remaining for weeks away from her home in Chicago. Felix Skidmore’s age was less than tw>-thirds of his friend’s, Reclining in his indolent atti- tude on the lounge, he was the picture of ath- letic grace andgtrength, He was good-looking, with no beard showing, dark, hazel eyes, vigor- ous hair and a brightness of expression that marked him as a man of superior iotelligence. Some years before, Addison *Liuivgston be- came the victim of a series of daring forgeries, which would have wiped out his entire fortune, had not Skidmore appeared at the critical june- ture and not only run down the rogues, but saved the banker, The skill with which the detective did this, not only won the gratitude of Livingston, but stirred him to admiration for the finess and brilliancy of that gentleman. The following year the detective coralled a band of counterfeiters, that were working through the towns in the Mississippi Valley, and for whose trail the Government officers had been blindly groping for months. In this affair, Skidmore not only proved his wonderful alert- ness and intelligence, but displayed a coolness d personal bravery which compelled the vil- ains themselves to vote him the gamest indi- vidual they bad ever run against. This much stated, it will be easy to under- stand how it\was that the banker appealed to him in the emergency which he was firmly con- vinced was on his threshold, ‘It would be very strange,” he said, in reply , to the remark of his friend, ‘tif I brought you kere at this hour of the night and was unable give you a reasonable explanation. and I shall make it as brief as I can.” CHAPTER II. TWO MEN FROM THE KIMBERLEY DIAMOND ; MINES. “Five years ago my two nephews, Dick and Jo Hyler, left Kansas for the diamond ffelds of Africa, heir parents were dead, and they were so impoverished, by the repeated failures of their crops, that they would have suffered for the necessities of life, had I not helped them, They were spirited lads, and when I invited them to make their home with me and to take their own time in finding something suitable to do, they declined with thanks. They visited me for afew weeks, during When which their cousin Muriel was with me. about to leaveythey were stricken down with fever, and I fully believe that, but for her patient and skillful nursing, they would have died, , They were very grateful and formed the deepest affection for her, It was not what you would call love, but genuine, tender and touch- ing friendship. They assured her, when they Here it is, they intended to send her some present from the other side of the world that would make her bright eyes sparkle. She laughingly assured them that she wanted nothing but their brother- ainst the end cushion, one shapely | ly love and remembrance, but I knew Dick and Jo well enough to feel sure that they would never forget their promise, They would toil and struggle and deny themselves and suffer to redeem their pledge, ** Well, the boys made their way tothe Kimber- ley Diamond Mines of South Africa, where they met rough times for several years, Good for- tune came to them at last, and they struck it rich. They secured a dozen stones of the finest water, and, knowing that their fortune was made, bade adieu to that inhospitable region, and traveled ox-team, through the hundreds of miles of waste land to Cape Town. “In that city, as you may know, are some — of the most desperate criminals on the face of the earth. They are on the watch for return- ing miners, and will hesitate at no crime to rob them of their wealth. Despite the extreme care used by my nephews, they became objects of suspicion to several of these, who, in some inexplainable way, learned that they had dis- monds with them worth a fabulous amount. and tarried in that city heir possessi were cut, ; ‘* All this time they knew the miscreants: ik on their track, and thay did not doubt that the would follow them to America, with the chancé¢ stl atc and colliding with them about Vis When the stones were ready, the youn men found they owned diamonds worth on hundred and fifty thousand dollars, They gol fifty thousand worth, receiving the money a the same, and deeming it all they needed fo themselves. They concluded to return to the old home in Kansas, buy the farm they ha been obliged to sell, and spend the rest of theit days there. : “But by this time they began to feel mor¢ serious alarm than ever before. They were ‘convinced that they had not only been fol lowed from Africa by two at least of the gan that tried in vain entrap them at i Town, but that the couple knew all about t ‘ ten stones which they meant to take to America. ‘Tt was at this juncture that my nephew made a woful mistake. Nothing would hav been easier than for them to forward the jewel by Express, aud with perfect safety. It may have been that they had become nervous, fro having been hunted so long and so far, and the ideas of the powers of the villains became exag gerated; they decided that the safest, if not th only safe way, was to bring them to this couD~ try themselves, and deliver them in person to Murie their cousin. ' 2 recaution was necessary, It was agreed that Dick should take the little casket contain- ing the diamonds, while Jo should carry aD- other exactly resembling it, and they should make their way home by different routes, not meeting until they reached this town of Bluft- ton, ' “Jo, therefore, took the empty casket and put himself a little out of the way, to make it appear he had the stones, while Dick, with the — real treasure in his possession, left Liverpool by the steamer that sailed a week later than brother, ‘““"The artifice succeeded, but it was at a fear- ful cost, The wretches, believing Jo had the treasure, dogged him, and one dark night he’ was sandbagged on the Bowery, in New York, and the empty casket taken from him. He died two days later in the hospital, without ever fully recovering consciousness. He deceived the wretches, but it was at the price of his life. ‘Meanwhile, Dick pushed on_to Bluffton, where he arrived yesterday. When he took rooms at the hotel, for he was too proud to come straight here, he found a package awaiting him. On opening it, the empty casket was revealed, with a note from the disappoigted assassins, saying that they had been fooled once but they could not be fooled a second time. They knew he had the diamonds in his possession, and he never should take them to his Kansas home, Of course they bad no means of knowing he meant to present them to my niece. Ze “Perhaps you may imagine the state of my nephew’s mind, when be read this letter, and the cuttings from the New York newspapers which left no doubt of the fate of his brother, He had the diamonds with him, and, putting them in the hotel safe, he went to bed, foo muc. a
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ns Soe 7 . Se ee ‘ The Chicago Drummer’s Deal. —~— 3 grieved over the death of Jo, and too much | disturbed as to what he ought to do, to reason calmly. ** He called here this morning and left both | caskets with me; one is empty and the other contains ten diamonds, whose average value is ten thousand dollars apiece, I saw from the looks and manner of my nephew that he was not hioiself.. It would try the strongest nerves to be hunted more than half-way round the globe, and he was a painful’ contrast to what he should have been, He insisted on leaving the casket with me—one valueless and the other containing precious stones that ara worth a for- tune. Ladvised bim to put them in the bank, where they would certainly be safe for a time, but he would not consent, He said they were intended by him and Jo as a present for Muriel, and he never could sleep until they were in her pos- session, ‘* He said he knew his enemies were in Bluff- ton, but he had eluded them in coming to my house, The diamonds would be safer with me than anywhere else, for the criminals did not know where they were, But they would be sure to find out before long. He, therefore, exacted a promise from me that I would not keep them in my possession more than one night, before cipatee them to Chicago to the address of uriel, ** Now, you will see all abies do this singular business the impulse of a morbid and unbalanced mind. I confess that I was so much disturbed over Dick’s mental condition that I thought more about him than the gems, or the business which they involved, and I did not reflect, |” as I ought to have done, before making the solemn pledge, that, after one night bad passed with the gems in my possession, I should send shoe to my niece, by the safest means at com- mand, “Dick pained me by refusing to stay over night. He said he was sure to be traced to my door in time, and, if he remained, it would in- vite a visit from the burglars, whom he feared as if they were veritable Thugs from India. He promised to call this afternoon, if the coast was clear, but since he has not put in an appear- ance, I judge something has occurred to alarm him. “You may be dis to smile, Skidmore, at the story I have told, and so, perhaps, would I, but for the death of one of my nephews and the mental condition of the other. I placed no credence in the personal danger/in which Dick believed he was involved, and gave no thought to my own peril until this evening, “*T was at churéh, and stayed behind to talk with the parson, after which [ walked part way home with Undertaker Jones. I had left the casket locked in the safe there and was not thinking of them, when I became aware, just before reaching home, that two men were fol- lowing me.” * Are you certain of that?” quietly asked the detective, “There is no doubt whatever. I was not dreaming of anything of the kind, when it be- came too apparent to be a mistake, One was on the other side of the street, while the second loitered about fifty yards behind me, ‘*Tt made me nervous, and I quickened my pace. They did the same, but they did not offer to molest me, because there were too many ople in the street, and then they must have nown that nothing was to be gained by doing so, inasmuch as I was not likely to carry the brilliants around with me, “Twas atremble with alarm, when I entered my Own gate, and did not breathe freely until I had made sure that the burglar-alarm was set, and everything was assecure as possible. Then I came up-stairs to the library. sat down and tried hard to think calmly over the situation. “The more I reflected the more alarmed I bo- came. Here I was, without another man under the roof, my coachman having gone away for the evening. I have no weapon, for I never carry one, and, if I did, I wouldn’t know how to use it. I had one hundred thousand dollars in diamonds in my s:ife: what was to prevent Shose fellows from getting them?” ** Don’t you keep your safe locked?” asked the detective, ‘But, suppose they should rouse me in the night and give me the choice of opening it or having my throat cut?” ‘Exactly; the diamonds are worth a: good deai, but hardly as much as your own life, But before effecting an entrance, they would set off the burglar-alarm,” ‘* And, a8 I said a few minutes ago, before the help thus summoned could reach me, they would have the diamonds and be beyond pursuit,” “This is a queer business,” remarked Skid- more, assuming the upright position, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, and look- ing thoughtfully into the glowing grate; “I never met anything like it before, I did not observe any suspicious characters on my way here, though doubtless they saw me enter, and kept themselves out of sight. Do you know where your nepbew Dick is?” “*T haven’t seen him since this morning, and I shouldn’t be surprised if I never do again,” ““ Wh n ** He is likely to be murdered,” **T see no reason for fearing that; these fel- lows are after the diamonds, and the slaying of a person is only incidental, They supposed the other nephew had them about his person or they would not have harmed him, Now that they know the stones have. passed out of Dick’s vos- session, and are in yours, they have no reason to molest your nephew. He ought to be safe,” ** Possibly, but no man need envy either bim or me just now.” “Well, [am here to stay with you, and I feel no alarm.” ‘* Because you are a brave man.” “Not of necessity because of that, but I see no reason for your misgiving,” **But_ I have not named the most important service I am about to ask of you,” ‘* What is that?” ““ Show me how to get those diamonds safely to Chicago,” CHAPTER III, A COMMITTEE OF WAYS AND MEANS, DuRING the conversation between Banker Livingston and Detective Skidmore, the latter continued as cool and apparently unconcerned, as if they were discussing a matter Of trivial importance, Nevertheless, the officer was doing some hard thinking, for be was quick to see the unique phases of the extraordinary problem that his friend now laid before him. 0 aa ge as it was in many respects, he perceived its gravity. A much less sum than one hundred thousand dollars will tempt un- numbered men to commit every crime in the decalogue, and he did not doubt that the Hyler Brothers had been followed from South Africa to Europe, and thence to America, where one of them had lost bis life, at the hands of miscreants, in order to wrest the valuable diamonds from them. The greatest wonder was that the brothers had been able to retain them so long, for if would seem that that journey of many thousand miles must have afforded o portunities without number to obtain them. It may have been that they counted on driving the owners from their mental balance, before strik- ing the final and decisive blow, But, leaving those speculations until further developments should come, he resolved to solve the problem not alone of protecting the diamonds from theft, but of bringing the unspeakable raffians to justice, It was the kind of work he liked; be would throw all his energy and soul into the effort, You wish the stones to be transported safely to Chicago and delivered to your niece?” he asked, looking up, as he still leaned forward, with his elbows on his knees, “That’s the service I ask of you; for my pledge is that they sball pass out of my posses- sion to-morrow.” “Then you wish to shift the danger that is resting on the. shoulders of your nephew Dick and yourself to Miss Wetmore?” Detective Skidmore did not mean what was implied by this question, but he wanted to probe his friend a little further, “Far from any such thought; I never would consent to anything of the kind, but I believe that when the gems shall be landed in Chicago and passed to Muriel, all danger will be over.” “ Why 9” kot Large as is the amount they represent, it is no larger nor as large as that of the jewels owned by some actresses and scores of ladies whom you can name as readily as I, You have only to attend one of the balls of the Four Hun- dred in New York, or go the opera or look at fashionable gatherings in other cities, to see women with jewels far more valuable than these, Many ladies in Chicago should be in- cluded in the list; but, whenever they appear in public, they are well-guarded and such precav- tions are taken as to render robbing almost im- possible, When, therefore, my niece receives the present, she has only to exercise ordinary precaution to keep it, In other words, she nor any other lady, with such a wealth of gems about her person, would be secure in Blnffton or hundreds of the small towns in our country,” “There is truth in what you say, for few papomg besides the owners of valuable diamonds now what a score of anxiety they are and how incessant must be the vigilamce to prevent their loss. It would have been unfortunate bad Miss Wetmore been here to receive the precious stones,” **Dick told me he would have insisted that she should return home without them, leaving it to him to get them thither, so as to prevent risk to her, though it is not likely she would have been murdered for them,” “* Many of the actions of your nephew are ex- plainable only on the ground that he is mental- ly unbalanced, For instance, how much easier it would bave been for him to go first to Chicago, where your niece is, before coming through that city to this place.” ** He did not come through Chicago, but by be St. Louis. In that city, he telegraphed to Mrs, Wetmore, and received areply that her daughter was here. Such of course was the fact, but Muriel left the next morning for home and thus missed him,” ** But why did he not go to Chicago, deposit the diamonds with one of the numerous compa- nies whose vaults can defy a regiment of men, and then await your niece’s return?’ ‘*-You gave the reason, when you said Dick is a little off. It was his wish to hand the gems to Muriel in person, but when he learned of Jo’s murder, be gave up. He became eager for them to reach her without delay; the death of his brother convinced him that it was out of his power to do so personally; he therefore turned them over to me, which brings us back once more to the problem I have submitted to you: how sball they be delivered in Chicago?” “You can travel from Bluffton by rail direct to St. Louis and thence to Chicago, and one of the most responsible Express firms in the country will guarantee the delivery of whatever is in- trusted to them,.on the payment of an appro- priate fee,” “You speak of guarantee, Skidmore, when no man or corporation in this world can give an absolute guarantee, in sucha matter. They or he may bind themselves to make the loss good, if the valuablesarestolen, but that doesn’t uarantee that they won’t be stolen or lost, It is not the worth of the gems we wish to secure, but the gems themselves,” “Then you are afraid to trust the Express company? *“T am; between great cities further east, I would not be, but reflect a moment, To reach St. Louis from Bluffton, you must journey over the Iron Mountain Railway, which extends bundreds of miles through the wild regions of Arkansas, and a considerable portion of Mis- souri, There are stretches of pine forest in Arkansas, where there are no dwellings in sight, except an occasional settler’s cabin, for bours, Reflect further, that there has been more than one train robbery, within the past six months, and itis just as certain as that the sun will rise to-morrow, that, if it were known that a package of diamonds, worth a hundred thousand dollars, wasto be sent through ona certain train, that train would be held up.” ‘Why need it be known?” ** Seemingly there is no reason why it should be, but the men following my nephew have shown such marvelous cunning, that I don’t be- lieve they would fail to find it out, if the pack- age was dispatched in the regular way.” **1Do you think it probable that these men, be- lieved to be only two, have any connection with any of the outlaws of the Southwest?” ‘*T wonld not have suspected such a thing, had not Dick told me that one of them, whom he saw at Cape Town, was an, American; and, for some reason which he did not give, he believes he was from this section of the coun- try, ‘* Tt seems incredible, though it may be true, We'll admit for the sake of the discussion, that such is the fact, and that it is necessary to use strategy to get the jewels to St, Louis, and on to Chicago. Where are the diamonds?” ‘Tn this room,” ** Lot me see them.” The banker glanced timidly around, as if fearful that some one was listening or watch- ing, end then, observing the smile of the detec- tive said: “You don’t know how nervous I feel; I shall not sleep a wink to-night; they are in my safe here,” A small office safe had been one of Mr. Liv- ingston’s articles of library furniture for a long time. It was opened by the ordinary combina tion, and, after turning the knob several times, to correspond with the numbers, he drew back i:
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_ Kerwin, will give me the necesary 4. the short heavy door and took ont two small The Chicago Drummer’s Deal. “But you must get the coffin and box and brown boxes, some six inches jong by two-thirds | have them shipped trom this point.” of that width. They were made of some kind of American wood, with a fiae, close grain that | who will attend to all tiiat for me. “T have another friend, in av undertaker, Indeed I showed through the varnish, anc were fastened ; have already spoken to him,” by a diminutive key, turning in a small lock, Taking both out he laid them on the table by the detective. “Which is the right one?” inquired the lat- ter, surveying them curiously. *T can’t tell until I try them,” They were so precisely similar in appearance that the closest scrutiny could detect no differ- ence. ‘ It happened that the first one tried by the banker was the one containing the gems, The little key clicked in the lock, and, as he raised the lid, the amazing display dazzled the eyes of the spectators. There they were, ten royal diamonds that an empress might have coveted, of the purest water, gleaming in their splendor and scintillating with every color of the rain- bow, each seemingly as big as a robin’s egg and all of overwhelming brilliancy, Taey constitu- ted a prize indeed for which any man would have been willing to risk his life, } The interior of the box was lined with crimson velvet, and the stones lay loose, so that when the lid was raised, they moved about freely as the box was shifted. When closed, the pressure held them fast, _it was the most amazing sight on which Detec- tive Skidmore had ever gazed, and he sat silent for several minutes in rapt attention, holding the casket in bis Jeft hand, and feasting his eyes. Then he picked up one after the other with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand, and raised it between him and the light, that he mug'it more fully enjoy the sight. He cou!:l not express his admiration in words, Finally, he put thein carefully back in the box, closed the lid, leaving the key projecting, and passed it back tothe banker, “You want them to start for Chicago to- morrow and’ to be delivered safely iv that city do you?” ** That’s my wish,” “T'lldo it for you,” said Skidmore, compress- ing his lips, while a steel-like glitter flashed in his eyes, CHAPTER IV. ON THE WATCH, “* How will you do it?” inquired the banker of his friend, ‘“*{ will place that little box in my pocket, . buy a through ticket to Chicago, and deliver the goods there,” Livingston, who was growing more self-pos- sessed, shook his head, ‘‘There you are again! How can you know that you will arrive there? Are you impregna- ble against knife-thrust and pistol-bullet? You never have seen either of these villains to your knowledge (and there may be more of them), but doubtless they know you; you will there- fore be at great disadvantage, If courage and skill could insure success, I would haye no doubt of you, but, unfortunately, they do not, in the affairs of this world. No, sir; my dear man, some better plan than that will have to be for- mulated.” ‘* Have you thought of any?” **T have,” ** Let me hear it,” ‘* You bave admired that,” said the banker, inting to the mantel, on which sata fine, mar- le, life-size bust of his beautiful nieces “itisa shame to disfigure it, but thesituation warrants it, especially as it can be restored to its former urity. I will have it colored, so.tbat it will ook like a dead person, A handsome wig, re- sembling her natural wealth of golden hair can be adjusted; it will be dressed in clothes, suita- ble for a deceased person, placed in a coffin, boxed up, with the death-certificate attach and directed to a well-known firm of ‘under- takers in Chicago; we will conceal, in the dress of the dummy, the package containing the diamonds and send jit through by Express; you may ride on the same train, though I doubt whether you can get pe-mission to sit in the Ex- press car with it,” Detective Skidmore laughed, and, rising to his feet, paced up and down the room for several minutes, ‘* Your scheme has the merit of originality at least, but you seem to have forgotten that a number of difficulties remain to be overcome.” “T have thought of all; my friend, Doctor certificate, that will insure no inquiries or investigation after the box reaches the station,” ** You bave no fear of trusting him?” * Not with my life: he need not know any- thing, except that, for tue purpose of guarding agaiast crime, the officers of the law have found it necessary to resort to this artifice,” ** Weil,” laughed Skidmore, “‘ try it, but, if our friends from Africa are watching so close- ly, won’t they be apt to suspect something when the coffin leaves your house, and won’t it make some embarrassing inquiries on the part of your neighbors?” **T will not forward it from here; I will send the undertaker arwund, let him take away the bust, fix it up, ship the goods, and, in fact, do everything,” ‘“*T begin to understand something in the ee now that you have explained it to me, "11 do what I can to help, balf-regretting that it may prevent my meeting those fellows,” ‘* Don’t be too sure of that. Very well then; I will try to have everything arranged to leave on the noon train to-morrow, if that will suit you,” ; ‘** Perfectly, and now suppose we take a peep outside. I don’t mean to go there ourselves, but to try to find out whether eny one is paying the house attention.” The banker led the way into the adjoining room, which was his sleeping apartment, and closed the door bebind them. This left them in darkness, and they approached the front window without fear of being seen, The house was surrounded by spacious grounds, contain- ing a number of trees and considerable shrubbery, Had it been spring or summer they would have obtained only partial glimpses of the walk, with here and there an open space be- tween the trees, But nearly all the vegetation, except the non-deciduous portion had shed its leaves and the bright moon, shining froman un- clouded sky, belped them to a better view than they anticipated. _ Looking across the street, which was in fair sight, they observed two bouses, from which came not the first glimmer of light nor could they distinguish anything of that nature in any direction, except from the street Jampin front of the banker’s gate. No wonder, for it was near one o’clock, | Adim figure glided along the street, appearing for a moment, and then quickly vanishing, as though the belated pedestrian vas in a hurry to reach bis destination, There was nothing in his appearance to cause question and neither of the watchers gave him a thought, Men who meditate mischief are not apt to move in that fashion. The two friends waited for fully a half-hour longer, furtively watching from each side of the house in turn; but, seeing nothing to cause sus- icion decijed to sleep, or rather the banker ecided that he would try to sleep, for he declar- ed that he was in that nervous state that he menis nos cluse his eyes through the entire night. e I'll make you a little bet,” said the detective, assuming an easy position on the lounge,” that you will be sound asleep, long before the rising of the sun.” “This is no trifling matter, Skidmore,” re- turned his friend reprovingly; ‘‘ murder has been already dons, ani something tells me that more crime will soon be committed. I would be a strange man, if at such a time, I could find cause for jest! “Tam not jesting; but—good-night!” The detective quickly glided into the land of dreams, and did not open his eyes until the sun was shining in the window. Witbout rising, he turned his head and looked around. In the em! by the grate sat Banker Livingston, sound eep, CHAPTER V, A STRANGE SHIPMENT, THERE is nothing like aunligbt to give a man courage, Banker Livingston was able to join Detective Skidmore in a laugh over his extreme nervousness of the nig't before, though insist- ing that he bad i cause for misgiving—a claim that his guest willingly admitted. With the coming of day, they addressed them- selves to the serious work before them. Skid- more contended that the first thing to be done was to have breakfast, with one or two cups of steaming coffee to help clear his brain. His host gladly complied, after which they bestirred themselves, ‘* Now,” said the officer, “‘ since both of those boxes are alike, we must make sure of the right one; it would be odd if we sent the empty one to your niece,” ‘To make sure we will lock them in the safe till I send the undertaker here,” This was done, and, after a few minutes’ con- sultation, the plan of procedure was arranged. Fuliy convivced of the cunning and uwun- scrupulousness of the unknown parties, against whom they were working, Skidmore agreed to stay in the library until the undertaker arrived and took away tbe bust. The explanation of the affair to the undertaker was to be made by Livingston, The working of the lock of the safe having been explained to the officer, be sat himself by the library window, with a cigar in his mouth and the mornitg newspaper in his hand, It looked as if nothing in the world could stir the blood of this unimpressionable man, Barely a half-hour elapsed, when the bel? tinkled, and, a few minutes. later, a servant opened the library door and showed in the un- dertaker, The detective’s profession had not brought him in contact with those of his lugu- brious calling, but hé hardly needed an intro- duction to the visitor, whose services were sure to be in demand, sooner or later, by all bis townsmen, “*Good-morning!” he ssid, as the officer rose to his feet, and speaking with that soothing, sympathetic voice which the genuine under- taker is not slow in acquiring. ““T presume Mr. Livingston explained every- thing to you,” said Skidmore, a8 s00n as the servant was beyond bearing, ‘Yes; he said you ‘would give any aid [I needed; I presume that is it?” he remarked, in- dicating by a nod of his head the bust on the mantel, ‘*-Yes; do you need my help?” The undertaker stepped forward and lifted the bust from its pedestal, “No; it is not very heavy; I can readily carry it; the carriage is at the gate. Now what about the caskets? I presume you will bring them to the store, or rather take charge of them while you ride with me?” Eee It was on Skidmore’s tongue to assent, but his professional caution intervened. If he were seen riding away in the company of the under- taker, it was certain to be discovered by one of their enemies, and, more than likely, would give an inkling of the truth, It was better that they should not be observed together, _ **No; [ will walk,” he replied, ‘* And bring the diamonds with you?” Here again was another important matter that must be decided off-hand. “T will bring them with me: how long befcre you will be ready?” “Well, Mr. Livingston is in a burry, and ¥ will try to be prepared for you at the end of an hour or a little longer. ou know where our establishment is?” ““T am not sure.” “Here is our card; it ison Main street; you. will bave no trouble in finding it. Make sure,” added the underteker with a significant smile, “that you bring the right one.” ‘Have no fear of that.” Infolding the bust in a black cloth that effectually concealed it, the undertaker walked cut of the library, down the stairs, passing through the front door and along the gravel«d walk, to where his black-painted carriage awaited bim. Skidmcre followed him with his eyes, until’ he had carefully P ced his heavy bundle inside, stepped after it, taken up the reins and disappeared down the street, Inasmuch as the officer had considerable time at command, he decided to wait in the library, for a little while, in the hope of catching sig! t of one or more of the suspicious parties: but if they were in the neighborhood, they took care to avoid discovery by him He now opened the safe door and took out the two boxes, ‘‘What a joke if I should carry away the wrong one,” he reflected, ‘* but I won't.” The little key in tke lock of the right casket fitted both, and, to prevent the possibility of mistake, he opened them in turn. ra It was impossible to make anerror, He re- placed the empty one, afrer which he again raised the lid of the other. There the ten matchless stones lay, shining in all their splev- dor and richness, and he could not resist the myaton to feast his eyes again upon them. “Carbon,” he muttered; ‘in another form, you are charcoal; in another plumbago, neither of which more than a trifling value, but in this shape. you are among the treasures of the earth, How many deaths have your
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—_ ae ——— oe brothers caused! The Kohinoor, the Mountain of Ligbt, the Regent, the Pitt and others have their history traced in blood. Even you have already been the death of one person: are you to bring down others, before you perish? You shall last long after I, and the beauteous lady who owns you, shall have crumbled into dust: who dare cast your horoscope? Not I.” He carefully locked the box, placed the tiny key in his vest pocket, and then shoved the casket into an inner pocket of his coat, Its size made it a close squeeze, but he buttoned the garment over his breast, and touched his hand to bis hip, where his Smith & Wesson rested. ‘* How easy toavoid all this bother! I have only to board the next train northward, and ride straight through to Chicago; I have ex- ecuted errands more risky than this; but Liv- ingston’s wishes must be followed, and the dia- monds are to take the ride in the company of a pretended dead body, with me sitting back in the cars, waiting for something to turn up.” With that misgiving which comes over @ per- son at such times, he once more swung back the short, heavy door of the safe, and assured bim- self that the remaining box was empty, Then, leaving it there, he secured the combination, took out the genuine casket, peeped within, re- locked and restored it to his inner pocket, re- buttoned his coat and came out on the street, With the suspicion that hostile eyes were watching him, he assumed a careless manner, puffing his cigar and sauntering ‘along, as though nothing in the world occupied his thougbts, and made his way at the same leisurely pace toward the undertaking establishment of Jarvis Jones, whose business card was in his custody, alongside the key of the casket, But, while making this promenade, he was never more on the alert, He scrutinized the face of every man and woman whom he met, glanced across the street, and stopped several times to look into the show-windows, in order to gain the opportunity to look behind him, At one corner he halted, and, facing the highway, stood for fully fifteen minutes, with his eyes roaming back and forth, hither and thither, over his entire field of vision, The result was the self-admission that he failed to observe a single individual, to whom he could attach the slightest suspicion. ** Tf he has passed me, or kas his eyes on me at this moment, I have no more idea who he is than I bave of the man in the moon; my foemen are certainly worthy of my steel. This is going to be the greatest fight in which I ever en- gaged.” ; No truer prophecy was ever made by man. It was more than an hour after leaving the banker’s residence that he turned into the sae establishment of Jarvis Jones, where he foun the undertaker awaiting him, as cool, quiet and solemnly affable as ever, “Is everything ready?” asked the detective, ‘* Ves; I have just finished, Step this way, _enawelf close the door against interruption.” ‘*That is prudent,” remarked Skidmore, fol- lowing the gentleman to the rear, where, first shutting the door and turning the key, he gave bis visitora surprise indeed, - No artist could have done better. There was the coffin, inclosed in the ordinary pine box, with tlie death certificate attached, and signed by the most widely known physician in Bluff- ton, The lid of the inner receptacle being raised disclosed the bust of Muriel Wetmore, so deli- cately and skillfully tinted, or rather with such a life-like paleness, that the detective started, half- believing for the moment thatit was a genuine corpse, What seemed to be the hands were crossed on the breast, and the shroud was taste- ful and costly, ; “What do you think of it?’ asked the un- dertaker, after the survey had continued several minutes in silence, _ . 3 It is wonderful; I never saw anything like “Stand by me until everything is fastened. mee heap me in sight, until my responsibility ends. \ The detective produced the casket, and passed it to the undertaker, who gently shoved it be- neath the shoulders of the counterfeit body, the officer closely watching him all the time, Then he lifted the coffin lid in place and screwed it down. The pine box was similarly secured, and the detective never lost sight of it until it reached the railway station. CHAPTER VI. THE TRAGEDY AT THE INN. ; ALL the arrangements were conducted with such Care that a great deal of time was con- sumed, The pine box, inclosing the coffin, did it. The Chicago Dr —— ee” not eee ape wer pay ee ae ee , not reach the station until ten minutes before the arrival of the north-bound train. The undertaker stayed to see it placed on board, the ticket having been bought by Banker Livingston, who left it in the hands of the agent to await the call of the detective. Leaving the undertaker to keep his eye on the box, Skidmore sauntered up and down the platform, in and out of the station, on_ the alert for any and all suspicious parties. There were an old woman, two boys, a young lady and her escort, and an*Irishman waiting to take the train. <A study of each in turn, and several times over, convinced the officer that they were as innocent as so many babes, He was correct, but nevertheless, one of the ruffians that bad followed tbe Hyler brothers all the way from South Africa was there and had hiseye on him! Five minutes passed, and Banker Livingston, whom the detective had not seen since early that morning, was descried coming down the street on a rapid walk. ‘He wants to exchange a word with me be- fore I leave; he has thought of some additional recautions, but heavens! how white he looks! Something is up!” Catching sigbt of his friend, who walked down the platform to meet him, the banker broke into a run, and panting with excitement, gasped: ‘* Have you heard the news?” “No; what is it?” ‘‘ My nephew Dick was murdered last night!” ** Great heavens!” exclaimed the startled de- tective, catching the arm of his friend, and walking toward the box, where it rested on a truck, under the eye of the watchful undertaker ; ** tell me about it.” “As nearly as I can find out, Dick went to bed at the hotel about eleven o’clock last night. He did not rise as early as was expected, but notbing was thought of it until near noon, when repeated knocking by the chambermaid, having failed to bring any reply, the landlord was call- ed and forced the door, There lay poor Dick on the bed, witb his clothing on, and a knife thrust in his side. His bedy was cold and he must have been dead for hours. Isn’t it frightful?” § The banker was so overcome that he sat down on the truck beside the pine box, while the un- dertaker, as if not wishing to listen to a con- versation not intended for him, moved several away. But the couple were too intensely interested to pay any attention to bim, “Tt is shocking indeed; it is like the Mafia of the Italians; they Go not hesitate to strike wherever or whenever they choose,” “The police are at the hotel, and the coroner bas taken charge. Felix, you mustn’t take this train.” “Why not?” / ‘*T want you to go back to the hotel with me, and help trace these murderers; our blundering officers will accomplish nothing; if any one can succeed, itis you.” — ; “But what about this?” he asked indicating the box, } ‘*T don’t know: what shall we do?” ** Since it is here, T advise that it go forward; I can follow on the three o'clock train,” “Do you think everything is right?” asked ae sorely perplexed banker; ‘‘are they with i “They are; I saw the casket placed under the shoulders, where it will not attract the eye of any person.” “ And nobody knows anything about it?” ‘*T can guarantee that.” ‘Very well; let them go; they are not to be compared with the lives of poor Dick and Jo, who have a dear price for their love for Muriel. ere comes the train,” added the banker, as the whistle, a short way down the road, struck their ear, ; F ** There is no need of our waiting; if I am to follow ov the next train, every moment is a and Mr, Jones will attend to matters; et’s be off.” Without tarrying to speak to the undertaker, the two stepped off the platform, and walked hurriedly up the street. The banker had rested long pee to recover breath, and he was al- most on a run again, uttering exclamations of horror, distress, and wonder, and expressing vain regrets that his nephews had ever been un- fortunate enough to find the accursed stones in the mines of South Africa. Detective Skidmore made no answer, except now and then to give a guttural assent, to show that he heard what his neighbor said, but be was thinking with might and main, over the strange tragedy that had taken place, as may be said, under his very nose, ummer’s Deal. —$——— Deena eee a ie a a ei 5 5 ae era ————— Such an occurrence naturally turned Bluffton topsy turvy. Evidence of excitement was vis- ible everywhere and, along the street, though less than an hour had passed since the discovery of the crime, a crowd of several hundred were swarming around the hotel, all striving to push their way in, and swayed by that morbid curi- osity that takes possession of the average man and woman at such times. But half a dozen policemen were on hand, and with their stout clubs, kept the swarm back, suffering no one to enter except for good cause. The house had been closed and the landlord was thankful for the protection of the officers, which prevented his place being literally overrun, When the white-faced banker appeared, a sturdy policeman made way for him, and nodded to Skidmore, who kept close at his beels. He knew the detective, and said in a low voice as he passed : . “* Here’s a job for you, Skid.” ) The latter made no reply, but helped his friend through the doorway, hall’and up-stairs, where only, by continued exertion, and the aid of the officers stationed there, were they abie to get inside and obtain a view of the body, of which the coroner had taken charge. The preliminary investigation brought out the following facts: ‘ Richard Hyler occupied a room on the second floor, at the rear, of the principal hotel in Bluff- ton. It was plainly furnished, after the style of an ordinary inn, and was one of the best in the house, The man had evidently thrown himself on the bed awhile, before retiring for the night, Undoubtedly he had fellen asleep and while in that condition had been stabbed to death, The reason for this generally accepted theory was that there were no evidences of any struggle, as would have been the case, had he been attacked ever so stealthily, while awake, The weapon with which the crime had been committed was missing, taken away of course by the assassin, and, so far, as could be ascer- tained during the hasty examination, he had left not the slightest clue that could point to bis identity, The open window, however, connecting with a sloping roof, over the kitchen, disclosed the means by which he had entered and left the room, light abrasions on the sill and the shingles, established this fact beyond a doubt, From the lower re of the roof to the ground, was barely eight feet, and, directly below, was a brick pavement, on which the assassin had landed, thus excluding what might have been valuable evidence bad he alighted upon the soft earth, When these facts had come to light, Detective Skidmore managed to exchange a few words with the landlord, “Had you any strangers in the house Jast night?” The man showed by his look that he did not fully com Henig? the question, “Only him and the one that come in the win- dow,” he said. . ‘**T mean to ask whether you have had during the past day or two, any guests that were un- known tu you personally,” “‘ No, sir; I have three or four, who stay with me regularly, but all of them belong in Bluff- ton. She only one that bas asked for a room for a week past, that I didn’t know, was that poor fellow in there, Richard Hyler, as be writ. his name on the book, and I never remember having sct eyes on him afore, though Mr, Liy- ingston tellsme he is his nephew and was in Biuffton years ago, but then he always atayed: with his uncle,” Skidmore said nothing further, but worked his way back to the bedroom, to learn whether anything additional had come to light that. could give the most shadowy clue to the author of the tragedy. : Foe The inquiry wasof that vague, broken nature, so generally seen at such ¢imés, but the keen perception of the professional detective saw that nothing of moment had been brought to ah and there was vo likelibood that there would be, Mr. Livingston hed announced his inten- tion of taking charge of the remains as soon as the euthorities permitted. At the same time, he quiet)y made know that he should offer a re- ward of five thousand dollars for the detection of the assassin, or rather assassins, for he had learned enough to satisfy him that two, if not more persons were concerned in thecrime. Drawing the banker aside, Skidmore said in an undertone: Wa ‘Tt is nearly three o’clock and I must leave.” “Don’t you think you ought to stay here?” _ ‘No; nothing is to be gained hy doing so; can’t get fairly to work until the first excite
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6 /ment is over and the way cleared, soas to give me elbow room, That will take several days, and, in the mean time, I must go elsewhere, If you have anything to say to me, telegraph to the Lindell, St. Louis, or the Palmer, at Chicago, “ dispatch to either will reach me. Good- ye” He pressed the hand of his friend, bidding him keep up his courage, and hastened to the railway station, where he arrived just in time to board the three o’clock train. CHAPTER VII, AT WILD CAT CREEK, THE train boarded by Detective Skidmore was a special, consisting of two palace cars, whose sole passengers, until it reached Bluff- ton, were the president and a number of di- rectors of theroad. Skidmore was permitted to join them, when the engine halted to take water, because he was an old friend of the pres- ident, for whom he had done some excellent work. In fact, it may bo said that he was re- tained by the company and was subject to their call at any time. When, therefore, the officer appeared at the station, and was observed by the head official of the line, he was invited to come aboard and make one of the party. Skidmore explained that he had missed the regular noon train, and would be glad of the accommodation, as he was anxious to be in St. Louis at the earliest possible hour. ‘*You won’t loses any time by going with us,” remarked the president, as the guest shook hands with him and the directors, most of whom were known to him, ** How is that?” “We have received word that the engine of the up train broke down at Wild Cat Creek, I have telegraphed to them to wait for us, though they might get a locomotive from Little Rock.” ‘Then you propose to attach these cars and let them have your engine,” remarked Skid- more, seating himself among his friends, as the special moved off. ‘*We could readily do that, if this were a junketing trip, and not one for business. We are contemplating building an expensive bridge across Wild Cat Creek, and our folks wish to look into it; we shall, therefore, side-track this special, and stay there till some time to-mor- row, We'll let the regular have our engine, and it ougbt to make up most of the lost time before crossing the line into Missouri,” __ This having been explained, Skidmore in- ‘formed his friends of the tragedy of the night before in Blaffton, It roused the interest of the gentlemen, who made many inquiries of the detective, He could tell them no more than the reader has already learned, When pressed for his theory, he said he knew too little to war- rant such expression, At the best, it could be only guesswork, and they were as competent at that as was he. \ But, although Felix Skidmore chatted and laughed with the gentlemen around him, and even seemed to forget the sad tragedy to the extent of relating some amusing incidents, bis thougbts were upon that strange crime, and his busy brain was never busier than in form- ing explanations of the incidents, which, for a time, seemed beyond explanation. - That Dick Hyler had been killed by the sanie parties who had brought about his brother’s death in New York City, he did not doubt. Inasmuch as he could conjure up no necessit why the former should have been slain at all, he was compelled to suspect that it was done ont of mere wantonness, or in revenge for the repeated defeats the desperadoes had received at . hands, in their attempt to steal the dia- mon 18, . ' What was unaccountable to him was that these wretches, coming all the way from the other side of the world, could have any connec- tion or uuderstanding witia any of the outlaws in the South west that were engaged in holding up railway trains, The supposition was incred- ible on the face of it, but be could not quite cine aa belief that something of that nature _ Like the fearful Mafia of New Orleans, this gang seemed to be growing so daring in their deeds that they were likely to precipitate their own ruin from that cause. _ _- He suspected that the criminals bad already 1 we | left Bluffton, since there was no reason for their remaining, after the commission of the e and the departure of: the diamonds, ‘There had been several opportunities for them ‘tu get away, but, if, as was believed, their efforts were turned toward stealing the precious they were not likely to leave until the The Chicago Drummer’s Dea latter were taken away. Itfollowed, therefore, that if such were the fact, they must have secured passage on the noon up-train which hg originally meant to take. he fact that he had not noticed any sus- picious persons while at the station signified little, They might mt have come up until the last minute, immediately after he hastened off with the banker. They could have kept out of sight, and, if they chose, boarded the cars, be- fore they had come to a halt, or after they were under way again. It»was the belief that one or more of them was on that train that lay broken down at Wild Cat Creek, which made him feel thankful for the kindness of the president of the road, in inviting him to make one of the select party in his charge. There were many features about the matter that were wholly inexplainable to the officer, at least until he gained more light on the incidents that has already taken place; but, as he re- flected and turned them over in his mind, something in the nature of light broke upon him. The strangest fact of all was that, starting from Soutb Africa, these desperate criminals has been obliged to go to England, thence to Holland, and then to New York, and finally to this insignificant town in the Southwest, in order to gain the opportunity to steal the diamonds, which up to date had not been stolen. Were there no chances in London or Amster- dam, or at any of the points between? It was easy to see why the thieves might have hesitated to array themselves against the skilled officers in thelarge cities, when they knew that, if the brothers were molested, they would givea much better opening in the comparatively unsettled portions of America. 03 They had slain Jo Hyler in the metropolis of the Union, and probably learned from the papers taken from his body, that his brotber expected to meet him in Blaftton. Not know- ing the route he would take thither, and not daring to linger, they made their way to that town and rion awaited his coming. They may thus after all have had time to establish an understanding with some of the outlaws that were trying to pick up a living by robbing railway trains. ; This much seemed comparatively clear to the thoughtful detective, who, in thinking it all over, said to bimself: : “T can’t see how they are going to succeed, but there isa possibility of it, for, if they sus- pect that that supposed dead body is only a screen for the diamonds, they will be on band before we leave the lowlands of Arkansas.” Then he fell to ruminating over the events of the morning, dissociated from the tragedy at the inn. ‘IT took the stones from Mr. Livingston’s safe —there is no doubt of that, for I examined them after the safe was locked, with the empty box inside; I placed them in an inner pocket, and never laid hands on the box, until I arrivedeat the undertaking establishment; there I saw Mr, Jones place it beneath the bust of Miss Wet- more, and the lid was screwed down, and then the lid of the box secured in place. It did not pass out of sight, until if was at the railway station, ready for shipment north, Mr, Jones stood by it, and saw it placed on_board, so it must be there at this moment, and the chances are a thousand to one that the diamonds, within the next two days, will be in the hands of Miss Muriel Wetmore, for whom they were intended | by the poor fellows that gave up their lives for her. Repeated reasoning revealed no flaw in the logic of the officer, who was correct in believing that the box, was not disturbed, after being secured, and that it was shipped intact from the Bluffton railway station and started northward 6 the first attempt being made to tamper wit 4 : ; And yet what woful mistakes the sharpest men sometimes make! Having reached this conclusion, the specula- | tions of the detective were naturally projected forward. ; “Should the criminals suspect the truth, how are they going to place their bands on the treasures Ifthe attempt is made it will be be- tween here and the Missouri line. They may be on that up train, that has broken down a short way ahead of us. but how they wil] manage it, I cannot guess, Possibly they bave agreed upon some signcl or cipher message, to be sent ahead from one of the stations, by which the train will be held up at some lonely place and search made for the diamonds, | “ It isn’t likely they will try it, until they are ia good deal further north and inthe wilder regions of the State, Let me see—we shall strike them, providing no accident happen late to night. As nearly as I can figure it wil be about Low Twelve again, as Mr, Living- ston calls it, when we shall see what we shal} see. While the president and his directors were discussing business, Skidmore excused himself, and, taking a seat, some distance away, drew out a time-table and made some careful calcula- tions, The conclusion reached was that the danger tothe train, if any really existed, would assume shape late that night in the neigh- borhocd of Panther Hollow. This was one of the most lonely sections on the entire run of the long line of the Iron Moun- tain Railway, with vast pine woods, stretching for many miles in every direction. These solitudes offered inviting refuge to outlaws, after the commission of such a crime, where they might bid defiance to a regiment of officers and aemnetines in their efforts to run them to earth. Amid such reflections as these, the special began slowing up for Wild Cat Creek Station, woe the regular train northward was awaiting them, : CHAPTER VIII. AT PANTHER HOLLOW. Tue run of the special from Bluffton to Wild Cat Creek gave Detective Skidmore time to de- cide upon his course of action, so far as he could, with precious little actual knowledge and much speculation upon which to base} the deci- sion. Since he was the only person on the train, who was to continue his journey beyond the int named, he was confident of boarding the regular without attracting the attention of any individual. : He accepted it as a fact that one or more of the parties, whose l he was following, were in those cars, and naturally they would be on the lookout for him, They bad the advantage of having seen bim before, while, on his part, if he had met them, it was without any thought of their identity. : The special had not yet come to a full halt, when, bidding the president and directors good- evening, the detective slipped from the rear platform and turned into the woods, which lined the track on both sides, It wculd neces- sarily take some time for the locomotive to Le switched around to the bead of the cars, so that he knew he had full opportunity to complete his preparations. The moment he was out of sight of every one, be whipped off his new derby and flung itaway. He would have been glad to preserveit, but it wasn’t prudent, His next proceeding was to draw a pair of false whiskers and mustache from his pocket, which he carefully adjusted through the sense of feeling. Such a disguise would have amounted to little in the sunlight, or in a well-lit room, where he was subject to a close scrutiny, but it was just the thing for the present occasion. The derty was replaced by a slouch hat, of a brown color, his coat was buttoned close about his neck, and, with bis hands shoved into his side pockets, he was ching Ai business, He peused only Jong enough to make certain that each of those pockets contained a Joaded Smith & Wesson, They were there, because they could be drawn much more quickly, if neces- sary, than if in his hip pockets, where he usually carried them. Since the north-bound train had been waiting for a good while at this lonely station, with the knowledge that it could not resume its journey until the arrival of the special, many of the pas- sevgers made use of the opportunity to stretch their legs, by sauntering here and there, gatker- ing in groups, discussing unimportant matters, and lounging aimlessly about, after the manner of those who find time hanging heavily upon their bands, ga These people watched the switching back and forth of the evgines, with an interest that would not have been theirs at any other time, ‘kg 1e until the exchange was completed, and | whistle of the new engine echoed through the surrounding solitude, did they scramble into the cars,’ ape ee being ore with them, h ing back to their old a py i the three men who climbed upon the rear platform, was Skidmore, who followed the couple through the door, and made hia way ata leisurely gait to the smoker in front, TI! journey was what might be called a bromee tour, Tithout seeming to do so, he scanned every face as he passed, and, dropping into a . ° fi LAA Hy I ‘ ; \ PEE ae ENG de Pye Pu dace mee This”
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The Chicago Drummer’s Deal. 7 a : seat in the smoker, lit a cigar, still using his in the smoker and gazed absently through the how, and don’t you touch a lever till you’re : eyes to the utmost. window on his right. | ordered to.” The result was disappointing. Precious little was there to be seen. They | The command was accompanied by several “‘T haven’t been able to identify either one of | seemed to be traversing the regions of eternal | execrations and threats, The engineer turned ia ‘ them. They are probably sitting apart, and | shade, where, for mile after a mile, not the first | bis head and saw three men alps witbin xe i ps conducting themselves like strangers as they are | glimpse of @ human habitation was obtained, | arm’s length. Their faces were masked and A so faras [am concerned, There are a score of men who, for aught I can tell, are in the plot, but I can’t point them out, The only thing to do is to await developments,” i Sitting at ease in the smoker, he devoted him- self to studying his fellow passengers, A count \ showed that there were thirteen in the car be- sides himself, three of'whom were negroes, These he dismissed from consideration. Two others were clearly out of the question, so that eight were left among whom he deemed it possible that one or more of the desperadoes were to be found, but, speculate as much ashe chose (and he could not help doing so,) he was unable to decide upon whom to fix suspicion, not forgetting that the ones he had in mind were as hkely to be in some other part of the train as in the smoker. Studying his time-table, by the dim light _ overhead, the detective figured out the time of their arrival at Panther Hollow. He smiled 5 grimly, as he muttered to himself: ‘**1f no delay occurs it will be just about mid- night, or as Worshipful Master Livingston would say ‘Low Twelve.’ It isa fitting hour for deeds that will not bear the light of day,” A glance at his watch showed that it was not . yet nine o'clock, The train was far behind its schedule time but was not likely to make up any of it before the morrow. It would do well in- deed, if it held its own antil then. For many miles, the track was winding and not in the best condition. Cattle were roaming abroad night and day, in that section, and occasionally caused the derailment of the trains, their stu- idity in clinging to the track, having resulted n several serious accidents, True, they were likely to be asleep at night, but they always con- 4 stituted a factor which the engineers feared. ! Skidmore had journeyed the entire length of the Iron Mountain from St. Louis to Texarkana often enough to become familiar with the road; At intervals, the fireman on the engine drew | each bad a Winchester rifle, one of which was back the door of the furnace, and shoveled coal | pointed at him, and almost touched his face, into the insatiate maw of the iron horse, At He grasped the situation on the instant. such times, a crimson glare was thrown out, ‘‘ Allright, gentlemen,” he said, without the on both sides of the tracks, and those who were | least tremor in his voice; ‘*I don’t see any use looking through the windows saw the column- | of quarreling over the matter; if any of you like pines, as they shot into view from the gloom | want a seet in the cab, we'll make room for | in front, and were quickly swallowed up in the | you, though I must tell you it’s against the rules darkness behind. of the company.” But never once did the watcher discern so ‘* Company be hanged!” growled the speaker; much as the cabin of a settler. There may have | ‘ there with you and no fooling.” been more than one passed; but, if so, it was he engineer climbed into his quarters, blow- — when no flare from the engine lit up the world of night, through which the train wasplunging, on its winding way to its destination, far to the northward, Gloom, solitude and silence were on every hand, Those vast tracts of pine woods con- tained bears, deer and smaller animals, and those that were near the tracks must have looked up in wonder at the fiery monster as it all up,” he explained to the masked guard, who ing out the small lamp in bis hand, and setting | that and the oil can where they belonged, He © then took his seat in bis usual place on the right, shifting thesteam gauge so as to allow the: boiler to relieve itself of the surplus in its treasury, after which he drew open the door | of the furnace. ‘It?s best to do that, to prevent blowing us se me thundered through the dismal region, sat down on the fireman’s box, with the muzzle ‘There could be no more fitting place for a | of bis rifle lowered, but with his hand resting on _ crime,” mused the detective, again stealthily | the butt of his revolver, in his hip-pocket. consulting his watch; ‘‘ the wonder to me 1s that The blowing off of the steam made such a — the average man is as good as he is, and that he | racket that it was hard to converse, and, since © resists so many temptations to do evil.” there was no call to do so, and the ruffian on | By and by he peeped at his time-piece again. | the other side of the cab showing no disposition — It was ‘‘ Low Twelve,” and the train had al- | to be social, the engineer lit bis pipe and smoked ready begun slowing up for Panther Hollow, in silence. — The fireman was frightened half to death, by CHAPTER IX. the appearance of the masked men. Letting go LIVELY TIMES, the snout, through which the water from the | DETECTIVE SKIDMORE nape his wits about | tank was rushing in a torrent, he came tum- — him, for, if ever they were likely to be needed, | bling over the coal, as pale as a ghost, It was it was at that lonely spot, in the lowlands of Arkansas, where the northern bound train halted l for the purpose of giving the iron horse a chance | engine would have been quickly flooded from | to quench his thirst. the overflow. : Instead of waiting for the engine to come to a He meditated a leap from the tender, anda | 4 full stop, he slipped off the platform of the | wild plunge into the woods, buta sight fo the Wi but, when the brakemen of the Pulmans are | smoker, while the train was moving quite brisk- | spectral figuresin the gloom beld him motionless, — 8; often unable to name the stations at which they | ly, This was a wise course, for, if the criminals | trembling in every limb and so weak that he ii” halt, even in the daytime, it is altogether too | were waiting at the tank, he thus gained a | was forced to sit down on a big lump of coal, fortunate that in doing this, he released the rod which held the valve open, else the cab of the much to expect a passenger to tell within a few | chance of escaping attention. Their first act | where he plo while matters quickly became — miles of where’he is at night. would be to order every passenger, not only in | exceedingly lively around bim, — ty he detective’s way of deciding the question | his car, but in ell.the others not to tbrust bis! he moment it was known through the train — was by fixing the moment, when, according to |-head out of the window or through a door; such | that a party had held it up, consternation his calculations, the train ought to make its halt at the station which he marked on his paper. ‘| That done, he set down the next stop at eleven, and, if that was carried out as he predicted, he knew, within five minutes of the time when they would strike Panther Hollow provided all went smoothly, Almost any man can awake at whatever time he choosas, by resolving before closing his eyes ‘todoso, Skidmore decided to visit the Land of ‘Nod and to remain there until eleven. He did 80, . All at once, while he lay doubled up in his seat, which he had all to himself, he opened bis eyes in the full sporeann of his senses, With- out stirring he drew out his watch and held it so that the light from the lamp overhead fell upon is: it was precisely eleven, _ The train was standing still, and, peering through the window at his side, he saw the planking and small structure which showed they had halted at a station. The conductor, with his arm thrust through his lamp, was standing on the ‘platform, talking with a man is etiquette among those gentry. If the officer | yeigned. Mingled with the scenes of terror, happened to be inside, when this order was pro- | were many not lacking in ludicrous features, mulgated, it will be seen that it would have em- | There being no regular sleeper, most of the pas- — barrassed his uctions, sengers had cramped themselves into the best True, by leaving the car and taking to the , postures possible, in the effort to woo slumber, woods, as may be said, he placed himself in per- and because of the hour being so late, the ma- — sonal peril, but that was to be expected, and he | jority were unconscious, "ey had become accustomed to it, It was a startling awakening, when the door | The instant his feet touched the ground, he | of the car was jerked open, and the figure of a— crouched down until the entire train bad passed. | man appeared, holding a loaded Winchester Tt came to a halt so far off that the red light on | with the order for every one to keep his seat, the rear platform was a hundred feet distant, under penalty of being shot off-hand. Accom-— The moon was shining, but it was in such a | penying this warning was the pledge that no- quarter of the sky, that the shadow of the! ove would be deprived of bis property, This — encircling woods wrapped everything in dark- | party were the friends of the poor man, end ness. they intended to divide the funds in the Express — The moment the wheels ceased to revolve, the car belonging to bloated bondholders among | “detective, still bending over, skurried among | themselves; that wes ell and the passengers | the dense trees on his right, and, despite his | might as well go to sleep again. mare ks care, came within a bair of losing his life, “Go to sleepagain!” As though such a feat Before he dreamed of such a thing, he was | was within the reach of man, woman or child, among a gang of train-robbers, He heard | when such scenes were taking place further voices, caught the dim outlines of moving men, | front, and'the train was surrounded by masked — and distinguised the whinny of a horse, show- | desperadoes, at ing that the fleet-footed animals were within | Many of the men made desperate efforts to. ready reach, and that the outlaws intended to | hide their personal property where it might es- _ take rapid flight as soon as their job was com- | cape the eyes of the thieves, for they could not. pletec, . eredit the declaration they bad just heard. — But for the flurry of the moment, caused by | Some shoved their watches and purses into the knowledge that the crisis had come, he | their shoes, under the seats, or in bundles in the — /must have been discovered. As it was, some racks overhead, One terrified individual offered ove addressed him an inquiry-whith SkiJmore up a fervent petition, in a loud voice, for pro- | did not catch, but his failing to answer caused tection against the ungodly despoilers, and only — no surprise. because of the reason named, ceased when peremptorily or’ered to do so, by | Meanwhile, the engine had paused at the | one of the guards, who naturally disliked a ooner.or — ii who probably was the agent in charge, so ete: eng from his seat, Skidmore slouched to the platform of the car, where a brakeman was in the act of pulling the bell cord, as a sig- 4 ual for the engineer to go ahead. ny _ * * What place is this?” asked the passenger, The employee named the station that the in- quirer had in mind, ‘¢ Where next do we stop?” . “4t Panther Hollow, about twenty. miles ‘' ahead; that isn’t any station, and we halt there for water only.” — exact spot, the fireman clambered over the coal _ hear an appeal to the Power to which, so 4h “‘Tpanks,” murmured the officer, walking | in the tender, swang around the dangling | latter, he must succumb, Lh |< cian A ae _ back to his seat, and lighting another cigar, leathern snout by means of a rope, and, adjust-| An elderly lady began singing a boos BE ' ; He was tempted to make another tour | ing the nozzle in the opening at the rear of} weak quavering voice, No threats could quiet through the train, which had no sleeper attach- the tender, jerk , and she was finally left alone to - ed (probably through some unexpected difficulty, er, jerked an iron rod, and the swash’| her, and she lly and gurgle of water showed that the receptacle | plete it, which fortunately she did before t eo was rapidly filling itself, lerisis arrived, Had she not done 80, she | would have suffered at the hands of the mis-— creants, who were not in the mood to sho’ AY Hy since it is the rule to have one or two on all the ' “ through trains over this railway’, but such aj} The engineer had let; himself down from the course on his part would be sure to subject bim | cab, and, with his lopg-necked can in one hand He a to cion, despite the disguise behind which | and a small smoking lamp in the other, set | mercy fo any one. het oie ae he had fortified himself. ~ out to oil the joints of his steed, fecling of it| The Express car being the objective point of Pe » It would indicate that he was searching for | here and there, to learn whether it had become | the assailants, the two defenders, Budd Acres oar some One, and that, unde: the circumstances, | heated, when a gruff voice sounded from the 3udd Acres : and Jeptha Martin, speedily found themselves _ BUN would, in the common parlance of the dav, give | darkness behind him: ' of | involved in the most sulpburous e \ a: pan “him away, Accordingly, be resumed his seat | Get back into that cab as quick as you know ' their lives on an American railway. — ee ¥ 2 “ Sy 5 vd ‘ % ‘ v ; ip SH ee 6 : Ms i ats Sie I f 4/ Any 1th 5 BAA ae Po AS : ‘ -— tae r ” ey = « vi he : =! unit ? %, Ge pak SP a Tete sete + * Ni} 3% eu Eo “fa Ge Ee eS Binh & The: po"; +f AMO Beet hen Wee a £4 fs ee J , ‘ es OE a eke Cal brs 2 oS ae phi ie, » ree ' rite Bic Gas Ty Dio) et seg y vr 08 a al eee = - pissing : : ~ 7
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iad eS tae etter wpe HR eS ot on H str obewens The moment Martin announced to his com- panion that the train was held up, the latter stepped hastily to his side and peered out in the gloom. A glance at the masked faces, as dim- ly shown by the glare from the open furnace- door of the engine, left no doubt of the truth of the words. Had any such doubt been lingering in the mind of Budd Acres, it was dispelled the next moment, when he observed the action of the fellows toward the engineer. This was follwed by the sight of two others, scrambling over the coals of the tender, in their hurry to anticipate the action of another couple in enter- ing the Express car, These gentry, however, made the mistake of supposing that when the uwo men inside saw how largely they were outnumbered, they would make haste to sur- _w Yender, for why should they be such idiots as to imperil their lives to save the property of r Others? ti “ Jep, I guess we had better try the Win- w chesters first,” remarked Budd, moving to one ic side and picking up his rifle. v “T agree with you,” replied his companion, t« imitating his action; ‘‘and, while we are about Mae cies “sr taactbom ti it, that light is likely to do them more good than us, With which he reached up and blew out the light fastened at the side of the car. This left the interior in black darkness, so that what shots were fired into it must of necessity be blind ones, Then the two placed themselves back to back, one facing the front and the other the rear door. The glare from the furnace of the engine still illuminated the tender, and threw a reflec- tion against the front door of the Express car, Budd Acres had po more than fairly taken bis station, when a sombrero and the head’ and shoulders of a man were thrown in relief against the glass, a fierce kick followed anda voice called: “Open the door quick or we’ll—” At that instant, there wasa jingle of glass, a screech followed, and the desperado rolled off the platform of the car as dead as Julius Ceesar, “*T don’t think it’s a good plan, Jep, to hold any other kind of argument with those fellows,” remarked Budd Acres to his companion, CHAPTER X, LIKE WAR TIMES, SINGULARLY - enough, the incident just de- a was duplicated at the other end of the xpress car, within the next minute, artin did not so much as turn his head, on hearing the report of his comrade’s Winchester, the crash of glass and the cry of the miscreant, as be toppled off the platform to the ground. He knew what it meant, and was expecting something of the same nature himself, There was less light to favor him, the only illumination coming through the ‘front door of the succeeding car; but that was sufficient to reveal the head and shoulders of a man, who struck the glass with his fist, and had just opened his mouth to command the defenders to : let him in, when hig skull was bored clean « through by a bullet, that shattered the glass in t the door behind him, and narrowly missed hit- 1 i ting a passenger in one of the seats, “That's right!” commented Acres; “if we t can’t keep them out, we can make it lively for _ awhile, This begins to look like war times, eh, Be ogee: if 1 me | ants for a few. minutes, Jep” ‘A little,” replied his friend, Lo _ The decisive check at both entrances to the Expre:s car dampened the ardor of the assail- | They realized that « they were confronted by two cool, brave men, jand that whatever was won must be done by 4 hard fighting. {4 desperadoes gathered at the side of the track 1 There was a ducking of heads and hasty. _ scrambling down from the platforms, while the «for consultation, Lhe limp forms were drawn 1 from beneath the wheels, and left stretched on } the ground beside the rails, 1. The council of war was hot, The miscreants i knew there were fifty thousand dollars within their reach, and they meant to have it, but thev were impatient, True, there was no telegraph of - whicb any of the employees could avail them- ; 8elves, and, had there been, they were all too _ 4 thoroughly cowed, from tke conductor to the « brakemen, to make use of it, No train was due f _ @ither way for bours, but there had been so | many robberies elsewhere like this of late, that | the authorities were sure to take the most vigor- ous means to run them down, and although ‘ every mother’s son in the attacking party had a horse within a hundred yards of the | The Chicago Drummer’s SES URES roads, paths and fastnesses of the surrounding country, he was anxious to get the job over as quickly as possible, No bullet could bore its way through any portion of the Express car, except the windows, and wherever a head showed itself to the de- fenders, they made it a target for their unerring Winchesters. The only course, as it seemed, was to batter down the door and overwhelm them, for it was quite clear that with the en trance open, the defenders could elude any and every shot fired from the outside, while able to make their return fire of the deadliest nature, ‘*Get a bammer from the tender,” commanded the leader, referring to the heavy long-handled implement, with which the fireman breaks the huge lumps of coal; ‘* that’! fetch ’em!” Nothing was clearer than that a few vigorous blows from such an object would break the door inward, as if it were so much card-paper. ** Look out!” suddenly cailed one of the group, standing on the ground, at one side of the ten- der. All his companions, excepting the leader him- self, instantly ducked their heads, and dodged aside with ape-like agility. The leader stood his ground, and stared around, not knowing to what his startled companion referred, Glancing hither and thither, he fixed his gazo on the front door of the Express car, In the dim reflecticn, he saw indistinctly something, resembling a small stick of wood, thrust through the broken glass, Before he could decide what it was, a tongue of flame spouted from the end, a sharp report rung out, and, as for the wonder- ing leader, ‘‘the subsequent proceedings inter- ested him no more,” That which looked like unto a stick of wood, was the barrel of Budd Acres’s. Winchester, who quietly remarked, as he drew back the weapon and sprung aside, to avoid any return shots: +“ Jeptha, I surmise I plugged him; dost thy opinion differ from mine?” ‘** Don’t stop to talk, Budd,” replied his friend reprovingly. ‘“‘If the court knows herself, and she thinks she do, I am not stopping, my dear boy; but if my conversation is not agreeable to thy ears, I will suspend it until the spirit moves me again,” It looked for a nioment, asif the fall of the leader would precipitate a panic among the as- sailants, No one had dreamed of such a recep- tion as this, It was different from the manner in which they were usually treated, and like a general who finds his plan of battle disarranged, it was necessary to form new combinations, be- fore pushing matters toa conclusion. The two men that had climbed upon the ten- der, bung fast to the big hammer, but quickly leaped to the ground, stcoping and stealing along, so as to interpose the main body of the tender between themselves and that appalling marksman, that never pulled trigger without hitting something. They gathered with several others at the side of the Express car, wheré they were out of range, and considered the im- portant question as to what next should be done, Meanwhile, the guard on the engine quickly found his situation anything but comfortable. He stood aghast at the way things were going. Then he uttered several execratious, and, stand- ing in the cab, stared at the front door of the Express car, wondering what was, coming next, The engineer grimly smoked his pipe, and man- ed to restrain his yearning to fling his cap in air and hurrah for Budd Acres and Jep Martin. Asif from the hollow of some underground cavern, & voice sounded from the Express car: Jack, sit back a little further on your seat, so I can plug that gentleman standing near ou!” The terrified gentleman referred to flung him- self like a flash bebind the engineer, dropping his gun and griping him like a drowning man, “Don’t you stir!” he commanded boarsely, “IT won't if you'll let me alone,” replied the engineer, who, had tkere been the least bope, would kave made as gallant a fight as his friends just beyond the tender, Budd Acres’s laugh sounded loud and clear, for the engine had stopped “ blowing off,” and a peculiar hush had fallen over the remarkable scene, ‘“*Can’t you sling him off of you, Jack, soas to give me a chance? It’s getting dull in here.” And then the fellow was heard to sneeze from the smoke, causéd by the several discharges of their weapons, a Jack saw that he was in greater danger than the desperado, who was panic-stricken. ‘* He won’t shoot,” said the engineer, ‘‘so long as you keep out of his range, but don’t give him a chance,” eal. assailants to say that they hesitated to press their attack on the Express car; for the defend- ers possessed an immeasurable advantage over them. They were armed to the highest point, with repeating Winchesters and revolvers; they were cool, skillful and commanded the situation, They were never in plain view, so that every shot fired at them (and there were plenty), was fired by guess, and it was impossible to reach or overco'ne them without the certainty that still others must first fall. Suppose the doors were smashed in simul- taneously, aud a rush was made by the entire party, The defenders were still in the impene- trable darkness, their presence being revealed only by tbe fitful flashes of their weapons, and, like the Comanches of the plains, they were wise enough to dart aside the instant after each discharge. With their repeating Winchesters, the two men would open fire upon the incoming swarm like a couple of mitrailleuses, and, to use an expression which does not do justice to the situation, matters would become lively. Standing, therefore, beside the track and in such position that neither of the defenders could harm them, the council of war became hotter than ever, ‘‘ What can we do?” asked one in a furious undertone, “Nun the car off the track and keep it in the woods till we starve them out,” was the wild reply of another. ‘* Yes,” was the sarcastic comment of the fellow that had given the warning which saved . al] but their leader; ‘‘ that would take about a week, and I don’t suppose anybody would inter- fere with us during that time.” ‘¢ How long before another train is due?” ‘Not before daylight.” ‘* Between now and then we can do a great deal. I have it! we'll build a fire under their car.’ The strange proposition took on the instant. ‘That's it! that’s it! we'll burn ’em out; then riddle ’em!” ‘* Be quick about it,” added the fellow who seemed to haye stepped into the shoes of the leader; ‘‘ we’ve lost too much time already.” Hither and thither, the dark figures began running, taking good care to keep out of range of the front and rear coors of the Express car, There was a small supply of wood on the engine, used for kindling purposes, while the corest at the sides of the tracks yielded any quantity of resinous pine that was the very thing for their purpose, With a balf dozen skurryipg to and fro, the supply of kindling wood grew rapidly until it looked as if half a cord was collected underneath the Express car. All this required but the contact of a single ignited match, to communicats with the beavy structure which would soon become a blazing furnace, The successor of the fallen leader now crept under the car, for the purpose of ap- plying the lucifer which he held in bis hand. ees : CHAPTER XI. A FAILURE. Tux pile of wood and resinous pine under the Express car almost touched the floor, A lighted match would set this crackling and roaring, and, in the open air, it was sure quickly to com- municate with the structure and reduce it to ashes. The assailants drew back, not forgetting to avoid all danger from the end doors of the car, and watching their new leader, as he carefully crept between the trucks and prepared to touch off the funeral pile, Meanwhile, Budd Acres and Jep Martin with- in the car, were not long in comprehending what was going on. “Tt will soon be warm former, * and we’ll have to make a fight of it on the cpen ground.” g a “I don’t propose to stay and be roasted to ~ death,” said Jep, “‘ when we can do something.” ‘* How?” . “We can pick off that fellow on the engine, and when he drops, Jack can start ahead with the train,” ** But it will take him so long to get under wa s that they will clamber up again and shoot bim, ‘* And we can stand here and let fly at them as they come in range.” “Suppose they finish Jack?” “There’s Tom left,” referring to the fireman, ‘* He’s half dead now from fright; you can’t depend on him” ** Well, Jack will pull the throttle open any » way, and after we are fairly started, one of us can climb over the tender and take charge.” ¥ ‘It’s a desperate hope, Jep; I don’t think here,” remarked the : AE | blooded i ¥ // Spot, and altbough he was familiar with all the Now, it is no reflection on the bravery of the
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The Chicago Drummer’s Deal. 9 there’s one chance in a hundred of its succeed- g ribs better than staying in here and burning to death,” ** You're right, and we'll try it.” But the well-nigh hopeless recourse was saved them. The man under the Express car had reached his position and spent a minute or two in adjust- ing the fuel to suit him, before striking the matcb. It did not take bim long to do this, wien he extended one arm and drew the phos- phorus along the rough edge of the rail, it in- stantly broke into flame, but a puff of wind blew it out before he could apply it to the pitch- pine. Every one of the assailants, however, carried matches, and there were plenty at command, He struck a second one, and shaded it with his curving hands, until the twist of flame skould become strong enough to withstand the light breeze that was blowing, Holding the fire comparatively close to his face, the reflector showed his mask, the lower part of his shaggy beard, and a part of the rim of his sombrero, He was in the act of reaching the little blaze downward, still protecting it with his hands, when he toppled forward from the same cause that had slain the leader. His lifeless body, falling on the match, instantly extinguished it, The amazing thing about the occurrence was that the shot was fired by another person than either of those that bad done all the shooting in the way of defense, up to this time. It came from the darkuess of the wood on the right, the bullet almost grazing the heads of two of the ruffians who were breathlessly watching the starting of the conflagration. Who fired it? P Before any one of the astounded desperadoes could think of an answer to the question, a voice shouted from the wood: ‘* Rua, boys, quick, or every one of your horses will be stolen!” The wildest panic instantly followed, No herd of cattle among which a pack of ravening wolves bave dashed, was ever more hopelessly stampeded than were the train-robbers, They broke for the woods, as if a sheriff with a posse of a hundred men were at their heels, and tumbled and: scrambled and, fought in their fierce efforts to reach the spot where they had left their animals, It was not so much the danger of losing the principal means of escape, as it was that of losing their blooded steeds. The only capital crime, in many sections of the Southtwest, is horse-steal- ing. Many a man values his horse more than human life; and, Had that party been given the choice between capturing the treasure in the safe of the Express car and parting with their steeds, they would not have paused a moment, in their unreasoning mood, to secure the money. ardly had the furious rash been precipi- tated, when from the darkness of the pine forest a man rushed forth, and made asif to leap upon the engine; but checking himself, he called up to the wondering engineer, ** Don’t losea minute! You've got the chance now to get away, for they'll be back, when ac learn the trick played on them,” ) _ he engineer caught on at once. The man was a stranger to him but his words were up- mistakably wise. The reversing rod was re ped far over, and the throttle lever sharply twitched, The engine responded with a heavy puff, and the jar of the sudden start went through the entire train, as it began moving slowly forward, The white sand was pouring down on the rails, in front of the drivers, in ee streams and the ponderous wheels did not slip. . ' Faster and faster came the labored puffs, and the speed rapidly rose, the veteran controlling the throttle with consummate skill and cool- ness, The fireman, rallying from his panic, hastily shoveled in the coal and banged the fur- nece door shut, taking care, while doing so, to ‘b 2! so low, that the tender intervened between him and any rifle-shot that might be sent after _ the engine, Suddealy, above the rumble of the train, \sounded the reports of guns, and the glass at the side of the engineer was shattered, Several dark forms bounded from the wood, and the flashés of their guns showed that all danger was not yet past, Had their position been at the engine, assuredly they would have tumbled Jack from his seat, but they were at the rear and though the track was curving, most of the bul- lets buried engi in the woodwork or. h glanced off the iron of the engine. The latter was bending fiercely to its work, but its speed as yet was no faster than a moder- ate trot. A number of the desperadoes that had dashed out of the forest, started on a run after the cars and gained fast, “It takes a train a considerable time to acquire headway, even when drawn by the most power- ful of locomotives and ere this one rose to half its regular speed the pursuers could reach the rear platform. But Budd Acres and Jeptha Martin had emerged from the Express car and standing on the platform, were leaning dangerously far out, Winchesters at their shoulders, and peering backward into the night. The men were dimly discernible in the faint moonlight, as they ran along the side of the track, converging between the rails, The next instant, their rifles flashed again and again. They were pointed toward the outlaws, who quickly learned the fact; and, though none of their number was struck, for it was im- possible, under the circumstances, to secure any kind of aim, they saw what would be the result, if they boarded the train: a fierce fight with the same men that had already made frightful havoc in their ranks, The assailants had vainly tried to force the defenders to come from the Express car, and now they had done so of their own accord, The pursuers paused when they discoveréd that they were again the targets of those ter- rible rifles. That halt, brief as it was, settled the busi- ness, for Jack Carter was improving every second of the time, The speed of the train be- came such that, bad the men resumed their pur- suit, it wes tod late: they would have been hopelessly left behind. ‘*T guess there’s nothing more for us to do,” remarked Budd Acres, turning about and re- entering the car, whither he was followed by his companion, The interior was in darkness, but did not long remain so, Martin struck a match, removed the chimney of the lamp at the side, carefully lit it and replaced the chimney. Tbe interior was now fully illuminated, and, after setting their Wincbesters in the corner, the two took a survey of things The glass in the doors had been shattered to fragments, which lay on the floor and on the latforms outside, Here and there, little holes the sides and roof showed where the bullets had buried themselves, instead of reaching the targets for which they were meant, Two had struck the pine box, inclosing the coffin con- taining the dummy, and appearances indicated that several had passed much nigher the defen- ders than they suspected at the time, But no real harm was done, Budd and Jep had not received a scratch, and it has already been shown what they performed among the assail- ants, The train, for a wonder, bad run the gant- let safely, and, as it wound its way northward, it left those bodies stretched on the cold earth, witb their stark faces staring upward at the stars, It is rare that such an outcome follows the holding up of a railway train, but so it was in this instance, ““Jep,” said Bud Acres, looking grimly around the small compartment, ‘do you know what I suspect?” “That this hold-up was a failure,” CHAPTER XII, PUSHING NORTHWARD, Wuen Detective Skidmore dodged into the the woods, after dropping from the train, and almost running against several of tbe robbers, he was in quest of knowledge rather than ad- venture, but, as often happens in the affairs of this life, the result was anything but what he anticipated. Before one could fairly collect his faculties, the battle was on and matters were as lively as they could well be. The assailants gave their exclusive attention to the work before them, and naturally held no thought or suspicion of any attack from the rear, The officer would have been only too glad to lend a hand to the defenders, but he was dis- creet. A shot from his revolver would draw in- stant attention to himself and was not likely to do his friends any good. He must wait, He was thrilled by the defense of the Express —— car, He had never seen anything finer, and, as shot after shot came from the front and rear, and the criminals were beaten back and baffled at every point, he longed to fling his hat in air and cheer the men, but he did not, At the moment, however, when be was confi- dent of the triumph of Budd and Jep, the pre. | parations were made for setting fire to the car and burning them out, This was something he had not thought of, and its serious nature im- pressed him at once, He saw that the men were so caged that they could not help themselves, and the passengers and se So were so panic-stricken, that not one of them could be induced to raise a hand in aid of the imperiled heroes, ““T guess I'll haveto do something,” was his conclusion; ‘‘I can’t stand idly by while that goeson.” _ Advancing to the edge of the wood, where he stood close to the track, he waited, revolver in hand. He saw the Jeader, as he crawled be- tween the trucks of the Express car, and was in the act of leveling bis weapon, when the first match was extinguished. The second speedily flashed out and gave him the chance he wanted, He sighted as carefully as he could in the gloom and the rest has been told, To insure success, the daring scheme must be instantly followed up. He did so by calling out that the horses of the ruffians were in danger, and then appealed to the engineer to pull out as quickly as he could, Before the passengers could comprehend what was going on, Skidmore had climbed up the steps of the smoker, but he kept his place on the platform, until the flurry was over, While standing here, he whipped off his false beard and shoved it into his pocket. Then, see-. ing that all danger was over, he walked through the smoker to the Express car, where the con- ductor and most of the employees had gatkered to discuss the startling occurrences. When the detective knocked, the faces of those inside were turned inquiringly toward him, as he stood plainly revealed, through the opening left by the destroyed glass. ‘*Who are you?” asked Budd Acres, advanc- ing and pausing with his hand on the knob, “The man that shot that fellow under the Express car and called the engineer to go ahead before they returned,” **You don’t say so!” exclaimed Budd, draw- ing the door wide open and grasping his hand; ** come right in and stay a week.” The detective accepted the invitation, and, as he shook bands with each in turn, gave his right name, for there was no call for him to mislead them ag to his identity, He did not say much, however, about him- self, further than to make known by what means he came - be im the rear ae at- tacking—party and how he stampeded them. He was warmly thanked by all, but he insist- ed that what he did was nothing, compared to © the defense of the expressmen, who had beaten off a party, numbering at least a dozen, and all of the most desperate character. The truth was, Skidmore was so stirred with admiration for the fellows that he meant to know more of them, He, therefore, waited until the rest had left, when he sat down on one of the trunks, assed a cigar to each,and made himself at ome, There is a congeniality between brave, bonest men like these three, and they are quick to read each other’s character and fully to re a in the way of mutual trust. As they talked and even indulged in jest, the detective put the ques- — tion that had been in his mind from the first; ‘‘Have you any treasure in the car that could have tempted those fellows to make this at- tack?” \ F “In there,” replied Budd Acres, ‘‘is fifty thousand dollars, which of course they knew all about, They have friends everywhere, it seems— to me, who let them know when we have any- ~ thing like that in our charge.” ‘You are aware of nothing more?” “They might have found something in those trunks, but I don’t think it would have amounted to much, 1 wonder that they didn’t go through the passengers,” You gave them little chance,” remarked the i hpi with a smile, addressing his words to oth, ‘They had guards at the doors of the cars,” said Martin, and they could have done it with- | | t out trouble.” re ‘*But the plunder in the safe was ten Gmeng more than they could have gained by ee Resin: A the passengers. They have been taught a lesson, } however, which they will remember for a long | time, get into St. Louis I’m going to ask the company — to make our car fire-proof: then we shall have things as we want them. We would have been ina bad fix but for that shot of yours, Skid-— > = > ee ee iv ” 4 ' — ae - {4 ” (rene Fe OAC eee * And so have we,” laughed Budd; ‘* when wo ore. ; ' Psy) ‘Well, I did happen to work it in at the right —
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es al a | — 2 et AO aes om 1 ] { } 1 ‘ » eo. 10 or T7% einen aes eatin 2 ates regrets. Tt The Chicago Drummer’s Deal. time. The match in the fellow’s hand gave we the chance 1 wanted, though a couple of the others stood so near that I think I nipped one of their ears.” ; ** T can’t understand,” continued Budd, “ how it is that the boys when caught like we were, throw up their hands at t e first call, The ought to be on the lookout and never taken o their guard.” ‘** 1 don’t wonder that the unexpected appear- ance of a lot of men in masks with Winchesters and pistols, eager for a chance to shoot, frighten people outof their wits. You have heard of that case down in New Mexico, where six train robbers compelled nine United soldiers to give up their arms.” ‘* Yes,” replied Budd, with a sniff of disgust; ** there’s only one thing that was lacking.” “ What was that?” “They ought to have set those soldiers up against the trees and riddled every one of them for their cowardice. I don’t understand why they didn’t,” Conversation continued without anything be- ing said of special moment for fully an bour, at the end of which tiro the train came to a halt at one of the more important stations, ‘There, the conductor, bralkemon, entployees. and a nu:nber of passengers cathored noar the engine and Express car and talked over the incidents and compared notes. The conductor sent a long dispatch to the oficers of the company, de- tailing what had taken place, and did the same to the sherif? of the county that was the scene of the outrage. In each of these accounts, full justice was done to the eeptnd of Acres and Martin, to which was undoniably due the saving of the large treasure iu the safe, Detective Skidmore gave no hint of his inten- tion, but it is appropriate to anticipate events so far as one result is concerned. He impressed upon the officials the exceptionally praiseworthy conduct of th» couple, with the result that they were not only handsomely complimented, but each received a reward of one thousand dolJars for Aas alo ie ie: it came ple boar the mortgage on ittle cottage appy home of Budd Acres, was pcid off within the follow- ing three weel:s,-instead of waiting the three years that he had counted Me The bour hac grown so Jate, that, after the train had started again, tho detective returned to his seat in the smoker, whero, adjusting his muscular figure as best he could, he soon sunk into slumber, which was not disturbed, until the sun was shining and they had halted at a station for breakfast. There remained many features about the busi- ness which puzzled him exceedingly, He could not make himself believe that the party that had held up the train knew of the diamonds within the pine box; they evidently learned of the money which was their sole object in bring- ing the train to a halt in the tonely section, | rue, the precious stores possessed double the value of the bank-bills, but in what way could they have learned of their presence within a few _ feet of the safe? There was every reason to believe that their shipment was known to no one besides Banker _ Livingston, DetectiveSkidmore and Undertaker mind, _ Arkansas that was past - learned that the pine E ee ¥ Jones, Had others found it out, and, had a confederate taken passage on the same train, _ he had plenty of chances to telegraph ahead to some Nerd where the fact could be revealed, But all this implied a labyrinth of connection between the pnapt te aH the ruffians of rener, Be that as it may, the officer felt that he stood only on the threshold of a preat mystery, whose solution threatened to bafile his every effort and best skill, -_-_ CHAPTER XIIL IS IT A RESEMRLANCE ONLY? Own reaching St. Louis, Detective Skidmore box and its contents - would not start for Chicago for about an hour, _ He used the time to drive to the Lindell Hotel, ifs — he thought a dispatch from Mr, Living- _ 8ton ight be awaiting him, He knew that by this time the banker had ~ Jearned of the holding up of the railway train, “and of course he was anxious, inasmuch as the _ Officer was the only one that could give bim th _ Sure enough, a telegram was handed him on 4 information he wanted. entering the office of the famous hosteiry, and itwas from the gentleman whom he had in “Strange that he says nothing about the death of his nephew,” thought tho recipient, as he took up the pen to indite a roply; ‘‘I sup- pose that nothing additional has been learned and probably will not be for some time yet.” ~ Thus ran the telegram, which was banded to the banker shortly after, in his office in far away Bluffton: “* Everything all right; box was not disturbed ; leave for Chicago shortly; telegraph me there what news you have about the death of your nephew.” This being sent, the officer re-entered the cab and reached tbe station with plenty of time to spare, He was justified in felicitating himself over the success that that had attended the venture thus far, Not only had the criminals of the Arkansas lowlands been beaten off, withsevere loss, but it had fallen to his lot to give impor- tant aid in repelling the assailants, ** There is no reason to fear anything further,” he mused, while waiting in the station with bis senses alert: ‘some of those fellows are won- derfally clever, but the line must be drawn somewhere; & man can’t learn and know every- thing; we took too many precautions in ship- ping the diamonds Zor any one to discover tho scheme, And it was all usoless, too,” he added; “for Tcoald just as wel! havo carried them in my pocket as I proposed, and no hand would have been laid on me. But then I wouldn’t have dropped from the train at Panther Hol- low, and harm might have come to the two Ex- pressmen, so it isn’t well to quarrel with fate,” It oceurred to him, while waiting, that if any one was on his trail, he would be there at that very time, A cautious scrutiny of the other passengers Jed bim to fix upon three, who looked, as if they might be of that kind. He studied them for several minutes, with the re- sult of acquitting two, but the third, he be- lieved was the man, provided there was any such present who was holding him under sur- veillance, which he very much doubted, This individual was of medium height, with full, sandy whiskers, was well dressed, with a silk hat, worn low on the forehead and ap- peared to be absorbed in reading a newspaper, What first gave Skidmore a thrill of suspi- cion, was when he glanced quickly toward him, and perceived that the man was watching bim, though he flashed his eyes upon the paper with such suddenness that. one might doubt whether he was not mistaken, _ The detective now fixed his gaze upon a window just opposite, on which the light/struck at such an angle tnat he could see the face of the stranger. I6 was not a mirror, be it understood, but taere wasa peculiar reflection often seen, which served him quite well. Had he shifted his position a few inches in either direction, he would have lxt the effect, At the same time, he knew the other could not use the same nh ns, ; : With this advantage, Skidmore was not long in anding that when he was looking away from the man the latter was engaged in carefully studying bim. “ Poat’s odd,” he reflected; ‘he feels some- thing more than a passing interest in me.” But the most disturbing thought that came to the officer was that this was not the first time the tvwohad met. Thero wassomething familiar ih those half-conceale1 features, He had an ex- cellent mernory of faces, and was impatient with himself thas he could not recall the time and place of their previous Speers 5 He racked his brain, but it was useless, and he finally took re- fuge in the natural belief that the resemblance was one of those accidental ones that we are liable to come upon at any time, As quick as thought, he turned his head and looked at the man, He instantly dropped his eyes to the paper, held in both hands, and rest- ing on his lap, but, abrupt as was the slight act, he must have known that it did not escape the individual who thus turned toward him. | Skidmore’s impulse was to walk over to him, take a seat by his sile, and, despite the dis- courtesy of the proceeding, subject him to a peor ait sicwah that would have settled the question, But this ore have been absurdly unpro- fessiona: and wholly unworthy of an amateur at the business, His trus course was not to let the other see that he himself bad become an object 0. luterest to one of the men seated a short dis- tance away.“ In fact, Skidmore had been ex- ‘tremely careful, despite the one or two glances that had been exchanged, What he learned was by the roundabont means described, and he | subjected several other pe.ple to the same direct ‘could do so. scrutiny, with the purpose of deceiving any sus- picion in the wind of the stranger. Allowins; his gaze to stray to the window again, he saw that, though the other held his paper closer to bis face than before, he was peer- ing over the top of it and at him, At this in- teresting point a lady stepped between the detec- tive and the window that wus serving him so well, and observation by that means was shut off for the time, Before it was restored, Skidmore ruse and sauntered to the outside, not looking directly 1o- ward the man, though he kept him in bis field of vision, ‘he detective: was in a suspicious mood, He recalled that the Hyler brothers had been followed for thousands of miles, across ocean and land, and both had fallen victims to the merciless greed of those who coveted the treasure in their possession, The fact that one of the crimes was done in the metropolis of the country, and the other in the town whére he made his own home was startling and showed a defiance of public sentiment and law that stirred him with anger and made him long to take up the task of run- ning down the assassins, **T'll do it, too!” he added, with a flash of his eyes, ‘‘and they will receive ro more mercy from me than they have shown to the innocent, Ere long, I shall deliver the casket into the hands of Miss Wetmore, and then be free to turn about and make all haste back to Blnffton, where ll stir up things. Well, I’llbe hanged !” The stranger that had caught bis eye a few minutes before, was lounging a short distance off, paper in hand, and apparently interested in a dispute between a cabman and a passenger, whom he had just brought tothe station and who believed the charge was too high. The man might have drifted out of doors, the same as the rest, with no object in mind other than that of whiling away time, until he could board the train. Skidmore did not catch his eye, but, for all that, he was certain that he had come forth to watch him, Nothing in the manner of the detective reveal- ed his feelings. He had a ticket entitling him t¢ a seat in one of the palace cars, and be sat down like the professional traveler, who feels bored over the prospect of a considerable journey be- fore him, - As he did so; he glanced out at the people movy- ing about the station, The man he had in mind suddenly passed the window and gave the best view of his features that Skidmore had yet cb- tained, ‘The latter broke into a quiet laugh. ‘* He bears a slight resemblance.to Undertaker Jones; it was that Which bothered me,” And yet, somehow or other, this conclusion failed to bring assuring peace to the mind of the detective, ; CHAPTER XIV. ‘A SURPRISE, No more unwelcome present can be sent to a family than a large outer case such as contained the casket of diamonds, which Detective Skid- more had set out to convey from Bluffton to the city of Chicago. Even though a telegram could have been readily sent ahead, giving necessary particulars, yet the unloading and carrying in of a coffin, at the residence of the widow Mrs. Wetmore, would bave occasioned remark and looked altogether too gruesome, Her brother- in-law, therefore, avoided all this by having Jarvis Jones ship it to a well known firm of un- dertakers in the Lake City. No message was sent ahead, for the arrangement was that Skid- more should arrive at the establishment with the tne re and make known all that need be The detective saw personally to the shipment of the box fromthe railway station, sat on the seat beside the driver all the way, and stood by while it was carried into the receiving room. , There he met one of the firm and explained the case, saying that he and Mr. Livingston Lad. taken this singular course, in order to secure the safe delivery of a valuable package that was within, The gentleman smiled and declined to receive the money offered, reminding him that. they had been subjected to no expense, and the material which it was pro to turn over to them was of itself full compensation, At the same time, he assured his caller that they had no objection to receiving similar consignments on - the same terms, an = Fa Thus far all well, The detective stood by, while the two inclosures were unscrewed. The undertaker agreed to do his best to restore the i ng condition, and thought he When through, it would be reship- bust to its
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‘ 4 pf WT he SA EI eT iee ek Pee ot act ee me ed re ma rbd eyo Sie. ery ras OE eee Wee aN, grees bed ODE PP ar WN eee ey Ra She took the tiny implement, inserted it in the lock, gave it a turn and raised the lid, 4 Why, Mr, Skidmore, there is nothing here that I see,” The detective leaned forward and peered into the interior of the small box, To his consterna- tion, there was nota singlo diamond in it, CHAPTER XV. IS IT THE SAME ONE? DETECTIVE SKIDMORE was so astounded that. for a moment he sat speechless, Ther he mutely extended his hand for the casket, which Miss. Wetmore passed to him without a word, but with a wondering expression on her face, that showed she did not understand what it all meant, He turned the little box over several times, opened and closed it, as though doubting his own eyes, and then, leaning back in his chair, exclaimed; ss Great heavens! that passes my comprehen- sion!’ Recalling that no explapation had been given to the young lady, he rallied, and, looking in her face, said: ‘¢ Your amazement, Miss Wetmore, is not one- half of mine. When that box was last opened before this time, it contained ten diamonds, worth one hundred thousand dollars,” ‘* Where are they now?” *T don’t know.” The two gazed into each other’s faces in silence, and then he added; “That was the present which your dead cous- ins brought from the other side of the globe, with the request that it should be placed in your hands without delay. Ino more dreamed that I was not doing so than Ido that amin Bluff- ton at this moment. I took them from your uncle’s safe on Tuesday last; I myself placed them in a box, and rode on the train with them to Chicago, and now where are they?” he asked in pitiful helplessness. “They must have been stolen.” ** impossible!” and then reflecting on the ab- surdity of the word, he added; ‘‘I mean I can- not imagine how it was done,” ’ ** But you can find out,” * And so I will!” he exclaimed flereely, spring- ing to bis feet. ‘*I never knew anything like it, but it shall be brought to light and the dia- monds shall be yours, I hope you will pardon me— “Pardon you for what?” “The disappointment I have caused you,” “Did bs arrange it?’ she asked. “No, but—” A “That will do; you have no apologies to offer me; I am srry, because my cousins meant them for me, and you are more put out. than I am: I beg you to be seated and wait till mother comes home,” “TI would be glad todosobut for this, I am too upset to content myself for an hour in idle- ness; I must go back to Bluffton as soon as pos- sible, and learn what all this means.” “But you cannot go to-night.” “No, but I may be ablo to do something in x ‘am sure _ and he walked'toward the Chicago that will help in the matter, you will excuse me, hall, taking the empty box with him, Observing his vegeta Miss Wetmore did — ot try furcher to detain him, She urged bim not to let the matter trouble him, for, so far as she was concerned, she would not give it a. thought, but for the associations connected with the gems, He made the best adieu he could, and, a min- — ute later, was striding furiously elong the — cha | whirl that, for a time, he was unable to think — avenue toward the hotel, bis mind in ss itr Arrived there, he asked for a telegram, There was none and he chafed with impatience. Looking at his watch, he saw that it was less tkan an hour since he had sent his own message, _ but he was angry because they were not more — prompt at the other end of the line, While he was pacing restlessly back and forth, the dispatch came, to soothe his feelings: ‘Come to Bluffton at once; can explain ho" H thing till Isee you; you are needed at this ‘mo- ment, banker of the unaccountable loss of the dia- monds, but flung it down again, rs He doesn’t tell me anything, and I trouble myself to give him the news? It will Bluffton and find what he has to tell.” It was useless to attempt to sleep for hours, be time enough to let him know, when T reach. A It was not calculated — ; 4 The detective took up a pen to notify ‘the. why should) a re y 4
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He went to his room, and paced to and fro, his mind gradually growing calmer, until, at last, it began to assert itself with something of its native power, He went back to the beginning. ‘* There was no mistake in the boxes, for I saw the diamonds after the empty one was locked in the safe; so it is established, beyond question, that they started from Blufftonfor Chicago, I myself saw them placed in the clothing behind the bust, and stood by while Undertaker Jones screwed down the coffin lid and then screwed the lid of the pine box over that, We saw that box taken to tha station in Bluffton, and I saw it after it was placedin the Expresscar. I rode part way in its company, and yet somewhere along the road the diamonds were stolen.” There were some facts about the strange busi- ness, which, it may be said, were self-evident, aud the perplexed detective had touched upon most of them. To repeat, he was sure the dia- monds had started from Bluffton for Chicago, but had never reached there, at least by the route in charge of Felix Skidmore. One theory would obtrude itself. It was dis- yagreeable beyond expression, but the officer resolutely faced it: it was that the gems had been removed from their place of concealment, while in the Express car, and in care of Budd Acres and Jep Martin, Unto no one else came the opportunity, Nothing could have been easier than such action on their part. Rigid reflection, however, cleared the couple from suspicion, Although comparatively unac- quainted with them, the detective would not ad- mit that he had made such a woeful mistake in reading character. They could not have known of the casket in the box (wi! hout building up a theory too complicated and flimsy to stand), and, if there bad been a dozen such caskets, they would bave defended them with their lives, as they did the treasure in the safe, ‘* Budd Acres and Jep Martin are not the stuff from which thieves are made!” exclaimed the detective, who never spoke truer words; ‘‘ and I hope they will never know T held any doubt of them for a single minute.” In bis nervous state, Skidmore was annoyed by the vagueness of the telegrams that had reached him, They declared that momentous discoveries had been made, and he was urged to hasten his return to Bluffton, but of necessity he must wait until his arrival there before learn- ing what all these intimations meant, Flickering here and there, like fireflies in tbe darkness, appeared points of light, which gave out a glow that vanished before he could fix its nature, One incideat caused great perplexity: that was the man who undeniably held him an- der surveillance, while waiting at the station in St. Louis for the train to Chicago, The interest showed by that stranger in Skid- more was significant, for, among all the others present, there was not one that gave him more than a passing glance, The partial resemblance to Undertaker Jarvis Jones may have been one of those that all of us have seen in life, and be had dismissed it from further thought, until now when it forced itself upon him, “It is impossible to suspect him, for he is one “of the most staid and respectable citizens of Bluffton, Besides, had he been carried away -by a momentary temptation, such as sometimes leads persons astray, he had abundance of time for reflection and could not have failed to see ‘the utter Colly of the thing, But, if he did de- cide to bring ruin and disgraca upon himself, he had not the chance; that settles that.” And he firmly shut out that phase of the mat- ter from further consideration, _ Seating himself under the bright light, burn- ing in bis room, he tuok out the small box from his pocket, and subjected it to microscopic scrutiny, ‘13 it the same one?” he asked himself, as he ' opened and closed it and turned it over again and again, and scrutinized every visible portion; “there were two uf them, so alike that no one could tell them apart, Under any other cir- oe cumstances, [ would believe that, through some hocus-pocus, I had unconsciously exchanged them, but that was as impossible as it is that [ _ myself stole them. I wonder,” he added, with a grim smile, * whether Livingston will pot sus- oe ine. Clearly the chance was mine, but old! _ It has been stated that the ten diamonds lay loosely in the crimson lining of the casket, being héld immovable only when the lid was locked in place, Such being the fact, the stonescould not ail to leave a number of faint dents or impres- - gions, both in the lining of the lid and in the bot- tom of the box. Examination failed to show the slightest mark of the kind, 2 EP —reeremree tte Tye 2 ee ee The Chicago Drummer’s ‘* By gracious!” exclaimed the detective; “‘ this isn’t the genuine box, after all! They were changed somewhere, after the right one was put in place.” his was an important discovery, if if should prove to be one, Until this moment all his reasoning and speculation had been based on the theory that the stones were simply ex- tracted, and that this was the casket that originally held them; now he was convinced that such was not the fact, Still, admitting that be was right, he saw him- se'f no nearer the solution than at the first, for the difficulty of effecting the exchange was as great as that of abstracting the diamonds, The whole thing was in a muddle, when, at last, be flung himself in bed and wooed sleep, Two nights later be was in Bluffton, sitting in the library of Banker Livingston, and in earnest conversation with that gentleman and a third individual. CHAPTER XVI. WHAT TEDDY DONOVAN SAW. ‘TJ am sorry to have caused you annoyance,” remarked Banker Livingston to Detective Skid- more, ‘‘ by my failure to be more explicit in my telegrams, but, truth to say, I was so upset by the discoveries that came to light, that I was afraid to do so.” ‘“ Why?” asked the officer, who had resumed his old place 6n the lounge, and was smoking one of his host’s Perfectos, while the third party set respectfully back in one corner, waiting until he should be asked to speak. ‘There has been such cunning and subtlety used by those ruffians that [ feared they would get hold of the telegrams,” ‘* Nonsense! Such a thing is impossible, and you might have given me the points without in- terforing with matters, even if it became known to them; but that’s neither here nor there, I obeyed your request, and came to Bluffton as quickly as the railway could bring me, Here I am, as much in the dark as ever.” The detective had gathered some information, but he had not yet told about the loss of the dia- monds: that would come later on. ‘*Since your departure the authorities have been busy investigating the murder of my nephew Dick, whose body was buried day before yesterday.” ‘‘ Have they learned who did it?” ‘6-Yes and no, but Teddy there has some in- teresting information.” , “Ah, Teddy,” remarked the detective, look- ing smilingly toward him, “you are going to prove a useful man, are you?’ J ‘¢ J dunno about that, sorr,” replied the fellow, hitching uneasily in his chair; ‘‘ that’s for you to say, sorr.” Teddy Donovan was the Irish coachman of Banker Livingston. He was a rather lively young man, given to drinking-bouts now and then, but honest and warmly devoted to his em- ployer’s interests, ‘“‘Tt may expedite matters,” said the banker, ‘if T should sum up some facts that have come to light. Teddy kept in the background during the investigation, through fear of incurring my displeasure by the confession that he would bave to make, if he revealed all he knew. But, when he realized the value of his knowledge, he came fcrward Jike a man,” ! “Or rather like himself, which is the same thing,” remarked the detective, at which Teddy blusbed and grinned, ‘On that eventful night, when I gave him permission to visit his mother, at the other end of the town, he didn’t go near her.” The officer raised his forefinger and shook bis head at the Irishman, who grinned harder, turned redder than before, and fidgeted in his chair, ‘* However, I will do him the justice to say that no mother ever had a more dutiful son, and while he was bad enough to go out for a time with his friends, he left them comparatively early and started back for his snug quarters, In the carriage house. In doing so he passed near the hotel where my nephew met his death, I will let him tell the rest.” ; ‘‘Let’s hear it, Teddy,” said the detective kindly; ‘you know we are both your friends and you mus’n’t bold back anything.” Thus encouraged, the fellow was explicit. “Thad had afew drinks, but I was that me- silf that I could walk as stiJdy as at this blessed moment. It was so late that I met hardly a person on the straat, and I was humming Little Annie Rooney swaatly to meself, when I arrived under the big chestnut which stands in the eorner of the alley, at the back of the hotel, It was just then, whin [{ bad both hands in me : Cre Semin gs eee eM IES AE nt Deal. trowsers pockets, that I discovered that the right one had a thundering big hole in the bottom, and through that same bole slipped me pocket knife, two silver dollars, a jewsharp with which I’m accustomed to beguile the weary hours, a couple bunches of kays.. a tootbpick, a lead pencil, two or three love letters and breast- pin that I mint to bave repaired,” ‘* Are you sureyou have remembered all ?” gravely asked the detective. ‘No, ?m not, but they’il come to me mind after awhile, Will, I stopped right under the shaddy of the trau, and was standing as stiff } and straight as a wooden cigar sign, that over- coom was I wid the knowledge, whin I heerd a noise within the little yard at the back of the | hotel, Looking up to obsarve what it mint, the head and shoulders of a man come up to view, on t’other side of the fence. He was climbing over and wasn’t making any more noise than a laaf in falling from a traa, *¢ Will, sorr, I was that scared, knowing him to be a robber, that had been in the house, that I didn’t stir and stopped breathing. I was standing so close to the trunk of the traa, that he passed within arm’s lingth of me without obsarving the same. He must have worn rubber shoes, for be walked along without any more noise than a cat or a fairy.” ‘¢Then you were not able to gain sight of his face?” asked the intensely interested detective. | ** Howld on a bit,” replied Teddy, with a wave of his hand, enjoying the sensation he had caused on the part of bis auditors, though the elder had heard it all before. ‘‘ Ye moind the lamp that is burning at the corner, just be- low the alley. Will, whin the spalpcen raiched that point, what did he do but stop and look about him, asif expecting some one? The fule turned round so that the lamp light shone onto his face and it was as plain as is either of yours this minute.” ‘This is important,” said Skidmore, sitting ‘bolt upright, looking fixedly at the speaker, and forgetting the cigar in his band; ‘*you would know that face if you saw it-again?” “That I would, if it should be tin os from now and on the banks of the Killarney, I knew the spalpeen had been up to mischief, and I took a good squint at him, but I was think- ing that he had been staaling something from the hotel, instid of driving a knife into the heart of an innocent slaaper, like Mister Hyler.” ** Go on, Teddy.” “Tf he was waiting for some one, that same person did not show himsilf, and by and by the spalpeen went off with the same stillness as before.” ‘*Do you know what time of the night it was, Teddy?” 3 “While he stood under the lamp and was looking back toward me, the town clock begun striking twelve,” Detective Skidmore glanced across at the banker and remarked in a low voice: ‘““T suspected it—Low Twelve.” ‘*T resoomed me promenade, after I was sure he was out of the way, and let mesilf in through the parlor door of the carriage-house, I ought to have been aslaap at the time, and 1 would have been very soon, but for the loss of the articles because of the hole in me pocket, Ye will remimber,” Teddy hastened to explain, ob- serving the smiles on the face of his listeners, “that all the time I was continually cailing something to mcind that I hadn’t thought of whin me thraa fingers first slid through the hole, and it was that which graived me heart. I was that throubled that, after blowing out the lamp, I lit me pipe and tock me saat by the windy, and laining me elbow on the sill, looked out over the yard of the risidence in sorrowful contimplation. ’ t “T was puffing sadly at me dudeen, whin be the powers! I saw something moving amongst | the traas. At first I thought it was a dog walking on his hind legs, but whin he got where there was alittle more light, I observed that it was a man.” **-You did not see him clearly?” ‘* No; there wasu’t light enough, but ye’ll re- mimber thata man on the grounds of Mr, Livingston 1s very different from walking long the street, even if be does weer rubbers, He badn’t any right there, and I always has a loaded gun and pistols riddy for such spalpeens, especially since the watch-dog was p*isoned. So I slips back and hunts the wippons.” “Being as I had no light inthe barn, and I didn’t want to scare off the spalpeen by striking one, it took me a little while to git me hands on the wippons. Bimeby, howsumiver, I had the gun and the pistol and I staals out of the dure,
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_ more, looking across the room at The Chicago Drummer’s Deal. 12 IT hild the gun riddy to blaze away the minute the chap showed himself, but he must have heerd me, for, though [I wint tothe very spot where he was standing, he wasn’t there, “T called to him in a whisper loike, daring him to come out and let me shoot him, but he was too big acoward todo so or ilse he had gone. I sneaked round the yard, peeping here and there, but you gintlemen knows that there's a good many places among them traas where a dozen men might hide at night.” ‘Did you pass entirely around the house?” “JT did that twice without obsarving him, I saw the light in this room and knew that Mr. Livingston was sitting up, but I didn’t know what company he had, At last I wint back to me reciption room, and, being as the spaipeen was gone, I sthruck a match to light mesilf to bid. Gintlemen,” added the narrator with a scared look on his broad countenance, ‘ whin that light was burning I made a dridful discov- ery, ay, sorr, & dridful one,” ‘What was that?” “Tha: I had had the narrowest escape of me whole life,” ‘* How was that?” ‘‘ Nayther the gun nor the pistol was loaded! If I had run ag’inst that spalpeen in the grounds he would have shot me for the big fule that I was in not looking to me wippons beforehand,” asked the detective, CHAPTER XVII THE DAWN OF LIGHT, ‘‘You were justas safe with your unloaded weapons,” said the detective, ‘‘as you would have been, had they been charged to the muz- ” Teddy Donovan looked wonderingly at the speaker. He failed to grasp such logic. ‘‘ Had the rogue been where you supposed he was, he could have shot you down as easily as rolling off a log. If you ever seo any prowier in the grounds after this, challenge him from your place at the window and then fire,” This view had never struck the coachman. He was impressed by it, ‘*P}l remimber the same, but with your per- mission, Dll fire at bim first and challenge him afterwards, being as it would be more convan- ient for me,” ‘*But bardly for him, As you prefer, how- ever, but please describe the man that you saw under the gaslight,” ‘He was of the rig’lar height, wore a soft slouch hat, a snuff-colored overcoat, dark trows- ers, had a smooth red face, wid ‘a big Roman nose, and I think bright black cae though I couldn’t make sart’in of the same, obsarved enough of his bair to know that the same was as black as night.” Detective Skidmore started and looked at the banker. He bad seen that man before, Both reco :nized him, The coachman was subjected to further ques- Gaping but these were all the facts elicited. “is ell, Teddy,” remarked the officer; “ we are much obliged for what you have told us, and we won't trouble you further_just now; we may want you again, I presume Mr, Livingston will allow you to spend the rest of the evening with your mother, if you wisb it.” : The banker smilingly nodded his head, and Teddy, blushing like a peers rose to his feet, bade the gentlemen good-night and left. Tbe time for serious consultation had come, and the detective and his bost wished no one present besides themselves, ‘* He described him minutely,” remarked Skid- o his friend, ‘* Yes; it couldn’t have been better; there is no =e about ee have thought it?” ss ig eos “T never did, till I heard his story,” ‘¢ Has Jones been arrested?” ‘¢ Jones!” exclaimed the astonished “\ why should he be arrested?” ** Tsn’t the proof clear against him” “ What are you driving at Skidmore? Thera is no ground for suspicion against Undertaker Jarvis Jones.” | 1t was the detective’s turn to be surprised. “What description could have been closer? Tt was exact and you say you identified it im- mediately |” “‘ Have you lived so long in Bluffton, without making the acquaintance of Jarvis Jones, one of our most regpectable citizens, against whom not the slightest charge has ever beo banker; hd | en made?” ‘Did not your coachman describe the man who boxed = the bust of your niece and dis- patched it to Chicago?” was 80 well hidden b clothes and his false pect who he was.” The banker laughed more heartily than he had done in several days: be saw the blunder into which his friend had fallen, ‘* Yes, but that was not Mr. Jones, He is sixty years old, stoop-shouldered, white-haired, and with a fringe of scant whiskers under his chin; I'll have to introduce you.” ‘* And who was that man that assisted me, or rather did the whole thing under my eyes?” The person whom Teddy saw under the lamp- light; he gave the name of Edward Vallelo,” ‘** How long bad he Leen in the employ of Mr. Jones?” ** A single day only.” ‘“How came Mr. Jones to ethploy him?” ‘““He was in need of an as-istant, and the fellow applied at the right moment, He brought strong recommendations from the undertaking firm of Williams & Brother, Chicago, and Mr. Jones was glad to secure him. He seemed so handy that he was pleased with him from the first. While he was engaged in preparing the bust for shipment, Mr, Jones received an urgent call to go to the afflicted family of an acquaint- ance, a couple of miles out in the country, and he left Vallelo in charge, He supposed,of course, that you would understand how the matter Detective Skidmore gave alow whistle, Light was beginning to break upon him. ‘¢ Where is Vallelo now?” : ** That’s what we all want to know; he left on the train that carried away the box and the diamonds, and which you tell me you overtook and boarded at Wild Cat Creek, You probably had him as a fellow passenger for a part, if not all of the way.” ‘On what alight incidents great events turn! If I had but known that that was not Jones, all this might have been prevented.” ‘It never occurred to me, but I don’t see that it makes much difference after all, The crime had been committed atthe time you met him, and that is the only matter to be con- sidered, since the diamonds went all right to my niece, who must have been pleased with the present, despite the sad association con- nected with it.” “But the diamonds did not go through all right; they were stolen,” “What?” ; Rhereopon, the detective gave a brief account of his call upon Miss Wetmore and what took place at her home, The banker listened in amazement, until he had finished, ‘*-You must have exchanged the boxes your- self.” 6 y into your safe and see whether I did.” Mr, Livingston sprung from his chair, and, stooping in front of the iron structure, qe. swung back the heavy door avd brought the other casket to light, “It was unlocked, so that the lid was lifted at once, It was empty. Ais friend had made no mis- take at least none such as the banker supposed, * When the box was opened in the store of Williams & Brother, I took out this casket,” said Skidmore; ‘tit not only contained no diamonds but never had contained any.” “* How can you know that?” “You remember how loosely they were placed, so that the lid pressed them tightly when shut, The pressure would have produced a number of impressions that would show in the lining; you observe panied? of the kind.” ‘“You are right,” remarked the banker, after several minutes’ examination of the casket. “There must then have been three boxes, so alike in their structure, that no one could detect the difference; but tell me, did you not see the person who calls himself Vallelo on the train?” ““He must have been, there, but he was so skillfully iy bo and_ kept so well out of view that I was deceived. I saw him, however, at the station in St. Louis.” “Why didn’t you arrest him?” “On what grounds? [ knew nothing of whas you have just told me, Besides his identity his fashionable suit of , that I did not sus- _ {How can you be assured of it now?” 4 He studied me closely and I was struck by his resemblance to some one, whom I could not recail until after I had entered the car. rather the individual whom 1 posed to be him. That he knew me was certain, for I was not wearing any disguise at the time.” “Inasmuch as he secured diamonds, how did he manage to enter the Ex- press car and abstract them?” “He never was in the Express car for a min- ute; he asked permission but was refused. Did ion of the the real Mr, Jones direct bim to accompany the dummy to Chicago?” ‘No, but be thought nothing of it, when he learned that you had arranged to do so, but was prevented by being called away on the discovery of the murder at the hotel.” ‘* When he did learn it, why did he not tele- graph me?” ‘* Because there was no reason todoso, The train, even with its delay, was in St. Louis be- fore Teddy told his story, Then, when it was clearly established that the bogus undertaker was the assassin, Le was beyond reach, at any rate for the time. But, since he managed to secure the diamonds, despite our precautions, how did he do it?” “By a sleight-of-hand worthy of Heller or Hermann.” Explain,” ‘* When everything was ready for the casket to be put in place, | passed it to him, and stood by and watched his movements. He slipped bis hand back of the shoulders of the bust, fumbled for an instant, and yet, in that brief time, be exchanged the caskets, He slipped the genuine one up his sleeve and shoved the false one in its lace, while I stood gaping at him like a country umpkin,” ‘“How came he to bave the false one ready?” * When he and his companion or companions found the empty one on Jo Hyler in New York, it revealed the trick by which they had been de- ceived, They had one apps similar made and brought it with them to Bluffton, with vo clear idea, of course, bow they could make use of it. Vallelo was present when you explained your little scheme to Mr, Jones; he caught on at once, and, with a coolness and daring for which I cannot refuse my unbounded admiration, he executed his brilliant feat of juggling. Ab, he is A rare one, but I am not through with him ye CHAPTER XVIII. FACT AND FICTION. “You have an ingenious way of explainin things,” remarked Banker Livingston, “an while you have your band in, I would like you to do a little more in that line,” **T don’t pretend to infallibility in that re- spect; I have already shown you where I have blundered; when a man reaches the point of never making a mistake, he is ready to quit this paren; but let me hear what is on your n ‘You will recall the night that you came here in response to my urgent message, Detective Skidmore inclined his head. ‘‘At that meeting we perfected our plan for shipping the diamonds to Chicago, by means of a dummy dead body. You are satisfied that no ape person overheard what passed between us “Tam,” “Very well; on that same morning, this man E.lward Vallelo applied to Mr, Jones, the under- taker, and was taken into his employ. Now what induced him to do that? at was bis motive in hiring to an undertaker, when he could not have known of our design?” —« Detective Skidmore blew a puff of smoke to- ward the ceiling and watched ib for a moment. Then he said, as if addressing the wreath of vapor: ‘ “If I remember rightly, you had already for- mulated your seks xP T called; you sent for me to keep you company, and, in the course of the evening, made known your plan,” “That is quite true.” “he oer when did you fix upon, this same plan ( \ ‘““My nephew called and left the diamonds witb me, After he had gone, and I understood the situation, I fell to thinking over the matter and bit upon the methed which we followed,” “ When did you first speak of it to Undertaker Jones?” : “That same evening.” { “Where?” ‘ On Main street, as we walked together, quite earlv in the evening.” ** Recall what you said to him,” **7T made no mention of the diamonds, but said . that I was thinking of sending a valuable pack- Then I remembered that he suggested Mr. Jar- | Shi . ' vis Jones, or age to Chicago, in a coffin which, while appear . ing to contain a dead body, would not.” con cate pha his gaze down pen Mi circling wreath of vapor ov d with a light iaugh, looked bry Pe i waz ‘Exactly; this Vallelo or his companion over- heard that conversation and it was all-sufficient. e knew of the plan and checkmated it. by entering the employ of Jones the next morning, ‘ ey — + ua
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- 14 where he found the precise opportunity he was seeking.” ‘*Can that be possible?” said the banker; ‘I never thought of any one listening to us, but why did not the scamp come to my house that evening when I was alone?” ‘“*You did not tell Jones that the ‘ valuable package’ was already in your possession. The miscreant, therefore, did not know whether you bad it or whether your nephew retained it.” ‘‘He learned that the next day, when I explained fully my plan; but where then was the necessity for his slaying poor Dick Hyler!” ‘‘The plea of necessity does not exist; it was one of those cold-blooded crimes that has not the slightest palliation. That which was done in New York had an apparent motive, but there was nothing of the kind here, The wretch who stabbed Dick Hyler to death, did it probably to show how little he cared for us and to empha- size his contempt of all officers of the law. At the same time there may have been a feeling of resentment beeause he had been compelled to follow his victim from the other side of the world to obtained the property he possessed.” ** Again, was the holding up of the railway- train, as it seems to you, for the purpose of o taining the money, the diamonds or both?” ‘*Until this evening, I suspected that the diamonds constituted the principal motive, but I cannot now think they had anything ‘to do with it.” ‘* Then there was no communication between these criminals and the outlaws who sought the money?” ‘Tt has always struck me as incredible that there should be, but from what we now know, no reason appears for believing it. Recall that, if the train robbers had secured entrance into the Express safe, they would not have obtained the diamonds, for they were not there, though in one of the cars in the possession of another party. This one, having been sharp enough to steal them, what motive could he have, for ask- ing others to run the risk they did in attacking a@railway-train? Had there existed an under- standing between the parties, he would have been likely to notify them that no reason existed for such an attack.” ‘*Then why was the attack made?” “For the fifty thousand dollars in the safe. It was simply a coincidence that the diamonds happened to be en route on the same train. Had those fellows, instead of wasting time in as- Sailing the Express car, with the loss of life which accompanied it, simply held up the pas- sengers and robbed them of all they possessed, they would have obtained two or three times’ as much booty as they hoped to gain, That is an- other instance of seemingly smart persons over- reaching themselves, et threw away the golden apple lying at their feet, and sought the silver one beyond their reach.” **Do you think one or two persons were con- cerned in the death of Dick?” ‘* He said there were a couple, but we know of only one, that is with certainty, though it seems to me there must have been two, if not more. The job was too great for a single person. Y it may bo that the man who overheard your con versation with Undertaker Jones, whom we saw _ skulking in front of the house, whose face was revealed to Teddy, your coachman, when he was shrinkiug under the shade of the tree, and the prowler whom he afterward observed at the rear of your grounds, were one and the same person, We have not yet seen another of the party, though you think two were engaged in shadowing you the other night, but the posses- sion of thove diamonds would amply pay a half- dozen for circumnavigating the globe.” “ And os fe Anita enrich a single in- dividual; if that man or those men have sue- eeeded in reaching Chicago or St. Louis, it is useless to search for the others in this town,” ** So it would seem, for no motive could exist, so far as we can perceive, for their presence here, excepting od one,” What is that?” ** You will see, as I have already shown, that only a single person is ope the last known of him he ' as in St. Louis, Now, if he had secured one hundred thousand \ dollars in money, by his crime, the case would ‘be simple, for he would have no difficulty in using it as he chose, It could not be traced, and all he would have tg do would be to be or- _ dinarily careful, and not ‘ give himself away: », asthe , ith _ such @ collection of diamonds. oes, But it is different There are ten of each of the first water, and of unusual ression size, for you know as well as I that ten-thousand- dollar diamonds are exceedingly rare, Those _ stones are as valueless to the Owners a8 so many OLR fy hight SUA Sicad Rinse oi eagia ay ne Se tT to suspicion, and | the second pebbles from the brook, until they can be turned into cash, and it will be no easy task to do it.” ‘They may ship a part of them to Europe.” ‘Very likely they will try it, while one or two will be offered in St. Louis, Chicago, Phila- delphia or New York, and perhaps larger cities. But they must of necessity move with extreme care, for this robbery will be known within fif- teen hours to the authorities in all parts of the country; I will attend to that, and we have some ,.mighty smart detectives in these United. States, that are likely to teach these ruffians a thing or two,” : **'You bave not named the reason for one of The Chicago Drummer’s Deal. them staying in ‘Bluffton, or visiting it after-. ward,” ; ‘* The second or third party, knowing that no possible suspicion attaches to him, will feel safe in remaining heré to watch our movements, and to keep his pal or pals posted.” **T can see no necessity for anything of that kind, Those who stay here cannot learn much, and, whatever it is, will not be of much import- ance to those further east. He will expect as a matter of course, that every possible effort will be made to recapture the diamonds and bring the thief and murderer to punishment, but why need he fear, when he is hundreds of miles away? If he cannot take care of himself and plunder, then he is not one of the men from ano whose cunning has aroused your admira- on. “IT agree with your view, and think the chances are iy ahd any one or two of them ever visiting Bluffton again, unless brought hither on a requisition to answer for his or their crimes; but, in searching for a motive, that was all I could fix upon,” Fi Wiscoceiragr | may I ask what you propose to co) ; ; i **T shall communicate this evening with the authorities in St. Louis, and other cities, giving them all the necessary particulars of the crimes, and ask them to keep a particular lookout for Edward Vallelo.” ‘* He will not travel under that name?” **Of course not, nor is he likely to carry much resemblance to Undertaker Jones’s ascistant, but he may continue to look. like the man I noticed at the railway station. Even if be dis- guises himself still further, there will remain tell-tale evidences that will awaken suspicion on the part of a shrewd detective, who does not need the spur of the big reward you have offered to do his best, for there is glory to be gained here, and of the kind which is the best capital in the world for a detective. CHAPTER XIX, ? WHAT THE DRUMMER SAW. td It was comparatively nrg | in the evening that Detective Skidmore left the banker's house, and proceeded straight to the telegraph. office, whence he sent a number of messages to the authorities of the principal cities. While thus engaged, and while passing along the street, he kept his eyes open, half hoping that he might catch sight of that mysterious party, who was concerned in the different crimes. He observed absolutely nothing. He was the only patron in the telegraph office and he de- tected no signs of any person’s surveillance of him, while going to and coming from the place. ‘There's nothing to be gained here,”. was his conclusion; ‘‘tbey are hundreds of miles away at this moment, As likely as not, they have taken passage on one of the Atlantic steamers, and we sball never hear or see them a ain,” - iS ‘* Hello, Skid, when did you get back?” It was a policeman who hailed him, Watkins by name. 6 was at the hotel immediately after the discovery of the murder of Dick Hyler, and had been active in the attempts to trace the criminals, He was a trustworthy man, but had never attained any marked success as a detec- tive, _“T got back this evening,” replied the profes- me “is there anything new about this busi- ness? . “Not much; we picked up a little news awhile ago that might have served us, had we got it sooner, but it’s too late now.” ‘‘What’s that?” asked the interested Skid- more, as he fell into step with his friend and they paced slowly along the street. “A Chicago drummer called at Headquar- ters, and told the chief that ho believed he saw an that had a hand in the death of the nephew of Mr. Livingston.” : “Where is your informant?” Gat “T left him talking with the chief, but I aga has gone back to the hotel by this _ up, and sauntered along at my usual gait, for “Do you know his name?” “ Thoman, if I remember rightly.” Repressing the interest caused by the words An of the policeman, Skidmore remarked that he | would drop in at the hotel and have a talk with the gentleman, if he was there. He walked } to the next corner with his friend, and, bid- ; ding him good-night, strolled to the inn that { had been the scene of the stirring event several days before. . Examining the register, he saw the name, ‘Wash Thoman,” hailing from Chicago. Upon inquiry of the landlord, he was told that, the guest finished his supper a short time before, and ; rat a was in his room, though he was uncer- in. ; Skidmore lost no time in going thither and } knocking. A voice from within shouted, ; ‘‘ Front!” and taking that as an invitation to enter, he did so, and immediately stood in the presence of the party.whom he was seeking. A few words sufficed to explain matters, and L. accepting the proffered cigar, the detective took a seat. ; Wash Thoman was a gentleman approach- ing middle life, with a smooth face,a bright by eye, neat attire and an exceedingly wide-awake Tip appearance. After stating that he was looking into the murder of a few days before, the detec- tice said he had been told by one of the police- vt men that there was reason to believe that Mr. Thorman, had seen the confederate of the assas- sin observed by Mr. Livingston’s coachman, and Hip who appeared to have escaped the notice of all ; iv others, : t The drummer, who stated that he represented a large clothing firm in Chicago, and had been traveling as far south as San Antonio, Texas, elevated his slippered feet on a chair in front, and, leaning back with his hands shoved into his trowsers pockets, puffed away at his cigar, after the manner of one who takes things easy in this life. ‘It’s a queer experience I bad,” he said, ‘‘ and 13 I’m sorry that I didn’t understand it sooner, I i was in Bluffton that night—” | “But you did not stay here,” interrupted the detective. **No; I stopped at the lodging-house, near the railway station. I wanted to leave early on the train, and, as I like to sleep all I can in the morning, I could thus save a good deal of time, as you know we are a considerable way from the station while in this hotel. I left on the first train, and, therefore, knew nothing about the murder, until I reached Little Rock, } where I stayed a couple of days. There I read ly the account in the papers, and, for the first time, was struck with the thougut that naar rig Thad seen both the criminals, As soon as [ could finish my business, I came -back to Bluff- ton and went to the chief of police; that was this afternoon, There I heard for the first time the story of Mr. Livingston’s coachman, which you know was not published in the papers. Then I knew I had seen the men,” ‘ The drummer paused long enough to puff his cigar into vigorous life, before resuming, while the detective, with his gaze fixed upon his face, listened in silence: ¥ ‘*T had been out on a quiet racket and was ; h t returning, when I heard the town clock striking midnight. I stopped under a lamp post to com- pare my watch. I discovered that I had for- gotten to wind it and it had run down, I f wound it, set the hands, slipped it into my {} cket, and was about starting off again, when saw on the other side of the street, a man ad- { vancing with no more noise that if he was a \ shadow, As there is a brick pavement there, ? it struck me assuspicious,and I stepped upclose =, to the Jamp-post, where the glare passed over my head, and the shadow hid me from the b sight of any one, not on the same side of the street. { ‘* As the man paused, he turned about and gave me a good view of his countenance, It answered , perfectly to the description of the coachman, . \ and, as it was near the hotel, he musthave been the same person: there can be no doubt of é, at. ; “7 ne ome I ask whether you observed the coach- | man / a } ‘“‘T did not. The actions of the stranger were ty so curious that I tried to follow bim. He was» going in the same direction with me—that is to- ward the railway station, but he scvoted off so fast that he a knew it, disap- pearing around the next corner,” ° ‘¢ And that was the last of him?” As “Not by a large majority; Ihad given him 7 several blocks, When close to the lodging- house, I passed two men, standing near tls — Ajit s ae 2 a ag i Bai ity! ND * Ba RY TUL SD cia a Sepia
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The Chicago Drummer’s Deal. track and talking in lowtones, I thought noth- | the men, and a leader at that, left the car at that a4 ing of it, until I recalled that one of them was | point, we may be able to gather a few points that the fellow I had noticed, with the rubber shoes, and who acted as if he expected some one to join him. Since I had seen him, I gave the other a : sharp glance as I passed.” — | “Did you have a good view?” ** Tt couldn’t have been better if he had posed aN for it, He was tall, thin, with a sandy beard \’ Roman nosé, a derby hat, dark clothing and ; carried a slender cane in his hand, with which ¥, be occasionally tapped the toe of his foot, I did b not let him see that I felt any interest in him, though, from the actions of the other, I wasa little curious. He watched me sharply as I walked by, and I acted as though I was busy thinking of something else, My interest, how- / ever, was not strong enough to lead me to put myself to any inconvenience, for it was late and I couldn’t forget that I had to rise early the next morning, So I went to the lodging-house and got into bed with as little delay as possible.” ‘“Your description of the second party is .admirable and ought to cause his identification,” . “T can give you @ much better one. One of ) his front teeth was missing; he was partly bald; he wore dog-skin gloves and patent-leather } shoes, and his beard is just beginning to turn Tray. . ° g ‘What opportunity had you for learning all this?” asked the astonished detective. ‘‘T6 came to me the following day. The man sat in the smoker of the north-bound train, two seats ahead of me. knew him the instant I laid eyes on him, and had plenty of opportunities ¢ to gather all this information,” ‘And you left the train at Little Rock, What a pity you did not continue with him to St. é Louis or Chicago!” ; Ps ‘¢ But he didn’t go to either of those places, at oe any rate not on my train. He got off long be- fore We arrived at Little Rock,” ‘+ Where?” ‘¢That was the odd feature of it, I watched him closely suioga to see that his ticket was for Marshton, several miles beyond Panther Hollow, but, when the train struck the latter place, it was running glowly, from some cause, and he glanced out of the window for a minute or two, as if trying to recognize the s ‘Then all at ‘once, he sprung up, burried out on the platform and dropped to the ground, I was that much interested that I yanked up the window to see how he made out. : ‘‘ He was evidently used to the business, for be ran but a few paces alongside the track, when he checked himself, and, as we began rounding the curve, disappeared in the woods,” “This is startling jnformation,” remarked Detective Skidmore; ‘[ presume you have not seen the man Since,” ; ; ‘* No, but for what reason do you imagine he left the cars at that jonely place. where a train was held up late that same night?” ‘Tt looks as if he had some understandin with the robbers that fared so badly,” replied the detective, feeling that the labyrinth of speculation and uncertainty was opening out be- fore him, and extending beyond the horizon of his knowledge, ‘I hope that what you have ld me may be the means of bringing the mis- creant to justice, and incidentally of securing to you the handsome reward that has been offered for the detection of the assassins,” CHAPTER XX, “ALL RIGHT.” usiness transaction; ‘‘in — rg I would be w 7 ing to take a further hand it, if ptgtled any- “thing I ean do.” .. “If you can geta few days off from your business—” I can always manage that,” interrupted the other, with a significant grin: ‘‘ we drummers uoderstand that sort of thing and are ullowed conyiderable margin,” “T will see at any rate that your expenses: =o paid, whether our work amounts to any- ing, but, inasmuch as one of will give us a clue,” “It’s a_ strange proposition, but since you advise it, ’m with you. I have often thought I was cut out fora detective and missed my call- ing when 1 became a drummer,” Detective Skidmore felt like remarking that the majority of mankind are of the same opinion and imagine that success in the detective line is one of the easiest things in, the world, But he kept his views to himself, ‘*1t will be necessary that I should telegraph to the house that I will not be back for several days, and they need send me no message until they hear from me again.” ‘*T must send off some dispatches also,” re- marked the officer, feeling that no time was to be lost in notifying the authorities elsewhere of the additional information he had gained, ‘* All right; we'll go to the office together,” Mr, Thoman kicked off his slippers, put on his shoes, donned a light overcoat and his cap, and led the way down-stairs, Skidmore taking his place by his side, when they reached the bottom of the stairs, while they continued chat- ting and smoking, until they arrived at the telegraph office. They stood close to each other while prepar- ing their messages, and as the drummer evinced s0me curiosity as to what his companion was doing, Skidmore allowed bim to see the one directed to the authorities at St. Louis, This was a request for them to use all possible effort to arrest a person, whose description was given and which was that of the man pictured by the drummer. ““That’s good,” he remarked admiringly; ‘you've hit it exactly. ‘‘ There’s no telling whether he is in St, Louis or some other city,” added Skidmore, ‘go it’s necessary to put the officers on their guard in other places.” While this little interchange was going on, the detective caught a glimpse of the dispatch penned by his companion, but, not wishing that his curiosity should be seen, acted as though he knew nothing of what he had written, “We will take the first train in the morning,” he added, as they came out on the street once more, “if that is agreeable to you,” “Tt will suit as well as any other plav, I intended to putina good long sleep, but I see the importance of improving our time and will retire early to my ,virtuous couch.” ‘‘T will go home and meet you at the station; good-night.” ** Good-night; wparee ‘ eanwhile, the authorities of the county in which the attempted train robbery was made, had not been idle. Tho outrage was one of the most high-handed that had occurred in the history of the State and they moved vigorously eee eee pleasant dreams,” and they and promptly. The outlaws, after their failure, mounted their blooded borses and scattered among the soli- tudes, stretching away for miles in every direc- tion from Panther Hollow. Like the Apaches, when bard pressed, they dissolved into couples and the latter separated when the pursuit be- came too hot, so that capture was well-nigh im- possible, But a certain measureof success was attained, for the sheriff was a daring and skillful officer who called the right kind of men around him and set about the business with a vim and reso- lution that was discouraged by no obstacle, They succeeded in running down three of the desperadoes, and in effectually breaking up the gang that had terrorized that section for years, ese three were tried and sentenced to long prion ot action’ in fact vomniste ent: terms in the Peniten The rufflans were less thoughtful of their fallen comrades than the American Indians, for they left them stretched on the ground near the track, with their white faces upturned to the One whom they had so grievously offended. These were taken in charge by the authorities, their faces, were buried. The two prineipal leaders were easily identi- fied by name, for they had been so defiant hat they tet eae showed themselves in public places, The countenances of the others were familiar to many, who, although they knew a price was set upon their heads, dared not be- bei Oat into the hands of the Jaw. «The pictures of the slain men were sent to different * peta with a view of helping their identification, Detective Skidmore was not resent at the inquest, the subpena not arriy- ing at Bluffton until too late, But moses the part he had taken in the affair, copies o and, after excellent photographs were taken of ae, cal hiss ifbus Wa) | | the likenesses were sent to him, and, on his re- turn from his interview with the drummer, he found them awaiting him at his lodgings, He examined the batch with a curiosity that can well be understood, scrutinizing each vicious countenance’ with the closeness of one search- ing for an old acquaintance, ‘T have seen him and him and him,” he mused, as he took three of them in hand, and held them so that the light produced the stron- gest effect, ‘‘ but the others are strangers, I wonder which one it was I dropped, when he was about to set fire to the Express car. 1 guess it was this fellow, though I can’t ke sure and it is as well that I cannot,” That for which he was hunting he did not find; there was no face among the group that answered the description given to him by Wash Thoman, the Chicago drummer, The officer followed the example of his new acquaintance, and retired at What was a com- paratively early hour for him, He was becom- ing accustomed, in a way, to the. bewildering phases of the business that was constantly open- ing out before him, but'a light had broken in upon him tbat evening which kept him awake for a long time. He had not given a hint of it to Thoman, and did not intend to do so for some time to come, “The end is not far off,” was his thought when, at last, sleep closed his eyelids and he fell into a state of uoconsciousness that was full of disturbing dreams. The morving dawned cloudy and lowering, but no rain was falling, and the sky cleared up and allowed the sun to show itself soon after it climbed above the horizon, . He was at the station ten minutes before train time. Had the cars arrived when due, nothing could bave saved the drummer from be- ing laie. He was descried hurrying along the main street, grip-sack in band, like one who knows he has not a second to spare. He came up panting and laughing, ‘*That confounded watch will be the death of me yet,” he said as be greeted his new acquaint- ance; ‘“‘I let it run down again and hadn't time to do more than swallowacup ofcoffeeand a roll; I did my chewing on my way back here, — But where’s the train?” he abruptly asked; ‘‘it’s time for it.” ‘* The agent tells me it is a half-hour late.” | “Tf IT had only known that, how much I might have saved! I could have slept longer and had a square meal, but it is har ¥ worth while to go back now,” he said, looking longing- . down the street, as if half-disposed to make a reak, ; ‘*No, but you have time to finish your break- fast in the restaurant across the railroad.” ‘* By George! Pll doit!” he exclaimed, striding over the tracks, and disappearing through the door of the place, where a number of others were similarly improving the time, When he emerged fifteen minutes later, an enormous cigar protruded from bis mouth and he was the picture of satisfaction. seep | The two paced up and down the platform while waiting. Tbe detective could not repress a little nervousness, and had visited the tele~ raph office in the station several times. Just fore the train rolled in, the telegraph boy, whom he was watching through the window, signaled to him that bis dispatch had arrived, ‘“ Excuse me,” he said to bis companion, hastening away; ‘I'll be with you in a minute, ' The message addressed to the detective was without signature and contained only the two words: ‘All right.” CHAPTER XXI. — CONCLUSION, Be? . THE drummer took a step toward the plat- form of the smoking car, as the train came toa stop, and had placed one foot on the step, when detective Skidmore touched his shoulder, “One moment, if you please—” R The next instant the two were struggling like a couple of catamounts. They locked arms, strock, pulled and pushed and fought fiercely, falling to the platform once, then up again, and at it again with indescribable fury. Neither spoke, for they bad no breath tosparc, but panted, glared and strove each with mighi or main to master the other, ee The awed passengers gathered around, wondering what it all meant, A couple of brakemen were about to interfere, when Skid- __ more called out: me a “ Hands off! I'll manage him!” A As he br a sharp click was heard, and the athletic but exhausted drummer ceased his struggles. The handcuffs were secured, and y he was helpless. Even then he refusedtospeak, } : . } A i ca F * ‘ : ache 4 ” Ce L ire ‘ ee | . ren Pease share Ys
Page 16
except to utter a bitter execration, as he was led into the smoker and given a seat with the Officer beside bim, They formed an odd pieture, | these two men, who, a svort time before, seemed | to be on the most frieudly terms—now scowling, | angry, and silent, as they rode mile after mile over the lonely railway, with passengers con- tinually entering and leaving the car for the purpose of gettiug a loo at them. All at once the captive seemed to thaw out and show a wish to b-come confidential. “Well, Skid,” sail he, with a curious grin, ee you played it on me fine, that time,” ‘It was bard work,” replied the officer, very glad for a chance to exchange words with the fellow, ‘*- You gave me the hardest tussle [ ever had, ‘*Confounded fool that I was,” muttered Thoman, ‘‘ but you’ve got me dead to rights —no denying that. Come to think, Skid, I made a mistake in the statement I gave ,ou tne other night.” ‘* How?” “You remember I saw the second party standing by the railroad at Bluffton shortly after Dick Hyler got his quietus.” “ Yes,” : ““T gave you what you called a good de- scription, It may have been good, but it was wrong.” ** In what respect?” ‘* That second individual looked like anothe. person altogether, In fact it was another per- son, for, it was myself !” ‘*T am not surprised,” coolly replied the de- tective; ‘‘1 suspected it at the time, and I thiok you'll admit that the little flurry at the railway station showed that I became sure of t. ‘“‘1t does have that look,” drily admitted the prisoner, ‘** And the man you telegraphed to at Marsh- ton is the one who slew Dick Hyler and stole the diamonds, by hiring out to Undertaker Jones, as an assistant, and who changed the caskets, while seeming to place the right one in the coffin.” , ; ** Whew!” exclaimed the manacled man “ vou’ve played it cleaner than I thought; but,” he glanced furtively, arround, ‘* Pll admit that you're right.” It may sound strange to the reader that this cunning desperado after being entrapped in this fashion, should have talked so freely to the officer, and made such a confession as he did; but, | it must be borne in mind that the confession was utterly valueless, since it was heard by no one else, The scoundrel made sure cf that, Under the circumstances, no court would admis it, and besides the fellow bad an object, which appeared later on, “*Of course you’re the partner of the other fellow,” ** Yes, and have been for years. We followed the Hylers from Cape Town; we separated at Liverpool and I attended to Jo, It was aslip, but the little box found on him in New York told the scheme they had worked on us, I had another made like it, shipped the right one by Express to Dick at Bluffton, and me and ny pard followed.” ‘Your story is very straight,” said the detec- tive, ‘‘and I would be much obliged if you will repeat it in the courtroom, or sign a written statement,” The fellow turned and looked squarely in the face of the officer. Then he grinned and closed one eye, “T rather think you would! It would be worth considerable toyou. But, see here, Skid,” he added, lowering his voice, ‘* you would like to make say ten thousand wouldn’t you?” ‘*Of course I would,” ‘We're approaching Marshton; [ll make a rush; you'll follow; you'll tumble on the plat- form; I'll do the rest, Within a week you'll re- ceive a little billet-doux—honor bright, See?” It was Skidmore’s turn to look into the face of his companion and make precisely the same grimace and wink that he had given. He add- ed, with a low laugh: ‘“*Tt won’t work, my bov—but here we are,” The train began slowing up for Marshton, and when it came toa balt a surprising thing took place. Don Barmore, one of the most noted detectives of St, Louis, walked into the smoker with a bandcuffed prisoner, A light- ning glance passed between bim and Skidmore’s Man, and despite the unsurpassable coolness of the two, each uttered a low execration, Barmore and Skidmore were comrades and had been working together in this business, They nodded pleasantly, and the former seated himself with his prisoner directly in front, —~ The Chi During the ride to Little Ruck he told his story, | which was short and to the point, With a recklessness, born of his long im- ; munity from detection, this fellow bad openly | shown himself in Marshton immediately after the robbery, Barmore suspected him, but did | no: effeet the arrest uotil after the exchange of , telegrams with Skidmore. The arrest of tiie pretended Vallelo was im- portant of itself, but the most astounding re- | sult was the discovery on his person of the cas- ket wits the ten missing diamonds! At Little Rock the prisoners were lodged in | jail, until the next day, when, still guarded by toe two detectives, they were removed to Bluff- ton aud comuitied for trial, The authoritivs were in no mood to be ham- pered by technizelities and fine-spun theories, over these * operators.” The jury aecided, atter a full and fair investigation, that both were guilty of capital offenses and they were hanged, as they richly deserved to be, When the second criminal saw that all hope was gone, he made a confession, which accorded with thatof his partner in crime. It was he who did poor Dick Hyler to death in the hotel nt Bluffton, and it was the sham drummer that | struck down the other brother in the city of New | York. 1 It was late on the nizht of the capture that : Detective Skidmore rung the bell of Banker Liv- ingston’s home. The gentleman was sitting in his library as usual, and goon learned the strange story his trusty friend had totel]. He listened with breathless interest, and when the casket was opened, and tle blazing treasures were re- | vealed, he could hardly beheve bis senses, But it was all real and not a dream, “You need not be afraid to keep them in your sate to-night,” added the officer, ‘‘and Miss Wet- more sha)] have her present after all—” ‘* Hark!” interrupted the banker, suddenly, They listened, The town clock was striking the hour of midnight, ; bs It is Low Twelve,” said the host; “odd isn’t t THE END. Beadle's Half-Dime Library. BY J, ©. COWDRICK, Broadway Riliy Novels. 490 Broadway Billy, the Boothlack Brivo. | nee pepeswey ae GT aye Clearing aStranze Case. roadway y’a silty.” 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 579 Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party. 605 Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. 628 Brondway Billy’a Dend Acts or, The League of Seven. 669 Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootbjack in Frisco, She bay dae Rl or, Beating San Fraucisco’s Finest. rondway n Clover. eos | omg ke Huy, tn Texans or, The River Rustlers. roadway y’s Brand, Z11 Broudway Billy at Sauta Fe; or, The Clever Deal. +4 abe pale! 2 i rahe ands or, The Gamin Detective. rondwa V8 Jusiness, 8S nrendway iNy'n Curtous Case. 758 Broadway Billy in Denver. 762 Broadway Billy’s Bargain; or, The Three Detectives, o69 Broad wae Tay? rhe erent aeneEATS. 7> Bro yan: x Shadow nec. 88 Broadway Billy’« Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest, 86 Broadway Blilly’s Team; or, The Combine's Big Pull. grand way, Hinges qrigedes or, the Dead Alive. r wa a Queer . 00 roadway Billy Bafled. 05 Broadway Billy’s inet Scoop. S10 Broadway Billy’s Wipe Out. : 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Koya. B69 Shastry the Gold King ¢ or, For Seven Years Dena. 420 The Petlective’« Apprentice; or, A Boy Without s Name, 424 Cibuta Jonny; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, 67 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude, 06 Redlight Ralph the Prince of the Road. 524 The Enginecr Detective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve, 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 571 Alr-Line Luke the Young Engineer; or, The Double Case, 592 The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascals Out. 615 Fighting Harry the Chief of Chained Cyclone, 640 Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle. 647 sy pemeiter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgan, the * Pizenest ’ Man of Ante Bas, Keieicieied Zz BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS, i 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or. The Dead Set at Silver City. 622 Tom-Cat?a Triad; or, The Affair at Tombstone. Tom Cat’s Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective. 685 Tom-Oat’s Trinmph; or, Black Dan’s Great Combine. 516 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock; or, Josh’s Ten Strike. 568 The Dandy of Dodge; or, Rustling for Millions. §&76 The Silver Sport; or, Josh Peppermint’s Jubilee. eat Eatizon ce he With a maga ts Beak oe na ana, the Dutch Videeq; or, Hot Times at Round- 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Oetetiies Hercules. P 646 Cow 7, Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mount-bank, 665 Jolly Jeremiahy the Plains Detective. $ 6 arat Sam, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy, the @yps Spy: or, The Mystery of Two Lives, 899 § mple Sim, the ; : ib lar Dunes o roms oe e Meamer orty or @ t tective. 788 Toltec Tom, the : ete 45 Kansas Jim, the ad Prospector, z Cross-Cut Detective. \ pd | Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective. 7% The Rustler of Rolling Stone. 785 Lone Hand Joe, the Committee of One. 801 Kent Kirby, the High-Kicker from Killbuck. DIMAS Om clerese? 4 Diek Doom’sa Clean Sweep; or, Five Links in a C)) Dick Doom’s BPeath Clue. | Dick Doom’« Diamond Deal, Veashing Charlic; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First — Bashing Charlic’s Bestiny; or, The Renegade’s Ce Dashing Chartie’s Pawnee Pard. Dashing Charlie, the Rescuer, Buck Taylor, King ot the Cowboya. Muck ‘Baty lor, the ( omanuche’s Captive, , Buck Taylor’s Goya; or, The Red Riders of the Rio Gr Pawnee BI, the Prairie Shadower. Pawnee Kili; or, Curl, the Mad Cowboy. Pawnee Bills Pledge; or, ‘The Cowboy's Doom, Puwnee Big; or, Dariny Dick. Redfern’s Curtons Casey or, The Rival Sharpe, Redtern at Devil's Raneh; or, The Sharp trom Tex. Pedlerm’s Wigh Mand; or, Blue Jacket. : Redtern’s Last Trail; or, The Red Sombrero Ranger _ Red Ratph’s Ruse; or, The Buccaneer Midshipman, ew Red Ralph’s Bold Game; or, The Wizard Sailor. | Ked Kalph, the shadower, or, The Freebooter’s Legacy. ee meee - - = at a ~d eS S=Ss bE Ks RE NMENH VSKS BNW aca DB ete} = hehe ied 565 Kent Kingdon; or, The Owls of the Overland. 570 Kent Kingdon'’s Skhadower 3; or, the Card Queen. £75 Kent Kingdon’s Duels or, The Surgeon Scout. ; 5°6 Kent Kingdon’s Doom; or, The Buckskin Avenger. _ 545 Lafitte Bun Downy; or, The Buccaneers of Barrataria. i ~ h5O Lafitte’a Legacy; or. The Avenging Son, ree 555 Latltte’s Confession; or, The Creole Cursair, 520 Ruekskin BI, the Comanche Shadow, 5625 The Buckskin Brothers in Texan. 580 The Buckskin Bowers; or. The Cowboy Pirates, 5235 The Buckskin Rovers: or, The Prairie Fugitive, 540 The Buckskin Pardes’ Quest; or, Captain Ku-Klux, 508 The Royal Middy 3 or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, iS 507 The Royal Middy’s Luck; or, The Hunted Midshipmre — 511 The Royal Middy’s Foe. ¥ 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret ot New York. 451 Wizard Wills Street Scouta 474 Wizard Wills Pard; or, Flers, the Flower Girl. 488 Wizard WIILI’s Laat Case; or, The Ferrets Afloat. 429 Dunean Dare, the Boy Refugee, 488 Duncan Pare’s Plots or, A Cabio Boy’s Luck. 4287 Drnean Pare’a Prize; or, The Sea Raider 441 Duncan PDare’s Secret: or, The Ocean Firefly, 492 Taodor. the Young Conapirator: or, The Fatal Leagt 407 Txodor’s Pouble Chases: or, The Boy Ineurcent. ie 412 Inodor’s War-Cloud Cruise; o1, The Vi ild Yachtoman 216 Rison Rit. the Prince of the Reins, 222 Hilson BUNIs Clucs or, Grit, the Bravo Sport, A) 804 Dead Shot Pandy’« Dilemma, i 808 Dead thot Dandy’s Doubles cr, Keno Kit. B14 Dend Shot Dandy's Defiance; or, The Koy Bugler, 607 Dead Shot Bandy’s Chich or, The River Detective, 245 Merle Monte’s Leap for Life. 250 Merle Monte’s Mutiny ¢ or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 204 Merle Monte’s Treasure Irland. ise Detective, Soe 495 Arizona doe; or, The Boy Pard of Texas Jack. i 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger iP 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Conster; or, Pirate in Spite. 462 The Sailor Boy Wanderer or, The Born Guide. 446 Haphazard Harry 3 or, The Sea ing a a £98 The Red Clasped Hands; or, The Boy Lieutenant, LRT Warrath WIL. the Traitor Guide. ie ndfian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, Rovers or, The Flygleas Schooner, ~ ee nie” - oe ae es bape ¢ the Vil is EME ’ 62 The it 7 The Flying Yankee; or, The LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 814 Ace Nigh, the Frisco Detective. By C.E. Tripp. | S15 Ficeateor Billy’« Bank Rackets or, The City Dé tive’s Big Haul, By J. C. Cowdrick. PA 816 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Rival. By Edward L. W he S17 Widenwake, the Tram-boy Detective. Py Col. Ay FT S18 The Wustler Rogue-Catcher. By Wm. k. Pysters” £19 Bick Doom’s Girl Maacot. By Col. ile lags 820 Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective. By Wm. G. Pa ss 821 Rrondway Billy's Bluff, By J. C. Cowdrick. 822 Deadwoed Dick, Jr.’4, Boom. By Ed, L. Wheele $28 Poker Jack, the Detective Sport. By Oll Coomes, PF: £24 Rowery Billy, the Bunco Rouncer, By Jo Pierce, rye 82h Marlo, the Cowboy Conster, Cy Cel. P. Ingraham) 826 Broadway Billy Among Jersey Thugs, By J “owdrick, a 827 The Bantam Sport; or, The Miner-Boss Ferret, Ke Abs C. Harbangh. | 828 Teadwood Bick, Jr.’s. Scoop. By Ed. f. Wheel £29 The Gentleman Crook In Chicago; or, Dick : Shadow Hunt. By Col. P. Ingraham, / 880 The Grim Lodgers in Rag Alleys or, Citizen of Number Seven, By Ben D. Halliday. = 881 The Chicago Drummer’s Deal. By J. G. beat 882 The Doctor Detective in Texas. By Lieut. A. K.5 A New Isaue Every Tueaday- The Half- Dime Library 1s for sale by al! newsdealert net cents per copy, or cent by mail on receipt of six cents each. f BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers 98 William Street, New Y