Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 848) (1893 10 24)
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5 FE canes re: Yim? ae Nlalallall sig V4 eo : | f \ ‘i ae |: j a . wD A \\ SW WMA Ss 5 \\ % MRAM we" N NY {i fee ee Ve, s PORE HME TA ACORe c/, ~ = hieMarnmermeec . ( Sram | y a np | a mts) ial " rT | a I — pt ras rs] FINN Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y, Pi ‘oat C Office. Copy righted | 1898, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, October 24, 1893. No.848. ,*35°, Pree, Tol. XML C—O | iy Bi: Sk ze 4: i | ’ j x d : q i} | ° se Sy ‘ i} , HPL { i di: = ‘ } | — . | . ( \ tl] ’ } i ; ; | } Se WX | ¢ | : ( > } S v | nH! . | \ o \) 4 | ih} 1! ~ \ ' ' 7 ‘ a rn : iI a | Hiliie y ~ . . il! | | | — iS ) —s ~ hh} 1] | 3 fete os y ' ne: Y sia | | ne bd ~~ ‘ ’ if . ~ <j il} | — “ . seALS ananuts wees | , | A hi. a eernesbanene ee 3 / : peue: (2 apy teen sean owe == SS — i & : ' : a = S&S : nn orwmerenaars — e - - = — - —— . “ a — — HW il " 1 | Tit Nba j ee oe ee Jack J fers’ Foul Play. BY T. C. HARBAUGH, AUTHOR OF “BUCKSKIN DETECTIVE,” “ PHIL FLASH,” ‘* DODGER DICK” NOVELS, ETC, CHAPTER I. é THE DOLL-MAKER’S GREAT LOSS. “‘Bress my soul! there’s the little doll-maker, And that little tow-headed chap with her? He looks for all the world like Gusta herself,and ‘“ AA EER SE the chances are that he’s her brother. I’ve “OPEN THE DOOR!” CRIED THE IMPRISONED CLIP, ‘““OPEN IT NOW OR PLL DASH missed Gusta for some time, and I’ll bet my head YOUR BRAINS OUT.”
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2 that she’s been back to the Old Country after the boy,” The boy who spoke thus, addressing himself, sat cn one of the benches in Battery Park, one afternoon, while a lot of newly-arrived immi- grants were pouring out of Castle Garden, and taking their first look at their new home, He wasa Pox well known to those who fre- quented the Battery, and to the police and others he was known as the Battery Ferret, and sometimes as the Battery Butterfly, foron warm days he was almost sure to be found on one of the benches, watching the people, and seeming to have nothing else to do, But, Clever Clip was a busy boy for all his apparent idleness, and more than one poor im- migrant he had saved {rom the hands of the fleecers who used to frequent the Park, and rob them of their little all before they had obtained a glimpse of the New World. Vhen he saw the girl and her little brother approaching, he left his bench and went toward them, In a moment the girl recognized him, and a out her hand, while a smile brightened her ace, ‘*T am glad to see you, Clip,” said she, ‘ This is Paul, my little brother, and we came im yos- terday.” ‘* Yesterday, Gusta?’ asked the boy, in amazement. ‘‘I did not know you had gone back, but when I saw Paul here I thought you might have been home,” ‘* Yes, | went back after him. Father died some time ago and 1 went after Paul, who will now make his home in America,” Augusta Muller looked proudly at her little brother who was a stout lad of ten, and then soeenee Clip’s eyes, a shadow overspread her ‘ace. ‘*T have met with another great misfortune, but [ hope it will come out right,” she went on, **T have lost my trunk.” ‘Lost your trunk?” cried Clever Clip. ** Why, how did that happen, Gusta?’ ‘*T guess it was all my fault, but there is something connected with the loss that makes me fear something dark is behind the whole matter, [came back hoping I could find some trace of it, or obtain some clue to the man to whom I intrusted it, but so far I have been un- successful,” **Tbat is too bad,” said the boy. ‘“ But, sit down here on the bench and tell me your story.” The German girl, who was a doll-maker, took a seat beside the boy and told a story that in- terested him from the first word, ** About two months ago I got a letter from father saying that his health had failed him and asking me to come home and take care of him until the end came, I did not get to see you to tell you that I was going back, but took the first steamerout, WhenI reached the old home 1 found that father was near the end and that soon Paul and I would be orphans, ‘** Father had been estranged from a wealthy brother who, dying, forgave him and left him a fortune of twenty thousand marks, This money would at father’s death fall to little Paul and me, and he told us how to keep it and to ada to it, which we promised to do, @ lived, when in Germany, at the edge of a little vil- lage, anda great many people who came over from this country went through the town in carriages to see the country. I had discovered that father had become acquainted with a man who said he was an American of some wealth. At any rate, he was a clever man and when I got home he offered bis services to me in any way I might find them acceptable, * After the funeral, and when Paul and I found ourselves alone in the world, this man, whose name was Jackson Jeffers, advised me to conceal the twenty thousand marks in the old trunk which I had concluded to bring to this country when we came back, He said this was the best way to hide it as no one would think of looking there for money, and he as- sisied me in hiding it in the Hning of the trunk, I must confess that he was very kind, anda few days before Paul and I left the vil- lage, he bade us good-by, saying that business had called him to another part of the empire and that he could not see us off. Wecame over in the steerage and when I reached New York and found my trunk all right I was very glad, for the twenty thousand marks were safe and we could exchange them for American money and have enough to keep us the rest of our lives, When we came to Castle Garden I was met by a man who asked if I had any bag- gage I wanted conveyed to some point in the city, and J pointed to the precious trunk, “That was the last I saw of it.” Clip, the Battery Ferret. ** The last sight of your trunk containing your fortune?” cried the Battery Butterfly, **T never saw it again,” said Gusta with a deeply drawn sigh and a pitying glance at little Paul, who was admiring the uniform of one of the Park police, ‘‘It vanished as if the earth had opened and swallowed it. I haven’t seen the man since who took it off and that is why I am here to-day.” ‘© What was this man like?” ** He looked like the ordioary hackman,” an- swered the doll-maker. ‘‘I thought him hon- est, of course, and as he offered to take the pine to our house so cheaply, I let him have the job. For a moment Clever Clip said nothing. He looked at Gusta Muller and her brother and felt for them from the bottom of his heart. ‘*Give mea full description of this man,” he said at last, ‘‘ Tell me just what be looked like, what sort of a wagon he had and all about him,” The girl did so, saying at the conclusion of her description, that she thought that perhaps the man might have delivered the trunk to the wrong house and she had expected to find bim in the Park waiting for another job, After awhile Clip persuaded Gusta to go home, promising her that he would do allin his power to trace the lost trunk and he even walked with the pair some distance up-town, ** That’s downright theft!” said Clever Clip, a flush of indignation overspreading his face, ** The poor girl is the victim of a clever plot on the part of some rascals, They were playing for the twenty thousand marks and have won the game, too. Tho plot began in Germany and was played out here, or at any rate that’s the way it looks to me, Tbe man who took sion of the trunk was laying for it, and when he saw Gusta and little Paul land he knew he had his victim in his hand, That Mr. Jeffers might have had a hand in the plot, for Gusta says that if he hadn’t made the suggestion she wouldn’t have thought of hiding the bills in the trunk, It’s a cocl plot against as nice a girl as ever crossed the sea to make her home in this free country, and to see her and her little brother robbed in this manner by a set of sharpers, for there must be a gang of them, is more than I can stand,” Clever Clip went back to Battery Park and began to look around. he description given him of the heckman by Gusta who had taken a good look at him was all the clue he had, but he saw no one answering that description, All at once he hailed a boy of his own age who came forward and wanted to know what was the matter. ‘* Where were you yesterday, Bunce?’ asked Clip. Pr was here a part of the time.” ** Where were you when the immigrant ship came in” ** Lolling in the shade looking at the comical citizens we got on her.” ** You didn’t see a girl and a boy land, did you, Bunce?” ‘Saw dozens of them, They bad queer-look- ing handkerchiefs round their heads and looked for all the world like—I don’t know what,” ** But I want to know if you saw a girl make a bargain withaman to take her trunk toa certain part of the city?” “Didn't I, though?’ laughed Bunce, the Battery loafer. ‘‘ And such an old looking tronk it was! It bad a dozen straps around it to keep it from falling to pieces and I couldn’t see any lock, I guess the straps were all the “combination” it had, and when the man threw it on the wagon I hollered to him to be careful with the old box or he would havea collapse the first crossing he struck.” ** Did you know the man?” ** Never saw him before, He didn’t seem to know: the ropes for he could have got several other jobs, but he seemed to be looking for the girl and boy, and the moment he corraled the trunk off be went as if fired from a cannon.” This was sometbing and the eye of Clever Clip lif up with renewed hope. “That man hasn’t been back here to-day for I wanted to ask him if the old trunk held to- ether till he got it home,” continued Bunce. 3! thought saw the couple here whilo ago. “You did, Bunce. They were down hero songs. The man turned into Broadway, did @ ‘“*T guess he did, I know he went off likea hue and the boy and girl watched him out of sig “They should have gone with him,” said Clever Clip aloud to himself, but the next mo- ment he turned and looked at Bunce. ** Would you know the hackman if you saw him again? “Tf he was dressed like he was yesterday, yes, but I don’t think you'll catck him in the same feathers again,” *“ Why not?” ‘* He never was cut out for that kind of work, Why, it looked to me like a barpy pouncing down upon a lamb, He was laying for that old trunk, or I’m no. Park lizard, No, he won’t come back, Clip. That man is out of a job now.” ‘*-You are right,” said the Battery Butterfly, looking at the boy at his side. ‘‘ He will have to look very careful if he doesn’t see the inside of a penitentiary.” CHAPTER II. 18 IT A CLUE, Avausta MuLLER and her brother went home disconcvlate. Little Pau) was hardly old enough to realize the extent of their loss, but ‘* Gusta,” asshe was called, his kind, big-hearted sister, felt it in all ites bearings and when they had returned to the- small rooms where the girl had lived for several years while she mgde queer but beautiful Ger- man dolls for a G0ll house, the future did not look very bright, Night came and with it the well known face of Ciever Clip, the Battery Butterfly. The boy bad not much to en & for be had ob- tained no clue to the man who bad vanished with the trunk and Gusta and Clip talked the matter over while Paul amused bimself on the floor, There was something in the large blue eyes of the little Dutch boy that captivated Clip, e could not help looking at them and all at once Paul said something to his sister that caught Clip’s attention, ‘¢ What is that be said, Gusta?” cried the boy. “‘ Wasn’t be talking about the may who went off with your baggage? : ** Yor, ke said he had a fine gold ring on his band, one that sparkled in the sunlight. ** You did not see it, Gusta?” “No, Paul bas sbarp eyes and I have no doubt he did,” said the girl. P : ’ ‘Ask Paul all about the hing so Clip said ongerity “There might be a clue here.” he Battery Ferret could not understand Ger- man, though Gusta bad several times offered to teach him, and he bad to be content with the translations made by the gir]. ** Paul says-it was worn on the third finger of the left hand and that when he put the trunk in the wagon be saw the ring distinctly and that it looked like a gold snake wound round the man’s finger with a diamond on the top of its head.” Clever Clip started violently. ‘Great Caesar!” he cried, ‘‘ Don’t you think Paul might be mistaken?” ‘‘T never knew him to be, for, as I bave said, he has the keenest eyes I ever saw. 1 will as him again,” ; For a moment the Mullers talked rapidly and Clip saw that Paul was just es positive ss he could be. He answered bis sister’s question with some spirit and, taking a pencil, drew ona bit of paper on the table a picture of the hand with the ring on the third, finger. ‘IT can’t shake Paul’s testimony,” smiled ‘* He is as positive as be can be that it Gusta, 4 was just such a ring as he had described and— ~ i know a man who wears a ring like that,” said Clip. ‘* Heavens! you do?” exclaimed Gusta, opening her great brown eyes to their fullest extent, “He's a lawyer and his name is Nicholas Nabb, I made his acquaintance last summer for I was jerked up as a witness in a matter in which he was interested and ell the while be was talking to me he was drumming on the table and showing me aring just like the one Paul saw yesterday. “ But there may be many rings of that sort,” putin Gusta Muller, “Oh, yes, hundreds of them for that matter,” was the reply, ‘But this thing might be looked into. Maybe Mr. Nabb has lost his ring, and perhaps Paul saw it on the band of the finder.” It was eight o’clock when the Battery Ferret went down the steps leading to the bumble home of the Mullers, and finding bimself on pe well-lighted streets,he started off ata rapid ait. ‘3 ‘80 little Paul saw tne serpent ring on the band of the man who took hold of the trunk?”
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or a he said, ‘* That’s rather queer, and it’s worth jooking into.” He turned into another street, and kept on until half-way across the city he stopped and jooked up at a window where there was a light, showing that the office beyond was occupied at that hour. The building was one oceupied by lawyers and others who did business in the police courts, and when Clip had watched the window some time, he slipped into the open hallway and went up the darkened steps. Hs was just stepping into the hall above when adoor opened ahead, and there came into the corridor a man upon whom for a moment fell a flood of light, ‘‘Heigho! Mr, Nabb”, mentally exclaimed the Battery Ferret, as he drew back and watched the man standing in the light, as he talked with some one left in the office. He was a tall, fine-looking man, dressed in the height of the prevailing style, and held a cigar between his testh. “Pll attend to that matter to- night,” said Nabb to the unseen, “I am goi past the house, and will step in and see the old lady for myself,” * Make every arrangement, for there’s no tell- ing how far we will have to go in the matter,” was the reply, and then the door was closed and Clever Clip, the young shadow, saw the man come down the hall, Nicholas Nabb passed Clip without so much pal ge sd a glimpse of him, which was very f nate for the boy, and when he had passed out, Clip darted after him in a jiffy. “Pll not let this opportunity pass,” he said. *“*T'll just see who you are going to call on as ‘you go down-town, Mr. Nabb, The firm of Nabb & Nippem did not enjoy the best of reputations; that is, the two men were noted for chicanery, and it was said that they were ready to resort to anything to clear their clients who found themselves in tight places, They were not looked up to by their brother lawyers, and consequently they were not much thought of by honest members of the bar. Nicholas Nabb went down-town, walking rapidly, while be appeared to enjoy his cigar, and never thought that he had the Battery But- wn Bey his heels. After walking several squares Nabb turned into a side street and ran nimbly up the steps of @ common-place house which stood behind several shade trees, When the door was opened he spoke to the person in the hall and was admitted. The shutting of the door seemed to put an end to Clip’s espionage, but, nothing dauated, he slipp up to the house and drawing himself up to the window, he discovered that he could see into the front room, For a moment he saw nothing and then a ‘woman entered the room and greeted Nicholas Nabb with a smirk, She was past fifty for ber hair was gray and she wore some of it in bangs over her Foeohead. A. profusion of jena adorned her person, and altogether she looked to Clip like a keener who knew how to get along in the world, The boy at the window strained his ears to catch any words that might pass between the ir and it was some time before he heard any- thing intelligible, ** Of course I am to be paid well for what I do?” said the womun, ** Of course, Mrs, Flounder, We don’t expect you to undertake any thing for us unless we y you well. But, maybe we won’t have any hing for you to do, only dropped in to say that we might have a job, you know.” Mrs, Flounder bowe1 and looked at Nabb, “How is Mr, Nippem doing now?’ she asked. se: ippem, my partner? Qh, he’s doing well, thank you.’ You still hold forth in the Belgium Block, do you?” ‘* Yes, but you understand, Mrs, Flounder that it wouldn’t do at this time for you to call? ** Don’t be afraid of that. I’m not going to quit my native heath to getany of my friends into trouble, Ill bediscreet enough for both of you and if you two are half as shrewdas I, you will get through the world without any trouble,” This was not much, but still it told the Bat- tery Butterfly something, It told hin that Nicholas Nabb was acquainted with the woman, and that the firm was likely to give her some- thing to do in the near future, but this was not very certain, All the time Clip was looking at Nabb’s band, but he could not make out the Style of the ring that graced one finger. At times he lary Hy it looked like a serpent and then he seemed to notice that it was a plain Clip, the Battery Ferret. gold affair, and it was not until the lawyer turned to the door that hea got a good look at the bauble. It was a golden serpent sure enough and just the kind described by little Paul Muller, The diamond flashed in the light as the lawyer stopped underneath the jet to relight bis cigar, and when he crossed the room Chp dropped to the ground and ran to one of the trees where be stood in the shadows like a statue, He saw Nicholas Nabb come out of the house and walk off. When the door bad closed Clip got on his trail again and tracked him to a smail eating house where Nicholas ordered a grill and sat down to enjoy it, ‘‘That’s enough for one trip,” said the Battery Butterfly, ‘*I don't know who took the trunk, but I’ve seena ring like the one worn by the man who did take it, thanks to Paul Mouller’s eyes.” Half an hour later Clever Clip entered a room where he seemed at home for he flung his hat upon @ couch and sat down, Clip was at home, Ho had livedin an bumble room for more than a year, managing by odd jobs to pick up enough to pay the rent and get clothing and meals, the latter not very regular, but regular enough for him, ‘This plot against the orphans’ fortunes gets blacker and blacker the deeper I go into it,” he said, ‘I don’t know what to make out of it et, but Pm going to the end of the string. hall I tell Captain Cupid? No, I won't do it yet, I may need his services before long, but I am going to help Gusta and little Paul all alone for the present, The clocks in the neighborhood struck ten and Clip went out, “ 1’}] drop into Delmonico’s and get a lunch,” said he and entering a small restaurant, he shouted: ‘Hello there, Buster! Soup and sandwich—a pea in the former and meat in the latter. And fetch it to table number ten in a jiffy!” and tripping to one corner of the room, he sat down Abe waited for his order, The bumble restaurant was Clever Clip’s ** Delmonico’s,” CHAPTER III. THE MAN FROM OVER SEA. Tuer night after the events we have just chronicled an old man who was known to deal in all sorts of money received at his door a visi- tor at whom he looked twice before admitting him, Old Jason Sixpence, as he was called because of bis love for the remotest coin, finally ad- mitted the man at the door and took bim to the dingy little room where he transacted all his business, The oddest thing about this visitor was that he wore a false beard, something’ which the old money exchanger saw at once and this made hint feel a little uneasy. ‘*Do you want some Dutch money?” said the man’s caller. * What have you got?” Old Jason was careful, never letting any one get the best of bim in any way. “T’'ve got a littl German money and want some of Uncle Sam’s bills for it.” ‘* Let me see it,” The man with the false beard opened his coat and then his waistcoat, watched all the time like a hawk by the old man.. Finally he took from beneath his shirt a package which made the old fellow’s eyes water with delight for here was a chance of driving another bard bar- ea oy making a good margin before he went to . When the stranger had counted out hundreds of dollarsiu German bills Jason Sixpence reached across the table and stopped him, ‘Goodness gracious!” he cried, ‘“‘ where did you get so much money?” ‘¢ Never mind that. I asked you if you want- ed some German money and you said you did, Now I am showing you what I have and I want some other stuff for it.” Old Jason said no more but let the man go on, and when he had counted out ten thousand marks he looked up and smiled. “ That’s the pile. Now, what can you do” The money-changer knew what they would give the man at auy bank for the pile of bills; but he wanted to drive a better bargain und so he told the stranger what he would give him for the amount be had counted out. “ Hand it over,” said the man, leaning back in the chair and looking up at Jason. ‘ Hand it over, I say, and we'll conclude the transaction in a jiffy. But 1 don’t want anything said about this, if'you want it, speaker smiled, Jason Sixpence went to his safe and came back with a handful of United States money which he proceeded to count out, taking in place of it the German bills the stranger had deposited on his table, ‘¢Do you want some more?” asked this man. ‘* At the same rates?” “ Yes,” “111 take all you have, you?” ‘* Nearly as much more,” ** Bring it on,” The stranger gathered up the bills which Old Jason had placed upon the board and buttoned his coat over them. In another moment be had turned to bid the money-sbark good-night, ‘‘ Tl bring the rest on in a day or so,” he said, ‘I get a zood jeal of this sort of money in my business and of course I’d rather have United States money. It gives you a chance to make a little something and I am willing to let you do that, you see,” The speaker was escorted to the door of Jason Sixpence’s den and soon found himself on the street. “That transaction didn’t take up much time and everything was in order,” be chuckled to himself. ‘‘Now I want to get out of this dis-~ guise,” He entered a passing car and was carried to near the Kast River where he alighted and en- tered a house which he seemed to recognize as home. When he had reached a room wherethe gas was burning, he pulled off the false beard and laughed over the success of his little negotiation with Old Jason. Now he was a good-looking man, with keen brown eyes and a smooth face which was round and full. He took a seat at the only table in the room and counted over the money hoe bad received from the money sharp. ‘*Tt's all O. K.” he said aloud, ‘Of course I let the old hog take a little more than the usual exchange, but it was safer there than in any other place, Now for the other part of the little game,” For some time longer he remained cooped up in the little room and then went down-stairs, He had barely touched the sidewalk when he was accosted by a man against whom he nearly rap, ‘* What, you?” he cried, drawing back in as- tonishment, and ther going forward the next moment, ‘' When did you get inf” ** About two hours ago. ehada rough sage of it, got too far out of our course and at one time thought we were going down to see the mermaids, But luckily we got back into the th and outweathered the gales, Tired? Well, should say so, Of course you attended to your part of the affair?” There was a smile on the face of the man who heard these words and without ado he led the speaker back into the house and up-stairs where he took a chair without invitation and stretched his legs as if they had been cramped for days, ** Have any trouble?” this man asked, ‘*Not much, Everything seemed to play into our hands on both sides, eh?” “You saw them land?” ‘* That’s what my eyes were for,” ** She didn’t suspect you?” ‘* No; these German girls are as simple as simplicity itself. The boy will be a keener, though,” ** Little Paul?” ‘Is that his name? I believe you did write us to this effect, No, they did not seem to sus- pect, but the boy took a good look at me and he seems to have a memory, or I’m mistaken in the chap,” ‘‘Tt’s all right, though. I did my part, but it took a little coaxing, You see she did not want to hide the bills in the old trunk and would not until I explained that the custom house cfficers would take them from her if they found them on her person and she has the na- ture of all Germans; she wants to keep all she can get and when she believed ny story, the money went into the old trunk and I helped her put it there,” * And cleared out yourself?” ‘¢ Yes; you may be surel didn’t want to come over in the same vessel with her, I told her that ‘ business’ had called me to another part of the empire and that some time I would meet her in this city.” “* Well, you can do that any time and I guess you might as well do it soon.” I can get you more of the same sort I know where it is,” and the How much have
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4 Clip, the Battery Ferret, *¢ Why soon?” **' Well, you see she might tell some friend about the missing baggage and the police might get hold of it,” ** Who is her mainstay ?” **She is a person of few acquaintances,” was the reply, ‘‘She makes dolls, as you know— makes them at bome, and has few if any confi- dantes, She used to bave a friend employed in one of the barge offices, a young German who is ratber bright; but I haven't seen him for several months, and, then, she knows a boy called the Battery Ferret—one of these ne’er-do-weels who frequent the parks and piers of New York,” ** A gutter-snipe, eh?’ ** Yes, he’s built on that order,” ** He knows the doll-maker, does, he?” ** They have been friends for some time.” ** She might tell him, or might go to the police with the story of the missing trunk,” ** T don’t think she’s ddue either yet,” said the man who had been to Old Jason’s den, ‘ We must make everything safe, Perhaps you had better go to her and see what she thinks about it, You know what.to do and as she put a good deal of confidence in you in the old country, she might confide in you yet,” ** Pll see to that,” suddenly laughed the newly arrived ocean passenger, ‘‘ She did just as I told her over there, and I guess she'll & pretty much the saine in America,” Both men laughed together and lighted cigars, ‘*What’s left of the trunk?” suddenly asked the passenger. ¢f Ob it’s out ofthe way, Don’tlet that bother “You had sense enough tomake it disappear, I noper ‘* Tt’s gone, I say.” By and by the passenger arose and threw the stump of his cigar into the cuspidor, I’m going back to my old rooms to see how they look after a few weeks’ absence,” he said, * Til see you to-morrow and, by the way, Vil hunt Gusta up at the same time, ‘* Play it fine, remember,” * Just as if I couldn’t do that without advice to thet effect! I know a thing or two when I’m ina Tit How's Solon?” All “Still in the fleecing business with his illustrious partner, eh?” “Of course,” was the laughing rejoinder and with this the passenger of the last steamship went out, leaving the echoes of his last remarks behind him, ‘“* He didn’t say a word about the money but that’s his way,” remarked the man left behind. ** He knows that everything is all right“and can afford to wait till the whole game is Played out, Then we'll divide and hold our tongues.” Meanwhile, the passenger bad reached the street and was hurrying off under the hundred- pae.one lamps that showed him the pavement of tham, “Tm glad er. did their work so neatly at this end of the line,” he said to himself. ‘It looks like business, Yes, I'll see Gusta to- morrow,” CHAPTER IV. CAUSE FOR QUICK AOTION, Ir was just ten o’clock the next day when Gusta Muller put aside a half-finished doll to an- swer a startling knock at the door of her humble little home. She had been thinking of the great loss she had sustained and of the mystery surrounding the theft of the trunk and her fortune and when . She opened the door she hardly knew where she was, or what she was doing, * But.the moment she caught sight of the man standing there she fell back with a ery, ‘Mr, Jeffers! Why, I have thought of you many times since we came back and have won- dered where you were. Here, Paul! here is your friend who took ‘you Jong walks in Germany while father was sick and—” Little Paul had run forward and his cry broke his sister’s sentence, The man caught the boy by the hand and was m seated in the room while Paul, glad to see m, climbed upon his lap and from there looked into his really handsome face, As for Gusta, a look of anguish overspread er countenance and she said with a sigh: _* We got here safe and sound so far as our ies are concerned; but the trunk was not so fortunate,” The man appeared to start, ** Not so fortunate?” he echoed, ‘* Why, what happened to the trunk, Gusta?” ee ** We lost it.” ‘While coming over?” ** No, after we had reached New York,” and she proceeded and told the story of the theft of the trunk in pretty much the same language ae had used in relating the incident to Clever ip, The man seemed to listen as if be knew noth- ing at all of this affair and when Gusta finished | he said in tones that would deceive the most suspicious: ‘* This may not be so bad as it looks, This is a great city, Gusta, and there may be other Gusta Mullers, I will look into the matter for you and I think we will have the old trunk back safe and sound in a short time.” ‘* How kind you are, Mr, Jeffers!” cried the unsophisticated German girl. ‘You haven't told the police yet, have you?” té Not yet.” ‘* Not mentioned the matter to any one?” Gusta hesitated, * Yes, sir, I told Clip,” she said, “ And who is Clip?” ‘* He is a boy whom I know, a dear friend of mine,” The man smiled, " ¥ ell, what has Clip done in the matter?” he asked, **He is doing all he can. If you could see Clip, I am sure you two would work together,” There was no reply for a moment, but the man Jeffers was seen to frown by the keen-eyed little Paul, “Where does Clip live? Ill go and see him,” he said at last, Gusta, who knew where the Battery Ferret lived when at home, did not hesitate to give him the desired information, and: Jackson Jef- fers seemed to make a mental note of the ad- Tess, “T am very 80 to hear of the loss of the trunk,” he said, ‘‘ But as we are the only per- sons who know what it contained, it will not be examined very closely, and when we rectify the mistake all will be well.” Then you call it a mistake, do you?” * What else can it be?” was the quick answer. ‘No one knew where the money was, and the hackman must have taken the trunk to another Gusta Muller, who may be wondering how the mistake could have Dappeness These drivers are careless fellows, anyhow; they leave a trunk on front steps, and are off in a jiffy, with no ex- planations and no excuses for their act.” | “I bope that is the correct solution of the whole matter,” eaid the pretty doll-maker. ‘“Who was that man?” cried the boy, who burst into Gusta’s chamber a moment after she had let Jackson Jeffers out, “That is Mr. Jeffers, the gentleman who hel us in Germany,” was the reply. “I wish you had come a minute sooner.” ‘1 don’t,” said Clever Clip, ‘I came just soon enough, if I know anything, Gusta,” ** Re wants to see you.” “T have no doubt of that, Jackson Jeffers, eh, and the man who advised you to k the twenty thousand marks in the old trunk?” ‘6 Yes, he did that, Clip—” “* And the first thing you knew after reaching this city you bad no trunk and no money?” * That is true, also, but—” *¢ 71] see you later, Gusta,” and bursting from the room the Battery Butterfly ran down and began to look for the man of whom he had caught but a passing glimpse.” This, however, was quite enough to cause bim to want to know more about the man, and when he saw a figure that resembled Jeffers’s walking toward the corner, he bounded forward and saw that his eyes had not deceived him. Jackson Jeffers was walking along, proud, no doubt, of the fact that he had played a fine hand against the apoio <p girl, and Clip shadowed him uptil be saw him enter the hallway leading up to the office of Nabb & Nippem, * Hello, Solon!” cried Jeffers, advancing across the room with outstretched hand to greet a thin-faced, eagle-eyed man who had turned upon him as the door opened, “Tm back safe and sound from the land of pretzels and beer, And here’s Nabb, too! I saw him last night, but—” / ** Come here, Jeffers—quick!”- The man from over-sca ran to the front win- dow where Nicholas Nabb was standing, and the lawyer, catching his arm, said in a husky voice: ‘“That’s the young friend; that’s the boy wholoafs on the Battery with a pair of keen eyes in his head.” At the same time he pointed down into the street where stood Clip, the Battery Butterfly, 4 ‘eae looking up for a moment at the windows of the office, ‘*So that is the shadow on the trail, eh?” he / said, through his teeth, from the way his voice sounded, ‘* Tht is Gusta’s friend, is it?” ‘* That is the boy.” At this moment Clip withdrew and looking after him a second Jackson Jeffers turned to the thin-faced man who was watching him like a falcon, “T’ve just come from the girl’s,” he said, ** Not from the doll-maker’s!” cried Nippem. ‘From nowhere else, The girl believes every- thing I say, just as she did in the old country. She hasn’t told the police yet and the sole per- son who knows from her anything about the loss of the old hair-trunk is the boy I’ve just looked at, Never mind him, I’ve photograph- ed him on the sensitive plate of my memory and will take care of all such stumbling-blocks,” Nicholas Nabb smiled and brought out the in- separable cigars, ‘I've seen Mrs. Flounder and she is willing 1 aang us for a moderate consideration,” he said, Nippem, the oldest of the trio, twisted un- easily in his chair and said sometbi: £ about. being careful how they trusted Mrs, Flounder, whereupon Nabb cried out: ‘She was your client once and got the best of you when the day of settlement came, That’s why you don’t like her, Nippem. But we can’t get along without her, and as 1 knew her long before she blossomed out as a city rose, I can say for her that she never gives up a secret and serves those who pay her well and don’t suspicion her of double dealing. You may not like her, Nippem, but V’ll tie to Minerva Flounder and if we get into a tight place, she'll do her part in helping us cut,” Thies settled the senior member of the firm of © Nabb & Nippem and Jackson Jeffers, rubbing bis hands, said gleefully: ‘*T was royally received. The boy fairly hug- ged the life out of me. Heis sharp and quick- witted just like his father, He's got eyes in his head that can look through a brick wall—” ‘* When there’s a hole in it,” put in Nabb, ‘‘Of course,” said Jeffers. ‘‘Now I want to know what’s become of the trunk.” He was looking at Nicholas Nabb and fora moment that worthy coughed and seemed to swallow hard, ‘It’s all right. Didn’t I tell you that last night?” ** But I want to know just bow it’s all right,” was the reply, “He went and sold it and thus turned an honest penny for cigars,” said Nippem with & grin. ‘*Holy smoke! you sold it, did you” cried Jackson Jeffers, nearly falling from his cbair. “In the name of Davy Crockett and Dan’ Boone, you don’t want to give the police a clue, I hope? You don’t want to be gobbled in be- fore you've had any enjoyment ont of the gwa Nicholas Nabb seemed to lose color, but the next moment he smiled and said: “T knew what I was doing. I sold that trunk to an old man who will see that it never sees the light. He deals in such things, but he never gives any one away and it’s safe where it is, as though I had filled it with stones and rhe it from the big bridge or feu it to the re, “ Where is it?” There was a certain savageness about Jackson Jeffers’slook that frightened Nicholas Nabb, He bent forward and looked him in the eye with a malignity that savored of insanity. ‘‘T don’t care what you think. I want to be safe all around. Where's that trunk?” *© You'll find it at old Dobby’s, Bowery.” *€ Good-night, gentlemen. I) see you later,” and picking up his hat Jeffers, to the astonish- rear of the legal sharks, rushed from the room and seemed to go down-stairs three steps at a time. CHAPTER V. THE KIDDED SCAMP, THE episode of the serpent-headed ring was nearly enough in Clip’s mind to identify the man who had taken Gusta Muller’s trunk from the Battery. He had seen a ring like it on the left hand of Nicholas Nabb during that worthy’s inter- view with Mrs, Flounder, and this circum- stance had about settled the matter in the boy’s mind, e more he thought over the matter the more he became convinced that the two lawyers.
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: iZ ft - te i} AS ae Pay |, | | ee | Soin L " ay: “A ; aad ey oo ae wes = mes i i & me) at) hl wk Dory” Es faa” ira ew a es ) a 1 } ; , ee pee?! sb . =a iar ween ¢ a eo Ae - mv es oe rag ¢ ' Bat fy - rt we a ye he a ™ ss , ip ‘) a * j py 4 2 Aa a ~ Pak 7 yar ct hl, ial att “ . ‘ wa me on "Gs mal ae r ie as gees J ? = rf wk et roe: , ie 4 | nos Fe ao muon é ; i ? ne he were at the bottom of the affair, but the ques- tion was: ‘‘How am I to fasten the crime upon them and get the girl’s fortune back?” He knew that it would be bard to make Gusta believe that Jackson Jeffers, the man who had been so kind to her in Germany, was a rascal and not a gentleman, She was a simple German girl, raised in the belief that the whole world was honest and that @man who had the address and good-nature of Jack Jeffers could not be dishonest, while Clip had come to the conclusion that he was but another member of the cabal and had played his band across the sea, .He believed that, having induced Gusta to hide her fortune in the old trunk, Jeffers had written his confederates in this country all about the transaction, and that when Gusta and little Paul landed, Nicholas Nabb was on hand to nab the trunk which he bad done in the most approved style of robbery. Guzta had told Clip that more than a week had intervened between the hiding of the money in the trunk and her departure for the seaboard and this would have given Jelfers time to senda letter in advance of her, as ships were sailing mearly day. When Clip, the Battery Butterfly, went back from watching Jack Jeffers to the office of the lawyers, he was trying to maturea plan by which he could get at the secrets«f the three men and concluded to turn bis attention to the man who had just crossed the sea, as he believed him one of the most dangerous of the trio, * So he is going to call on me, is he?” the boy said to himself. ‘‘ He told Gusta so and I am anxious to meet him, This man Jeffers showed his band in Germany and poor Gusta intrusted her fortune to him, for when sho hid it in the trunk she virtually gave it up tothe biggest rascal that ever breathed,” Clever Clip waited all that day for the ex- pected visit and when night came he had nearly given Jack up. Clip was about to godown upon the street when he heard steps ascending the stairs leading to his room and a moment later a knock sounded on the door, “Come in,” said the boy detective, and the ‘ -yery man he was looking for en:ered, Jack Jeffers bad the appearance of a gentle- man well-to-do and was really handsome, He came forward with a smile, introducing himself as a frierd of Gusta’s and when he had sat down, he went on: “Tam glad that you are her friend. Gusta isa fine girl whois trying to get along in the world, She has lately sustained two great losses, In the first place, her father was taken from her and then she lost her trunk which contained something like a fortune,” ‘Yes, | know about that,” answered Clip. **T have heard about the missing trunk and I’ve fears that she has seen the last of it.” Jack Jeffers sbook his head, ‘**T don’t know about that,” he said, doubting- ly, “I think it cau be recovered, tor I don’t think any one would deliberately steal the bag- gage of a poor German girl,” Clip looked at the speaker half astonished, but did not betray himself, “ You mean, miserable rascal!” he thought. **' You know all about this theft. You are the man who planned it and here you say that you ‘don’t think any one would rob Gusta Muller,” “We might work up this case together, ‘* con- tinued Jack. ‘* I’ve been thinking of this and as ou seem to know the city well from what Gusta as toli me, I am quite sure that with a little work we can trace the trunk which is so precious to the two children,” **T am willing to do anything to help Gusta,” said the boy. ‘*I am ber friend, as she bas told you. What do you advise, Mr, Jeffers?” “ My opinion is that the trunk was taken to the wrong address,” “ But don’t you think the mistake ought to have been discovered ere this?” **T don’t know.” “ Wouldn’t it be a good idea to go to the po- lice with whole story?” * Heavens, no!” cried Jeffers, with a sudden start. ‘‘ We don’t want to make too much fuss about this little matter. We can ferret it all out ourselves and not let Gusta’s name get into the newspapers, The girl don’t want publicity; she doesn’t care to let the worl’ know that she, a poor German girl, has fallen heir to an estate, hy, she would be bothered by cranks and the ‘business. of doll-making woul _ terrupted.” cake be seriously in- Clip, who was only “trying” Jeffers with his suggestion, could not help smiling at the ‘Man’s nervousness, The police, Clip had made A a Tats SS i pee eran . Clip, the Battery Ferret. up his mind, should not bear of thé robbery un- til he bad exhausted every point of recovery, and when he mentioned the matter to Jeffers he had no idea of sending the story of the robbery to eel Byrnes, * Well, go on, Mr, Jeffers,” said the boy, set- tling back in his chair, Jack said he had not matured any special plan, but his idea was to trace the trunk, if possi- ble, to its landing place, for he was sure it had been taken off by a backman who had misun- derstood Gusta’s directions. The oily scamp still persisted in his declara- tion that the girl had not been robbed intention- ally; he was quite sure she had not, and was equally sure that a little detective work would result in finding thé baggage. ‘*Now,” said he, leaning toward Clip, ‘tI have a friend in the city who is quite an adept at recovering lost property. She is a wonder- ful woman and I have seen her powers tested,” ‘* Tg she in the business of finding lost things?” asked Clip, who had heard of clairvoyants and fortune-tellers, though he never took any stock in their pretensions, "She is not a professional,” was the reply. **Sho lives quietiy and helps those who come to ber not for money but from a desire to do all the good she can.” ** A sort of woman philanthropist, eh?” *Someting of that sort,” Clip wondered who this wonderful woman was, but he did not show his eagerness by ask- ing. ‘My friend’s name is Mrs, Minerva Floun- der,” continued Jack, ‘‘I have known her some years and can recommend her,” The Battery Butterfly did not start, but it was only with the greatest effort that he was enabled to maintain his composure, | Mrs, Flounder, the woman visited by Nicholas Nabb, was coming to the front again.” “Tf you will visit ber in my name and nar- rate the circumstances to her she will take the trailand maybe do us more good than all the detectives in the city.” Clip asked for Mrs, Flounder’s address and Jeffers handed it to bim, ** Will you see her?” “That's just what I will do,” said the boy, “T am anxious to get Gusta’s trunk back and if your friend, Mrs, Flounder, can help pi why, she will be d.ing a poor girl a favor, 00,” ‘Certainly she will, and Mrs, Flounder has a kind heart in her bosom and will do a}l she can, She has recovered some lost things that baffled the skill of the police, and she will do us all the good she can, If you could go fo her, say, with- in the next two hours, I don’t think you would find her very busy and she will take up this mat- ter for us at once,” ‘**T will go at once,” replied Clip. **T wouldn’t go for, say, an hour, anyway. That will be time enough and then you will not be apt to find her busy,” Ten minutes later the feet of Jack Jeffers went down the steps and Clever Clip was alone in his little room. He had played his part very well, he thought, dissembling so as to deceive the rascal who had called, and when he thought of the visit he had in view, he won- dered how deep Mrs, Flounder was in the plot to rob Gusta Miller and her little brother of the German fortune. “T wanted some excuse to get into Mrs. Flounder’s house and this will get me there,” he said to bimself.: ‘‘I want to see what this woman is like, I overheard her agree to carry out certain plans proposed by Nicholas Nabb and if they are connected with tho plot against Gusta, I will know it,” He waited nearly an hour before he left the room and then he went down and turned his face toward Mrs, Flounder’s domicile, : The walk across the city was not a very long one and when he rung tho bell of the door which would usher him into the strange house, he could not help wondcring anew what would come of the adventure, Mrs, Flounder, smiling and with a bow, in- vited bim in and the door closed upon him. ‘“*)'m inside, any way,” thought Clip. ‘I have invaded the den of the strange beast and if I am bitten it will be my own fault.” Minerva Flounder conducted the boy ferret into her parlor alongside the hall and left her visitor there. “In a moment,” she said, on retiring, ‘I will be at leisure then and will delight to en- tertain you.” Clip looked all around and took in the appoint- ments of the place. He noticed that tbe furni- ture was g ant nearly new, as if it had been 5 a late purchase, and while inspecting it the door opened and he turned his head, : ‘‘ Jehosaphat!” cried the boy detective when he caught sight of the person who came forward, and then he heard a stern voice say: ‘That is your chafge, Miuerva!” CHAPTER VI, THE BUTTERFLY TOUCHES A HEART, Wet might Clever Clip start at sound of the voice and at sight of the person who had spoken, At the same time hesaw Mrs. Flounder, but he did not look at her. The man behind her was tall and had a part of his face hidden by a close-fitting mask of black, His hand was gloved and Clip saw that it covered him lie a revolver. “There is your charge, I say,” continued the masked man. ‘Take good care of bim,” In another moment the man bad vanished and the boy found himself face to face with the wo- man, For a second Clip could hardly realize what had taken place, He. seemed to be in a strange dream; everything appeared unreal, and he could not believe that he had been lured to a trap set for him by the very man whom he was watching. It was vot’ until Minerva Flounder crossed the room and stopping in front of bim, looked down into his face and smiled. “T hope we shall get along very weil to- gether,” she said, ‘I will be found kind and clever, but you want to obey me in every way, for in doing so lies your future happiness.” ‘‘T must obey you, must 1?” eried Clip spring- ing up, “I am in a trap and you are the keeper of it, You are to be my keeper, and if [ resist this imprisonment Iam to be barsbly dealt with, Is that it? What right have you or any one else to hold me thus?” This did not appear to flustrate the woman in the least, Instead of smiling as she might bayve done over the boy’s hot language, sbe came closer and bent forward, ‘* Don’t get excited. There is no one going to hurt you if you act prudently. You are in my house—” “T know that, and the man who lured me to the trap is Jack Jeffers, as sleek a scamp «as ever drew the breath of life,” “T know no names in this transaction. I know no one, I say, and you need not accuse any one.” ‘But I do!” exclaimed Clip. ‘I accuse three men, for all are in the dark plot against me and a friend of mine whom they robbed of her tor- tune,” Mrs, Flounder fell back, still looking at Clip, but did not reply. ‘“T want to go out of this house, I demand to be released at once and given the liberty that belongs to mé,” ** Don’t go so fast. the best of you,” Clever Clip stood before the woman and glanced at the door, ‘*T am going whether you say so or not,” he cried. ‘Stand back, or I will see that the police know of this and that your name is told at Headquarters and—” “Go, then!” interrupted Mrs, Flounder, ‘Open the door and walk out if you dou’tlike my house.” Clip was at the door by this time and the fol- lowing moment had twisted the knob; but the portal did not open. ‘ He knew then that the house was locked against bis escape and turning to the cool- Don’t let your temper get headed woman, he clinched his fists and said in) sharp tones; “So you are the fourth one in the plot against Gusta, are you?” “ Against who?” asked Mrs, Flounder, com- ing forward as if the name had been a revela~ tion to her. wt Against Gusta Muller, the German girl who never did any one a speck of barm. She has been robbed by a set of scoundrels who ought to be looking out from between iron ” “y don’t know Gusta Muller,” said Mrs, | Flounder, “Then, they did did not tell you about their ras- cality, I guess. They might have been asham of the trick, or perhaps they don’t trust you very far.” Minerva Flounder waved Clip to a chair while she stood herself, looking down at him vn 25 fee &\ Ms ‘ Dope pe OF ad rela ! fied (if eT ipa ie ada, TURN ALT ta Agri bes i* a ha Be ae Gad ete
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6 with an expression which he could not altogether fathom, “What about this German girl?” she went on. ** Who is Gusta Muller?” “What makes this woman so anxious to know these things?’ Clip asked himself, ‘She seems very anxious to pry into this matter. Never heard of Gusta Maller or little Paul? That's not so very curious, butshe wants to know something about them.” The next moment Clip was giving Mrs. Flounder the history of Gusta as he had picked it up from her own lips at different times. He had vot very much to tell, for the life of the doll-maker had been of the simplest kind; there was nothing exciting about it, but Mrs. Flounder listened with a good deal of interest and when Clip finished she did not speak for a full minute, ‘So that is the story of Gusta Muller, is it?” said she. **Tve told you all T know about the girl,” was the reply, ‘‘It isn’t very much, for girls like Gusta baven’t any history. She was robbed by a set of as cool rascais as ever escaped the halter and now they are trying to cover up their crime,” There was no reply. “Gusta Muller never thought of placing the twenty thousand marks in the old trunk wnutil Jackson Jeffers, as he calls bimself, told her to do so,” resumed Clip. ‘* Can’t you see this plot, Mrs, Flounder?” **T don’t know no Jackson Jeffers,” she said. ““T haven’t accused you of knowing him, but why am I here? Who are you serving any- how?” ** Who lured you to my house, for lured hith- er you say you were?” * Jack Jeffers himself.” ‘The man who advised Gusta Muller to hide the fortune in her trunk?” ‘** The same precious jackal.” Mrs, Minerva Flounder seemed to reflect. ** You serve this rascal and do a German girl ee" injury when you detain me in this house, ou don’t want Gusta Muller and her little brother to lose all they have in the world—to be coolly robbed by scamps, do you?” ‘tT don’t like to see people lose honest money that’s a fact; but—” ‘* But you have given your promise to the men in this infernal plot to serve them, and you stand ready to place yourself in the path to Sing Sing by holding to that promise as against the girl and her brothar.” ‘* Where do the ft Saree live?” Clip hesitated, hat, give Gusta’s address np to this woman who was in the trio’s pay. He did not think it would be right, and therefore re- frained,. “You won't tell me, eh? You refuse to let me know where the children live. Well, you can’t expect me totreat you very cleverly if you re- fuse to treat with me,” Mrs, Flounder was leaving the room when the voice of Clip called a halt. to do?” asked the boy ‘*Whatare you goin ferret as she turned and waited for him to pro- ceed, ‘*Am I to remain in the toils and are you going to put yourself on record as helping to de- prive two orphans of their fortune?” “Never miud what I am going to do. You stay where you are,” and with this she swept out of the room and left Clip again to himself, ‘**T thought I had her at one time,” he mused, “T really thought I had touched the heart of this woman, but I guess she hasn’t any to be toucked, She is hand-in-glove with the con- spirators and I am a rat in the trap to be killed when the time comes if they can’t get rid of me any other way.” An hour passed before vis heard any signs of other people besides himself in the house, and then the door opened again and he saw Mrs, Flounder’s face at the tireshold, She looked at Clip a moment and then came across the floor, her feet making no noise on the soft carpet and her eyes fastened on the boy ferret’s face, You told the truth,” said Minerva Flounder, “‘ There are just two in the nest. They are nice ople and it isa pity to rob them of what be- cugs to them by inberitance,” What did she mean by such words? Could it be that she was relenting and that she had real- ly seen Gusta and little Paul? “Ifyou think that way,” said Clip, ‘* why don’t you help them by unlocking that door and giving me a chance to recover their stolen for- ne ** What would become of me if I did?” ** Can’t you answer that question? Can’t you abide from them? You don’t have to live in CF er EN PP SOO ep temameeet Clip, the Battery Ferret. this house or serve the biggest rascals in New York,” ‘* That's a fact, boy, I don’t.” ‘Gusta Muller will fall sick when she realizes that her fortune is lost beyond recovery and who will take care of motherless little Paul?” ‘* But if the money is gone how can it be re- covered?” “Some of it may be returned by good hard work, I[t will take work to fasten the crime upon the right parties, but it can be done. You are not very deep in the mire as yet, Mrs. Flounder. You are notso deep in it but that you can pull yourself out without much mud cling- ing to your shoes. <A little more work for these men and there will be no escape for you when the crash comes, Can’t you see that?” The woman hesitated. She stood in the middle of the room like a person halting between two opinions, Clip’s heart stood still in his throat from fear. He dared not move for fear of turning the debating woman against.him forever. “I can’t see the children mistreated and robbed in this manner. I don’t know anything about the robbery. As I live, I wasn’t in that plot! Come, you sball go out. But for heaven’s sake don’t send the police after me.” **T won’t, Mrs, Flounder, I will remember your kindness and will stand between you and the coppers.” Clip was clutched by the burning hand of the woman; he was led to the door and thence into the haliway. A minute later he stood under the lamps of Gotham, CHAPTER VII. FORTUNE NUMBER TWO, ‘*GreAT CICERO! what’s this? Gone? Got a spasm of goodness and left us in the lurch? I don’t want to believe it, but thisis what this letter says,” Jackson Jeffers, standing in the middle of his room, was looking, staring at a letter which the pat had just delivered and he was showing in is face the excitement its reception had oc- casioned, Pll see about this, Tl look into this affair and the sooner the better,” he went on, ‘It was lucky enough to get hold of the old trunk which Nabb, instead of byrning at once, sold to anold dealer and now ifIcan only overhaul this woman who has played. us false, I will have scored another hit in this little’ game of ours and we will begin to feel safe. But what if she has let the boy out? What if she took a streak of een shaw! that woman have such a thing about her? Nonsense!” Just then the door flew wide and the form of Nicholas Nabb came forward, “Your model of faithfulness is a pretty pattern to go by,” laughed Jack, looking up at the lawyer who seemed to be wondering what had happened to so alter his countenance, ‘* What’s up now?” The letter was tossed upon the table and Nabb picked it up, Ths very first sentence seemed to drive all color from his cheeks. ‘*T don’t believe Minerva has played us false,” he said. ** T have known her twen iy de ‘* But what does the letter say? with the best wishes for your future, do me a favor.” Nicholas seemed nonplused and read the letter through, while Jack watched bim with a smile at the corners of kis mouth, ** Let’s go and see,” he exclaimed, throwing the letter back upon the table. Jeffers looked at his watch, “Tve got another engagement and the time is nearly up,” be said, ‘' But as I’m anxious to see what this really means, though I think Mrs. Flounder has flonndered out of the game, I will go with you to her house,” Nabb stood for a moment longer where he had stopped and a strange look appeared in bis eye. ‘* Tf the boy is loose it may make bad work,” he said at last. “Oh, we'll have to trap the young fox again, that’s all,” was the Bo “That may not be the easlest thing in the world,” ** But it will be done,” said Jeffers through shut teeth. ‘*I know how to set more than one trap. By the way, Mrs, Flounder never was a woman of much force—” eel that I can’t goany deeper in this affair and I bave concluded to leave the city at once; but I do so What does that mean if not that she has deserted us? If you can figure it out any other way you will “*T always thought she was,” ‘Of course. But I never did.” Nicholas Nabb seemed averse to talking about the matter, and was anxious to get away, They left the room together, and while going down-stairs, the cunning Jeffers said: “We ought to separate. You go one way to aoe house and T’ll go another. That will be est, They agreed to do this, and in an instant they were making their advance upon Mrs, Floun- der’s residence from different directions, Jeffers was the first to reach it, but there was no response to his ring, and as he walked away he encountered Nabb coming toward the house, ‘*Go back. The nest is empty,” he said, ‘**The woman has given us the slip, and if she will only remain out of town, she will be doing us a service,” ina little while Nicholas Nabb was back in the office in the Belgium Block, and lighting a gas jot, he sat down at the desk which he occu- pied when at work, unlocked it. ‘* What’s up?” said a voice behind bim, and looking over his shoulder, he saw in the room the form of Nippem, his partner. ** ‘What do you mean?” ** Something’s going wrong. You know what you Be st as about the location of the trunk?” ‘ es ? ** Well, old Dobby sold it.” In an instant the pen which Nabb had taken up fell from his hand, “Sold that trunk?’ he cried, turning pale, ** You don’t mean that, Solon.” ‘*T mean nothing else, I have just come fron: Dobby’s, and he informed me that he had sold a trunk answering that description,” ‘* What a fool I was,” said Nabb, **T thougbt so all the time,” * Who bought it?” **T don’t know.” ** Didn’t you ask Dobby?” **T did, but the old man didn’t seem to know. He never takes down the names of his custom- ers, and that is why he didn’t know who the buyer was,” Nicholas Nabb shut the desk and looked at his partner a full minute, He wondered if Nippem knew about Mrs, Flounder’s escapade, bat be concluded not to worry him with a counter thunderbolt, and therefore did not mention it. **Tll go back to Jason Sixpence at once,” he said at last. “You don’t mean now?” “Why not? We don’t want ary German money in onr hands at this stage of the game,” ‘The boy is under lock and key and Minerva will see that he doesn’t give us any trouble.” Again Nabb was on the eve of telling Nippemy what had really happened, but again he resisted the temptation and did not do so. “What's this story about the German girk falling heir to another fortune?’ Nippem sud- denly asked. Nabb started, ‘* What other fortune?” he asked, ‘¢ What, haven’t you beard of it? I learned it by accident and if it is true, then there may be another stake’ for us tbree,” Nicholas was all attention at once and wheel ed himself around until he fairly faced Nippem whose thin face was Jit up with that eagerness and avarice which had been the bane of his dis- honest life. ‘Tt ran across Parsons to-day—Parsons the heir-hunter— and he took me into bis confidence: to rome extent, He has learned through some source that a girl named Muller, or Mueller, is heir to a lot of money over in the old country,” ‘*Tt’s the legacy she got, I suspect.” “No, it isn’t,” persisted Nippem. ‘It’s an- other one, and, frcm what Parsons said, it is a bigger pull than the one she didn’t get,” and a sickly smile ran off the epeaker’s face, ‘It’s a fortune coming to her from her mother’s side,” **T don’t see how Jack overlooked that if there is anything in the story.” “‘Neither do I, but I believe Gusta Muller is: the person being looked fcr by Parsons,” ‘*Tf she is and he finds her—” ‘He will rake in the liggest half of the for-- tune for that is the way he does,” “You ’are rigbt, I pity the heir that falls. into Poke Parsons’s bands,” ‘* Look here,” and Nippem came closer and looked down into the upturned face of Nicholas “Tf we let bim find | Nabb in the office chair, the heir to this second fortune, we ought to be- river. I’m in favor of taking everythin sight.” kicked into the street and from there ore
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* And looking after what isn’t in sight, eh?” grinned Nabb, ‘‘ Well, soam I.” “The girl will know something about her mo- ther’s line, She is not so dumb as not to know about that if she does make dolls for a living,” ‘You mean, I see, that we should get her story from her and compare it with what Par- sous told you?” “That's it exactly.” ‘* Well, which one of us shall make the at- tempt?” ‘““Which one of us? Heavens! Jack who knows the girl and who can do anything with her, is just the one for this job.” ‘But where is Jack?” ** Always op hand when wanted,” said a voice at this juncture, and at the door appeared the figure of the very man whose name had been mentioned, Jack Jeffers came forward, carefully shutting the door behind bim, and listened to Nippem’s account of his unexpected discovery. ‘What do you think?” asked Solon Nippem when he had finished, ‘Is there anything in this, Jack?” ** Nothing,” was the sententious response. ‘* Be sure there isn’t, for if Parsons gets the move on us and captures the heir, he will also capture the legacy.” ‘““f know Poke Parsons,” smiled Jeffers, ‘* I know that when he lays his hands on a fortune be takes everything in sight. But really, gen- tlemen, there isn’t anything in this story, or at least the heir isn’t our Gusta Muller.” It was not until he stood on the street, a square from the office he had just left, that a singular expression came across Jack Jeffers’s face, ‘* Holy smoke! what a discovery!” he ex- claimed, ‘‘And to think that Poke Parsons made it! Gusta Muller’s mother was a May and this second fortune comes from her brother who went out to Australia twenty years ago. Now I will see what Jack Jeffers can do when ho plays a hand all by himself, This is the big- gest windfall of them all, I must step in be- tween them and fasten on the new pile like an octopus. I guess I’m equal to the emergency !” and a laugh rippled over the cool-head’s lips, CHAPTER VIII. BIRDS OF A FEATHER, Trt Battery Ferret bad resolved to keep his word with Mrs, Flounder. She had released him from durance andit was his duty not to betray her to those who would had her for ber part in the game against usta Muller. He was quite sure that Jack Jeffers was the man who really planned the conspiracy, for hoe was still playing his hand, and if he succeed- ed the girl would never see adollar of the Inst fortune, Clip happened to catch sight of the man from over the sea shortly after he emerged from the office of the lawyer sharks with the discovery that Gusta was the rightful claimant to another fortune larger than the one that had been lost with the old trunk, “Something’s the matter with the precious rascal,” said the Battery Butterfly as he watched tue man a few seconds, seeing that he was dis- turbed as if some revelation of a startling nature had just been made. ‘If I’m not mistaken, the three vultures have had a consultation and it still affects Mr. Jack,” When the man moved off Clip followed him down-town until he saw him vanish into the hallway above which were the offices of a num- bér of lawyers and claim-agents., “T thought so,” muttered Clip, ‘‘ The fellow is up to something and that’s why he has brought me to this part of the city.” Sure enough Jack Jeffers was ‘‘up to some- thing,” for he went toa door which bore a sign ‘“ P, Parsons, Claim Agent and Recoverer of Lost Estates,” Into the room beyond he went and remained there nearly an hour, Clip did not desert his ost below for he was anxious to see what would na!ly become of the man who had decoyed him to Mrs, Flounder’s domicile. ° Jack walked off with agile tread and when he had reached a place some squares from the building he entered his own lodgings and re- mained in-doors, Having watched the sharper home, Clip was about to turn away when he was touched on the ‘phoulder,and to his surprise he saw before him a man in plain clothes, ‘Hello! Captain Cupid,” cried the Battery Butterfly, though his eyes saii that he wished he had not encountered the person whom he ad- Clip, the Battery Ferret. **The very boy L want,” said the detective, ‘* Let’s drop in here and talk.” Clip was taken toa small eating-house which was quiet enough at that particular hour and when they were seated the handsome detective known as Captain Cupid said: ‘* What's this about a German girl losing her trunk the other day?” Clip started, He did not want the detective to know anything about the matter, having promised himself that he would help Gusta find her property besides punishing the ras- cals without calling in the detective police; but here was his friend, Captain Cupid, one of the shrewdest ferrets of the city, onto the robbery. Clip tried to evade the question, but the cap- tain was too much for him, ‘*T guess you know something about it,” he said. ‘‘I ran across ‘Bunce, the boy who loats on the Battery, and he put.me onto the affair. Come, this is something which ought to be Jooked into, for if the poor girl’s baggage has fallen into the hands of rascals, it ought to be recovered as soon as possible,” ‘Pm looking after it myself, Captain,” said Clip, driven to the wall by the good-natured detective. ‘I am on the trail now and hope in time to send all concerned in the work up the river,” ‘““You do? Who are they?” ‘*Now look here, Captain Cupid, you don’t want to rob me of a little glory, do you?” ‘‘ Not for the world would I do that, Clip, my boy.” ‘© What is it, then?” ‘‘T would like to know something about the suspected parties so as to bg able to help you on short notice should you ever meed my ser- vices,” Knowing Cupid for a fair-minded man and a detective of his word, Clever Clip told all he knew about the theft of Gusta Muller's trunk and when he had concluded the detective shook his head, ‘You've got a job on hand sure enough, If you are going to fight such a lot of scamps you will have to look out, for the man called Jeffers is no common rascal, “He was once on trial for his life, but got off through some flaw in the ev- idence; but that hasn’t deterred him, I see, He is called Jack, the Silk-handed.” “Why silk-banded?” 2 ‘* Because the person whom he was tried for killing was strangled to death and the deed was done so sleekly that no trace of it remained, or atleast, not enough to hang the man who did the deed,” ** But do you think Jack did it?” “There is scarcely a doubt of it,” was the reply. ‘*As I have said, he is a cool-headed rascal who can turn bis band to anything, and when he was tried for his life one of the lawyers was Nicholas Nabb,” Clip gave a long whistle, ‘“* That accounts for the milk in the cocoanut,” he cried, ‘‘ I see the chord that unites the men. It is no wonder ‘that they are together in this matter.” Half an hour later, thinking of the informa- ton concerning Jack Jeffers’s past, which he had picked up through his accidental meeting with Captain Cupid, Clip was again on the street, this time watched, though he knew it not, by as keen a pair of eyes as there were in Gotham. These eyes shone in Jack’s head and when the boy entered bis own abode the man stood for a little time on the sidewalk and watched the house, ‘‘That proves it, Mrs. Fiounder was won over by the young rascal, and let bim out of the trap. I must attend to this business at once, for if I let it go on he might slip up on us and spoii matters. The information I squeez- ed out of Parsons—it was like getting blood out of a turnip—will do us a vast amount of goud, and I weiikbes that it is utilized.” The man hovered in the vicinty like a vulture and when the Battery Butterfly came out of his lodgings he was again followed by the man who in the mean time had disguised himself with a false beard which so altered his usual looks that the sharp eyes of the boy would not have recognized bim, Jack Jeffers was a man as slick as the slickest scoundrel and was playing a game which in- volved more thana mere amount of money. His own freedom was at stake, for he knew that if he was arrested for helping to defraud Gusta Muller out of her fortune, he would stand in the shadow of a prison. All at once Jack stopped and watched a Me man who, coming toward bim, attracted his attention and held him spelibound, as it were, ‘‘T want you,” said this person in a voice which Jeffers seemed to recognize, ln another moment he turned about and was walking off with the speaker, **Do you know what has happened?’ asked the man who had led him to the back room of a saloon where they sat at one of the round tables ‘* Not exactly. What's happened?” ‘““ Why, the trunk’s disappeared from Dob- by’s,” was the reply, ‘Yon know Nicholas instead of burning it, took it there, but the old man’s gone and sold it to some unknown per- son,” A singular look came into Jack Jeffers’s eyes. The man before him was Solon Nippem, the partner of Nicholas Nabb, and he, too, bad put on a disguise, as if afraid to come to that part of the city in his true colors, ‘* Well, what makes that old trunk tronble you?” queried Jack, ‘Don’t you see, the police might get hold of both the story and the trunk. They might trace it back to Nabb, and that would get the whole firm into trouble,” “The trunk’s all right,” said Jeffers, with a grin. ‘‘It’s all right, I say.” “But 1 want to know thatitis, I don’t like to feel that it might fall into the hands of the—” “Tt won’t; it won’t, I say.” “ But—” ‘“‘Hange it all, Nippem, ’m the man who bought the trunk of old Dobby.” “You?” cried the lawyer, falling back in ut- ter astonishment, ‘“* Why not? Do you suppose that I would let that thing rise up against us one of these days?” t “T hardly thought you would, Jack, but, you see, I didn’t know just what might happen—” ‘What we want now is to look after any one who may be looking after the girl’s interests in the way of bringing to light the true loss of tne baggage.” ** Who's doing tbat?” ‘*T understand that a boy is ‘on the trail,’ as they say.” ‘A boy? Not the one Nicholas showed you from the window of the office?” ‘* The same one,” p ‘*We must attend to the young ferret. Do you know him by sight?” “*T think I do,” and the speaker recalled the boy he bad just tracked hame after luring him to Mrs, Flounder’s house, “*I know him by sight, and have a slight acquaintance with him besides, I will see that he is thrown from the scent, and that we are not followed by any- body.” "By Jove! you're a good one,” cried Nippem, “Now, if this other story—the one about the second fortune—was true, we would got another pull at the girl’s purse-strings.” ‘But it’s a hoax, depend on that,” said Jack, and when they went out he looked at Nippem and smiled to himself, for he knew more than he dared tell his partner in the diabolical plot against the Mullers, Some distance from the place of conference they separated, and in a few minutes the man from over-sea was looking over some papers which he took from a hole in the wall of a lit- tle room in his own abcde, “These papers settle the whole matter!” he said at last. CHAPTER IX. CLIP FINDS AN EMPTY NEST, THE next day noor nightfall the Battery Ferret, finding himself in the neighborhood of Gusta’s home, resolved to call and see how the two orphans were coming on, Besides, be. had something to tell Gusta, for he believed that he was on the right trai! which would eventually lead him to the stolen fortune, and, then, by ae- cident, te bad discovered that Parsons, the claim lawyer, bad advertised for the heir of a German fortune. ‘* The lawyer spells the name Mueller which is not quite the way Gusta spells hers,” he said to bimself as he neared the house, “I don’t know that there is anything in this new windfall for Gusta and little Paul; but Il] ask her about it and she may know the Muellers who should have the legacy.” ; When he climbed to the door which open- ed into the house of the doll-maker and her brother, he was startled by the silence that pre- vailed there, ‘When he knocked and had waited a minute
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Fad WO nas 9 SRN ccellpmank atte = a oe. Clip, the Battery Ferret. wGttere jo ee without receiving any response he looked alarm- ed and then took hold of the knob, But the door was locked and did not yield. ‘*There’s something wrong ey "said Clever Clip. ‘*Tbey were here yesterday for I saw little Paul’s face at the window, but here every- thing is locked up and I can’t get apy reply to my raps. I don’t like the situation. It looks bad,” He was about to quit the spot and inquire be- low when he heard footsteps behind him and a woman came into view. ‘* They’re gone,” said this person, looking at Clip. * What, Gusta and Paul gone?” “Yes, they went off this afternoon with a gentleman who called in the morning.” “Did they move their effects?” ** They took everything, dolls and all,” smiled the woman, Clip seemed stunned. He looked at the closed door and then at the woman in the hall, ** Would you let me into the old room? you the key? ‘he asked at last, In reply she took a ke “ from under her apron and opened the door. Clip stepped across the threshold and Jooked about bim. The home of the orpbans was desolate enough. Not a particle of furniture remained, It was a perfect clean-out and while he stood there, tak- ing in his surroundings, he could not but wonder what had brought about this sudden change. “ She always told me that she was comfortably situated and wouldn’t quit the old place,” he said atlast, ‘'I don’t see what made her go off, And without notifying me, either.” Then he turned to the door where the woman stood waiting for him, “What sort of mai was it who called?’ he asked, In few words she gave him a word photograph of the man, “Tt was Jack Jeffers!” said Clip. ‘It was that scamp of scamps and he is playing a new game and the two are now in bis power,” ‘**They s emed to go with him willingly,” said she, ‘*] can’t say so mucb for Gusta as for little Paul, the brother she brought back from the old country with her,” ‘*Gusta seemed to hesitate, did she?” **Siie seamed to dread to go away from the old place,” ** But she went without telling you where she was going or why she left?” * That is it exactly, She never said a word to me only when she handed mo the keys. Then she said that sbe thought it best to move right off and away they went.” Clever Clip, the young ferret, stood silent in the middje of Gusta’s room, “IT wonder if.she wrote Martin about the change? No, if she would not leave any word for me it isn’t likely that she wrote her friend of it, There is a bit of ugly work in this thing, and I don’t like it at all,” “Do you think there was anything dark about the removal?” asked the old woman, who seemed an honest creature and who thought a goo deal of the little doll-maker, ‘*I think there is a piece of rascality at the bottom of it,” said Clip, ‘*I think you are bon- est enough to keep this to yourself and that you had nothing to do with the man’s game, He enticed Gusta and Paul away for a purpose, but from this time on he will bave a shadow at his beels and I will show the whole gang that it tak°s more than three buman jackals to rob and wrong Gusta and Panl,” Clip was about to quit the spot when the hand of the woman fel) upon bis arm, **One minute. I wasin the room a moment while they were packing up, The wazon was below waiting for them and the man who came for her was watching everything with the eye ofalynx. I saw the little boy go over into yon corner and appear to write on the wall,” Clip hurried across the room with the woman at his heels and the next moment he exclaimed: “There is some scrawling there, but I can’t read it,” ‘Tt is German writing,” was the reply. * You know ths boy can’t ‘speak English and what he wrote would naturally be in his own tongue. Panl is very bright for a boy of his years ani—” * Can't you read German?” interrupted the Battery Butterfly, ‘I want to know what Paul left behind, Maybe it is a tracer” Instead of answering him, the woman left the room and soon returned accompanied by a Ger- man woman who lived in the same house, Clip held his breath while this latter person leaned toward the wall and read what little Paul had left there, Have ** Tt’s not very much,” said the reader in Eng- | lish, as she turned to Clever Clip, “It says that they have gone off with the kind-hearted man from Germany and he bids good-by to the old house,” ‘* That is something,” exclaimed Clip, with a sudden glance at the janitress, **T hope it will turn out to be a good deal,” was the reply, ‘‘If you really wish to find them I hope that writing will lead you to the pair,” The Battery Ferret went down to the street once more, In the mean time the lamps had been lighted and he saw that once more the shades of night had fallen over the metropolis, “Tt’s a bold stroke for a fortune. It’s a deep play for something greater and more precious than gold,” he muttered, ‘‘ lam quite sure that Jack Jeffers is now playing . hand separate from the one being played hy the three, and if he isn’t tripped up, good-by for- ever to the happiness of Gusta and little Paul.” Clip bardly knew where to go, The trail was lost again, though be knew that the two orphans had been lured from their home for a purpose by Jackson Jeffers, the jaan who had worked the deceptive game across the sea, He stood for some time on the sidewalk with the sea of humanity ebbing and flowing around him, and when he finally started off it was with a poorly defined purpose, for the events of the last few minutes had affected him strangely and almost stunned him, He felt that it would be next to impossible to trace the owner of the wagon which had removed Gusta Muller’s few effects. There were hundreds of such people in the city and it would be like looking for a needle in a hay- stack to try to find the right one, ‘Why didn’t I ask the janitress what the man Jooked like?’ he exclaimed, ‘She certainly saw the driver of the wagon and could have given me a clue, But he did not go back to the house, but kept on and stopped at last in front of a police station frequented by the private detectives of the city, “T can find Captain Cupid by going in there,” said Clip, looking at the building. ‘ He almost made me promise that when this matter got too mysterious for me I would call ‘on him for aid, Shall I do it? ShallI go in and get Captain Cupid to help me out of the middle? He is the best tracker in the city and will do anything for me, No, ] won't,” Clip turned suddenly on his heel and started cff. He walked fast as if afraid that if he hesi- tated be would change his mind and go back to Captain Cupid, and he was resolved not todo this under any circumstances, ‘* Here Lam; bow what shall I do next?” Clip bad reached a certain part of the city and turning down a narrow street he knocked at a door which was opened and he glided into the dark ball beyond, *] got your letter and I am glad that you are not going to run off,” he said, looking at the woman, who helda lamp in her hand which she had picked up from a table in the room to which the Battery Butterfly hud been conductel. * | thonght you would come,” she said, ‘* But don’t lets stay in this room; it’s next to the street and there’s no telling’ who may come to the window,” The speaker was the famous Mrs, Flounder and she had informed Clip by post of her new whereabouts, ‘*The little German family has vanished,” said Clip. “What, gone from the old house on C-—— street?” ‘* Yes; Jackson Jeffers enticed ney off and that, you know, is the new play in the game,” For a moment Mrs, Fiounder was silent, then she clinched her hand and leaning toward the table, struck it with her fist, ‘*The rascals are determined to win, aren’t they?” she exclaimed. ‘‘I get madder and mad- der the more I think of how they wanted to drag me into the mud, I’ve been hiding here ever since I let you out of my house and if they discover me, why, they will try to fasten the clamps on me in some manner, But, Clip, they ought to be sent up, every one of them.” ‘ They’re going up, never fear,” was the boy’s quick reply, ‘They will see the inside of Sing ing if nothing worse, and I intend to see that the fortune, or a part of it, comes back to Gusta and little Paul,” *T wish I could help you by going out on the trail myself.” “T don’t want you to. now, Mrs, Flounder, and when the e You are helping me comes | you will be in shape to put the final clamps on the sweet-scented trio.” Minerva Flounder smiled and with a laugh assured Clever Clip that nothing would suit her tter, CHAPTER X, CLIP IN A TRAP. THE Battery Ferret now determined to see what had become of the Mullers since be was sure that they had been enticed from the old home by Jack Jeffers who appeared to be play- ing a cool and clever hand of his own unbe- known to the other.men in the plot, Nabb and Nippem. He did net have to be told that he was deal- ing with a man who would not stop at any- thing to clear his way and win the toss. Captain Cupid’s information was to the effect that once upon a time this same Jack Jeffers had been on trial for bis life and that while be had escaped the clutches of the law the general be- lief was that he was guilty of the dark crime of murder, This was enough to put him doubly on his guard, and when he turned to the task of fer- reting out Gusta Muller’s whereabouts, it was with everything before him and with a great deal of caution, Martin May, the young barge secretary who was regarded as being the German girl's accept- ed lover, bad secured a position in Philadelphia and was, as yet, ignorant of v hat bad happen- ed in New York, as Gusta had refrained from writing him concerning ber loss, saying to Clip that she did not like to ac knowledge to Martin that she had foolishly lost her fortune. There- fore, Martin had not heard of the series of mis- fortunes that had befallen Gusta and little Faul, though Clip felt that be could not be kept in ihe dark much longer. When the Battery Butterfly left the house in- habited by Mrs, Flounder, he had made up his mind to turn over every stone in bis search for the Mullers, Not long thereafter he turned up in that part of the city inhabited by Jack Jeffers, and while he was watching the house where the man had lodgings, he saw the very fellow come out of the place and walk away. , Hoping that Jack would lead him to the new nest, he started after him and tracked him, not toa 'spot where it was likely the lost were ‘bid- den, but to the Bowery, where be dodged sud- denly into a building known to Clip as the place of business of a man who did not follow a very likely calling, as he bought a good many stolen goods, For some time he watched Jack at the coun- ter, and when some money seemed to pass over it toward the sleek rascal, Clever Clip fell back and saw him come out, ‘There was a satisfied grin on Jack's face, and when be started cff again be, of course, had sie at his heels, ack suddenly turned into a very narrow thoroughfare, so narrow, in fact, that it was little better than an alley, and thinking that he intended to dive into some bouse in the dark place, our young feiret plunged after bim, All at once a hana fell cn Clip’s wrist like a steel bracelet, and when be fell back and looked u") be discovered that he had been caught by the very man be had been sion if “Just as I thought!” laugbed Jack, showing his face in the uncertain light tbat prevailed, ** I thought I naw a hound on my track, and I wasn’t mistaken, eh?” ‘* Just as you think,” said the boy, giving him a fearless look for the cne which had just, been bestowed upon him, ‘Just as you think, mn, Jack Jeffers,” “Youve been watching me all evening, haven’t you?” Chi did not reply. ever mind: you can hold your tongue if you want to, but it won’t do you any good in the long run, By the way, as you want to see all you can of me, I will take you | toa place where you will be accommodated,” Having said this be peg Clip after him, ane continued down the alley, bis band seeming. to sink into the boy’s wrist, and bis eyes to look bim through, Clever Clip felt that he had been caught, and’ that he had fallen into the bands of the head of the game against Gusta and little Paul, He did not try to break from Jack’s grasp, for the hand that held him told how futile would be any such attempts, and shutting his teeth, he went after the man, even anxious to see what was to be the outcome of the villain’s catch, i hon ee t ’ ' oS ( | He y | a “ae 4 ay is he 7 : - oa if . » ~o a a ) & ve , i om Mantel au “ar: = i a r ie a a (ie i 4 ne a Qty | = 4 ..- f Py» » oa | a" i q i (| y a i a . — Ne a * - Pp chat i ‘ga J : » ph. (ae : Sof Rig at . ’ f Pi 4 i m y 4 ioe hye . ¥ = We ke Sy gs , j xi Sp x z oe eer) | ‘¢ i ier maul oes Ve eS , P “en ais . 5 ‘ \ ating + hs “
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of the you anyhow,” one eh They had nearly reached the other mouth of the alley when Jack turned to a house and un- locked the door, Hedrew Clip across the thresh- old, and shut the door bebind him, the lock clicking ominously as it swung to. » Clip was taken intoa room of limited area and a very high ceiling as he saw by the jet which Jack turned on without releasing him, ‘* Tt was like catching a moth that comes to the light,” smiled Jack, falling back and looking at the boy who had been pushed toWard a chair which he did not take, but stood erect beside it and looked cool and even defiant. ** 1 didn’t expect to meet with success so soon,” continued the man. ‘Truth to tell, boy, you have been playing a nice game all along and we have to put you out of our road,” **Do you think that will keep the road clear?” cried Clip, ** We'll see to the rest,” was the quiet response. Do you expect to win this game against the happiness of the Mullers?” ** Never mind the Mullers,” exclaimed Jack witha laugh. ‘I don’t see why you take such an interest in them; you ain’t the girl’s sweet- heart. You're not the boy she likes,” “I know that, I lay no claims to Gusta Muller’s heart. I am her friend, though, and when her trunk comes, 1 am not the person to steal it.” The man burst into a Joud guffaw which gave the boy a true insight to his real nature. “What is more, I didn’t go over to Germany to swindle her by getting her to place her money in the lining of the family trunk and then—” Clip paused for the man had sprung toward him with the flaming eyes of the tiger and seem- ed ready to fall upon him and tear him to pieces, “Go on, you little scamp, Proceed and finish our sentence, you little gutter-snipe, I want to ow what opinion you have of me,” ‘** It?s a very poor one,” said the boy, who had laid hold of the back of the chair for the purpose of defending bimseif against the encroachments of the scoundrel, ‘‘I say I haven’t any opinion a0 to speak of aman who would plot to rob a or girl of all she has in this world and make er toil till late in the night making dolls at so much a dozen,” ‘** Ho! ho! you don’t seem to like me, that’s a fact,” grinned Jack Jeffers, ‘* Well, the feeling is reciprocated. I don’t think the world of a gutter-snipe who will turn on a man and track him from pillar to post like a hound.” Clip did not reply. ** You got out of Mother Flounder’s house, Did you win the old lady over with the sympathy racket? Did you melt the heart that never melt- ed before and coax ber to let you out of durance?” “Mrs, Flounder was deceived by you plotters and when she saw things in the right light, she did what was right.” *“ That is, she let you out, eh?” *T got out, never mind bow,” Jack went back and for a moment looked at Clip with the ferocity of a wild beast, then he suddenly moved toward him and covering him with his finger, said madly: “ This isn’t Mother Flounder’s shanty, as you willlearn, This is quite another trap and one that iscapable of holding everything it catches, No matter what the size of the rat is, it holds them all, Norway and field rat,” Jack gained the door and with his hand on the knob looked at the boy still at the chair, “You will stay here,” he went on, “If you can play the sympathy dodge in this house and get out you are welcome to do so, but the chances are that the game won't win here.” * You mean, miserable scoundrel, don’t you know that you are playing a band which will, in time, fail to rake in the stakes? You may succeed in robbing Gusta and little Paul of their money, but the hands of Justice will grip you in the near future and some day every mother’s son of you will pay for the crime you have committed, You once escaped with your life simply because the law had a loophole or two; but every one who knew anything about the case believed that you were guilty,” Something like a half-suppressed roar fell from Jack’s lips and he left the door, coming forward again with his eyes on fire. ‘What do you mean?” he almost sbrieked, “T was telling the truth, that’s all,” said the “undaunted boy, “ f was saying that, although _ they cleared you before, yon were guilty, and fsome day the old crime will come home to roost.” - You can’t frighten me into letting you out trap, 00, no,” said Jack, ‘‘I know my business, By Jupiter! ’ve a notion to choke _ The Battery Ferret straightened, and as the a ee Oe eee ae Clip, the Battery Ferret. figure of the rascal came nearer he suddenly g d the chair and raised it above his head. “Try it!” he said. “Try it, Jack Jeffers, and if you dol will defend myself to the last extremity.” For a moment the man seemed on the eve of throwing himself upon Clever Clip, but all at once he went toward the door again and let the Battery Butterfly go untouched. He seemed to fear to go too far even with Clever Clip notwithstanding the difference in years and sizes, and,when he reached the door again he looked hastily overhead and growled something about a skeleton in the room, then opened the portal and vanished. Caught said Clip when he found himself alone, ‘Captured by the very man I did not want to let get bold of me, Well, I’ve got to take things as they come, Maybe if I had osted Captain Cupid I would not be here now. 3ut this is crying over spilled milk and I won't do that,” He heard Jack’s steps for a little while, then - was still and he had room and silence to him- self, He was in a dreadful trap and escape seemed impossible. he more he thought of it the more the situa- tion sunk into his heart; but brave boy that he was, he did not despair. CHAPTER XI. A VILLAIN’S BOLD CARD. ‘¢ Wry don’t Clip come, Gusta?” This question came from ‘little Paul Muller as he turned disconsolately from the window of the new lodgings and faced bis sister who was finishing the head of a doll, ‘* Tm quite sure he will be here before long, Paul. You knowI wrote him and gave the let- ter to Mr, Jeffers who said he would deliver it and that he wouli tell Clip where we were, Yes, he will come soon. I-want to see him and tell him how Mr, Jeffers is trying to find the trunk we lost at the landing.” The orphans were living in a room somewhat larger than the one they had left and in a dif- ferent part of the city. Paul, a bright boy, bad formed an attachment for Clever Clip and had gone so far as to pre- dict that in time he would think as much of him as he did of Mr, Jeffers, Gusta went beck to her dolls and after awhile footsteps came down tbe hall beyond the door and the door itself opened, In came Jack Jeffers himself, looking as sleek as ever, ‘¢ Where is Clip and when is he coming to see us again?” cried Paul, the moment he caught sight of the villain. ** Oh, he'll drop in soon!” was the reply. *¢ To-morrow?) ‘To-morrow, I expect,” Little Paul clapped’ his hands delighted. At that very moment Clever Clip was the tenant of the trap and the oily sharp fuse. it, Jack came forward and for a moment looked over Gusta’s shoulders while she worked, ‘You haven’t found the trunk yet?” tremu- lously said the German girl, ‘‘ Not quite, but what if Iam on the track of something better than that old trunk?” Gusta stopped and looked up at bim, *T don’t know what it could be,” she answer- ed him, “ Wasn't your mother.a May, Gusta?” ‘Ves, Wilhelmina May,” was the eager reply, and running toa little box at the head of her couch, she brought to the rascal an old-fashioned portrait of a good-looking German matron, Jack took the picture and looked at it for a moment, He saw that Gusta’s face resembled the one photographed before him and when he banded it back to her, he asked: ‘* Whatever became of her brothers?” ** She only had the one, the uncle who went to Australia and died there long ago. He thought to make his fortune, but we never heard of him and of course he died poor in that strange and far-off land.” **-You don’t know that he died poor, do you, Gusta?” ‘* Tt is true we never heard that he died there, but as we never heard from him at all, the in- ference is that he perished there in a state of need,” Jack was silent for a moment, ‘Look here, Gusta, you’re a sae and you ought not to waste your life making dolls n this house,” “It’s as much for Paul as for myself,” was the prompt response. ‘I could make a liy- ee ee, en her Pye Sy Seatac ees RI Pe 4 RE as eS wes ee eee GS st np a SD 2 ing at other trades and perhaps marry well some of these: days; but you see we have lost the trunk and all it held and have to do something. Besides, doll-making is not dis- graceful and, then, I like it, for what I make pleases the little Americans and that gives me pleasure,” Paul had gone to the front window to watch the sights in the street below and Jack lowered his voice as he bent over the flaxen curls of the pretty German gir). ‘*Look here, Gusta; there may be a double fortune in this thing,” be went on. “If you could find. a good husband and a second fortune all at the same time wouldn’t you think the mat- ter over?” A sudden flush suffused Gusta Muller’s face and she glanced toward Paul. ‘“T—I don’t hardly understand you,” she aid, ‘“*What if a likely fellow who thinks a good deal of you should offer his heart and hand and at the same time put you on the way to a fortune larger than the one you placed in the old trunk, wouldn’t you jump at the chance?” For the first time Gusta Muller seemed to see rascality in tbe man who all along had pretend- ed to befriend her, She fell back from the table and dropping the doll looked him in the eye, her bosom heaving with poorly suppressed excitement and her lus- trous eyes aglow. ‘‘ Are you speaking for yourself now?” sho asked. ‘* Do you mean that if you were to offer me your hand would I accept it?” The question was pointed and seemed to hit Jack squarely in the face, ‘*- Yes,” he said, seizing Gusta’s wrist and pre- venting her from breaking away. ‘I am tell- ing the truth. There is another fortune, but you can’t lay your bands upon it without my help, and things are shaped so that the woman who wins it must become my wife.” These lying words seemed to stun the doll- maker, She looked at Jeffers like a person in a maze and for a noment appeared ready to sink with fright at his feet, “T can’t. You must not ask me in any way to desert Paul,” she said. ‘'He is the charge father gave to my keeping just before he died and I will not do anything that will tear us apart—not for all the fortunes in the wide world,” ‘*Oh, that can be fixed. Paul needn’t be torn from you. I will see that you have him always with you, Gusta, I want to see you in possession of the new fortune and if I don’t get it for you, you will never find it at all,” There was no reply and Gusta heard Paul cry out that a fight was going on in tke street. “T tell you that, while you have been a friend to us, I can’t think of your proposition,” said the candid German girl. ‘‘I must not for Martin’s sake,” ‘* Who's Martin?” demanded the ruffian, * You don’t know him; that’s a fact, Martin isin Philadelphia where he is employed and I have never written him anything about the loss of the trunk ard the bills,” “Oh, is be the young man who used to be in the barge-office here?” ‘Yes, the same Martin,” blushed Gusta. “Well, all I have to say is that if you prefer him to the fortune and the hand of Jack Jeffers you ought to be accommodated; but you don’t snow what you are throwing away,” **T can’t break my promise to Martin.” ‘* Has it gone so far‘asa promise?” grated the maddened rascal. ‘Martin and I will be married before long.” The villain laughed in spite of himself, There was tohim something funny in the candor of theGerman girl, and when be looked down into the big brown eyes he must have seen that their owner was very proud of * Martin,” * But look here,” he went on, ‘ You must do this thing. You can’t lay your band on a penny of the second fortune without marrying me and I will make you just as good a husband as ever Martin will.” ‘‘That may all be, Mr. Jeffers, but the prom- ise! the promise!” “That's nothing,” said the man, ‘That can be broken for your own good sense ought to tell you that a busband who brings you a fortune isn’t to be picked up every day.” Little Paul came from the window and seem- ing to divine the true state of affairs by looking up into Guste’s face, called upon ber in German not to cross Mr, Jeffers; but to do what he said. ‘¢- You don’t know what thisman wants me to do,” said Gusta to Paul in the language of the fatherland, ‘ You must not tell me to do this, Paul dear.” Seon eee
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10 “Then, do what you think is best, Gusta, I wish Clip would come,” and the boy fell back again while Jeffers wondered what had passed between the pair, ‘* What are you going to do?’ he asked. ‘““Whatif you see some one else come between y ou and the new fortune?” **T can’t help that.” ‘* All because you think you ought not to break the promise made to this young jackanapes in Poiladelphia!” In an instant Jack Jeffers saw that he had been too hasty with his tongue, In an instant Gusta Muller broke from his grasp and pointing toward the door while her face grew red, she ordered him in loud tones to leave the room, “Go!” she cried, ‘'I believe, after all, you may be the sort of person Clip secms to think you are. You can’tcome to my home and in- sult Martin in my presence, You have befriend- edus, Mr, Jack Jeffers; but you carry your friendship too far. We don’t want the other fortune if it has to be gained in the manner you = ee gepye I would rather make dolls all my ife, The tall figure of the sharper stood near the door and a look of villainy seemed to make his eyes dance, **'You'll wish you had not taken the bit in your teeth,” he said with his cold, hard voice in which there was a hidden meaning. ‘* You will yet regret this display of temper, and the time will come when you will stand at the altar with the only man who can get this fortune for you, Gusta took a hasty step toward him. **Tt will never come! Paul and I will make our living, for I will teach him how to paint the doll’s faces and we can go back to the old house and outlive the sorrow caused by the loss of the trunk,” **] would like to see you get along if I stand in your way,” was the answer. ‘I can make beggars of both of you and unless you think over what you have just said and take me and the new fortune, both of you will be at the very last round of the ladder of poverty and that be- fore lovg,” Then the door opened and closed and Gusta fell in a heap in a chair, and little Paul ran to her with a piercing cry of distress and sym- pathy, “Pil stand by you Gusta, I’m here yet!” he said, kissing her, —— CHAPTER XII, NICHOLAS NABB MAKES A BARGAIN, Ir was very evident that Jack Jeffers was playing a band of his own independent of theone started by the trio for the fortune which be- longed to the Muller children, The crafty and merciless wretch, as cool a rascal as ever had adark game in hand, had determined to get Gusta Muller fully in his snare so as to get hold of the second legacy, and to do this effectually he had resolved to make her his wife and thus cheat the young barge- secretary out of a helpmeet, When he went from the girl’s room with the threat on his tongue there was a smile on his face and victory in his eye, He thought that when Gusta came to her senses she would quietly submit and that he would not have to make beggars of the brother and sister in order to ‘bring her to her mutton ” as he expressed it with a laugh, Some time elapsed before Gusta revived enough to recognize little Paul and then her arms went round her brother and she drew him close to her side, “T have found that man out at last, Paul,” she said in low tones, ‘' I know now that Jack Jeffers is a thoroughpaced rascal and that he means us harm. What was that he said about anew fortune? 1 almost forget what it was for my head was ina whirl and I can’t remem- ber what took place before he went off,” ‘*T wish Clip would come,” said the German boy. ‘He stays away a long time and Mr. Jeffers said he would take the letter you wrote to him; but now 1] don’t believe Clip ever saw it,” “ Perhaps not, Paul, There is no telling what that man will do,” Gusta thought for a moment and then arose and went to the window. She stood there some time, silently watched by Pau), and when sheturned away she went to the table where she had been making dolls and silently resumed work. Far from the house occupied by the two in peril stood a boy who for hours had tried to find @ way out of the room, Clip, the Battery Ferret. It was Clever Clip and he was still an inmate of the chamber where he had been left by Jack- son Jeffers who had shrewdly captured him in the alley. No one had come to him and he was still in ignorance as to where he was, or whether he was the sole tenant of the old place. Jeffers had left him with a cool threat which told himin very few words that the trap in which he now was was not to open to him se He had worked on the feelings of Mrs, Flounder, but here was no one to work on, and he was as lost to the world as if the sidewalk of Gotham had opened and swallowed bim. If the boy could have regained his liberty and reached the streets again he might have run across a man who flitted through the shadows thrown by the lamps and who seemed eager to gain a certain place without being observed. This man was our old acquaintance, Nicholas Nabb, of the firm of Nabb & Nippem, and he had put on a false beard so as to disguise him from too prying eyes, He reached at last a large block of buildings which he entered and, finding his way up the stairs that met his gaze, he opened a door and stepped into a small office occupied at the time by a little man writing at a desk in one corner, Nicholas Nabb astonished the man at the desk for when he came forward the person in the corner looked up and seemed to look the lawyer through, ‘*My name is Verity—Vincent Verity,” said Nabb disguising his voice. “I think I have some information for you providing we can make a bargain mutually agreeable.” ‘* That’s good,” said the other who was ‘t Poke” Parsons, the man who made a business of hunt- ing up lost heirs and finding lost legacies for them, , Nabb took a long breath and crossed his long egs, “You have advertised for one or two heirs named Muller or Mueller—you seem in doubt as to the spelling.” “Yes, yes: but that makes little difference. What do you know about them?” ** A good deal perhaps, or nothing at all, as the case inay be,” said Nabb shrewdly. **' You mean that everything depends on what there is in the matter for you?” * That’s it, exactly,” Parsons Jeaned back in his chair and seemed to study the situation, “There is something in the case for the man who helps me,” he said at last. ‘‘ There is noth- ing in it for the man who tries to win the game himself, Understand?” Nabb thought he did; he was no chump, and was quite sure he saw through the meaning of the lawyer’s words, and when Parsons had fin- ished Nicholas said in bis oily voice: ‘Tt might as well bea bargain, is coming to the Mueller children?” ‘*Children, eh? Be there more than one?” ** There are two of them—boy and girl,” ‘* Jehosaphat!” cried Parsons. ‘Two? Two can’t be handled with the ease of one, but we might succeed with them. Look here, Mr. Nabb, you might as well take off that beard, It seems to disturb you; besides, everything is strictly confidential here.” Nabb blushed to the top of his forehead, and removed the false beard, for Parsons, who knew him well, bad fathomed the mask and none was necessary in that particular office. ‘* The whole legacy amounts in our money to about fifty thousand. I can get out of it, as ie understand, only my fee in such cases; but might make it interesting for you if you could put me on the track of the rightful beirs,” “Lean, I know where they are now,” ** In this city? cried the impatient Parsons, “*T have not said so; but [ want to know what shape the legacy is in.” Poke Parsons thought a moment: before he an- swered Nicholas Nabb. He seemed suspicious of the man who had sneaked to his office dis- guised, and well he :hight be, for Nicholas Nabb had a reputation for rascality not surpassed by any member of the profession, ut after awhile Parsons went on and told a nice story, which Nabb seemed to take down with avidity, and when it was finished the beir-finder thought he had succeeded in deceiy- ing the best deceiver in the city, ** It’s a go, then!” said Nicholas, rising, ‘It is understood that [am to name my price for assistance rendered, and get it?” Poke Parsons nodded, “*T will see that the Mullers are placed in your hands before to-morrow night.” ‘*See that yon are not watched,” said the lawyer. ‘‘ We heir-finders are constantly sbad- How much owed, and there are some people who live on information which really belongs to us and to no one else,” Nicholas Nabb promised faithfully that he would keep the secret, and in less than a minute he was on the street, and on his way to the place where he had last seen Gusta Muller, He knew nothing of the removal of the chil- dren by the artful Jeffers and when he discov- ered as he suddenly did that the home of the doll-maker contained a tenant who knew noth- ing of its former occupant he was thunder- struck and stood on the threshold like a man roused suddenly from a dream, ‘*'W hat’s this?” said Nicholas, ina dezed man- ner, ‘*‘What does this mean anyway? The Mullers gone away and no one knows what be- came of them? I don’t quite understand.” Watching him when he came back to the street, was a man who had a pair of keen eyes in his head, and when the legal shark moved off he had this person at his heels, ‘¢ What are you up to now?” said the man af- ter Nicholas. ‘‘ You are trying to work a game independent of the one we are into, You oily rascal, Nicholas Nabb, Iam going to see you to the end of this adventure and if you are trying to interfere in the little play I have in hand you will wish you had never heard of the German fortune.” Nabb led his tracker, who was Jack Jeffers, down many streets before be showed signs of giving up the trip. Jeffers did not lose sight of him for a moment and when he saw the Jawyer at last turn into the hall leading to the old office, he stopped with a light laugh, Nicholas went up and struck a ligbt. He slipped across the room to the desk he oc- cupied and was in the act of opening it when he heard footsteps on the floor, *“You’ve been out to-night?” said Jeffers, halting in front of the man, who had recognized and was looking «t him with astonishment writ- ten on his face which was nearly white, ‘*How do you know? Have you been track~ ing me?? The face of Jack Jeffers came closer to the man in the revolving chair and his hands seemed to clinch, ‘Never mind what I’ve been doing, I know my business and you have been working a lay of your own,” heir eyes met and Nicholas Nabb turned to the desk and laid bis hand on the lid. ‘* fold!” cried Jeffers, darting at the hand and closing on the wrist like a swooping vul- ture, ‘‘I guess you are trying to play a hand indepevdent of mine. You have sold us out to Parsons; you have told him all you know about the Mullers,” ‘* What if I have?” The reply wasa quick spring at Nabb’s throat, and the two men went to the floor together Five minutes later a man sneaked from the room and went down the half-lighted stair, but he had left behind a new mystery for the police of the great city. And the moment he reached the sidewalk he seemed to vanish and that was the last of him. CHAPTER XIII. CLIP’S RACE FOR LIFE, Bricgut and early the next morning Solow Nippem, of Nabb & Nippem, opened the door of the little office in the Belgium Block and fell back with white face and a cry of horror from the sight that met his gaze, Nicholas Nabb sat in his chair with his face staring at the white wall, and the moment Nippem stopped beside his partner that mo- ment he knew that he was in the presence of the dead} The alarm was given and the coroner and the doctors who came at the alarm, said that Nicho- las Nabb had been choked to death; so the police knew that a new mystery had been given them by the night ars passed, A search of the office revealed the fact thr* few if any papers belonging to the firm had bev disturbed and this deepened the mystery of the lawyer’s death, The body was finally taken away and. the detectives of the city began to attack the puzzle of the crime. Gusta Muller and little Paul heard nothing of all this, They did not know that the hand of death had smitten the villain who had despoilet them of the od trunk, nor that the shadow of peril was deepening about them through the machinations of one dangerous and wholly de- testable man,
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Clip, the Battery Ferret. 11 The morning waned and the Mullers, shut up in their new quarters which they owed to Jack Jeffers, wondered why Clever Clip did not 4 come, tc | Little Paul had been many times to the hi window on the lookout for the Battery Butter- fly, but the boy did not put in an appearance and Gusta’s fingers fell from the work she was forced to do to keep her place in the good graces of the house for which she toiled at doll- making. Let us go back to the boy we left in the un- a) known house by Jack Jeffers playing a hand of aoa his own for the new fortune which he knew be- Fi longed to the Mullers, The boy had passed a sleepless night and when he saw the gray light of another day streaming into the*room he wondered if its Waning was to witness his escape from the place, As yet no sound had reached his ears telling him that the old house was inhabited by others than himself, and the more he listened the more oe oy ga convinced that he was the only tenant it had, But all at once a door opened and shut: some- where and Clever Clip springing across the room with the nimbleness of a cat waited for the person who had made the noise to enter his prison, He was quite sure he heard footsteps in the adjoining room and while he watched the door he thought they approached the portal, ** It might be my breakfast,” thought the boy detective. ‘I would like a snack from Delmon- ico’s, that’s a fact; but the chances are that my order won’t be filled.” He heard a key turn in a lock and the follow- ing moment he caught sight of a human face, “I’ve fetched you your breakfast,” said the person who came in with a tray in his hand. Clip looked at the speaker and saw that he was little more than an overgrown boy. As the fellow finished he locked the door be- hind him and placed what he bad brought on the single chair in the place, then crept back, all the time keeping his eye on Clip like a sus- picious tiger. The Battery Butterfly looked at him and seem- ed to size him up. The youth was very stout and had the phy- sique of a young giant, He showed a good deal of agility as Clip could see» by his move- ments and when he reached the door he looked at the imprisoned boy and said: ae Sa ** Tt ain’t as good as you’d get elsewhere in the Net at city, but it’s a pretty good snack, There’s per- La) le taters, cabbage, a slice of bam, some oat-meal Vik Ty ra a bit o’ coffee that makes my mouth Bee water. Pe vee ** Who told you to bring me my breakfast?” a asked Clip, The boy grinned, “You're not to give anything away, I see,” continued Clip, ‘* You are playing just the sort of game you were to ener op to tell anything, but to. do what you have been ordered to do, and when it is done to go off with a closed mouth, Isn’t that it?” “ That's about it,” said the big boy. Clever Clip advanced toward the meal, but in reality was eager to get closer to his jailer. ** When am I to get out of here?” he demand- **T can’t tell you.” “ He didn’t give you that part of the secret, then?” The young jailer shook his head, ** Don’t you know that they have no right to keep mein this house? Don’t you know, too, * that you are getting yourself into a desperate soley by helping the man in whose pay you are No answer, “You will be hunted down some time and that by the police. You can’t play this game through and have a good time on the money you are to get for your part of it.” **Why don’t you eat yer pertaters? They’ll & t col if you don’t turn yer attention to em, Clip stepped deliberately between the break- fast and the boy at the door. “You must let me out of this,” hesaid. ‘T am here against my will and if you don’t open the door behind yca I will raise the alarm and have the cops down upon us in a jiffy.” “The cops couldn't hear you. They don’t listen for anything in this alley. You might holler till you’re hoarse and they wouldu’t leave _ their beats out yonder,” _ Clip felt from_the boy’s manner that this was terribly true. He was like a person buried ‘alive; the loudest cry he might let out would not betray the situation to the guardians of the city. But he had resolved toget out, and that through the coming of the young overgrown jailer. The big boy was in Jack Jeffers’s pay; there was no doubt of this for Jeffers had brought him (Clip) to the house and left him there, and of course he had secured the services of the boy on account of his secretiveness and strength. ‘** Look here,” resumed Clip, suddenly seizing the chair and endangering the breakfast deposit- ‘You sball not keep me here, I have a right to be outside and you know it too ed upon it, well.” “Well, get out—if you can!” sneered the young jailer. This was enough to heat every drop of Clever Clip’s blood and the next moment, with the chair above his head, he started forward and made a pass at his foe, The big boy threw up his hands and tried to seize the chair, but failing in this, attempted to knock it out of the young ferret’s hands, In doing so he fell back against the door and for a moment was at Clip’s mercy, ‘*Open the door!” cried the imprisoned Clip, **Open it now or V!l dash your brains out and leave you here to be found by the police.” **T)on’t! don't!” cried the big boy. hit me and I'll do anything.” Clip, almost laughing outright at the situation, fell back to let the boy get up and when the fellow scrambled to his feet and exhibited a bunch of keys, he thought himself at the door of freedom, But all at once the big boy opened the door and darting through the opening was about to make his escape leaving a locked portal behind him, when Clip thrust one of the legs of the chair before the door, Bang went the door against the leg and the boy who clutched the knob was thrown head- long to the floor in the hall, which enabled the you ferret to grasp the door and throw it open again, eRut the moment he was in the hall he saw the big boy spring up and fly at him with the frenzy of an enraged panther, The Battery Ferret was seized by the large hands and thrown against the wall, but for- tunately he did not strike it fairly or it might have been the last of him, and when the big boy tried to follow up his advantage, he slipped through his flagers and fled down the corridor, There was a door at the end of the corridor, which was not very long, and when he grabbed its knob he saw the jailer in full chase, ** You can’t get out!. You are in the grip of doom$” cried the big boy, rushing down upon Clever Clip with the speed ofacheetah, “lam going to keep you here untit he tells me to either kill you or let you go,” Clip wrenched the knob with all his strength and just as the hand of the boy was about to close on him, something yielded and the insecure lock’of the door broke off’with a snap and with a ery of joy the boy detective tore it open. The pursuing jailer ran against the swinging door which struck him in the face landing yt on his back in the corridor, and looking at him over his shoulder, Clip ran on, reaching a room through which he plunged with all his might, Ié was a race for life as he ‘had realized from the very beginning, and eager to get be- yond the walls of the bouse which had detained him, he did not slacken his speed until he open- the last door and found before him the dark alley down which he had tracked Jack Jeffers to bis sorrow. Clever Clip ran on until, emerging ‘upon the street, he turned and looked back expecting to see the big boy after him with the same vim that had characterized his first efforts; but he was agreeably disappointed, and then, turning away, he vanished from the neighborhood as goon as possible, ‘* Tt was a close call and I don’t want any more like it,” said he to himself. ‘“ Ud rather not meet a boy like that again. Now, Il am out and my first duty is to get asnack where I won’t have to eat undera pair of fox-like eyes and where I can pav for what I get.” He walked off and at last entering the old restaurant, he ordered a breakfast and fell to with a zest that attracted those who waited on the patrons of the house, The Battery Butterfly enjoyed the meal and when it bad been fully discussed he paid his score and, rising, said with resolution: ‘* Now for getting even and bringing some- body to ai Look out, Nabb, Nippem and Jeffers. This is my inning and I’m going to see that it is a blooming success,” * Don't that a face had left @ window opposite home; nor that the owner of it was on the street sneaking after them at that very moment like a. spy. CHAPTER XIV. HAWK AND DOVE, Nor at all haunted by the shadow of the crime committed in the office of Nabb & Nippem, Jack Jeffers went about bis business of getting both Gusta Muller and her fortune with the coolness that characterized all his. movements, The astute police and the ever vigilant detec- tives did not suspect him at all, and whilv they were looking elsewhere for a clue to the mur- der mystery of the Belgium Block, Jeffers walk- ed down that very street and laid his plans, as if he had not taken human life in a moment of passion, Of one thing he was certain: Nicholas Nabb& was out of his way and never would he carry out his t of the bargain, whatever it was, with Poke Parsons, the heir-finder, The man from over-sea was studying out a lan by which he might overcome Gusta uller’s repugnance and secure both the girl and the second fortune which would vanish as. completely as the first had done if he once got his hand on it, He laughed to himself when he thought of Gusta’s refusal to become his wife and he re- solved not to visit the Mullers again until the girl had had time for reflection, But he thought it best to watch the prem- ises for she might suddenly vacate the place and by vanishing interfere in a serious manner with his game, In order to do this he rented a small room just opposite the new home of the Mullers, and set bimself to work to keep an eye on the doll- maker’s doorway. He had been careful to disguise himself by shaving off bis beard, and to rent the room under an assumed name, all of which seemed just the thing needed to carry out his scheme, Many an hour he spent at the front window, hidden from observation from the street, and when he grew a little tired he would resort to a cigar, but still he bung to the window as if to leave it might ruin all his plans, The more Gusta Muller thought over what had taken place between her and the man in whom she had once trusted, the more she saw through his rank duplicity, She came to believe that instead of being her friend, Jack Jeffers was a grand rascal who: was trying to beat her and little Paul out of their rights, and one afternoon she said to her brother, in earnest tones: ‘We are going away to-night, Paul.” ** Not from this house, Gustaf” ‘*'Yes, we must,” ** Will we go back to the old place?” No, they might find us there,” answered the doll-maker with a shudder, ‘ We won't go back there, Paul. I don’t know exactly where we will stop, but this is not the piece for ue,” Paul looked inquisitively into his sister’s face, but did not question her, **T think I know now why Clip doesn’t come,” she went on. ‘* That man, Jack Jeffers, never told him where we were, and he is keeping the boy away for a pu of his own,” ‘Why not write Martin?” ‘Not yet, I don’t want to worry him, but ie time must come when he will know every- thing. Gusta watched the falling shadows, and when night came she took Paul by the hand and led him from the room, ‘* What, ain’t we going to take any oe with us?” asked the little German boy, looking up into Gusta’s face. “Not now, We will send for our things if we find a new place,” was the reply. ‘We can’t take anything off now, for that would betray us, Paul. This must be a flight with- out aay DASEARer e The boy said no more, and Gusta conducted him down upon the lighted streets of the great. citv. She scarcely knew where to go, She had never been abroad much after dark, and the streets were a labyrinth to her, turn which way she might, She was confused by the glare of the lights, and for a moment she and Paul stood on the sidewalk, almost regretting the step they had taken, “]T must get beyond the power of that man,” was the thought that filled the girl’s mind. ‘I can’t let him carry out his threat and I wilh never break my promise to Martin,” By and by she led Paul away, not dreaming thei” 4 SS ee eee i _ : > PIs a eS tm ante
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12 Gusta had a friend, a German girl who made dolls like herself, and though she had visited her but twice, she still remembered the street and number, She approached a policeman who stood ona corner and asked him to direct her to the street inhabited by her friend. “It’s on the other side of the city,” said the officer, looking down at little Paul whose rosy face attracted him as if it reminded him of little faces at home, ‘ But, dear me, you don’t intend to walk all the way?” ** Yes, all the way. Ill lead Paul and he won’t get tired for he knows why we are going to Mina’s house,” The officer gave the fugitives the proper direc- tions and even walked a few yards with them, after which he watched them out of sight as if o seared to let them get beyond his helping and, It was a long way sure enough, but Gusta, blessed with an excellent: memory, treasured up the directions given by the policeman and made good progress despite her limited knowledge of city life, ot a murmur fell from Paul’s lips as they hurried on, At last Gusta stopped and looked confused, The maze of streets dazed her as it were and she was seen to look all around her like a person lost. All this time, watching the children with the eye of the night-hawk, was the owner of ‘the eyes which had seen them desert the house which had last sheltered them. Jackson Jetfers was still on the trail and he had kept so close to the fugitives watching them with his keen eyes and tracking them up one street and down another, all the time won- dering whither they were going, ** They are lost. Gusta has lost her bearings and don’t know how to recover them,” he said, half aloud, At length he saw the Mullers walk up toa man who stood in a doorway and address him. Jeffers watched the man point out the way and then seem to give the pretty German girl some advice for being out unprovected in that part of the city. Gusta and little Puul started on once more with the tiger at their heels, and when they reached the street where Gusta’s friend lived Jeffers saw them spring forward with renewed hopes, “They must be near the place, I guess I’ve run them down and when [ have done so, I will know where l can lay my band on them when I want ’em,” Gusta watched the numbers of the dwellings with a great deal of interest and when she came .to a certain one she said something to Paul and ie stopped, he next moment the girl had run up a pair of steps and was knocking. She knocked again and again, but no one came to the door, Paul wondered why this was so and told Gusta to hammer with all her might, which made the doll-maker smile, At last a response came to the girl’s knocking, but not in the manner she desired, A window near the door was opened and a fe- male head became visible, “Who do ye want?’ exclaimed a shrill screechy voice, ‘“We want to see Mina,” “The girl what makes dolls for the gintleman down-town?” “ Yes,” ‘* Well, ye’ll have ter look for her on the ither side o’ the city. She wint off the other day an’ said she guessed she’d not come back any more,” Gusta seemed to sink to the ground. What, Mina gone, and all their long walk across the city for nothing? It was enough to weaken and completely unnerve her, ’ Slowly, with her hand tightening at little Pauls wrist, the doll-maker turued away as the window closed. Her face was white and her lips seemed to sweat blood, Gvoing back to the old house seemed like enter- ‘ing the door of a prison. Gusta Muller looked all about her for refuge and then turned toward the corner which they had rounded only a few moments before with bape in their hearts, be human bawk came nearer and saw with delight the fear that showed itself in the German girl’s manners, **T have her now!” he said under his breath, stig have not tracked this rich prize for noth- ee ee Clip, the Battery Ferret. With swift steps he descended upon the pair and was about to acquaint them with his pres- ence when a man stepped between him and the Mullers, “*Curse him! that spoils my little game,” he grated through closed teeth, ‘I didn’t see him till this moment,” The man who bad come between was tall and giant-like in proportions and had about him the look of an officer. “You are lost,” he said gently to Gusta. ‘* Let me be of some service to you?” ** You?” cried the girl drawing back. ‘Yes, [am Captain Cupid of the detective service and I think I know who you are,” **T wish you were at the bottom of the river, Captain Cupid!” said the hawk, drawing back into the shadows once more, CHAPTER XV. MR. NIPPEM IS NABBED, CAPTAIN CUPID, whose heart was overflowing with kindness and good-nature, smiled on the Mullers and led them down the street, drawing from Gusta as they proceeded as much of her story as she cared to tell, When the doll-maker discovered that the cap- tain knew Clip, she «azerly asked after the boy, but the detective could not give her any satis- faction; so she had to give up her questionings on this subject. ‘*T can take you to my sister’s for the present,” said the detective. ‘*She lives in Bleecker street aud in a comparatively quiet neighborhood, She will be glad to see you and you can remain with her till you find other quarters,” ‘All right, captain; take ’em to Bleecker street,” said the man who overheard these words, “‘T don’t care where you take’em; I intend to win this game, anyhow.” Some time after these events Gusta Muller and little Paul found themselves the inmates of a neat and quiet home, and Captain Cupid’s sister, a matronly widow, assured them that they should occupy her house just as long as they desired. When Jack Jeffers found his victims hidden once more, be went back and ran up the stairs that led to his lodgings. ‘*T was about to pull them in again, but that big detective had to interfere which spoiled my game for the time,” he said, ‘‘I will bave to work another lay which I can do and yet get oa! Australian fortune and maybe the German wife, He was. still in the room when footfalls came up the steps, and when he opened the door he saw standing before him Solon Nippem, the remaining partner of the firm of Nabb & Nip- em. : The hatchet-faced man who had been fright- ened by the strange death of Nicholas Nabb, came gliding across the room with a noiseless tread and when he dropped into a chair Jeffers saw how intensely white he was, ‘* Look here,” he said. ‘I thought you were going to get rid of that troublesome boy.” ‘* What boy?” “Why, the one poor Nabb pointed out to you from the office the-other day.” ** Oh, he’s all right.” **T don’t know about that, When he sneaks into one’s office and sneaks out like a ghost, I don’t call that ‘ all right ’.” Jack Jeffers saw how earnest Nippem was, and coming nearer to him he demanded to know just what he meant. “The boy is looking for somebody,” the lawyer went on. ‘He was in the office to-+ night for I saw him drop into the hall from over the transom—” _ * Heavens! you didn't see that, did you?” ‘*Why didn’t I? And you tell me that we have no cause to fear a boy like that,” *ButI sent bim up of my own accord. I had fixed him, and now you say that you saw him come out of the office by the transom?” *] did. I was just mounting the stairs into the ball when I saw what I bave described by the light in the corridor, Why didn't I grab the young jackanapes? Truth to tell, the sight fairly shocked me and when I recovered T found myself on: the way to your lodgings, for you had told us that the boy should hurt no one. Jeffers looked at the man in the chair as if still half-doubting his sanity, but aside from being scared and unnerved, there was nothing the matter with him, ** You'll have to let me go somewhere before I can take all this down,” he said, ‘*I must visit a certain place in this city.” _— _ — ** When will you return?” ‘*Tnside of an hour.” * But I saw the boy—the one called the Battery Butterfly anid that girl’s friend, I couldn’t have been fooled, for my eyes are pretty keen yet if they bave looked out of this head for fifty years. I have had strange thoughts since some one killed Nabb in the vffice and I intend to move as soon as possible. I say, isn’t it strange that they can’t get a clue to that murder?” Jeffers, with the coolness of a desperado, said it was very strange, whereupon Nippem sug- gested that perbaps Nabb, ina fit of passion or remorse, had cboked himself to death. Leaving Nippem to keep house for him, Jack Jeifers readjusted the facial disguise and slip- ped down-stairs, He made his way as rapidly and as quietly as he coul: to that part of the city where he had left Clever Clip in durance and unlocked the house with a key which he took from bis pocket, Everything was quiet and this for a time gave the. listo Nippem’s experience, but when he opened the door that ushered him into the room where he had left the boy ferret, he stopped short and then staggered back, It was untenanted. **Gone—got away!” be cried. ‘'I wonder if he came the same game on Davy that he did on Mrs. Flounder. I can’t believe it, for the boy was unsympathetic and had nothing at stake save the money I was to pay him. But the Battery Bu'terfly has taken wing andI am left in the lurch, Now what'will be do? Turnon me? Why not?” Jack Jeffers turned and went back to the front room. ‘The whole house seemed deserted by every one but himself, and for a moment he stood in the dim light that prevailed. ‘* Old Nippem must have seen the boy,” he said at last. ‘*The old shark didn’t use bis eyes for notbing while he stood on the stair, and here, while I have settled with Nabb who was getting out of his pasture, I find this boy still in the ring.” Jeffers pulled his hat down over his face and went out again. He went back to where he had left Nippem and found that person eagerly awaiting him, ‘* Well?” asked the lawyer when Jeffers came in. ‘You are right; the boy is at large.” ; Hipper bounded from his chair like a jamping ack, ‘*You know what that means, don’t you, Jackson?” be cried, “* What, Solon?” ‘“‘It means revenge; it means that the boy, who is the friend of the German girl, will tr and find who hada hand in taking that trun and the fortune that was in it,” Jack curled his lips derisively, ‘* Well, what if he does?” he said, ‘* What if he brings the detectives to his aid?” ‘* You're frightened, ain’t you, Nippem?” ‘* I'm not feeling very good, that’s a fact,” ‘Then, you can withdraw from the , game, You don’t bave to stay init, Haven't you got your share of the swag? Wasn’t it an even divide? And aren’t you satisfied?” *¢ Yos,” said Nippem hesitatingly, ‘Tf you dow’t like the looks of things:all you have to do is to quit the city till the hunt blows over, You know where to go without any ad- vice from me,” There was no reply, Nippem all the time watching Jack with the cunning of a hawk, “ And you?” he asked at last, ‘Oh, I don’t run off. When a tiger gets out of its cage the best thing to be done is to go to work and put it back with as little delay as pos- sible,” : **Do you think you can corral this boy ferret again?” ‘““Why not? Didn’t I have him in the’ trap once before? Don’t I learn some things by ex- rience?” “Tf I thought you would do this thing soon—” ‘*Don’t depend on that; 1 might fail, I would advise you to go off for a spell—say for a week or two. If everything goes well you can come back,” ‘* But I would tike to help the police solve the murder in the office. I would like to know who killed Nicholas.” Jack Jeffers, the man with the dark secret, set nothing and did not so much as change co'or. ile looked at Nippem and even smiled when he said that the death of Nabb might be one of the unsolvable secrets of the police, and then the lawyer shark said he would take Jack’s advice and leave the city. -_
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Clip, the Battery Ferret. 13 This determined on it was agreed that Jack should write Nippem how things were progress- ing, and when the two men shook hands and the cool-head from over sea heard the footsteps of Nippem on the stair, a laugh arose to his lips, “This leaves me just where I have wanted to be allthis while—the sole man in the game and with no one to share my secrets. Now, I am ready to beat the play and come out on top. Nippem is gone for good for he isn’t one of these men who came bsck where danger lurks, [am the sole man against the field, and the field can’t win, lt isn’t in the deck,” If he had followed Solon Nippem he would have see him go back to his office and strike a light there. For some time he looked through the various desks and then wrote out a placard which he stuck on the outside of the door, **That will do,” he said, falling back and look- ing at his work, which read: ‘‘ Out of town for a few days,” and then the last member of Nabb & Nippem turned to go down the street. But all at once a shadow fell along the wall over the steps and as he stopped he caught sight of a figure which in the uncertain light looked as gigantic as Og, King of Bashan, ‘Great heavens! the police,” cried Nippem, feeling his limbs giving way under him, and the next second he was clutched by a hand that seemed to sink to the bone. ** Let’s go into the office and talk there,” said the lawyer’s captor, ** Yes, into the oftice. I’m willing to tell you everything, but I don’t know who killed Nicholas. All I can tell is about the takiug of the trunk with the German money hid in it, And, what is more, I’m willing to give up every dollar I received,” and the cowardly wretch was taken back into the office where he fell breath- legs into his revolving chair, CHAPTER XVI. BACK IN THE TOILS, ONCE more out of durance, the Battery Fer- ret was free to act against the men who had conspired to rob the Mullers of their all, and while he did not know what kind of snares Jack Jeffers would set for him, he had re- egg that no fear of the man should thwart im, It was the same night of the events we have just detailed, and while Solon Nippem was in the hands of the officer who had come upon him on the stair, The figure of the Battery Butterfly came round a corner not far from the river, and seemed to be watching a man who was walk- ing rapidly toward the nearest ferry. Clip knew the man, though he was somewhat disguised, and when he had followed bim into the ferry-house, and was about to approach him for a better view, he was suddenly caught from ea and he looked up into Captain Cupid’s ace, The old detective, who was the boy’s stanch friend, had been looking for him ever since he conducted the Mullers to his sister’s on Bleecker street, and his face showed that he had some- thing of importance to communicate, Clip’s countenance brightened while he listen- ed to Captain Cupid, and when the old man bad told his story he turned to look for Jack Jeffers, the man he had tracked to the ferry, but he had vanished. ** Never mind; this fellow will turn upagain,” said Captain Cupid. ‘*He’s not one of the kind that keeps out of harm’s road very long, We will get the grip on him ere long, Clip, and there will be a settlement of some things that will even others up.” The officer and the Butterfly walked from the ferry-house and were watched, though they knew it not, by the very man who had given Clip the slip. Not long thereafter the boy prperrd sudden- ly to the Mullers, and little Paul received him with delight. ‘ Gusta told him how she bad discovered that Jack Jeffers was playing against them, and that she believed that he had made another dis- covery as great as the one he bad made previous to the theft of the trunk. All this was said in presence of Captain Cupid who wondered if it could be true that another fortune was coming to the girl. ‘““Tf any one knows of this it will be ‘ Poke’ Parsons,” said the detective. ‘‘ But this man is as pecan a rascal as Jack himself. He knows Jeffers and there may be a conspiracy between the two.” “T know Poke Parsons,” said Clip, ‘I had Oecasion last summer to air a little scheme of H his and he hasn’t the best of feelings toward me. If he knows cy yes about the new fortune he is apt to play the hand he holds for all there is in it, and he seems to know all who have legacies coming to them,” It was decided that Captain Cupid should by some means meet Poke Parsons, the heir-finder, and get all out of him he could concerning the second legacy supposed to belong to the Mul- lers. Half an hour later Clip was on the street once more, and going home, a place which he had been forced to neglect for some time, he found on his table a note whieh he opened and read with a good deal of surprise. ‘*T don’t see why Bunce, the boy of the Bat- tery, should write to me,” be said, ‘It is just like him, however. He helped me a little the day I discovered the theft of the trunk, and if he was here ducing my absence he concluded not to wait, but threw this note over the tran- som and upon the table, Clip knew where Bunce lived and setting out at once he was soon in the neighborhood, Slipping down the alley-like street which he thought would land him at the boy’s door, he was suddenly apprised of the startling fact thet be was not the only person in that part of the city. A man stepped into his path, a man who seem- ed to advance with a pair of flashing eyes riv- eted upon him, Clever Clip stopped, then drew back and the next moment felt bis heart by one great bound leap into his throat. ack Jeffers The cunning of the man from Over-sea was up- permost again, There was something so terrible in the aspect of the man who came toward him in the dim light of the alley, that fora moment his limbs refused to act and he stood ready to be taken in by the same hands that had captured him once before, But suddenly the full horrorof the situation seized the boy and by a quick movement he sprung out of the rascal’s road and in another second was running with all his speed from the spot toward the street which he had deserted for tha alley. If Clip was fleet of foot, the man at his heels was fleeter, for all at once a hand dropped upon his shoulder and he was jerked back and almost lifted from the ground, The Battery Butterfly whirled the moment the hand closed on him and seeing the gleam- ing eyes and cool face of Jack Jeffers near his own, he struck with all his might, landing a blow between the man’s eyes and staggering him for a moment, * Not quite co fast! This time you are sealed for doom!” was hissed at his ear while the grip did not relax, ‘I will see this time that I am my own jailer. No failures any more,” ‘You rascal, you ought to have been hanged when they let you go,” said the boy ferret, draw- ing his figure to its true height and looking the man undauntedly in the face, ‘ You will swing yet for you’ve cheated the law out of a victim Jong enough.” ‘*Never mind,” laughed Jack, ‘* We'll dis- cuss this question in another place, so come along and see what I have prepared for you.” Clip wondered if be was to bo taken back to the house where he had fought his way clear of the big boy; but he soon found that he was not. Jack conducted his charge out of the alley and across the street, but took good care not to col- lide with a policeman, as that would have been disastrous, and ten minutes after his capture, the Battery Butterfly found himself in-doors and under a strange roof with no big boys in sight, “This is where I can watch you myself,” announced Jack, pushing Clip to a chair, ‘* You see I have more than one trap for such rats, What were you after in that alley? Did you really think you would find your friend, Bunce, at home, and were you really fooled by the note you found on your table?” What a revelation those words were! Clip knew that the note had been written by Jack Jeffers forthe purpose of decoying him back into his clutches, and he hated himself when he realized how nicely be had been caught, But then, they would have deceived the sharp- est, and this was something in his favor. For a little while Jack Jeffers stood off and watched bis little prisoner with the smile of the adroit scoundrel, Re knew the value of the prize he had taken; he knew that while Clever Clip was at large he could not win the golden stakes of the game, ““Did you fight your way out of the other trap?” asked Jeffers, ‘‘Or did you play the sympathy racket to perfection as you did with Mrs. Flounder?” ‘* Find out when you have time,” answered the boy, which so angered thecrook that be sprung forward and admonished him to be careful how he used his tongue in his replies, at the same time saying that he was in the deadliest trap a boy had ever found himself, something which Clever Clip could readily believe, ‘*T don’t intend to bungle the job this time,” assured Jack, stopping long enough to open @ door in the floor. The Battery Butterfly watched, He saw a dark, pit-like place yawn beneath the floor and when his captor turned he noticed a gleam of desperate triumph in his baleful eyes, Then the man seized Clip by the arm, ‘This way to the Styx!” he laughed, dragging Clip across the floor. ‘The route is a clear one and you can’t migs it,” Clip involuntarily drew back, his gaze riveted upon the yawning hole, but the brute’s strength was overpowering and the lad stood at the very edge of the pit. hen he saw a ladder, ‘Go down!” commanded Jeffers, ‘Go dowm and see what is at the foot of the ladder!” Clip hesitated, ** You don’t hesitate even to commit murder,” he cried, looking into the merciless face of the man. ‘Do you think Idon’t? Well, you must know that I don’t intend to have any stones in my path, I am getting rid of them one by one and as you're one of them, you are to get out of the way. Go down the ladder!” Clip was forced nearer to the opening and one of his feet touched the upper round, ‘Keep on to the bottom,” ordered Jack. ‘You won’t find it a very long journey. There you are; and now duck your head, for down comes the door!” The heavy door was falling, and in order to escape a stunning blow, Clip ducked his head and the trap was shut! He was on the ladder with pitch darkness om every hand! Putting up his hand, be felt the door, but it seemed as solid as the floor, “Pll go down and see what’s there, I have matches,” thoyght the Battery Butterfly, and he went down round after round, uncertain of the outcome of his terrible venture in the dark. CHAPTER XVII TRACKED BY TWO. ‘““Trapprep forever!” said Jeffers to himself when he departed from the house in which he had left the boy ferret to die in the pit beneath the floor, ‘‘I have been looking for the young rat some time, and having captured him for the third time, I will see that he remains where he is and that he no longer interferes with the little game I have on band.” The man from over-sea whistled as be hurried away and after awhile turned up in bis old room, this time to see no Nippem in the chair wait- ing for his return, He knew what had become of the Mullers, having followed Captain Cupid home with them, and he was sure that he could put his hand on Gusta whenever he wanted her, Meantime the boy in the pit was havirg one of the most thrilling adventures of his life, He had reached the bottom of the pit to find it dark and damp. It turned out to bea cellar-like place with dripping walls, the moisture of which stuck to his bands as he passed them over the cold stones, A chill passed over the boy’s frame and for some time he leaned against the ladder, fairly sickened at heart with the terror of his situa- tion. ‘“*f am in it again,” he said with doleful humor, ‘Now I must get outifIcan. I baye fallen back into the power of the greatest rascal in New York and if I don’t get out of my own accord he will win the play against Gusta and little Paul and the Mullers will feel the blight of his hand,” Clever Clip made the rounds of the dungeon and for some time failed to discover the slightest break in the wall. Everything was dark and gloomy and when he struck a match a puff of air from somewhere put it out, Clip tried again and again and at last, by igniting a bit of paper which he found in one of his pockets, succeeded in maintaining a light which burned, With this he made the “ grand rounds ” again
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14 and found that the place was larger than he thought and that the air came from an open- ing near the base of one of the four walls, n another moment the Battery Butterfly was on his knees looking into the opening and wondering where it led, “Tt might lead to @ trap as dark as this one,” be thought. ‘There is no telling whither it would lead me, but, anything is better than this place,” He discovered that the opening led straight ahead, and after examining it as best he could with the light he had, be shut his teeth hard and crawled into the passage, if such it was, lt was a terrible place, as the Battery Ferret goon discovered, but he persevered and at last ‘was stopped by what appeared to be a door set in a bard floor overhead, Clip stood up and tried to open the door, but could not, He knew that after entering the corridor un- derground he had crawled gradually upward and believed that he must be nearly on a level with the trap into which Jack Jeffers had forced him in the unknown house. To go back was not to be thought of so long as # door was near, and presently Clip broke no angen by hammeriag on the portal with his nife, The hammering made a hollow sound which was not answered for some time, and all at once he heard a child’s voice and then a wo- man’s, Clever Clip held his breath with a stilled heart in his bosom. ‘Who's there?” said a voice, ** Open the door and see. Iam a friend, nota foo, and you will do me # great favor by letting me out of this place,” ** Where did you come from?” *T can’t tell you, but when I am out I will give you all the information I can.” ‘** Let him out, mother. He may be some poor man whc has been cooped up in the dark.” It was the unseen child pleading for Clip and the Battery Butterfly inwardly blessed the little one, By and by there was a rattling of bolts and the door opened upward, The Battery Ferret drew himself out of the hole with as much agility as he could and stood before a middle-aged woman and a crippled boy who leaned on a crutch, “Whew, it’s a boy,” cried the little fellow, sary re J sight of Jack Jeffers’s victim. * Right you are,” said Clip, “Tm not a man yet, but some rascals will think I’m a giant be- fore to-morrow night.” ‘*You’ve been cooped up, have you?” put in the woman, *T’ve been buried alive, for that was the man’s intention. Do you know where the corridor down there leads to?” Both woman and child shook their heads. ** Wenever dared investigate,” the former said, ** We have lived here six months and have feared to look under the floor very far. I’m glad to be able to help you and if you don’t want to tell us all, it’s all right.” Clip thanked the pair again and promised to come back some time and tell them how he came to be under the floor. ‘*Something has to be done at once or the game may escape me,” he explained, ‘‘I can’t afford to fool with the rascals who are at the head of the conspiracy. Some other time, as you say, [ will come back and, if everything goes O. k., you sha’n't be forgotten,” He shook hands with the woman and the little boy and was soon out on the street, this time with resolution and eagerness dancing in his eyes. His imprisonment had been brief, but he had bad enough of it. and the lucky escape filled him with joy as be flitted under the lamps of Gotham and turned at last up the steps that led to his own little lodgings on the second floor, Clip wondered what had followed his descent into the pit of darkness, [ad Jack Jeffers gone back.to his friend Nippem and told him how he had trapped him; or had he returned to his game against Gusta Muller with the full intention of playing it out without further delay?” He was anxious to see what had become of the man from over-sea and after a brief rest in his room, he sallied out once more, resolved not to return to the old quarters till the whole game had been played out and the conspiracy against the two orphans broken up, He found a ligbtin Jack’s window and, watch- ing it for some time, be thought be saw shadows ) on the curtain as if there were several persons in the room, At length the figure of a man came into view way. It was Jack’s! Clip drew into the shadows and watched this man for some time, ‘What is to be the next move?” he asked him- self in inaudible tones. ‘* Which way now, Jack Jeffers?” The head plotter of the trio started off and had not gone far when Clip noticed that he was being watched by a man on the opposite side of the street, “‘Tt’s Captain Cupid and he is trying to get ahead of me. I don’t want the old man to beat me to the stakes, for this is my prey and if Cupid wins, where will my glory come in?” Clip saw Jack Eaton into an alley, but the next minute he came forth again and went off at a rapid pace, Captain Cupid also increased his gait and when the ag ferret saw the detective cross the s'reet, as if for the purpose of stopping Jack on his tramp, he ran forward and caught the old man’s arm. Bove my boy!” cried Captain Cupid, taken aback by the sudden appearance, “You are trying to cheat me out of my share of the game,” said the Butterfly, * Not that, but [am after the head villain of the plot and if he escapes us now we may have a time with him hereafter.” *€ Don’t you intend to arrest bim?” ‘Certainly, just as soon as I can get my hands on him,” ‘*T thought so, But I don’t want him taken here. ” “You don’t, eh?” ‘What proof have we?’ asked Clip. ‘‘I know then’ I know; but we want something more ve, ** Are you talking about the theft of the trunk and Xe attempt to get Gusta’s new fortune?” es, IT am. ** Well, I am not,” said the detective coolly. ‘« What, then?” “T want him for a greater crime than either of those, I want the oily scamp for murder,” Clever Clip recoiled with a cry while he gave the old officer a strange look. “Wor murder?” he echoed. ‘*T am almost sure that that man yonder killed Nicholas Nabb.” The boy of the Battery glanced toward the man still in sight and then looked up into the detective’s face, ‘“* Don’t ask me what proof I have. Crime always blunders, you can depend on it for that,” and with this Captain Cupid broke away and started after the vanishing form, “Wanted for more than one piece of villainy, eh?” said the boy. ‘‘I will see that he doesn’t t out of the meshes this time,” and running orward he distanced Captain Cupid and ina jiffy came close to the tracked man, Jack Jeffers did not seem to notice that he was trailed, for the two friends had carried on their work with secrecy. but it seemed that he carried an eye in the back part of bis head and under his hat rim, for no sooner had the boy i om eB hailing distance,than he turned and van R CHAPTER XVIII. LUCK AND PLUCK WIN, Soxion Niprem who bad fallen into the hands of an officer, as we have witnessed, had turned State’s evidence and told everything he knew about the theft of the trunk and the conspiracy to deprive the Muller children of their own. The rascal, brought to bay at last after a career of duplicity and crime, was a coward, as was shown by his eagerness to tell all he knew, and while Clever Clip and Detective Cupid were following Jack Jeffers, the fright- ened Nippem was occupying a cell in a station- erg and wondering what would be done with im, He knew nothing of the real cause of Nabb’s death, though he had heard that his old part- ner bad been murdered by some one. He was thankful it had been Nabb and not him, and when he reflected, he wondered why it was so. Gusta Muller was at home with Captain Cupid’s sister who bad already taken a liking to little Paul, and the children began to think that at last they were out of the shadows and no longer molested by a lot of evil men like Jack Jeffers, Gusta went back to her work and little Paul said he would learn to paint the faces of the dolls, and in time earn something for both Gusta and himself, The German girl had resolved not to show herself in the street without permission and she and Paul remained in-doors for fear of fall- ing under the evil eye of the man who had plot- ted their destruction, But on the night of the events we have just recorded girlish curiosity got the better of Gusta Muller, and she went to the door to look down the lighted street. That part of the city was new and strange to her. She had never seen it before and when she reached the door she tarried there long enough to be seen by a man whostood on the oppo- site side of the street and whose hawk-like eyes regarded her with all their malignity. This person watched Gusta until she closed the door and the next moment he, crossed the street and rapped on the portal, Gusta was still in the ball and she and little Paul were the only cecupants of the house at the time. Hearing the rap, the German girl went back and opened the door again. “Ts this Captain Cupid’s sister’s house?” asked the man, whose bat was drawn down over his forehead concealing a part of his face which was covered with a soft, brownish beard. It is, sir.” ‘Then, I guess some of you are wanted dowm at the drug store on the corner.” ** What for?” asked Gusta, interested and neg suspicicus, ‘*The captain is there, a littie hurt, and I was sent by the doctor to tell some of you to come to him at once,” Gusta started. Captain Cupid burt and need- ing assistance? o wonder it shocked her, ‘*T will go,” she said, ‘Paul, you will kee house a moment, I won’t be gone long. Mrs, Nogent there with him?’ ‘* Not yet, but they have gone for her,” was the reply, and in another moment the sharper’s victim was going down 'the street with him, There wasa drug-store on the nearest corner, as Gusta had observed when coming to the house, and she was on the lookout for it, expect- ing to see a crowd gathered in front of it; but she saw atria the kind, Suddenly the hand of the man pped her arm and she was stopped in the middle of the sidewalk. ‘‘ We won't go there just yet,” was what she heard spoken in a different tone from that late- ly used by the villain, ‘‘ We will let Captain upid go. He is good enough to bait a trap with and that’s about all!” The truth went through the German girl like an arrow, and falling back she looked into the oyes that gleamed like burning coals and made the most startling discovery of her life, She had been caught by Jack Jeffers! * You know me, eh?’ grinned the man. ‘I told you that I would beggar both you and Paul unless you came nnder my thumb and sub- mitted to my fair proposition, The new for- tune can never become yours unless you become yg, Ai ag usta threw up her hand and seized his arm, “Tcan’t! I have told you so, Iam Martin’s betrothed and I am willing to let the fortune go rather than deceive him, Sbe was met witha derisive laugh, and find- ing herself being taken from the spot, she tried to wrench herself loose from the iron grip which only seemed to tighten with every movement she made, All at once a swooning fear took possession of the German girl. She thought of little Paul being left alone in the world and without her protection! She pictured him turned out of doors by those who had given them shelter, and with this fear at her heart, the poor girl was sinking to the sidewalk when she felt herself caught up and carried off. This was her last recollection, and with every- thing dark about her she tried tocry out for help, but the words seemed to die on her lips, ack in Jack Jeffers’s power! No wonder it brought darkness and despair to the German girl; no wonder, with her last thoughts of little Paul, she gave up and struggled no longer, It is just three days after Gusta’s adventure on the street near Mrs. Nugent’s house, and a man seemingly at peace with the world sits in an up-stairs room witb a cigar between his white teeth and a paper on the table before him. *% T can hold them to it,” he mutters, ‘‘ That paper makes the vergnis and binds them all, I am not to be arre , but, on the contrary, am to receive twenty thousand dollars of the Aus- tralian fortune which is due the Mullers, besides being allowed to get out of the city, It wasn’t =
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¢ '. ) — se such a bad job after all, Of course Ive lost a wife, which means that I will lose a good deal more money tuan [ gain, but to get off this well - is remarkable after what I believe Nippem has let .ut, They don’t know where I am, and the paper won’t give me away until the right time comes,” Jack Jeffers looked at the paper on the table and took a fresh cigar. He had played a remarkable hand since his capture of Gusta on the street, n short, through one of the city newspapers, he had carried ona correspondence with the girl’s friends, and it had been agreed that he should escape—that, in addition to his freedom, he should receive the sum of twenty thousand dollars of the fortune which Poke Parsons, the heir-finder, had found for the Mullers, and that he should be permitted to get outof the city, which meant that the death of Nicholas Nabb should go unavenged., He was now awaiting tho signing of the agree- ment by an agent of the parties with whom he had been dealing, for.these conditions had been solemnly agreed to by Captain Cupid, and he was expecting the detective, who was a man of his word, As the hours waned Jack looked at his ‘watch and wondered what detained the captain. Presently, at the eleventh hour, a footstep came up the steps and approached the door, The handsome man seemed to hold his breath, ** Come in,” he called out, But the door did not open, **Wasn’s it my visitor?” he asked, rising and crossing the room, He opened the door to be confronted by a boy and a man from whom he retreated with a cry of astonishment. “That is the man. That is Jackson Jeffers, the person we want, and we have bim now, at jast,” It was the boy who spoke, The man from over-sea retreated still further, and his hand slipped to his hip, bat not quick enouzh for the person who went across the threshold with the spring of a tiger. ‘*T wasn’t in the bargain, Jack,” said Clever Clip, coming into the room and watching the offiver manacle bis prisoner, ‘I refused to com- promise and Captain Cupid did what he did to give me a chance to ferret you out,” There was a display of teeth and a muttered curse and the man who played a bold hand for a furtune went down the stairs with handcuffs on his wrists, “The next time, my yonng rat, I will throttle you outright!” he muttered, viciously. ‘There'll’ be no ‘next time,’” was the reply accompanied by a smile which made the rascal almost furious, it was some time before the sullen Jeffers would give up the clue to Gusta’s where- abouts,and when the girl came home she was Secting with delight by all, especially by little aul, Mrs, Flounder now came forward and told all she knew about the plot against the Mallers,and gave the inside history of Jack Jeffers’s past life, which was not very complimentary to that ad- venturer, crook, and consummate plotter, Jack was taken aback when he learned what Captain Cupid had discovered about the death of Richolas Nabb. It was a clue which eventu- ally fastened the crime upon the right person; but the head of the conspiracy took his own life before the law could legally strangie him, while Solon Nippem was released for having turned State’s evidence and left the city where he had won such an unenviable name, In course of time, Martin, the lover who had been kept in ignorance of Gusta’s trials and dangers, came to claim his own and was made happy not only by getting a wife, but with a promise that the Australian fortune would put her beyond the necessity of making dolls for a living. : Very little of the fortune lost with the old trunk was recovered—the three villains had spent the most of it—but the one from the Aus- tralasias was ample, and Gusta made Clever Clip a present of such a slice of it that the But- terfly of the Battery changed his abode and took almost elegant rooms ‘* up-town.” But for Clip the plot against the Mullers would have succeeded, and Gusta and Paul would have lost not only their home, but perhaps their future happiness. Mrs. Flounder kept her word with the Bat- tery Ferret by telling the authorities how she escaped being very deep in the infamous plot against the children, and Captain Cupid who, after all, would never have consented to the bargain he bad apparently made with Jack Jeffers, was proud of his part in the unravel- Clip, the Battery Ferret. ————a ing of the scheme and the final fortunate out- come. ‘‘Tll tell you what,” he often says to Clever Clip, ‘'That trail did you credit. It was ore of those to be followed by genius for the work, but only to be won by luck and pluck, and it was a neck-and-neck race between the two,” ‘““Thank you, captain,” answers the boy; ‘I guess Pluck came out a neck ahead,” THE END, 2 oe Next Half-Dime Library, No, 849. Broadway Billy's $100,000 Snap; Deputy Detective Ticket’s Trump. BY J. 0, COWDRICK. Decidedly queer, but as decidedly lively. It is the loss of a certain tin-box~—an old woman's secret de- pository for the bulk of her fortune, The search for this box leads to remarkable disclosures—to Intrigue, Theft, Fraud and Revenge. The case is baffling in the extreme, and proves to be, as well, a dangerous one, as Broadway Billy and His Badgers discover before they have been on the scent a week. Danger, however, to the true detec- tive, is a powerful incentive, and Billy and his Boys do some Mighty Lively Hustling, which makes the whole narrative mighty lively reading. Everybody will say—more of such Secret Service exposes. Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. BY T. O. HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of '76. B87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat; or, Toe Forest Captains, 64 Dand ack or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trali. $2 Kit Harefoot, the Wood-Hawk; or, Old Powder-face, 94 Midnight sack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 06 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 28 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 89 Judge Lynch Jr.: or, The Boy Vigilante. 6 8 9 565 Gold Tr gger, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger. 9 Tornado Tomy or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 8 Ned Temple, the Border Boy; or, The Mad Hunter. 9S Arkansaw 3 or, The Qusen of Fate's Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crudade, 281 Plneky Phil; or. Rosa, the Ret Jezebel. 241 Will Bravo: or, Tie Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoll: 5 tno King-Pin of Bowle. 267 The Buckskin Detective; or, The King of Road-agents. 279 Old NWinoks or, The Buckskin Deaperadoes. 294 Pvnamiio Dan; or, The Bowle Blade of Gochetopa. 8028 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. 816 Old Eellpae, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Pardas or, The Terror of Take-Notice, 886 Ble Benson? or, The Queen of the Lasso, 845 Pitileas Matt; or, Ked Thunderboli’s Secret. BSE Can ham oud Parts or The Terrible Six. £66 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutiase ys or, the Beecaneor’s Girl Foo, 896 Rough Rob: or, The Twin Champions of Blue Blazes. All The Silken Lasso: or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spotter; or, The Gold Gang of New York. 425 Texas Trump. the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox; or, The Mystery of Room 21. 445 The City Vamptres; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pizeon. 461 One Againat Fifty; or. The Last Man of Keno Bar, 470 The Roy Shadow: or, Felix Fox's Hunt. ATT The Excelsior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eved Sport, . 502 Branded Ben, tho Night Ferret, 512 Dodeer Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. $621 Dodger Dick’s« Beat Dodge: or, The Gotham Gold Gang, 528 Fox and Falcon, the Bowery Shadows. BSR Yoder Dick, the Dock Ferret, BAS Dodwer Pick’« Doubles or, The Rival Boy Detectives. 558 Dodecer Dick’s Deaperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq; or, The Gang of Three. 578 The Two Shadows; or, Dodger Dick’s Stop Game. BZ Dodeer Dick’s Drop: or, The Mon from Jersey. BPA Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard. 626 The Champton Parda; or, The Lucifer of Silver Bar. 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Roy Detective, 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. G58 Rilly Bantam, the Boy Beagle. 671 Jersey Jed, the Bov Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. 685 Hanny Wuah, the Boy Musician Detective. 701 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. 71h Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret. ZB Vatay Dell. the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game. 7423 Billy Winks, the Rell Boy Detective. Th4 Rilly Winks, the Poas Bow Shadow, 768 Eagle Ned, the Boy on Guard: or, The Camp Spidera, 730 Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wizard. 827 The Bantam Sport. RY WILLIA™ R. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke} or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down 818 The Hustler Rogue-Catcher. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page} or, The Doge’s Deugnter. 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 100 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chace, 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Crulse. 200 The Boy Bedoutna; or, ‘the Brotiers of the Plumed Lance 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Iehine. 249 Milo Romer the Animal King; or, Round the World, 265 The Tiger Tamer ; or, The League of the Jungle. BE1 Black Nick, the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trail. BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Aan Scott, the Steamboat Boy; or, The Mississippi Pirates, 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum, 228 Ozark Alt’; or, Featherweight Among the Outlawa, 282 The Typo nehestive 3 or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp, 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartaville. B11 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chackaluck Camp. S22 Nerao, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon'’s Vondetta. 840 Clip the Contortioniats or, The Montana Vigilantes, BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 WII Bomers, the Bor Detective, 122 Phil Wardy, the Bons Boy. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags, 142 Handsome Harry, the Boothlack Detective, 7 Will Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. Slack Rena, Wil) Wildfire’s Racor. Mike Merry the Harbor Police Boy. fll Wildfire tn the Wooda, tilly Baggage, the Railroad Boy, Trump Card; or, Will Wildtre Wins and Leases sob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, 8 ‘The Hidden Mand menden Seo BZens ~ 4 5 5 6 6 z ‘ z 5 196 Shadowed; or, Bod Kockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Dotective, 220 Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 235 Sam Charceal the Pramium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two ** Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicage. 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, tho Detective Apprentice, 289 Jolly Jima Joby or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-IHound; or, The Young Theroughored. 805 Dashaway, of Daketay or, A Wostern Lad in Quaker City, 834 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Doteotive. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective, 858 The Reporter-Detectives or, Fred Flyers Blimara, 867 Wide-Awake Joo; or, A Boy of the Times, 879 Larry, the Levelers or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Kireity Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Loat Finger; or, The Entrappod Cashier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagavond. 466 Wide-Awake Jdorry, Detective; or Entombed Alive, AZY Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hoarty, 488 Wild Dick Racket; or, How He Fought for Hener. 501 Boots, the Bey Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharpen bH6 The Secret Service Boy Detective. 5964 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Tom Bruce of Arkanaanst or, The Wolf in the Feld, 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. .667 Rob and Sam, the Daisy Detectiven. TO9 The Curbatone Detective; or. Harry Hale's Big Beat, 757 Dotective Frank’s Swecp-stakes. BY CHARLES FE. LASALLE, 560 Hurt Bunker the Trapper. 62 Tho White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Munters, By Capt, Mayne Rela and Frederick Whittaker, 9 Adventures of Baron Munchauseon, 12 Gulliver’s Travels, By Dean Swift. 14 Aladdiny or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinaow Orusoe. (27 I lustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Bailor, His Seven A ay 23 ¥ Jal Bea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crasos, By Juaa wis, BB The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees. By 8. W. Pierce. R86 The Boy Clowns or, The Arena Queen. By ¥ 8, Finn. BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scont. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Rites; or, The Underground Camp. By A. C, Troms, 96 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Misslasippi, By Lieut.-Col. Haseltine. 98 Robin Iood, the Outlawed Ear); or, The Merry Men of Green« wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve, 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes, 112 The Mad Wuntert or, he Cave of Death, By Burton Saxe. 124 Tipvy. the Texan or, The Young Champion. By George Glerson. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold, By Harry Cavendish, 148 Sharp Samy or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy. By J. Alexander Patten, S27 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lewatone, wo, Lanputeebryy specs ¥ eh Be iy. hes Adem 261 Fergus Fearnaug he New Yor y. ol. 4 266 Kilib’ar, the Guides or, Davy Crockett'’s Crooked Trail, By Ensign C. D, Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff, By Captain Comatock. B17 Paaneals Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lien- tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Detectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Lifeand Honor, By Major Mickey Free. B50 Red Ralph, the River Revers or, The Brother’s Re- venge, By Ned Buntline. RE Baltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A, P, Morris, $74 Gold-Dnat Tom: or, Bon’s Donhle Match. By@ H. Morse, B76 Callfornin Joc’s Firat Trail. By Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monatery, 418 Rilly Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F.8, Winthrop, 475 The Black Ship. By John S Warner. 484 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinciblea, By Henry J. Thomas. 582 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. 5&2 Artel the Athlete. By David Druid, BRS Will Waters, the Bov Ferret. By H. Enton. oot MH Nees Bat dens byte Double. By Gerald Carlton. Maverte Mose, too Arizona étective; or, ’ Tirkon Pass. By Will Lisendee, *, The Wisard of 809 Don Danton, the Gent from Denver, By King Keene, of the . 8. Secret Service Corpa, , 814 Aco High, the Frisco Detective, By C. E. Tripp. A New Iasue Every Tuocsday. The Half.Dime Library {6 for sal eonts per copy, or cont by oan ae vessigh cf PRethin- tic BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York +
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BEADLE’S+ H ALF- DIME*[_IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers.. BY 1 Deadwood 20 Deadwood 28 Deadwood 85 Deadwood 42 Deadwood 49 Deadwood 5&7 Deadwood , 78 Deadwood 77 Deadwood 100 Deadwood 104 Deadwood 109 Deadwood 1239 Deadwood 188 Deadwood 149 Deadwood 156 Deadwood 195 Deadwood 201 Deadwood 205 Deadwood R1T Deadwood 221 Deadwood B82 Goeld-Dust 268 Deadwood S68 Deadwood 809 Deadwood 821 Deadwoo 847 Dendwood 851 Deadwood 862 Deadwood 405 Deadwood 410 Dendwood 421 Deadwood 480 Dendwood 445 Deadwood 445 Deadwood 458 Deadweod 459 Deadwood 465 Deadwood ATL Deadwood 476 Deadwood 451 adw 491 Beadweood 496 Deadwood 600 Peadweoed 5608 Deadweeod 615 Deadwood S22 Deadwoed 529 Deadwood 54 Deadweod 589 Deadwood 544 Deadwoed 540 Deadwood 564 Deadwood 561 Deadwood 56T Deadweed 572 Deadweod STS Deadweed 534 Deadwood 600 Deadweod 600 Dendwood 606 Deadweod 680 Deadwood 686 Deadwood 642 Deadwood 648 Deadweod 654 Deadwood 660 Dend wood 666 Deadwee ware the Sport from Denver. BS7 Old Hombshell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Lron Fern,.the Man of Fire; or, Among the Vultures. 619 The Boy Tramp Detectivet_or. The Double Grip Witness ves Dandy Pard; or, The Clue to Capt. Claw 661 Round Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective G82 Wild Vulcan, the Loue-Range Rider, 714 Old Misery the Man from Missouri. 771 Clear-Grit Cal, the Never Sav-Die Detective, 789 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Service Special, 806 Cowboy Steve the Ranch Mascot. ty, the Tenderfoot Detective. 836 Sharper Stoke’s Double Deal. BY COL. A. F. HOLT. es the Train-boy Detective, Harry's Flyer: or, Duke Derby. Harry’s Wazard; or, The Lightuing Express Warry’s Haul; or, The Railroad Pards, Harry’s Siren; or, Mad Madge. Vlarry’s Heritage. Marry’s Hunts or, The Cache of Gold, uekakinyg or, The Masked Man of Death Canyon. he Kuife-King: or, The Doomed Six, 485 Liitie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, S88 The Dandy Sport; or, The King Pin Conspirator. B89 B04 200 89 69 The Boy Detectives or, Guid Rifle, the Sharpehooter, W atch-Eye, the Detective; or, Ar.bs and Angels. v6 Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. Rosebud Robs or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. Rosebud Rob on Hand; or, [dy], the Girl Miner. Roxebud Rob’s Reappearance; or, Photograph Phil. fonees or, Cinnamon Chip. 7 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee’s Surround Denver Doll’« Victory; or, Skul! and Crossbones, Denver Doll’s Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. Rosebud Rob’s Cha Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Road Queen. Yreka Jim, the Gold-Guatherers or, The Life Lottery, Yreka Jdim’s Prize; or, The Wolves of Wake-Up. Yreka Jtin’s aenert or, The Rivals of Red Nose. t Yreka J.m’s New oles or, Bicycle Ben. Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or, Dot Leetle Game, Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter Aierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret; or, A Sister’s Devotion, Sierra Sains Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, Sierra Sam’a Pardys or, The Angel ot Big Vista. Merra Sam’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride. Kangaroe Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. Kangaroo Kit’e Racke Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York. 117 Gilt-Kdged Dick, the Sport Detective 145 161 226 The Arab Detective ; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp, 291 B25 Kelley, Mickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia, 848 400 416 426 484 26 Cloven Hoof, the Bulfalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures, Captain Ferret, the New York Detective, New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. Turk, the Boy Ferret. Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective. Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. High Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, Bam Slabsaides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 82 Bob Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 58 61 92 Canada Chet ; or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. Jim Bludsoe. Jr., the Boy Phenix. Buckhorn Bills or, The Red Rifle Team 118 Jaek Hoyle the Young Specalator. 125 188 141 Solid Ram, the Boy Rond-Agent; or, The Branded Brows, Nobby Nick of Nevaday or, The Sierras Scampa. rank the Buckskin Bravo; or, Lady Lily’s Love. 1%7 18t Wild 647 yD a> . Bonanza Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. Kosa Hob the King of Bootblacks. Apollo Bfll, the Trai! Tornado; or, Rowdy Kate. Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator; or, The Locked Valley. Jumbo Joes the Koy Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs. A Ne. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. "Liza Jane, the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport, ulck-Shoty or, The Dead Face of Daggersville. Little Firat-Clasa Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. Nabob Nedj or, The Secret of Slab City. Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance. Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son’s Vengeance. Benlakin Sam, the Sparkler; or The Tribunal of Ten. BY J. 0. COWDRIOK, Broadway Billy Novela. Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo, Broadway Billy’ Boodle; or, Clearing a Strange Case, Broadway Rilly’s ‘Ditikilty.” Broadway Billy’« Peath Kacket. Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party. Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. Broadway Billy’s Dead Aets or, The League of Seven Broadway Hilly Abroad; or, The Bootblack in Frisco. Broadway Billy’s Beats or, Beating San Francisco's Finest, Broadway Billy tn Clover. Broadway Billy in Texas; or, The River Rustlers, Broadway Billy’s Brand. Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clever Deal. Broadway Billy’s Full Hand: or, The Gamin Detective, Broadway Billy’ Business, Broadway RBilly’s Curious Case. Broadway Billy in Denver. Broadway Billy’s Bargain; or, The Three Detectives, Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. Broadway Billy’s Shadew Chase. Broadway Billy’« Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest. Broadway Billy’s Team; or, The Combine’s Big Pull. Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Dead Alive. Broadway Billy's Queer Bequest. Broadway Billy Baffled, Brondway Billy’s Signal Scoop. Broadway Billy’ Wipe Out. Broadway Billy’ Bank Racket. Broadway Billy’s Bluff, Broadway Billy eueng Jersey Thugs. Broadway Billy’« Raid, Milver-Masak, the Man o1 Mystery; or, The Golden Keys. Shasta, the Gold King; or, ForSeven Years The Delective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without a Name, Olbuta Johny; or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude Redlight Ralph the Prince of the Road. The Engineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolv Mart, the Night Express Detective. Air-Line Luke the Young Engines; or, The Double Case The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Ruscals Out. Fighting Warry the Chief of Chained Cyclone, Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Ctrele, Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. Moonlight Morgan, the“ Pizenest ’ Man of Ante Baz. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS, Tom-Cat and Purdy or. The Dead Set at Silver City. Tom-Cat’s Triod; or, The Affair at Tombstone. Tom Cat’s Terrible Tasks or, The Cowhoy Deteotive. Tom-Cat’a Triumph; or, Bleck Dan's Great Combine Captain Cactur, the Chaparrs) Cock; or, Joah’s Ten Strike The Dandy of Dodges or, Rustling for Millions. The Silver Sports or, Josh Peypermint’s Jubilee. Raffron Rol, the Man With » Shadow Happy Hane, the Dutch Videcg: or, Hot Times at Round-Up Bildad Barnanele, the Detective Herenles Cawhoy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank. 5 Jolly Jeremiahs the Plains Detective. Rienal Samy the Lookout Scout. Hilly, the Gypsy Spyi or, The Mystery of Two Lives, te Rim, the Broncho Buster; or. For Bie Stakes. The Meamertat Sports or, The Mystified Detective, Rirap Toltee Tom, the Mad Prospector, Kansas Jim, the Cross-Cut Detective. Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective. The Rustler of Rolling Stone. Lone Wand Jee, the Committee of One, Kent Kirby, the Hich-Kicker from Killbuck. The Doctor Detective In Texas. BY BUFFALO BILL (Hon. Wm, F. Cody). 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Pratrie. 55 Peadly-Eye. the Unknown Scout; or, The Banded Brotherhood 68 158 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. Fancy Frank of Colorado: or, The Trapper’s Trust, t3 or, The Pride of Played-Out. ~ BY OOLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 272 Dick Doom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Destiny. %7T Dick Doom’a Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror. 784 Dick Doom; or, The Sharps and Sharks of New York. 738 Dick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Masks, 798 Dick Doem in Chicngo, 7298 Dick Doom in the Wild Weat. 808 Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep} or, Five Links in a Clue. 808 Dick Doom’s Death Clue, S18 Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. 819 Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot, =< Dick Doom’s Shadow Hunt. 885 Dick Doom’s Big Heul. 749 Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trai, 756 Daxhing Charlic’« Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Captive. 760 Dashing Charlie’s Pawnee Pard. 766 Dashing Charlie, the Rescuer. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 787 Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive. 748 Buck Taylor’ Boys or, The Red Ridera of the Rio Grande 560 Pawnee BIL, the Prairie Shadower. 718 Pawnee Billy or, Carl, the Mad Cowboy. 719 Pawnee Bila Pledge; or, The Cowboy's Doom. 725 Pawnee Bill; or, Daring Dick, 692 Redfern’s Curious Cases 01, The Rival Sharps. 697 Redfern at Devil’s Ranch; or, The Sharp from Texas. 702 Redfern’s High Hand; or, Blue Jacket. TOT Redfern’s Last Trail; or, The Red Sombrero Ranger. 668 Red Ralph’s Ruse; or, The Buccaneer Midshipman. 674 Red Ralph’s Bold Game; or, The Wizard Sailor. 679 Red Ralph, the Shadower; or, The Freebooter’s Legacy. 644 Butterfly Billy’s Disguise. 650 Rutterfly Billy, the Pony Express Rider. 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt. 662 Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. 565 Kent Kingdon; or, The Owls of the Overland, 570 Kent Kingdon’s Shadewer} or, the Card Qneen, 575 Kent Kingdon’s Duel; er, The Surgeon Scout. 526 Kent Kingdon’s Doom; or, The Buckskin Avenger, 545 Lafitte Kun Down; or, The Buwanceers of Barrataria, 550 Lafitte’« Legacy: or. The Avenging Son. 655 Latfitte’a Confession; or, The Creole Corsair. 520 Buckskin Biil, the Comanche Shadow. 525 The Buckskin Brothers in Texas, i 580 The Buckakin Bowers; or. The Cowboy Pirates. ; 585 The Buckskin Rovers; or, The Prairie Fugitive. 5640 The Buckskin Parde’ Queat; or, Captain Ku-Klax, 508 The Reyal Middy ¢ or, The Shark and te Sea Cat. 507 The Royal Middy’« Luck; or, The Hunted Midshipmam S11 The Royal Middy’s Foe. 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret os New York. 454 Wizard W ill’« Street Scouta. 474 Wizard WII’ Pard; or, Flera, the Flower Girl 483 Wizard Will's Laat Cases or, The Ferrets Afloat. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refagee. 488 Duncan Dare’s Plots or, A Cabin, Boy's Luck. 487 Duncan Dare’s Prize; or, The Sea Raider. 441 Duncan Dare’s Becret: or, The Ocean Firefly. 402 Leudor, the \ oung Censpirator; or, The Fatal League, 407 Isodor’s Double Chase: or, The Boy Insurgent. 412 Inodor’s War-Cloud Cruise; v1, The Wild Yachteman, 216 Bison BUl, the Prince of the Reina, 232 Bisou Rill’s Clue; or. Grit, the Biavo Sport, B04 Dead Shet Dandy’s Dilemma. LOR Dead Shot Dandy’s Double; or, Keno Kit. 814 Dead Shot Dandy’s Deflanees or, The Boy Bugler, 607 Dead Shot Damdy’s Chic fs or, The River ve. 245 Merle Monte’s Leap fer Life. 250 Merle Mente’s Mutiny ; or, Brandt, the Buecaneer, 264 Merle Monte’s Treasure Island. 260 Merle Mente the Condemned. 276 Merle Mente’s Cruise; or, * The Gald Ship” Chase, 280 Merle Monte’« Fate; or, The Pirate's Pride. 284 Merle Mente’« Pledges or. The Sea Mayander. 197 The Kid Glove Bport$ or, Little Grit, the Wild Rider, 204 The Kid Glove Sport’s Doom; or, Bull, seve, tne ‘Cael a 425 Marlo, the C ynaster, PEL uth Redmotdy the Gul halower. 686. Orlando, the Ocean Free Flag. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shet Beout. 602 The Vagabond ef the Mines. bY? The Texan Detective; or, The Black Bravos. B91 Delmonte, tie Young Bea Rover; or, The Avenging Saflon bSO The Ontenst Cadet; or, The False Detective. 495 Arizona Joe; or, The Boy Pard of Texas Jack. A487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger 468 Neptune Ned, the Roy Coaster; or, Pirate in Spite. 462 The Sallor Boy Wanderer: or. The Born Guide, 446 Haphazard Harry: or, The Sea Scapegrace. 898 The Red Clasped Hands; or, The Boy Lieutenant, BST Warpath W111, the Traitor Guide. 888 The Indian Pilet; or, The Search for Pirate Island. R77 Bonodel, the Buy Rover; or, The Flagiess Schooner, 247 Billy Blue-EKyes, of the Rio Grande. 287 Lene &tar, the Cowboy Captain. 229 Crimson Kate, the Girl Trviler: or, The Cowboy’s Triumph. 116 The Hussar Captain: or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, 111 The Sen-Devil or, The Midehipman’s Legacy. 102 Ibtck Dead-Eye, the Smvegier ; or, The Cruise of the Vizem, 7 The.Boy Duellaty or, The Cruise of the Sen- Wolf, 62 The Shadow Ships or, The Rival Lieutenants. 24 Dinmond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 17 Ralph Roy, the Boy Buccaneer; or, The Fugitive Yacht, 7 The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Ontcast, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. R89 Rroadway Billy’s Big Boom; or, Cornering Counterfelt Crooks, By J.C, Gowarlck. 840 Dendwood Pick’s Clutch 3 or, Crushing Captain Crusher, ay Edward L. Wheeler. 841 Prince Charlie, the Cat’s-Paw Sport. duke Dev, 842 The Actor Detective In Chicago; or, Dick Doom’s Flush Hand. By Co). Prentiss Ingraham. 848 Dan, the River Sport; or, Foiling the Frisco Sharp. By Harold Payne. 844 Broadway Billy’s Big Bulge. By J. C. Cowdrick, 845 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Wigh Horse, By Edward L. Wheeler. 846 Ruck, the New Vork Sharper. By Jo Pierce. 847 Dick Doom’s Ten Strike. By, Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 848 Clip, the Battery Ferret; or, Jack Jeffers’ Foul Play. By T. C, Harhangh, 849 Broadway Billy’s $100,000 Snap. By Cowdrlek.} 850 The Grand Street Arab. By Jo Pierce, A New lesue Every Tuesaday. The Half- Dime Library 1s for asle by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mai! on receipt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. By Marma-