Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 853) (1893 11 28)
The text was read from the page scans by machine (OCR), so it has mistakes and its columns may run together. See the pages · About this title · At the Internet Archive
Page 1
‘ 2 = Fig =f ae a is me e* - LEE La Se > A WW F é) \y ao T A y | WHA \ WL WA A NEN RAN WHR y | mar Fe) ans RAS ; pt aN SRE DISSE ON EEM ea eee i __W.OWA-So/sam @s: ws) ve Nw Pee ce ae mer tt. tore sss Tee | NS Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y , Post Office. Copyrighted 1898, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, November 28, 1898. . $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, No, 853. a Year, No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 cents. Vol. XXXII. mE Or, The Search-Light Dick Jom’ idnapper Knock: Jat; Detective in Chicago. PRENTISS INGRAHAM. = 72 NY WA Mi SQQO_Q SS ~~ ‘ ae A ; ‘ \ IN 7 AS ye SSS '* . AKS * \ | UL aor Y UY, \\Yti2z - ‘ WY WY WI " NO x RQQay AQ : PAA A \ S S . SQ \\ AW \\N IN WY S N SQ NYY SSSRAAVHN 1| \\ WS SS ‘Wa No ,\ \ \\ SS \\ r \\ ) J ” ny \ \ . 4 y vy; R Ny \ \ A\ ~ A. Yr) iw I or, | \S 55 aes ie i \ NS \ N . y : AS ge ia ij 4 : nes IE NAAT Wa WhiMiy 7 iy hy -_———4 Mi {fh ¢ —— S S SSS S SSS ms SS ‘* YOU OPEN THAT SAFE, BOY, AND LL TAKE YOU IN AS MY PARTNER, YOUNG AS YOU ARE,” SAID THE BLACKSMITH, POINTING AT THE SAFE,
Page 2
OR, THE SEARCH-LIGHT DETECTIVE IN CHICAGO, BY COL, PRENTISS INGRAHAM. CHAPTER I. KIDNAPPING A WOMAN. Cricaco was startled, its best people thrilled with surprise amounting to almost horror. The crooks of the city were correspond- ingly exultant, for Orime had won a great game, The criminals, hiding from justice, smiled blandly as they met their pals, for Vice had downed Law and Order, apparently. The crime committed was a strange one— one to make men feel dread in their own homes—to guard more closely their loved ones, Those dwelling in the city and in the sub- urbs, looked well to their locks and bolts, purchased vicious dogs or hired watchmen, et dreaded that even they might be in eague with the crooks they were paid to ‘ watch. An epidemic of crime was running through the country, and Chicago seemed to have become headquarters for the criminals as if by agreement, Ordinarily where business centers and cities grow rapidly men wanting something to do flock to the spot; and so, also, do the ‘*shady” gentry in pursuit of their game; but Chicago, during the great Exposition, found to its sorrow, that it had become the rendezvous of rogues to such an extent that its police and Secret Service force had strik- ing proof almost daily of a grand league of criminals that made the work of detection doubly difficult and dangerous. The particular crime now referred ‘to that had outraged the community and so thrilled it with dread, was that it was the most con- spicuous of many cases of kidnapping that had lately occurred, Children had been spirited ein a bank cashier had been entrapped and held in hid- ing for ransom, and numerous. other cases of minor importence had been known and widely commented upon, by the press and people; but when, from the most beautiful and wealthy suburb of the Lake City, a lady of wealth had been deliberately spirited away from her house by night, it was time to call a halt to the bold criminals in their work, and administer a rebuke that men of the conscienceless class would. re- member as a terrible warning. This lady was a person of great wealth, and one over whose life a strange romance and mystery hung. She dwelt in the fashionable suburb of Hyde Park, alone, save for her half-dozen servants, in a grand old mansion built a full generation ago, surrounded by large grounds walled in, and running down to the lake-shore, _ The mansion had a weird: and unenviable histor its builder, a sea-captain who had retired to the lakes, had made his ag by smugglin between Canada and the United States, an and also the.scene of the orgies of his crew after a successful crime. But, the truth of these rumors could never be traced to old Captain Lawrence Granger, who, dying suddenly, had left his son, Cap- tain Lawrence Granger, Jr., a very large fortune andthe whole of that fine estate. Under the new owner the house had been. enlarged and improved, and the new. master had ‘*‘ followed the sea” also, cruising only on the great lakes however. attached to it, for men hinted that His first wife was said to have died and left him a son; but he had married again, lived awhile in undisturbed prosperity, then passed away suddenly one night, as his father. had done, and Mrs, Lawrence Granger number two became the mistress of Lake View Hall, and estate, dwelling there, there- after, wholly alone, for her step-son had been exiled from home for some reason the public did not know or care to investigute, But, the same fatality of sudden death which had come upon the two captains seemed also to pursue this: widow of the second Granger, for she, too, died one night, without an hour’s illness, It was then that there suddenly appeared at the halla young man, claiming to be the heir, as no will had been made, and he was on the eve of recovering the great estate, when unexpectedly, Mrs. Granger, the dead captain’s first wife, put in an appearance, showing that she had not died, as had been announced by her husband, but, instead, had been incarcerated by her husband’s deliberate act in an insane asylum in order that he might marry the woman who then had in- fatuated him, These facts were indubitably proven; so she succeeded to the estates. With the son, however—her own son— she would have nothing to do. He was merely paid a stipulated sum of money and then promptly dismissed —forbidden the premises, and virtually disowned. But these several mystcrious deaths at Lake View Hall had started the newspapers to sifting the matter, and Dick Doom, the famous crime inquisitor from the South, was sent for, and especially detailed to the case, with the remarkable result of implicating this discarded son and his accomplices in taking the lives of those dying there, and of the intended murder of the last owner of the estates, by whom he had been disowned. These artful intriguants and criminal co- terie had been run down by the tireless and never-failing New Orleans shadower, e had scooped them all, and lodged every one ‘of them in prison, and the mistress of Lake View had dwelt in peace in her elegant but ill-omened home. Lived in peace, until one morning came the startling tidings of her having been, kid- napped from her home—that Lake View Hall had once again been the scene of a das- tardly crime. CHAPTER II. LAWYER BEALL’S SUSPENSE, Mr. Brawn, of the law firm of Richards & Beall, came down to his city office in Chi- cago, in no enviable frame of mind, for he had read at home in.his morning paper, that his wealthy client, Mrs. Granger, had been kidnapped, and in the absence of his part- ners he hardly knew what to do, He had ordered his carriage and driven at once to Lake View Hall, the scene of so many tragic occurrences, to find there only the servants, ail of whom were in dire alarm at the kidnapping of their mistress, but could tell nothing about how it happened. The butler said that Mrs, Granger had re- tired at her usual hour, he had closed the house up and gone to his quarters. The maid said that her mistress had dis- missed her early, saying that she would re- \tire without her aid, after she had written and | some letters that were important. the house was the hiding-place of his booty, When she had left her, there were upon the dressing-case her ig, jewelry; but ‘when she went to awaken her in the morn- ing the bed was unslept in, the valuables were gone, and Mrs. Granger could nowhere be found, while a couple of dresses, her cloak, hat and some linen had been taken along, also. No word had been left, but the front door had been opened by the cutting out ofa panel, which enable the marauder to unbolt and unlock the door. 2 | Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. ‘ik Doom’s Kiduapper Knock-Out A dark lantern was found on the piazza and there were the marks of the carriage- wheels at the outer gate, while the pad- lock had been broken to enable them to enter the grounds, With this discovery Lawyer Beall went to his office, convinced that Mys. Granger had been kidnapped for one of two purposes: to meet the sudden end of the otber owners of Lake View, or to be held for ransom for her return; he sincerely hoped the latter. His first duty upon entering his office was to write a reward for information leading to the restoration f Mrs. Granger, or the discovery of the kidnappers who had taken her at mid- night from her home. Sending his: office boy to the papers with advertisements of his liberal reward, he started to open his own private office, when to his amazement be found that he did not have his keys with him. He had changed his suit of clothes that morning, so at once sent another office boy to his home for his keys. The boy retnrned to state that they could not be found. Then it dawned upon Mr. Beall that what he had believed to beadream during the night, must have been a reality, for he had dreamt that he saw a mar enter the open window of his room, go to his pantaloons and take his keys from the pocket. With a dread at his heart he hastily sent for a locksmith to open his door for him, The man came and after some difficulty, for the lock was a peculiar one, the door was opened. A glance. showed the lawyer that his papers had been rudely disturbed, but his look at his iron safe relieved his mind, for the door was locked. It was true the man who had entered the office might have the key, but that was not all, for besides the two keys to the safe, there was a combination also which was needed to open the safe. ‘‘Now open that safe, please,” said Mr. Beall with some excitement, and the old man set to work to obey. He was a skilled locksmith, one whom all acknowledged was a master artisan, but he could do nothing toward opening the safe. For a couple of hours he struggled in vain and then said: “‘T will go to my shop, sir, and bring my sachel of false keys and picks, and return and see what I can do,” ‘Do so, and lose no time, for I am most anxious to sce if the safe has been entered, for if so, fortunes have been at the mercy of the robbers.” The locksmith left and reaching his shop began to look over his tools, telling the story the while to a youth who had only entered his employ a week before, to improve him- self in the trade, and had shown an aptness that had surprised his employer greatly. ‘Will you let me go with you, sir, for I ig be of use?” asked the youth. ermission was granted and the locksmith io his assistant returned to the lawyer’s office, CHAPTER III. A BOY’S TRIUMPH. LAWYER BEALL bad grown more and more nervous. Had that safe, in which were the most im- portant papers, bonds and official documents belonging to clients, been opened and rob- bed? . How strange it was that the office had been entered the very night that Mrs. Granger had been kidnapped. Was it a conspiracy against his client and. her lawyers? It looked soto the senior partner of the law firm, rain k He welcomed back the locksmith, and his young assistant, with delight, and said: Me
Page 3
NENT eC EY “IT hope. this time there will be no mis- take.” ‘*T trust not, sir, but the very means to secure safety, in having the double lock and combination in your safe, is what thwarts me in opening it,” said the locksmith. ‘“Well, do your best, and name yonr price,” hastily said the lawyer. The locksmith set to- work, opened his sachel, took out his keys and tools, while the lawyer sat in his chair eagerly watching and waiting. Minutes passed away, all the keys had been tried, all the picks and tools, and the lock remained unopened, The sweat stood in beads on the lock- smith’s face, and the lawyer was white with suspense and dread, At last the man almost groaned: *‘T must give it up, sir, for it is beyond all my knowledge and skill to open your safe,” and the locksmith showed that he was deeply humiliated at his failure, ** Will you permit me to try, sir?” It was the young assistant who spoke, and the locksmith said sternly: , ne you try to do what. I have failed n?’ ‘* Yes, sir, for I believe I can open it.” “You?” she ‘¢ Yes, sir.” The locksmith laughed in a derisive way, but the lawyer’s attention had been now attracted to the youth, and he gazed fixedly at him. He had hardly more than noticed his ex- istence before. ) He saw a youth with slender, athletic form, clad in humble attire and wearing a leather apron. e His face was, however, one to command at- i] tention the moment one glanced into it, for me the eyes were large, dreamy and expressive, and every feature was faultless, so much so that it gave him a look almost womanly. But there was that in it to command ad- \ miration, and encourage confidence, and A, capes Beall said: a ‘Let the young fellow try, man, for if he can do it so much the better for both of ou,” “Go ahead, boy, but it’s coming to strange times when the children teach their . betters.” ri: ‘Bah! this is an age of progression, lock- ny) smith, and I have learned much from fools,” i said Lawyer Beall. be The. young man smiled and asked: An “May I try, sir?” . Be. ‘* Yes, and if you open that safe, boy, I’ll By < take youin as my partner in the business,” and the locksmith pointed to the safe, into ‘Nein the youth had quickly thrust a ey. dbs Lawyer Beall regarded the youth with ! ‘interest, for there was something in the look of self-confidence that encouraged him to ave faith in him. The locksmith regarded him with a smile ae of superior knowledge and decision com- ‘te mingled, and both had their eyes upon him a awaiting the trial. ne The young man drew the key out of the @ .: lock, examined it closely, and then took up a piece of strong wire, He bent the end of it with the pinchers, ~ _——s and taking another piece bent one end also, hai. but only about half the size of the first, Be am He then put in one piece and followed it * vocals, with the other, giving both a steady turn es vas with the pinchers., . sale To the surprise of the locksmith they « caught the bolt on the inside and it turned slowly. ‘ ‘Now, sir, will you kindly give me the . combination, and I can open the safe.” “You certainly have turned the bolt,” eagerly said the lawyer. *Yes,-sir.” ; “Then rae a finger upon numbers three i and five o what appear to be bolt heads in. Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out, the door, press them, and draw hard upon your false key.” The youth did so and the safe door opened slowly. The lawyer gave an exclamation of de- light, while the locksmith uttered a cry of surprise, followed by the words: ‘* Boy, you have done it,” ‘* Yes, sir,” was the modest response, ‘‘T watched your work carefully and be- lieved that a double key would catch the bolt.” ‘* Just what my key was, a double one— but great God! all of the papers of the Lake View Hall estate have been stolen, for the drawer marked ‘ Granger’ is empty. ‘‘Mrs. Granger kidnapped last night and the papers stolen—this is a conspiracy that must be unearthed, cost what it will.” CHAPTER IV. THE RECOGNITION, LAWYER BEALL seemed very much moved by the discovery that the Granger papers had been stolen from his safe. The robbery had evidently been hastily done, for there was a money drawer which the robbers had not taken the time to open, and the other papers in the safe had remained untouched, Only the ‘‘Granger drawer” had been opened, and on his bunch of keys was the key toit as well as to the safe, while the thief had in some way discovered the com- bination and used it to advantage, ‘Ts the loss a heavy one, sir?” asked the locksmith consolingly. ‘*In money, no; in other than money it is invaluable; but let me pay you for your services, my man. ‘Pay the boy, sir, for he did the work.” ‘* And I will take no pay, sir, for I enter- ed this business to learn, and opening the safe has been a valuable lesson to me,” said the youth. ‘*Surely, my lad, you will accept this,” and the lawyer held forth a ten-dollar bill, “Not a cent, thank you, sir; but let me suggest that you have a new lock put on at once,” ‘« Ah, well thought of. ‘© Will you do it?” ‘**No, sir, but the locksmith here will,” ** Well, my man, go to work at once, for I wish to lock the safe to-night of course.” The locksmith looked at the lock, talked in a low tone to his apprentice, even asking his advice, and the two left the office to- ether, leaving the lawyer pacing up and Siar the room ina very perturbed state of mind, ‘This is a very startling discovery for me to make, and I must report it at once to the, chief of the Secret Service, for all the papers pertaining to the trial of that young cul- prit, Loyd Granger and his accomplices, with the confession of the woman, Charlotte Hull, are gone. . ‘*This was a well carried out conspiracy, and means far more than the abduction of Mrs, Granger for ransom,” He touched a bell and the office boy ap- pearing was dispatched at once to request the chief of the Secret Service Bureau to come to the law office of Richards & Beall at once. The chief was found in his headquarters and soon appeared, He was well acquainted with the lawyer, and the two sat down for a talk together about the abduction of Mrs. Granger and the robbery of the safe. “‘T have already put my men upon the kidnapping case, Mr. Beall, to get what clues they can, but my main reliance is upon that incomparabie ferret, Dick Doom, whom I telegraphed an hour ago to come here at once, if he is not engaged elsewhere upon a case. * Now, let me know what papers you lost from your safe?” ‘* Well, sir, all the deeds and claims of th estate, with lists of all properties belonging to Mrs. Granger, and many important letters that cannot be replaced. ‘*In addition there were the papers gotten ready for the trial of that young scapegrace, Loyd Granger, and his accomplice, Wirt Westley, with the sworn statement and con- fession of the woman, Charlotte Hull, who, you know, was released from prison when the physicians pronounced her insane and who is now in the asylum,” ‘‘T always felt that that woman feigned madness, Mr. Beall,” ‘*T feared so at first, but I could see no motive for it, as she saved herself by turn- ing State’s evidence, and not a physician who examined her who did not testify to her insanity.” ‘«True, and she may be insane, yet 1 have my doubts; but, now to these stolen Granger papers.” ‘¢ Yes, chief,” ‘‘Their loss will prevent the trial, you think?” ‘* Beyond all doubt, and clear the accused when tried.” “Too bad; but, what does their loss mean in connection with the abduction of Mrs, Granger?” ‘*T cannot understand it at all, yet there is a conspiracy in it, I feel assured—ah! here is the locksmith—no, it is the. youth I told you opened the safe. Come in, young man,” ‘What! Dick Doom, is that you?” and the chief sprung to his feet in surprise, as the young locksmith entered the private office of the lawyer. The seeming youth’s face flushed, he hesi- tated an instant, and then stepping forward, said with a smile; ‘Yes, chief, I may as well confess, for this time you have penetrated my disguise— yes, Iam Dick Doom, the Ferret.” CHAPTER Y. THK CHIEF’S SECRET. Tue lawyer looked amazed, at seeing Dick Doom, the famous ferret, revealed in the aes. locksmith who had so cleverly opened is safe for him, He also looked as though he wanted an ex- planation. (Spun! Dick Doom had shown such cleverness in selecting a new lock for. the safe that his boss had allowed him to go in his stead to fit it, feeling especially pleased that the youth had not held him to his offerof partnership, and refused to take the money offered by Lawyer Beall, leaving it for him, The chief regarded the young detective mee the air of a man who had made a mis- take, “1 Sets too quick; I should not have betraye is on some secret trail. ‘* But I have done it now, so] ma see what his motive is,” mused the chief. ‘Well, Dick, what does your present dis- ) guise mean?’ he asked after a moment, while Dick Doom meanwhile was compla- cently working at the safe lock, e “Tl tell you, chief; ' ‘‘Tam on a little trail on my own account and intended only to report to you when I found out what I was after.” *T’ll guarantee it is in the Granger case,” SA ia) ein, “You have some deep motive in this,” ‘*T have, sir, and as there has been the ab- duction of Mrs. Granger, and the robbery of Lawyer Beall, I will tell you my motive, sir, “T felt that there was something back of the murder of the two captains, the second Mrs. Granger, and the attempt to poison the resent one, when her twin sister perished in r stead. . ‘‘ Certain memories of my own caused me to determine to sift the whole mystery and unravel the knots for my own satisfaction, him to Lawyer Beall, for the youth ~ as well.
Page 4
4 . Dick eee Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. so I set to work onthe case in my own any, and only this morning, when the keeper | visitor a handsome young man, stylishly way.” | went his rounds, was it discovered that | dressed and with courtl ‘*T am certainly glad to find you here, for Loyd Granger was not in his cell, but in- I wired your friend, the New rleans chief, | stead the young girl whom the boys called to send you right on to me here to put on | Miss Salvation. this kidnapping of Mrs. Granger.” ‘Thank you, sir, and 1 too am glad that I am here; but the kidnapping an robbery took me completely by surprise, 1 admit, for I had not believed that the prisoners we run sa” had any accomplices outside of the a ans ‘“*It seems that they have.” ‘* Yes, and good ones.” ‘** But how is it that you are in the lock- smith trade?” **You know I study any profession and trade to perfect myself in my work, sir, and ' I heard of the man I am now with as an ex- pert in all kinds of work pertaining to lock- smithing, so I decided to get a few pointers from him. ‘*T got one here sooner than I expected, and I learned one thing, that I can take my kit of tools and enter any house in this city, open any safe if 1 am given time, and if I can, professional burglars can do the same, ‘‘T shall now give up my plan as an ap- prentice and take to the trail of those mis- creants who have been working so success- fully of late.” ‘* More successfully than you now know, Dick, for I have some news for you and Lawyer Beall that will surprise you, and add another liuk to the kidnapping of Mrs Granger and the robbery: of the papers of her estate,” It was evident that the chief of the Secret Service had something of importance to com- municate, but which thus far he had kept to himself for reasons that he deemed good. The lawyer glanced at him with the look of one who expected to receive another blow, while Dick Doom coolly went on fitting the new lock with an air of perfect indifference, ‘* What I have to tell, it was decided by the chief of police and myself, should be kept a secret from the papers, for awhile at least, that we might the better work on the case, for last night Loyd Granger escaped from prison,” CHAPTER VI. A CLEVER ESCAPE. ‘THe situation is just this,” resumed the chief, after his secret had been told, to the amazement of both the lawyer and the young detective, for the latter ceased his work on the rope and turmed to hear more. ‘You know there are a lot of cranks who always insist upon going to the prisons to preach to the prisoners and pray with them, and public opinion demands that they be al- lowed to do so. ‘*One of these female cranks, for the wo- men are the worst to seek out murderers, came to visit Loyd Granger and his accom- plice, Wirt Westley. ‘She labored with them as she called it for several weeks, was always polite to the. guards, and in'time passed in and out with only a friendly nod, ‘She would tell the keeper that the un- fortunates were learning to see the errors of their lives and were becoming daily more prayerful and repentant. _ ** At last she brought a fellow-worker with her and this one became most deeply inter- ested in Westley. ‘Last night the younger one came as a and was admitted to Loyd Granger's cell, ‘The guard heard her praying with him, then they sung a hymn together, and just as the lamps were being lit she rapped for the guard to let her out, _) ‘* He did so hurriedly, as he was lighting the lamps, and she passed on out of the prison. ‘*Supper was taken to the prisoner, but ‘‘She sat there serenely, attired in the / prisoner’s suit of clothes, and when discoy- ered said quietly: ‘He is safe and [am here to take what | punishment you may visit upon me for free- a3 ing him.” **A plucky girl, but it was cowardly for him to take his freedom at her expense,” said Dick Doom. ‘‘Her punishment cannot be very great,” the 9 Sag rejoined. ** Well, she is content to suffer in his stead, and claims to be his wife, though she is not yet eighteen. ‘*The strangest of all is that she really re- sembles the fellow enough to be his sister!” ‘*And there is no trace of the prisoner, chief?” ‘* None, Mr. Beall, for he passed out quiet- a. pest the guards, and made his escape ‘The young girl gave it away that her companion was to free the other prisoner, Wirt Westley, in like manner, and she sup- posed had done so; but she failed to appear ci prison for some reason, so he is still safe. ‘*Now, Dick, you see that you have a good case to work up, and can start upon it whenever you please, and the sooner the better.” ‘‘T am already at work on it, chief, but will devote my energy now to recatching that scamp, Loyd Granger; but, tell me— have you heard of the insane maid, the real murderess of Mrs. Granger’s sister?” * Charlotte Hull, you mean?” said Lawyer Beall, ** Yes, sir; but, let me say, I do not be lieve she is any more insane than I am, and Til wager high that she is not now in the asylum.” ‘* If she had escaped, Dick, we would have been notified.” “Perhaps, chief, but you wish to keep Loyd Granger’s escape a secret, for reasons of your own, and it may be that the asylum people may also wish her escape unknown.” ‘True; but have you any reason to be- lieve that she has left the asylum?” **My reason is the kidnapping of Mrs. Granger, the robbery of Mr. Beall’s safe, and the escape of Loyd Granger and intended rescue of his accomplice, Westley.” ‘You look upon her, Dick, as the head and front of all this villainy?” ‘**T do, sir, most assuredly.” ‘Just my opinion,” Lawyer Beall de- clared. ‘* Well, I will wire the asylum, and—” ‘*No, no; I wlil go there at once and see for myself,” announced Dick Doom, and having finished putting on the new lock, he revealed to the lawyer how to make his own combination with it, and took his departure, to meet the chief later at his quarters, and decide upon a plan of action together. — CHAPTER VII. THE FERRET ON THE RIGHT TRAIL. ‘TJ woutp like to see a patient here by the name of Charlotte Hull, entered incurable.” So said Dick Doom as he stood at the door of the asylum for the insane at K——. He had enjoyed the view of the river, the distant town and the asylum grounds as he rode np to the institution, and muttered to himself: ‘* Poor creatures, they deserve all the rux- uries that can be given them in their unhap- py condition.” The attendant ushered the detective into the parlor and went off to seek the physi- cian in charge. he lay on his cot and said he did not care for | The latter soon appeared to find in the sss sss testes ‘*T will do so with pleasure, and hope you manners, The ferret repeated his request to the doc- ; tor, and the latter hesitated, then said: ‘*T am sorry, sir, but we do not allow any one to visit the patient you ask for.” ‘** But, sir, I must see her.” ‘It is impossible, I am sorry to say.” **T think not, sir,” ** What are + soe to the patient?” **T am an officer of the law, sir.” **Under those circumstances I must par- ticularly refuse, for you would but excite her - Sings "Se ‘*My dear doctor, I did not make this journey here for nothing, and, as you refuse my request, I must make my demand, and that you dare not decline to honor. ‘* Here is my authority, sir.” As he ae e Dick Tasco threw open his coat, revealing upon his vest no less than nine medals. All of them were of solid gold, and sev- eral set with precious stones, one being par- ticularly elegant and oy" “You see, my dear doctor, that I wear the State Secret Service badge of Illinois, the insignia of a special police officer of Chi- cago, of a county constable, United States Marshal, of the Secret Service Bureau of all the United States, and of an officer in the Government Secret Service League, which mand admission—will you refuse?” nee looked confused, but at last said: “No, sir, I cannot refuse, and I will be frank with you—the one you seek is not here.” ** Not here, sir?” : ‘‘T regret to say she has escaped.” - ‘When was this?” ‘« Three weeks ago.” ‘*How could she do so?” keeper who had her in charge, and who asked for, and received, leave of absence the night Charlotte Hull left, so we can only believe that he was tempted, for the patient had plenty of money, and so aided her in leaving.” ‘* Beyond all doubt, sir. ‘ a i what steps have you taken to find er Lia * The superintendent has done all in his power. ‘‘He kept the escape a secret, not writing to the authorities, as he hoped to find her, and has paid out money liberally to hunt for her, but all in vain.” ‘* And the keeper who aided her?” ‘Has been sought for also, but with no result, I regret to inform you.” without being discovered?” ‘*He drugged the nurse on duty, sir, and thus slipped out,” ‘*‘ Ah! that is a good point to know; but give me the address and record of this keeper, please.” may have better luck than we have. ‘The superintendent was so anxious to find the patient, for, really, we have thought of late among ourselves, that she was feign- ing madness, that he wrote only last night to the famous detective known as Dick Doom, to put him on the case. for we have heard that he could never be foiled in any- thing he undertook.” ‘* Where did he send his letter?” ‘“'To the care of the Secret Service Bureau, Chicago.” ‘‘ Where is the superintendent?” ‘*T hear him coming now, sir.” ‘« Introduce me, please—my name is Dick Doom, the detective,” and the So Fo pe really enjoyed the amazement depicted up- on the face of the man to whom he had been talking, and who was the next in authority to the superintendent of the asylum. t gives me admission to any place where I de- | ‘‘Only through the connivance of the ‘‘How couldhe get out with a patient © a Atte of
Page 5
. ~ Beth Jr., dn an out-house on the farm, > = ig — fra Lif Seer fe 5 har . —. <a he ot ther snare r = Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. CHAPTER VIII. ‘‘ We intended selling out ourselves and| ‘‘ Yes.” o THE SILENT SHADOWER. ‘THe superintendent was both surprised and pleased, when he discovered in the visi- tor the very one in whose hands he had written to place the case of the escape of Charlotte Hull from the asylum. The two had a long talk together and when at last Dick Doom had left the asylum he was thoroughly informed on the whole situ- ation and knew the data already discovered as to the escape, with the antecedents of the keeper, Seth Saunders, who had been a tried and trusted employee. When he reached the little farm, where the keeper’s home was, Dick Doom wired to the Secret Service chief in cipher: “*C, H. escaped three weeks ago. your city of course. Am on track. a, a That evening the family of Seth Saunders ‘were surprised to receive a visit from one unknown to them, He was an elderly gentleman, well dressed, wore gold-rimmed spectacles, carried a cane and his gray hair gave him an air of dignity that suited him well, Mrs. Saunders was at home with her three children, a son of twenty and two girls of eighteen and sixteen respectively. They had a cozy cottage, a well-tilled farm and lived comfortably, the absence of the husband and father being regretted how- ever, his duties as keeper of a ward at the asylum keeping him away from home. he visitor asked for Mr. Seth Saunders, and was told that he was not at home. ** Where is he?” “« At the asylum.” ‘*) heard that he was there, so went to see him, but was told that he had come home, having given up his place there.” ‘‘He is not here, sir,” and Mrs. Saunders and her family appeared embarrassed for some reason. “‘T am sorry, for it is important that I should see him, for I wish to return home very soon; do you recall an uncle of your husband who went to California early in the fifties?” ‘Oh, yes, sir, we have often heard him speak of him, and that he had never heard of him since soon after his arrival there, where it was said he was rapidly making his for- tune.” ‘‘His name was the same as your hus- band’s.” ‘“‘ Yes, sir, Seth was named after him.” ‘Here is my card, madam, and I have made a fortune, I am unmarried, and I do not know any oneI am more anxious to jae than my.loved namesake and nephew eth,” The woman glanced at the card and read aloud: Is in ‘SmrH JONES, “ California.” Instantly, she grasped the old man’s hand er hi him into the house, while she cried* ‘You are dear, good UncleSeth, of whom my husband has spoken so much and loves so dearly. t “Come right in and—’ she spoke in a Nabe A now— ** Pll tell you a secret. ‘You see there was one of the lunatics escaped and poor Seth was accused of ead her, and he is in hiding for fear of arrest an punishment. ‘°T thought you might be an officer, dear - Uncle Seth, when you came and we were all alarmed; but I know where Seth is and we will send for him to see you.” The rich bachelor uncle at once found a warm welcome in the home of his relatives, and the hiding Seth was sent for, his son, oing after him, for he was hiding going to the far West,” volunteered Mrs. unders, and she ran on eagerly about their plans, hinting that Seth had lately gotten possession of some money, and the sale of the farm would bring them more and enable them to start a new home on the border, Just then Seth Saunders the fugitive en- tered, and having been informed whom he was to see, he ran forward to greet his old uncle, when startlingly came the words: ‘*Hands up, Seth Saunders, for you are my prisoner!” CHAPTER IX. BROUGHT TO TERMS. A cry of terror broke from the lips of Mrs. Saunders, as she witnessed the act of the alleged uncle, and a chorus of alarmed ex- clamations came from the son and daughter. The ‘‘uncle” held a revolver leveled at the fugitive, and the position he took was such that he faced the family and could not be attacked from behind. As for Seth Saunders he wilted like a rag, dropping into a chair with a groan while his hands hung listlessly by his side perfectly helpless. , ‘*You are my prisoner, Seth Saunders, and I happen to know that you have been hiding for weeks, and your wife just told me you were negotiating for the sale of the farm, intending to move to the far West, and buy ahome there, as you had lately gotten pos- session of some money.” The accused man only groaned, while his wife cried, as she regained her courage: ‘* Who are you that has dared come here with a lie and betray us?” ‘*T am known as Dick Doom, the Ferret of the Golden Fetters—see, I put them in use now!” He stepped quickly forward and clasped upon the unresisting man a pair of solid gold manacles, slender but strong, while rs. Saunders cried: ‘You shall not leave this place alive, sir— I meanit.” At this the son plucked up courage and it was evident that Dick Doom was in danger, for the eons gained hope inspired by his wife and children, But the disguised detective showed not a shadow of alarm and said calmly: ‘My dear madam, do not make it necessary for me to put you and your son alsoin irons, for I am no fool to come here unprepared for resistance. ‘Shall I signal for aid and manacle you also?” The woman's courage failed her at this and she began to cry, while young Seth turned pale and glanced anxiously toward the windows as though expecting to see the aids of the detective peering in upon them. One of the girls however found the cour- age to say: ‘ f You deceived us, for you are not Uncle eth.” ‘‘Oh no; I am glad to say that Iam not you dear, rich Uncle Seth, just back from the gold fields. -‘ But I studied up your family history, and so decided to impersonate the uncle who went to Culifornia, ““The bait was act seized and I got my man, who took a large bribe from a lunatic and aided her to escape—to go forth and commit crime as she has in the past. ‘‘ He knew his family and so told them his secret, and decided. to sell out and find a home elsewhere.” _‘*They can do nothirg with me for what I oie ieee the man, ** What was your crime?” **T did no crime, I only aided a woman to escape whom I knew was not crazy, and be- cause she told. me she was kept for the] reason that others might get her fortune.” “Ts that all?” “‘ You took a bribe from her?” ‘* What if I did?” “Ts that all?” “+ FOR. ‘You are mistaken.” ‘‘What do you mean?” and Seth Saunders turned pale. ‘“ You drugged the keeper on duty so that you could get by with the woman unseen?” *“ Who says so?” “Ido! You gave her adrug.” “Only a little morphine.” “You are mistaken,” ‘ The man started and trembled, for the hence hy seemed to be looking into his very soul, : ‘It’s all I did.” ‘Then you have not heard phat instead of morphine you gave her arsenic and killed her?” A yell of terror broke from the lips of the man and he fell back in his chair, in a half fainting condition. ‘*Come, Saunders, rouse yourself and hear what Ihave to say. I wish to be alone with you; but I warn you, Mrs. Saunders, that if one of you attempts to leave this house my orders will be carried out, and you will have only yourselves to blame for what my men may do. “ Retire to that room, please, and leave me alone with my prisoner.” CHAPTER X. DICK DOOM 8 TRUMP CARDS. Dick Doom’s master mind had quelled all resistance and bad gotten the Saunders family under his control. ; He had them awed and they obeyed his command to go into the adjoining room, As they did so and Jeft him alone with the | prisoner the latter cried: ‘* Why, have I not heard something of this death? “Not a word of it has been in the pa- pers. ” ‘True, ‘So you have read the papers, have you?” “Thoroughly.” ‘Then tell me, Mr. Saunders, if you have seen a single item of the escape of Charlotte Hull from the asylum?” The man’s faced paled a little, when he muttered: ‘ ‘*No, [have not, now I think of it.” “Tt was just for that you searched in the papers, and to see how your act was regard- ed and commented upon. ‘But for the same reason that the asylum authorities decided to keep the escape a se- cret, until a proper time for making it known, the fact that you gave that unfor- tunate woman a drug, drugged her cup of tea, was also kept back.” . Seth Saunters buried his face in his hands, and Dick Doom said again: ‘“‘Now, Mr. Saunders, there is much more back of that woman’s escape than your aid- ing her, for she is a criminal, a murderess, and bribed you to let her out to go and do more deviltry.” ‘*T am sorry.” ; **So am I for it has placed you in a very unfortunate position, one with a gallows be- hind you.” . “Oh, Lord, have mercy!” { “‘ Now, there is a way sometimes in which the greatest criminals can escape punish- ment, save in their consciousness of doing wrong.” \ “* Well, sir?” ‘ \ “Tt isin turning State’s evidence, and let me tell you that Charlotte Hull escaped for — her crime by doing that very thing. ‘She was held in prison to give her evi- — dence, when she suddenly made known that she had a presentiment of death and wished to confess all and swear to it. lawyers of the one she had wronged held her sworn testimony, ‘She was allowed to do this, and ‘the PR - a < ee SA Oe "at Takeo - a ee (ee ies is od ~ ha oft 7 i | ae es t = A
Page 6
a ~ oe + oS Sage et aT eS EES oe ee eee + i — a P24 oO | ae ayy “Then she played the insanity dodge, and with such success she was released from prison and sent to the asylum, ‘‘There she began to look about for a tool she could use to aid her in her escape, and found that tool in you, ‘‘She had in her keeping some six hun- dred dollars in cash, and a bank book with credits of twelve thousand more. ‘*T happen to know that she wrote a check : your favor for twenty-five hundred dol- u's. **T visited the bank and found the check was payable to Seth Saunders, and sent for collection through a New York Qity bank, and was paid. ‘*«T visited that bank, and learned that it was deposited by Leonard Saunders, a mer- chant of New Jersey, and wiring a detec- tive friend, he discovered for me that this man came from the same place in Mas- sachusetts where you were born, and had a cousin Seth Saunders, who was a keeper in an insane asylum in the West. ‘Now you know more about this woman, Charlotte Hull, than any one else, I am sure; and I am convinced, also, that you were to get from her more money than the checks called for, and will make the call on her for the balance when you visit Chicago.” ‘*Do you know this?” as Oe ae How Yad ‘I simply guessed it, and betrayed you into confessing it; but now let me tell you that if you wiil make a clean confession, tell all you know about this Charlotte Hull, ive me her address and all other essential nformation, I will see that you are not tried for murder.” } “Tl do it, '1l doit! Ask me what you will and I will answer, only donot let me be tried for murder and sent to the gallows, for indeed I did not intend tokill her; I only wished to put her to sleep, so that Char- lotte Hull could get by her unseen. “© Will you save me?” pleaded the fright- ened man, now greatly excited at the fate which so surely threatened him. CHAPTER X1. A RUSE THAT WAS SUCCESSFUL. ‘*T will do all in my power for you, Mr. Saunders, ‘but I wish a clean breast of it from you—no keeping back, no trying to de- ceive or to mislead me, for I am better post- ed than you think I am,” ‘* No! no! I feel that you are well informed and I will tell you all I can; but, oh! how terrible will be my punishment to know that I killed that poor woman, Bettie Turner, for I liked her and she was always most kind to me. ‘‘We get hardened in an asylum, sir, we see strange sights that make us callous to human suffering, but when one feels that he has taken the life of a fellow-being unin- tentionally it is awful,” and burying his face in his hands Seth Saunders shuddered, ‘* Well, Mr. Saunders, now I am ready to question you.” ** Yes, sir.” ‘* Did you know Charlotte Hull before she entered the asylum?” “IT did not, sir.” W.. “She was kind to you?” ‘* Yes, sir, as I said, she gave me fees for all I did for her, and always talked so ration- ally I began to feel that she was not crazy, though to all others she acted violently.” ‘* Well?” ‘“*She took an interest in me, she said, asked about my family, and sent little pres- ents, or rather the money to buy them, to my wife, son and daughters. ““One day she told me that she was a wronged woman, that she had been incar- cerated in an asylum that others might get possession of her fortune, they hoping that she would soon die there, ‘**T had heard of such things being done pee | Dick Doom’ before, and I believed her, and, as she had money, I supposed she was rich, for she showed me her bank book. ‘* One day she asked me to help her escape, but Irefused. “She offered me a thousand dollars, then raised the offer to twenty-five hundred and at last made it four thousand. ‘She gave me acheck, asking me to get it cashed for her.” ‘It was for twenty-five hundred?” oh Vaaviatt: ‘*You got it cashed?” ‘* Yes, sir, as, you seem to know.” “Well?” ‘‘She put the money in my hand and told me it was mine if I helped her. ‘«T still refused and she then said she would give me fifteen hundred more if I would come to her in Chicago one month after her escape.” ‘** One month after?” ‘* Yes, sir. “‘T wanted to go West, sir, so I was tempted. ‘*T had been offered five thousand for my farm, and this extra sum would place us in fine circumstances in the West, so I yielded.” “* And aided her?” ‘*] did, sir, for I gave her one of my suits, packed her clothes in a sachel and, havin only drugged poor Bettie, as I believed, went with her to the town, took the night train for Chicago and escorted her to the place in Chicago where she said she had quarters.” ce Then 9” ‘‘T came at once home, sir, and went into hiding.” ** At your home here?” ‘* Yes, sir.” ‘‘ And the woman?” ‘Remained in Chicago, sir,” ‘You know the address?” “Yes; sir.” ‘It was where you were told to come after the balance of yonr money?” ‘Yes, sir!” ; ‘* What name does she bear there?” ‘‘T was told to ask for Mrs. Carlotta Cam- eron,” ‘‘ Give me theaddress, please.” The man asked the detective to take a leather account book from his pocket, and in it was the address written: ‘‘Mrs, Carlotta Cameron, No. —, Dear- born St., Chicago, Ill.” Looking, on the opposite page, the de- tective read: ‘On demand, after Sept. 30th, 1891, I promise to pay. to Seth Saunders, ae ay only, the sum of Fifteen Hundred Dollars, for services rendered. ‘* CARLOTTA CAMERON, “*Nee, Huu.” ‘* All right, Mr. Saunders, now I have just what I need and I’ll promise to protect you; but you must go with me to Chicago, and ifI have your pledge not to escape I'll re- move the manacles from your wrists.” ‘*T'll gladly give it, sir.” ** All right, tell your wife to pack your grip and be ready to go with me, and the least they say about what has happened the better for you,” said Dick Doom, CHAPTER XII. THE FERRET AND HIS PRISONER, THE grip was packed, the family were ad- vised by the ferret to keep silent upon the subject, and Dick Doom and _his prisoner started for the town, distant half a mile. at they left the house Seth Saunders said; ‘* Are you not going to call your men?” ‘My dear Mr. Saunders, I have no men with me.” ‘ ‘* The deuce you say.” ‘“ amie ep ‘a ome rsp a if” » 4 we > TS I Cte i > ee 7 . q gig ee, ee ee re eee Cee”
Page 7
a — a a he **But I warn you, Saunders, that I will have you shadowed until you sell your farm and go West, for I do not' trust you, and it will be well for you to get out of Chicago an hour after you are set free.” “‘T'll do it, sir,” said the man politely and he was marched off with an officer to prison, now completely cowed and in suspense as to what the outcome would be. CHAPTER XIIL A DANGEROUS WOMAN. ‘* Wet, Dick, you certainly have a talent for getting at the bottom facts of a case, and running down a criminal, for I had not the slightest idea that the woman, Charlotte Hull, was out of the insane asylum,” said the chief of the Secret Service Bureau, when he was alone with Dick Doom. ‘And my suspicion, sir, was first upon the woman, the moment that I knew of the kidnapping of Mrs. Granger, and then heard of the safe robbery.” **But why suspect an insane woman?” ‘*In the first place, sir, there is some con- necting link between that woman and the boy, Loyd Granger, though just what [ am unable to discover. ** Four murders have been committed in the Granger household, and all with some deep purpose. ‘‘The boy may have murdered the old captain, his father and step-mother, but I doubt it, though he is capable of the crime I admit. ‘‘The woman certainly poisoned Mrs. Granger’s twin sister, supposing it was her mistress to whom she gave the fatal draught, and she was very quick in her determination to turn state’s evidence, be- fore the truth was known, and thus save her neck, ‘*Once having made her confession, she played the insanity dodge, and as sane as you or I, she made her escape from the asylum and then plotted to rescue Loyd Granger and Wirt Westley from prison be- fore their trial. ‘*The boy was rescued, and—” *“ By a young girl.” ; " ‘True, sir, but one in the pay of Char- lotte Hull, I’ll stake my life upon it. ‘The lawyer's rescuer lost her nerve, but for that the woman does not care, as it is the boy she seeks to save.” ** And the lawyer may now be induced to taik to save himself, thus incriminating the boy and the woman,” ‘“* Perhaps 80, sir; but I would keep a very close watch on him.” i ‘*He will be closely watched now, never ear,” ‘‘T mean, sir, that he may never live to face his trial.” ‘* He is in good health certainly.” ‘So, comparatively, were the Grangers who died so suddenly.” “Ah! you hint at another poisoning case; but I fear you are too suspicious this time Dick.” ‘“‘It may be, sir; but the one who kid- napped Mrs. Granger robbed Richards & Beall’s safe, and rescued Loyd Granger, and these acts were all done from some deep-lying purpose, for that woman Hull intends to get hold of that estate for the boy, mark my words, sir.” : “Well, you are doubtless right, Dick, in this case as in others; but you have the matter in hand, so work it your own way, and what there is in it you will discover. ‘But do you cxpect to find the woman at the address she gave the man Saunders, ‘to call and get the balance of his pay?” call at that address she wrote down, and if I do not find her I shall be very much, mis- taken.” ‘*It seems to me she would be very care- less to allow any one. but an accomplice } to know her address,” ‘* She regarded him in a measure as an ac complice, and she doubtless has some way to avoid capture if she grows suspicious, ‘*But she is a very remarkab!e woman, chief, for when I first met her, when | went disguised as lady’s companion to Mrs. Gran- ger, 1 would have sworn that she was Irish, for she assumed the accent well, and yet I heard her speak French perfectly, and several times caught her English when she did not give it an accent, “She pretended to be ignorant, and yet is a well-educated woman—oh yes, chief, she is as deep as the sea, a very dangerous wo- man, and I will find it no easy task to trap her; but I'll do it,” and Dick Doom uttered the last few words in a very determined way. CHAPTER XIV. DICK DOOM DISGUISED, ‘‘THat young King of Ferrets has some deep motive in his devotion to this case, be- yond his professional ambition and pride, and which he has not made known to me,” said the chief of the Secret Service to Law- er Beall, when he called upon him to make known the fact that no trace could be found by the detectives of Mrs, Granger, and that Dick Doom had at least tracked down the truth that Charlotte Hull had a hand in the rescue from prison and the kidnap- ping. ‘LT agree with you, chief; but it will come out in good time, and do you know that I am so confident of his success that I do not worry as to Mrs. Granger's fate, and the re- sult,” responded Lawyer Beall. And both the Secret Service chief and the lawyer were right, for Dick Doom did have adeeper motive than appeared upon the sur- face, in shadowing the Granger mystery to the bitter end, and which motive will be made known in good time. ) When he left the chief's headquarters he went to his hotel, where he kept his rooms, his parlor in the center and a bedroom upon either side, always registering as though his wife was with him, that when disguised asa wor.an he could leave and enter his apart- ment and ereate no suspicion. Once in his pleasant rooms, he paced to and fro for an hour or more, lost in deep thought. Then he suddenly exclaimed: ‘“*T have it! ** Yes, I will play that game for all it is worth.” Having made up his mind to some course, he went into the bedroom on his right and taking a bunch of keys from his pocket opened one of the several trunks that were ‘there. From the trunk he took out a suit of clothes that might look well upon a countr deacon, a high black hat, shirt with stand- ing collar, and a wig with rather long, red- dish hair, - He also took a pair of spectacles and a pair of kid gloves from the trunk, and placed all, with a pair of boots, much too large for him, upon the bed. Then he sat down toa table and '\taking out a leather account-book, which he had gotten from Seth Saunders, he took up a pen and began to carefully study the man’s writing. Being satisfied he began a letter, dating it at the village near where Saunders lived, iG a. tS Se ee ee Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. { iq sealed — res Locking his trunk, and then his doors, he went. quickly down stairs, sprung into a hack and gave the driver an address. The hackman drew up at the number, and getting out the detective paid liberally for his ride and dismissed the vehicle, after which he walked a couple of squares from where he had been put down on the north side of the city, and at last halted in front of a house, the number of which he had ap- peared to be looking for in a bewildered sort of way. It was a small brick house, and ascending the steps he knocked at the door though there was a bell, which however he did not seem to understand the use of. After several vigorous knocks a woman appeared and said angrily: ‘Faith, yez greeny, didn’t yez see ther bell? ‘* But who is it yez is afther see!ng here?” ‘“*T wants ter see Miss Carlotta Cameron— is she to hum?” was the reply. CHAPTER XV. THE FORGED LETTER. Tne Irish servant woman was by no means tidy looking, her hair was of a fiery red hue, and looked as though it would make a good bird’s nest, while her face was freckled and her teeth very much discolored, She wore an old shawl pinned up close around her neck, and her feet were clad in slippers whose usefulness had departed. Her face was given a strange expression from the fact that one eye was closed and her nose was very, very rosy, as though colored from excessive drinking. ‘*Now phat does the loikes of yez wish to see the mistress for?” she asked in a harsh and by no means flattering manner, ‘I have business with her ” ** What is it?” “Tl tell. the lady.” “Who be yez?” ‘«Tell her I’m Seth Saunders’s brother, and T have a letter for her.” ‘* Give me the letter,” 2 “I won’t, for I was to deliver it only to er,” ** What did yez say yer name was afther being?” ‘*My name is Saul Saunders, and I’m a brother o’ Seth, whom she knows well. ** You tell her what I say.” “Come in,” said the woman after a mo- ment’s meditation. The disguised detective entered the hall and found it plainly, but neatly furnished. ‘Sit yersilf there,” said the servant, and pointing to a chair she went into the rear of the house. After a few minutes’ delay she returned and said: “The mistress says she'll be afther see- ing yez, Misther Seth Saunders’s brother, but yez will be afther having to wait a bit until she makes her twilight.’ “ All right, I bain’t got nothin’ to do.” “Yer look it; but go inter ther library there, and the mistress will come in when she is ready.” The disguised ferret went into the room indicated, a pleasant. little library, and took a seat ina vacant sort of way. But everything in the room came under the closest scrutiny, and he photographed, as it were, upon his mind, all that he saw, Half an hour passed before the mistress had finished her tollet, and then Dick Doom heard her coming: ‘ There was a dull thud in the hall, as from a cane, and the door opening an old ‘* Yes, sir. and after several attempts wrote what suited The chief shook his head. him. ‘“‘“Why not, for was the man not in her| His next move was to dress up in the wer, so could she not trust him, especial- | clothes he had put ont upon the bed, and ly when he was to be gainer by it?” having completed his toilet he looked just ‘* Very true.” what he intended himself to appear, a coun- ‘* Yes, sir, I shall give Charlotte Hull a , tryman of thirty years of age. lady entered. Her form was slightly bent, and she leaned heavily upon a cane as she advanced; but she was dressed in a black satin robe, lace collar and cuffs, and wore a cap, as though fond of dress even at her advanced age. . soa a
Page 8
yh se DR ca Sadew' $5 ee : - 5252 ae ; z = ak iq a) Te ca at 2. t 4 a hg & . oi + aint Tn ee Mg RE he "? Be > , , * d - al od 7 ea ae aki a? re - Dick Doom’s Pi ieee taker SE 1 me ll Kidna per Knock-Out. Her hair was snow-white and her eyes were shielded by spectacles, while upon her fingers she wore numerous rings, and gems were pendent from her ears, matched by a large breastpin that held her lace collar to- gether, “You wanted to see me?” she said in a | weak voice. : = ‘“If you be Miss Carlotta Cameron, I Oo ” ‘Tam Miss Cameron, and you come from my friend Seth Saunders, I hear?” ‘* Yes, ma’am.” ‘‘Why did he not come?” “Weil, he is in hiding, for what I guess you know.” **T can guess; but where is he?” “Gone West to settle.” “Have you a letter for me?” ‘You be sure you are Miss Carlotta Cameron?” “cc Oh, ye, ‘He didn’t talk as though you was sich an’ old lady.” “‘T have aged much since I last saw him; but where is the letter?” ** Here it is, mum.” The detective took out the leather wallet and after awhile handed over a letter, with the remark: . ‘‘This is his, for he said I had better take it along, as what you wrote for him was in | it ” “The woman took the letter and breaking | the seal read it aloud. It was dated some days prior, at Seth Saunders’s home, and was as follows: ' “My Dear FRIEND:— ‘«Since your escape I have been in hiding, for my home is constantly watched. ‘‘T have signed the deeds for the sale of my farm and my wife is to sell it and follow me with my son and daughters, for I go abead to escape being tracked, and prepare a home for them. ‘My brother Saul will hand you this, and I go to his ranch in Colorado, for he came at my call on him for help, ‘‘He isa fugitive himself from justice, having killed a man in our village some a ago, and dare not venture further t than Chicago, where he is unknown. ‘*T give him my account book and wallet, with your I. O. U. written in it, and he will look you up, so please pay him the sum due me, waiving the fact that it was to bea personal demand, as that is impossible. *‘T hope you will prosper, but should luck go against you come out and live with us; Saul will tell you how to find us, and you will receive a welcome and find a home, **Saul will receipt in full for me, but please give him the money and not a check, - as he knows no one to identify him. “With goood wishes, “ Your Friend, ‘Sera SAUNDERS.” CHAPTER XVI. GOLD VERSUS CONSCIENCE, THe woman having finished reading the letter aloud, went over it again thoughtful- ly, but to herself, Then she remained silent for full a min- ute before she spoke, the detective assuming an air of utter indifference the while. At last she said: ** Have you read this I. O. U. of mine?” “Yes, my. brother read it to me, and I glanced over it.” “Then you know that it demands a pay- ment to Seth Saunders in person only?” . ** So it says.” “And yet he now requests the payment to be made to you?” | ‘* He does.” : ‘‘Under the circumstances he thought you could do so.” ‘*T do not know about that.” ‘ = did his part faithfully, did he not?” “e es, ” “T don’t know just what service you de- manded, but you admit that it was done.” ‘“*It was.” ‘*He says I will receipt for him.” ‘é Yes.” ‘“‘He wants the money, and unless you wish to get out of paying it, 1 should receive ‘IT do not wish to get out of paying it, for what he did for me accomplished all I wished, and [ will pay it,” said the woman, thoughtfully. ‘‘My brother Seth said you were square, and he didn't think you would refuse when you knew he dared not come himself,” **T will not, so come to-morrow afternoon and I will have the money for you, as he does not wish it paid in a check. ‘“You found me without any trouble, I see?” ‘* Yes, ma’am, I found you; but this is a big city, and Iam astranger, you know.” ‘‘-Yes, and your brother says that you are also a fugitive from justice?” ‘*T killed a man and left home, forifI had remained they would have hanged me.” ‘*Would it hurt your coascience very much, seeing that it already has a human’ life to bear, if you killed another person, think you, of course meaning that you would be well paid for it?” ‘Do you want it done?” ‘‘T did not say who wished it done, merely asked you, if you felt that you could make gome money by it, and a big sum too, if it would trouble your conscience too much to be guilty of it?” ‘“Maybe not; but it is not,an easy load to bear, the taking of a human life.” ‘*Very true, but then a handsome sum in money might outweigh the terror of the deed, might it not?” **T’'d like to think over it.” ‘* Well, think over it and come and see me to-morrow afternoon, for I will have your brother’s money for you, and we can talk over your making a sum even larger,” * All right, ma’am, I'll come, for I know how much Seth thinks of you. ‘‘T guess I'll be going now,” and he arose from the chair, took his hat from the floor and continued: ‘*Good day, ma’am, I’ll be here when you wish me to come.” ‘*Say at three o’clock then; but pull the bell, don't knock.” “That is what your girl told. me; but since 1 went West they have gota great many new-fangled notions that { don't un- derstand.” ‘*«T’ll be here on time,” and the pretended Saul Saunders left the room and was ushered out of the front door by the mistress herself, for there was a double belt, and two locks en it, which caused him to say: ‘‘My! but you must be awful scared of robbers here in Chicago; why I never bar my doors at the ranch, only keepmy Winchester and revolvers handy in case an Injun or a renegade come along. ‘“You would like the Wild West, if you came there to live.” et “‘ Perhaps so; but my aim is to live a life of luxury in the East, for my heart and soul are set upon it, and a fortune will drown all qualms of conscience, my friend,” and the woman spoke suddenly with remarkable vigor. c I have heard so, ma’am,” and the detec- tive stepped outside the door, stood on the pavementan instant, like one bewildered, and then walked off down the street muttering to . | himself: | 1% ; This would break the contract as |. . worded,” ‘* Dick Doom, you are on the right track, and doing the cleverest piece of detective work of your life—yes, the beginnivg of the end has come,” CHAPTER XVII. A PLOT TO KILL, TRUvE to his promise, the next day, at the appointed time, Dick Doom ascended the steps of Carlotta Cameron's house and rung the bell. After a short delay it was opened by the mistress herself, the Irish servant not ap- pearing. ‘‘Come in, Mr, Saunders, my servant is out on an errand, so I opened the door for you myself,” said the same old lady whom the detective had seen the day before, though, with an evident taste for dress, she wore a different robe now, and her lace cap was ornamented with ribbon. ‘*Come into the library and we will have a talk,” and securely bolting the door she led the way, explaining: *‘Living here as I do only with my ser- wee asa protector, I have to be very care- u oY ‘Saul Saunders” told her that she was very right to be careful, for he had already learned what a wicked city Chicago was, . and had been told that robbery, murder and other crimes were of every-day occur- rence. “Yes, it is a very wicked city, indeed. ‘*But now let me tell you that I have the money for you.” «Thank you, ma’am.” ‘Yes, I decided to pay it, and I will take your receipt—I have written it for you to sign,” and she handed him a piece of paper, on which was written: **T hereby acknowledge the receipt of fif- teen hundred dollars, which now cancels all indebtedness due my brother, Seth Saun- ders, by Carlotta Cameron, for services ren- dered.” He read it once over and affixed his signa- ture in a cramped hand, and then counted over the money handed to him by the wo- man. He counted it like one unused to handle large sums, and said: “Yes, I make it just fifteen hundred.” ‘‘Now, Mr. Saunders, as your brother served me welland faithfully, I feel that you will do the same.” ** How can 1?” ‘¢ You see that I have more money here?” ‘*Yes, ma’am,” ‘‘Well, there are two thousand dollars here.” ** I see.” “Count it.” ’ ““What for?” “ “Tt is for you.” “*For me?” sc Yes.” “You want to buy me?” ‘« Exactly.” ‘“ What to do?” “‘T bought your brother and paid him for his work,” “'That’s so,” ‘He served me welland I believe you can serve me equally as well.” “* Maybe.” “We ‘I oke yesterday of the price of a human life.” — j “eé Yes. ”» ? ‘‘ Now there is one I wish out of the way, for his living will do an immense deal of harm.” “How so?” ‘He can give testimony that will cause both your brother and myself to go to pris- ee N a? t “Yes, and he will do it.” ‘** Who is he?” “ He is now in prison himself, but he will be offered his life, for he is accused of mur- der, if he will betray others.” “And he can?” 2 Yes, he knows too much for it to be safe to let him live.” ee are ee ee
Page 9
- = - - yay pad sna at A a eis in eg ew ™ ahs eee ie Skee a: on See EN ey. Aa 7 r Ae et at Papo By pe mem = ce aoa meee / ee a en . ' i Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. _ “* T geo,” Fhe chief turned toward him with an im “There is enough in this glass, just what ** So he must die.” patient manner and said: you poured out, to kill a couple of men.” hit “*He isin prison, you say.” ‘Yes; are you a crook whose pay con- “Thank you, sir, I thought that there oe es.” science has betrayed you into looking me | was.” ay ‘*Then he is safe.” up?” ‘“Where did you get that poison, my ‘|: **'No, for you can reach him.” ‘Maybe I is, and maybe I hain’t; but I | man?” ~ ** How?” knows a thing or two.” ‘Tt was given to me, sir.” ie ‘IT do not wish to commit myself unless ‘* What do you know?” “To drink yourself?” : you pledge yourself to act.” ‘‘ What I know is worth money to tell.” ‘Oh, no, to give to another to drink.” me *«There is money in it?” ** Who are you?” ‘You did not do it, I hope?” 4 “You see this money?” ** A greenhorn.” ‘*Oh, no, sir, but I wish to have the credit } **Yes.” . ** You look it.” of having done so.” i ‘Two thousand dollars?” ‘*Thankee.” ‘* What do you mean?” ny ‘* Yes.” ‘* Where are you from?” ‘*T mean that I wish the chief of police ** Now I will hand to you to-day five hun- “From whar most greenies come from.” | to give out the report that the prisoner, Wirt pe dred dollars, and when you do as I demand, ‘Where is that,” Westley, in some way got hold of some 7 I'll give you the other fifteen hundred dol- **Injiany, yer greenie.” oison, and, expecting to hang, drank it with j lars.” ‘‘See here, my man, come into my office | fatal results.” ; **What am I to do?” for I wish to talk with you.” **But such is not the case.” ; ** You are to go to the prison and pretend “Tl doit, for I wishes to talk with you.” ‘Very true, sir, but it must appear so,” 1 to be the brother of the man I refer to. The chief led the way into his inner office, | said Dick Doom in his determined way, i **He is an Englishman, but you can say | glanced at the papers placed on his desk ou came over years ago and only lately )since his departure a couple of hours before CHAPTER XIX. earned of his trouble. and said: THE FERRET WINS. “‘T will give you his history so you will *“ Sit down a minute.” Tue chief of police and the surgeon were know just what name to give and what to ‘‘Don’t keep me long, for my time is | really startled at the bold proposition of the es money.” supposed countryman, while seeing their i ‘“‘T understand.” : The chief glanced quickly toward the pre- | surprise the chief of the Secret Service ‘ ‘‘Once you have gotten into his cell tell | tended countryman, to6k a closer view, and | Bureau laughed and said: ' him you came from Loyd Granger, to plot | then said sternly: “* Well, he has done you as he did me. his escape from prison, and incidentally of- **See here, do you know Lintend to put ‘*Do you not know him, chief?” ? fer himadrink.” - you in jail?” **T do not remember him,” said the chief u ** Well?” ** What fer?” of police in a puzzled way. } **T’ll give you the flask to carry with you, ‘* Because you are constantly fooling me, “Tt is Dick Doom.” ‘ é and he loves liquor, so will eagerly drink it. | Dick Doom.” “The devil!” co “* Promise to call the next day to see him, The detective laughed and replied; “Oh no, chief, I am not as bad as that,” Pie but— “You are getting so that you begin to | laughed the detective. Ys “You need not go, for he will be dead.” ' | penetrate my disguises, chief. “Well, Mr. Doom, what are you up to f “Dead?” ‘*T do not know whether I am or not.” now?” m4 3 & ** Yes, the liquor will be poisoned and one ‘* Well, Iam here now as Saul Saunders,” “‘T wished to get your surgeon’s opinion . swallow will kill him, though not for ‘*And who the mischief is Saul Saun- | about this beverage, sir, and as 1 am con- aa half an hour or more, so you can get well | ders?” vinced, and you also, that it is a deadly be away, and change the disguise you wear ‘‘T don’t know, chief, ee I thought I} poison in this flask, I wish to ask you to ey there, for you must not go as you are,” would play Saul Saunders, a brother of Seth | do me a favor.” a **1 see.’ Saunders, to see what I could find out.” * Out with it, Doom.” f% ** Will you do it?” ** Ah! you are shadowing?” Dick Doom tossed a roll of bills on the eae The man pondered awhile as though ‘Yes, I have shadowed,” desk and said: ae, mais chances and then said: “Yell me of it, Dick.” ‘“You will find there five hundred dollars, pas ‘*T don’t like to do it, but will if you put ‘* Seth Saunders is safe.” chief, a sum given me as an advance bribe Sy another thousand to it, and life is cheap at “Yes, Isaw the chief of police half an | for taking human life.” Bo that ” hour ago.” ** Ah! this looks serious.” an ‘You don’t know him even,” ‘And Wirt Westley?” “ It is serious.” ia “That don’t matter, he is human, and I en) all right.” “Who gave it to you?” pte know what it is to make a grave in the “Can you spare the time to go with me ‘* Just now that is a secret, sir, but I re- Wee world.” now to see the chief of police?” ceived that money as an earnest of twenty- tear ‘All right, T’ll pay you the odd thou- “It is important?” five hundred more that would be paid me sete sand, so come and get it the day after the ‘I think so, sir.” when I have done my work,” AAD deed,” “Tf you think so it is, and I will go.” ‘What work is that?” bia’) “Tl come, for Ill need it to quiet my ‘“‘Thank you, sir, whenever you are “To kill.” ae conscience with,” was the reply in a sad arnt iA : ““Who?” asked the chief in utter amaze- a voice, ‘‘Tam ready now; but let me congratu- | ment. Vie geme: late you upon your most perfect make-up.” ‘* A prisoner in your keeping, sir.” ree a CHAPTER XVIII. ‘Tt is not bad, forit has fooled as bright “* Who is it?” ; him = crook-catchers?” A DEADLY POISON. Dick Doom left the house of Carlotta Cameron with the same air he had assumed He looked to the life the western country- man, and he impersonated the character perfectly. 73 He had carried with him from the house a flask on which was a label bearing the legend: ‘Pure old Maryland Rye.” The flask had a silver stopper screwed on and looked like one in which only the finest whisky would feel at home. He put the flask in his pocket carefully and going down the street several blocks turned off into an avenue where he knew he would catch a cable car. He then took the first car that came along and changed at the crossing to one that put down near the headquarters of the Secret Service chief. He epee the chief just entering his office said: ** Hello, mister, be you ther cap’n 0’ ther eyes as yours, sir.” ** Where?” **T'll tell you later, sir.” police that he was coming with a friend to see him, they found him in. He introduced Dick Doom as ‘‘ Mr. Saun- ders of Indiana,” and-the inspector shook a? with the supposed countryman and said: , ‘« How can I serve you, Mr. Saunders?” ““T wants ter see ther best police surgeon you has.” The chief touched a bell and the surgeon was sent for. When he appeared the detective potred we liquor from the flask into a glass, and sal . ** Doctor, tell me what zou make out of that liquor, when you analyze it?” | The doctor looked at the liquor, smelled it, tasted it, then dropped some acid from his case into it and said: “Tt is deadly poison.” “Ts there enough in this flask to kill a “man, sir?” : ‘«That renegade lawyer, Wirt Westley.” € Ah!’ ‘‘T wish to ask you to permit me to see ae the day before. — “Then let us be off.” him, sir, for I desire to play a game upon sare One seeing him would never have mis- The two left headquarters together and | him, but with your knowledge.” _ eye taken him for other than he pretended to be. | the chief having telephoned the chief of ‘‘ All right, you have my permission.” ‘“T desire to let it be known, sir, that his brother is coming to see him, and have him so told, for he will feel assured that it is some plan of those who wish to rescue him,” “ All right, Mr, Doom.” : ‘‘When I have gleaned from him all the information that I can, I will show him my flask, tell him the truth as to who his foe is, and see what more he will let be known un- der the influence of the danger that will naturally overwhelm him.” «You are shrewd, indeed, Dick Doom.” ‘‘T think I see my way clear, sir, to get some valuable information from the man,’ ‘“Command me all you desire, Doom.” | “Thank you, sir, I felt sure that you would give me your aid, but, I have more toask.” . ne ‘* Well, out with it.” ‘«T wish you to let the papers of to-morrow morning get hold of the fact that Wirt Westley committed suicide,”
Page 10
ree Se ee = = ar) Oy = eS ae hale — ™ Lae: Me ee et ae , « 7 e eed "terrse-riacs 10 ‘But he has not.” a, ee ee ceeem* " m a _ sail pa 7 er 1 m= yee yin Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. But how had he found him, disguised as ‘* Nor will a man of his temperament do | he was under the name of Wirt Westley? so, sir; but it will be the favor I ask to have it so reported,” “ Why so?” He thought for a moment and then it came to him that Loyd Granger having escaped, was plotting his escape, and clasp- ‘* You see, I get the balance of my bribe, ; ing his hands in a melodramatic manner, he sir, for I am hired to put him to death, or | cried: rather give him the poison.” __ “I fail to just understand your drift, Mr. Doom.” ‘* If Tam bribed to take human life I have the money to prove the bribery on the part of one who wishes Westley dead.” ee Ah ag “If Isee him, pretending to be his brother, Ican glean information from him I could not otherwise secure.” ce Very true.” ‘*Having done this I can then play ra cards differently, for I will tell him that was bribed to take his life, but would not, and his anger against that one will cause him to say that which he would not other- wise do.” “You are reasoning well.” “Then, sir, with the papers reporting that Wirt Westley, presumably believing that he must hang, had taken his own life, will give me a chance to work this intended mur- derer for all that I can get in the way of information.” “IT see your drift now, Mr. Doom, and will do as you wish. “What do you say, chief?” **T always do as Dick Doom requests, sir, and he has never failed me yet,” was the an- swer, ** Then I will do so too, only Ill catch it when the truth comes out,” **On the contrary, you will get the credit, chief, for a clever ruse that gained your point, and if the papers were fooled you bagged your game by fooling them.” “Right you are, Doom, so give your orders as you wish them to be obeyed and I'll iadorse you,” said the chief of police. CHAPTER XX. WHAT HE KNEW. THe man who had fled from England, a fugitive for his evil deeds, the son of a nobleman, well educated, with a profession that would have enriched him, possessing the talent he did, but who bad turned it to evil ends, and, instead of reforming his life upon coming to America and beginning anew, had herded with the worst element of humanity, and become leagued with mur- derers and robbers, until the end came when he was arrested as a plotter and accomplice in the mysterious deaths in the Granger man- sion—this man, with all to make him honest and true, had taken the downward path and lay in a cell awaiting trial that might send him to the gallows. His accomplice, Loyd Granger, the heir ase | for the Granger fortune, had escaped, but in his case the plot of rescue had failed. His feminine accomplice, Charlotte Hull, feigning insanity after iwi state’s evidence, had outwitted lawyers, detectives and asylum attendants and was a free woman, But he, Wirt Westley, lay in his cell awaiting his trial, Gloomy indeed were his thoughts, for the escape of Loyd Granger had been reported to him by his keepers, and he knew how utterly hopeless would be any future effort in his behalf to rescue him, And yet he could not but start with a ray of hope when it was reported to him that his brother wished to see him. ‘My brother!” he gasped, remembering that his father’s death a year before had left his elder and only brother a lord. Had that brother, an ay pe noble, who had lectured him in other days, aided him, and at last vowed never to do anything more for him, repented of his vow and come to him in his misfortune? ‘Ah! that my brother should see me thus, should find me here!” ‘** Will you sce him, sir?” asked the keeper. ‘Tt will crush me to the earth, but I must, if only to bid him farewell, for he can do nothing for me now.” The keeper walked away and soon re- turned, accompanied by the visitor, He unlocked the cell door, allowed the vis- itor to passin, and said: ‘Your brother, sir.” **Oh, my brother! ‘That you should find me thus!” cried the prisoner, placing his arms about the vis- itor’s neck, _ ‘*Oh, rats!” said the visitor impatiently, for the keeper had turned away. *‘T suspected that you were here for a motive, and was playing a part,” the pris- oner said, somewhat crestfallen at the re- buke he met with in the singular but ex- pressive ejaculation of: “ Rats!” ‘*Play to an audience then, for Old Keys has gone, and I alone am here,” ‘* And who are you?” ‘‘T am a pal of that she hyena, Frills, sent to get you out of this.” “Dear, good Charlotte.” “Oh, yes, good enough in her way, but business clean through; but she pays me my price and I am here to give you a lift.” “Good! How is it to be done? _ “The woman that the boy sent squirmed at the last minute.” “The boy sent no one, if you mean Loyd Granger,” ** Who, then, sent the Salvation gal?” ‘* Frills,” *She’s a dandy; but the girl lost her nerve.” ‘‘She did, and you stayed while the boy skipped; but I come from Frills now to help ou. ” hey What is your little game?” “*She says, if she does not help you out, is it your intention to squeal?” ‘* Like a pig under a gate, you bet it is.” ** You'll chin to save yourself?” ‘You bet, and I’ve sent in word that I’d play that tune.” “Do you know anything?” ** Enough to hang the boy and Frills.” “They say you don’t know anything.” **Don’t 1?” “That’s what they say.” “Well, just ask Frills if Idon’t know who that boy really is, and that it was her plot that put old man Granger in the soup years | ago, and followed with his son some years after, and next with the step-mother, all dying suddenly, and without a will, so that the one remaining would get the money. “Don’t I know, too, that she made the mistake in poisoning Mrs. Granger’s twin sister, hoping with her going out like a can- dle, and leaving no will, the, boy would claim all as heir, “Oh, yes, 1 know my text, and can peach, and peach I will if she don’t get me out of this, and if any one hangs it will be a form in petticoats. ** Just tell her this, will you, brother mine,” and the prisoner laughed in a derisive way. CHAPTER XXI. THE SUICIDE. Tue derisive laugh of the prisoner grated harslily upor the ears of his visitor, but the latter was perfectly calm, and replied: ** Well, Westley, I’ll tell you a secret.” ‘** Out with it.” ‘**It is just what the woman thought you would do,” ‘ ‘**Squeal?” ‘*T swear I will.” ‘« She tried to save you when she did Loyd Granger.” ‘* But it was a miss-deal.” ‘Yes, by a strange coincidence her mes- senger was recognized as an old offender, and arrested at the very jail door.” ‘* She was a bad one, eh?” ‘«Yes, a forger, but known to Frills,” ** Where is she?” * Frills?” - ‘No, my pal that missed cue.” ** She is in this very prison.” «Poor woman, I am sorry for her.” ‘So you see Frills did her share.” ‘*She must do more,” _ What?” ‘¢ Save me.” ‘She sent me here.” ** And you can?’ ‘No, I cannot.” “Then I peach,” ‘So Frills decided you would do, so she engaged me to prevent it.” ee OU F. - ; “ec Yes. »” 6c How ey ‘* By silencing you.” ‘* How can you?” ‘“‘ By preventing your telling.” ‘Only my freedom, and my share in the plunder prevents that, for I know how I can save my neck from stretching, and IL will.” ‘‘But Frills sent me here to prevent it, I tell you.” “You can’t, unless you get me out of this.” “Tcan.” “é How 9° ‘* By obeying orders.” ‘* What orders?” ‘“«Those given me by Frills.” ** What are they?” ‘Do you see this bottle?” ‘* Xoe.” ‘¢ What is it?” *« Tt is a flask—yes, it is whisky.” ** You love liquor?” ‘‘ More than all else.” “Tt has been your ruin?” “Oh yes, I may as well confess it,” «And yet you would take some?” ‘‘Yes, give me a drink.” “Did I not tell you that Frills sentit to ou?” ““T don’t care who sent it, I want a drink, for my throat is on fire.” ‘‘See, here it is, but I tell you not to drink.” ‘Dont preach to me, but give it to me.” ‘*Do you want to die?” “¢Tt will not kill.” “Tt will.” ‘‘No, no, give it to me,” pleaded the man. ‘*T say that it will kill you.” ‘In time yes, but let me drown my sor- rows now.” ‘«Tt will drown them forever.” The words were uttered so expressively that the man hesitated and asked in a hoarse whisper: ‘** What do you mean?” ; ‘‘T mean that this liquor has been poison- “What?” ‘Yes, it has been so fatally drugged that one drink of it would end your life.” The prisoner seemed to realize that his visitor told him the truth and he shrunk back with livid face and a look of horror and re Did you poison it? , ** Did you poison it?” ai No. a» ** Who did?” “Did I not tell you that your accomplice, Frills, sent it to you?” ** She poisoned it?” “ec Yes,’ ~~ ee a « r irk 2 . She : ais oe tears ~ J > he BB er ¥. te tends pie presi Sra 2 Farias
Page 11
“2 a "4 aatrh (V9 opera er “+ 4 "Fy A 4 ; Pere ‘* For what?” **Can you not guess her motive?” ** Ah! she feared I might betray her?” cores.” “That, she having escaped the gallows by turning state’s evidence, and having got- ten the boy out, I would be left to my fate, and to save myself might tell all that I kenw?” “Tt looks that way certainly.” **Do you not know it to be?” **T was simply engaged for the work.” ‘What work?” ‘To give you the poison.” ** Yet you did not?” ase “< Wh . ** Well, I got my money and do not have to carryon my soul the weight of having taken your life,” “That means that you are a villain yet not a murderer.” ** About that.” “Well, whatever you arg.or what your motive may or may not be; \thank you, and I wish that I could repay you.” ‘You can.” **How?” ‘Make a clean breast of it to me, of all you know about that woman and her crimes, the boy and his deeds, and all that you can tell me.” ‘* By Heaven, but I will! **Yet why would you know?” **Tam Dick Doom, the detective.” **Great God! you know all,” cried the prisoner, in alarm, But the next morning the papers came out with the statement, that Wirt Westley had committed suicide in his prison cell by taking poison which he had mysteriously concealed about him in a way that had defied all search. CHAPTER XXII. LED BY A WOMAN. Ir was a dark night, the rain was falling steadily and the wind whistled aroumd the eaves of the large mansion of Lake View Hall and sighed among the pines and cedars that sheltered it. It was the night upon which three mys- terious happenings took place in Chicago, the robbery of the safe in the private office of Lawyer Beall, the clever escape of Loyd Granger from prison, leaving in his stead a young and beautiful girl to occupy his cell, and the abduction from her home es i Granger, the mistress of Lake View all. Mrs. Granger sat alone in her beautiful rooms, engaged in writing a letter. She had dismissed her maid and was seemingly very much occupied in the work before her, for she often held her pen up from the paper and became lost in a deep reverie, She was a handsome woman of forty-five, with a good form and an air of refinement on her that stamped her as wel!-born and bred. ‘‘There were lines about her mouth an a look in her eyes that revealed how deep] she had suffered in her life, in wedding a man she had devotedly loved and believed all that was noble and true, to find him to be unworthy of her, cold, designing, false and willing to destroy her happiness to wed another, Incarcerated in an asylum as insane by her husband, the anguish she had suffered had been great indeed. At last getting her freedom, through her husband’s sudden death, she had returned to her home, shown her right to claim his fortune, and devoted her life to one of luxurious enjoyment, Now, as she sat there in her handsome * yooms the thought of further trouble and sufferin £ did not come to her. The fact that the youth, claiming to be uuu sn SS Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. (NR RR NES ES RE SS aT her son, lay in prison awaiting trial for murder, did not, for some reason, cause her great unhappiness, The old house with its weird history, shunned by many as though it were a plague-spot, appeared to hold no terrors for her. That day she had received a letter, and she was answering it as she sat there at the desk. The letter read: ** Are you not willing, now that you are nearing old age, to ease your conscience by aiding me to keep from the gallows one who bears your name, one who is on the threshold of youth, and who will lcad a different life should he get free from this place, this living tomb? ‘*You possess wealth untold, and if you will donate a few thousands to the rescue of your poor, unfortunate son, you will be happier in your declining years, and not have the horrid phantcm before you of your own flesh and blood dangling at a rope-end, the life choked out of him. ‘*Remember that there is such a thing as inheriting evil as there is good, and what my father was. ‘*Could I be an angel with a devil for a father? ‘‘T ask you to save me from death, to set me free, and I will go far away from here, never to come near you, or make a demand upon you again, for you know that I dare not trust myself within the clutches of the law here. “Will you try me once more and rescue me, putting out only a few of your many thousands to that purpose? ‘1 ask it for the sake of my childhood, which you so tenderly cared for, not to let me die like a dog. ‘*Tt is my last and only appeal, the appeal of one who is dying, one who looks down into an open grave. ‘*-Your unhappy Son, “ee Loyp,” This letter had been delivered that day in person, a young girl had brought it, and the mistress of Lake View had told her that she would answer it, and to call on the morrow for the reply. Now she was answering it, and as she thought and thought, she suddenly cried: ‘Yes, Ido not want his life on my con- science—TI will rescue him.” CHAPTER XXIII. THE MIDNIGHT VISITORS. As Mrs. Granger, with her heart touched by the letter she had received, and behold- ing in her mind the gallows loom up before her, and Loyd Granger standing upon it, decided that she would once more lend a helping hand and aid the unregenerate youth to escape, as she sat there, pen in hand to write him a letter, the last she would ever write him, telling him that, for the sake of the young and beautiful girl who had that day brought his letter and pleaded so eloquently for him, she little dreamed that there was a plot against her. She did not see through the ‘darkness and the rain, a carriage drive up to the outer gate. She did not see two men get out, followed by a muffled form that looked as though it might be a woman, ; There was a low, whispered conversation, then the padlock of the gate was broken, by the blow of some instrument brought along, and the three entered the grounds. — They tramped along the gravel drive, un- mindful of the pelting rain, and, with rub- ber-clad feet ascended the broad steps to the piazza. ~ Halting at the door the muffled form that looked like a woman, gave a few directions, and a sound followed like the cutting ofa saw. U1 This was kept up for some time, and when» it ceased a square block had been taken out. of the door. A hand was then thrust through the open- ing and the key in the lock was turned, the: bolt shot back and the three entered. A dim light burned in the hall, for the butler was superstitious about the piace and always kept a lamp lighted in several parts. of the old mansion. The mufiled form led the way up the broad stairs and halted her companions at a door that led into one wing of the mansion. Leaving them there she glided away down the hall and entered another door. She moved as silently as as a cat, making” no sound whatever. Entering the door she found herself in am ante-room. A door beyond was open and through it streamed a bright light. On tip-toe she went toward it and glanced through the half drawn portiere. ‘‘There, not five feet from her, sat the mistress of Lake View, engaged in writing, or rather thinking. Her back was toward the midnight. marauder and she saw her not, suspected not her presence. The hands of the intruder were raised and held out before her. Then the fingers moved lightly, and through the room began to steal a strange, sweet odor that was overpowering, It pervaded the room where Mrs. Granger sat, environed her with its fragrance and stole away softly her senses, There came over her a delightful languor, she seemed sinking away into dreamland and the head drooped forward, then rested upon the desk and the mistress of Lake View Halk was unconscious. Her maid had retired to.hér room across the hall, to sleep through the night unless. a bell from her mistress called her. The butler was in his quarters, the cook. in her room dreaming end no one suspected that a crime was being committed there in that elegant home. When the head of the woman drooped the woman behind her quickly turned to a window and raised it, for she too began to feel the languor of the fragrant drug. Standing there a moment she inhaled the pure air, and then stepped to the sleeping woman and placed a handkerchief, scente with the dreamy perfume, under her nose. Quickly she stepped about the room, look- ing into drawers, picking up here and there jewelry, and opening the writing desk, took out a large roll of bills. Thrusting them away, she went to the door and opened it, The men were there awaiting her call. “Come, sir, for she is unconscious. **T will pack up a few things for her, while you wrap her in the blankets you brought with you and bear her to the car- riage.” The men obeyed in silence. They were hard-faced fellows, hired for me and willing to seli their souls for gold, The form of the unconscious woman was wrapped up snugly, and one man bore her down the stairs, the other following with a hastily-packed grip. | Out of the mansion they crept, the woman closing the door behind them, and so on out: to the waiting carriage. “A good night’s work, and if the one I sent to the lawyer’s home to get his keys has done his ws as well, then I am the one who controls the situation,” muttered the woman as she entered the carriage, which. rolled rapidly away. CHAPTER XXIV. THE PLOTTER AT HOME. A WoMAN sat in a well-furnished room im an humble-looking home in a_ secluded \ : anion . 2 ok -4 i“ ; ‘ a Poa ter < . APNG Lv is ira q 4 “ ~ ¥ +f v1 a i + 4) a a oan #2 Ae
Page 12
reat street, the morning after the kidnapping of Mrs. Granger from her home. The woman was well-dressed, but wore a smask and gloves, while a vail was so wound about her head that no strand of hair could ‘be seen to note its color, Under the mask, and with face, neck and ‘hair thoroughly concealed, no one could tell whether she was white or black. Suddenly a knock came at the door, and An response to a command to enter, a negress «ame into the room, “Well, Dinah, what is it?’ asked the amasked woman, ‘*A man to see you, missus,” «Ts it the one who was here yesterday ?” ‘«-Yes, missus, same one that came late in de arternoon.” “Show him up.” The negress disappeared and the masked ‘woman sprung to her feet and paced the floor uneasily. ‘*What if he should have failed,” she amuttered, As a step was heard without she quickly resumed her seat and became perfectly calm. Again came a knock and the negress usher- ed into the room a visitor. He was a dark-faced man, roughly dressed, sand looked just what he was, an Italian, though when he s, -e he had but very little accent. “Well, Pietro, you have returned,” said the woman with no show of excitement in ae voice or manner, whatever she might eel. “Yes, lady, I am here as I agreed.” “« You were successful?” **T was, lady.” ‘* How was it done?” ‘*T watched him closely to see all he did, followed him home, but no opportunity a a to seize him, and so I waited until ‘ te, ” ‘* You were wise.” “Tt came on to rain and I waited on- per piazza until he retired and the house was still,” ** And then?” ‘“‘T entered the house by a window, gained jis room, but as he was restless and unquiet, I used the drug and he sunk to sleep. ‘«Then I searched his pockets and got the keys.” “* Yes. ‘*T went to his office, entered it with the false keys I had made, opened the safe, just as I had seen him do from my hiding-place across the area, and found the drawer marked ‘Granger.’”’ . ** Well?” ~ “T took all the papers that were in it,” “Did you take anything else?” “No, lady, 1 looked over papers to see if there were more with the name of Gran- ger upon them, but found none, so I re- locked the safe, took the keys with me and ' left the office.” ‘“You have done well, Pietro; but where are the papers?’ ' * All here, lady.’ He took from a bundle, as he spoke, a Jarge roll of papers, some of them having an official look and bearing seals. The woman glanced over them and said: 4 peu you five hundred dollars?” ““Yes, lady.” “*Here is the balance I was to pay you— five hundred more,” **T thank you, lady.” ‘*Report to Dinah here every third day, or night, for I may have more work for rou.” é ‘*T will, lady.” “You can go,” and the woman rung the bell and the negress came to usher out the visitor. When alone the masked woman began to look over the papers she had so cleverly recovered, and her voice had an exultant ring as she cried: wie cs 3) nape cpereetiy: : me ye Dick Doom’s Kidnapper OS @. > oe y es a ie “Now Iam mistress of the situation, for with these papers, and her in my power, I can force her to my terms. ‘‘Tf she refuses, then the result be upon her head. ‘*But no, she will not refuse, she dare not, and I will triumph.” The woman laughed exultantly as she spoke, but her voice was harsh and there was a tone of venom not of joy in the laugh ter. CHAPTER XXvV. THE ESCAPED PRISONER. CAREFULLY over each paper went the plot- ter, her joy at discoveries she made finding vent now and then in exclamations of a strong character, until at last she laid them to one side and said: ** Now to see him; but he must yield.” She touched her bell and the negress ap- peared. : ‘* Dinah, I wish to see the young gentle- man who came here last night.” ‘Yes, missus, I go and bring him.” The negress left the room and made her way along the hall to a door at the further end, She knocked and_a voice within bade her enter, She 1 akey in the lock, turned it and entered, The room was meagerly furnished, though not uncomfortable, and its occupant was a young man, His face was pale, haggard, and was stamped with, evil and dissipation; but otherwise it was handsome, attractive and intelligent, while his manners were not brusque, *“Young massa, de missus wants ter see yer right away.” ‘All right, auntie, I am with you,” and he arose from the cot upon which he had been lying, and followed her, He was taken to the rear room and usher- ed into the presence of the masked woman. The negress left the room, but did not tarry to eavesdrop, for she had received a lesson one day when she made the attempt, by a bullet being fired through the door over her head. . Aunt Dinah knew the one she served well and did not care to find out anything she did not wish her to know, after having re- ceived such a warning as she had. The moment that the door closed the wo- man removed her mask and stepping quick- ly toward the youth threw her arms about him, kissing him tenderly. He made no demonstration of affection in return, but said simply: “You got me out of prison, ‘“ Who else would?” ‘‘T wrote to her yesterday by Beulah, and she was to answer to-day.” ‘* Had I known this I would have waited another day.” “Tam cua that you did not, for delays are dangerous; but was this your plot, or Beu- lah's?” ‘She was determined to save you, and gave me her plan, so I consented,” ** And Westley was left in prison?” “Yes, the woman I engaged to free him became unnerved and did not make the at- tempt; but it is just as well,” ‘Tt is not, for he must be set free.” ‘**T will attend to that all in good time, for he is too dangerous a man to be allowed to remain in prison after he knows of your escape.” _ “Yes, he is a dangerous man; and be- tween us we have told him all, so that he can destroy our plans if he will.” ‘He can, if,he is allowed to do so.” ‘*Now what about Beulah?” ‘Well, she is in prison.” “Do I not know that, for she remained in my clothes while I escaped in hers.” _ ‘*Let her stay there.” Porte Knock-Out. = **Oh, no.” ‘‘T say, yes, for she knows nothing, so cannot betray us, and when I arranged with her it was in her home, not here, so she does not know where to find me.” ‘But would you leave her there?” “Why not?” ‘She sacrificed herself for me.” ‘‘ Why should she not be willing to suffer a short imprisonment to save you from the gallows?” ‘«Tt will break her heart to feel that I have accepted her sacrifice to leave her to her fate.” ‘“So be it; let it drive her to suicide and you will be free of her.” ‘* But I do not wish to be.” ‘Why not?” ‘*T love her.” ‘Bah! what is love but a myth?” ‘‘She loves me far more than I deserve, or love her. ‘*She risked her life to save me, the day she came out in the boat when our craft cap- sized, and she did save me. ‘‘She did not suspect who I was, what I was, and [ visited her from time to time, and learned to love her. ‘*T asked her to marry me, and her father drove me from his hotse, for he had never liked me. “Then she secretly became my wife, and she has known since that Iam all that is bad, mean and wretched. ‘“‘But she never deserted me, and when she came to see me she was plotting my es- cape. ‘‘T have gotten free, she is in prison, and ou tell me to leave her to her fate, well rays Riel ng” ‘ ey : Se o> : Plt. -# ae =e -
Page 13
Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. | sand dollars are in negotiable bonds and money. ‘“‘Deducting that sum Mie have large real " estate interests that will leave you some: ‘ig seven hundred thousand dollars and pay you a very handsome interest besides.” , ‘Well, what is all this figuring upon my: fortune for?” + Ja ** Yas, missus,” ** Now go.” Dinah went to another room, one in the center of the house. There was no window in it, only a sky- light, and the ceiling was very high. It was intended as a lumber, or storage room evidently, ag to me here, saw me masked only, and fhe is treacherous Dinah can simply say that her lady lodger is gone, and you know the houses are both owned under different names.” ‘*Oh, but you are a schemer.” ‘« Thanks, I am proud of it.” ‘Well, what fortune did Pietro get for ou?” ‘‘ All of the Granger papers in the hands of old Beall, the lawyer.” ‘«'That was a good haul indeed.” ‘*So good that it makes me mistress of | the situation.” “You can bring her to terms now?” Wg ‘* Oh, yes, easily, as she is in my power.” “Of course, holding the papers you do,” ‘« But I hold more.” ** What?” ‘‘T done come fer yer, honey.” cute me in any way.” a “The woman Ye The woman rose and faced her, as though} The response of Mrs. Granger was a burst ie “ Ah’ ready to go where she might be taken. of laughter that really did not seem to be: a ) “Itis true.” “* Where is she?” ** Tn this house,” ‘**How did you get her here?” “T used two more of your pals to go with me last night and kidnap her,” ** You are a dandy.” ‘Thanks; I accept the compliment, as you mean it.” ‘Give her a glass of water.” **T am,’ . ‘She is here, then?” It was done. ‘What amuses your” ! ‘Yes, and I will bring her to terms.” ‘Now, madam, J am ready to talk business “Your demand,” ; ; “7 think you will.” “But I wish to make terms with you In it was a mattress upon the floor, a low chair and little else. There was no furniture that might be used to climb up to the skylight. Upon the mattress, as Dinah unlocked the door, lay a woman. It was Mrs, Granger, and not only were her hands manacled, but there was a gag in her mouth. The negress said in a not unkindly tone: She silently followed the negress from the little prison, for it was nothing more, and was led into the presence of the masked woman, She started slightly at beholding her, and the masked woman said: ‘* Dinah, remove the gag from her mouth.” The negress obeyed. with you,” The prisoner bowed, for her throat was ‘To show you what you are worth.” ‘‘T expect you are about right, so that there is no reason for argument upon the: subject.” ‘Now you wish me to name my price for your freedom?” ; “ce T do.” “It is just six hundred thousand in the bonds and money I spoke of, with a pledge not to attempt to hunt me down or prose- forced, CHAPTER XXVIII. THE SECRET NOTICE, ‘You appear amused,” said the masked woman sharply. “You refuse it?” ** Naturally.” first.” et too contracted to speak, **T have more to say.” “Well? « Attempt to call out— Leave the room, “‘T can but listen.” i *« You are ready to hear my demand?” Dinah!” ‘You are a woman along in years, and **T am,” The negress quickly obeyed. the fortune left you—for I demand but one: **T will get for you a fortune.” “*So you have told me for years,” “Tt is in our grasp now.” ‘ ** It really looks so.” i “‘Now, Lam not working for any one else he are and myself.” “ see o. “The money I got for the houses will be 4° used up in my bribes and plotting, leaving “Am I not Frills?” my home will set the tireless Dick Doom. Be but little; but it is make or break with us| ‘She is insane and in an asylum.” upon your track so that you will soon be: at now.” **So were you.” run down and J freed.” : “Tt appears to be.” ‘* Alas, it is true as far as being held in an ** You think so?” m cs ‘With the fortune gained, we can go else- | asylum was concerned, but I was not in- “*T know so!” , ap where and enjoy it, as 1 have said; but be- |. fore 1 do more, and remember that what I \ have done I can undo, I wish a pledge from i Ara ‘**So you called me, but my real name, “T have sold this house under one name T- ; ; Well? B or the one I went to serve you under, was | bear, and I have sold the one that is in the: >; sc HR Twish two.” Charlotte Hull.” rear, and into which I have a secret means: , ee Name them, “‘T remember, and you proved my foe, for | ot going that would surprise you.” - 1 “Ht ‘* First, you are to ellow me to handle the | you it was that brave young detective Dick} ‘‘I did not know you were so rich,” ‘a am fortune, to manage it.” oom found out, that murdered my sister, ‘Oh, yes; I managed to pick up a great. fi > | “Well, it would be better, for I am a | believing that you were poisoning me.” deal during the * ear that I was in your ser- mn bi a trifle extravagant.’ “Yes, Iwas so accused; but I escaped | vice. But let» ¢ tell you that in the other ‘\ ba “You grant this? from the asylum and I plotted to kidnap | building I ama different person altogether, we ee: **I do.” | ou,” so no one can track me, and you must come. “i ny “The next is that you give up your wife, ** And did so,” : to my terms ” ie Bas ag desert Beulah to her fate, and consider the “Oh, yes, I accomplish what I under- **7 will not.” 4 an v4 tie between. you forever broken, for in an‘ | take.” “We will sce.” ong ar other land I will get for you a rich wife.” ‘«- You wish ransom money now, I suppose, **We shall,” * oa > |.’ Must I do this? . so that you can make your escape?” ‘Now you think that Loyd Granger is in’ “4 i dine «You must, or lose all.’ ‘*T wish money, yes.” prison,” fs See + Poor little Beulah must go, then, forI/ ‘Name your price and I will try and pur-| “I know that he is.” 0 Tove gold better than all else,” said the heart- | chase my freedom from you.” “You are mistaken, for I not only freed: ia 3h. > less youth, — “Have you any idea what you are| myself from the asylum, but I kidnapped ee ae “Then it is settled; now return to your | worth?” you, and J likewise set him free.” sa he} Me room, for I have another to see. ‘*T have.” “T donot believe it.” es ee Te ‘* 80 bax I, for 3 know eye pie you ane masked whom Epuntes ; bell and ‘ Riad am y possess, all your real estate, bonds and every- | when Dinah appeared she ordered:. Pe a re CHAPTER XXYV ig thing that will bring money.” ie “Bring that: vous man in here, Dinah.” tr ie a A STRANGE INTERVIEW. ** You are well informed.” Dinah disappeared but soon returned, ac- a: pa, ae Wuen the heartless youth had returnedto | ‘Oh, yes; but I tell you this to show you | companied by the youth, . a | ae - the safety of his room, and been locked in } that I will not be deceived by you.” Loyd Granger! ag ree i Sa by the negress, Dinah, the masked woman | ‘I do not seek to deceive you.” ‘““My God! you tell the truth,” exclaimed aS “a again touched the bell. “Then tell me what you are worth.” Mrs. Granger. wy i Sogha Dinah appeared and her orders were: ** Ata guess, for I have not figured up “Take him back, Dinah,” and.turning to a ——. * Now go to the room of the lady brought my riches carefully, I am worth about a | her prisoner she continued: 3 ae here last night and bring her here.” Hion.” | Von are satisfied ?” _ Yas, missus; but I kinder feels sorry for ** You are worth more.” “Tt am.” ee ed to feel awful bad.” - - All the sympathy you feel, Dinah, I will _ give you a golden plaster to cure.” _ her, for when I tuk her her supper she seem- y ‘* Attempt to call out and I will kill you as I would a dog.” ‘*T shall give no outcry.” ‘** You will be wise not to. ‘**Now, do you know me?” ‘If I did not know to the contrary,” and she spoke with evident ery *““{ would say that you were my maid, Frills,” sane.” ** Nor was I, for I feigned it,” ‘Ah! then you are Frills?” **T am glad to know it.” ‘** Yes, your estate is worth three hundred thousand over the sum you named, and let |.me tell you that just six hundred thou- half—will support you like a princess, and’ no one need know about the bonds and money I get.” “Well?” ‘‘In return you are set free, and get rid forever of me and your son Loyd. ‘‘ He is in prison and the gallows will free me of him, while my being abducted from ‘Let me tell you that I live many lives). This negress has never seen my face, and) does not know me. 4 Will you pay that money now?” “T must then for your doing so.’ give you another reason
Page 14
— —— eee a — ~ ? re. ae —_— eer na a dar » = a tials i
Page 15
¥ : 4 { a 4 . i CHAPTER XXXII. SHADOWED TO DEATH. HAviIne gotten the crook’s wife off his hands, Dick Doom’s next move was to draw in the toils to gather up the threads of his work. He went to the home of Carlotta Cameron, dressed once more as Saul Saunders, and was admitted by the same old woman. ‘* Well, Iam glad to see you,” she said. ‘«You have seen the papers?” ‘*Yes; you did your work well.” ** And my money?” ‘**T have it for you.” **Good! It is worth every dollar of it, for I tell you it is horrible to deliberately give poison to a man to kill him,” ‘« Don’t refer to it then.” ‘*To kill a man in self-defense, in anger, or even revenge is not so terrible, but to poison one as you bribed me to do with that man Westley is awful.” ‘Bah! Take that roll of money and see if it does not ease your conscience,” **T guess it will; but do you know I'll be scared for a day or two and would like to stay here with you.” After a moment’s reflection the woman said: “‘ All right, you can stay for several days, but then you must get out.” = * ‘TI do it then, but now I only want to eta grip on my nerve.” “‘Tll show you a place where you can stay,” and the woman led the way to an up- per room, ‘*Here, this is my Irish servant’s room, but she is away for a few days so you can stay here.” “Thank you, ma’am. **T guess I'll take a nap, for I didn’t sleep any last night.” he left him in the room and he threw him- self upon his cot and mused:? ‘The Irish servant girl is away, is she? “T rather guess not, for I have penetrated your disguise, my charming woman,.and you are the Irish girl. be iat pes-s ‘“‘Lam so used to disguises. myself that I can see through them, et ‘*You are clever, cunning and bold, but ie are the Irish girl, and'old Mrs, Car- otta Cameron is none other than Charlotte Hull, alias Frills the murderer. ° ‘I guess a couple of days here as your guest, my dear Frills, will discover all I care to know, for I am pretty certain that you have Mrs, Granger concealed here, or near by, and also that boy murderer, ** At least I will soon know, for I am on the right track.” Thus musing he dropped to sleep, but was awakened to have his supper, which the old woman had prepared. He ate cautiously, but felt that the woman held no suspicion of him, . After spending an hour talking to her, he feigned fatigue and went up to his room, Pulling off his shoes he put on rubbers and stood ready to watch the movements of his hostess. He waited an hour and then heard her leave the room and descend the stairs. Noiselessly following, he saw her go = into the cellar, carrying a lantern with er. He reached the stairs in time to see her suddenly disappear in the furnace at the rear wall of the house! He had a small bull’s-eye lantern with him, and when all was dark once more he proceeded to the furnace and, after a short search, saw that it was entirely a bogus af- atr. The galvanized outer sheathing turned on a pivot, revealing a space within. A step-ladder led down into the depths below, and descending it, the daring detec- tive followed a narrow passage some four feet. high, for about a hundred feet, when he came to another ladder. / Ascending this he found himself in an- Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. other false furnace, which he swung open and entered yet another cellar. ‘Aha! this is the way the houses con- nect. One is in the rear of the other. ‘‘T amon the right track at last.” So saying he ascended the steps to the floor above, heard voices, and. standing in the darkness saw a negress and a woman talking. “Tt is Frills; but she has changed her dress—yes, she wears a mask,” He hid away in. the darkness apd saw the woman come out and go up-stairs, ~ She opened a door, the key being on the outside, and entered the room. The door was left an inch ajar, and creep- ing up dauntless Dick Doom heard all that was said between the woman and her pris- oner, and that prisoner was Mrs. Granger. What he heard caused the sweat to stand out in beads upon his brow, and he listened to the same story they had talked over be- fore. He heard the woman say that she was at last ready to go her way, and on the morrow would receive her money from Mrs. Gran- ger and then she would tell her where to find her own real son. ‘‘There can be no doubt?” asked the mo- ther. ‘* None, for I have kept track of him. He has the Gypsy brand upon his arm by which he can be recognized, and you remember that your son had a birthmark, a red leaf, upon his chest.” ‘Yes, hefhad!” ‘‘My God! I have the red leaf upon my own chest!’ and the great detective trembled like a leaf. $F: ‘“‘T was stolen by Gypsies—yes, now I know why it was I determined to follow out this Granger mystery. «Oh, dear Heaven! my own mother!” Dick Doom staggered away from the door, retraced his steps, and when, half an hour later, the woman returned, he was apparent- ly sound asleep. When she had retired he went back to that other house, opened the door, called, was answered, and the scene that followed, the meeting of those two, mother and son, I leave the reader to imagine, for it cannot be described. After an hour spent with his mother, and learning that Loyd Granger was in the house, he proceeded to his room to arrest. him. He unlocked the door, started back as he turned the light upon the bed, a revolver in hand, for there oe the young crook stained with his life-blood. Never very strong in pbysique, he had been taken with a hemorrhage of the lungs and thus his lamp of life had gone out; alone and in darkness his stained soul had gone— whither? ‘ CHAPTER XXXII. CONCLUSION. Tre negress, Dinah, was next arrested, but Mrs. Granger pleaded for her as being ignorant of how wicked her mistress was, and possessing a kind heart; so Dick Doom willingly promised not to prosecute her; his mother’s wish now was a command to him. Leaving the negress with Mrs. Granger, he retraced his way through the two cellars to the other house, crept up to the door of the dread woman plotter’s room and knocked, ‘© Who is it?” ‘‘Me, madam—Saul Saunders, and I’m going to get out.” \ ** Wait until I throw on my wrapper.” A moment after the door opened and standing in the s' adow‘ the woman asked: “Why do you gojat night thus?” ‘* Because, mv dear Miss Carlotta Cameron, alias Charlotte Hull, alias Frills, I am anx- ious to place you behind iron bars for your murders. ‘*T have your son’s dead body in the next. house. I have set my own dear mother free, 16 so know me now as Dick Doom the New — Orleans detective, to be, in the future, Richard Granger, ex-ferret, for my life-work as a crook-catcher is finished when you are behind prison walls, you veritable fiend!” The woman stood like one dazed. She was livid, quivering, and had not the power to speak, ‘* Hold out your hands!” commanded the detective, fiercely. She obeyed and the Golden Fetters were clasped upon the wrists. ‘*Now I will secure you here until I re- turn,” | He bound her securely to the bed and at once departed from the house. When he returned, an hour later, the two a They had congratu- ©) chiefs were with bim. lated him over and over again upon his sleepless chase, and when they knew all— how he had discovered himself, or in other words, had shadowed‘ his own case, they pronounced it the most marvelous case on record. Leaving the chiefs and their men in charge, Dick Doom escorted his now deeply happy mother to her home,and the next morning went down to see his excellent friend, the Secret Service chief. ‘‘T set Saunders free, Dick, as you re- quested, and the chief of police holds West- ley upon requisition papers that arrived last night from England, for his crimes there, so that takes his case out of our hands.” ** And the woman?” “She spoke but a few words—only said: «*«T will never hang!’” «But, chief, your manner indicates that more has happened!” ‘She kept her threat, Dick, for she took a poison she had concealed about her, and now lies dead in her cell.” ‘So be it! I am avenged!” and Dick seemed to be deeply moved. From to day, chief,” he spoke after a moment silence, ‘IT live to make my long-suffering, much-per- secuted mother happy. You will hear no more of Dick Doom, the Ferret of the Golden Fetters.” ‘‘No more of Dick Doom, the Ferret of : the Golden Star, you should say!” cried the admiring chief. ‘I shall have that star made and on it inscribed: ‘Dick Doom, THE DaunTLESS— The Detective who Never Failed— The Man of Honor whom all Honor,’ and be proud to have my own name attach- ed as the donor, ‘* Will you accept such a gift?” Much moved the detective answered: “T will accept it, chief, as the most pre- cious souvenir you could bestow.” Clasping hands—the curtain drops. The career of the Famous Ferret is ended, unless, indeed, some great emergency shall call him to the front again. THE END, Next Half-Dime Library, No. 854, Tele Sam's D.tective in Chicago; The Country Postmaster Among the Bunco Men. A Story of the Underground Counter- feiter’s Den. BY GEO C, JENKS. : with wan, one of Chicago's most events and points. I e noted “ run fas." Don’t miss it! /. ¢ ke. ‘ + < BS oe Li 44a) & F atin. ares | as S'S) a Se Ree Sa YY = ni Poe ‘al : 5 ‘ sy ial vi gs cana
Page 16
BEADLE'’S*HALF-DIME*LIBRARY. =~ Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers.. TOT? Redfern’s Last Trail; or, The Red Somb Ra pe 668 Red Ralph’s Kuse; or, The atest Midshi a 821 Deadwood Dick’sa Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats | 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Gir! Detectiv oat Deadwood Dick’s Dueats; or, Days jn the Diggings. § | 226 The Arab Detective t or, Snoorer, the Boy Sharp. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Other Novels b. c y E. L. Wheeler. Vinsdwded. tcl aretn 2 SEER ek gah AN r BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, : ° et Ne ¢Kn t. - an Pontweod Pesky the ony ot the seas 2 84 Rosebud Rob on’ Hand; or, dy), the Gitl Miner, a2 pick qroom poate Crips, ote cere Desens 1 en 28 Deadwood Dick in Diarnieos i sve aagers. A gesebud Bere oe reaenness £6 Thotogrann Phil. 784 Dick Boom; or, The Sharpe ahd Sharks of MeaWele : o rt Reatvesd pick, in Hia« Castle. 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee's Surround toe Blok Doom tn Chica ge eee re 1p See pele Sg toe Cal vinlay raat Rant Bod sarap sl hana 4! ral Ay hammme 208 Dick Doom in the Wild West. 57 Traadwasd Dick’ "e eee sc ce oll. 255 Denver Doll’s Decoy ; or. Litte Bill’s Bonanza, 808 Dick Deoom’s Slean Rw ee Five Links in a Cl ws Deadwood Dick on Deeks. ceCatamaleg.s a the Honlioe ben gees aerator ad Prt The Road Queen. 808 Dick Doom’s Death Clue.” a ee or, . ‘ne, reku m, the Gold-Gurhere or, The Li q i 1od pendweed Dick's Last Acts or. Corduroy Charlie 872 Yreka Yim's Prine; on. The Wolves of Wale-Up. | S19 Dick Doone Chil Maceo ; . reka Jim’s Joker}; or, The Rival . , 33 paeawecs pe a ecise por, lhe Double Cross Sign, 889 Yreka Jiin’s New hrotes me Bleyele rv wie sae Dick Soone pig A tgs 129 Deadwood Dick's Double on Th Gorgon’s Guich Ghost. 894 Yreka Jin of Yuba Dam, 749 Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s Firat Trals 188 Dead a Dek? 3 or, The Gorgon s Guich Ghos 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or, Dot Leetle Game, 756 Dashing Charlie's Deati Th Renewade’s Captive. 149 De dwoo 4 L's ileme Base; or, Blonde Bill. 218 Frit« to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter 760 Dashing Charlte’ Par nee Pi a. ee 186 I wag wees ek « Big Strikes or, A Game of Gold, 244 Sierra Sam, the Fronti«r Ferret; or, A Sister's Devotion. 766 Dashing Ch rife, SieReaer or 156 Deadwood Diek of Deadwood: or The Picked Parts. | $48 Blerra Sams Seeret ; or, The Bloody Footprints, 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowbo 201 De dwoed Dicks ee ra Boat Hoge dg yas Road. 255 Sierra Sum’s Pard; or, The Ange ot Big Vista, T8T Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captl oe a a AR a ae Ee Br 9 rpetied aang“ Zreyhlag | My Ohdvole pag Ahab 748 Buck Taylors Boyay or, The hed Risers of the Rio Grand. Sep posewoed Tasks Peele to. Calaally June's Deventam. | BES aes Ditka thackots onthe tia | $60 Pawnee Hil, tefoth tiene Bei Deadwood Dick's Death-Pinnt B90 Kangaroo Kite Iteckets or, TheFrideof Played-Out, | $18 Pawmec HU a, Cul the Nad Conboy , - 2 - e wtective; or, L n a Disa ce whi 4 a) : a by +4 Gold-Dust pik, . Romance of Roughs and Toughs, 69 The Boy Detective; or, Gua Rifie, the Sharpebooter. tap Bowne Riis ie i he Dicks” isin, 6 hee ean S55 iendwosd Dick's Death trade ne a | Ae GhitsEdecd Dick, the Spin Desctee G92 Redfern’s Curious Case} ci, The Rival Sharps " ek, the Sport Detectiv . Al, 4 1 , 809 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. 145 Ouptuin Ferret, the Rew York Detective. S08 Heafcrn’s igh Mand; on Blue jean 7 I Deadwood Diek Sentenced; or, Tho Terrible Vendetta. A y 862 Deadwood Dick’s Claim. / * si ta Talley, ticks Py the Detectives of Philadelphia, sis Fe rere ihc chadeccn ae The Vobortar’s Lagas 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City. 848 Monhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective, P $43 ce ales ths ong pn The Freebooter’s Legacy. 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diawonds, 400 Wrinklen, the Night-Watch Detective. 650 Ru era, y’s Isgul ae. Ax 421 Deadwood Bick in New York; or, A “Cute Case.” 416 High Hat Marry, the Base Ball Detectiv > utterfly Billy, the Pony Express Rider. 480 Deadwood Dick's Dust; or, The Chained Hand, 426 Sam Slabsideca, the + Baw Sonmeaivon 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man ifunt. 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr.; or, Thy Crimson Crescent Sign. 4384 J B > , tive. 662 Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. AAS Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, 1 ” Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 565 Kent Kingdons or, The Ow!s of the Overland 45R heakoaed Mek? b Ahn veflunce, 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon: or, The Border Vultures. 570 Kent Kingdon’ Shadower} or. the Card Queen 459 eamwded Dick’ orn pull Hand, 82 Bob Woolf or, The Girl Dead-Shot, b75 Kent Kingdon’s Duel} e athe Sur, Lat he : 46h mg Me r Dis »’ ae R ge Bouse Tp, 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 6586 Kent Kingdon’s Doom or, The Buckskin ‘Avenger 471 Theadweed Dick, She, Cc ei oo ms oe ii 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 545 Lafitte Run Down; or he Buss nncers of Barrataria 476 enkwowd: Waele Inn, Dec De NE aa Bill. 61 Buckhorn Bills or, The Red Rifle Team. 550 Lalitte’s Legacy? or The Avenging Son. a 481 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Deadwood. 415 deck Moyle te koogteenice | BBO Beckshin Milks Ge Cmoaiaemasce. Get Peed weed Pee? Sri? Lebeeisanes, 125 Houansa Hill, Miners cr Madam Mystery, the Forges | B25 The Buckskix Brothers tm Texas. cad woo ‘ ase Bop to Ee 2 acks, 80 The Bucksk ye . The Cowboy ase paogwnes pick? orm ni on oad § 141 Solid Bam, the Boy Road-Agont; or, The Branded Brows, 585 The Fuckoln Homers’ pe The Peete Fucnive, 515 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Protegce. 137 porbe Mitek of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scampe. 640 The Buckskin Pardes’ Quests or, Captain Ku-Klax G22 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Three. BEd Weer venk see pockenlo, Besves ie: Sedy Lily's Love: 508 The Royal Middy 3 or, The Shark and tne Sea Car 44 peadwead picks 5 paneer, Peeke. 240 Svelons Kit, the Young Gladiator; on The Locked Valley sti ae Royal Middy's Kook go ae a cre cadwood Dicks gr." oh Hunts 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol: or, The Rival H ° y zi Boy 589 Deadwoed ck, dre, toe eka. > mabe. ae y Patrol: or, The Rival Heirs. 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret ot New York. 544 Dead a Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoog 0, 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouts. 549 Toakwena Dick, Sa ak ifia Mettle. + +4 Mri ey xt Bliner; or, the Tron-Nerved Sport, 474 Wizard Will's Pard; or, Flora, the Flower Girl. 554 wood Dick, Jr., in Gotham Attle Quick-Shot} or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 488 Wigard Will's Last Casey or, The Ferrets Afivat. 56 weod Dick, Jr., In Boston, y +2 First-Class Fred, the Gent from Gopher. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. bar wood Diek, Jr., In Philadephia, ge UE Tile tr iabaler a 3: ie 488 Duncan Dares Plots or, A Cabln Boy’s Luck, Se wood Dick, Jr., In Chicago, 488 Santa Fe 8 1 the sl Ania gal ane engeance, 487 Duncan Dare’a Prize; or, The Sea Raider 44 | Deadwood Dick. dr., Afloat. 4s6 Bealeki os on ‘the Saari oF, et engeance. 441 Duncan Dare’s Secret: or, The Ocean Firefly, ase Ppeadweed oiek Pes iu Denver. n Sam, the Sparkler; or The Tribunal of Ten. rt qoudiery the Young Conapirator 5 or, The Fata! Longue. wo ¢ al eccree. BY J. ©. COWPRIOK ors ouble RKCS Or, e y Insurgent. 595 Deadweod Dick Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin ne tanis ° 412 Teodor’s War-Cloud Cruise; or, The Wild Yachtoman. br Beadweed picks gr at Cone island. 7 Broadway Biliy Novels. aus pion TRUE, the Prince of the Rana. ° Sport $18 Bectvsed Bice: $e be Geta 420 Broadway Bly, MaDe Te srange Cun, | 208 Bend Shot Pawase Rouble tr Kes 618 adweod Dick, dr., in © lb roadway y’a Boodle; or, Clearing a Stra ‘ase, 8 Dea ° andy’s Doubles or, Keno Kit. a4 Beedwect Bick: dr~ fe Novasas, B56 Hrondway ily IMENT, | ROE Bead ket Bangs Cliche MhetterDecaire | 680 4 k m 9 P roadway a Pea acket. en o andy’a Chicf; or, The River Detective, ‘ 686 iaieraed Dick. 50’ me are Lane 579 Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party. 245 Merle Monte’s Leap for Life. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Buffalo, 605 Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. 250 Merle Monte’« Mutiny ¢ or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Chase Across the Continent 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Acts or, The League of Sevea. 264 Merle Monte’s Treasure Island. 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. 669 Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootblack in Frisco. 269 Merle Monte the Condemned. 660 Deadweod Dick, Jr.’s, [Insurance Case, 675 Broadway Billy’s Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 276 Merle Monte’s Crutse; or, “ The Gold Ship ” Chase, 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Rack in the Mines. 687 Broadway Billy in Clover. 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, The Pirate's Pride. oy Peadwoed pick dr, 'w Duranget or, “ Gathered In.” $33 eens vey aunt, in Texass or, The River Rustlers, eae merle Heston yeep gi ropa ye se bia wood Die i covery} or, Found a Fort rondway y’s Brand. 4 v o or, e , the ri er. $56 ndwood Dick, Je Daze le. seat te nc ait Brondway Billy St. Ranta Fes or; The Clover Deal. 204 ane fae | Gloys Spert’s Doom; or, Buffalo Bill, the w r.’s. Dollars. roadway yaku andy or e Gamin Detective. ¥ Bx} . 838 Needed Bick: fry'ab Danger Divige, | FRE Broadny HM Cari" ae eb Harloyihe, Copter rth wo e r. rop. : roadway y’s Curious Case. » the Gir ower, {04 Deadwood Bick, grr nt Juche Pot, ibe Broadway Billy, Im Denver. oa nsctiven, | Sif Atalphy the Dend-thot Scout q r., in San Fr or, The ves, ’ » . ° 16 De bas te Dick, Ir.tn, Built Hust, ome (54 Prenawez pitty, the Retriever Detective Sor nae Yaqahend ofthe Mines. Kay 2 lek 8, Dominoe roadwa ys Shadow nse. > e Texan Detective; or, The Black Bravyoe, 28 et abe Dek. wa, Disruieas? 788 Broadway Billy's Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest. 591 Velmonte; tne Young Sea-Rover; or, The Avenging Sailor. 784 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Double Deal 786 Broadway Billy’s Teams or, The Combine’s Big Pull. 5680 The Outcast Cadets SLY False Detective. £49 Bendvecd Blt 3 Benge £89 Hrondway Jig: Belnagl cyto Ave” | 498 Arlee 8) Ga tte nce cadw ck, Jdr.’a, Doublet. roadway y’a Queer Bequest. Nevada Ned, evolver Ranger THz D sood Dick, Jr.'s, Deathblow. 800 Broadway Billy Baffled, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster; or, Pirate in Spite. Ths eee eos | Dick, ba peaperate Strait. 805 Broadway Billy’ Signal Scoop, 462 The Sallor Boy Wanderer: or, The Born Guide. 264 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lone Hand, 810 Broadway Billy’« Wipe Out. 446 HWaphazard Harry ; or, The Sea Scapegrace. oe Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Defeat. 815 Broadway Billy’s Bank Racket.’ 898 The Red Clasped Hands; or, The Boy Lieutenant, 76 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Resurrection. 821 Broadway Billy’s Bluff. B87 ereaus W£5Dl, the Traitor Guide. 5 siwood Piel, Jr.’s, Dark Daya, 826 Broadway Billy Among Jersey Thugs. 888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island. 8 cnadwood Dick, Jr., Defied. 888 Broadway Billy’sa Raid. 877 Ronodel, the Buy Rover; or, The Fiagless Schooner, aE wood picks gy Double Devios. 889 Broadway Billy’s Big Boom. Ret pay bg fod the Tle Grande. 8 weed Dick, Irs: Diamond Dice, 860 Kilvor-Masky the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keys | 980 Grimeon Rate, the Giri Traller; or, The Cowboy's Triumph. 80 w Dick, Jr.’*, Royal Flush, 420 The Delective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without » Name, 116 The Hussar Captain: or, The Hermit of Hell Gute, S12 wood Dick, Jr.’s, Nead-off, 9 111 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy, ’ ’ 424 OCibuta Jonny} or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, : 816 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. 489 Sandy Sam, tho Street Scout, 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Smuggier ; or, The Cruise 6 the Vixen. Sas Deadwood Ick; Jr.'n,'Beoop.” 467 Disco Dan. the Daley Dade. Be The Babe Whiga ce The Rival Lieutennnta: pap wre 3 ws e t Ralph the Prince of the Road, ‘ ae arate wf the Yellow att ee eee ood Bick, Sen Clutch BSA The Engincer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph's Resoly | TF HutpWe Ioys the Boy Buceaner; or, The Fopitive Yacht ) Deadw OR, Cs Mp ee acme 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. ul. LAE Gales he Oce - 4 Bid pep tee | Bick? or. a) eo ha Fionse., h 571 Alr-Line Luke the Young Engineer; oF ee Double Case 7 The Flying Yankees or, The Ocean Outcast. cacw ORs: Gey See WEN ANE Seem 592 The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascals Out. , > . Bes Bag dee a: , BY W M. @. PATTEN, ous Fighting Narr the Chiol of Coained Cyclone, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport: or, The Iublice of Jncktown, She 4 Tete oaks pe tl A ag: y F y 7 rer C ) y 3 e . Si 4 66% Violet Vane Victory; ot, The Jasper City Clean Out, 659 Moonlight Morgan, the ** Pizenest ’? Man of Ante Bas. 841 Prince Charlie, the Cat’s-Paw Sport. By Marma- duke Dev, 698 Violet and Daltay, the Posy Pards, 842 The Actor Detective In Chicago; or, Dick Doom’s. 70% Vielet Vane’s Vows or, The Crafty Detective’s Craft, * L 724 Violet Vane's Vengeance; or, The Wipe-Out. RY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. Finsh Hand, By Col. Prentisa Ingraham. 780 Violet Vane’s Veré fet; or, The Game at Coffin City. B89 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dend Set at Silver City. 848 Dan, the River Sport; or, Foiling the Frisco Sharp. By TAL Violet Vane, the Ventriloguist Vidoeq; or, Sport va. Sport, 622 Tom-Cat’s Triads or, The Affair at Tombstone. Harold Payne. ThO Violet Vane, the Vanquished; or, The Lite Struggtes 681 Tom Cat's Terrible Task; or, The Cowhoy Detective. 844 Rroadway Billy’s Big Bulge._ By J. C. Cowdrick, 768 Violet Vanes Visions or, The Piers Hand of Fate, 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumphj or, Bleck Dan's Great Combine 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Wigh Horse. By Edward L. ANY The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed Rock, | 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock; or, Josh's Ten Strike Wheeler, ~ : 619 Captain Mystery 5 or, Five in One. BGS The Dandy at Dodge; or, Ruetling for Millions, 846 Ruck, the New York Sharper. By Jo Pierce. 581 Daisy Pare the Sport from Denver. 576 The Silver Sports or. Josh Perpermint’s Jubilee. 847 Dick Doom’s Ten Strike, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. S04 Tro hombahell spe Pee Soares > 688 Saffron Sol, the Man With » Shadow 848 Clip, the Battery Ferret; or, Jack Jeffers? Foul Play. 604 Tron Fern, the Man of Fire; or, Among the Vultures, 6014 Happy Wana, the Duteh Videcg; or, Hot Times at Round-Up Ry 1. ©, Harbaugh, 619 The Boy Tramp Detectives or, The Doubie Grip Witness | 611 Bildnd Barnnele, the Detective Hercules. * | 849 Brondway Bitly’s &100,000 Snap. By Cowdncs. 641 Dismal Dave’s Dandy Pardj or, The Clue to Capt. Claw | §46 Cowboy Glds the Cattle-Range Detective. 850 The Grand Street Arab, By J Fierce. 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank 851 The Tie-To Sport; o:, High Hustling at Sinners’ Flat. 682 Wild Vulcans the Lone-Range Rider. 685 Jolly Jereminhs the Plains Detective x By Wm, R. Eyster. 714 Old Misery the Man from Missouri, 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout i 852 Dendwood Dick, Jr., at Devil’s Gulch. By Edward 774 Clear-Grit Cal, the Never Say-Die Detective, 689 Rilly, the Gynay Spy: or, The Mystery of Tero Lives. ,. Wheeler. 789 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Servloe Special, 699 Sirnple Sim, the Rroncho Buster: -or. For Biz Stakes, 858 Dick Doom’s Kidaapper Knock-Out, By Colvnel 806 Cowboy Steve the Ranch Mascot, 212 The Meamerist Sports or, The Mystified Detective, Prentiss Ingraham. 820 Nobby Naty the Tenderfoot Detective. 288 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector 854 Uncle Sam's Detective in Chicago s or, The Country 886 Sharper Stoke’s Double Deal. ~- 745 Kansas Tint, thé Crose-Cut Detective, Poatmaster Among Bunco-Men, By George C, Jenks. BY OOL. A. F. MOLT. 261 Marmaduke, the Mvetanger Detective. 855 the West Brostway Gamin; or, Toddles, the Tranip, over, By Jo 2 S17 Wideawake, the Tialn-hoy Detective. $5 Lone Hand Joe se ethic ten 856 The Boetblack Stowaway; or, Broadway Billy’s Bind. Sts Hendiickt Hateiose R01 Kent Kirby, the Hich-Kicker from Killbuck, Bpaiter Hob in New Yorks or, The Man from MW ’ e aht ta a . : Y ‘ 8. Spotter Bob in New York; or e Man from ’Way- : 691 Headlight Harry’ Wauts oF, The allroad Pards 882% The Doctor Detective in Texas, Be aoe Win. G. Patiens sd ‘ > € "7 arry’s Sireny or,? Madge. : : Ted Henditeht Warry’s Heritage, BY BUFFALO BILL (ton, Wm. F. Cody) A New Issue Every Tuesday 794 Headlight Harry's Hunt; or, The Cache of Gold. 8 Kansas King: or, The Red Right Hand. The Half-Pime Library is for sale by all newedealers, five $°3 Black Buckakiny er, The Masked Mm of Death Canyon, 19 The Phantem Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. eonta per eopy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, 19 Kenneth, the Knife-King; or, The Doomed Six. BB leadly- Eye, the Unknown Scout; or, The Banded Brotherhood BEADLE AN» ADAMA, Publishers, 485 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Wood. 68 Border Robin Mood ¢ or, The Prairie Rover. B28 The Dandy Sport; or, The King Pin Conspirator, 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trost. 98 William Street, New York se ae . ‘