Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 878) (1894 05 22)
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fa , A C ~ RS . “ ‘ta tt Vt Lt Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y , Post Office. Copyrighted 1894, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, May 22, 1894. $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, YX No. 878. a Year. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 cents. Vol. V. The Street Arad’s Blind: °: ‘2m as I so oO: Pte Secre. = = — = - ~ --=- ‘*THIN OUT AV THE HOUSE YE GO, KIDS AN’ ALL,” SHOUTED MR. MCFAGEN, JOE’S FACE WAS THE PICTURE OF WOE
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2 R. Scooping the Swindler Sharps, A Story of Unlucky Joe’s New York Life, BY JO PIERCE. CHAPTER I THE STREET WAIF S MISFORTUNE IT was not Marius among the ruins of Car- | thage, but a and ragged street-boy | among the ruins of what bad been as impor- tant to him as the ancient city was tothe old Roman. ; The scene was a busy thoroughfare of New| York, with vehicles of ali kinds moving alon the street; with trains of the Elevated grinding and rumbling along overhead; with | many persons hurrying along the sidewalks like | gigantic bees of commercial life. The boy received no notice. A little while before he had been surrounded by a small crowd, but in our great metropolis all men are busy, and useless curiosity can bold them buta short time during hours of labor. But the boy bad Jost bis means of labor, and | there were tears in his eyes} and traces of other | tears upon bis cheeks as he stood and looked at | divers splinters of wood and fragments of glass | scattered at his feet. An elderly man advanced to his side, anon. “You seem to be in trouble, young man,” he observed, kindly. The youth looked at him stolidly. *T be,” he agreed, almost indifferently. ** What is the cause?” * Tt’s broke,” And the boy looked at the fragments. ‘* What was it?” ** A ship.” “ A ship?” ae Toy! Mode! of a full-rigged ship, in a glass x. * Did you drop it?’ ** Pole of a wagon smashed it,” ** Where is the wagon?” ** Dunno: drove off.” The boy’s answers were brief to an extreme, and little less than ungracious, ‘** Were you carrying the toy-ship along the street?” pursued the questioner. * ** No: it stood bere. ** On exhibition?” at Ss * Ab! Isee. Belong to your parents?” For answer the boy picked a piece of paste-| board up from the sidewalk. e held it up, | and several letters and words became revealed | on its surface, rudely spelled: “ PROPPERTY UV A BLIND WommMaN!” It was not bard to understand, and the in-| a nodded quickly. —~ ‘1 see, A blind woman depended upon the receipts from the toy-ship, obtained by exhibi- tion, for a living, and it’s now destroyed by an accident.” ) “Pve showed it ‘round town fur severia! | weeks, an’ got some money, fur it was a beauty! | But the wagon came up fast,‘an’ the pole run inter the ship. Now, you kin see w’ot’s left.” _ It was but little. The once-dainty craft wasa hopeless ruin! | “TI told her at the innin’ that t)wa’n’t no) use,” muttered the boy, “ an’ she was foolish ter trust it to anybody as unlucky as me.” “So you're not fortunate?” ** Unlucky Joe, they calls me.” “ Cavse 14 DPve bad tough ase I deserves it. ve a pooty row ter hoe, Both my parients died in an ipi-| demic, an’ I’ve had ter git on all alone ever) sincel’s eight years old—-that’s six years ago. ) I've tried everything, but ‘twa'n’t no use: I'm) yokei up with Adversity, an’ be’s a stronger ox When I took out the sbip, I tol’ ber | nor I be,” it wouldn’t never prosper under my care.” Ualucky Joe ep Ene ae ion | pockets , and, while making his ram none- it speech, had been looking | down again at the wreck of the ship. He made 8 bard to understand from mere descri According to his own state- ment he was fourteen old, but he was) small of stature. Pov , like adversity, was his yoke-mate. It showed his old which, despite were out into 5 caelpad ge nat Seeee paved to sm avy one, 4 so in one so young. sell cakanoe be 20 teoqeentty euttltied tras Bo sbadow of a crushed spirit. Good fortune and The Street Arab’s Blind : see if he was bein air continued which sat so heavily upon his Unlucky Joe. abode not with him, three Graces, he was in a dangerous mood. That he was not criminal had been owing partly to innate honor, and partly to fortuitous circumstances which had thrown restraining in- fluences around him at critica) stages ofmbis young life. If he was ever forced to meet a crisis without these restraining influences, would the innate honor save him? It was an open question, but, crushed by mis- fortune, he was ina state of rebellion against man, and his sullen apathy, seen at times, was fruitful soil for the sowing of dangerous seeds. The old man who had thus conversed with him could not fail to read some part of this, and he remained silent and read for some time befcre he spoke again. **So. you relied upon this toy-ship for sup- port?” ee Vis,” ** Anybody else?” ** The blind woman an’ her children.” ** Who is she?” ** Mrs, Electa Baldwin. The ship was hers. Sence she’s got blind she can’t sew, an’ she an’ the babies got poorer an’ poorer, an’I was out o’ work; an’ she said as how I could take the ship—it was made by her husband, who went pied ter sea an’ was lost—I could take it an’ exhibit it on the streets, an’ see ef charitable folks would give us means o’livin’, That was three months ago, an’ I’ve kept her an’ her babies in food, but the ship is gone now!” Fresh tears rolled down the boy’s cheeks, but he suddenly brushed them away fiercely, straightened his figure and exclaimed with boyish pride: “*T don’t keer fur myself, fur I kin sleep on a board an’ cat dry bread, but what will she an’ the kids do?” ‘* Where do they live?” **On Hudson street.” ** Ts she totally blind?’ “ Yis.” **T would like to see her. I am a physician, and I may be able to say something in regard to her ess, Some cases are curable; hers may be of that character.” ** All right.” Unlucky Joe did not make the indifferent re- ply until his discerning eyes had studied the stranger’s face. Im that face, and in its own- er’s voice, he saw no great cause for hope. Neither was sympathetic; neither was promis- ing. Still, if the man was ° ae his help was not to be disdained—though Joe be- —— Electa Baldwin’s blindness to be incur- able. * Lead the ree doctor added. Joe obeyed. was nothing left of the ship worth saving, and he did not take any f ent. Instead, with empty hands and pockets, but with a heavy heart, he piloted the stranger. : The boy went ahead; the man walked direct- ly behind him. Joe did not once look around to followed. That same stolid y shoulders. ; In , tes time Hudson street was reached. The particular house to which Joe led was like thousands of other houses in the city. Built of brick, it bad grown old and rusty as the me’ grew old, and all signs of humble life were discernible-in it. The stranger quickened his steps and gained | his guide's side. y to the blind lady,” he directed, “‘ that Iam Doctor Jason Blackstone, an eye special- ist.” **You kin say it,” Joe answered, phlegmati- — e opened the door, went in and led the way toa room on the third floor. He knocked, and the door was at once opened by a bright-eyed | boy of about five years. Josey!” ' The name was quidkly uttered, and the bright eyes grew ter, but the speaker suddenly caught sight of Doctor Blackstone, paused and retreat, faced woman in Entered Unlucky Joe, with his hands in his pockets, and bis face the picture of woe. *T tol’ yer not ter the ship ter me,” he seneshed, ghvapity. aad knowed trouble would | Charity had passed him by, and Faith and Hope come on’t, an’ it has; it’s broke all up, the shiR Robbed by poverty of the | is; an’ not a fragment left on't!” ‘“You are jesting,” answered the lady, but there was anxiety in her voice. ** No, I ain’t.” ‘* Tne ship is broken, you say?” ce Yes,” * How did it happen?” ‘* A wagon-driver hit it a rap with the pole ter his wagon, an’ smashed it into bits.” He looked only at the floor as he spoke. Mrs, Baldwin confronted him, dismay pictured in her face. Blackstone regarded her with strange intentness, but finally moved forward and spoke: ‘“Madam, you will excuse me, but I have come home with Joe.” The blind woman started. *¢ And who are you, sir?’ she asked. ‘“My name is Blackstone.” ‘**T do not remember you.” ‘* You never saw me before. I am a pby- sician, and, I trust, a humane man. Hearing that you are painfully afflicted, I have ven- tured to call and ask leave to examine your eyes. Sometimes blindness may be cured by an operation., Of course 1 cannot say bow it is with your case until I have investigated, but this I can say: Providence hath willed that we make ourselves useful one to another, and noth- ing would please me better than to be of ser- vice to one so afflicted.” Mrs. Baldwin had followed his speech closely. *“T have no money with which te pay you, sir,” she answered, ** Money I donot need, and I should beashamed to take it from the poor. I only wish I had the hands and time to go to all the poor of New York!” ? This worthy sentiment was expressed in a voice slightly unsteady, and the color rose sud- denly to Electa Baldwin’s face. Thereha@been times when she hoped—even thought—that sight was not lost to her forever, al the only doctor she had consulted had —_— She knew he had not been and hope now returned. ‘* You are very kind,” sh “*T do my duty only.” Unlucky Joe had become i severe blow to him that he sh prived of the article that gave to Electa and her children, and he brooded over it in his own downcast way; but it now oc- curred to him that other responsibilities were upon him, “Gota ime he abruptly asked. ‘* A what?” “ Diplomet—s’tiffykit.” *“ Oht diploma. rtainly, I have one, but I don’t carry it around in my pocket.” “Be you sure you won't do no harm ter her?” $* Oh! he wouldn’t do that!” Mrs, Baldwin ex- claimed. ** Rest ,m young man; I knoe any oe fession well. Whether | do good or not, I pro- mise todo no harm. In any case, I have po in- struments here, and can only make au examin- ation. Pray come to the light, madam.” Mrs. Baldwin obeyed. ah hope I can help you. I believe you are a widow. ‘*My husband was lost at sea,” sighed the widow. ‘* A sailor, eh?” ** Yes, sir.” ** Named Warren Baldwin?” “No, sir; Wilbur Baldwin,” “ How did I get the name of Warren into my mind? Perhaps you said that was your maiden 7? I was an Alliston.” , I perceive. Now, bend a little this way.” Whatever motive actuated Doctor Jason Blackstone, he was not indifferent. Ever since he entered the room he had been using his eyes sharply. He looked at Electa and at her cbil- dren with minute attention, and his small, keen eyes transformed themselves into in points flung like out of his mind. And when he at Baldwin to the Mrs, seemed, vely, to absorb, floss eye but that of CHAPTER II. WARNED OUT, JasON BLACKSTONE was not the only person who using bis eyes, Unlucky Jos was doing his share. ”®
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interested in Mrs. Baldwin, and when her case assume such an aspect, he was pls ness personified. His usual stolidity was so swept away that he seemed like a different boy. If Blackstone was a capable doctor, great developments might feilow. If Mrs. | Baldwin could be cured—happy possibility!— | the future of herself and her children would undergo zi vast change. The close watch kept by Joe was productive of one result, at once: he decided that Doctor Blackstone was a peculiar man. | proved him in her gentle way. When he was desperate | He noticed how that person’s gaze wandered | —noticed that, while making a show of looking to Electa’s eyes, only, he surveyed her whole face, and did not let his gaze rest at all. Long experience with adversity sharpens one’s wits, and renders him quick to feel sus- picion—often too uick. Now, Joe grew sus- a of Doctor Jason Blackstone. He knew ut little about physicians, but common sense told him that one deeply interested in his pro- fession a give thought to that only. ** He’s ‘snide’,” thought Joe, in the ex- pressive monies of the streets. Blackstone fell back a step. Unlucky Joe, > Yo The yoke-mate of misfortune was Ney Aopen — ls a RE ee Tain’t! I ought ter got'it, fur I’m no - cs oseph !” *““Wal, you know—” “T know how good your heart is, and that Providence will one day bring you out of your troubles into the light of success.” Unlucky Joe hung his head. He was always ) ashamed of his fierce outbursts when Electa re- | She [stood be- tween him and danger. and driven to the wall, a few words from her would quell his rebellious spirit. Blackstone had been observing both Joe and Mrs. Baldwin attentively. “Be at ease, both of you,” he advised. “I | am going to speak of you to the charitable per- ““fam very sorry, madam,” he remarked, in | a voice apparently filled with correspording | regret, **but I must give an unfavorable re- | port.” Electa sighed. *L am not surprised,” she answered. sons of whom I made mention, and I knowthem well enough to be sure that they will care for de When I think of my children, I cannot feel the will to refuse charity,” Electa answered. | the ither. ‘** And I presume that if the benevolent ladies | | offer you a new home, where you will be free from all-embarrassments and annoyances inci- dent to poverty, you will not refuse?” ‘**T cannot refuse.” ** Enough!” Blackstone moved toward the door. ‘*[ must go now to attend an aged lady who suffers from rheumatism, in whom the benevo2 | lent apm have a great interest. bills. o, but your case shall be laid before “In practicing medicine I have often been | them writ ns an hour.” called to observe the strength of woman’s forti- | tude. Man, when ill, becomesa petulant child; woman rises to the plane of heroism. that you will be able to bear your cross.” ** You have told me no more than 1 believed before,” was the patient response. “Your affliction is of the worst type known to my profession. I will not trouble you with medical technicalities, but — say that the sight-giving principle is utterly destroyed. Thus, the most remarkable oculist in the world would be unable to give you even par- tial relief.” **T could bear it patiently were it not for my children.” ** You are poor?” “e Yes.” ** Unhappy lot!” sighed Jason, sympath>tical- : y- Electa was silent. **Have -you no relatives?” he asked, after a . ‘No, sir. “ Not even on your husband’s house?” side of the : / ; ** My husband had relations, but I do not | know where they are,” So saying, Mr, Blackstone left the room. Mrs. Baldwin clasped her young daughter in I trust | | hee arms ‘* Kind Providence, I thank thee for this ray of hope!” she murmured, gratefully. There was a brief silence: then she added: “* Joseph, don’t you rejoice with me?” “Yeah,” was the doubtful answer. “The doctor is a noble man.” Joe said nothing. ‘‘ He comes like an angel of mercy,” Electa | added They pay all | | pirat That’s phat you are, an’ phat you'll come to. Moind, now, Oi know jest how you're built, an’ Oi say you'll end on the gallows, Moind that, will ye” ** [ won't end with the jim-jams!” ** You'll end wid a slap in de jaw!” ** Joseph,” tremulously spoke Mrs. Baldwin, “T beg that you will not talk so. Mr. Mc- Fagan, I know you have long borne with us—” * As long as Oi will.” “Truly, we will try—” ‘To b’ate me out uv merint, No, ye won't; not ef Murphy McFagan knows himseif. Talk is ch’ape, but rint is dear; the wan won’t pay Hush up now, an’ give me niver a wurrud more. Will ye move out?” “ We have nowhere to go.” ‘“* The str’ate isa good sixty feet wide, an’ it’s siveral miles long. We'll see if it ain’t roomy enough fur you an’ yer kids, Out avy this house ve go before the sun sets, an’ don’t ye forgit it. Oi’ll bev the men here ter throw out yer traps at jist balf-past foive begorra.” With this parting threat, the man turned and went out, staggering under his load of liquor, and slamming the door after him as if he was a giving his backward tenants a fresh blow The heipless little company were left alone— left to face the fact that they might soon be ten- © ants of the street. _ CHAPTER III. A STRANGE MAN IN NUMBER 3, TWENTY minutes later, Unlucky Joe entered a house on a certain street half a dozen blocks away. He was making a last effort to save Mrs. Baldwin and her children from being cast into the street. Electa, confronted with the probability of immediate trouble, no longer looked to Black- stone for help, and Joe had never had faith in him; but sbe had remembered an acquaintance of happier days, and sent Joe to see if an asy- lum could not be had for a short time. The boy entered the house, mounted to the “T didn’t see pa wings!” abruptly, almost | third floor and knocked at a door on which was fiercely declared ** Surely, you are pe prejudiced against him?” | **T think he’s a snide!” “ Joseph had ** I’ve figgered him up, an’ I don’t see no good in him, don’t like him! There’s somethin’ crooked an’ evil in that man. }-don’t b’lieve he’s | reached to his waist ; no doctor, nohow,” ** Why should you doubt it?” **He didn’t look like one.” ** That is no proof.” ‘* Wal, I don’t keer; I think he’s a rascal. didn’t take no great notice on him, at first, but I did later. y advice is, don’t you = A a Electa answered with an air which indicated | self an’ the children ter him, Thar’s evil that somefecret lay back of the non-committa] | heart, or I ain’t got no eyes.” reply, and Blackstone did not press the point. “You shall be taken care of!” he declared. | ble as we are?” mh professional work has been among the thy classes, and I have the confidence and tion of many benevolent men and wo- men. May I ask if you find it hard to meet ex- here?’ The blind woman’s face clouded. ** We cannot meet them.” ** Are you behind in that respect?” ““Weowe for rent. This house was recently sold. The former landlord had been kind—too kind, perhaps, for his own good, for he allowed us to run up a bill — has not been a wy: yet. The new possessor, Mrs, McFagan, waited — weeks, and seemed to be a very —S hee but she finally took to drink and we must leave. It was then that I clare tha ~ send Joseph out with the ship, and the result was that we more than paid expenses. I would not overlook an old landlord, and I gave him _— of our savi Asa result, that debt is “paid, but we owe our landlady ten dol- lars,” » The speaker paused, a deeper shadow ap- peared on her face, and she ded: “* The exhibition of the ship was so successful ede I thought we should pay her up this week, t—” ** But you hadn’t ought ter trusted in me!” in- Joe, almost fiercely. “‘ Didn't I tell e no good luck ever went al with me? All Thev ter do with isa dead failure, an’ every- y ad- reply. “* I don't keer: yer know hel “Tam giad it was the ship that blow, not you.” | as - Why should be intend evil to those as hum- ““ Dunno. ” **T think you wrong him. ner were kind and gentle—” x Ph. a keer; he’s a rascal!” spoke with the force of a strong mind in Pg ‘oauaiias. and Electa sighed and let the matter drop. She regarded the boy’s outbreak ; His voice and man- | | painted a huge figure ‘‘3.” ** Come in!” called a deep, hoarse voice, and Joe obeyed promptly. He saw a room great confusion, with a little old man sitting in it whose bair and beard almost made a blanket for him. Tke latter the former flowed down over his shoulders in a tangled, kinky sheet. The sight was so strange that Joe paused and looked o him in wondering silence. ‘“* Tongue!” cried the old man, fiercely. * Hey?” returned Joe, blankly, “* Use your ore, I say.’ ** Does Wilson live here?” + ho” ** Where does she live?” *“ None of my business!” ** She lived here three year ** None of my alice! I’ve tived here two — and don’t care a rap for Mrs. «Fre es had om” “* Use your e!”? Joe thonght that he had fallen in with a mad- as ove of the many she had heard from him,and, | man, and was ready to get away as soon as He Prine really, gave no serious thought to the vague charge against Jason nampa They were interru ours a heavy knock on the door, and then Mr. ah ap ie occupied the pearin — y in a great rage, and without hat or | — like a prize-fighter, and spoke ponder- ou - Tee come for me money?” * Your money?’ faltered Electa, ‘* Me rint-money.” “ { am very sorry, Mr. McFagan—” * Au’ phat good does thatdo me? Ye're al- — very sorry! Does that putt money in “Mr. MePa te aes Deane neat ya hope. Hev ye the money?” *“No; but wee ‘*Thin ont av the house ye go, bag an’ , kids an’ all. aren telewe how the agan, the landlord, | certainly a sign peaceable enough, | himself, and on the war- wand on this occasion Mr. McFagan squared | ible. in a v.gue way that the ittle old man had in his lap the mi keel | of a ship, some three feet long, and this was but his man- ner was quite the reverse. He spapped at Joe suite of rooms below, ap-| like a dog, glared at him like an snare, in Electa’s room at this hour, ap- | and looked ready to spring u him tiger. In fact, he was a whole menagerie in “Td like ter find Mrs. Wilson,” Joe admitted. “*None of my business! Don’t know where sheis, Tongue, or get out!” Joe decided that be would “‘ get out.” He turned toward the door, but, as he did so, fagak in fresh wonder. He bad always puneees the miniature ship ) which be bad exhibited on the street as a great Sor novel thing. but, a bim, he saw a that he stood nd looked invsi in Rowell onl ae Op voice broke in again: in’,” Joe answered. bgt Aon ea of them?” oe admitted. cxpecte “ = a CN =o as grim as his wrath had been ‘* Never saw anything them, eh?” ** Yes, I hey.”
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ran Unlucky Joe. “Oh! Where?’ ** lve been round with one; had it on exhibit, an’ should be goin’ now ef 1t hadn’t been fur my measly luck.” **T don’t see.” ‘* Had it on exhibit in the streets, so that folks | could drop ia their money ter make it pay. "Twas ter support them an’ keep them os starvin’; but a wagon-pole hit it, an’ smashed it all ter bits, soit was lost. *Twa'n’t ter be won- dered at, fur it was jest w’ot always comes ter me,” much, but the old man did not ask for further particulars, ** Like the sea?” he asked, abruptly. ‘*T ain't never seen any of it, only down at the Battery.” ** Huh!” was the disdainful reply. ‘“‘A mere wash-basin full of water; no sea about that, Like a ship?” ** Yes; w’ot I’ve sean on em.” A disturbance in the next room interrupted the conversation and frightened Joe not a little. There was a snarl which sounded like that of a wild animal, the sound of a leap by some object, and then a human cry of terror. Joe stood in open-eyed expectancy. Had he run into a menagerie, and was one of the crea- tures thereof about to kill somebody ? It seemed so, for he heardas le behind the wall, but not any morecries. The little old man moved toward the connecting door with an air of impatience. ** Wait for me; Ill return in a moment,” he directed. He opened the door and passed through. Joe was alone, He was disturbed not only for the person who had cried out in alarm but for him- self, yet he did not think of retreating. He was interested in the matter of which he knew so little but could suspect so much, and, waiting, he listened with er attention. He heard the little old man’s voice in peevish roof, as he reprimanded some one or some- thing, and then another voice arose in a fright- ened key which was almost a wail: “T shall be killed here!” If there was any reply Joe did not hear it, nor did any further distinct words come from the other room. While he was still listening, the old man suddenly returned. Joe expected to receive a suspicious, question- ing canes, but his host was as calm as ever. hat’s your name?’ he asked, abruptly. ** Joseph Eldwin.” . pepe ‘ “T ain any sence my ship was broke.” * Want srochen?” “ Want another?’ “‘That’s whatI said, Don’t stare at me likea stick. Speak up! Show some life!” **] haven't any money ter buy.” “Bay? Who said anything about o = Silence, or I'll cast you down the stairs. dare to dictate terms to me!” ‘“* T ain’t dictated,” he returned, sulkily. ** Would you take one of my ships and go out as vou did before?” * You bet!” Joe's eyes brightened. He did not stop to think that the little old man tim terms so hard that only himself would be the gainer; the boy thought only of helping his friends. **Come here to-morrow. Tl think of it; don’t know what I'lldo. Strange step for me, if I take it. I may not; may throw yuu down the stairs. Tongue!” ** Yes, sir,” said Joe. “Comes to-morrow. Card! Go!” He thrust a bit of pasteboard into Joe’s band, and then shoved him toward the door with con- siderable roughness, The moment that the boy was outside the door was banged to, and a click- ing sound told that it had been locked. Joe was too much confused to resist this sum- course, even if be had wished to. But he didnot. Theold man was eccentric to an ex- treme, but in the whirlpoul of his oddity existed the fact that he had thrown out some hope of employment, It was a chance Joe could not pen cig and he submitted to the old man’s whims nietly. 5 Gane on the street he looked at the card which had been given him. Upon it was written something in a sprawling band, and this is what he read: “Joss Bautpwrs, *: Neptune, Crank and lyr ees ag Office, where he pleases; hours,twenty fourinaday. Selah!” Joe gazed in bewilderment. At first he could make absolutely nothing out of this strange ar- ray of words. but cue fact gradually gw upon The name, Joab Baldwin, strangely recalled | Electa an’ the children, He’s a secret enemy, ; | that of the blind woman. | Wasit chance, or something more, that their | surnames were alike? | The question was so iuteresting that Joe would have returned to Joab’s quarters if he had not realized how useless it would be to seek | the old man before the specified time. | Hekeptontoward Mrs, Baldwin's, and soon | forgot Joab. He had immediate trouble to con- | tend with. He had failed to find Electa’s ae | friend, and they were menaced with the danger | This disconnected explanation did not explain | of being thrown into the street. Only a very | short time remained. What was to be done to avert the calamity? The boy felt that if help was had it must | come through some device of his own, and, the | problem being hard to an extreme, he was so | deep in thought that his movements were pure- ly mechanical. He gave no heed to where he went until he found himself at the tenement- house door. No light had he yet obtained on the question of what they were to do, but seeing nothing else | to do, he dragged his unwilling feet up the | stairs. of the children did not greet him as usual, and | the glance which he swept around failed to dis- ) cover any member of the family. He was alone, Alarm flashed upon him, Just what their ab- sence indicated was not certain, but he knew very well that some disaster had occurred. CHAPTER IV. JOE’S FRIENDS ARE MISSING. For some time Joe hesitated, unable to ac- count for the disappearance of Mrs, Baldwin and her children, but the necessity of prompt action soon became apparent. He turned to- ward the door, and was justin time to meet a neighbor who lived on the same floor. ** Mrs, Haile, where’s my frien’s gone?” be de- manded, quickly. ** Don’t the card say?” ** What card?” ‘** The one on the table.” The woman moved forward, looked, and then turned to Joe, again. ‘* Have you got it?}—the card I mean.” ‘*T ain’t seen no card.” ** But he put it om the table.” ** Who did?” ‘**The man that took Electa and her children away. I don't know who he was.” ** How’d he look?” ** He was tall and slender; wore black clothes and looked very serious, same like a minister. And [ noticed he was cruss-eyed in one eye.” ** Jason Blackstone!” Joe exclaimed. “You know him, then?” “Pye seen him. Didn't ye hear Electa say where they was a-goin’ to?” **No. 1 didn’t know about it until just as they were going, and then when I happened up- on them, and asked if she was going out, she said she was, The man laid acard on the table and said he had written on it, and that it would explain if any one called to see Mrs, Baldwin while she was away. Is anything wrong?” si How long did she say she was goin’ ter be me? **She didn’t say, but I thought it was only for a little while.” 3 7 you sure the man left a card there?” “a es. ” “ Then where is it?” “T can’t imagine. I saw him put it down on the table, and then he went out with Electa.” During the latter part of this conversation a child of the néighbor bad been listening, and he now volunteered some information! ** He come back an’ got it,” ‘*Got what? Who come back?” ‘*The man come, an’ be got the card an’ took it away ; | seen him!” declared the child. On being questioned furtherthe speakerstated that the man had accompanied Mrs. Baldwin and her children to a hack that was waiting out- side, and had then left them, came quickly and quietly up the stairs, entered Mrs. win’s room, secured the card, put it in his et and hastened back to the hack, after which he and | the Baldwins were driven away, | “Its all a measly plot!” cried Joe, fiercely, aoubling up bis hands with the instinctive feel- ing that he would like to get at Jason Black- stone. ‘* He’s abductionized them!” Who has?” **That’s what I don’t know, nor why he’s done it. He may call bisself a doctor, but I bievs wer a spake come ter do tarm ter He entered Mrs. Baldwin’s room. The voices | he is!” ‘* But she went with him willingly.” ** She’s been fooled; that’s what is the matter, The poor critter is blind, an’ she couldn’t look on his face an’ see that ’twas a snake’s face.” Turning suddenly, the boy went down to the | street and found a Directory in a drug-store. There he looked for Dr, Jason Blackstone's name, Ashe bad expected he found nothing of | the kind, and another item of evidence was ob- tained against the pretended Samaritan. Joe wasconfident that he had abducted Electa | and her children, but what the motive had been he could not surmise, He went back to the empty room and stood | lookiog around until, recollecting that the land- | lady had threatened to clear out the place if the Baldwins’ rent was rot paid at once, he saw the need of averting that calamity. There was but little in the room, and, now | that no human beings were to be housec, he thought that the friendly neighbor might take ; the goods in, so that Mrs. McFagan could not have them thrown into the street. He spoke to the neighbor, and the result was that the goods were transferred to ber rooms. Joe went to the street again. He no longer had a roof to cover bim, nor any friend to whom he could turn. Even a houseless cat he might have envied, for the cat could sleep under a stoop, but if Joe tried that ‘last resort, he might get arrested for his attempt to lie down somewhere. He gave no thought to this, but stood on the = and kept up a spiritless, hopeless watch for his friends until darkness fell. They did not come, and he had no clew to where they had gone. Probably Blackstone hac taken great care to make his trail too blind to be followed, His trick to deceive Mrs. Baldwin, and make her think he had left a card when he bad left none was ample proof against him, and the fact that be had taken even Electa’s children into consideration— she could not bave told whether roof that he considered the matter one of importance. ** He’s her enemy, but why Again and again the boy turned the question over in bis mind, but he could find no satisfac- wee reply to it. lecta was poor, and Blackstone seemed to be well off in a worldly sense. Why should he be her enemy, or care what became of her, any- he left a card at all or not—was way? The faint hope that something favorable might occur, after all, kept Joe in the street until the folly of waiting any longer became ap- parent. ** Reckon I may as well strike out fur myself, as it needs some middlin’ tall hustlin’ = food an’ boudoir fur me ter-night. Lucky I’m clad in raiment fit fur all ’m ies!” He looked down at his dilapidated garments with a spice of grim pleasantry wholly foreign to him. ** Couldn’t go ter the Casino, ter an eas nor ter the Four Hundred’s ball, but I’ve seen wuss clo’se nor them—seen ’em in a rag-bag!” Finding consolation in the fact that be had one thing left him, he wandered down the street He had given the few pennies to Electa which made up that half-day’s collection, and now found bimself without either money or supper. The former he could sleep well without, but what boy of his age could go to bed happy with an empty stomach? Joe could not, though he had often gone sup- perless, and he considered how be could accom- plish his desires. Steal he would not; beg he could not, while strength remained. Luck does not always befriend the unfortun- ate, but, on this occasion, luck started Joe on a trail which was to be full of developments. The time was very remote from the first day of April, so, after a critical glance to see if any one was waiting in ambush to play a joke upon him, he carried the parcel to a street-lamp to make an examination. . He found upon it several words written in il, the first of all being a name—Mrs. Eli bernson. Then followed the street and num- Joe's hopes arose. It looked asif the parcel, reeently, had been alter having peen - -
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lost by some mischance, and it occurred to him that there might bea supper in it; in other words, that the owner ought to be willing to pay for its return. The residence given was not far away, and he lost no time in going there. The house proved to bea plain one of brick, with an alley at one side, and just as the youth reached there a man came out of the alley hastily. The two confronted each other, ** What have you got there?” demanded the man. ** Got a bundle.” **Ts it yours?” *©°Tis, jest now.” **Tt looks like one I’ve lost.” ** Does it?” * Yes, and it is; I seethe name on it. Boy, did you find it? By jinks! you shall be well re- warded. I'll take it!” “Don’t be in a hurry,” answered Joe, cau- tiously. ‘Is this your name on byar?” ** No; the name is ‘ Mrs, Eli Robernson.’” ** Then what hey you ter do with it?” **T’'m her coachman.” **Ob! be you?” “Yes. I went out with her shopping, and she bought a good many things, and | put them in the carriage. WhenI got to the stable, which is right in back of the house here, I missed this, I was just starting out to findit. I’m greatly obliged to you.” He put out his hands, but Joe did not surren- der the parcel. **] presoom it’s all right,” said he, ‘‘ but it ain’t correck fur me ter passthis over ter a total stranger. I reckon I'll jingle the tinker on the door, an’ d’liver it ter Mrs, Eli Robernson, in usson, as *twere.” ‘*But I don’t want her to know it was lost. She will blame me.” ** She’d os blame me ef I give it to an outsider. You'll excoose me, mister, but I never seen you afore, ye know, an’ a wise chap won’t trust ev’ry man hs meetsin New York. Ketch on?” Joe’s companion looked angry fora moment, but his face soon cl s “* You’rea sharp kid, and it does you credit. I can fix all that, and satisfy you. It’s timefor me to take this, and the other purchases, into the house, and deliver them to Mrs, Robernson according to orders, and you shall go along and see that she getsthem. I'll explain your pres- ence by saying that you are a boy who helps me around the stable.” ** Thet’s a toler’ble neat pian, but it lacks one element o’ success. I’m stricken with poverty. It's gripin’ the membrane of my stomjack ex- cessive, an’ my dejestive orgins is huntin’ in’ vain fur sistenance. Sech bein’ the case, I had allowed I ought ter hev pay fur reserrectin’ this bundle.” : by a laughed. ‘ ** All right, my hearty ; rely upon me for your supper, a bed to-night, and ee coins of the realm. You shall be well paid. Isita go?” ** Come on then.” And Joe followed the coachman into the alley, still holding fast to the parcel. CHAPTER V. UNDER LOCK AND KEY. THE stable was soon reached, and Joe found it so comfortable that he would have been de- lighted to secure quarters in it permanently. The coachman, who gave his name as Obed Mason, took some other articles cout of the car- riage, and they were ready to enter the house. ** Now, mind you,” explained Obed, *‘ you are to pass as a boy [ know, and one who has helped me about the stable, at times. As you have nothing to say, this won’t be hard; but it would be if Mrs. Robernson got onto the trick. She's & woman with a temper of her own, and it would cost me my job if she knew I was lying to her.” _ “TL won't give ye away,” the street-waif prom- ** Here's a dollar for bringing back the bundle. Is it hi’ Now, follow me, Be sure you don’t speak to Mrs, Robernson. There ain’t any danger she'll speak.o you, for she’s proud as you please—though what she’s got to be proud of I don’t know.” Obed’s manner showed that he did not have a opinion of his mistress, but, as Joe expect- ed to see her for a few moments only, he was not interested in the lady’s character, Unlucky Joe. He followed the coachman into the house. } They went first to the kitchen, where a female servant informed Obed that Mrs. Robernson | awaited him in the nextroom. The man went ou, followed by Joe, and the latter sawa tall, eee ee imperious-looking woman of mid- e age. “You are late!” she exclaimed, impatiently. | ‘Yes, ma’am,” agreed Obed, meekly, “‘ but the off horse, he needed attention to make him all right.” “Very well.” She turned and looked at Joe. ‘* Who is this boy?” she added. ** He’s a little chap, named Hughey Flynn, who helps me at times, in the stable.” ** An honest boy?” ‘© Yes, ma’am, or I shouldn’t have brought him here.” ** You recommend him, do you?’ **Oh! yes, ma’am,” “*Boy, let me hear you speak!” commanded | the lady, looking at Joe critically. . ‘* What shall I say?” ‘*Say that you know something.” ) “Wal, I try ter know something, but it’s a | good bit ag’in’a feller that the rich folks hev a | mortgage on Solomon’s wisdom.” Mrs. Robernson looked pleased. ) : ‘* That wisdom is open to common folk, also. Boy, are you out of employment?’ at be,” “Then I will give you a situation, if you | wish. I am in need of a boy to run errands | and make himself generally useful. There will | be next to no work, and the little you will be called upon to do will be of the easiest kind, | You will sleep in the house so as to be handy when needed. The pay will be liberal. I see! that you area bright boy, and Mason’s recom- mendation is sufficient.” Obed’s lower jaw fell down so far that there | seemed to be danger of dislocation, His reckless words had made him guarantee for a boy of whom he knew nothing, and he could not retract what he had said without ad- mitting the falsehood of the opening half of the interview, Such an acknowledgment would cost him his , situation, and he dared not make it. Joe, amazed by the fact that a bit of good luck actually had fallen to his share, took an entirely different view of the case. ‘*I’m very much obleeged, ma’am,” he an- swered, as soon as he could recover speech. **Enough! Mason, you can go to the equine establishment, _Send Norah, as you pass out.” Obed went, but not in a bappy frame of mind, Possibly he bad introduced a criminal into the house who would admit burglars and cause terrible disasters. Obed was dumfounded. Norah, the female servant, came in, and Mrs, n directed her to show Joe—or Hughey Flynn, as he had become by Obed’s fiction—to a room where hemight sleep. All this was done, an soon alone, ’ _ Helooked around in bewilderment. He was in a room which, though very plainly furnished, | was thoroughly comiortable, and was much bet- | ter than any room hc had ever been in before. He pinched his flesh experimentatively. “Tt hurts!” he admitted, “‘an’ I must be | awake, but be I myself? Be I Unlucky Joe? |} Obed said I was Hughey Fiynn, an’ I may be, but I don’t reck’leck nothin’ about Hughey afore. No;it’s a straight deal, an’ I’m Unlucky Joe, sent a-spinnin’likea top. Beats all natur’! Vho’d ’a’ thought it? I’ve gone hungry, an’ homeless, an’ cold; an’ been kicked, an’ cuffed, an’ howled at,an’now my luck has changed, an’ I’m in clover. Jethro! I'd jest be ready ter | dance ef it wa’n’t fur Electa an’thechillun!” | His once-stolid face had grown bright until he hardly seemed like the same boy, but recol- | lection of his friends checked his flow of spirits, What roof, if any, shéltered Mrs. Baldwin and her children that night? ; Decoyed away by an enemy, into what perils might they not have gone? . oe shook his head soberly, and sat down to consider what he was todo. He had entered | Mrs. Robernson’s house and agreed to work for her, but, if he remained there, how was he to discover his blind friend! The prospect did not look promising. He dis- liked to giveup what might be a place, but | he was determined not to desert . Baldwin. She had been kind to him, and given to him of her small store, and he would have despised himself had he failed to hold gratitude. : ~ the street-waif was | That night he slept sound)y, and it was late when he awoke. Nothing was given him to do until after break- fast, when Mrs. Robernson called him to the pantry. There he saw a waiter covered with dishes and food. “Take it and follow me,” Mrs. Robernson directed. He obeyed. [ft was new work, and he found it difficult to keep the dishes from dancing a jig on the waiter, but he followed the lady up the stairs and along the hall toa closed door. This she unlocked, ** Give me the waiter,” she ordered, He complied; she took it, went into the next room and locked the door in his face. This had not been expected, and, as he had received no further directions, he stood still, un- certain whether he was to go or stay. After a moment he heard the clicking of a key in another door, which he knew must be at the further side of the inner room. “*Pecooliar sarcumstance!” he murmured. ‘* Wonder ef it’s the style ’mongst the rich an’ lofty ter lock things up permisc’us?” Just then the cry of a child which seemed to be frightened, or in pain, reached the street- waif’s ears. **Guess she’s got her orfspring under doo- | rance,” thought the listener; and he let the mat- ter rest at that, Half an hour elapsed. He kept his post grim- ly, and finally heard Mrs. Robernson returning. ‘There was the same sound of doors unlocked and relocked, all betraying a good deal of care for a reason not easy to be surmised, When the lady saw Joe her dark eyes sudden- ly sparkled. ** You here!” she exclaimed. “Vis, mum,” ‘© Have you been acting the spy?” “cc Hey ” “« Why didn’t you get out of the way?” ***Cause yer didn’t tell me to.” Her display of suspicion and eae ebated after sbe had made a critical study of his face. “You ought to have known enough to go without being told; you are not required to hang around ina hall. You can go now, Flynn.” oe Yis’m.” Joe went readily, but not without certain new ideas in his mind. Why bad Mrs. Robernson been so angry and icious—almost startled— when sbe saw him? hy had she accused him of acting the spy! ‘* Reckon she’s got some secret, an’ I’d kinder like ter know what she’s got shut up in thar, anyhow— But it ain’t none o’ my business.” He reached and entered the kitchen. The fe- male servants were talking, and did not notice his reappearance. * Tdike ter know,” asserted the cook, ‘*‘ what sort of folks she’s got up there that can’t eat with the fam’ly. They must bev tolerable apne- tites, judgin’ by the size o’ the breakfast, so why ain’t they able ter come down?” ‘“* And why is the south room door locked?” added Norah. ** Looks queer.” b ““ When they come in, the woman felt her way as if she was blind,” “That may be why they don’t come down, but even a blind woman ought to have gump- tion enough ter eat like other—” The cook stopped short. She had seen Joe, and she stop talking ng de ge Unlucky Jue, however, had heard enough to interest him. Who was the blind woman of whom they had spoken? CHAPTER VI. A STARTLING MEETING. ScuppEN as had been the cessation of the con- versation the servants pretended to ignore Joe, and gave the minutest attention to their work, as if they bad no thought outside of it. And, as eager as the street-waif was to know | more, he did not ask any questions, He had his share of shrewdness, and easily realized that he could not help himself by precipitation. If he bad been ten years older, and aso-called *‘ hand- some” man, he might haverim the wo- men sufficiently to get parti , but a boy could not, 5 He sat down meekly by the range, assuming an innocent air. J After a little meditation he lost faith in his late ideas. The mention of a woman in the house who was blind, or seemed to be, taken in connection with the fact that some oni was k under lock and key, had brought Mrs Baldwin very vividly to bis mind, but it seemed absurd to suppose that she was there. Why should Mrs. Robernson be her keeper? What interest could a rich woman Lave in 80 poor?
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6 The street-waif dropped this useless meditation and tried to decide what todo. He wasanxious to find Electa and her children, but would it be advisable to throw up a good situation in order to follow a trail so blind? Where was he to search? While he was still undecided he was sent out on an errand, and as it was near his old quar- ters, ke dropped im there to see if tidings had been received of Mrs. Baldwin. As he had expected not a word had come, and he was left to the inevitable conclusion that the so-called Doctor Jason Blackstone had lured her away,and did not intend to let any word come back. To his new home went Joe, troubled and un- certain of mind. He reached the alley and started to pass along to the rear, to enter by the back door ; but half-way in the alley he came to a sudden stop. On the und lay something which, once seen, had all his attention. It was a child’s toy —a tin Hussar, battered, dilapidated and er- ratically speckled with the loss of paint in places, but strangely familiar. He picked it up, and his wonder increased. He had seen the battered soldier many times before; it had been the especial pride of Electa Baldwin’s son! Joe flashed a quick glance upward. The room wherein was locked the woman who “‘ seemed to be blind” was just above, the windows over- looking the alley. Unfortunately, the alley was so narrow that no one could be seen at the windows, unless the at were raised,and such was not the case en. The street-waif was excited, there was more than chance in all the circumstances he had noticed since he came to Mrs, Robernson’s house; and at that moment he was positive that Electa and her children were the occupants of the room above. Fate had strangely led him to the same house to which they had been taken. He mechanically put the tin Hussar into his pocket, and going to the kitchen, finished his errand, Nothing more was asked of him, and he went again to the alley with the hope of being able to gee some one at the window, but again the nar- row alley baffled him. Once he thoughtof look- ing in the stable for a ladder and going up bold- ly to look in, but the question naturally follow- ed, What d would it do? He could not rescue them alone, boldly, and he might betray himself and get discharged. It was better to act prudently and secretly, and await the chance to accomplish bis pur- pose. An hour later, when he was in the kitchen, the front-door bell rung. ** Go answer it,” directed the cook, to Joe. The latter obeyed. He opened the door, and then stood breathless | -eyed. Doctor pao Blackstone was on the stoop! Discovery stared the street-waif in the face but Blackstone entered without a word and banged his bigh hat down on the hat-tree vicious- ly. ‘*Tell your mistress that Mr, Hedderson is here!” he directed, imperiously, and then en- tered the parlor like one perfectly at home, Not a word Joe’s lips; he dared not answer, That he had escaped recognition, as it was, seemed little short of miraculous, but Blackstone had not even glanced at him. It was a narrow escape, and Joe did not fail to be duly grateful. Once let the self-styled doctor suspect that he was an inmate of the house, and his stay there Unlucky Joe. ** He’s a handsome man.” ‘‘ Handsome is as handsome does,” corrected the cook, ungraciously. ** Reckon you don’t like him.” “T reckon it ain’t any of your business whether I do or not. me !” “Excuse me, mum,” returned Jce, with | great politeness, anxious to keep on good terms with the servants, ‘‘I didn’t mean fur ter in- “* All right, youngster.” His apology was accepted carelessly, and the cook scomat a roll of dough into shape and be- gan to cut out biscuits. Joe did not feel like remaining idle when im- portant events might be occurring, and he left | the kitchen quietly and went upstairs. There “me ered at a point where he could see the ioc his patience was rewarded. Mrs. Robernson came up, unlocked the door and entered; fastened it after her and was gone a short time; and then emerged and went down- stairs again. Soon after she again appeared, followed by Blackstone, and Joe grew excited. The man was about to visit Mrs. Baldwin. ba What villainy was afoot? nable to decide what he — to do, and f that he was not able to do anything, he kept bis place. The man and woman entered the prison-room and locked the door after them. ** 'He’s a fine chap ter play the good Samari- tan,” muttered the street-boy, bitterly. ‘‘ [ tol’ Electa ry at the start ter look out fur him, but I’m the one that’s ter blame; I hadn’t ought ter took him there. Why didn’t I look the sar- pint over afore I did anything! I'll bet money that he come where I was exhibitin’ on purpose ter git at Electa; he didn’t know where she was, an’ I was fool enough ter show up.” Occupied with such bitter thoughts he stood inactive for awhile, but the — was too much for him to bear. Let the risk be what it might, he was resolved to interfere. He went to the locked door, and was delighted to learn, by the sound of voices, that the other persons were in the next room. He heard Blackstone speak first of all. ‘* All you have to do is to sign this paper,” the self-styled doctor was saying. And the answer came in Electa’s voice: “« What is the necessity of my signing?” ‘* Simply to conform to our rules.” Joe’s pulse quickened with indignation. ‘‘The sharks are deceivin’ her inter signin’ some dockymunt,” he thought. ‘‘There’s ras- cality afoot, sure!” CHAPTER VII. A PAPER TO BE SIGNED. UNLvucky Jor was greatly excited. He felt sure that some evil plot was being worked against Mrs. Baldwin, but how was he to prove it? how prevent it? What paper did they want ber to signf He did not see how she could make her already- hard lot any harder by signing, but they would | not take all this trouble without some rg In some way the pretended doctor and Mrs, Robernson hoped to benefit by their scheme, and it was just as necessary to prevent it as if it was perfectly clear to her young ally. Electa proved to be cautious. “Of course,” she replied, “‘if I accept the charity of your Home, | must conform to its | customs.” ** We don’t doubt your willingness to do so, my dear madam,” Blackstone made answer, in Don’t you speak for | door, and it was not a great while before | | “ond be ungrateful, but I have my childref loo out for, and recklessness would be crimi- nal.’ ** Oh! no, sir.” ‘¢ Then why this language?” ‘* My children—” ““They are to be cared for, too; the Home takes in all whoare needy, and this worthy lady is the charitable Samaritan thereof,” “* Reflect, sir,” urged Mrs. Baldwin, with firm- ness not to be expected. “Suppose you were placed as I am! ould you, with young and helpless children, sign a paper so rasbly?”’ | ‘*Madam, this grows annoying. I have given | thirty years of my life to he ing the poor, and now you accuse me of vascallay! Blackstone’s voice was tinged with pre- tended indignation, and Electa answered hasti- ; : “* Do you doubt me?” ; ’ : ; ' Mic No, sir; oh! no; I do not do that. Indeed, | Ido not; but, for my children’s sake, I feei that | Tought to be prudent. Would you sign your | mame to a paper, the nature of which was un- known to you?” “Usually,” replied Blackstone, stiffly, “ pee | ple are ready to sign any paper which is to - efit them. Allow me to if you would be satisfied if we called in the clergyman at- tached to our Home, and had him certify to the document?” “If you will send for Joseph Eldwin, the — who brought you tomy former quarters, will trust to his ing. Unlucky Joe flushed with pleasure; this proof of Electa’s confidence was very agreeable. ** A beggar-brat!” exclaimed Jason. ‘*Doctor, you forget yourself!” interrupted | Mrs. Robernson, in pretended reproof, but Joe ) thought there was more of w g than any- | thing else in it. ‘‘ Your severe neuralgia has upset your nerves seriously.” / “You are right; I am in great pain,” mut- tered Blackstone. ‘* Dear madam, why should you fear us?” pur- | sued Mrs. Robernson, gently. ‘‘Our mission om | earth is to care for the unfortunate, and royal thrones or crowns could not tempt us to go astray. I, too, am a mother, and I understand your regard for your sweet children,” ‘* The soft-soap hypocrite!” muttered Joe, un- der his breath. “You can, however, rely upon us wholly. Would we take you into our Home, if we had ~ selfish motives?’ added Mrs, Robernson, “ lecta was silent, € ‘“‘ The application is of the simplest kind, and J —_ you to nothing. You can leave at any our.’ ‘* Read it through, please,” requested Mrs. , Baldwin. The woman obeyed. What she read was sim- ) ond enough, and’no poor person would have esitated to sign sucha paper. It gave every- thing tothe applicant, and asked nothing in re- turn. Joe, however, was sure that the paper was not like what was being read. *“‘T am foolish, perhaps,” finally remarked | Electa, ‘‘and ungrateful for your kindness. will hesitate no longer; I will sign ret pag ) Joe’s face grew long and sober. After his friend’s wise resistance he had not expected | such a termination, though he did see how ’ ; ; hard it must be to resist, With starvation | facing her, how could she refuse a home for her cbiliren? The street-boy heard the rustling of papers in | the other room, and honeyed words aes the | conspirators, and, finally, Blackstone said dis- | tinctly: | Sign there, please!” a ee hn “ wend. ) The listener could imagine how the plotter had guided Electa’s hand to the proper place, and his own heart was in his mouth, figuratively king. He was tempted to beat upon the door and do his best to stop proceedings, but was deterred by the natural inquiry: What could be do would be short—unless he was kept as a pris- | oner. ' “« Or throwed inter the North River,” thought | the boy, who was not ignorant of the dark uses | to which that noble river was occasionally | put. Mrs, Robernson happened to be in the kitchen | an oily manner; but, you see, we have our ru ” “ And I am expected to sign this paper?” | ** Yes, madam.” “Remember that I am blind. Would you | advise me to sign without knowing what I | sign?” | for a moment, ang be mre the message there, She hastened to join “‘ Mr. Hedderson.” The servants exchanged glances. ‘* He’s around,” observed the cook. **' Yes,” Norah agreed. “ What new deviltry is up, I wonder?” “a Sh r’ The cook breathed the warning, and looked Spprebensively at Joe. "Is be her brother?’ asked the waif. ** Not as I know. bee ft “I thought they looked alike,” ** Maybe they do, a bit,” ** It is only a mere form,” ‘*T must ask your pardon, sir, but I do not think I ought to do it without knowledge of what I am putting my name to!” “ Brayvoo fur her!” muttered Unlucky Joe, in great admiration. **T will read you theapplication for admission, in full: “**T (Blank), hereby request that I be received by the charitable organization known as The Legal-Life Home for the Destitute—’”’ ‘Pardon me,” interrupted Electa, in an agi- | pe tated manner, ‘‘ but you make my position very inful. You read, but I cannot see; I do not w whether I shall siga what you read. This | against the conspirators? And, again, to make bimself known would be to get ejected from the _ house at once. | ** Hughey Flynn,” within, could do more for | Electa than Joe Eldwin, without. There was a use of nervous ex- perseney and then Blackstone spoke persuasive- a y: | “Sign, please!” “T can't do it!” Electa exclaimed. ‘ Some- thing tells me not to put my name to that pa- r! “* Hooray!” exclaimed Joe, forgetting the need of caution in his joyful excitement, bi.t no one heard the impulsive comment. a}
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ace Probably the conspirators were too angry and disappointed. It was not hard to imagine the black looks they were showering upon Electa. ** You make us laughing-stocks!” cried Black- stone, when he recovered s za **T am very sorry, but something—I can’t tell what—commands me not to sign,” **You are childish!” “Tt grieves me deeply—” ** Ts it thus you reward us for taking you in?” ** Don’t blame me too much—don’t! I am so helpless and afflicted that lam wretched. Bear with me, kind friends, if you can!” **Do you wish to return to your old home of poverty? ButI forgot; your former landlady said she would eject you from the house last night. The only residence open to you, besides this friendly Home, is the streets of New York. Would you and your children feel satisfied to tread the pavements, homeless, house- less, hungry?” Blackstone’s voice had arisen in angry re- proof, but Mrs. Robernson persuasively put in: “T think our good lady will sign.” ** T can’t—indeed, I can’t!” murmured Electa, Then = we must lay your case before the di- rectors. This is a legally-chartered society, and We are compelled by law to follow our rules. We can have no one here who does not sign. Realizing, as I do, the awful condition of the homeless of New York, I will see our directors before we take the extreme step—bow horrible to think of!—of turning you and your babies into the street!” Joe Eldwin was shrewd enough to understand the new trick. Having failed in the first at- tempt, the conspirators intended to give Mrs, win time to think and waver. Menaced by the danger of being cast 1nto the street, blind, helpless, with the two children to share her woe, the chances were all in fa- vor of the possibility that she would yield, finally. The great pains taken by the plotters was evidence of a purpose as strong as it was mys- terious. What was back of all this? CHAPTER VIII. CALLED IN TO FACE JASON. “THERE is a quicker way to settle the mat- ter,” observed Electa. ** How?’ asked Mrs. Robernson. **T mentioned the boy, Joseph Eldwin,. Heis young, but is one of my most trusted friends. It was 1 who taught him to read, and he is devoted to my interests. If you will call bim, I will abide by what he says about the paper.” ** Where is he to be found?” “*He would be at my old home, but if Mrs. McFagan bas kept. her threat,and put out the furniture, I don’t know where poor Joseph is. However, he will call here soon, if you can wait.” ** Call bere?” repeated Mrs. Robernson. , * Yes. Doctor Blackstone left a card with directions written on it, so Joseph could find **Oh! you snake!” muttered Joe, “ef I don’t pay ye fur sneakin’ back up-stairs after that card, it'll be because luck never turns!” ** The boy shall come,” Blackstone promised. ** When?” ** We'll send for him at once.” “Thank you very much.” ** You state that you'll sign, if this Joe says the paper is all right?” “* Yes, sir.” “The boy sba}l come.” “That is sufficient, Mrs. Baldwin,” added the Robernson won.an. ‘‘Youcan return to your room, my dear madam.” Joe heard some one moving, and then the dis- tant clicking of 2 key told that Electa bad been locked in her room. It was not strange thet she had doubts of the plotters when she was kept under lock and key, but they probablv had made a reasonable ex- pianation, with reference to the “rules of the Home,” or something like it. The amateur detective bad only time to beata retreat from his post of attention when that door was unlocked, and the conspirators came out. Joe had become inv‘sible, “Come down to the parlor, Mrs. Robernson,” directed Blackstone; and they descended the “T’ve got ter hear the rest,” Joe decided. ‘I lay git a clew ter what the scheme is,” He knew that the parlor was double, and if he fe? of Or wee? ~. Unlucky Joe. could get near the connecting doors he would be all right; so, while they went down the front way he descended by the back stairs. He ex- ted to encounter a servant and be baffled, but s luck held good. He reached the back parlor without adven- ture, and was soon by the folding-doors. Blackstone and Mrs. Robernson were inside, talking busily. “IT think that the threat of turning her into the street will have effect,” said the latter. ‘** But it’s not sure.” **She won’t let her children suffer.” **Tn any case, I have a better plan,” ** What is it?” ** Palm off some other boy as Joe Eldwin.” Can it be done?” “You doubt it, eh?” “ Yes.” ‘Tt looks risky, but I believe that if I can get the right sort of a youngster—bright, but un- educated—I can drill him so that ke can fill Joe’s shoes.” **Tt would not do to let the Baldwin children see him.” ** Of course not.” “The blind are very acute in other ways. I think Mrs. Baldwin would know it was not the right voice.” ‘ But I intend to train our substitute.” ‘*T¢ may work; and, by the way, I havea bo here who may fill the bill. His name is Hug Flynn. I happened upon him last evening, and, knowing that I should want anerrand boy while those up-stairs guests were here, I bired him. He is rude, ignorant, low and brutish; and has a face on him fit for Sing Sing; but he ts sharp and bright.” Unluckly Joe smiled grimly. ‘The description of himself showed that either Mrs. Robernson was not a good judge, or he was lacking in cer- tain items of beauty. ‘ “* Just the boy,” answered Jason. ‘I'll see im! The street-waif started. The last turn of affairs did not please him, To face Blackstone seemed sure ruin, for would not the doctor see that the purposed substitute was not a bogus, but the real article? ** Let me call him,” volunteered Mrs. Robern- son, and she ryng the bell. Joe dodged “out iuto the hall, and then to an- other room. He was facing a crisis, and had but little time to decide what todo. His first impulse was to get out of the house and avoid being seen, but this would be only postponing the trouble. If he remained on the premises, he would bave to face the danger sooner or later. He had noticed thatthe parlor was quite dark, the curtains being lowered to keep out the sun: and, after a little meditation, be determined not to avoid notice, Norah answered the ring, and Joe allowed her to find him easily. He was directed to go to the parlor, and, assuming a free-and-easy swagger quite foreign to him, he went. He at once came under the unfriendly battery of two pairs of eyes—unfriendly, because they t. ‘* This is Flynn,” remarked Mrs. Robernson. ‘Hum’! Jason. ‘** Knave o’ trumps,” amended Joe, with great nonchalance, ‘* Are you? Ihopeso, Your nameis Flynn, is it?” : ‘“*H, Patrick Flynn, usually called Hughey.” ‘* Are you honest?” ‘““ Everybody out o’ Sing Sing is.” ‘* Questionable, but let it pass. Have you lived near here?” ) *“*On Houston street, wid de O’Neills, Perzi- | coffs, Lajeunesses an’ Alvarados.” ** A choice colony, I should say.” ** No flies on us,’ ‘* What has been your business?” i were his enemies, even if they did not know | A well-built knave!” commented | ging of a ship, but did not turn bis head. 7 lain that Jason must not see the same kind of y that Joe Eldwin had been. Mrs. Robernson looked disgusted, but the doc- tor turned to her approvingly. ‘*He will do, if we can tone down his ‘tough ’ propensities. He looks surprisingly like the other boy.” ** That is good.” ‘** Shall we proceed?” ** Do as you think best.” ‘Mrs. Robernson spoke Sees Good or bad as she — be, or was, she had enough refinement so that she despised iowness in any one. She was rised to see her new recruit blossom out thus, but attributed it to Black- stone’s familiar way with him. “*My lad,do you think that if I gave you lessons you could pretend to be another boy, and act like him, in the presence of one who knows him?” ‘Why, dat person would know I wa’n’t him.” ~ “* But the person is blind.” “ Ob ” **T would pay you well.” **Then I'm your huckleberry.” **Good! I'll see you this evening and give you lessons. I’m sure he will do, . Robern- son; he is strangely like the other boy. in looks, though his voice and manner are quite differ- ent. **] am glad if he fits the uirements. You can go now, Flynn. Wait! Goto the address on this card, and tell the lady that important business prevents me from calling to-day.” Joe took the card and left the room. He had intended to listen further, but Jason gave indi- cations of leaving, and the boy formed another plan. Leaving the house he loitered in a door- way until the doctor came out, and then fol- lowed him. It was nota long pursuit. Two blocks away the mar. entered anotber house, and, going close to the door, Joe saw the name ‘‘ Hedderson” upon the plate, This seemed to prove that such was his real name, instead of Blackstone. “I’ve fell afoul of a most gallus scheme,” th-ught Joe, as be went about his errand, “‘ but what in ‘tarnation is it? Why should they seek ter barm Electa?”’ He puzzled over the question vainly for some ~ time, and then fell to wondering how he was to baffle them. If brought into a room with Black- stone, where the light was good, he would, of course, be recognized at once. And it was bard to see how he was going to rescue the Baldwins. He thought of using a ladder at the alley window before-mentioned, but, even if he ae them out, to what place would he take them He delivered the card, and bad started home when he happened to think of Joab Baldwin, the eccentric owner of the miniature ships. He had promised to call upon Joab that day, and, as he was near the house, he had no disposition to let the chance pass. He was soon knocking at the door labeled ** 3.” **Come in!” growled a deep voice, and Joe obeved. The little old man sat at a table, fixing the rig- ** Tongue!” be cried, hoarsely. “It’s me, Mr. Baldwin.” ** None of my business! Tongue!” ** But you told me ter cajl to-day.” The self-styled philosopher turned his bushy head. ** Oh! so it’s you?” he added, less fiercely. —“Ta- ** Want ter work fur me, eh?” demanded Joab. ** Vis; I'd like ter.” Joab ran bis fingers up through his great head of bair, and, holding them there. would bave looked like a dime-museum freak had | it not been that his face was intelligent, and bis eves keen and not unpleazavt. There was a ‘* I’ve done a good ’eal at holdin’ down street- | considerable delay, then he suddenly added: corners, but am some prickly pears at real es- | tate, law, an’ patent-medicine biz,” returned the ) alleged Flynn, with desperate volubility. “*Got sand?” **T hope I ain’t a coward,” Joe answered. The philosopher smiled grimly. pointed to the ‘*A sharp fellow of the streets!” Blackstone | room in which the street-waif bac heard the . “Are you faithful?’ “Like a porus plaster.” ** Do you like money?” ‘“*T wish I was loaded down wid it. De stuff is jest de boss thing ter have, d’ye moind, an’ I'm de blokesy dat is out for de stuff.” ** You're a choice specimen!” ** Dye see anny bavseed in me hair?” Joe was ainazed at bis own recklessness as he rattled off all this, and not a httle ashamed of his words and swaggering manner; but it was strange sounds the day before, and added: ‘In there a ferocious tiger is at large. Goin and see if he’ll eat you up or not!” CHAPTER fX. THE PHILOSOPHER'S HOSTILE VISITOR. JOAB’S manner was verv matter-of-fact as he gave this advice. but Joe shook bis beac. “Don’t keer ter tackle theanimile. I never was much of a tiger-bunter, nohow, an’ now I ain’t so young asI was once. A tame tiger,
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4 ~ ar whose teeth an’ toe-nails had been pulled out, might suit me, but one fixed up with modern improvements fur chawin’a feller al] ter hash wouldn’t hit me favorable.” **Tt would soon be over,” chuckled Joab. “Is it over with the feller yer tiger tackled when I’s in hyar afore?” ; The philosopher wheeled abruptly and faced ve ** What's that?’ he asked, sharply. The street-waif repeated the question coolly. ** Hah! hah! hah! What do you know about that?’ demanded the little old man, ferocious- y: ‘*T’ve got ears, an’ couldn’t very wal help hearin’ the rumpus. You know you went in ter it. Dunno whether the tiger had then chawed up the man, or the man had chawed up the tiger. Joab wagged his patriarchal beard gravely. ** You are a dangerous person,” he remarked. “Them who is innercent fear nothin’.” ** Does that apply to you and me?” **Can’t answer fur you.” * Pm afraid I madea mistake in ever taking any notice of you.” ** Hey I done you any harm?” **No, but you may. ** Don’t see how.” ** Well, well, we will see. Sit down!” Joe obeyed, and turned a longing eye upon the miniature ite 73 The collection filled him with admiration. If his own cherished craft had been worthy of notice, these were doubly so. Joe had spent manyan hour by the river, study- ing the vessels there, and he was now able to detect the marvelous fidelity of Joab’s imita- tions. The old man, who seemed to be a queer com- pound of fierceness and grim pleasantry, chuckled again. ** Old Neptune isn’t any slouch at bis job, eb? He ought not to be. any a year I’ve sailed the ocean, and what I don’t know about the craft that plow its bosom few folks can tell me. I mind the time I made my first miniature ship. I was a captive among the savages onthe Yu- catan Coast, and, being thin in flesh, they gave me time to fatten before eating me. With onl my jack-knife as a helper 1 madea ship poof like those, and the cannibals admired it very much.” , “ But they didn’t eat you?” Joe asked, eager- y- “ I never assuaged their hankerings.” ** How'd you git off?” “* Well, while I was making the toy ship I made a decent kind of a boat, too, secretly, and one day 1 set sail in my boat and left my canni- bal friends forever. No doubt I broke their bill of fare up totally.” Tne street-waif looked at Joab with open-eyed admiration. He began to see that, though the little old man was very fierce at times, he could be as gentle as a lamb when he felt like it, and, withal, as jolly as a sailor ought to be. Jast then a knock sounded at the door. *“ Come!” growled Joab. A tall, slender man entered. he Tongue!” cried the philosopher, fiercely. “Sirf “ Tongue!” “The man looked perplexed, but, after a little hesitation, added: “You are Joab Baldwin—” ‘© Who said I wasn’tf” “My name is George Holland—” ** None of my business! What do you want?” **T want to see you, and I am going to!” re- torted Holland, angrily. “l am not a dog to be snarled at, and it will behoove you to be de- cent.” ** Tongue!” ** What do you mean by that senseless reitera- tion?” ** You've got a ton what you want! Talk, or levant!” Joab was in bis fiercest , but the new- comer did not seem “I am not surprised to find you a barbarian, but I warn you not to molest me. I am armed with a revolver, and shal! vot hesitate to use it e ch ‘ “ What kind of a den do you tide youTve got inte, mister?” be asked. ** 4 den of iniquity I” 6; useit. Explain! Say **Oh! do you?” ‘Yes. I know more about you, Joab Bald- win, than your do.” ‘+ Possible?” “Tes I know what happened in Weehawken a dozen years ago.” ** Did some one have the gout?” eee _ Unlucky Joe. ‘* Some one was murdered, and I suspect that you were knowing to it!” Holland threw out the bombshell boldly, and | steadied himself on his feet like one who has | made a dangerous move, but felt able to carry | ly : it on. ‘“* What brand of liquor do you drink?” in- | quired the philosopher, imperturbably. ‘*Wait! This accusation isnot to be sneered down, I will prove to you that I know you well. You were the second son of Josiah Baldwin, his oldest offspring being named Na- than. Nathan married and had one child, Wil- bur Baldwin.” Joe Eldwin started. Although he had never | seen Electa’s husband, be had heard her E of that gentleman often enough to know t his | name had been Wilbur Baldwin. Evidently, it was more than chance that | Joab’s surname was the same as the other family’s. ** You were a sailor,” Holland pursued, ‘‘ and your nephew, Wilbur, took to the same cali- ing. | He was lost at sea, about two years 0.” Joab regarded the speaker iu silence. “‘ This, however, bas nothing to do with my errand,” added the visitor. ‘I have come to speak of the death of Zeno Dorr, a miser mur- dered in Weehawken. Do you know anything about it?” “Tve heard of it,” was the careless re- | mse, ** But you wasn’t there, eh?” ‘*The man who says | was, is a liar!” “Gently! You need not ere at me so fero- ciously ; [ am nt to be frightened, nor can you | do me harm, as I suspect that you have barmed my partuer. I am a detective; so was John | Graves. Hecame here several days ago to see | you about the Weehawken murder; he has never | returned.” ** None of ~~ Rprinesnt snapped Joab. “You will find that it is very much your | : business. Where is Graves?” “Don’t know; nothing to me.” ** Carefully!” Joab arose. **Do you threaten me?” he demanded. ** I do—with the law.” ** As for me, I can fight my own battles!” Witb this declaration the philosopber started toward Holland. Unlucky Joe was watching with almost breathless interest. His sympa- thies were all with Paldwin, but the case was so complicated that he did not pretend to un- derstand it. Holland had been using his eyes while in the room,’ He had darted inquisitive glances all around, and, plainly, had summed up the situa- tion in a systematic manner, Now, as Joab advanced, the visitor suddenly put forth his hand commandingly. ‘Wait! Give me a moment!” he directed. Quickly he moved to the side-door, — the key at and flung the door open. The mo- ! ment that Joab perceived his intention, he aprung forward to prevent it, but was not agile | enough. Joe saw Holland cross the threshold with the ship-maker at his heels, and, greatly excited, the boy followed. The memory of his own last visit was fresh in his mind; he recollected the sound which in- | dicated that a wild animal was there, and the | ery of terror from some unknown man. ; What would be the result of this fresh: intru- | sion? The question was soon answered. Just as Joe reached the door, he heard a | ed snari which set his nerves to quivering, and then | the sound of‘a fall. Looking abead, he saw | Holland prostrate on the floor, with a tiger standing over him. : CHAPTER X. ) JOAB LAYS DOWN THE LAW. Untvucky Jor was less surprised than an | adult would bave been. Had the latter been | told that a tiger was kept in a private room any- where in New York he would not have believed | it, but it was only ashort time before that Joe | had oe of a crowd that — pre ton occu of a store made away with a python found in their a ost eis he big snake esca m a menagerie | in the next building, Joe had been told, and now he was not surp to see a tiger in Joab Baldwin’s atitc. Yet it was a thrilling sight when the -- j saw the animal hovering over Holland, and that person appeared to be absolutely paralyzed with | It had been a matter of no He neither stirred nor spoke, Joe expected to see the tiger’s jaws close upon him, but nothing of the kind happened. ‘* Nebuchadnezzar!” cried Joab, commanding- The tiger looked up. ‘* Come here, sir!” The tiger looked regretfully at his victim, hesitated, and then came meekly to Baldwin's side. ‘Get up, idiot!” added the philosopher, this time addressing Holland. The detective scrambled to his feet, rcy’s name, don’t let bim kill me!” the , piteously. " y, you poor ignoramus, Nebuchadnezzar hasn’t got a tooth in his head. Kill you? Bah! | he would not kill a mouse.” “Don’t you believe him!” directed a faint voice from one corner of the room. ** John Graves!” Holland exclaimed. It was a singular scene that Unlucky Joe saw. The room, although large, had only one window, and this was covered with stout iron bars, so that no one, and nothing of any great size, cculd pass in or out. In the further corner of the room stood a cage mftch like what Joe had seen at the menagerie in Central Park, duriug his visits there, except that it was not so strong. And in the cage was, not an animal, but the man whom Holland had hailed as John Graves. “ Let me out!” wailed the latter; ‘‘ I’ve been here a week, Holland!” “* Yes; and right well you deserve it!” growled J ' oab. ** Open the door, Holland,” Graves added. ‘‘ Nebuchadnezzar, attention!” ordered Joab. The tiger fixed its gaze upon its master, vibrated its tail, and then, as Baldwin slowly crooked his finger toward Holland, looked at that person and opened a cavernous mouth. The detective retreated. ** Don’t desert me!” groaned Graves. ‘* Look here,” growled the philosopher, “‘ don’t beacraven. You came here as big as Jumbo in life, and told what wonderful things you were going todo. You accused me of a crime I never committed, and said you would take me into custody. Iargued, but allin vain. When I saw that you were working with a venomous spirit of batred, in place of devotion to law, I thought a trifle of restraint would be good for you.’ I thrust youin with Nebuchadnezzar aad there you have been for six days.” “E to instant death the while.” ‘© Stuff and nonsense!” “That horrible animal—” “Ts harmless. Poor old Neb would not hurt a by y 28 43 ye been in hourly dread.” ‘“‘ Shows your lack of sand. You're not built ht!” Joab tried to speak lightly, but Joe easily per- ceived that he was deeply troubled. He had a riddle to deal with which was far from easy. t difficulty to shut Graves up, but be could not keep many more men there. The phil her bad taken a step as risky as it was bold when he made the first detective a prisoner. Whether he wes justified in thus go- ing against the law remained to be seen, but if Graves and Holland were all against him, he had one friend. . Joe Eldwin sympathized only with his bost. Holland began to recover his wits. “This thing is the most diabolical putrage ever perpetrated in New York!” he assert- “ Got them, again?” inquired Joab. ‘* How dared i take a city detective and shut him up with a wild animal?—or shut him up at all, for that matter. That's a State’s Prison offense!” “ flow dared the varmint molest me?” “He was doing his duty.” P ‘* False |—false as Judas!” cried Baldwin, “Why so?” ‘Tt was blackmail; nothing less!” ‘‘Humph! What have you to be blackmailed out of?” ; ** Nothing; and as I couldn’t give, I had to take the only other course open to me, and shut up the blackmailer.” “* What kas become of the money taken from the murdered man?” ** How should I know ?” ‘“‘ How can you live without work? You were asailor, and, , animal-tamer in a cir- cus, has it that you laid up nothing, can live and do no work,” rs t’s my business!” ‘It may be the law's.” ~ ES i ey el tO A ly a Se renee epee NS eee pe peer ne oe amet cee are oad x ¢ ° —— r* re ae f s +» te Oey jy! tet 3 5) Ra ee ? © ents » > = pt £ a “a or" it \ ow pre ES. pe . * : | alin aul “ty des, | «
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Unlucky Joe. **Carefully, or with your friend,’ don’t be rash, Holland!’ implored ru put you in yonder cage Holland showed no signs of pressing the war of words. Brave as he tried to be, he stood in great awe of Nebuchadnezzar, and feared to feel the tiger’s claws. A silence followed which was full of anxiety to all parties. **Baldwin,” resumed the second detective, finally, ‘‘ I mustask you to let us go away from here.” ** You want to do more mischief, eh?” ‘*We want our freedom.” ** What would you do, if free?” ** If we ever get a chance, hit back at you!” * But not now?” ** We can do no more than give you areprieve, as the price of freedom.” The philosopher smiled sarcastically. ** No doubt, your pledge would be as good as ld. Iknow youot old. Very likely you are etectives, for you were once; but the law is disgraced by yourtouch. You wentinto itonly to make all you could, and your idea of a detec- tive’s calling is to blackmail whomsoever you ean. If Graves had been an honest man he would never have been shut up by me, but I knew him to be a scoundrel of the darkest tinge. Woat wretch is more despicable than Le who ae upon the follies or weaknesses of his fellow- ings?” All of Joab’s eccentricities had vanished. He stood very erect, and his voice was solemn—al- most grand. Joe Elwin was thrilled, and felt that he had not given bis adherence rashly, “You are hard on us, Baldwin,” mumbled Holland. **T know you well,” ‘* We won't wane on this point, but one agreement we wili\make, Weare beaten, and we accept our defeat. Let us go free, and we will both take oath that we will never molest ou.” ‘** How touching!” sneered Joab, with sarcasm. ** Your oaths would be worth as much as the fanning of a fly’s wing tocool theair. 1 want no pledges from either of you.” ** But you can rely—” **T can rely upon nothing. You will ruin me if you can, but I defy Na Other men must know you as wel: as Baldwin, the hermit, does, and [ give you leave to harm meall you can.” He crossed the room with long steps and flung open the door of the cage. **Come out!” he ordered. Graves looked apprehensively at the tiger. **Go, craven!” Joabadded. ‘‘ Don’t be afraid of a tiger which, always tame and harmless, is now too old to do mischief.” The blackmailer still hesitated, and Baldwin seized him by the arm and sent him spinning across the room, “Get out of my sight!” he commanded, fierce- y- The evil pair were not slow to retreat to the outer room. ; “Your way is clear,” continued the philo- sopher, ‘“‘and you may tread it at once. Skip, or I'll set Nebuchadnezzar upon you!” * We'll see you again—” Thus began Holland, in sullen vindictiveness, but Joab caught up a stick of wood. ** Get out!” he reiterated. Graves went in haste, and his companion, finding himself deserted, lost no time in follow- ing suit. e door closed upon them. “ve got to move,” observed the old ship- maker, in a quiet way. ** Leave here, d’ye mean?” asked Unlucky Joe, ae Yes.” “* Where are you goir’?” “Don’t know; but, after that fellow is let loose, it isn’t safe to stay here. I couldn’ make a prison, so I had to let them go. Boy, don’t set me down as a knave—” **{ don’t!” “* For those fellows are just the rascals I paint- edthem., They are blackmailers who use their office as d ves asa means of working their villainous ends. Now, Graves 5, Ted steps to have me arrested for shutting him up, but there are reasons why | think he may not do it; nis own armor is not thick. However, I must leave here. I hate te-do it, but I don’t want to bel off to prison,” **Mr. Baldwin, may I ax a one question?” 4 4 all means. Goon! Tongue! “Was the Wilbur Baldwin, yournephew, who was lost at sea, the same w’ot was lost in the Ocean Beauty ” CHAPTER XI. A NEW CHAMPION ENLISTED. ‘* THE same man, poor boy!” Joad replied. “*Did you like him?’ Joe continued. ‘* Right well.” “* Like bis fam’ly?” ‘*f never saw them,” answered Joab, with a sigh. ‘‘ You see, it was like this: When I left the sea I became an animal-tamer, having seen a good deal of wild lifeinmy day. I only left the latter business five years ago, old as I was. | Maybe I'd be init now only fora foolish quar- rel with Wilbur. nothing, but we separated. I went West with the circus and traveled six months, Then my heart smote me; Wilbur was my brother's only child, and I ought to love, not hate him, threw up my job, vowed never to shave or cut my hair until my boy had forgiven me, aud started back East.” The philosopher paused, sighed and bade fair to forget that he was telling a story, but sudden- ly aroused and went on: “T never found him. Years passed, but we were apart. He had gone to sea, but just how and where I could not learn. When news came it was to the effect that be was lost at sea in the Ocean Beauty, and had left a wife and family. Then I tried to find them, but, failing, settled down here asa hermit and long-haired crank. My only companion has been Nebuchadnezzar. I trained him, years ago. He drifted out of my sight, and it was only chance that I happened on him, a year ago. He was old and worthless, and was about to be killed when I offered to take bim. Idid so, got my landlord to let me keep him here, and here he’s been since. He's as harmless as a kitten, unless | stir him up.” The speaker turned an affectionate glance upon the tiger, but suddenly wheeled upon Joe, ** How did you knew my nephew had a fam- ily?’ he demanded, ‘* !t nas not been mentioned here.” “*T know ’em.” ** Know whom?” * The fam’ly.” ‘* Wilbur’s family?” ae Yis.” Joab caught the boy’s arm. ** Don’t joke an old man!” he exclaimed, in a a shaking voice. “If you don’t mean it, say **T know Electa Baldwin an’ her children, Charles an’ Ethel; an’ Electa’s husband was Wilbur. Don’t see how it can be any other pe hr en yer nevvy. oe your” he old man's face was twitching peony: ‘** You know them!” he muttered, hoarsely. * Like a fly!” ‘* Where are they? Are they well? Are they hap iy?” } : They're well, but not happy.” ** Why not?” ** Wilbur left them very poor—” **] will try to take care of them. I have but a small sum of money—it don’t run to the lot of the Baldwins to get money. I’ve had some, but I never saved it in the days when I made ‘good wages. WhatI have now would not keep the family a year, but [ have made a living in this attic, constructing things for sale, and I can keep at it—if Graves and Holland will let me alone. Where are Wilbur’s children?” ‘* Tell me one thing aforehand. Hev you got any relations—had Wilbur got any—who was rich?” o No.” ‘* Are you sure?” ‘* Positive! I know all of his nearest relatives. They are, at present, four brothers, half-cousins of Wilbur. turkey.” “‘Then I can’t see why Electa is persecuted.” ‘* Who is persecuting ber?” ‘*A feller named Hedderson, an’ a M Robernson.” ** Never heard of them.” **They’ve got her an’ her chilluns shut up—” “Shut up!” shouted Joab. “‘ Wilbur’s chil- dren shut up?” “e Yis—” ‘* Where? How? When?” The little old man’s eyes were flashing, and Joe might have been alarmed had he not pre- viously bad evidence that a kind heart beat un- der the phiJosopher’s old coat. In a few well-chosen words the street-waif told how Electa and her children, after a hard battle with poverty, had been mysteriously car- ried away and imprisoned by Hedderson, alias Doctor Blackstone, and Mrs. Robernson, Joab listened attentively, but shook his head when the story was told. **The explanation does not lay on the Baid- Our trouble was over almost | They are honest, but poor as Job’s | | win side of the house. If her signature is want- ed to a paper, it is a money matter, and they are trying to get ber tosign away her rights. Now, I simply know there is nothing on the Baldwin side to account for that. We are as poor as men and women can be.” “ Electa was an Alliston, an’she’s jest as dead sure that there ain’t no money there !” ““Strange! However, no time need be lost on ! : idle ulations, Have you a plan?” ** Fur helpin’ her?” : a Yes.” as No,” ‘* My own movements are a good deal restrict- ed. if I go tothe police, I may throw myself right into John Graves’s clutches, and he hates me cordially. Let him accuse me of killing Zeno Dorr, the Weehawken miser—J him! why, boy, Pll bet my last cent that John Graves did it, himself, and have my reasons for thinking so. But I can’t prove it, nor prove my own innocence of thecrime. The only per- son who could establish an alibi for me was Wilbur Baldwin, and he, poor lad! sleeps at the bottom of the Atlantic, with the ship Ocean Beauty for a coffin!” Joab brushed his hand across his eyes. It was hard to believe that this man was the same person who was accustomed to receive all callers so fiercely and rudely, but all things have an explanation, if it can be reached, The philosopher aroused and continued: “Continue to.deceive Hedderson, or Black- stone, or whatever his name may be; and, if you are finally ushered into Electa’s presence, reveal the whole plot to her. As for me, I will try to learn who these conspirators are. Their names are not familiar to me, or to Electa, and from this fact I infer that mig still under false colors, no matter what Hed- derson’s door-plate says,” , ™ But can’t we git ’em out?” Joe asked. | “Pm afraid, if [ apply to the police, it will ) ruin all.” **T don’t mean that. Le’s do it secret.” | “ How ” ** By the winder, usin’ a ladder.” | That's a bold scheme.” , We'd doit at night, of course.” |. **It may be worth considering.” | “T] hate ter hev them left ter them sharks,” | Joab smote the table with his hand. | **They shall not be left!’ he cried. ‘**Brayvo! You're a trump keerd, ef you do use folks rough when they fu’st opens the door.” The philosopher smiled. ** That's all put on. Ihave to keep idle ob- servers away, an’ nobody likes a crank. Not knowing that I let my hair grow long because I | vowed never to cut it ‘until l was reconciled to Wilbur, they think I am flighty up aloft; and I kept up the idea by receiving visitors as you've seen me. J was usually leftalone. Tongue!” ) ** A good scheme.” | “Set one thing down asa fact, we are going ‘ tosave Wilbur’s family. True, the odds are | against us, and I may be arrested show my bead on the street, but, let Hedderson and his female partner be ever so rich, or power- | ful, we will—we must beat them out!” “I'm with yer, you bet!” ** You're a good one. Now, to oa away from | bere. I'll see the landlord and him to care for Nebuchadnezzar, which he will do willingly, | Wait here!” | Joab left the room, but was gone only a short | time. Returning, he made a few simple pre- | parations for departure, one of which was to patter his long hair up skillfully under a big t, and then they started for the street. ** We may be a by Graves at the door,” Baldwin admitted, ‘‘ but we must go, anyhow.” | CHAPTER XIi. : A STRANGE BOOK TO READ. | Whew the outer door was reached Joab sent | a quick glance to both the right and the left, but there was no sign of a skulking enemy. He walked down the street with Unlucky Joe | by his side. “*] will take refuge for a day or two with | some friends of mine,” thephilosopher e: | ‘and there I will consider what can be done, | All this has come upon me so suddenly and un- | expectedly that, with the odds strongly against ; —— not able to jump at the means of re- | .“IreckonI kin take keer of Electa an’ the , chillun fur awhile,” Joe returned.” : “Your pluck is good. Remember what I told — you about continui to deceive Hedderson, , and, if you arrive at 0 Gide hasten to me,” ; “*Kerrect! Il do it.” Joab's new quarters were soon reached, The whenever
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i wwgetig T 0 Pre. 10 Unlucky Joe. street-waif only waited to see him surely domi- ciled there, and then started for Mrs. Robern- son’s again. He was in a more hopeful mood. The way in | which Joab had dealt with the detective-black- | mailers proved him to be a man of great energy | ea capability, and such an ally was good to | ave. : But, aided or unaided, the boy was determined | to fight for Electatand her children to the last. | A great change had come over him since the bozr when the reckless driver destroyed his miniature ship on the street; the sight of his best friendsin such trouble had stirred him out of his old stolidity into earnest sympathy, and all of his best impulses were at the front. His prolonged absence was not commented upon when he reached the Robernson house. The servants were busy as usual, and the lady of the house was reading a book in the parlor. Joe ascended to the next floor, but could hear nothing of the prisoners. If — had been in the room next to the hall he would have — but the condition of affairs made it impossible to communicate with his friends. During the remainder of the day there were no new developments. Twice he was sent on an errand, and a few odd jobs were given him in the house, but all was of trivial nature. Once, after Mrs, Robernson left the parlor, he chanced to be passing the door when he noticed upon the table the book which he had seen her reading previously. Idle curiosity led him to go in and look at it. The title was bee ey in comparison with his limited education, but he managed to grasp its It was as follows: ‘“ Poisons: Their use and misuse ; their effect upon the human system ; the symptoms of slow or sudden poisoning; the lessons of certain murder trials; and directions showing how all cases of poisoning should be as > t with to a as cure.” oe’s eyes € 5 ** Julius Napoleon!” he gasped. Again he looked at the title, hoping that he had made a mistake, but it stared him in the face just as before. “* She’s been readin’ a book on p’izons, I vum! Now, what does that mean? It makes me shiver ter guess atit! She’s got some pris’ners ) up-stairs, an’ they won't do wot sbe wants them terdo. Kin it be—kin it be that she’s goin’ ter give them pizon?” The idea was so alarming that he stood in a daze for awhile, but a fqotstep in the hall aroused him. He put the book down hastily, slipped into the back-parlor, and then made a successful retreat to the kitchen. What he had seen, however, could not be for- ten. He could not conceive why Mrs. ronson should read the book without an object, and what should the object be unless it pointed to Electa? The remainder of the day was full of anxious mse to the yoke-mate of adversity. He lai a plans for rescuing his friends, but could find no hope in any except the original scheme. If they were taken away it. seemed that it must be done by raising a ladder in the alley Night ——— Joe felt t a good deal of responsibility rest- ed upon his young shoulders. As the conspira- tors were determined to make Electa sign the mysterious paper, it was not likely that they would delay much about it, and he was not sur- prised when Dr. Blackstone appeared just at twilight. The street-waif was summoned to join him in the lor. “Well, Flynn, how are you?” asked Jason, with an attempt at jocular familiarity. * “ Toler’ble, sir,” was the reply. “Are you ready for your job?” “é I be. > “Then I want to give you a few lessons so you can speak and act like Joe Eldwin. Do youthink you can pan out well?’ “ Reckonso, [ almost ’magine I be him, now,” | Joe returned, coolly. ‘Good! By the way, you may light the gas; | it is getting daryhere!” LL The youth went to the mantel. | M ‘* Thar ain’t no matches,” he asserted. “Let it go, then. Now, your voice is too deep and strong for Joe’s. Try to getona more tenor pitch. Say, ‘ Electa, I’m yer friend, an’ I wouldn’t déceive ye.’” The so-called Hugh Patrick Flynn obeyed, “Good! That is very much like Joe Eldwin,” commented the doctor, approvingly. “T thought I could doit.” “You arean apt pupil. Say, ‘I’ve been all good bor for ye.’” Hugh Patrick sxid it obediently. ** Nobly, nobly!” Blackstone declared. are getting almost on to Eldwin’s very tone and way. Witha little more practice you will be all right.” The lesson continued, and Joe’s gravity was remarkable. It was a situation far beyond the common run when a person was taken in hand by aself-constituted teacher and given lessons in the art of speaking like himself! Joe saw the humorous side of the case and rather enjoyed it, anxious as he was in regard to the final outcome. He showed great shrewdness, too, and got along just fast enough to encourage Jason, yet not so rapidly as to arouse suspicion. “That ll do,” decided the doctor, at last. ** Now, let meinstruct you. We will take you into a room where there is a blind woman. You will pees to be glal to see her, speak like an old friend, and then look over a certain paper and assert that it is what I say itis. You will talk down her fears and get her to sign it, and twenty dollars will be your reward.” “Jiminy Cricket!” cried Hugh Patrick, in nded delight. ** How does that fit?” ** Boss!” “Oh! I pay well.” ‘* Yer pay like de royal dooks, sor.” ‘All right, Hughsey. Now, we shall leave the woman’s children in the other room, for if they set eyes on you, our fiction that you are Joe Eld would goto pieces with a smash; but they might do such a thing as to peer through the keyhole. To avoid danger, we shall turn the gas as low as possible and still have it light enough for us to see. The blind woman won’t know the difference.” ** Kerrect.” pin abe house, Electa, an’ I reckon it’s a right *¢ You | hehe Sa A a re > ——— “ Joe, Joe, is it indeed you?” the blind woman | answered, tremulously. | ***Tain’t nobody else.” ‘*Oh! I am so glad to see you.” | *Reckon I’m some tickled myself.” ‘*T was afraid you would not come.” | **No fear o’ that.” | ‘Have you had any home, poor boy, since I left?” | ** Oh! sartain. | yer furnitoer, so thar was nothin’ fur Mrs. Mc- ean ter pitch inter the street; an’ as fur me, | I went out an’ found a good fam'ly that tuk me | in, give me food an’ raiment, an’ made me @ | chance ter work fur right good pay. I may say, in fack, that it was right good luck that I got | the place I did!” Dr. Blackstone gave Mrs. Robernson’s arm @ | slight pressure. He thought hecould discover a | big joke in “‘ Hugh Patrick’s” words, but if the | truth was known, he did not see half of the hid- den points. Electa and Joe stood hand in hand, and the afflicted woman was greatly pleased to meet one she knew was her devoted friend. ‘¢- You found the card we left upon the table, didn’t you?” she resumed. te Jes’ 80; yes.” “ How do you like this Home?” ** Great place, ain’t it?” ‘You forget that I can’t see,” was Electa’s evasive reply. : “So you can’t.” ‘*} will leave you, Mrs. Baldwin, to make known what I wanted of young Eldwin,” inter- rupted Jason Blackstone. The blind woman started. ‘True, true!” she responded; ‘‘I had forgot- ten. J h, I am requested to sign a paper here, and [ would like to have you read it aloud to me before I put down name.” ** Kerrect! kin read English, an’ I s’pose : : : Your frien’, Susan, took in Joe was delighted with this plan. Ever since | this ain’t in no kelassical languish, is it?” he came to Mrs. Robernson’s house it had been ‘“* All plain English,” volunteered Blackstone. his good luck to see Blackstone in a very dim ‘‘Here is the document, my lad; read as di- light, and the doctor had failed to recognize | rected.” im This was partially due, probably. to the fact that the man had th : : first interview, and ha eg, too, he was weak at remembering aces. Anyhow, he had not yet discovered tho truth, and the plan to turn down the gas, as indicated, was one more step in Joe’s favor. “You can go, now,” Jason added. ‘‘ When we want you, you shall be notified.” ** Thank’ee, sor.” The street-waif shambled out awkwardly, and was left alone for the next two hours. Blackstone and Mrs. Robernson dined together, and, judging by the aver laughter from their room, enjoyed themselves very much. In the mean while Joe was alone, forgotten, but not idle, bardest kind. How was he to baffle the plot- ters? He could, with a few words, warn Mrs. Baldwin and let her know that the pretended Samaritans were her enemies, but sucb precipi- tate action, while useful in one way, might ex- her to greater perils. With the truth known, the evil pair might - both Electa and himself in peril of their ives. Before he bad been able to arrive at any con- . clusion, he was summoned to the room of trial. He went as boldly as possible, and found the conspirators there, already, the gas being turned low enough so thet the danger of detection was still slight. Blackstone nodded to Mrs. Robernson, and she unlocked the next door and entered. “*How’s your nerve, Hugh?’ the doctor * You bet!” Joe tried to speak nonchalantly, but, despite all his efforts to be calm, his heart pelo oy at a rate which made it annoying. What would be the result of this momentous interview / He longed for a reprieve, but none came. ne nm soon reappeared, followed by ota, CHARTER XIII. JOE FACES A CRISIS. Mes. BaLpwen looked around eagerly, and Unlucky Joe went to her side at once. ** Hullo, Electa! how be you?” was his off-hand greeting. wee | a genuine charitable — only of Electa at the | a form of application for aid, if they had any; barely glanced at Joe. | and it was so plainly written that Joe managed His work was mental, and of the : He had drawn upa — such as he believed tution might have as. to read it. e made slow progress, however, and stumbled over some of the sonorous words, but it was not hard to follow him, “That's all,” he remarked, when he had reached | theend. ; | ‘Do you object,’ Mrs. Baldwin, to signing that?’ asked Jeson, reproachfully. “No, sir; and I hope you will excuse me if 1 have seemed obstinate—” | Don’t mention it, madam, You were some- | what set in your way, but I remember what you ' had to think of. One can’t be too careful. | Don’t apologize! Now, bere is the pen. You | will please sign right there.” He guided her band, and all was ready for the final act, ‘ i Unlucky Jce stood in a state of painful sus- | pense. What washetodo? Whatcould he dof Fe looked at Blackstone and saw a man twice | his own weight. Certainly he could not over- | come him. As for the signature, would it hold | good inlaw? Mrs. Baldwin was blind ; he could | swear that she had been deceived—” “Thank you!” said Jason Joe stared in dismay. He had forgotten, in | his worry and alarm, what a simple matter the | signing of a name was to one accustomed to | the pen. While he lost bis presence of mind ) momentarily, the deed bad been done. Blackstone had placed before the blind wo- /mana paper shaped exactly like the one from which the street waif had read, and Electa’s band had moved as directed. She had signed the paper! | Speechless with consternation, Joe looked fur- ) ther. The paper signed by Electa bad been fold- ed into oblong shape, and the bogus one bad | been a close imitation. The latter had been laid | back, folded, by Blackstone, He next folded the second, | You are now entitled to all the aid and pro- tection our Home can give you, Mrs. Baldwin,” he said, ay an I _ you will not find us ligent in the line of duty. ee Thank you, sir.” “The hour is now getting late, and we have our other patients to care for, so we will withdraw. You can, however, receive your room friend here, any day except Sunday, after ) two o’¢lock P, M.” ) ‘I shall be glad tosee him, You will come, Joseph, won’t youl” pre bey started. ? TO ee ee me eet
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world, we are on the top rung of the ladder of the evening, it mig thence It was a very brief answer, but Joe had | something on his mind, The two documents, | real and bogus, lay upon the table, separated | widely enough so that a mistake was not likely | to occur. But was it not possible to cause a mistake? It was in Joe’s mind that if he could exchange one for the other, the dangerous one might yet | be peat brs He could hardly give a moment’s thought to Mrs. Baldwin, and his terse farewell, when she said more, brought a disappointed look to her face. She went to her room, however, and he | flung another sentence after her: ** You kin rel upon me!” **T know it, Joe.” Then the door closed behind her, and Mrs. Robernson locked it. Jason turned and poked the street-waif in the ribs. ** You’re a sly rascal!” the doctor declared. The ‘‘rascal” was slyer than Blackstone sus- Naturally, the latter had watched ecta go, and, while he was thus occupied, Joe had neatly reversed the position of the docu- ments on the table. **T reckoned 1 could win yer money,” replied Joe. “You did nobly. Why, it almost seemed as if you actually were Joe Eldwin. I could hard- iy Meer from laughing when you were foolin woman so! She never ‘tumbled,’ but too! it all in,. Here’s yoar double-X, my prize youth!” And he over the promised reward. “* Thank’ee, sor,” the recipient answered. ** All is now serene.” Doctor Jason was in high spirits. He took one of the folded papers and put it in his pocket without looking at its contents, and then ad- vanced to the gas with the other. Holding it in the flame until it was well in the grasp of the destroying element, he then flung it into the stove, to burn at its leisure. “So much for that,” he observed, com- placently. Unlucky Joe drew a long breath. Events had taken a form more favorable than he had dared to hope for; Blackstone had not noticed that the two papers had been meddled with, and he had put the bogus, worthless one in his pocket, and burned up that which had Electa’s ture. e conspirators were ready to leave the room, and a motion from Mrs, Robernson caused Joe to go first. She relocked the door of the first room, and, as they lingered in the hall and the street-waif went down the stairs slowly, he heard them speak further. “The battle is won!” Mrs, Robernson de- | clared. **Gloriously won!” Jason added. **You are sure her signature will stand in law?’ **[ don’t see why it should not.” “Then if we can keep her away from the “Oh! we'll see to her. We have not gone thus far to make a failure now.” Joe dared not remain to overhear more. He had gone nearly to the foot of the stairs, and to linger there would be to arouse suspicion. He went on to the kitchen. His recent victory did him a good deal of but he was not sanguine enough to think that the trick would remain undiscovered long. | Jason would he likely to look for Electa’s sig- | nature, and then he would see that he did not have it. ) Sitting in the kitchen, Joe heard the voices of the female servants ina dim way, but without.) iving heed to what they said. They might or talked of anything from spring bonnets to the career of Artaxerxes, King of Persia, and he would have been none the wiser. He was looking to the future of a greater re- sponsibility. He bad saved Electa once, but as her doubts must have been greatly lessened by the events of it be that she would forth sign any and all papers presented to | This must be prevented, if possible; he must zet speech With her. But how! Mrs. Robern- son bad the keys to the locked rooms, and it was madness to think of getting them out of ker room while sbe slept. Clearly, the only way was to act on the plan which had so often occurred to him, and try 2 ascend to Electa’s window by means of a led- He determined to try it. At.an early hour Re sees to his room and Unlucky Joe, soon put out the light, but did not go to bed. Instead, he sat down by the window to wait for the whole house to grow silent and dark. Unintentionally, be fell asleep at his post. It was midnight when he awoke. When he had ascertained this fact he saw that the time could not have been more favorable, and he arose and started to leave the house. If he met with no obstacle, he would soon have his plan under way. CHAPTER XIV. JOE MAKES A BOLD MOVE. DARKNESS and silence prevailed, and Unlucky Joe reached the back door without adventure or alarm. Opening it, he out into the yard. He was not so sure of his ability to get the lad- der, for it was in the stable; the stable was andi and Obed Mason, the coachman, slept ere. Joe, however, had studied the situation care- fully before the >, and he thought that he could manage it, He went to cne end of the stable. A few feet above was a window, and this, as usual, was open. As there were places where he could use his hands and feet, he knew that he could climb up if he did not, by accident, make any betray- ing sound. he attempt was begun. He was light and strong ly, surely and carefully. ow and entered. There was then danger that Obed would hear him, but the ladder was close at hand, and he swung it around successfully and run it out of the window. To descend was easy, and he was soon on the ground. He carried it to the alley, and then took a survey of the street. He was well aware that there wopld be con- stant danger while the ladder was raised. If a patrolman, roundsman, or, in fact, any one chanced to be ing and sawa der raised against the wall, it would cause an investiga- — which was likely to land him in the station- ouse. Fortunately the street was a side-street, and there was but little travel atany time. When Joe looked out of the alley he could not see any person, which was encouraging, but he did not forget that the patrolman would be around on his beat soon—unless he was neglecting his and he went up slow- He reached the win- “<7. hether to wait for him to or not was a serious question, but as he did not appear, Joe decided to move at once and take the risk. Going back, he raised the ladder and ascended hurriedly. He reached the window; he looked in, but could see nothing ; he rapped upon the glass. _ It was not to be expected that he would secure immediate attention, and he was not disappoint- ed that the rapping was made in vain. ere- peated it, gradually increasing its key to sharp- ness. The, sound seemed very loud to him; it made him nervous, What if some one else should hear it? There was po response from within the room. After awhile he descended, went to the mouth of the alley and again reconnoitered. No one was to be seen. He returned to the window, and using a peb- ble, rapped so sharply that every stroke made him shiver. ‘¢1"}] wind up in the Tombs, sartain sure!” he muttered. ‘‘s’pect Pll git off light on the plea o’ first defense, but it’ll be t’ree months, sure pop, an’ where will Electa an’ tne chillun be w’en I come out? This ’ere thing is gettin’ seri- ouser than roomaticks o’ de corporeal jiints! I reckon I'd better skip—” A dark figure appeared at the other side of the window, and he was not slow to recognize Electa. Forgetting for a moment that she was blind, | de he motioned to her. Then, perceiving the folly cf pantomime, he again rapped. ‘ Apparentl Mrs, Baldwin was perplexed and uncertain. If she had known that she was a prisoner she would have leaped to a conclusion, but having been led to believe the reverse, she could not un- derstand. Joe rapped again, and tried in vain to raise the window. He called Electa’s name as loudly as he dared, but without result. He — to get in a panic; affairs could not remain in this state a great while without draw- ing the attention of undesired observers, Fortunately, a new actor appeared in the per- son of Electa’s son, and he at once recognized his old friend, Joe, The bov called the name in a key so high that the street-waif was alarme’, i | | 1i ya Electa at once began to raise the win- ow. Joe stopped her as soon as he could get. his: arm through, and shook her hand warmly. ‘Ts me, Electa, but don’t ye speak above @ whisper. Thar’s mischief up an’ doin’!” ‘© What is it?” she breathed, in alarm. ““T’ve come to warn ye ag’in’ the snakes you are with!” ** What about them?” ** They’re yer worst inimies.” ** How do you know?” *-°Cause I’ve shaddered them. This ain't no charitable Home, but you're a prisoner.” ** A prisoner!” “cc Jes’ so.” “* But they told me—” “Don’t you b’lieve a word they tells ye! I know them, an’ they’re yer bitterest foes. I’ve been workin’ ag’in’ them ever sence you was took here. Blackstone is a wolf in sheep's clothes. I’ve got a job in this house, an’ m name is Flynn, an’ they don’t know me, but— _ “ What of the paper I signed?” cried Elect , ‘“* What was it?’ * Don’t know, only that it was a trick ter do you harm; but don’t ye fear—it’s burnt ter ashes. An’ don’t ye sign no more S **T will not, but what shall I do? If I am a prisoner, what may they not do to my chil- dren?” ‘‘Brace up! Don’t hev nary a fear, fur 1 will take keer o’ you. Ever hear o’ Joab Bald- win yer husband’s uncle?” “l¥ve heard Wilbur mention him, but know nothing about him.” ‘* He’s wid me. [run onter him by chance, an’ he’sa good’un. He’s j’ined hands with me, an’, ‘tween us, we're goin’ ter git ye out. Don’t ye be skeered, but just trust in me, Electa! ** Heaven bless you, Joseph!” “‘Can’t stop no longer, fur ef me an’ my lad- der is seen hyar, thar will be the p’isonest diffi- ilty on record. I'll go, but remember I’m watchin’ over ye, an’ Ill beat ’em out.” sip , you are very good—you are noble!” “Td resk my life fur you, Electa, ’caust peeve been good ter me! Now, don’t let ’em now you hey got onter their villainy, but jest fly light an’fool’em. See?” ia Yes.” ** Then I'm off!” ‘*T am all bewildered—” “Can't stop ter explain; it’s a meracle I hev been so long unmolested. Good -night, Electa!” All this was said in very low tones, Joe never venturing to speak above a whisper, and there had been nothing to create alarm, but the alert street-boy was well aware that danger might come uninvited. hatit had come, he was soon made to see. As he turned to descend the rungs he looked down, and, lo! at the foot of the ladder stood a policeman who was looking up at him. The street-waif grew weak in the legs for a moment, for he kuew that the guardian of the night could place but one construction upon what he saw. “Hi!” growled the biue-coat, ‘‘ w’ot ye doin? dere?” ‘* Fixin’ the winder,” replied Joe, at a desper- ate venture. “Yes, you are! penter worruk, ain’t it? down out ay that!” ‘Pm busy.” **Oi’ll make you’s busier. Come down!” “Can't. Tve got the flat o’ my trowsers ketched on ter 2 nail.” \ “Come down, Oi say, or Oi’ll kim up an’ try afficks av me club on yer trowsers.” By that time Joe had recovered his presence of mind. Heewas in a fix, and he knew it, but it was plain that the case was one when even an innocent person bad cause to fear the law. Whatever might be said for him by Electa, his enemies would swear his liberty and reputation away. “s Pre got ter make a bolt, an’ try ter beat ’em out. It’s one chance ina hundred, but it may be my luck will change right here,” thought the *is pla plan ladder in compliance with Foine toime to be doin’ car- You's a burglar! Come was formed, and he moved down the ith the blue-coat’s de- mand, but he did not intend to surrender. The- policeman reacbed up for him. and, just. then, Joe gave a light leap to one side and went shoot~ ing through the air. AR ST Say mp een Ba oes o “= CT te: Teele URE Ty er. eae path ra = 7 . me ae oe
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Sr ee Fe howe», * 12 CHAPTER XV. PURSUED BY A POLICEMAN, ‘J Oz’S leap was made with all of the agility of outh, and he cleared the policeman perfectly. ’hen he struck on the ground it made his teeth rattle, but he was like a machine on springs. Uninjured, he seemed to recoil from the ground and then, before the surprised policeman could , make a move, his coveted prey was darting away. As the officer was next to the street, retreat in that direction was out of the question. Joe did not try it. Instead, he ran toward the stable, and, by the time the ponderous pursuer got in motion, the -_ disappeared around the corner. t now becarre a game of hide-and-seek. The stable stood clear both of other buildings and the yard-fence, and neither could enter as mat- ters then stood. The patrolman ran as far as the corner where | he had last seen his prey, but, by that time, J bad passed tothe oppositeend. The blu t | retreated, and, going to the stable-door, began to hammer upon it with hisclub. Jos kept out of sight. It was not long before the pounding brought an answer. Obed opened the door. ** What’s up?” ke asked, ** Burglars!” gasped the policeman. ** Where?” ** Here!” The speaker made a gesture which, in its swoop, took in half of New York. ties don’t see anybody but you!” observed ** There was four ave thim,an’Oi bad aroight smart tussle, but b’ate thim over dhe head wid me club until dey run,” explained the veracious blue-coat. ‘‘ Wan is hoidin’ by de _ stable; whether there is anny more about Oi don’t know.” ‘** Wait, an’ Pll help ye,” the coachman vol- unteered. He had thrown on his trowsers, and new paused only to secureaclub. Then he rejoined the other man-bunter. “You go wan way, an’ Oil go de otber,” directed the leader. ‘* Now, at a trot!” He set the example himself, and plunged abead. As he turned the first corner he vague- + Avvcrgary a board leaned up against the foun- tion of the building at an angle, but gave it Right there he made a no further thought. than Un- inistake. No sooner had he lucky Joe emerged from under the board whisked around the corner and darted toward the back door of the house. It was a race of no smal! importance. If he could get inside without being seen, lock the door and get up-stairs, it would be hard to fix proof uponhim, He had not been seen by Obed, and the corpulent patrolman had seen him only in the darkness. Every moment he expected to hear acry from one of his pursuers, but nonecame. He reach- ed the door; he entered; be turned the key; he paszed up-stairs as carefully as possible. Once in his room be kneit down by the closed blinds and watched and listened. Obed and the blue-coat were having a great time. They decided that the “‘ burglars ” must be in the stable, so they entered and devoted the next ten minutes in searching it. When they came out they knew that they were beat- en men, ** They've got away !” lamented the officer. ** Looks that way, b’gosh!” “Could they fy, d’ye think?” **They scem to hev flown,” * Lack was ag’inst us; dat’s just it—luck was dead ag’inst us. No use ter kick.” ** Should say not,” Obed agreed. ** Annyhow, they took away some roight sore beads wid thim. an ave dhe gang I knocked over stiff, an’all ats perfect shower ave blows, but what could wan officer do wid foive toughs?’ “TI thought you said four, before?” **Oi didn’t count de wan Oi knocked silly,” the blue-coat explained, with great dignity. ‘“Annyhow, no damage is done; Oi nabbed a. jist as de first wan was goin’ up de lad- er.’ “The mistress will pay ye well, no doubt.” The policeman took by the button. **O?m not a blackmailer,” he asserted, ‘‘ an’ niver want extra pay for doin’ me duty. Now why should we make anny fuss about this? It we do, Oi shall have to spind a w’ake runnin’ to @e Polace Coort, loikely; an’ you may get sint to de House av Detintion far montba, per- a The House o’ Correction!” Obed. “No, Oisaid de House ay which ts Od ee Dt OPP AE SEIT abe . TIE ee grat 4 Unlucky Joe. isa place phere dey k’ape witnesses so nobody ) can get at thim to bribe thim. Do yez want | that dose?” ) ** Great Cicero! no; I don’t!” | ‘“*Then you an’ me have got to hould our | tongues, an’it’s allsimple enourh. Nobody has | seen or heard us, an’desix burglars—Oi m’ane | foive—won’t tell av it. Now, to save oursilves ! throuble, why not we k’ape mum about the | whole affair? No burglary was done, ye know. Why not hould our p’ace?’ **T ought to tell my mistress.” **So ye want three months in de Houseav De- tintion?” asked the blue-coat, with sarcasm. 1 No, I don’t!” se Well ? | “Your way isright. I ain’t no fool, and ’m | witb yer. Nota word will I say.” | ‘*Good! Shake!” ) They clasped hands, while Joe Eldwin was al- , most unable to credit his good fortune. He | clearly saw that the patrolman was ashamed of his failure and did not like to report it, but this | did not concern the street-waif; he would be the greatest gainer if the men held their tongues, fo” he could not be suspected by Mrs. Robernson and Blackstone of what was not known to them. The ladder was replaced in the stable; the patrolman remained for awhile in friendly, af- fable conversation with Obed ; then he rolled his ene form toward the street, At thealley | e turned and spoke again: ** Oi doubt if d’ere is another man on de foorce dat could have done up seven burglars—Oi m’ane | six—as n’ately as O1 did!” And then he went his way with the proud | step of one who fee's himself entitled to share ) in the glories of Alexander, Napoleon and Well- ington. Obed stood for some time, meditated, looked around peemiy, and then shook his head and returned fo the stable. } Joewent to bed feeling that it would be a mis- nomer to call bimself ‘‘Unlucky” Joe any longer. Both in this latest adventureand in the ) scene in Mrs, Baldwin’s room he had been strangely favored by fortune, and he was confi- dent that he could hope that the demon of ill luck had been driven away from bim. He fell asleep in a very bappy mood. The next morning there was no evidence of disturbance. Neither Mrs. Robernson nor her | servants mentioned that they had been dis- turbed, or bad heard suspicious sounds during the night. There wasa trace of inquiry in the gase which Obed bent upon ‘‘Hugb Patrick lynn,” and be had not failed to think of the boy in connection with tne affair—he was not yet done worrying because he had so rashly **recommended ” hiia—but whatcould the coach- man do except believe the boy innoce:t? Hugh Patrick was already in the hcuse—why should the burglars, if allies of the youth, take such a laborious way of entering? On the other hand, Obed was not sure but the | policeman had concocted the whgle affair to make cheap capital for himself; so Mr. Mason | did not let the adventure weigh upon his mind. Nothing of importance occurred during the | day. Joe, however, was kept so busy that he did not get any chance to call upon Joab Bald- win. In the evening there were no demands upon him, and when he asked leave of Mrs, Robernson to go out, the request was granted. He went, but did not call upon Joab at once, He found something else of interest. By chance he discovered two men on the street,and the moment that he saw them he was | all attention. . They were Doctor Blackstone and John Graves, the unscrupulous detective. | Almost immediately after he discovere them they entered a saloon, and, as they did not come out as soon as he expected, he determined to | make a bold movement and see what they were | about. He entered the saloon. | The first persons he saw were Blackstone and | Graves. They had taken seats at a table, and | were slowly drinking beer. | Joe took inthe arrangement of the room at | once. He longed for a friendly screen which | Wo be a means of concealment to him, but | none was to be seen. He determined to make & bold move, and trust to the semi-darkness to save him from detection. Just then a newsboy | on the street called the names of the papers he was trying to dis of, and Joe turned back, ht the newsboy out entirely, and then en- the saloon. Being afraid that, on account of his youth, he id not be allowed in the saloon, he had adopted a well-considered device. He sat down near the two men, with his back | te mt liereeienittaatiatiiaiictait mm i ss SSS oe ee ea toward them, and made a pretense of counting the small coins he had in his pocket. “Since you've got it down so fine,” were the first words he heard, and these from Blackstone, “] will admit that Iam working the riffle you name,” ‘You'll get left!” Graves declared. ** How do you know?” ** Ail of your time is being thrown away. There is a certain person living whose existence renders all your work vain.” ‘*Not Wilbur Baldwin?’ Jason asked, in m. ** No; he’s lifeless enough.” ** Who is the person then?” CHAPTER XVI. A BATCH OF ARRESTS, Untvucky Jok listened eagerly for the reply. He saw that there was a sort of armed neu- trality, as it were, between Blackstone and Graves. Evidently, the ‘bogus detective had forced himself upon Dr. Jason, and the latter had consented to amicable relations, on the sur- face, simply because he was afraid of the al- leged professional blackmailer. " Geatthe smiled wisely. ‘‘Can’t you surmise who the man is?” he asked. ** No,” Blackstone replied. ** You are stupid!” ** Possibly. owever, give me the name.” ‘‘ Who should it be but your worthy bro- ther?” ** What! not Joab?” ** Joab it is.” “ce Alive!” ‘* Very lively.” “ Why, I was told that he died over a year p.” ma You were wrongly informed then, Joab Baldwin lives, is well, hearty and active—most infernally active!” commented Graves, vicious- ly, as he thought of bis experience with the philosopher and Nebuchadnezzar. ‘* Hence, you see that you will have to recast all of your scheme.” Dr. Jason wled several words which may as well be left to the imagination. He was cha- grined, dismayed and angry, and he found a strong way of expressing it. ‘*T thought that fellow was out of the way.” ** He’s alee and active, as I said before.” Darker became Graves’s scowl and Joe wished that the man was still in the cage, guarded by Nebuchadnezzar. ‘*Does he know—” ‘“*Not a thing,” Graves interrupted; “ and therein lies our hope. You have someinfluence, Carlos?” + Yeu.” - poe ge us join hands, and we’ll beat Joab out and win the stake, You have heard, of course, of the old Zeno Dorr murder, Now, I think Joab did that job ”—here the detective winked bumorously—‘“‘ and we'll get out a war- rant and have him arrested.” ‘* Tt won’t do for me to appear.” ‘*Of course not. You must keep in the back- ground; Joab must not suspect that you are alive; but I want your co-operation.” ‘*’m with you!” Blackstone agreed. “Then let us get the warrant at once. The case is old, and we must take all possible pre- cautions, you know,” Blackstone arose. ** Lead the way!” be directed. And the knavish pair left the saloon. Joe Eldwin did not linger. There was fresh danger for the philosopher, although Joe did not believe that his latest home had been discov- ered. He hastened toward Joab’s room, and found the latter in. ‘* Hal so it’s you!” growled the little old man. “ Any news? Tongue! tongue!” ‘“*Thar’s an awful pile o’ news. Graves is go in’ ter arrest ye!” ‘The knave! But let bim work; I believe he killed Zeno Dorr, and it may come out in the in- vestigation. Anything more?” t Jason Blackstone is ter belp him, but I don’t b’lieve his real name is that nor Hedderson. Did yer ever know anybody named Carlos?” ‘* What?” cried Joab, with a great start. ‘Carlos. I didn’t hear no more.” The philosopher gazed blankly at the speaker. ie Carlos!” > muttered. ‘“ los Baldwin, ive!” “Is his name Baldwin, too?” ** Describe the man! Tongue!” almost shout- ed the shipmaker. Joe to give a description as minute
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as he could make it. ereased. ** Alive! alive!” he muttered. “Who ts he?” ) “Who, but my brother! Brother! No; I scorn to call him that. Wilbur’s father and I were full-brothers; Carlos was our half-brother, | the son of an adventuress who insnared our aged | father. Carlos inherited all of her evil quali- ties, did many dishonest things, was cast off by | us, and disap ed many years ago. I had long regarded him as dead, But why should he scheme against Wilbur’s widow? Thereis nota , dollar in the family, I may say, for him to get hold of, with all his arts,” “He didn’t know you was alive, but Graves told him, an’ said the fack upsot all of his schemes ag’in’ Electa; an’ Carlos admitted it. I got the idee that, you bein’ alive, he must work | ag’in’ you, not ag’in’ Electa, ter ’complish his ** Strange! e!” Joab muttered. ‘1 | haven’t five hund dollars to my name, and there is not, and never was, a rich relative from whom I could inherit anything.” “Thar must be.” * And I know there is not!” “ Then it is most pecooliar.” “But, come! tell me all that has happened since I saw you.” Joe obeyed, and gave neces history of the | signing of the paper by Electa and its destru> | tion; his night-adventure with the policeman, | and what he bad heard in the saloon. “You area one fl the phiJosopher declared, | ‘and if this tangle is ever straightened out, you will be deserving of all the good your friends ecando you. Your unselfish devotion to Electa’s in is admirable, and you aball not lack for friends.” aap | ter think my ill-luck has desarted me,” hopefully remarked the street-waif. ¥ you! We'll make it fly out of the door as soon as we get the conspirators downed. . Unlucky *» Joe you shall be no longer, I de- clare So saying, the philosopher shook the boy’s hand w y; : “You and I will stick to each other,” he ad- ded. ‘‘I like your styie, and even an old bulk like me may be of some service to a bright boy. I like your style, and we'll continue messmates. United we stand ; divided—well, we might fall, but don’t want to. Now, we must take meas- ures to get at our enemies. I am safe here, but I can’t work to advantage, so it’s no real gain if Graves don’t know where my new room is—” He sage: asthedoor roceneunc ieee? opened, and Joe felt cold chills start into on along his as he recognized John Graves, detective blackmailer was smiling and triumphant. **Oh, no, Graves don’t know where you are!” he sneered. Joab was silent. He was cornerel. Back of Graves was another man, but he was a stran- ger; Jason Blackstone had wisely kept out of t. raves flourished a paper. ** A warrant for your arrest,” he added. ** On what charge?” Joab asked, steadily. ** Por murdering Zeno Dorr.” “Do you mean to press that charge?” “oe Yes.” “* | advise you not to.” “*Obo! do yuu threaten?” “T notify — that justice generally triumphs intheend. Take ar warning!” ‘Cheap talk! But westray from the point. I bave a warrant for your arrest on the charge ified, and I a seg to escort you to Police eadquarters. ben a requisition bas been granted, you will be taken to New Jersey for the crime done at Weehawken. Zeno Dorr shall be avenged!” “* Right—he sball!” These words came in a stern voice behind Graves, and he wheeled to see who was thus in- terfering with him. When he saw he grew al- most deathly pale. ** You here!” he gasped. “Yes, John Graves. Once more I step be- tween you and your prey, and this time it will be a final downfall for you. Ever since you be- ; came a detective you have disgraced tke profes- | sion. You have been worse been to blackmail honest folks!” “Sir, you—you are mistaken,” myer! ves, “* Useless, sir; useless. This time you fall en- | tirely. ‘You charge this men with having killed | i out! Zeno Dorr. Know, you, that the truth —* Joab’s excitement in- | a Unlucky Joe. You and an ally killed Dorr—the circumstances make it murder in the second degree. Your | confederate is dead, but he left a sworn state- ment a and witnessed by several honest men. ou are done, Graves!” The discomfited villain stood speechless. The new-comer turned to Graves’s companion. ‘* Brookleng, do you. train with such men?” was the stern inquiry. ‘* Indeed, sir, l know nothing about Graves, or the case,” was the frightened reply. ** He called upon me for help and I gave it.” ‘*T believe you. You have handcuffs, I see, Put them upon Graves!” Tie latter was utterly demoralized, and he made no resistance while the irons were be adjusted. Then the new master of events to the philosopher. ‘* Allow me to ask your name, sir,” he said. “It is Baldwin.” “Baldwin! What else?” ce Joab.” ‘‘ Not the ex-sailor, frontiersman and circus- | soon as I reached New York I told the performer?” ‘* The same, sir.” The previous speaker smiled. ** You will confer « favor upon us, and great- ly aid mat by going with me.” ** Where?” **To see a person, the sight of whom will sur- prise you. ou hesitate! Well, it is not right, nor have I any reason for keeping you in the dark. Iam—’ And the man of aa in detective circles throughout all New ork, CHAPTER XVII. THE PLOT REVEALED. AN hour later a hack paused in front of a house on Charles street, It contained Joab, Un- lucky Joe and the representative of the detec- tive force, Graves had been taken to Police Headquarters, and our friends were still in charge of the detective in a friendly way. Joab had told him abous Electa’s trouble, and he had listened attentively. ‘“*T have heard a part of this before,” he remarked, but to say who had been his informant. Reaching Charles street he had the vehicle sto; at acertain point; then, bidding Joab and Joe follow, he went to the house and the bell. Theservant who answered the sum- mons at once stepped back for him to enter. They entered the parlor. A gentleman came forward to meet them, but paused eo mes Then Joe Eldwin becanie aware that some- thing unusual was occurring. Joab and the stranger were ing at each other blankly, strangely. But the silence was soon broken. Each uttered a cry; they rushed to meet each other; the philosopher clasped the stranger in his arms, ‘*My boy! my boy!” he murmured. Joe Eldwin turned a puzzled gaze apon the detective. “Uncle and nephew,” the officer explained. ‘* What nephew?” ‘Wilbur Baldwin!” And then it was Joe’s turn to be dumfounded. His mouth opened widely, and his eyes were very big as he looked again at the stranger. ‘But he’s dead!” the boy muttered. ‘* Not dead, but alive!” Joab shouted. “ Hur- rah! my eaglet of the sea, the salt waves don’t cover you yet, bless Neptune!” ** Not yet, and [ ho the hearty reply. “Old Neptune may be all right, but I’ve had enough of him. (nce let me find my wife and children, and I'll sail the ocean no more.” Joab wheeled, caught Joe’s hand, placed it in that of the stranger and cried: **Here he is!—here’s Electa’s busband, alive and well; and here’s the boy that saved your wife from conspirators’ hands.” **Electa! Do you know where she is?” Wilbur Baldwin demanded, eagerly. “Ay,ay! This lad can show you.” “Then I'm his friend for life!” “* It’s all right, Baldwin,” interrupted tne ae- the criminals | tective. ‘Follow us,and, thanks to Master Joe, you have caught, now and then, while your | you shall see your family aga chief business has in.” Wilbur caught Joe up as though he had /been an infant, “Hurrah!” he exclaimed; ‘the sun breaks through the clouds, and the old ship isn’t a hulk a mt Leal the way to my wife and This was said with the bluff, hearty emphasis wer mentioned a name | a they never will!” was | ’ : : : | | | | 13 of a sailor, but Wilbur plainly had nobler a Joe was wonderfully impressed with im. The street-waif was bewildered, and did not recover his wits until he found himself in the carriage with the three men, and on the way to Mrs. Robernson’s. Then he listened eagerly to: Wilbur's story. ‘*The Ocean Beauty did founder,” said the sailor, ‘‘ but half a dozen of us were taken off by another ship. She wasona long voyage, and we had to go with her, which explains my pro- longed absence. I wrote home once from a port, but my letter seems not to have reached my wife. ** Among our crew was one man who died, | but before be went under, he confessed that he and John Graves killed Zeno Dorr, the miser of Weehawken. You and! remember that case, Uncle Joab, though it did not concern us.” “Tt has concerned me seriously of late.” “Never mind; your troubles are over. ae ce 0 the confession, and Graves is nabbed. I’ve been here a fortnight, and I’ve tried every means to find Electa and you, but all in vaia.” “Tt’s all right now, my boy.” “All but her blindness,” added Wilbur, vely. ‘* Perhaps that can be cured; such things do happen at times.” he carriage reached Mrs, Robernson’s. AlB alighted, and the detective rung the bell. chance would have it, Mrs. Robernson and Carlos Baldwin, alias Blackstone, were then in. the ball, and the latter opened the door. The unwelcome visitors entered without cere- mony. Blackstone first looked angry, but catching sight of Joab, became a victim to consterna- ti on. ** You here!” he 4 “Tm aes eae eae See is run!” was the osopher’s y reply. Pe het knaves are thesef’? demanded Mrs, Robernson, aren y. ‘* Those who bring ruin to you. Iam a detec- tive, and hereby arrest you and Blackstone!” the officer declared. ** Upon what charge?” ‘*Gently, madam! You see your ally has no- thing to say. Know you that these men are Joab Baldwin, and Wiibur, husband of Electa Baldwin!” Mrs. Robernson recoiled. ** Ruined!” she whispered, turning white. The detective did not know how desperate Blackstone “oe be, and he improved the chance to iron the conspirator at once. Mrs. Robernson ied, and tried to play a bluff game, but the detective heeded her but. little. He took possession of her keys. *“*OQur young sailor must be impatient,” the officer then said. ‘‘ Joe, I leave it to you to go up and pre his wife for the good news. Tell her ually and carefully, or serious con- sequences may follow.” “ Make haste,” added W ilbur, quickly. And Joe went up-stairs, Blackstone resisted desperately when an at- tempt was made to search his pockets, but the officer believed that some evidence might be found there, and persisted. vi re and letters were found, and they were ed over at once. The detective soon struck the clew. ‘“‘Mr. Baldwin,” he said, addressing Joab, ‘‘ were you ever in Wisconsin?” ‘* | was there two years.” “ Did you buy any land?” ‘* Yes, and lost it. Anothermanand I bought a section, half-and-half, but other parties sted us, alleging that the man from whom we bought had no good title, and we lost in court.” ‘““ Your fellow-purchaser has since the case and won, and your half awaits your de- mand, More than that, its value bas increased enormously; your cld partner says the whole section will sell for fifty thousand dollars. You can re out what your half will be!” Joab was silent with surprise, The detective turned to Blackstone. “Your plot is plain,” he observed. ‘If Joab bad been dead, as you thought he was, you and Wilbur would be equal heirs. But you thought Wilbur dead, too, and schemed to get the whole, Just what paper you tried to make Electa sign I don't know, but it is plain that you were a te ing to beat her and her children out of th You are beaten, and Joab and Wilbur are both alive. Joab, you can’t te proud of 7 The , ect of loathing. er a x “Don’t use the word ASother! His maoy
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: ~- ae tS Se pry > ERB pi DAR Ta BEF Oa es ae re a Is misdemeanors disgusted us all many years ago, and, when he disappeared, we were glad of it.” | Joe Eldwin entered the parlor. ‘*Wilbur’s in with Electa an’ tie chillun,” was his simple announcement. ; Half an hour later the house was left in charge of the servants. Blackstone and Mrs, Robernson were taken away prisoners by tho officer. Wilbur insisted that Joab and Joe shonld ac- | company him, Electa and the children to his rooms, and all were glad to go. The street- waif alone hesitated for a moment. ** We will not take ‘ No’for an answer!” Wil- bur declared. ‘‘ I owe too much to you, my brave youth, to lose sight of you. From this time you shall share my fortunes, and my home shail be your home, Your noble devotion to my loved ones entitles you to all that gratitude and money can do for you!” A year later. Carlos, alias Dr. Blackstone and Mrs. Rob- ernson were in prison, serving a sentence as long as could be given them. hey proved to be husband and wife, and old schemers and law-breakers, Whether “ Mrs. Robernson ” read the book on poisors because she had evil designs on any one, was never learned, John Graves received a life sentence for his crime. Holland, also, went to Sing Sing. Mr. McFagan drank himse)f into an un- honored grave. Wilbur and bis family, with Joab and Joe | Eldwin—* Unlucky Joe” no longer—went to the Wiscensin property, where they are living in comfortable circumstances. The philosopher took Nebuchadnezzar and his miniature ships along. The latter are to be seen in the new | home, but the tiger has gone the way of all earth, Electa’s blindness was cured by a skillful doctor, aud all is happiness in the home. Joe is one of the family, honored, ambitious and lucky, aud a successful career is prophesied for him by his grateful friends. THE EMD, ee —— Bine-light Bill, the Sapphire Sport; The Denver Detective’s Lone Hand. BY KING KEENE, or THe U. 8. Service Corps, A capital detective story, of striking power and vital interest, both in character and action. A deep mystery hangs over the Yaller Jacket Mining Camp, which the author unravels in a manner to excite the reader's attention. The Sapphire Sport is a typical Western character, and the book will be read with great satisfaction by our readers. Beadle’s Dime Library. BY J.C. COWDRICK. 732 The Despoes Sport-of Daisy Drift. 626 Ducats Dion, the Nabob Sport Detective. 612 Sheriff Stillwood, the Regulator of Raspberry. 598 The Dominic Detective. « 591 Duke Daniels, the Society Detective. 580 Shadowing a Shadow. 565 Prince Paul, the Postman Detective. 557 The Mountain Graybeards: or. Riddles’ Riddle. 519 Old Riddles, the Rocky Ranger 499 Twilight Charlie. the Road Sport. 472 Gibert of Gotham, the Steel-arm Detective. 452 Rainbow Rub, the Tulip from Texas. 436 Kentucky Jean, the 8 from Yellow Pine. 422 Blue Grass Burt, the Star Detective. 390 The Giant Cupid: or Cibuta John's Jubilee. ee zi BY GEORGE C. JENKS. 772 Ca a Corden, the Twister Detective. 75 W Pete the Broncho-Buster Detective. ockey Detective. ,S4 Mad Sharp, the § Rastler. 538 Rube Rocket. the Tent Detective. 526 Death-Grip, the Tenderfoot Detective. 5307 The Drummer Detective. 48 The Giant Horseman. 398 Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective. + I cee DS er 6 ES Cee SS | 5440 The Fleet Seourge; or, The Sea Wings of Salem, | 510 El Moro, the Corsair Commodore. Se Unlucky Joe. BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM, : 805 The Last of the Pirates; or, Doom Driven. 801 The Water Wolves’ Detective; or, Trapping the Grave Ghouls. 791 The Coast-Raider’s Death-Chase. 748 Arizona Chariie, tne Crack-shot Detective. 704 Invisible Ivan, the Wizard Detective. 685 The Red-skin Sea Rover. 679 Revello, the Pirate Cruiser; or. The Rival Rovers 672 Tne Red Rapier; or, The Sea Rover's Bride. 662 The Jew Detective; or, The Beautiful Convict. 658 The Cowb>y Clan; or, The Tigress of Texas. 653 Lasso King’s League; or, Buck Taylor in Texas. 640 Tne Rov>r’s Ret ibution. 635 The Ex-Buccaneer; or, The Stigma of Sin. 630 The Sea Thief | 625 Red Wings; or, The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas. 615 The Three pnuccaneers. 610 The Red Flag Rover; or, White Wings of the Deep. 605 The Shadow Silver Ship. 600 The Silver Ship; or, The Sea Scouts of °76, 593 The Sea Rebel; or. Red Rovers of the Revolution. 587 Conrad, the Sailor Spy; or. True Hearts of °76. 581 The Outlawed Skipper; or, The Gantlet Runner. | 560 The Man from Mexico. 553 Mark Monte, the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig. 546 The Doomed Whaler: or, The Life Wreck. 530 The Savages of the Sea. 524 The Sea Chaser; or. The Pirate Noble. 516 Chatard, the Dead-Shor Duelist, 493 The Scouts of the Sea. 489 The Pirate Hunter; or, The Ocean Rivals. 482 Ocean Tramps; or, The Desperadoes of the Deep. 476 Lob Brent,the Buccaneer; or, the Red Sea Raider. 469 The Lieutenant Detective: or, the Fugitive Sailor. | 457 The Sea Insurgent: or, The Conspirator Son. 446 Ucean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair. 435 The One-Armed buccaneer. 450 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and War. 425 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals. 418 The Sea Siren: or. The Fugitive Privateer. 399 The New Monte Cristo. 393 The Convict Captian. 388 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker Witch. 377 Afloat and Ashore: or. The Corsair Conspirator. 373 Sailor of Fortune: or, The Barnegat Buccaneer. 369 The Coast Corsair: or. The Siren of the Sea. 364 The Sea Fugitive; or, The Queen of tne Cokst. 346 Ocean Guerrillas; or, Phantom Midshipman, 341 The S:a Desperado, 335 Tne Magic Snip; or, Sandy Hook Freebooters. 335 The Gentleman Pirate; or. Tne Casco Hermits. 318 The Indian tuccaneer: or, The Red Rovers. 307 The Phantom Pirate; or, The Water Wolves. 231 TheSea Owl; or. The Lady Captain of the Gulf. 259 Cutlass and Cross; or, the Ghouls of the Sea. 255 The Pirate Priest: or, The Gampler’s Daughter. 245 Queen Helen, the Amazon of the Overland. 23 Ligntning the Man of Chance 231 The Kid Glove Miner: or. The Magic Doctor. 224 Black Beard, the Buccaneer. 220 The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother's Crime, 216 The Corsair Planter; or, Drijyen to Doom. 210 Buecaneer Bess. the Lioness of the Sea, 205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoon. 198 The Skeleton Schooner; or, The Skimmer. 144 Ime Ocean Vampire; or, The Castle Heiress, 181 The Scarlet Schooner: or. The Sea Nemesis. 177 Don Diablo, the Planter-Corsair. 172 Black Pirate: or. The Golden Fetters Mystery. 162 The Mad Mariner: or, Dishonored and Disowned 155 The Corsair Queen: or, The Gypsies of the Sea. 147 Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas. 139 Fire Eye: or. The Bride of a Buccaneer. 134 Darkey Dan, the Colored Detective. 131 Buckskin Sam, the Texas Trailer. 128 The Chevalier Corsair; or. The Heritage. 121 The Sea Cadet; or, The Rover of the Rigoletts. 116 Black Plume; or. The Sorceress of Heli Gate. 109 Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag. 104 Montezuma, the Merciless. 108 Merle, the Mutineer; or, The Red Anchor Brand. 94 Freelance. the Buccaneer. 89 The Pirate Prince; or, The Queen of the Isle. & The Cretan Rover; or, Zuleikah the Beautiful. 2 The Dar& Devil; or, The Winged Sea Witch. NED BUNTLINE. 657 Long Tom, the Privateer. 633 The Sea Spy. 621 The Red Privateer; or, The Midshipman Rover. 584 Fire Feather, the Buccaneer King. 517 Buffalo Bill's First Trail. 361 Tombstone Dick, the Train Pilot. 270 Andros, the Rover, or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 122 Saul Sabberday, the Idiot Spy. 111 The Smuggler Captain: or, Tbe Skipper’s Crime, 61 Captain Seawaif, the Privat -er. 23 The Red Warrior; or, The Comanche Lover. 18 The Sea Bandit; or, The Queen of the Isle. 16 The White Wizard; or, The Seminole Prophet. M4 Thayendanegea,the Scourge; or, The War-Eagle. BY LEON LEWIS, 797 Pistol Tommy, the Miner Sharp. fhe Down-East Detective in Nevada. 773 Buffalo Bills Ban: or, Cody to the Rescue 699 The Cowboy Couriers. 685 The On-the-W t The Submarine Detective: or, The Water Ghouls. Captain Ready. the Ransomer. The Silent Detectives or, The Bogus Nephew The Demon Steer. The Flying Glim; or, The Island Lure. BY J W. OSBON. from St. Louis. Richard, the Thoroughbred. @ &G228 #9 | 770 The Showman Dete tive. | 643 Casulemaine, the Silent Sifter. | 386 Hawk Heron, the | : | 515 Short-Stop Maje, the Diamond Field Detective. | 509 Old BY JACKSON KNOX—‘‘ Old Hawk.” 778 The Butler Detective; or, Old Grip’s Grip. 762 Old Grip, the Detective. 740 Captain Clew, the Fighting Detective. 732 The Hurricane Detective. 616 Magnus, the Weird Detective. 606 The Drop Detective. 595 Wellborn, the Upper Crust Detective. 582 Jorim, the Detective Expert. 574 Old Falcon’s Double. 561 The Thug King; or, The Falcon Detective'’s Foe. 548 Falconbridge. the Sphinx Detective. 535 Old Faleon's Foe: or, The Detective’s Swell Job. Falcon, the Thunderbolt. Detective. 501 Springsteel Steve, the Retired Detective. 494 The Detective’s Spy. 485 Rowlock. the Harbor Detective. 477 Dead-arm Brandt. 457 Mainwaring. the Salamander. 32 The Circus Detective. Griplock, the Rocket Detective. 444 The Magic Detective: or, The Hidden Hand, 424 Hawk Heron’s Deputy. alcon Detective. BY PHILIP S. WARNE, 802 Dan Dirk, King of No Man’s Land. 583 Captuin Adair, the Cattle King. 7 Capiain Midnight, the Man of Craft. 544 The Back to Back Pards. 22 The Champion Three. 502 Bareback Buck, the Centaur of the Plains. 472 Six Foot Si; or, The Man to “ Tie To.” California Kit, the Always on Hand. 404 Silver Sid; or, A “ Daisy ” Bluff. 380 Tiger Dick’s Pledge: or, Tne Golden Serpent. 359 Yellow Jack, the Mestizo. 338 Jack Sands, the Boss of the Town. 299 Toree of a Kind; or, Dick, Despard and the Sport, 280 Tiger Dick’s Lope Hand. 251 Tiger Dicx vs. Fon Despard. 207 Old Hard Head: or, Whirlwind and his Mare. 171 Tiger Dick, the Man of the Iron Heart. 114 The Gentleman from Pike. 80 A Man of Nerve; or, Caliban the Dwarf. 54 Always on Hand; or, The Foot-Hills Sport. 29 Tiger Dick, Faro Kivg; or, The Cashier's Crime. 4 The Kidnapper; or, The Northwest Shanghai. 1 A Hard Crowd; or, Gentleman Sam’s Sisver. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 267 The White Squaw. 234 The Hunter’s Feast. 228 The Maroon. A Tale of Voodoo and Obeah. 213 The Wild Huntress; or, The Squatter. 213 The War Trail: or, The Hunt of the Wild Horse. 208 The White Chief. A Romance of Mexico. 200 The Rifle Rangers; or. Adventures in Mexico. 74 The Captain of the Rifles; or, The Lake pees 66 The Specter Barque. A Tale of the Pacific. 55 The Scalp Hunters. A Romance of the Plains. 12 The Death-Shot: or, Tracked to Death. 8 The Headless Horseman. BY DR. NOEL DUNBAR. 730 Duke Despard, the Gambler Duelist. 604 The Detective in Rags; or, The Grim Shadower. 500 The True-Heart Pards. BY DR. FRiNK POWELL. © 746 The Dragoon Detective; or, A Man of Destiny. 158 The Doomed Dozen. MISCELLANEOUS. 566 The Dauntless Deteciive: or, The Daughter Avenger. By Tom W. King. 542 The Ocean Drift; or, The Fight for Two Lives. By A. F. Holt. 534 Green Mountain Joe: or, The Counterfeiter's Cave. By Marmaduke < ° 366 The Telegraph Detective. By George H. Morse 353 Bart Brennan; or, The King of Straight Flush By John Cuthbert. 850 Flash Falcon. Society Detective. By W. J. Cobb. 312 Kinkfoot Karl, tbe Mountain Scourge. By Mor- Redwing. 275 The Smuggler Cutter. - £0 D. Conroy. 261 Black Sam, the Prairie underbolt. By Col, Jo Yards. ; 190 The Three Guardsmen. By Alexander Dumas. vj 179 Conrad, the Convict. By f. Gildersleeve. 1665 Owlet, the Robber Prince. By S. R. Urban. 152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief. 146 The Doctor Detective. By George Lemuel. 144 The Hunchback cf Notre Dame. By Victor Hugo. 140 The Three Spaniards. By Geo. Walker. 133 Rody the Rover. By William Caneton. 125 The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth. 110 The Silent Rifleman. By H. W. Herbert. 102 The Masked Band. By George L. Aiken. 78 The Mysterious Spy. By Arthur .M. Grainger —_s 76 The Queen’s Musketeers. ng 5) Albany. 68 The htirg fim ee y Capt. J. F. C. Adams. 60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By F. Dumont. 32 B’hoys of Yale: or, The Scrapes of Collegians. ll Midshipman Easy. By Ca n Marryatt. 10 Vidoca. the French Police Spy. By himself. 9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. 6 Wildcat Bob. By Edward L. Wheeler. A new issue every Wednesday. Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale ty all ret a oe ere Se Newsdealers, ten cents . or sent by lon receipt of twelve cents each, BEADLE & ADAMS, Pu , 98 William street, New York.
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BEADLE’S« H ALF-])IME*[_IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Isswe Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers. BY OLL COOMES. Bandy, Detective; or, Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 168 Kit Bandy in Texas; or, The Young Mustanger. 2OS Kic Bandy’s Catch; or, The Boy Hercules. 422 Kit Bandy’s Right Bower; or, B mythe Boy Giant 441 Kit Bandy’s Swoop; or, Little Buckskin, tne Centaur. 473 Kit Bandy’s Slick Scheme; or, Old Tom Rattler. 661 Kit Bandy’s Deliverance; or, Banner Bsn 680 Kit Bandy’s Pard; or, Dauntless Dan, the Freelance. 791 Kit Bandy Rattled; or, The Intant Giant. 795 KH Bandy in Red Ruin; or, The Young Whirlwind. 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Rustle; or, Saddle King Sam. S04 Kit Bands’s Brigade; or, Dan, the Mountain Guide. 253 Jack Prew, the Nemesis. or, Eagle Kit_ the Boy Demon. 282 Jack Drew’s Drop; or, Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Jack Prew In Deadwood; or, Prospect Pete. 27 Keen Knife on Guard; or, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. S1 Keen-Knite, the Prince of the Prairies. & Vagabend Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 41 Las«o Jack, the Young Mustanger. 5S The Border King; or, The Secret Foe Z1 Delaware Dick, the Young Renger Spy. 74 Mawk-eye Marry the Young Trapper spger. SS Rollo, the Boy Ranger; or, The Heiress. 254 Sure Shot Seth, th- Boy Rifleman. 243 Sear-F ace Saul, tie Silent Hunter 178 Old Solitary, t¢ Hermit Trapper. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 221 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 238 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Di«guised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Nare-Devil Dan, the Y Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy; Old Culeb Arbuckle. 800 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. S14 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Nereules; »r, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective 457 Wingedfeot Fred ; or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 482 Stonewall Bob, (he Boy Trojan. S62 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance. TO Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. TS Mighland Harry, the Wizard Rifleman. 828 Poker Jack, the Detective Sport. Dow . BY T. C. HARBAUGH. Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of 76. The Hidden Lodge; or The Little Hunter. Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains, Dand ack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Traii. Kit Harefoot, the Wood-Hawk; or, Old Powder-face Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper. bid Froaty, the Guide; The White Queen. Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. Judge Lynch Jr.: or, The Boy Vigilante. 55 Gold Trigger, ‘he Sport; or, The Girl Avenger. ’9 Ternado Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core, Ned Temple, the Border Boy; or, The Mad Hunter. Arkansaw ; or. The Que-n of Fate's Revenge Navajo Nick. the Boy Gold Hunter. Captain Bullet; or, Littie Topknot’s Crusade. Plueky Phil; or. Rosa, the Re! Jezebel. Bill Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies. |e eee) we Were ze ce eu SOV eS Pe T9 Old Winch; or, T 294 Dynamite Pan; or, The Bowie Blade of Gochetopa. S02 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. B16 Old Eelipse, Tromp Card of Arizona. 826 The Ten Pards; +r, The Terror of Take-Notice S36 Rie Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. B45 Pitiless Matt; or, Ked Thunderbolt’s Secret. S56 Cool -am und Part; or The Terrible Six. B66 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. B56 Captain Cutlass; or, | He B-ccaneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Rob; or, The ! win Champions of Blue Blazes. 411 The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin. 418 Fellx Fox, the Boy Spotter; or, The Gold Gang of New York. 425 Texas Trump. the Border Rattler 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox; or, The Mystery ofRoom 21. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar. 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 477 The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. - 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret. — 512 Dodger Dick. the Wharf-Spy Detective. S21 Dedger Dick’s Best Dodge: or, The Gotham Gold Gang. S28 Pex and Faicon, the Bowery Shadows. SSS Pedger Dick, the Dock Ferret. S43 Dodger Dick’s Double: or, The Rival Boy Detectives. 553 Dedcer Dick's Desperate Case. f 565 © Dick. the Boy Vidoeq; or, The Gang of Three. S78 The Twe Shadows; or, Dodger Dick's Stop Game. 82 Dodger Dick’s Prop; or, The Man from Jersey. 94 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 41@ Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Shsrp on Guard. 626 The Champion Pards; or, The Lucifer of Silver Bar. 687 Dick Doan, the Dock Roy Detective. €45 Kit. the Pavement Sharp. €53 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle. T1 Jersey Jed, the Row Hustler; or. Shadowing the Shadower. 655 Happy Hugh, the Boy Musician Detective. 701 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. T15 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret. TSP Daisy Dell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game. 742 Billy Winks, the Bell Boy Detective. 54 paty he Shoo-Fly ; or, A Race fora Ranch. 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. 431 Little Ah Sin; or, The Corse of Blood. 1 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the slines Three Jolly Pards; or. The Pets of Paddy's Fiat. 517 Jim Gladdep’s Deputy; or, The Jolly Pard’s Cam S2T The Jolly Pards to the Resene; or, The Jack 7 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down. 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast fora Life. 574 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs. 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy Blazes; or, The SReleton’s Legacy. 685 peg ee eins Soe 648 Happy Harry’s Fi ‘or, The Beautiful Jezebel 664 Cheeky Charley the Special. hehe Lele | cn. , Dan’s Double Play. | The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes of a Bowery Girl, BY BUFFAL#O BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody). 8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, jhe Pilot Prairie. 55 veadly-Eye, the Unknown Sccut; or, The banded Brotherhood 6% Border Rebin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 ancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust. BY COL. A. F. HOLT. S17 Wideawake. the Tram-boy Detective. S11 Headlight Msrr,’s Flyer; or, Duke Derby. 678 liendlight H:irr,’s Hazard. 691 Headlight Narcy’s Haut; or, The Railroad Pards, | 727 Headlight harry’s Siren; or, Mad Madge. | 759 Headlight lhiarry’s Heritage. 794 Heudlight Harry’s Hunt; or, The Cache of Gold. BYY Biack Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Desth Canyon. | 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King; or, The Doomed Six. 485 Liitie Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Weods. B2Vs The Dandy Sport; or, The King Pin Conspirator. BY JOSEPH E. BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowstone duck; or, The Trapper. Biack John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat. 65 Murricane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. | 119 Mustang Sam ; or, The King of the Plains. | 885 Old Double Fist; or, Night-Hawk Kit; or, The Daugiter of the Ranch, Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. Panther Paul: or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Bey Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path. 208 The Boy Pards; or. Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca W olf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League. lhe Strange Guide B55 The King of the Woods: or. Daniel Boone’s Last Trail. 419 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective 625 Chineapin Dan, the Boy Tratler. 677 Chineapin Dan's Second Trail. 688 Chincapin Dan’s Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without » Head, TOS Light-Heart Lute’«s Legacy. 718 Light-Heart Lute’s Last Trail. Silverblade, the Shoshone. Silverblade, the Half-Bleod; or, The Border Beagle at Bay. Silverbiade, the Hvstile. cr, The Border Beagle’s Trail. Silverblade the Friendly; or, The Border Beagie’s Boy Pard BY J. W. OSBON. The Riv al Giant« of Nowhar’. Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Lack. Qld Buckeye, the Sierra Shadow. Powder Phil, the Boy Miner; or, The Man Without a Past. Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. Little Lightning’s League; or, The Mystery of tne Island Plueky Paul, the Boy Prospector. 751 Gold-Dust Dan, the Trail Patrol. 255 Geld Dust Dan’s Oath; or, Reckless Roy, the Regulator, BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR UT. 8. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or. The Gambier Guide. BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS. 6 Bil Biddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of tne Frontier. 6 Nat Todd}; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. 1 x¥ne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Mimers; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman. 254 The Half-Blood; or, The Panther of the Plains. | 271 The Huge Hunter: or, The Steam Prairie Man. MISCELLANEOUS AUTHOKS, 4 The Wild-Horse Munters. By Capt. Mayne Reie ané Frederick Whittaker. : 8 Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver's Travels. By Dean Swift. 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Rebinson Crusoe. (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 22 7 Sea Serpent; or, The Bey Robinson Crasoe. By Juan wis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carridees. By S. W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown: or, The Arena Queen. By F 8S. Finn. BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 51 The Boy Fifes; or. The Underground Camp. By A.C. Irons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi By Lieat.-Col, Hazeltine. 98 Robin Nood, the Ovtlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rabe, the Hunter, or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes- 112 The Mad Maunter; or, 'heCeve of Death. By Burton Saze. 124 Tivey. the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George 6 o. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Strongheld. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures ot s Frjendiess Bor. By J, Alexander Patten. 227 Dusky Parrell, per: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowstone. Bs sour o -* Yak Boy. D "261 Fergus Fearnaught the New . G. L. Alken. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; >r, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail. By Ensign C. D. Warren. 298 Red Claw. the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid ot the Cliff. By Captain Comstock. 817 Peacock Pete. the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Lieu- tenant Alfred Thorne. . 828 The Sky Detective; or, 4 Boy’s Fight tor Life and Hones, By Msior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Rover; or, The Brother's Re venge. By Ned Buntline. 865 Baltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A, P. Morris, 874 Gold-Puat Tom: or, Ben’s Double Match. By@ H. Morse, 876 California Joe’s First Trail. 8y Colone! Thomas 418 faitly Rombcb Hl, the Clif Climber. By F. y m cll, the “limber. y F. S. Winthrop. 475 The Black Ship. By John S Warner. 484 Comanche Pick and His Three Invinelbles. By Henry J. Thomas. S82 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest. B52 Ariel the Athlete. By David Druid. 585 Will Waters, the Bov Ferret. By 1. Enton. 682 The Dead Metective’« Double. By Gerald Carlton. 721 Maverick Mose, toe Arizona Detective; or, The Wizard of Urkes Pass. By Wl! Lisenbee. 809 Don Danton, the Gent from Denver. P v. Saleh, the § Corps. =a S14 Ace the Frisco Detective. By C. E. Tripp. 830 The Grim Ledgers in R ; tizen Ke.be Wlodatnwa. hint ihee 881 The Chicage Drummer’s Deal. By J. G. Rethure. By Marma- By King Keene, of the Hearts. | S41 Pvince Charlie, the Cat’s-Paw Sport. e 848 Dan, the River Sport; or, Foiling the Frisco Sharp. By Hareld Payne. 861 Billy Brine, - Swamp Fox. By Chas. F. Welles. Vew taeae Fvery ‘luesdsy- The Half-Dime is tor sale oy all Newsdealers, five eents per copy, or sent by maf! on of six conts eacr. BEADLE AND ADAM Publishers, 08 William Street. New ork,
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—————— Seescoocrnun lend 21 PPeNe De Rebedededededededededed SEF ENMMAK ee SOR NENOASH DENS POD : B06 5S Deadwood 7 Deadwood & Deadwood 5S Deadwood BEADLE'’S«H ALF- DIME« LIBRARY. BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novela. Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Dick, Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Deadwood Dead wood Dead wood Gold-Dust Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Dick's Dick. Dead wood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Deadwood Dead wood Deadwood Dead wood Dead wood Diek, Dick, Dick. Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick, Pick. Diek, Dick. Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick. Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick, Diek, Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Dead wooa Deadwood Deadwood Dead wooa Dead wood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwooa Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick. Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick. Deadwood Dead wood Dead wood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Deadwood e Prim Dick’s Defiance; Dick in Diagulse; Dick in His Castle. Dick’s Bonanza; «., Tt Dick in Danger; Dick’s Eagles; Dick on Deek; or. ' A Ron Dick's Divide Dick’« Death Dick's Deal; o Dick’s Dozen; Pieck’s Ducats; or, Diek Sentenced; or, Ihe Terrible Vendetta. Dick’« Claim. Dick In Dead City. Dick’« Diamonds. Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Case.” Dick's Duet; r, The Cr dr; ey ~*s By -Jm *% Bs oy 7m 2 y Jro« -% -"& "* Jr.'s dr., in T ~ t the Road. Buf e Phantom Mine gna Vii. r, The Pards of Fleod Bar. e Heroine y Charlie. niamity Detective: oc, The Dewbdie Grip andy Pard; or, The Choe to Capt. Claw Tike Tebil 2 sabilee « t Jacktown. r, The Jasper City Cleac Out. ~ey Pards T Crafty Detecttive's Crait. cr, The WipetDat ¢, The Game si Coffin City. sist Videos: ot, Sport va Sport. e SMtrerg'e. he het t e L or, The Fiery Hand of Fate. r, The Double Face of Bed Rock, 3 or, Five in Oxo. 3} Ware the Sport from Old Bombshell, the Ranger the Man of Fire Denver. Detective. er, Among the Vu)tores. Round Boy Frank, the Yeeng Amateer Wild V ulean, the Looe-Range Rider. Old Mixery © Clear-Grit Cal, Sam Sheridan, the Secret Serv the Ranch Cowboy Steve ¢ Man from M the Nerer Say-Die Detective me Spectal. Maseot, Nobby Nat, the Tesderfoct Detective. Sharper Stome’s Double Feal. S57 Spotter Bobia New Vork. Spotter Bob's Bowery Racket. » W itnese eee Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 80 Rosebud Reb; or, N t Ned, th 84 Rosebud Kob on Hand; or. Idyl, the Gir SS Reoxebud Reb’« Heappearance;: + 121 KResebud Reob’« ¢ een r, Cinnamon Chip. 277 Denver Doll, Detective Queen; or, The Yankee’s Surround 281 Denver Dell's \ letory; ! Denver Doll's Decoy ; i Denver Dott’s Drift; or. The Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gathere:; Yreka Jim’s Prize; . Yreka Jim's Joker; or, The R Yreka Jim’s New Role; r, b Yreks Jim of Yuba Dam. Frits, the Bound-Boy Detective: or, I Fritz to the Front; or, The Ver Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret; or, Slerra Sams Secret; or, The Bloody F Sierra San.’* Pard; or, The Ange! Sierra Sam's Seven; or, The St Kangaree Kit; or, The Mysterious Min Kangeroo Kit’s Racket; or, The P Death-Face, Detective; or, Lil The Boy Detective; or, G W atch-Fye : Detectiv Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Dete: 5 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. nm Mir tograph Phil. e Dete r, Skull and Crossbones. li’s Bonanza. ad Queen, r, Th f Wake i Nose, le Den. tlie B Life Lottery. The Wolves Ue. vals of Re tI le Game, st Humter en . ¥, tive = 16! New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 226 The Arab Detective ; or, Snovzer, the Boy Sharp. 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. $25 Kelley, Mickey & Co., the Detectives of Ryiladelphia, 348 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Mat Warry, the Base Ball Detective, Sam Slabaides, the Begzar-Boy Detective. Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. Cleven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon: or, The Border Vultures. 82 Bob Weoolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot 45 Old Avalanche: or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. 53 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or. The Red Rifle Tear 92 Canada Chet ¢ or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 118 Jack Moyle the Young Speculator. 125 Benanza Hill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. Beas Keb the King of Bootblacks Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent; or, The Branded Brows, 177 Nebby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scampa. 181 Wild Frank the Barkskin Bravo; or. Lady Lily’s Love. 236 Apolle Bill, the Trai! Tornado; or, Rowdy Kate 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Ghddiator; or, The Locked Valley. 278 Jumbo Joc, hie Boy Patr or, The Rival Heirs. 899 A No. 1, the Dashing Tol!-Taker. 808 *Lica Jane, the Girl Miner; or. the Iron-Nerved Sport. 880 Little Qu'ck-Shet; or, The Dead Face of Daggeraville. 858 First-Class Fred, ‘he Gent from Gopher. 878 Nabob Ned; or, The S-cret of Siab City. S82 Cool Kit, the Kirg of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance. 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son's Vengeunce. 456 Sealskin Sam, the Sparkier; or The Tribunal of Ten. BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS. 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 422 Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, The Affair at Tombstone. 631 Tom Cat's Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective. 683% Tom-Cat’s Trium phi or, Bleck Dan's Grrat Combine 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparrs! (ork; or, Josh's Ten Strike 568 The Dandy of Dodge; or, Rostling for Millions 576 The Silver Sport; or, Josh Peppe mint’s Jubilee. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With « Shadow 601 Happy Mana, the Duich Videcg; or, Hot Timesat Round-Up 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercnles. 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank. 665 Jolly Jeremiahy the Plains Detective. 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Seout 689 Billy, the Gypsy Spy: or, The Mystery of Two Lives, 699 Siraple Sims, the Rroncho Buster: or, For Big Stakes. T12 The Me«meri«t Sport: or, The Mystified Detective. 838 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector, 45 Kansas Jim, the Croes-Cut Detective. Marmaduke, the Mostanger Detective. The Rustler of Rolling Stone. 4 Joe, the Committee of One. the Hiwh-Kicker from Killbuck. ririelone’d S72 Two Showmes Detectives in Colorado, BY J. ©. COWDRICK. Broadway Biliy Novels. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle; or, Clearing a Stranze Case 586 Broadway Billy’s ‘Dimkiity.” 557 Broadway Billy's Peath Racket. S79 Broadway Biily’s Surprise Party. 605 Breadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning, 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Act; or, The League of Seven 669 Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootbiack in Frisco. 675 Broadway Billy’« Beat; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy In Clover. 696 Broadway Billy in Texas; or, The River Rostlers. 708 Broadway Billy's Brand. T11l Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clever Deal. 720 Broadway Billy’« Full Hand; r, The Gamin Detective. 735 Broadway Billy's Business. 738 Breadway Billy’« Curious Case. 758 Broadway Billy in Denver. 762 Broadway Billy’s Bargain; or, The Three Detectives, 769 Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. 775 Breadway Billly’« Shadow Chase. 788 Broadway Billy’« Beagles; or, The Tric’s Quest. 7™86 Broadway Billy's Teamy or, The Combine’s Big Pull. 790 Broadway 796 Breadway 800 Broadway 805 Broadway 810 Broadway “15 Breadway S21 Broadway 826 Broadway S38 Broadway S39 Broadway 844 Broadway 3409 Breadway 8566 Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Dead Alive, Builly’« Queer Bequest, Billy Baffled. Billy's Signal Seoop. Billy’« Wipe Out. Billy’s Bank Backet. Billy's Blaff. y Among Jeracy Thugs. Billy's Raid. Billy’« Big Beom, Billy’ Big Balee. Billy's #100,000 Snap. Billy’« Blind; er, 7 S62 Broadway Billy In London. S68 Breadway Billy Shadows Londen Slums. 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keys, 869 Shasta, the Gold King? or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Petective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without s Name, 424 Cibeta Jonn; or, Red-Hot Tunes at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scoot. black Stowaway. e Boot 467 Disco Dan, the Dailey Node 506 Redlight Ralph the Prince of the Read. 524 The Engineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph's Resolve Mart, the Night Express Detective. S71 Alr-Line Luke the Young Engineer Double Case Ruscals Out. 640 Bareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, G47 Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant's Ward, 659 Meonlight Morgun the “ Pizenest "* Man of Ante Baz. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five ee SNe ee ewe “ NEE Cents, by all Newsdealers.. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls. New York Nat's Masked Mascot. New York Nat, the Gamin Detect Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. T Dick Doom’s Ten Strike. Dick Doom’s Flush Hand. Dick Doom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective br Deetiz Dick Doom’« Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror Dick Doom; o e Sharps and Sharks of New York. Dick Doom in Boaten; or, A Man of Many Masks. Dick Doom tn Chicago. Dick Doom In the Wild Weat. Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep; or, Five Links in a Clo $ Dick Doom’s Death Clue. Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. Dick Doom’« Girl Mascot. Dick Doom’s Shadow Munt. ve ve r, 1 rk ee 8835 Dick Doom’s Big Heul. 749 Dashing Charlie: or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trai. 756 Dashing Charlie’s DPeatiny; or, The Renegade’s Captive. 760 Dashing Charlie’« Pawnee Pard. 766 Dashing Charlie, the Reecver. 497 Buck Taylor, Ring of the Cowboys. 787 Buck Taylor, the ( omanche’s Captive. 748 Buck Taylor's Boys; or, The Fed Riders of the Rio Granda, 560 Pawnee Bll, the Prairie Shadower. 718 Pawnee Bill; or, Carl, the Mad Cowboy 719 Pawnee Bill’« Pledge; or, The Cowboy's Doom. 725 Pawnee Bill; or, Daring Dick. 692 Redfern’« Curtous Case; o, To Rival Sharpes. 697 Redfern at Devil's Ranch; or, The Sharp from Tezag, 702 Redfern’s High Hand; or, Blue Jacket. TOT Redfern’s Last Trail; or, The Red Sombrero Rangers. 668 Red Ralph's Ruse; or, The Buccaneer Midshipman. 674 Red Ralph’s Bold Game; or, The Wizard Sailer. 679 Red Ralph, the Shadower, or, The Freedooter’s Legacy. 644 Butterfly Billy's Disgulee. 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Fxpress Ricer 656 Butterfly Biliy’s Man Hunt. 662 Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. 565 Kent Kingdon; o-, The Ow ls of the Overland. 570 kent Kingdon'’s Shadower} or, the Card Queen, 575 Kent Kingdon’s Duel; or, The Surgeon Seont. 556 Kent Kingdon’s Doom; or, The Suckskin Avenger. 545 Lafitte Run Down; or, The Bowaneers of Barrataria, 550 Lafitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Son. 555 Lafitte’s Confecsion: or, The Creole Corsair. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow 525 The Buck«kin Brothers In Texas. 5830 The Buckski: Bowers; or. The Cowboy Pirates, 535 The Buckskin Rovers: or, The Prairie Fugitive. 540 The Buckskin Pards’ Quest: or, Captein Ku-Klex, 5608 The Royal Middy ; or, The Shark and tne Sen Cat. 507 The Royal Middy’« Luck; or, The Hontea Midshipmen, 511 The Reyal Middy’s Foe. 450 Wizard WHII: or, The Boy Ferret or New York. 454 Wizard Will’« Street Scouta. 474 Wizard WIIl’s Pard; or, Fiera, the Flower Girl. 3 Wizard Will's Last Case: or, The Ferrets Afloat. Du n Dare, the Boy Refogee. 488 Du n Dare’s Plot; or, A Cabin Boy's Lack. 487 Puncean Dare’s Prize; or, The Sea Raider 441 Dunean Dare’s Secret: or, The Ocean Firefiv. 402 Isodor, the Young Con«pirator; or, The Fatal Lengue. 407 Isodor’s Double Chase; or, The Boy [nsergent. 412 Isodor’s War-Cloud Cruise; or, The Wild Yachteman, 216 Rison Bll, the Prince of the Reins. 222 Bixon Bill’« Clae; er. Grit, the Bravo Sport, 804 Dead Shot Dandy’« Dilemma. 808 Dead Shot Pandy’« Double; or, Keno Kit. $14 Dead Shot Pandy’s Defiances or, The Boy Bugler. 607 Dead Shot Pandy’s Chik f; or, The River Detective. 245 Merle Mente’s Leap for Life. 250 Merle Monte’« Mutiny : or. Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 Merle Monte’« Treasure Island. 269 Merle Monte the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Cruise; or, “ The Gold Ship” Chase 280 Merle Mente’s Fate ; or, The Pirate's Pride. 284 Merle Monte’s Pledge: or. The Sex Muorauder, The Kid Glove Sport ; or. Little Grit, the Wild Rider, The Kid Glove Sport’s Doom; or, Buffalo Bil, the Pony Exvress Rider 867 Dead Shot Ralph's Prop. S25 Marlo, the Cowboy Coaster, 781 Ruth Redmond, the Gir) Shadower. 686 Orlando, the Ovean Free Flag. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shet Scout. 602 The Vagabond ofthe Mines. 597 The Texan Detective; or, The Black Bravos. 591 Pelmonte. the Young Sea Rover; or, The Avenging Sallox, 580 The Ouicast Cadet; or, The False Detective. 495 Arizona Joe; or, The Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 487 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger 468 Neptune Ned, the Hey Coaster; or, Pirate in Spite. 462 The Sailor Roy Wanderer; or, The Born Guide. 446 Haphazard Warry : or, The Ses Scapegrace. 898 The Red Clasped. Vanda; or, The Boy Lieutenant. BST Warpath WIL. the Truitor Guide. SRR The Indian Pilot; «r, The Search for Pirate Island. BTT Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or, The Fingiess Schooner. 257 Billy Biue-Fyes, of the Rio Grande. 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. Crimson Kate, the Girl Trailer; or, The Cowboy's Triumph, 116 The Hussar Captain: or, The Hermit of Hell Gate. 111 The Sea-Pevil ¢ or, The Midsbipman's Legary. 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Smuggier , or, The Crotse of the Viren, TS The Boy Pwellat; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolt 62 The Shadow Ship; or, The Rival Lieotenants. 24 Piamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 17 Ralph Roy, the Roy Buccan-er; or. The Fogitive Yacht. 7 The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. Deck-Hawk Rey’« Big Scoop; The Sea Rover's Protege. By Col. Prentiss Ineraham. Broadway Billy’s French Game: or, The Miser Mil lienalre Among the Sharpers of Paris. By J. C. Cowdrich Detective Dave's Close Call; or, Farre! Fox, the Man ef Many Faces. Bv Dan Dunning, (0! the Secret Servier Corps.) Deadwood Pick, Jr's, Decoy Duck: r, The Cowboy Chief’s Tanderfeot-Tangle, By Rdward L. Wheeler 7 New York Nat’ Trump ‘Card; or, The Dare Devil Detective’s Draw. By Col. Prentios I The Street Arab’s Blind; Sampe. By Jo Pierce, Blue-light Bill, the Sapphire Sport tive’s Lone Hard. By Kiag Keene. Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwers; @, The Detective Queen of Parle. By J, C. Cowdrick, 881 Turkey Billy, the Shine-’em-op Detective; or, The Ganin Guardian. By Charles Morris. w, or, Scooping the Swindler r, The Denver Detec- 880 A New leasue Everv Tuesaday. The Half-Dime Library ‘s for sale by all cewsdeaers, fve Genus per copy, or sent by mai! on recetpt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 08 William Street, New York, wae oe wide ow otk =