Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 886) (1894 07 17)
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sal (em jm | m xm KN ni? mt ’ ; \ AY \\ pi Ze 2 WN WO 3 Zz I.\ —————eeEeEeEeEeEEEeEeEE—— i ae — tt ao at a | im Entered as Second Class Matter at the New York, N. Y, Post Office. Copyrizhted 1894, by ‘BE ADL E AND ADAMS. No 886 $2.50 PUBLISHE D WE E KL y B Y B E ADLE AND ADAMS. Price, . a Year. No. 98 W ILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK 5 cents. rl { Hi\\ i a a Di mi ie li ii THE FIVE POINTS | odging- House Janitor Monk Merry’s Haan Bouncers. A Story of The Prodigy of Paradise Park, BY JO PIERCE. CHAPTER I. THE PRODIGY AND HIS PECULIAR BUSINESS. A RAGGED man and a ragged boy passed along a narrow street and emerged into a small square. The locality was one with a history well-known to nearly every one in New York, but the boy gazed around in curiosity. He saw a number of brick buildings, more or less imposing in point of size, but all of rusty : yi inp: rig rgb a pn the center of the little square was g HE HEARD MOVEMENTS ON THE STAIRS. smaller inclosure, which marked a praise wena
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but difficult, attempt to makea park. It was but little larger than a good-sized dog-house. ‘* What place is this?’ the boy asked, tim- idly. he ragged man smiled quietly, ‘‘ This here is the Five Pints,” he explained. “Thar was a time, George Washington, when this here was the abode an’ boudoir of heaps o’ fun, When l’sa boy the Five P’ints was as kit- tenish as.a sorrel colt in pasture. Still, it had its drawbacks. 1 admit that it wa’n’t so law- abidin’ as parsons would hev it, That was long ago, George Washington, an’ fellanthroppy has lifted it from the social mire inter which you might ’a’ fell ef I‘thadn’t been yer guardeen ang], See?” ‘V.6e <sir 7? ‘*Sartain! Of course yer do, Nobody ever A omig you o’ bein’ ungrateful. You be grate- ul! ‘* Yes, Mr. Merry.” The boy answered readily, but with a faint- ness of tone which would have suggested to a close observer and hearer that he was not en- thusiastic in his gratitude. ‘That thar funny little pen in the middle o’ this square,” pursued the map, ‘is called Para- dise Park, Huh! huh! did yer ever hear sech. an absurd thing?” The ragged man seemed to be very jolly in his way, and he broke into a series of chuckles, ‘* Ts small,” observed the boy, doubtfuliv. ‘*So itis, George lef yer Die Ti a canary- bird had a cage o’ that size he would pine away fur want of exercise; but, land love yer! the little park is a blessin’, all thesame. The Sixt’ Ward would be lost without it. But, this sin’t ter the p’int. We want ter getanight’s lodgiw’, Come on, George Washington!” Holding fast to the boy’s hand, Mr. Merry turned into Elm street and went on until he came to a large, weather-beaten old building up- on which a siga, erratically printed, announced that lodging could be obtained for twenty cents a ry, Soa ‘¢'That’s the place,” he added, with an air of satisfaction; ‘‘an’a right good place it is, too. Twepty cents, George Washington! I don’t take yer to no ten or fifteen-cent den. This hyer is tony, an’ you ought ter be grateful. You be grateful, ain’t yer?” He gave the boy a sharp glance which indi- cated considerable doubt, but again received a faint affirmative, : They entered the building, the door being open all, Neither had ever been there before, but the place had been described to the man, and he went confidently up a flight of ricketty, — stairs and, reaching the floor above, en a room at the right. It proved to be an extremely long room, but not very wide, and was very suggestive of a horse-stable, All along one side extended a row of, little inclosures just about like stalls, ex- cept that they had doors. f The unoceupied space was almost destitute of furniture, but a boy was sitting on a stool, and he rose and looked at the new-comers in an in- quiring way. He wasa queer-looking boy—at least, so the man thought. His age might have been anywhere from twelve to sixteen, but he was a light-weight. He hada narrow chest; slender armsand legs; small hands and feet, and a very thin face. ae had never before seen such a slender boy. If he had not possessed a big supply of black, curling hair he would have been, the man thought, almost invisible. : Despite all this, the boy was not of delicate . appearance. He was straight of figure, had good color in his face, was bright-eyed, and ap- peared to have considerable muscle for one of his ears, wT Wal, what is it?” he asked, calmly, as Merry remained silent. ‘*T was lookin’ at you!” ‘*T see you was.” ‘¢ Whar’d they git you?” ‘Over at Paradise Park,” was the matter-of- fact answer. ‘* Be you a cherub?” “Come off!” calmly directed the thin boy. * Be J a byar on biz?’ “Kin you cast a shadder?” ‘* You’ve noticed it, hev you?” - “Noticed w'ot?” “That I’m thin,” ‘“‘Thin! Why, a sheet o’ paper ain’t no com- parison.” **That’s my way,” the boy lained, with calm melancholy. ‘‘No matter how much I cue rw Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. ‘ eat, it don’t do no good; I can’t git fat. It’s as hopeless as ef I was a knife-blade. They calls me Cobwebs!” ‘“They do right, by thunder!” ‘But that ain’t my name, It’s Jehiel Kellar, an’ some calls me Curly Kell.” ‘* Ain’t got no more names, hev yer?” : “i ain’t afraid ter tell them all; some folks e| This was a shot at the new-comer, which he did not fail to understand. ** Tt’s all right, Cobwebs; we can’t all be fat. Whar’s the boss?” ‘© Tm him.” **You be? Yow don’t run this per ‘*No; but I’m janitor. Want lodgin’s?” ** We do.” ‘* Forty cents!” Curly Kell spoke with business gravity: He was always grave. There were times when he used slang and indulged in light conversation of an original nature, but nothing ever disturbed his calm dignity. The money was paid, and then the man looked around, ‘“*Gota register?” ** A what?” ‘* Book ter write our namesin,.” . ‘¢ Wot yer givin’us? Take this fur the Fift’ Avenoo Hotel? Ef you git a bed you ought ter bu thankful.” ** Presume that’s so, though I ginerally like ter register. Ef I should git smothered by gas, my wife an’chillun could ‘dientify me by the regis- ter. My name is Monk Merry; this hyar youth is George Washington Franklin.” ‘¢Them p’ints don’t concern me,”’ Curly Kell walked to one of the doors and opened it. Inside there was an apology for a bed, loosely constructed by some one not an ex- pert at carpentering, and this was covered with a very small stock of bedding. Towels, soap and water were not to be seen anywhere about the place, but this was a de- privation which its usual patrons had never noticed. Water they had no use for, externally or internally. The so-called rooms continued to look like horse-stalls. Between them, partitions of rough boards were run up about seven feet, Except for this, and the doors, they were without any degree St led Monk erry surveyed them with grim humor. ‘* Blegant lay-out!’ ‘* You bet!” affirmed Cobwebs, proudly. ‘It would be hard to find the equal in New York, "Ye don’t keep nofifteen-cent lodging-houses, an’ hev our beds right up smack ter each other, like a hospital. e charge extra price, an’ give superior ’comodations.” __ *“’Zackly! Jes’so! Precisely!” — = « Kagged and ill-looking as he was, Merry had a clear understanding of the affairsof life. Per- haps he had slept in really respectable quarters in his day; certainly, he was amused at this at- tempt at exclusiveness. The unfinished boards had once had divers knot-holes and crevices whieh seriously infringed upon privacy, but strips of newspaper had been pasted on to hide the defect. It was comical, and Merry realized it. ‘* Who keeps the payer he asked. ‘* Mahalaleel Tubbs.” ‘* Mother o’ yourn?” ‘* He’s a man.” “Oh! Didn’t know by the name but he was a kangaroo. Ma-ha-la-le-el! Pooty good, ‘b’- at FY An’ your name is—what?” — ‘* Jehiel-——” ‘“*Regilarfam’ly name!” —| ““Mahalaleel ain’t none relate. ter me; I’m only his janitor. I bev charge when he’s pace by _Be you goin’ ter take quarters, or not ' Cobwebs was none too well impressed with Mr. Monk Merry, and was growing impatient at the delay, He liked customers who paid their money without a word, went to bed, and had nothing to say until morning, ‘““Why, cert.; that’s what we're hyar fur, Here is yer forty. It’s a pile o° money; it costs amazin’ ter live in New York. George Washington, you go ter bed, an’ I'll join ye presently.” 2 toe The small boy obeyed all that Merry said without opposition, butin a manner that indi- cated no great amount of affection between his ‘companion and himself, In fact, taken in con- nection wlth the former’s oft-repeated inquiry as to whether the boy was “‘ grateful,” it looked asit the bond between them was of the most e kind. hen George had gone to bed, Merry followed Cobwebs out into the main room, . ‘** Kin I smoke?” he asked. “c Yes,” ‘** Got a good job here, ain’t yer?” o Yes,” ‘¢ Live round here previous?” ‘** Always nigh here.” The janitor had been making the briefest of replies, evincing a lack of inclination to talk, but the turn of affairs aroused a kind of gloomy enthusiasm within him, and he suddenly grew communicative and added: ‘*T was born in the Sixt’ Ward; don’t jestly know whar, fur I was a-floatin’ at my earliest rec’lections. Ef I ever git ter be President, no- body can’t have my birthplace phot phted an’ putin the papers. I growed up in Paradise | Park, Ef ever a feller had a home, that place was mine. I used ter go thar an’ play, an’ loaf, en’ roll around, an’ git the mud all over me. Until I was nine or ten years old I used ter carry Five P’ints mud on me all the time, one layer above the other. Then I took ter bathin’ in the river, an’ it ain’t sono more.” Cobwebs sighed, as if he regretted the days past a gone, and Mr. Monk Merry echoed the sound, _‘ Water is dangerous!” declared the latter. ‘*Tt’s fashionable, though,” ‘* Not in the best sossiety.” ‘*T thought it was,” observed the janitor, doubtfully. “ec No ” ‘* Don’t they use it on Murray Hill?” ‘*Pah! Call that the best sossiety?” ‘*Some does.” ‘*7 don’t. They hev clothes on Murray Hill that is gorgeous, but brains—why, they ain’t got hardly none! I know, ’cause I've mixed with them a good ’eal. Yes; they wash-~scrub themselves so much that they take all the dirt off, an’ is white as wax figgers.”’ ‘* You don’t approve of it?” ‘*T don’t!” asserted Merry, stoutly. The janitor meditated deeply on what he re- garded as an intricate point for several mo- ment., and then replied: ‘*Ef I’ve done wrong by takin’ ter the use o’ soap an’ water I ain’t ter blame; *twas ‘cause I’ve been wrongly teached. Dut that ain’t w’ot I set out ter say. i growed up in the gtreets at the Five Pints, but, while Iwas growin’ up, 1 forgot ter grow sideways, I was the thinnest specin mt of humanity ever seen around there, © an’ folks got ter callin’ me ‘Cobwebs, the Pro- digy of Paradise Park!” “Why ‘ Prodigy ’?” ‘“*Cause I’s so thin,” “6 I see,” **T got guyed a good ’eal, an’ it used ter make me feel sort o’ mean, but I finally got the good will o’ most of the fellers, They ginerally call me Curly Kell, now.” ae manage ter stagger under ’em, don’t er * om. . or Don’t mind ’em an artom now,” responded Jehiel. ‘I’ve got inter business, an’ when a chap is that way, he ain’t got time ter think © what hisnameis. I'm glad I ain’t got a-dude name, though. Here comes another lodger.” CHAPTER II. ‘ MYSTERIOUS MEN AT THE HAPPY HAVEN. MonkK Merry rose quickly and closed the door of the little den where the boy, George Washington, was lying. ‘He'll go ter sleep quicker,” Monk explained, Curly Kell had turned to greet the new-com- er, whose footsteps he had heard outside, and he did not give much attention to Monk and his actions. / A closer o ver might have suspected that the latter wished to keep all prying eyes away from George Washington, and this, and other facts suggested that he had something in con- nection with the boy which be wished to hide, as well as to hide his face, It was then the time at which the patrons of the lodging-house usually. began to come in, and Cobwebs had more or less business from that time, \ Merry sat at one side and watched quietly. His manner was phlegmatic, and he pulled away at his old clay pipe in a satisfied way, but he did not fail to look sharply at each person whoentered. _ x The fact was, while he did not expect to see any one he knew, be was aware that he might see some one he bad cause to fear. i His life had always been one with pages he did not care to have every one read, and times had not changed with him. At last he grew sleepy, and, after yawning, announced that he would retire. This did not interest Cobwebs, He had business to attend to,
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1% Pi aat el his mind was all onit. He was not a boy ' ‘to be puffed up by any real or imaginary honor, ‘but, having a strong business sense, he was ‘as earnest in the care of the twenty cent 1 ng- house as though it had been a marble-front hotel on some aristocratic street. Monk Merry went into the compartment with George Washington, and bad no more to say. Cobwebs had taken in several lodgers, but ‘there came a lull in business which was broken by the entrance of a swarthy-faced, black-haired man, who bore all the distinguishing marks of a Loreigner. He ‘was dressed in garments once of very good quality, but grown seedy with age and use, and had a face above the lodging-house average in point of refinement and intelligence; but it bore a shea expression. t was one with a certain wildness; an son restless expression; and a close observer wou d have thought: ‘ This man is afraid of some- thing or some one.” Curly Kell noticed the fact at once, but it made no cys ghisne ies upon him, All sorts and ‘conditions of men came to the place to sleep. Some had guilty secrets; some even had been arrested there, charged with ve crimes, Tho Prodigy had reason to believe that every crime and misdemeanor known to man had been represented by those who slept under the roof, ith these facts he had nothing to do. As long as they behaved well in the place, he could ask mo more, In a twenty-cent lodging-house one cannot be ‘too fastidious. The stranger looked around the room for some time before he found words, and when he did, they were spoken hesitatingly. : ‘This—a—is a—a hotel?” he questioned. Curly Kell rubbed his sharp chin doubtfully, ** Wal, yes,’ he returned. ‘¢ You keep ze public?” ‘* We bunk ’em.” ‘* Zis ees what you call lodging-house?” * Jes’so. Want a bed?” ‘* Ze place is quiet?” ‘Oh! cert.; as you kin see,” The man’s Ckper gaze caught sight of a sign painted on the wall. ‘“** Happy Haven!” he read, ‘* V’at zat means?” ‘* It’s the name of our seleck ’stablishment. The same name is ter be seen at the door.” ‘*T saw it, but I do not know ze meaning of all things I see.” “* You’re French,” “cc Eh 9”? The man gave a start, and looked at Cobwebs with sudden trepidation. ‘*T say, you’re a Frenchman,” ‘* How you know zat?” hy By the way you talk.” ‘*No, no; you make von meestake; von nd meestake. am an American!” decla the sarc’ et earnestly. All right; we don’t care here ef a man is a Ghoctaw, ef he behaves well. Hev a bed?” ‘* Zis will all be private?” *‘ Bless you, vaair Cobwebs was getting a trifle impatient. He -was not accustomed to applicants who were fas- tidious. The greater part cared nothing for their Siang nae ha long asthey found a place ‘whereon to lay their heads, There was one person in the room who mani- festly had more interest in the Frenchman than the janitor did. Not long had the new-comer been talking when Mr, Monk Merry’s head ap- peared above-the partition which shut him in, and his gaze became glued upon the latest appli- cant. Merry said nothing, but his expression spoke volumes, There was surprise, eagerness and rapt attention in it, and, had he been seen, the impression would have been unavoidable that he had seen the Frenchman before. Yet, he did not greet him as a friend; instead, he lowered his head, after a little, until his ager cunning eyes were barely above the ep of the partition. e listened breathlessly to what was said, The stranger did not grow moreatease, Once more he began to take an ore inventory of re place. Monk Merry’s head sunk out of sight. ‘ **Can T look in ze other compartments?” asked the foreigner. ‘*Wal, I reckon not!” Curly Kell retorted. “Why in thunder should you look in?” ** To see who is zere.” ‘* What do you care who’s there?” ‘*Nothings! nothings!” was the hurried re- sponse. ‘‘Of coursel care nothings, I will—I k I will—I will take ze one place here,” Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. 3 There was nothing amusing in his hesitating manner. Heshowed painful weaknessand fear, and, intent on business as Cobwebs was, he could not but notice and mentally comment up- **He’s done some crime, and now he’s pretty nigh skeered out o’ his shoes, He’s a hunted man!” The fact that the janitor thought thus did not interfere with the bargain under way. The proprietor of the Happy Haven never refused any one who could pay his bills, and would be- have himself, and Kell, acting for him, did not even feel curious in this case, Having grown up in the midst of poverty and crime—from which, luckily, he had thus far kept himself free—the boy hada vague idea that all men were criminals, but had never meditated very deeply on the point. A compartment was assigned to the French- man, and he entered it, ‘“‘Zere ees no lock on ze door,” he com- plained. *¢ Wot d’ye expeck? Want a Turkish barth an’a steam reddiator? You can’t git ’em here; this ain’t Fift’ Avenoo.” ‘* But zere is no privacy!” Another customer entered the main room and Cobwebs went to attend to him. It dawned upon the Frenchman’s mind that he would have to take things as they were or leave the Happy Haven, so he sighed and prepared to re- main, The fact was, he had sought this place be- cause he thought it would be very retired, and that certain persons would not think of looking for him there; and this impression was so strong that he decided to run the risk of an un- locked door. He had no valuables to lose. Having paid Cobwebs, he closed the door and removed his coat. This was all the disrobing that many patrons of the Happy Haven ever sree themselves to do, though unusual to m. He covertly brought a revolver out of his peace looking stealthily around, slipped it un- er his pillow, and then lay down. It was five minutes later when a feeble voice sounded in the compartment devoted to the use of Monk Merry and his boy companion, The latter had observed Monk’s conduct in mga over the partition with some wonder, but ha made no comment upon it. ‘*] would like a drink of water,”remarked the ‘‘Eh? What’s that?” demanded Merry, with a start, The statement was repeated. ** Nonsense!” returned Monk, ‘ You don’t want nothin’ of the kind. Besides, thar ain’t no water here.” ** But there must be some outside.” ‘*T'm sleepy, an’ can’t go fur none,” ** But Pll go.” ‘*No, you won't!” exclaimed Merry, hastily. ‘You come in here ter sleep, not ter swill down water. Water! Pah!—you git in the habit o’ drinkin’ too much water an’ it’ll kill yer! You let the stuff alone, You hadn’t ought ter think o’ water when I’ve pervided sech a good bed fur yer. Ain’t yer grateful?” ‘*- Yes,” answered George Washington, faint- y. ‘* Then say no more about water /” Mr. Merry’s verbosity over such a trifling at- fair might have puzzled a casual hearer, while a more attentive person, remembering the start he had made when the boy spoke of leaving the compartment, would have arrived at the con- clusion that the ragged man was afraid to have George, or himself, leave their cover. Ever since the alleged Frenchman entered the room, Monk had been ina flurry, and he did not get over it easily, George was afraid of his companion, and so he abandoned the hope of satisfying his thirst, but the water-hating Merry did not lie down. Instead, he remained on his feet, and his expression was troubled and thoughtful, Now that the Frenchman was in the Happy Haven, he wished himself and George far away. . Ifhe had known of any way to get out secret- ly he would have made use of it; but, having acted the spy himself, he was afraid that the other man would do the same. He was determined that he and George should not leave the compartment until the Frenchman had departed from the lodging-house. Little suspecting what adverse elements he had taken into his place of business, Cobwebs continued his work. He took in the usual hy- brid class of customers, some of whom were much the worse for liquor, He showed the dex- terity of long | othe in getting these men to bed, and aid it all calmly. The Happy Haven turned no one away, and scorned no one. The compartments were getting nearly all monopolized when there came a knock at the door which led into the hall, As this door had a retire outside which briefly directed applicants to ‘‘ Come in!” such a thing was un- usual, Cobwebs opened the door. A lady stood outside! The janitor started. Nothing of the kind had ever occurred before in his experience, ‘““We don’t take women!” he explained, weg ‘* All rules bave an exception,” she calmly answered; ‘‘ you will take me!” CHAPTER IIT, A WOMAN APPEARS. CurLy KELL looked bad) y demoralized. ‘¢ But, mum,” he urged, ‘this hers place is exclusive fur men, an’ we ain’t got no private rooms—” The woman made an imperious gesture, ‘‘ What are you talking about?” she demand- ed. ‘‘ Do tng think I want sleeping accommo- dations? hen [ do I shall not seek an old rookery like this,” La) Oh ‘ha Kell breathed a sigh of relief, He could af- ford to overlook the pon’ aig Sony term applied to the Happy Haven as long as the woman did not intend to urge the point. ‘‘ Where is the proprietor?” she continued. ‘*T'm him,” “ce You had ‘* Leastways, I act fur him. an’ won’t be ter-night.” “* What is the extent of your premises?” ‘The which?” ‘¢ Have you more than one room?” ‘Oh, yes; there’s the boss’s cobblin’-shop, an’ his own sleepin’-room.” He ain’t in now, ‘¢ Where is the latter?” ‘* That’s the door to it.” ‘* Let me in!” “Great cats! I couldn’t do that!” ‘6 Why not?” ‘* He would chew my ear off.” ‘* Read that!” The woman, whose manner was abrupt, im- perious and severe, gets a soiled sheet of note-paper almost into Kell’s face, He took it aoa finding a single line of writing, read it slowly: ** Let the bearer occupy my room, to-night.’’ To this was signed the name of Kell’s em- pp hy he boy rubbed his sharp chin and looked doubtful, ‘Never having seen his employer’s writing he could not say whether the present sample was genuine, but the whole affair im- pressed him as being as mysterious and suspi- cious as it was strange, The woman waited impatiently, but in silence, and Cobwebs finally turned his prs upon her searchingly. He saw a woman of about thirty- five years, tall, dark, fairly well dressed, and rather impressive of appearance. She looked out of place in the abode of poverty, but there was no womanly gentleness in her face to arouse the idea that she was too good to be there, ‘© Well?” she finally Aint sharply. ‘* What's this go?” Kell asked, ‘* What do you mean?” ‘What do you want that room for?” ‘* That is my business.” ‘* Mine, too,” was the stout reply. **Do you defy your employer’s orders ‘*T ain’t sure this is his order,” ‘*It speaks for itself.” ‘ ‘*¥Yes; but does it speak fur him? Fact is, mum, this here is a go wholly out 0’ the ordi- nary. I can’t see what intime you want that room for. It’sa small, mean, stuffed-up place, with old shoes layin’ around, an’ none too clean—” ‘You have only to show me in,” Kell looked at the paper again, and still hesi- tated. Tbe mystery was not explained in the least, but he felt that he might as well refrain from asking the woman ven more questions, The only point was, should he let her in? She suddenly concluded that something be- sides intimidation might be wise upon her . sa? ‘aor her pocketbook, took out a dol- Jar bill. ‘This will repay you for your trouble,” she observed, more graciously. “Don’t want yer money!” “ No” amie Sle ee ee _
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4 **No. Ef you've made a special bargain with the boss, he’s the man ter look after the finances. The terms for the lodging-room is twenty cents a night, I never heerd that there was a priceon other room, I won’t take no money!” Cobwebs spoke with vigor, bound to have his conscience free, anyhow. He could not very well refuse to obey the note, unless he knew it to be a forgery, and this he did not know. ‘*T trust, for your sake, you are not going to refuse to let me into the room,” continued the woman, an angry glitter appearing in her eyes. mS I s’pose that’s intended ter skeer me, but I don’t skeer very bad, You kin hey the room. I only mops yer ain’t puttin’ up no job on the boss, fur he is pertic’lar p’izon when his mad is up. Yer name ain’t on this codicil.” ** Codicil? Oh! no;it’s not onthepaper. But Iam Madame Hortense Lapierre.” ‘* French!” thought the Prodigy. ‘‘So was other one, Jil be thrashed ef thar ain’t a de- luge o’ sech.” adame ays ome was looking impatiently to- ward the small room, and she was kept waiting no longer. Cobwebs opened the door and light- ed the gas. He had not maligned the room. It wasasmall and ill-favored place, where but few ladies would wish even to sit down, but she surveyed it with an air of satisfaction. ‘*{ kin get a broom an’ shove out some 0’ the dirt fur ye—” So spoke Kell, but she interrupted him, ‘Nonsense! Whatisalittledust? All I want is to be left alone. Good-night!” She seemed upon the point of trying to shove him out forcibly, but changed her mind and did nothing so rash, Reluctantly and unwillingly the janitor left the room, and the key at once clickedin thedoor. Madame Lapierre had made herself secure from intrusion, Kell shook his head gravely. Can't get onterit. Whatever possesses that woman ter want a habitation in there is more nor [kin guess, She looks like she had some money, so why should she come here? Hope she won’t smash around and disturb my lodgers. They're good, bigh-toned gents, an’ them as ain’t full would be kep’awake by a rumpus, That would be a shame!” The janitor shook his head again as he con- sidered how melancholy it would be if such emi- nent men should be annoyed. ‘* But the wall is thick between her room an’ ere an’ I reckon they won’t hear her,” he de- c . He reéntered the main room, All was quiet there, and the lodgers seemed to be oblivious of all around them, but only a few minutes had passed when the door of one apartment opened and the Frenchman came out, His face bore the old, troubled expression, and he looked around nervously. Approaching Kell, he began to speak, and had said onlya few words when Monk Merry’s forehead and eyes prpeeren above the wall of his inclosure,. eorge Washington’s guardian proceeded to listen eagerly. ‘* My young friend, did I give to you ze name which is mine?” asked the Frenchman, “No. Wenever take names here.” *t Mine is John Smith,” The ridiculous side of this claim, when the name was compared with the speaker’s nation- ality, could not fail to impress itself upon. Cob- trp but his gravity was proof against all things, " ‘* All right,” he returned. ‘t Could you write ze name on ze door to my bed-place, young sir?” ‘* (treat cats! why should I?” So zat any one who comes in may know zat I am not any one else,” ‘* What would they care?” ** Zey might care much,” ; ‘* You don’t know the character o’ this here house,” Kell expostulated, with some warmth, “This is a bang-up, first-class *stablishment, an’ nobody don’t meddle with nobody else. We don’t keer whether folks is called Smith or Schmittgruber—not a fraction. Write yer name on the door? Nary time; ’twould be ag’in’ all rools an’ p ents, Can’t do it! oud better turn in, mister; the night-air is gettin’ raw,an’ bleak.” Monsieur John Smith yielded meekly, but he sighed as he turned away. y, his mind was ill at ease, } When he disap in his own quarters Mr. Monk Merry’s prying head went out of sight, too, but its owner shook his shaggy locks vely. om The old chap is up ter some game!” he mut- tered. ‘‘I can’t for the life o’ me guess what, but I’m afeerd he is on ter me!” Cobwebs was not given time to think upon the peculiarities of Monsieur Smith. Two more customers arrived, and it needed only one lar pe for the Prodigy to see that they were talians. This wasnot at allstrange; all nations had been represented at the Happy Haven, and the coming of a Turk would not have sur- prised Kell, The new-comers stopped and looked curiously around the long room, ‘* Want ’commodations?” Kell asked, briskly. ** Yes,” one of the twain answered, mechanic- ally, but in quite good English. “Allright, Will you go in tergether?” The man ceased to Jook around so inquisitive- ly and, turning his gaze upon the janitor, spoke in a low voice: ‘* You have many patrons, eh?” ‘¢ Heaps!” is They all in now, eh?” “Can't say. They call at all hours,” ‘* How many come this night, eh?” ‘Oh! upwards of a dozen, [ reckon,” The questioner stood insilence, but, once more his gaze traveledsinquisitively along the room, It was as though he sought to learn more than he knew, and he’hesitated to put in words what was in his mind. His companion, who, evidently, was less in- telligent, was outdoing him in the matter of peering about. Sharply as they looked, there was one thing they did not see. ‘The moment they entered the room the door to Monsieur Smith’s compart- ment had been pushed ajar just the slightest fraction, and that man had looked out nervous- ly. The first view of them threw him into a panic. His face became white, and his legs shook under him until it seemed as if he would ‘Mon Diew! I am lost!” he gasped, in a whis- er. : And there at the crevice he stood, watching with undiminished terror until Cobwebs grew weary of the delay and brought the Italians to the point with a few business-like words. They paid for their lodging, and he conducted them directly toward Smith’s covert. Then the latter fled to his bed, crawled into it, drew up the clothes and covered his head. He left one little place open so that he could listen, and heard the Italians enter the com- partment next to his own. Profuse perspiration broke out upon him, He feared these men with an overwhelming fear, and now they were given quarters with ig a low partition between them and him- se. The bed trembled under his shaking form, It was not light enough in the compartment to distinguish faces, but he did not uncover his own, He kept the small opening free, however, and gazed at the top of the partition in the fascination of deadly fear. His apprehensions were not without founda- tion. There were soft whispers in the Italians’ quarter ; then a lull; and then he saw a human head rise above the partition. CHAPTER IV, MONK MERRY IS STARTLED, Worps can but feebly describe the French- man’s terror at that moment, He shrunk away as if he would go down through the bed, but never removed his gaze from the head above the partition, He could watch in safety through the little crevice he had left in the bedclothes, for the darkness defied the vs own gaze, but Monsieur ‘* Smith” did not realize this, He e ted in- stant detection and destruction. If he had thought of it he would have dropped the clothes aa y, but he was fascinated by the head above m, Once he remembered the revolver under his own pillow, but he dared not use it, It seemed a generation to the frightened man that the head remained in view, but, really, it was only a short time. Failing to see anything whatever, the prying Italian withdrew and ss down to the floor of his own compart- ent. “Smith had a reprieve, but it did him no good. It merely gave him a chance to think active- ly, if not reasonably. ‘ He had sean the two. Italians before, and though not acquainted with them, had no doubt as to the errand that had brought them to the Happy Haven. He fully believed that they had come t) murder him. at they knew he was Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. there seemed certain, but he hoped they did know in which compartment he was. He reached out feebly and secured his revol-- ver, but it shook in his grasp, and he would not. have had the courage and Aideaeat to use it, No part of the warlike spirit common to his countrymen was in him then, He had never had any great supply. The whispering between the Italians was re- newed, but Monsieur Smith could not distinguish. anything that they said. till unconscious of the trouble brewing, Cur- ly Kell kept his ane by the door and waited or new patrons, but the last had arrived. It: was not a good night, financially, for the Happ Haven, and Cobweb’s face was long as he medi- tated on the fact, Having a keen business inclination, he was as much interested as though the place was his. own, When twelve o’clock had come and passed he: spread a blanket on the floor near the deor and lay down, himself. He sup that all his customers were in the land of slumber, and in- tended to follow them if no new-comers ap- peared. The long sleeping-room was silent, and the low-turned gas broke the darkness but did not dispel it, More time passed, aud the young janitor was’ asleep. Anon, the door of one of the compartments opened and Monk Merry came out, ith soft,, slow steps be crossed the floor and approached the door, He had heard Kell turn the key, but: fr gp know whether the latter remained in the ock, This was a question of some importance, for Mr, Merry was anxious to take George Franklin and leave the lodging-house, Ever since he had seen the Frenchman he had known that it was no place for him, Reaching the door, he discovered that the key was not there. Plainly, he thought, it was in Kell’s pocket,. and he turned that way without delay. Kneel- ing, he began the search, and the Prodigy slept too soundly to be awakened, The key, however,, did not reward Monk’s efforts, ‘““Got ter wake him up,” the ragged man thought, regretfully. ‘‘ Hang the luck! He’ll make a pale o’ talk, an’ that will wake up the Frencher, But I’ve got ter resk it. Wonder ef he’s asleep now?” } Softly he glided to the door of Smith’s com- artment and listened. He heard nothing. The ‘renchman, however, was not asleep; he was too: much alarmed to reach that state. Deciding that everything was favorable for his venture, Monk turned, anxious to arouse. Kell and get away, but he had a shock when he turned, A woman stood before him. He bad not known about the person who was occupying the small room, so he had no clew to this appearance, and he stood speechless and. motionless before her. She laid her hand on his arm, ‘¢ Come with me!” she directed, ‘© Where?” he asked, startled, ‘* Where I can talk with you,” ** But 1 don’t want ter talk.” “ I do,” ‘*Talk ter them who wants ter hear yer!” Merry answered, in a surly voice, Sho tightened her hold on his arm. “If you value your safety, and your future success, you will obey me. Refuse, and I will give an alarm here. Comply, and I'll take you only a’ few steps, and detain you but a mo- ment.” Monk sighed and yielded. He had met wo- men of her kind before, ard knew they were perfectly unmanageable. : ** Lead on!” he directed, She obeyed; they passed through a door and stood in the small room to which Cobwebs had conducted her. If the latter had seen the sight he would have been astonished, In all his experience at tho Happy Haven he had not suspected that a door existed between the two rooms. Strictly speaking, there was none, Unknown to the janitor there was a movable section of the dividing wall. Madame Lapierre had made good use of this. She closed the door and turned up the gas. Monk Merry i-nproved the increase of light and, looking with interest, saw what he regard- ed as a very fine woman, Only for his haste to et away unseen by the Frenchman, he would not have felt any desire to get rid of his present. as “Whom have you been looking forf’ she asked, abruptly.
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} **Me? Nobody.” “It is false!” ‘* Now, you wrong me,” asserted Monk, try- ing to appear innocent. ‘ Why were you listening at one of the com- partments?” **T heerd somebody groan, an’—” ** Why will you lie to me?” ‘* My dear woman, I ain’t lyin’, Guess you don’t know me—” ‘*T know you very well.” ** You do?” ee Yes.” ‘© Who be I?” *¢ Just now, you call yourself Monk Merry!” The ragged man was startled. ‘Who be you?” he demanded. ‘¢ One who knows you well,” ‘*T reckon my business ain’t your busi- mess.” He spoke surlily. His transient admiration for her had vanished. He was afraid of her, and his regard expressed suspicion, hostility and menace. ‘““You are mistaken,” she calmly replied, ** Just the opposite state of affairs exists. Your business is my business,” ‘* Not by a durned sight! Who be you, any- how, that tries to cut sech a wide swath?” ‘Tam Madame Lapierre, Does the name en- lighten you any?” ** Not a bit.” ‘*T did not expect it would, I have the ad- vantage of you, you see; [I know you, your name, your history. I know a good deal about you, my man,” **f s'posed this lodgin’-house was a private place,” growled Monk, in fast-increasing anger; ‘*an’?now I’d like ter know why crazy women are ‘lowed ter g0 snoopin’ around ter annoy de- cent folks, ITll hev my money back, or-—-” **Gent'y! You need not blame the house or its keepers; no guilt lies there. Blame me, alone; I can bear it, But we talk at random, Mr. Merry. Whom do you wish to see?” half abode: “How poorly you lie! You were spying at Jean Beauclare’s door, Can it be that vou wanted to tell him anything about the boy, Vin- cent? Monk’s face betrayed guilt and alarm, but he persisted in his policy doggedly. **T don’t know what you talk about.” ‘* You lie!” was the impertinent retort, ‘* You tire me, fellow! Letus have an understanding; ‘don’t think me a mere guesser. I know as much about Beauclare’s affairs as you do, Where is the boy?” “I s’pose 1 kin say a word in this case,” growled Merry, ‘‘ You are a woman, an’ you use a woman’s right ter abuse the male sex when you feel like it. That don’t alter the ia an artom. You are wholly on the, wrong ‘track— **Do you deny that you know of the boy?” “ Yes.” * And yet you stole him!” ** Look here, old lady, you are goin’ too chip- per.. I won't stand it,” ‘* Did you ever hear of the Sons of the Stilet- to? the Frenchwoman abruptly asked. * Never.” ‘¢ Very likely you tell thetruth now. I'll tell ou what they are. It is a league formed in aby: a band of brothers, so-called, Just what its aim and purpose is I don’t know, but I pre- sume it is like most other leagues: for the benefit of its members. This much is certain: He who incurs the enmity of the Sons of the Stiletto is adoomed man. That is precisely the fix Jean Beauclare is in.” ‘What is that ter me?” 4 **Do you want to pin your faith to a man who is bound to go down like a bullet?” ‘*f pin my faith to no one,” ‘*- You must, and shall. Some one you must side with in this case; there is no other way. Will you go with Jean Beauclare, or with me? Make your decision at once!” CHAPTER V. THE SONS OF THE STILETTO MOVE, Monk Merry was perplexed, as well as alarmed, Much that Madame Lapierre had said was true, and her knowledge worried him, A good deal he did not understand at all, and he was like one groping in the dark, Light he might have gained by eer her frankly, per- aig but he would not do that, e did know of the boy she referred to, and the boy was not many yards away. It was clear that she did not know of ‘‘George Wash- . wgton’s” proximity, and if he had been anxious to get the latter away unseen before, he was doubly so now. me shifted his position uneasily and heaved a sigh. “You take me unfair,” he remonstrated, but [ don’t see no reason why we shouldn’t be friends,” * Look you, my man!” the Frenchwoman ex- claimed, ‘‘if you see fit to come in under my wing, and stand steadfastly by me, I will see that you make money out of it.” ‘* Money is good.” ‘* Will you deliver the boy to me?” **T don’t know nothin’ about no boy.” She grasped the speaker's arm fiercely, ‘Fool! I tell you that Jean Beauclare is doomed. The Sons of the Stiletto are on his track, and they never spare. Once let aman be sentenced in their council, and he is the same as dead; earth nor sea can hide him from their knives. They will kill Beauclare—then where will you be?) You must make money out of me or out of Beauclare. When he is dead, as he will be soon, only i shall remain, Will you throw away your chance with me?” ** Suppose | do?’ “Then VU have you arrested!” ‘*Great Scott! What fur?” ** Scealing the child i” Monk Merry stood in silence, and Madame Lapierre rapidly added: ‘*{ will follow you through the streets, and, as soon as we meet a policeman, I will poiut to you and say: ‘ Arrest that man! He is a child- stealer |’” ‘* You're bent on havin’ your Own way, so have it,” returned Merry, in an ugly tone. ‘“ What do you want?” ** The child,” ‘Pll lead. yer to him, ter-morrer.” ‘* Why not now?” “ Agone o'clock at night? Not much! But lV’ "tend to ‘tim the mornin’, ef you'll pey.” ** You shall be paid. Mind, you are to keep out of Jean Beauclare’s sight!” T will.” ‘¢ You saw him here, of course. I have been spying on him, I thought he bad a clew to the whereabouts of the child, though I now believe otherwise. Beauclare is the worst-frightened man in New York, and he has cause. The Sons of the Stiletto are on his track, and he knows it, More than that, he knows their power and vin- dictiveness, He lives in constant terror, He knows not whén he will be struck down, He sees a foe in every man he meets, and shakes as if with ague. Dreadfulis the way of the Sons of the Stiletto!” ; The speaker proved that she was not talking for effect by shivering, and looking around as if she expected to see one of the band spring up at taat moment, ‘*Why be they down on Beauclare?” Monk asked. ‘*He was once a member, but he ptoved false. Now. he is doomed, and they are on “te track. They will get him, too; they never ail. ‘* You seem well posted on them.” ‘* My name is on their list; I am a member,” ‘* Oh! an’ you've set ’em onter Beauclare,” ‘**No, no; I have not. I fear them too much to be active in any of their schemes, Mon Dieu ! my sex would not save me, if they took a fancy to slay me. Nicolo Mazzeo, their chief, is a human tiger,” ‘* Pleasant fellers, b’ mighty !” “Now return to your sleeping-place. Use every precaution to avoid Beauclare’s gaze, You cannot serve two masters. You must be true to me or to him. You have made your choice; see to it that you abide byit. Besides this secret door, by which I can at any moment enter the main room, there is a secret means of ie watch. This I shall do all night; I shall sit tirelessly at my post, and if you go near Beauclare, or seek to leave the room, I sball see you. Beware that you do no act of treach- ery 1? ; ‘ You live here, I s’pose?” ** No.” ‘* 'You’re here, anyhow.” , ‘‘T was watching Beauclare, It isa race be- tween him and me to regain the boy, with the chances in my favor. He is so much in terror of the Sons of the Stiletto that his movements are seriously hampered. I had resolved to watch him the time, which is why I came here, but sight of you gave me a better plan. I shall keep my vigil to-night, but when day dawns, Beauclare ean go to thunder!” é It was an expression not strictly lady-like, but Monk Merry was not surprised. ’ Ragged as he was, he had a ready faculty of ee WB aa aR Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. 5 analyzing the human race, and would not have made the mistake of thinking her a lady. He rebelled no more against her orders, and she opened the secret door and let him pass into the main room, He at once went with stealthy steps to his compartment, Once there, he let his anger have freer play, and went through a series of gymnastic ges- tures as if he were punching a foe in deadly combat, ‘* Curse the woman!” he whispered. ‘'So she will try ter make a cat’s-paw o’ me, eh? She don’t know Monk Merry. By the fiends! Vil beat her out, or one of us will git blamedly hurt, Give up the boy ter her? [ll see her in perdi- tion first!” He looked toward George. That football of fortune lay in sound slumber, one hand under his cheek and unconscious of the schemes and counter-schemes going on around him, “ve got ter git him out on the sly afore day,” added Monk, ‘* But how kin I?” He shook his bushy head atthe thought. Mad- ame Lapierre had declared that she would watch all night, and she was just the woman to keep a post with unwavering vigilance, Monk did not see his way clear, She had de- clared that he could not get out unseen—how would it be if he tried to take George away? He knew, and the boy knew, that the absurd name of George Washington Franklin did not belong to the latter, His true name was Vincent, and it was likely that Madame Lapierre would recognize him as soon as she got her eyes on the boy. While Monk was trying to see his way clear, he noticed that Gurly Kell was stirring, Stealthy as the late prowler had been in his movements, the janitor had been aroused.. He was too late to detect Merry, but he awoke with the impres- sion that something was wna He arose, walked around, looked the place over, and then returned to his old position, Under ordinary circumstances he would have gone to sleep again at once, but recollection of the strange woman made him thoughtful, won- dering and wakeful. He was in this mood when, after along period of silence in the place, a slight sound revealed the opening of a door. He looked, and saw a man standing by one of the compartments. He readily recegnized it as one in which he had put two Italians, and was about to speak and ask what was wanted when the scene as- sumed an aspect which arrested the question, The first man, after a pause and silentsurvey, turned and made a gesture, and his companion came out, Then the Jeader made another gesture, and they went to the door next to theirs and began to listen. All this was so suspicious that Cobwebs could not assign it to natural causes, ‘* Robbers!’ he muttered, ‘I’ve took in some asky scamps, an’ they think they kin raise Bain byar. ell see! ll nab ’em!” And the janitor lay as quiet as the bed itself, resolved to let them go and commit themselves rly before giving an alarm. If the gas had not been turned so low he would have seen the matter ina different light. The door before which they were listening was Beauclare’s, and each of the prowlers carried a knife in his hand. Careful listening failed to bring any sound to their ears to indicate that the nchman was awake, so they softly opened the door and entered. ; Beauclare was about to meet his deadly foes! CHAPTER VI. TROUBLOUS TIMES AT THE HAPPY HAVEN, THERE was a short silence, end Curly Kell was about to rise and move forward, intent upon his little bem of catching the Italians in the ‘‘ robbery,” but the plan went all to pieces. There was a sudden flash of light in the Frenchman’s compartment, and then the report of a revolver brought Kell to his feet as though operated by machinery, F was startled, but the excitement had only n. lose upon the revolver-shot came a wild yell—one which brought every OF postape in the room out of slumber, and prov sarc in the extreme. The Prodigy of Paradise Park had seen thrilling and startling scenes in his day, but never before had he heard a cry so full of terror. Then came a shuffling sound, and the noise of several dull blows, Kell did not doubt that murder was being done, and he turned the gas up quickly and ran forward to the compartmen' Just before he».
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Wee ee Bs o4 ekel Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. reached it the Italians came out. Neither car- ried a knife; neither showed any great excite- ment. ; They made a movement to pass Kell, but he sprung in front of them. ‘4 Stop ! he ordered. ‘‘ What have you been up ter? ‘Out of the way!” retorted one of the men; |. and he would have run the janitor down by mere force of weight if he had not made a slight mistake as to the caliber of the person men- tioned. There had been lawless men and lawless scenes in the Have, Haven before that night, and Mahalaleel Tubbs, the proprietor, always kept arevolver-there. It was next to an imperative necessity. When the trouble began Kell had not forgot- ten the weapon, He took it along with him, and, just as he was ebout being run down by the an the latter found the weapon turned up- on him, ; ‘*No, you don’t!” the janitor cried, ‘I say ‘Halt!’ and you had better mind!” His courage was good, but he had to deal with men old in crime and experienced in ways and means. Believing they had just done murder, the i of the Stiletto disregarded the com- mand. One of them struck at Kell’s arm and partially turned the weapon aside, and then the boy was first caught up in strong arms and then flung heavily to the floor, He rolled over and over until, half-stunned, he brought up against the wall. As soon as possible he scrambled to his feet, but, just as he did so, the room suddenly became totally dark. One of the Italians had turned out the gas. The janitor was dizzy from his fall, but made bis way as well as he could toward the gas-fix- ture to renew thelight. By that time, of course, all was confusion in the place. The lodgers were nearly all in motion, and making a good deal of racket. Up went the Mere owing se group, but the Italians were not there. me one else was, and Kell found himself confronted by Madame Lapierre. ; a any one left the place?” she demanded, ously, e disregarded the question and hurried to the apartment where the revolver-shot had been fired. He fully expected to find ‘‘ Monsieur Smith” a dead man, and first view seemed to confirm the belief. The contour of the bed indicated a human im form under the covers, and in the topmost ar- ticle was a = which thrust itself into view with surprising plainness. : Cobwebs tore off the covers, No man, livin or dead, was there, but the blankets had been gathered into shape so as to form a dummy. Just as comprehension of the trick began to dawn oy the janitor he was treated to a start- ling sight. At one side of the narrow bed a hu- man hand stole into view, and a revolver was turned full upon Kell. This crisis was not open to question: he was in the utmost peril. Fortunately, his presence of mind did not desert him, and he gaveone leap . and seized the hostile hand. ‘« No, yer don"t!” hecried. ‘I ain’t gotready ter be perforated, yit. Come out o’ hyer!” He pulled away at the arm, but itsowner hun back doggedly, and Kell found himself unequ to the demands of the occasion. Some of the lodgers were at his back, however, and, when they gave their aid, Jean Beauclare, alias “Smith,” was pulled out from under the rude bed without ceremony. He had lost his revolver in the struggle, but ’ wag not in condition to use it, in any case, His face was pallid; his eyes were wild; he was the image of utmost terror. Clasping his hands beseechingly he looked up with eyes which saw but dimly. “Spare me! re me!” he gasped, me live, and I will be your slave forever.” ‘‘We ain’t lookin’ fur slaves,” was Kell’s practical reply. ‘‘What in time is bein’ done ‘here, mister?” “ f will go away; I will neverspeak of ze band again; I will go to ze farest land—” ’ ‘‘ Let up! Bring yer mind onter every-day fax. Don’t yer see we ain’t inemies? Has some- body tried ter do ye up, mister?” At last he succeeded in getting a little com- mon sense into the Frenchman, who brushed his hand across bis dimmed eyes and looked around. He saw no one present who looked like an Italian, : ‘* Where have they gone?” he asked, “Who?” . ** Let |, ‘*Z%e men who tried to kill me,” ‘* Did they do that?” Beauclare turned to the bed. The gash in the cover again put itself into view prominently, “*Zey struck wiz ze knife, but I had put ze dummy in ze place, and 1 was not there,” ‘* Who fired the revolver?” “Edis? in, ‘* At them?” “se Yes,” ‘¢ Didn't you fire afore they used the knife?” ‘© Yes; but zey had come to murder me.” ‘‘Guess you’re about right thar. But why a try it? What do they want ter kill ye ur This was a question too straightforward for Beauclare’s taste, and he did not meet it fairly. ‘* Zey hate me!” he replied. ‘¢ How did they know you was here?” **T don’t know.” The Frenchman shivered as he spoke. Recol- lection of the events of the night were enough to dismay evenastronger-minded man, When he had discovered that the Italians had followed him to the lodging-house he had been in a fever of alarm. Few coherent thoughts had come to ee among them was one that had saved s life. He had made the dummy and crawled under the frame substitute for a bedstead, and when, after hours of trembling, the avengers had come, they had been deceived. True, he had fired at them before the knife was used, but he had thrust his hand up over the bed, the same as when he aimed at Kell, and, in eg: nesgccams they had not noticed but he lay upon it, . At that moment Madame Lae ae her way through the men and accosted Kell. ‘* Where is Monk Merry?” she demanded, “cc Who?” ** Monk Merry.” “Don’t know him—yes; I do, too. He's a with rags that is alive. Dunso whar e is, ‘* He has run away.” ** His bill is paid.’ ‘* Perdition take his bill!” cried the woman, in a ion, ‘‘Have you helped him rv, A *Me? No; l've got my own biz ter look af- ter, an’no time ter meddle with nobody else’s biz, Some folks has sech time. Ef Monk is a vet o’ yourn, why didn’t yer stick ter im Cobwebs was beginning to resent the French- woman’s imperious way, but she suddenly took anew start. At the first sound of her voice, Jean Beauclare’s gaze had been drawn to her. It did not waver; be gazed like one fascinated. She now returned his gaze, and a contemptu- ous smile curled ber lips. ‘‘ What a craven wretch!” she exclaimed. ‘*Mebbe you want a revolver-an’-knife cir- cus,” suggested one of the lodgers, ‘“He is made io the image of man,” she abo Ep “but, oh! what a thing of cowardice eis! ‘¢- You here!” muttered Beauclare, ‘* Haven’t I a right to be here?” ‘Ze buzzards follow ze wounded ox,” ‘* Do they ever follow the sneak-wolf?” ‘* Mon Dieu!” cried Beauclare, with sudden life, ** you brought zis upon me, woman!” ‘* The craven raves.” ‘** Who s’all have betrayed me but you?” ‘** For once, you err.” . Sf You hate me; you set ze assassins upon me winder!” j The aie 0 ee came from one of the lodgers. Madame Lapierre was not making any friends there. She glanced at her companions; there was rea] danger for her in the circle of rough men, some of whom were s0 filled with liquor as to be in that quarrelsome condition sometimes termed ‘‘ irresponsible,” “a was cunning enough to look out for her- self, ‘*Gentlemen, you must understand this af- fair,” she asserted, ‘‘ Yonder person was a member of a secret society which, no doubt, was good and noble in’its object and con- duct,” — ’ “A society of assassins!” groaned Beauclare. ‘* He, however, proved a false brother; he be- trayed them; he turned against them, Now he is suffering the consequence, and he has only himself to blame for whatever may happen.” ‘* Tg zis true?” cried Beauclare. ‘‘I am not so sure of ze fact. Whoset zo ruffians upon me? Who, if it ees not you?” , ‘* Now you hey it, old lady !” Lapierresaw thatthe sympathies of the crowd “¢ Bf that’s 80, le’s fling the she-tiger out o’ the |- were a her, and that, instead of trying to injure Beauclare, it would be wise to act prompt- ly in order to keep the rough men around her, from any act of violence. She strongly denied having set the Sons of the Stiletto upon the hunted man, and then turned away and went to the compartment. lately occupied by Monk Merry, Curly Kell had decided that she must leave the Happy Haven, unless that place was to be- lie its name, and he followed her. As he reached her side she started suddenly and turned toward him. ‘‘Has not this place been occupied by two persons?” ‘* Yes,” Cobwebs answered, ‘¢ Who, besides Merry?” ** The boy.” “The boy?’ exclaimed Lapierrs, with vehe-~ mence, ‘Do you mean to say that he had a boy with him?’ “He did, fur sure.” “How did he look?” she demanded, eagerly. ‘“*Wal, I dunno; he was a good ’eal shorter than I be, an’ must ’a’ been younger; mebbe: eight or nine; an’ he was a delikit, quiet, fair- headed little chap—” ‘* Mon Dieu! it is the same!” the woman cried, fiercely. ‘‘ Merry has outwitted me! Has he though? No! By heavens! I'll tollow and overtake them!”’ And she started for the door. CHAPTER VII. THE ITALIAN, AGAIN, CurLy K2&Lu breathed asigh of relief. There had been nothing but trouble in the pet Haven since Madame Lapierre invaded the lodging-house, and though she was not respon- sible for the whole of it, he was anxious to see the door close behind her, He was not to be gratified at once, however. Sbe had nearly reached the door when she: stop short, hesitated, and then came back. ** It is useless, "she observed, viciously. ‘‘ Mer- ry and the boy must be several blocks away,’ and it would be folly to try and overtake them in this Babel. Oh! fool that I was!” ‘¢ What's eatin’ you now?” This question was not very dignified, but Kell could not help asking it. Hewasdisgusted with the woman who had made him so much trouble and turned his peaceful life into worry. She, however, was too much preoccupied to notice the question, ; ‘*Wohy did I take it for granted that Merry was alone? Why did I not suspect that the boy was with him? That bundle of rags has neither home nor money; be could not well hide his: rey. ‘“Who is the boy, anyhow?” Cobwebs asked, curiously. Madame Lapierre flashed a glance toward Jean Beauclare’s quarters. He was in his com- artment, and beyond the sound of their voices. he took a five-dollar bank-note from her purse,. “Do you see that?” “ Slightly !” **Do you want it?” ‘That depends.” ol, Who knows that a boy was here with Mer- vu ‘Nobody but me. They was the first ones in, an’ the little feller went inter the place there right away, an’ did not come out till be an” aegis skipped arter the Eyetalians turned down — the gas. - ‘¢ Promise not to tell any living person about. the boy, and this money is yours.” ‘‘Nary promise!” returned the janitor, stout- ly. ‘*That’s the second time you hev tried ter bribe me, You may as wal give it up; I don’t’ want yer money |” ‘* Foolish boy! Look at yourraggedclothes—” *“‘They’re honest rags!” — . “Think again. I will give you ten dollars—” “Not a cent! We may as wal drop the sub- jick. 1be poor, an’ money ain’t ter be sneezed at, but I won’t be bribed ter help po mean game. That’s flat! Ma’am, you've kicked up quite a rumpus here, which is dead ag’in’ the rules o” the Ha py Haven. I should like ter see you take a skip, now!” ro Dig go when I get ready!” ‘¢ What ef I calla p’leeceman?” Madame Lapierre r ed the Prodigy in silence, but her expression betrayed vindictive hatred, “ Boy,” she finally said, “‘ you are built just. right to wind up in State Prison, eventually, ou belong toa rank in life where one must either honest or shrewd to keep out of the jug. You are neither. You reject friends when you
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t ” * = ~~ ag Fos eecz = ec Pee tee ee +, see them, and you are bound to gotoruin, Go ahead! I hope you will!” “All right, "Liza Jane!” Kell gravely re- turned, The woman did not hear the last words, She had turned her gaze again upon Beauclare, and, finding herself free from observation, she made a quick, fresh start, reached the door, passed out and hurried down toward the street. Kell drew a sigh of refief. ‘¢ Never had sech a tiger-cat in here afore,” he asserted, ‘‘an’ I hope Pl never hev an- other.” Jean Beauclare was a man particularly un fortunate, it seemed. Just as time enough had elapsed to make Madame Lapierre’s escape cer- tain, he approached Cobwebs, «« Where is zat womans?” he asked, ‘« She’s skipped.” ** Gone!” “cc Yes,” ‘* How miserable! I wished to see her.” ‘¢ Wal, you’re all out o’ date fur that.” “T should have oon wiz her at once, but I was sorely ee ted—ze courage was gone away from me. Now, Is’allsee her no more!” He spoke in a mournful voice, and, weak as nei shown himself, he aroused Kell’s sym- _ pathy. ‘*Shouldn’t spose you’d want ter see sech a tigeress.” y “4 ; Ah! but she may know where my boy s’all “Your boy?” oe son—my only child.” ‘* What about him?” ** He is lost.” “Where? When? How?” ‘‘ They have stolen him; I know not who, but ze woman is my enemy, and I think zat she s’all be ze one. Yes; my son, Vincent, is stolen—a young child, as fair and gentle as zetamed deer, wiz fair hair and a handsome face, My poor boy, Vincent!” “Do you know a feller named Monk Merry?” *¢ Ah! I know him too well: a man of low life, wiz ze impulse of Judas in his depraved min »* Don’t s’pose he’s got yer boy, do yer?” _ Who s’all say?” ‘‘MebbelI kin. I don’t want ter raise false hopes, mister, but I b'lieve Monk has got him, an’ that they has both been here ter-night.” ‘¢ Here?” cried Beauclare, with a start. ‘‘ My boy, Vincent, here ?” : “ He's gone now, anyhow; more’s the pity; but I'll bet a steam drill ag’in’a sewer-pipe it was him,” ‘‘ Mon Diew! you s’all confuse me already, much. V’atmean you? Speak! Give me light! my boy, Vincent, here?” . Beauclare was getting excited, and working himself into a condition of fresh nervousness, but Kell proceeded to tell what he knew about the case in clear, terse terms, When he had = there was no doubt in the Frenchman’s mip . - ‘“My boy! my boy!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ He have been 80 near me, and I knew it not. Ob! ill luck, ill luck! And what s’all become of ze poor child?” ‘*-You must find him.” ‘*T? Ab-b-h! you know not how [ am situ- ate. Ze Sons of ze Stiletto hunt me as though I am ze wild beast. Wherever I go zey s’all be on my trail. I know me no peace, no rest. Zis night zey come and try to kill me, as you s’all have seen,” ' ** Who an’ what be them pesky reptyles?” ‘A secret society, mostly of ze Italians, but wiz ze Frenchman, ze Pole, ze Bohemian. | join it, thinking it s’all prove a good society, ut find zat zey are banded only to rob and murder; and when I try to Jeave them, zen zey condemn me in their council, and I am hunted by assassins, Every moment my life it is in ze Beauclare shivered and looked nervously around, _ Curly Kell did not find it hard to believe this account. He had never heard of the Sons of the Stiletto until that, night, but_he did know that like orgavizations existed in New York. Some cases had come before the public, and into court, where a member who, had incurred the enmity of the general band had been slain by its assassins, and the janitor had heard of other broils which had not been so widely known. He sympathized with Beauclare, and appreci- ated s position, With all the police of Gotham nominally back of him,the man was helpless. Until some act of violence had been _ street. yommitted the authorities would and could do ' gent and refined, while the Italian’s humble, Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. no more, in case of a claim to pxotection, than to caution the society. That caution would amount to nothing. Des- perate men would not be deterred by warnings; they would seek the first opportunity to strike the fatal blow, reckless of consequences, Kell did not feel capable of advising Beau- clare in this emergency, and did not attempt it. The Happy Haven had grown quiet, and most of the men had returned to their beds, One of them raised his voice in protest against conversation, and the janitor induced the Frenchman to return to his own compartment, No further disturbance occurred, and Cob- webs, at least, slept soundly the remainder of the night, e After eight o’clock in the morning the lodgers began to goaway. They did not look any bet- ter in the light of day. They were, asa rule, ragged, shaggy, blear-eyed and worthless fel- lows. Few hat any greater object in life than to exist. Having slept, they wandered out to get food—and drink—the best way they could. Beauclare was one of the last to go. He went with hesitation and timidity, looking nervously ri every person, and at every doorway, as he 50, Full well did he know the terrible power of the Sons of the Stiletto. Mabalaleel Tubbs, proprietor of the Happy Haven, returned soon after. He was a queer old man, stout, unpolished, good-natured ; and noticeable for a head which, bald in engines had tufts of obstinate hair elsewhere which stood on end as if in defiance. X Kell was not surprised, in light of the most recent developments, to learn that the note, by which Madame Lapierre had gained entrance to the smaller room, was a forgery; but Mr. Tubbs was surprised to learn of the secret door, He looked it over long and carefully, and ended with the verdict: ‘* Wal, she’s a cute one, b’jinks!” ** An’ she’s been here afore you was,” added Kell, “ Jehiel,” said Mr, Tubbs, solemnly, ‘let us hope she will never come agin.” **Correck! J hey had enough on her!” Kell fervently agreed. With the return of his employer Kell’s duties ended for the day, and he left the building, had breakfast, and then wandered on in an absent- minded way, barely conscious of the direction he was taking. He had seen many exciting scenes at the Happy Haven, but never any that so much in- terested him as what had occurred the night be- fore, He could not understand it atall. Beau- clare, Madame Lapierre, Monk Merry, Vincent, the Sons of the Stiletto and their two assassins, bi all actors ina drama to which he had no clew. Supposing that he would never see any of them again, he felt no little curiosity as to the outcome of affairs, Who would win the strug- gle for Vincent, and would Beauclare escape the ns of the Stiletto? It was easier to surmise the proper answer to the last question than to the former. _ When Cobwebs aroused from meditation, he found himself standing in front of Grace Church, with the big white spire towering far above him. Going a little further, he turned in- to a side-street, his object being to cross to Fourth avenue and see an acquaintance who kept a small shop there. He did not, pass through the intervening He was on his way when voices led him to look to one side, A lady stood in a doorway, and a man on the accompanying stoop, and first an’ me ever sight of him made Kell start. He recognized one of the Italians who had tried to kill Beauclare. **Come to-night,” th« acy was saying, kind- ly, and we will help you all we can.” ‘* Bless you, goody lady!” the Son of the Stiletto replied, fervently. ‘‘ May all the saints guard, protect and be with you.” _ And, with a few more servile words, he turned away so suddenly that Kell had no chance to move off. He came face to face with the Italian. —_———_ CHAPTER VIII. WHAT SCHEME IS THIS? COBWEBS was a boy whose wits had been sharpened in the severe school of adversity, and that means a good deal in the City of New York; and he had formed an opinion as to the scene before him, | He saw that the unknown lady was intelli- 7 — servile manner was in marked contrast to his ferocious attempt to murde. Beauclare only a few hours before. These facts, taken in connection with the lady’s words, had awakened the suspicion in the janitor’s mind that the wily Italian was de- ceiving her, If the fellow had been as observant as usual he would have seen Kell, and, perhaps, recog- Pring him, but he was acting the réle of humil- ty. Consequently, he bent the gaze of his wicked eyes unon the sidewalk and passed by within four fc.*. of the boy without seeing him distinct- ly. Curly drew a breath of relief, dodged into a doorway, and kept that place of concealment until the Son of the Stiletto had turned down Broadway and disappeared. Then the young janitor did some careful think- ing for several minutes, ° Bjinks! Ill resk it!” he finally decided. * As long as £ b’lieve as I do, T ain’t got noright ter let them go without warnin’, [ll drop in an’ see how the land lays, sure pop!” And he hastened to ring the bell of the house at which the Italian bad recently applied, The summons was answered by a servant, and when he asked to see the ped of the house he had no difficulty, even with his old clothes, in reaching the presence of the same gentle-faced lady he had seen in conversation with the Son of the Stiletto. She came to him in the parlor to which, much ~ to his surprise, he had been conducted without waste of words. The janitor rose and made his prettiesttbow, ae you wish to see me, my lad?” she asked, ‘* Yes, mum; that was my cardinal objick.” ‘*T do not recognize you. Pray, what is your name?” ** Cobwebs,” “What?” ‘¢Oh! 1 meant ter say Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park.” ‘*Youamaze me. I don’t understand,” She looked bewilde: ed, while Kell remained as grave as ever, ‘* My every-day name is Jehiel Kellar,” ‘Ob! I see. Theothere are sobriquets, while the latter is your baptismal name,” ‘*Now you hev Rot me!” admittea Kell; ‘* but it don’t matter. You’ve had comp'’ny, lately.” ‘* How did you know that!” ‘** T seen him,” “« Do you refer to the Italian?” . ‘« That’s the very snake I refer ter, mum.” re You apply an uncomplimentary term to him, , ‘* Do you know the feller?” “*No. He came to me to-day for patie and said there was sickness and distress at his home, Benevolent people had sent in food, doctors, and the like, so that they were not needy in that re- spect; and the family was so large that there / were evough to care for the sick; but there,was still trouble for them, He hada daughter, ten years old, who was very sensitive and nervous, and the family sickness affected her so that she was worrying herself ill, while they had no means, owing to lack of room and money, of i are her from the big tribe around her.” he lady seerned to have forgotten Kell, and, speaking in a sympathetic voice, went over the > maak story ina manner showing deep inter est, ** Wal?” questioned Kell, ; “Ob! [am going to take little Bianca in here | for the time being.” ‘* An’ she’s a total stranger?” : ‘* Is she less worthy?” | ty “The ‘worthy’ part is another question.” — ‘ She is, you must remember, a clelicate child, I should be unfeeling to refuse ber shelter, Be- sides, she is so nervous that, to keep her quiet, pe father will remain with ber while she is ere,’ ‘s Hi! is he comin’ here, too?” cried Cobwebs. ‘* Both will share my home, by night, for the present,” ‘ ‘* An’ he’s used the gal as a wedge ter work bis way in here, eb?” The lady did not answer at once, but regarded the Prodigy intently for several moments. Then she made reply: : ‘‘T have spoken to you with singular frank- ness, I must confess, but it was because I was absorbed in little Bianca’s case, Pray, what do you know about them, and what is yourown = errand here?” eee 8 . “Did you ever hear o’ the Sons of the Stilet- 97? ‘* Never.” —
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‘* You’ve heerd o’ secret societies in this here city that ain’t like honest societies?” “T have read of such,” ‘*Jes’so. Wal, that Italian b’longs ter a soci- ety, an’ I seen him try ter kill another man with a knife, last night.” ‘* Impossible!” cried the lady. ‘* Why, onpossible?” b tiie ‘“‘Heisa very meek, worthy man,” fenee |: ‘* You ain’t seen him afore ter-day, eh?” aie ‘““No; but [can read human nature, He ap- ee plied here to ask for a little money, and, in our ie conversation, the history of his family troubles was told. Iam sure he is a worthy man.” ‘Do you think it proper ter try an’ knife a feller-man?” ‘* ‘You must be in error,” ‘* But I ain’t,” Kell stoutly persisted. ik ‘“*How did it happen?” the lady asked, in- A credulously. Cobwebs told what he thought was necessary. Not supposing that an explanation of great length would be of any interest to his hearer he F did not mention any names, but spoke of the em Sons of the Stiletto as he had heard that society ; described; and then said that one innocent man Mey who, after being decoyed mto joining, had de- ep serted when he learned how evil the society and ak its ways were, had been playing a game of hide- and-seek to,save his own life from their assassin daggers; and that the sequel to the affair had nearly come in the Happy Haven lodging-house, The lady still looked incredulous. “7 find it impossible to believe,” she an- swered, *! but, even if the two Italians are one, what unworthy object'can he have in bringing Paty his little girl here?” ie Kell glanced about the room, ‘Seon ** Plunder!” “hh * Do you see anything especially costly here? a hs This is a plainly-furnished house, and we keep no money here.” \ ‘*Tt don’t take much ter tempt a feller who iy ale lives by his wits, mum,” ‘ Bey Where the discussion would, have ended can- at ty not be known, for they were interrupted by the ey return from the street of a second lady, younger iy Sy, than the first. , Kell was not long in learning that he had been talking with a Mrs, Stanley, and that she was owner of the house, while the second lady was i her niece, and named Mrs, Belden. Anwe % The janitor liked her from the first. She Tie seemed just as kind as her aunt, and far more me world-wise, In fact, there was an air of quiet ae | decision about her that indicated ability to care ae), for herself. mela, ' She was looking curiously at Cobwebs, and (ae not with any great show of approval, and an explanation soon followed. She was informed of her aunt’s contemplated charity to the Ital- Mee ian and his daughter, and that Kell was there vibe to object, and to tell a story about the son of Italy. Mis Belden gave the janitor a more friendly nee, 35 “Surely, aunt, you will heed this warning,” she observed. _ ** Why should I?” ‘« L suppose you want to rere your own life?” “T insist that this hoy has got two Italians mixed up,” persisted Mrs, S$ y. eat oF [I’m dead-sure o’ my facks,” declared ; ell, yf S, ea ‘*Then it would be madness to let the man in ee here,” added Mrs, Belden. ia 7, { ‘* Madness!” echoed the aunt, with dissatisfac- tion, . ‘“We should run the risk of being murdered.” | ** I don’t see,” asserted the elder lady, warmly, ‘*why every one isdown upon the poor, Just because I see fit to spend some of my money in charity, I raise a great hue and cry, Tome, the cause of the poor is sacred, and I do not in- tend to desert them,” ‘*The worthy poor certainly deserve ali we a ean do for them,” Mrs. Belden freely admitted, _ “*but you must confess that you have often been ' deceived and victimized by frauds—” } “f am not deceived now, and will not be -. turned from my purpose, The Italians will | stay here to-night i ’ , CHAPTER IX. \ eae THE PLOTTERS READY FOR BUSINESS. ss, Mrs, STaNLEY was proving that she ample obstinacy when aroused, and Cue. _ was so disgusted that he was about to riseabrupt- _ ly when a secret gesture from Mrs, Belden caused - him to change his mind and keep his seat. The latter abandoned her attempt to her aunt, and tried to turn conversation upon other subjects, but, after sitting fora w Kell v mistress of the house; and she had had a strip of cloth nailed on one side, so as to make the | aside a trifle, and was, by Mrs, Belden’s direc- rsuade with compressed lips, Mrs. Stanley suddenly rose. “*I will leave you to entertain your ward, Cecelia!” she declared, and left the room, Kell looked gravely at Mrs. Belden. ‘“‘I’m afeerd I’ve put my foot in it!” he re- marked, ** Don’t mind it. Aunt Hannah is a peculiar woman, but very good-hearted. I want to know if you are sure of your verdict in regard to the Italian who came to our door. Js he the one who used the knife at your quarters?” ‘** He is, sure-pop!” ‘Then why is he here?” ‘Fur mischief.” **T fail to see what bis object is. My aunt is wealthy, but, not being given to ostentation, this house is plainly furnished, and all her mone is kept elsewhere. I doubtif she has ten dol-. lars, in cash,” ‘*Mebbe the scheme is ter abductionize her, fur ter git a ransom,” ‘That may be.” ‘“* Anyhow, you want ter look out fur Mr, Italian. I tell yer, that feller is a bad’un. I ain’t prejudiced ag’inst nobody, but he is the worst kind of a bad chap. You ought ter see him a bit, When he was at my lodgin’-house— the Happy Haven, terms only twenty cents a night—be looked like a reg’lar stage-villain; an’, when I seen him here with yer aunt, the ear-marks of the Old Nick shone through his humble air like the sun through. a thin fog. Look out fur him, mum!” ‘Tt is useless to warn my aunt—she isa very odd woman, Reared in the country, she came to New York at the age of forty and has lived in this house always, seldom going out, and then only on an errand of charity. She is rich, and has a mania to give to‘the poor, but simplicity and want of judgment lead her to give to un- worthy persons, and she is often victimized. Her visionary nature has made us much trouble.” The speaker sighed as she ceased speaking. ‘* Will she really take in the Italian?” ‘*T cannot doubt it.” ‘* Then she'll come ter grief.” ** What can be done?” ‘*Can’t you scheme, too?” ‘é How ” ‘* Smuggle a couple p’leecemen in here,” “You give mean idea!” Mrs, Belden returned, with sudden animation. ‘I havea plan which I will use on one condition.” ‘* What is that?” . ‘¢That you remain here to-night, You have made a charge, and ought to stand by it, if properly paid. Again, you, alone, can say that the Italian is a desperate man, if we take steps against him, Instead of having policemen here I will give you a note to carry to two men on South Fifth Avenue, They were once in my service, and will gladly help me,” This was more t Curly Kell had bargained for, but, after a little thought, he decided not to refuse the request, He knew that Mahalaleel Tubbs would not o»ject to his being away from the lodging-house for one night, The result of the talk which followed between Kell and Mrs. Belden was that, at an early hour of the evening, the Prodigy, Sim Oakes and Mike Keefe were secretly admitted to the house at the basement-door by Mrs. Belden, and given quarters in a room on the second floor. Oakes and Keefe were the two men selected by Mrs, Belden. The room given them had double advantage. It was one not likely to be entered by any per- son in the house, as it contained furniture be- longing to Mrs, Belden, which she had stored there, and it was next to that room in which it was believed Mrs. Stanley would receive the Italian and his putative daughter, Nicolo Mazzeo did not forget the appoint- ment, and, at eighs o’clock, he rung the bell. Being admitted, he was soon in Mrs, Stanley’s presence, . \ Between the two rooms there was a transom which had Pewee in it. This arrangement had always nm objectionable to the present rooms more private, oh The glass was very convenient now. Cob- webs had mounted to a chair, pushed the cloth tions, ready to watch, listen and study Nicolo e0, Vind . ' The Son of the Stiletto came in with his air of bumility, his eyes cast down and his head drooping, and at his heels followed the girl. . It wasa rare thing that Kell’s gravity was Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. disturbed, but sight of Bianca brought a smile to bis sharp face, For a ‘* nervous, sensitive” child of ten years she wasa marvel. Despite the fact that young Italian girls are prone to look older than they really are, he could almost have risked his every cent on the wager that Bianca was at least twelve, and she was a maiden of size and mus- e, too. She had a large frame which was very plump and agreeable, and her eyes were bright and her cheeks rosy: with perfect health, i ‘*She’s a bu’ster!” muttered Kell. ‘ She, narvous? Wal, I reckon not!” And, indeed, the réle she was to play did ap- pear to be most absurd. But Bianca was a chip of the old block. She came in.as softly as Nicolo, and her head and eyes were cast down in the same'!way. a ; 7 udas ’Rascariot’s darter is found!” thought ;) if ‘* Ah! my good man,” said Mrs, Stanley, with i her most benevolent air, ‘‘ so you are come,” ty ‘Kind lady, I have obeyed you,” replied + Nicolo, servilely. : ‘*T am glad to see you. So this is Bianca?” bh ** Yes, lady.” \ ** Come here, my dear!” Bianca advanced, hanging her head, and keep- ah ing aE the old air of humility. a ** Bless me! what a pretty child!” Mrs, Stanley was forced to exclaim, as she noted the girl’s beautiful black hair, rosy cheeks, clear complex- ion and great eyes. ** Ah! but trouble hasso destroyed her nerves!” exclaimed Nicolo, hastily. ‘‘Poor dear! Do you suffer much, Bianca?” ‘ Dreadfully!” sighed Bianca, in a die-away } voice. ‘ Rats!” muttered Curly Kell, behind the vt transom, ** System all upset, isn’t it?” ‘¢ Awfully !” murmured Bianca, dolefully, “)t is a thousand pities, but you will be all right, yet. You are young, and evidently ey 3 of good constitution. Naturally, you are strong.” The deluded woman took Bianca’s hand. It made a marked contrast to Mrs. Stanley’s, The latter had a long, thin, wrinkled hand and pipe- stem-like wrist; the Italian girl had a big, broad, plump hand, and a wrist nearly as large as a rize-fighter’s. ‘*You shall stay with me until you are well again, my girl!” declared Mrs, Stanley, impul- iti 5 **You are very good, lady!” humbly declared ui Nicolo. Bh |: “Oh! you are very good!” humbly asserted vt Bianca, y ae, Aad both dropped their heads lower and look- ¥ ed hard at the carpet. . ‘* Hold yer hat on, Liza Jane!’ muttered Cob- iY, webs, at the transom, in the humor of utterdis- = ust, + ‘* How are all your folks this evening?” con- tinued Mrs, Stanley, addressing Mazzeo, Res “TY thank you, good lady,they area bitim- = proved.” p ‘¢T will go down and see them, myself, in a day or two.” ‘* May all the saints bless you!” Nicolo clasped his ‘hands, turned his face u ward and rolled his eyes, but Kellcould not help, | thinking that if the Son of the Stiletto was look- | ing for his patron saint he would have to look, Bs not oe but down, a “The servant will now show you to your a ‘rooms, which are connected, on the next floor, You will find clean and wholesome quarters, peor and, I trust, rest well.” me pie * Bless you, lady!” fervently pronounced ~~ Nicolo, , ‘* Bless you, lady!” sighed Bianca, ‘*Gammon!” muttered Curly Kell. ety Mrs, Stanley rung for the servant,and then’ the Italians were conducted to their quarters. _ The Prodigy stepped down from the chair. “Gents,” he gravely observed, addressing ; Oakes and Keefe, ‘the band is about ter strike 2, p. The Kyetalians are in the house—thar will = > oa". be fun afore mornin’!” CHAPTER X. ; NICOLO’S KNIFE. | Tue work before Curly Kell, his two associ- ates and Mrs. Belden was not by any meansof = trifling nature. The latter bad takena good deal of risk in introducing her confederates into the house secretly, There had always been good feeling between her and Mrs, Stanley, — 5 but if the latter discovered the secret step at any time except a crisis, she would naturally be very angry. — te Ay ‘at
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_ 9 a - eer Gores << ee sy ape ed FD = a ee ee et — id ee ee Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. Mrs. Belden realized all this as time went on. She had based all upon Kell’s opinion, and he frankly admitted that the aforesaid opinion was not based on anything definite. If Nicolo Mazzeo and Bianca attempted a lawless act and were frustrated by Kell and bis two aids, all would be well and good, but if no such act transpired, and Mrs, Stanley discov- ered their presence—then there would be a dis- turbance, Realizing all this, Mrs, Belden grew nervous, and she made a visit to her confederates, after Nicolo and Bianca were conducted up-stairs and gave them repeated injunctions to use all possible care, Tn due time both the ladies of the house re- tired, and a little later Kell and his associates ascended to the next floor and took refuge in a closet which opened off of the hall, Of course no risk was run in giving them the liberty of the house, for, though the Prodigy was a stranger, Oakes and Keefe were known to Mrs. Belden, and she knew they could be trusted in all ways. The three stowed themselves away in the closet and waited as patiently as possible. At times Kell’s faith in his own judgment ‘wavered, and he suspected that he had been rash in taking so much for granted, but he bad only to recall Nicolo’s record to regain courage, | 0! side of the room, The Italian was a bravo who did not scruple to attempt murder to repay a real or imaginary wrong, and his present rdle of meekness and | misery was very much out of place. His au- | dacity in introducing plump, healthy Bianca as & nervous, sensitive girl was only equal to Mrs, Stanley’s blind credulity in believing them, but | both had acted their parts well. if mischief was intended, the presence of | friends was very fortunate for Mrs. Belden. She slept on the samo floor where the Italians had been placed, while her aunt occupied the back parlor as a sleeping-room. This would have left the younger lady alone in the upper | part of the house with the Italians if it were not for her secret allies, There was a long period of inactivity, and the trio in the closet felt anything but comfortable, They heard the clock strike eleven and twelve, and another hour seemed about gone, But their patience was not to go unrewarded. Kell was at the door of the closet;with that obstacle pushed back far enough to give him a chanco to listen, Hebad used his keen youn ears well, but heard not a sound to warn bim o any one moving until there was the slightest | Mike Keefe comprehended the dilemma. ** Lave her ter me!” he whispered, and left the closet before Cobwebs could stop him. The latter was alarmed. Keefe was a large man, and accustomed to hard labor, and such persons are not usually light-footed. Mike, how- ever, surprised his ally; a cat could hardly have moved more softly than he. Having previously had a good look at the ro- bust Italian girl, Keefe knew that he had no mean task ahead of him, but he thought he could manage it. He reached her site unseen and unheard, and promptly closed one hand over her mouth, preventing any outcry, while wit the other arm he lifted her clear of the oor, ‘**Did ye iver see a rabbit jump whin he got a charge ave shot in him?” was the question the honest [rishman was accustomed to ask, after- ward, when trying to explain Bianca’s efforts, She dide* jump,” and she struggled furiously in his arms, Strong as he was, he found it no small task to hold her, but bis muscles were hard, and he won the day. As her feet were clear of the floor, all betraying sound was pre- vented, A Kell hastened to take her vacated place by the oor, He had barely done this when a narrow band of light flashed outin the darkness at the other Nicolo was using a dark-lantern. The light was turned in various directions un- til he finally located a big, old-fashioned desk. Upon this he set the lantern, and then opened the unlocked drawer, Kell was curious to know what this meant, Mrs. Belden had avowed that neither money nor other valuables were in the house, but the Ital- ian evidently was of different opinion, and knew just where to look for what he wanted. He began to fumble among the papers, There were but a few in the desk, and, after discarding several that he came upon first, he seized upon a compact package, gave the con- tents brief examination by the light of his lan- tern, and then thrust them into his pocket. He reclosed the desk, but his hour of success was over, There was a sudden sound by the bed, and then the gas leaped up fully and the whole room was in strong tight, Nicolo turned abruptly. He stood face to face with Mrs. Belden, She stretched out one hand toward him dra- matically, and, in a voice tremulous with excite- possible rustle in the hall near him, and looking | ment, exclaimed: out, he saw a dark figure. It passed his hiding-place and paused in front of Mrs. Belden’s door, ‘The Eyetalian, b’jinks!” The thought passed through Kell’s mind quickly, but it was intuition, not certainty; he could see nothing clearly, and the prowler might have been Italian or African; white, black or red. The latter had come to a POR: Standing by Mrs. Belden’s door, he stood like a statue and listened carefully. Minutes passed before he changed his position. When he did, he raised his arms and began to fumble about the key- bole, Kell at once suspected an intention of picking the lock, but Nicolo had a better way than that. Slowly, cautiously, almost noiselessly, he intro- duced a key, and then turned the bolt back with a steady hand and no betraying sound, The way to Mrs, Belden’s room was open! Keil nudged his confederates, He was in high glee atseeing his suspicions thus confirmed ; Nicolo stood branded as a law-breaker, if noth- ing more. ‘ he time was not come to disturb bim, how- ever; tt had been Mrs, Belden’s request that they should delay action until the fellow had betrayed the object of his efforts. He next left the door and went to the further end of the hall, but speedily_returned with Bianca in charge, Nota word between theg, but she seemed to know just what to do and did it with the coolness and readiness of oneoldincrime. She took her place by the door and Nicolo safely turned the knob and pushed the door open. : hg more he listened; then he entered noise- essly. Yi Kell was in a dilemma. Although Mrs, Bel- den had promised to remain awake, so that she would be able to appear on the scene at once in case of alarm, there was a possibility that she had fallen asleep. In any case, the Prodigy wished to be near enough to foil any murderous attempt on Nicolo’s part, and therestood Bianca in the way. } Ae eS ee ee EE ee | “You thief! you think you are going to take your plunder to those who sent you, but you will jnot go unless it be over my lifeless body! icolo was silent and motionless for a mo- ment, not so much because he was discovered, but because her manner was so striking that it appealed even to his low and evil nature, and beat down his will-power. But the influence soon passed, and he revealed bis real nature likea flash, Out from his coat he jerked a knife witha long and glittering blade, and sprung toward Mrs, Belden. She had been brave the moment hefore, but her courage went out like a light, Nicolo’s face was a revelation, with its utter rp aud fiendishness, and she was rendered incapable of motion, She saw her life in peril, but could not move, Fortunately for her, there was one there less affected. Curly Kall had armed himself with part of a broom-handle, and he sprung to meet the Son of the Stiletto, Both struck at about the same time, Kell’s aim was good; his club fell upon Nicolo’s arm and the knife went spin- ning away, but Mrs, Belden had been saved by a narrow chance, A long gash in her dress showed how near she had been to death, and the futile stroke of the knife would haye been fatal had not the Pro- digy’s blow diverted the steel from its course somewhat, } Sim Oakes was at Kell’s heels, and he had no disposition to be idle then, He grappled with the Italian, and, after a brief struggle, bore him to the floor. Mrs. Belden, though weak and trembling, had recovered her presence of mind and she brought a long, slender rope, once u to cord her trunk, and the Son of the Stiletto was bound and rendered helpless. “You murderin’ hound!” Oakes exclaimed, ss pi ought ter be hung with the rope, not ti Nicolo remained silent, but, looking at his right hand. moved the fingers of that hand slightly. Kell’s chance blow had struck in such a way that Nicolo’s arm had been paralyzed temporarily, and it was this fact which had enabled them to overpower him so easily. He was a desperate fighter, and Sim Oakes, strong as he was, could never have overcome him alone, ‘* Take the papers from his pocket!” Mrs. Bel- den directed. Sim obeyed, and the lady put them in the bosom of her dress, ‘Your errand here is revealed,” he added, addressing Nicolo, The Son of the Stiletto rolled his dark eyes, but made no reply, ‘* Should say murder was his errand,” observed Sim, looking at the knife. Mike Keefe evtered the room, bearing Bianca in his arms. ** She’s fainted!” he explained, Sure enough, the girl seemed to have :ost con- sciousness. She hung a limp weight upon him and, as that weight was no trifle, he dropped her on the bed with more haste than cere- - mony ‘*Swoonded as ice an’ ’asy as if she was wan ave dhe belles ave Fift? Avenoo,” he added. Little attention was bestowed upon Bianca, All looked at Nicolo, and Oakes was very frank in expressing his opinion. ‘* As murderous-lookin’ a reptyle as I ever saw!” he declared. ‘* American,” remarked the Son of the Stilet- to, turning his gaze upon Oakes, ‘I will see you again.” ** You see me now, don’t yer?” “T am a prisoner, now.” * You'll remain one.” “Wrong! I shall escape w ** Not from them ropes,” ‘*T shall be free some day. It may be years hence, but the day will come, I shall live when you are dead. Iam not to die like an insect of a summer—you are! Look you, American, . am an Italian dog, to-night. in the future you shall see what you shall see. Beware the teeth of the dos! American, you are doomed! I sa you shall die, and die you shall. Do not loo torward to my return trom a prison to which you may send me. Death never waits for his victim. My friends are Death’s agents, You are doomed! The son of Italy, whom you calla dog, will live to see the thistles and wormwood grow over your grave!” CHAPTER XI. A TRICK, AND THE RESULT. ‘HOSE who listened to Nicolo Mazzeo had never before had any comprehension of how much could be expressed in words, The Son of the Stiletto did not raise his voice, or rant, or in any way grow dramatic intentionally, but his quiet utterance was so suggestive, and the light in his eyes so malignant, that, every one of his cepeors shivered, t was not hard for Curly to understand why the band selected Nicolo for desperate deeds. Sim Oakes, brave and strong as he was, changed color and applied no more severe terms to the prisoner. After a short pause Mrs, Belden went a step nearer to the bound man, ‘* Where is he who sent you’ here?” she asked, ‘* Nobody sent me,” “Tt is useless to deny it,” ** Nobody sent me,” calmly reiterated the Italian. ‘**Do you mean to say you ere ignorant of the value of the papers you tried to steal?” ‘*T have nothing to say.” ‘It is useless to deny it.” ‘Tl deny nothing.” A machine could not have been more im’ sive than the prisoner, and it was plain that he was no ordinary man, criminal that he was. ‘** Better let me go fur a p'leeceman,” suggest- ed Cobwebs. ‘* Wait one moment.” Mrs, Belden kept her gaze riveted upon Nico- lo, and her expression was eloquent, There was much in it that Kell could not read, but he realized that there was something back of all this that she partly knew and partly guessed at, “Sir,” she continued, earnestly, addressing the ltalian, ‘TI Rerane that money is of some value to you, ou came here because there was money to be Made, Well, you can double our earnings by changing employers. You tase failed to get the papers, and your pay can- not be large. On the other hand, [ will reward you well if you will help me. Let us forget what has happened; let pity move you, and see me, a weak woman who has been a child give your aid. I will pay you of misfortune, well!”
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Her voice had grown unsteady, but it was full of great earnestness, Evidently, it was no idle remark when she claimed to have known trouble. Nicolo’s face relaxed; his lips parted in a smile, but it was not one of an attractive na- ture, Rather, it was a malevolent sneer, and Cobwebs Kell thought he bad never seen him look more villainous than at that moment. ** You seek to bribe, to buy me!” the audacious prisoner slowly enunciated. ‘‘ You think I have a soul the price of which may be told in dollars and cents. Ah! well, that is your mistake. Let my silence give you the lie!” The smile faded away; he became impassive again, ‘*Do you refuse?” faintly asked Mrs. Belden. “*T refuse!” ‘* But the money—” _‘* T despise it!” ‘*Then you must have some personal feel- ing.” Tine Son of the Stiletto drew himself up proudly. ** | have my honor!” eo reply was too absurd to admit of argu- ment. “Since you remain so strong in favor of those who sent you here,” pursued Mrs, Belden, growing stronger, ‘‘I can only infer that you are one of the original gang. Perhaps you can tell where my son is?” ‘*T know not your son,” ‘**] don’t believe you!” Nicolo shrugged bis shoulders. ‘What does it matter?” “Tt matters a good deal. After years of waiting I have a clew, and it was put in m ion by you. I shall follow with all ble zeal, The only question is, where do you see fit to stand in the matter? If you promise to tell what you know, and help me to recover my son, not only shall your visit here be overlooked, but I will pay A well in money. Refuse, and I shall have a policeman summoned at once,” ‘* You have your privilege.” **Do you still refuse?” **-You have my words.” ** Boy, go for on officer!” Kell started, but Mrs, Belden stopped him with a gesture at the door. ‘* For the last time, prisoner, will you speak?” Nicolo’s re pa air suddenly vanished, and he glared at the speaker angrily. ‘What would you have?’ he demanded, **'You do not know the way of an Italian gen- tleman. Listen! Honor is to me dearer than life. In my own country I was of the nobility, and the blood of the Caesars flowed in my veins, Poverty drove me to America, but my lineage and my honor remain, Woman, tempt me not! Away! I will not listen to you. Call your po- lice hirelings; fling me iv your jails if you will; but honor seals my lips. More than this, I w not say!” And he turned his back upon them, ** Rubbish!” muttered Kell. Nicolo had talked nonsense of the worst kind, but even his preposterous choice of utterances could not provoke Mrs. Belden to a smile, She had grown deeply, painfully interested, and with new hopes springing in a heart that had known the hand of sorrow, was resolved to push the matter to theend, ry eg she turned to Curly Kell, ** Go for the officer!” she directed. “ce Tm off |” f F Nicolo did not waver, and Cobwebs saw that the unwelcome alternative must be taken. He went down-stairs, unlocked the front door and went out. hurried away to find one, but luck was not in his favor; he had to search a good ten minutes before his eyes were gladdened by sight of the trolman, and it took two minutes more to in- luce him to act. Finally, Kel) carried his point, and they went to Mrs. Stanley’s house. ‘Tbe door opened read- ily to them, and they went up-stairs. The ide was somewhat surprised that no one met em, but he kept on until he reached the door of the room in which the previous scenes had occurred, Then he stopped short, The room was vacant! The gas burned as brightly as ever, but not a person was to be geen, and, as Kell in be- wilderment, he became conscious of a profound silence around him, There was nothing to show that any one else was astir in the house, ; ‘* Where be they?” the officer asked. ** You’ve got me, mister!” “Be ye sure ye didn’t dr’ame it all?” Curly Kell, the Prodigy o No policeman was in sight. He “Dream it? sat A there’s them cords we bound the Eyetalian with, sure pop!” Kell picked up the rope, and found that it eae been severed in several places with a ife. “The Dago has turned the tables on ’em, somehow,” the Prodigy commented, in bewil- derment. A footstep sounded at the door, He turned— Mrs. Belden was there. ‘* What’s up?” he cried. 4 The prisoner has escaped.” “ How inp’izon could he do it?” “We owe it all to Bianca’s cunning and our stupidity. When you firstsaw the girl you said grimly that she was a ‘bouncer’ for a nervous girl. You saw the inconsistency of that, but none of us was sharp enough to wonder that such a girl should.faint,” ‘*Say! was she playin’ possum?” ‘Beyond doubt; her alleged swoon was a sham. Both she and her father were ds cunning as the master they serve, and, when the crisis came, she saw that if she could escape being bound it would be a great point in their favor.” ; ‘*An’ she pretended ter swoon, an’ kep’ free from ropes an’ strings,” ‘“‘Thanks to our short-sightedness, she did. After you were gone she watched her chance and, when we were occupied, stole to her father’s side and cut his bonds. She must have had the knife secreted in the bosom of her ‘* It’s a wonder the male Eyetalian didn’t carve ye all up, b’jinks!” ‘* He would have done so if we had attacked him, We quickly discovered that he was free, and Keefe and Oakes were brave enough in all reason, but the Italian waved his long- bladed ee igh swore he would kill whoever opposed s departure. ‘An’ ke skipped?” “Yes. He and Bianca ran down-stairs and out of the front door, locking it behind them. That eH py us, and he made good his escape. Keefe and Oakes have gone in pursuit, but think we shall never see him again,” “See him ag’in?” cried Kell. ‘‘ You bet we shall! I'll ketch that critter, or wear my feet off clear up ter my ankles!” CHAPTER XH. THE ENMITY OF THE SECRET BAND. CuRLY KELL spoke with great emphasis. He had become very much interested in the case, and the crafty trick by which the italians had made their escape mortified him, ‘True, he was. not ag pew Be for he had not been in the house, but it looked so. clear, at last, that.a girl like Bianca would not faint that he wondered at what he regarded as his own stupidity. In this he was unjust to himself, but he would not listen to contrary arguments, ' Oakes and Keefe returned and reported that they had seen no signs of Nicolo and Bianca, but they had reported the affair at the precinct police-station, and the sergeant on duty had promised to do what he could to capture them. Mrs. Belden did not show much faith in the probable results of their aid, and she felt that one capable detective engaged under the chief inspector’s advice would be worth more than the work of irregular assistants; but she dis- missed the waiting patrolman graciously. Mrs, Stanley came in looking pale and shocked. Her niece had aroused her from sleep and told the story, and her blind, ignorant faith in her own judgment had received a severe shock. She knew that, only for Curly Kell’s timely blow, the [talian’s knife would have been used on Mrs, Belden with effects she shuddered to think of even then, **Tll never help any poor person again!” she | declared. ‘‘ Faith!” replied Mike Keefe, ‘‘if yez will give wid yer head,instead ave wid yer heart, yez’ll be all roight.’ Neither of the ladies failed to appreciate Kell’s services, or to thank him accordingly, and when Mrs. Belden inquired as to his circumstances in life, she declared that she, would reward him more Gr baa waa ope ** Wait until we ketch the Eyetalian,” the Pro- digy requested, ‘Oh! Pll engage a detective at the Central Office, for that,” ‘* Have you much faith in them fellers?” “Ww , yes.” “Tain’t. The Eyetalian will hidein the Sixt’ Ward, an’ I’m knowin’ ter more nooks an’ cor- nies there than any detective. Pll run him Laie, Paradise Park. down. Is thar moro charges ag’in’ him tha goin’ fur ye with the knife? Who did yermean ~ when yer said somebody sent him?” Kell asked his question bluntly, bound to get at the facts of the case. - You take me back into the saddest part of my life,” returned Mrs, Belden, witha sigh. ‘I will say, briefly, that I was married ten years ago, but, after several years of happy life, my home was cruelly broken. My husband was a French politicdl refugee. He was the son of a marquis, but, when his father died, he was not my deprived of his title and estate, but arrest- ed for treason, ‘*There was some foundation, perhaps, for the charge, for he was of a liberal turn of mind, and had often acted, as well as spoken, against. the French Government. After awhile he es- caped from prison and came to this country. .“* He had previously belonged to a secret or- ganization hostile to the Government of France, but just before his arrest he had learned enough of its intentions to condemn and forsake it, The leaders contemplated wholesale murder of men of noble blood, not alone in France, but in Italy, Germany and Russia, and my husband, patriot though he was, could not stoop to be an assassin, ‘““Thus it was that when he left France he ceased’ to have any connection with them, though he never handed in his resignation, for that was out of the question—once a member always a member until death, was the rule of the League. ‘‘ We were married soon after my husband came to America, and for a time all went well, but he finally heard a rumor which startled him. ‘** At the time of his escape one of their lead- ers, who was &@ man much liked, and had been in hiding from the Government, was captured. My husband had no connection with the affair at all, but it seems he was suspected of it. “The council of the League met; he was tried and condemned to die. ‘* When he heard this he was alarmed, but he laid his hopes on the chance that none of bis old colleagues knew where be was. We had lived quietly at all times; we now lived a life almost hermit-like, and he rarely went out at night. But fear of the League haunted him always; he even dreamed of them at night, and would start. out of slumber with a startled cry. ‘One day he came home pale and trembling. I asked the cause, and he answered: ‘** 7 have seen a Son of the Stiletto!’ ‘*T knew what that meant, It was the chosen few who always carried out the death-sentences. when the pe ene Council had pronounced doom upon an unfortunate. | ‘‘Whether the Son of the Stiletto had seen him, in return, my husband did not know, but the eucounter added to his fear. Naturally nervous, be knew the way of those dreadful men too well to rest in peace, , ‘“‘Shortly after he suddenly disappeared. Let me pass lightly over it, His body was found in the river, unrecognizable except tor the clothing he wore. To this day I do not know how he died. The coroner said by accidental drown- ing; I often think of the Sons of the Stiletto and shiver. ‘ ‘We had one child, a boy. Soon after his father disappeared, he went, too—how, and where, I never knew. I spent thousands of dol- lars trying to find him, and employed the best detective skill in vain. , “Years have passed. I have never wholly ceased my efforts, but hope died long ago. This night a feeble ray of hope has been given me, The papers which the Italian tried to get refer to ry husband’s estate in France, giving proof of identity, and so'forth, Now, why should any one want to steal them, unless my son is alive, and some other heir fears he may get the rope Ma P Curly Kell had been listening breathlessly. NE yer bhusband’s name Belden?” he a “Tt was the name he assumed when he came to America,” ‘** Wot was his own name?” ** Jean Beauclare.” a ‘* An’ yer boy’s name?” ** Vincent.” ‘Great cats!” 4 ‘¢- You seem surprised. Surely, you have not — heard of him?” Mrs, Belden asked, eagerly, a? “Say, how d’ye know yer husband was drownded? Wasn’t thar no proof but the — clo’se?” Ut Sa oi No.” j ‘““Did that satisfy you?” “ At times I_ had doubts—but, surely, you — don’t mean— Whatdo youmean?” — ey ‘4 2... = ee a
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A ae noe PTS y = See The lady had grown agitated, and Curly Kell nodded sharply. ‘*Mum, prepare fur ter hear news!” he di- rected, ** Good or bad?” - ** Mostly good, but open ter doubts.” “Whatisit? Speak out, at once!” DA your son an’ your husband, both, last he statemenv was out, but Kell was rather alarmed when he saw how forcibly it fell upon Mrs. Belden. Her face grew paler, and he was afraid of ill consequences. % Impossible!” exclaimed Mrs. Stanley. ‘* Leastways, it was a man named Jean Beau- clare, an’ a kid named Vincent.” ‘* Where? where?” cried Mrs. Belden, ** At the Happy Haven. You've heerd part o’ the story, but Ill tell the rest,” Kell then proceeded to give a fresh account of the trouble at the lodging-house. Making no unn words, he presented the case in Pon language, and the facts were soon before 8 earers, “Describe him!” Mrs, Belden excitedly di- rected, referriug to Jean Beauclare. — Kell obeyed, and then the lady drew a deep breath. “Tt is he!” she declared. ‘‘My husband—~ alive! How was I so mistaken? And where has he been all these years? Yes; it is he, and still Fe aac by the Sons of the Stiletto. Mer- ciful Heaven! does their malignant hatred know no bounds? They will kill him yet!” ** Not ef I kin help it!” asserted Kell, smiting his knee with his brown hand. ‘* What can you dot—whatcan we do? We are weak, and the Sons of the Stiletto are strong.” ‘Don't make no difference!” returned the Prodigy, stoutly. ‘‘They kin creep an’ crawl all they wish, but we'll beat’em out, Ter-mor- rer I’m goin’ ter hunt the gang down!” CHAPTER XIII, COBWEBS’S SINGULAR DISCOVERY. EARLY the next morning, Curly Kell was at the Happy Haven lodging-house, Mahalaleel Tubbs was just getting motion, but the lodgers had not gone out. ‘** All quiet?” Kell asked. ‘* Yes,” Mahalaleel replied. _ * Any o’ my last night’s circus-actors sleepin’ with us ag’in?” ‘*Guess not. Ain’t seen ncbody ter answer the description yer give.” pip fe sorry fur that.” ‘*Oh) you'll never see them ag’in.” ‘** Yes, 1 shall!” Cobwebs declared. “I’ve got interested in that crowd, an’ I’m goin’ ter see ’em ag’in ef I hunt New York allover. I’ve got the hist’ry of Jean Beauclare and the Eye- alians pooty straight. The woman, Madame Lapierre, an’ that queer Monk Merry, ain’t on my list, but I guess they’re only schemers, I’s in hopes they’d come back, but as they ain’t, come, I’m goin’ ter find ’em,” ** Jehiel, I’ve seen a heap o’ experience in this world,” remarked Mahalaleel, gravely and wise- ly, ‘tan’ 1 give yer the résult on’t in these here few words: Never meddle with what don’t con- sarn you! You'll pick 1p more trouble o’ your own at yer toes than you kin throw off at yer heels!” And Mr, Tubbs went to a shelf, lighted his pipe, and sat down to enjoy the peaceful smoke of a man whose mind was free from care and stored with knowledge. _ Kell did not scorn this well-meant advice, for, having an old bead upon his young shoul- ders, he was well aware that his employer had talked common sense, but he was too much a in Jean Beauclare’s case to let it drop. Risky the work certainly was, but he was de- Sam to go on with it and see what he could earn, ‘He remained at the Happy Haven until he saw the night’s patrons go away, and then, hav- ing made sure that none of them intereste him, ag went out into the street to begin his search. Where was he to lnok? In the whole country there was no spot so well adapted for a pai. place as the great city on Manhattan Island, and he was vaguely conscious of the fact. With many streets and more houses to look to, it would be no small affair to run them down, ; That Merry and Nicolo would bein some dis- trict of pove was certain, and it seemed ' probable that the latter would remain in the Yeatian quarter. That was all he had to go eo, Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. He wandered down to the Five Points, and, standing by Paradise Park, watched the passers- by thoughtfully. The House of Industry and the Mission reared their friendly walls on either side of him, but, after a short pause, he walked toward the east. In this section he lingered for some time, try- ing to see one of the Italians who had been at the Happy Haven, but nothing of the kind hap- pened, and he wandered on up Mulberry street, “Guess ve tackled a pooty large job,” he confessed, half-audibly. ‘ Allo’ them snakes is likely ter stay in their dens, an’ I presoom I shall wear my patent-leathers all out ina vain tramp ” He looked down at his coarse, dilapidated shoes, but his attention was suddenly diverted, a Here, young feller, make yerself useful!” It was a sharp voice, almost at Kell’s elbow, and he looked up and-saw’a woman who was noticeable for three things—her unusual size, a big market-basket and a stout cane. * Ketch on ter this basket!” she asked. ‘* Want me ter carryit?” he inquired, “T do, that. I’m subjick ter shootin’ rooma- tiz. It’s a-shootin’ now, an’I’m so ee that I can’t hardly crawl, an’ we must hev some *taters an’ cabbijes fur dinner.” Kell was accommodating, and he took the basket and moved along by the woman’s side, Besides being fleshyshe was jolly, dirty, and, as she had claimed, very lame. , She limped painfully as she went, and made the cane bend under her hand until it threatened to become a hoop. fe When her home finally was reached she push- ed the door open. ‘* Bf you want ter earn fifteen cents,” she add- ed, “I Rive ye that much ter ay 4 me about dinner. There’sa heap o’ runnin’ ter be done that I don’t feel like doin’.” Kell was about to answer that he was not in that line of business, but the words did not pass his lips. He bap ned to look up to the head of the stairs, and saw a small boy standing there, look- ing down. A moment later a hand clasped the boy’s arm and drew him back, but, though the up r hall was far from being in strong light, had seen enough togive him a start. Unless his eyes deceived him greatly, the boy was Vincent Beauclare! ** I won’t work ye too hard,” pursued the wo- re fearing that Kell’s silence foreboded re- Sa. . The Prodigy rallied, / ““’m allays willin’ ter help a lame dog over the fence—meanin’ no persoval ’lusion to you mum—an’ the fifteen cents is a temptation can’tstan’, Dll engage with ye,mum. I s’pose my ‘ keep’ is included, ain’t it?” | he wily speaker was as grave as if his'only thought was of the bargain—and Mrs, Pride— such proved to be her name—unsuspiciously re- plied that his ‘‘ keep” was included. Operations were begun at once. Mrs, Pride kept a boarding-house, and did not seem to be the worst person in the world, but she had an eye to dollars and cents, and when Kell had seen asample of her way of doing business he was prepared to believe that she could be hired to san, upon all minorlaws. | He helped her readily and briskly, and the completion of dinner preparation drew near apace, but his heart was not in the work. He was all the while thinking about the boy up- stairs, and many were the expedients he consid- ered with a view to going up there. " Luck was with him, however, and he did not have to invent any way of his own, Mrs, Pride finally collected a quantity of eatables on & waiter. ; ““'You won’t be needed here for twenty min- utes,” she observed, ‘‘ and you kin take this up- irs to some private boarders, an’ stay until they have eat, Then come down an’ help me wait on the table,” ** All right, mum.” ; **The room is on the third floor, back, You can’t missit. Jest rap on the door, an’ they’ll open it.” “Allright; [l’tendtoit.” Kell was calm and phlegmatic outwardly, but, really, he was exulting over his good for- tune. He was bound to have a good look at the boy, and see whether it was Vincent, before he rejoined Mrs, Pride. e took the waiter and went ap the first flight of stairs. It was at that point he had seen the boy, and he looked about eagerly, but no boy was visible. Every door on that floor was open; every room was unoccupied at that time, ‘ He kept on his journey, and went to the next oor. die ' It was not hard to locate the room to which he. had been directed, and he was about to knock, when he noticed that the door was fastened on the oe by means of a strong hook and catch, This was something wholly out of Kell’s line of previous experience, but after a pause, he knocked on the panel, There was no answer, and no sound from within, Certain ideas had been strugglin Prodigy’s mind, and after a brief delay, he quietly raised the hook and opened the door. It had not been locked, and a shattered part of the outer rim told why. The hook had been resorted to in lieu of anything better. ; The room was not in strong light, wooden blinds covering the lower half of the windows, but it was enough for Kell’s 9 te His first impression was that no one was there to eat the food, but second glance showed that he was mis- en. In one corner & vd Kove upon a mattress, his: head resting upon his hand, fast asléep. Quickly Kell advanced, and his spirits rose as: he saw that it was, indeed, the same boy he had seen at the Happy Haven. It flashed upon the: Prodigy that Mrs. Pride had e ted some one. to be with Vincent, but that the watcher had gone out unknown to her. A chance was vouchsafed which he did not. fail toimprove. He hastened to rouse Vincent, who started up, rubbing his heavy eyes, ‘* Hello, little ’un!” greeted Kell, cheerfully, ** How’s things?” ‘*Oh, you’ve brought dinner,” observed Vin- cent. ‘Never mind dinner now, Is thar a man takes keer 0’ you?” ** Yes; but he’s gone out now.” Toe boy put his hand down to his waist and a chain rattled, ‘“‘He fastened me,” added Vincent, mourn- fully. ® ** How’s that?” Kell bent lower, and saw with no little indig- nation that the small boy was actually chained to the wall. He was not well enough informed to recognize in this a relic of old-times irl but he did see that they were determined to hold. the prisoner at all hazards, : ‘Guess you don’t like it?’ he returned, in in the uir ing] . am I nls Kelp myself.” | ‘* Wot’s yer name?” ** Vincent.” : ‘ What's t’other name?” ““T think it’s Beauclare, but Monk Merr says: my name is George Washington Fra an’ ou he won’t let me give any other name, won’t tell on me, will you? < Bet yer life, 1 won't! Gota father an’ mo- ther?’ ‘*T don’t know. I used to have, but Monk took me away,and[ don’t know where they’ are. ‘Wot was her name?” ‘*T can’t remember, it was so long ago, and I was so young. I remember the names Stanley and Belden, and it seems to me my mother was. sometimes called Belden, but I don’t see why.” Vincent was perplexed, but he had said enough. to make all clear to Kell, ‘“What’s Monk Merry got ter do with yer, anyhow?” quickly. — +t Yes,” \ ‘Take me to her! Take me away from here { am afraid of Monk Merry, I don’t know why he keeps me, nor what he means to do with me, but I am afraid!” 3 “Tl yank that chain out in a jiffy—ef I can.” % Kell set down the waiter and turned to his task, but be soon saw that he had not under-— .taken any'small job, The chain was not larger than his thumb, but it was very strong, and the fastening in the wall was firm. He braced him- self and pulled with all his strength, but in vain. It soon became evident that he must have either the key or some metal instrument by which he could force the lock. “Tl go an’ git it,” he promised. ‘‘ We want ter it out 0’ here before Monk Merry shows up, 0 there will be the tallest kind of a racket. He would be scared, anyhow, ter know a casual stranger had been in an’ got on ter his chainin’- up game, an’, as’tis, he has only ter git his. eagle-eye on me an’ he recognize my optikel - Fest ot epee |
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_. %em after you. Why she 12 visage. Yes, sir; we want ter skip afore Monk comes around,” ‘+ What can we do?” Vincent had grown nervous, as was natural, and was eager to get away. “Tl go down-stairs an’see ef I kin git a ‘chisel, or some sech implement, ter bu’st yer bonds. I hope the old lady will give me plenty » 0’ movin’-room,” yt wiped,“ shook his head as he meditated on the small probability that he would be al- lowed to hunt around, get what he wanted and then use it; but, as he had no choice in the mat- ter, he made haste tosay a few cheerful words to Vincent and started out of the room. He opened the door, and stood face to face with a man who was just coming in, It was Monk Merry! CHAPTER XIV. THE CASE GROWS CRITICAL. Conwess’s first impression was that all was jost at one step. There was no especial reason . why Monk should consider the boy he had seen at the Happy Haven an enemy, except that events had been so troubled there that any one would be set thinking; but it was a sore disap- ' pointment to see the kidnapper back on the scene, Monk, however, at once boiled over with good humor, ‘* Hullo! Hop-o’-my-thumb, be you the kid — nee brought my dinner?” he boisterously asked. ‘* 1m the kid,” Kell confessed, ‘* Bully fur you! You're a good one! You feel fur the woes of a hungry man, an’ is willin’ ter give hima lift in the right d’recktion, A feller who don’t feel fur my stomach ain’t my frien’, J feel fur my stomach, an’ l’ve been giv- in’ itashow, Take somethin’?” The speaker extended a pint flask, and Kell saw that he had been oe tse according to his own advice, and had ‘‘ taken something” to an extreme. In a word, Monk was carrying more whisky than was to be seen in the bottle. . “T ain’t dry,” Kell replied, ‘*But you may be,” . ** Guess not.” ** Wal, Vl hev all the more, then. Come in, my fair hummin’-bird o’ the South Pole! The ol’ lady said you was ter wait until I swallered my feed, Wal, I’m erbout ter swaller. K’min!” The Prodigy decided to accept this invitation and see what would comeofit., Monk staggered ‘across the room and seized upon the waiter. ‘* Hash ernough fur both on us, George Wash- ington, an’ we'll fall to. You ought ter be ateful ter me fur feedin’ you so sumptuous. ou be grateful, ain’t yer?” “Yes,” replied Vincent, faintly. . “Tha’s right; always, be beholden ter your benefactors, or yer Monk Merryfactors. Stuff * the i George Washington, an’ le’s be Appy Tha kidnapper was in a mood unusually con- tented and jovial, and he fell to eating with rel- ish. His gaze soon wandered to Kell, ‘* You're an oncommon boy,” he observed. a“ Be I ya “Yes, If I’s ter make jack-knives, I’d pattern Youw’re amazin’ thin, Them legs 0’ yourn woud make good flag-staffs.” ‘ They’re stout, though.” ‘They don’t need ter be. A sparrer’s legs would kerry that body o’ yourn. You look sin- larly like another boy I’ve seen some time.” Monk was drifting toward a dangerous sub- ject, tony cunning Kell hastened to avert possible trouble, '“T hope I'll grow up ter hev as stout an’ noble a fgger as you bev got,” he asserted, j r. Merry’s pride was touched, and he not only added to the compliment to himself, in a long dissertation, but conceived a very good opinion of Curly Kell. He did not recognize the latter _-—a fact due, perhaps, to his semi-inebriated condition, — Cobwebs was not at ease, Here was the lost Vincent before bis eyes, but he could not help him. He thought of going out to notify a po- liceman, but was wise enough to know that he weuld have Merry, Mrs. Pride, and, perhaps, a dozen other persons, to deny any story he might tell an officer. Vincent’s own hopes were in a very unsettled state, and only Monk’s repeated injunctions in- duced him to eatatall. He stole sly looks at Kell which were full of entreaty, but the latter could neither give nor feel encouragement, i, ust as was pe we sh a shuf- _ fling on the stairs and several lugubrious groans announced Wek Mrs. Pride was coming up, ' fied the rheumatism was not ! person, the searcher failed to clear, but Monk took it for granted that he was the cause of it, ‘*She’s afraid I'll eat up the dishes!” he growled, ‘‘ Take ’em out, youngster.” Cobwebs saw no way except to obey, and he took the waiter and pushed open the door. As he did so he had a view of Mrs, Pride still toil- ing up, with two men at her back, and Kell had another striking surprise. The foremost man was Nicolo Mazzeo! Quickly the Prodigy stepped back and closed the door, ‘What's up?” Merry asked, stupidly. ‘¢ She’s got men with her, an’ I guess I won’t introod.” Even then Kell’s fertile mind found an excuse, butbe was somewhat worried. Had he been en- trappéd? Nicolo must regard him with bitter hatred, and would lose no chance to get him out of the way. Had Mrs. Pride been a decoy? Or was it only chance that had sent the Italian there? He expected to see the door opened, but such was not the case, As the party reached the top of the stairs, Nicolo’s well-remembered voice sounded: ‘This part of the house does not suit me, We will take the room below.” *¢- You'll like it, sir,” declared Mrs, Pride, ‘Three dollars a week, you gay?’ ‘That's the reg’lar guia but it’s five with the extras, Of course [ runa resk by takin’ in folks as you say the man is comin’. I keeps a ood, respecterble house, an’ the perleeco knows it an’ lets me alone,” “Be at ease. We will pay what is right. Name your price,” ** How long is it for?” ‘ ‘We don’t know. Possibly several months.” ‘* Pil say six dollars a week, with a discount fur every week o’ one dollar ef you stay three months,” ; ' ‘¢ That's all right, We'll have our man here by four o’clock. I noticed an alley at the south side of the house, We shali bring the man ina hack, We want to drive into the alley and hustle him in at the sidedoor, Will you see that itis open for immediate entrance, so that there need be no staring, and no disturbance?” ¥ you bet! I’m as anxious for that as you e. ** Then it is settled. We'll take the room.” ** How old is your man?” ‘* On! forty or fifty.” **Ts he an Italian?” ‘*No, though be’sa foreigner, But that don’t make any difference; oar money is good, whether he is a Greek or a Laplander.” Nicolo spoke with some annoyance, and Mrs. Pride hastened to reassure him, She said a few consoling words, and then the party went down stairs, Curly Kell had stood just inside the door and listened to every word, Their talk proved to be of rare interest. Anything that concerned Nicolo naturally would be ofinterest, but he fixed -Kell’s attention at once by speaking of the man whose name he had not given, A foreigner, aged between forty and fifty years, was to be brougbt there in a carriage and “‘ hustled” into the old house as secretly as possible. ‘* What did it mean? | ‘*7'll bet a jew’s-harp they’ve got Jean Beau- clare in quod!” muttered the Prodigy. ‘* What's that?’ asked Monk Merry, rousing from a state of semi-unconsciousness, and wink- mg hans to get his heavy eyes open. ‘Monk was not dangerous just then, and Cobwebs knew he needed only a few minutes of quiet to sink into sound sleep. He had pet no attention to Kell’s act of listening ut the oor. The Prodigy waited, and Merry soon began to snore loudly, With so many points to look af- ter, Kell hardly knew what to do first, but he decided that it would be a good idea to release Vincent, net him away, and then inform the po- lice what Nicolo was contemplating. ‘* Where does he keep the won your chains?” the would-be rescuer inquired, nodding toward Monk and addressing Vincent, “He put it in that vest-pocket,” the smaller boy answered, indicating the pocket, . Keep mum! With this injunction, Kell approached the captor and carefully insinuated one hand into his pocket. The man slept on pponcetany but the effort was not a success, The key was not in the pocket. Ri Kell was not to be discouraged, and he kept up the search, One pocket after another re- ceived bis attention, but as he had begun so he finished; if the coveted article was on Monk’s lish the fact. ui ey her wr. y rh % ESE YT eae ao ney tee sae a nly thing I kin do is ter go an’ git some p’leece- men, an’ the sooner I do that the better it will be, Vincent was very nervous, but he did not dispute this verdict, and Kell left the room. Prudence did not desert bim, and reaching the head of the stairs, he took a cautious look down before venturing further. ; The moment he did so, he again dodged back. ‘Tn a trap, b’jinks!” he commented. CHAPTER XV. THE PRODIGY CALLS FOR HELP, Tur view obtained by Curly Kell did not threaten immediate danger, but it did show that he could not walk out of the house safely in the way he had pianned. Nicolo Mazzeo had taken possession of the room directly under Monk’s, and he had not only left the door open, but was seated near it, where he would, get the current of air, reading a newspaper, ‘+ Trapped, b’jinks!” Kell repeated the melancholy-voiced comment, He knew that his scheme of getting a policeman was nipped m the bud, as it were, for, knowing bim as he did, and with this plot in mind, Nicolo would not allow him to pass. He even suspected that his life would be in danger if the Son of the Stiletto should learn of his presence in the house, He had no inten- tion of going down, but he experienced an un- pleasant feeling as he reflected on the probable result of a trip made up-stairs by Mrs. Pride to learn what had become of her helper. Cobwebs was a boy of expedients, and he de- termined not to let any time go to waste, He entered the frint room, All was peaceful on the street; no policemen were in sight; but several boys loitering near gave strength to an idea Kell bad vaguely had before, Hoturned quickly, He wanted certain things, and was not long .n finding them, In a drawer he found several envelopes and sheets of paper, badly soiled, and evidently left by some previous occupant cf the room, Kell had a short pencil in his pocket, and he sat down to write a letterina hurry. His edu- cation had not kept pace with his wits, but, if his spelling was somewhat crude, he managed to use plain words, This is what he wrote: ‘*Missis BELDEN:— j ‘* Yore boy Vincent is hear. monk merry has Got him. be is wal, but yore best way is too moove att youce iff qa want him. nicolo Mezzeo Is Hear, Too, Git Don’t Delay. there is Danger, But you can win iff you bussel rite along. Don’t fale in this, or We are awl Goners. Bring Plenty uv help, sure! ‘* Yores respectable, “*G@. Hitn Keuiar,”’ He was about to put this in theenyelope when he saw that, in his haste, he had neglected to give the street and number. He added these impc titems, sealed the letter and addressed it to Mrs. Belden’s home., Then he opened negotiations with the boys outside by showing them the letter, a silver twenty-five cent piece he chanced to have, and by making signs of secrecy. There are times when boys are contrary, and times when they are not. Kell bad found the young fellows outside in just the mood to suit his purpose, and they intormed him, by signs, that they understood and would carry the let- ter for the money indicated. Ho flung both out; they were picked up by the boys; the latter looked at the address on the en- == + vel lo e, nodded and hastened away. thing in the world fur the game ter be won or lost, cordin’as the cat jumps. Wish Mrs. — Belden was here now!” It was aggravating to be so near to vic and yet to have it wholly out of bis grasp. He went back to the head still out of the question. Kell returned to the rear room. Monk Merry slept Vincent looked mournful enough, ‘**Can you get me Ltt 4 be asked. Me pore frien’,” the F ‘* you'll hev ter wait a f oD. erful activity in my mind. I hope fur yer free.” “ Tm afraid of Monk Merry.” ‘*Been with him long?’ «i ae ** A month,” . or fore peelessmen and kura at yonce. , ope they won’t go back on me,” Kell mut- tered, looking afterthem thoughtfully. ‘Things; — is ata focus, so ter speak, an’ it’s the easiest . ofthe stairs, Nice olo was in his former position, and retreat was slept on, but young’ Prodigy answered, m erbout as much tied up here as you be, but thar’sa na a | set ae Tou" al
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his quiet smile showing that he understood ¥ Mon t happen?” n't know, but I’ve had an awful lot of hie. Lremember being with my own folks men I was young, but somebody took me away. I lived over on Avenue A until Monk ‘erg took me,” ** What’s his objick?” ‘“‘He never would tell me, but I overheard him say to a man that I was a mine of money.” ““ Hum’ id “1 think he means to make somebody pay for me, a's | rf oa 80, but he don’t want ter give no receipt fur the money until he’s counted it. He may not gitit. We are on deck, my frien’, an’ liable ter upset their plans alarmin’,’ Kell gave his head a sharp nod, and his air was so confident that Vincent brightened up a good deal, but the Prodigy was far from feeling as cheerfui as he acted. He wandered back into the hall and took an- other look at Nicolo, and then made a journey to the front room. These natural, but useless, pilgrimages were kept up durin the hours that fo lowed, princi- ly because Kell was nervous. The expected call from Mrs. Pride did not come, and the boy could only infer that she thought he had tired of his task and run away. Nicolo did not remain in the hall all the time but he kept the door of his room open, and Kell noticed that the slightest sound down-stairs brought the Italian out, after which he would peer over the balusters and listened sharply. Kell remained a prisoner, practically, and he watched in vain for Mrs. Belden to appear. As the afternoon wore away'he was forced to be- lieve that his messengers had played him false, or that the lady did not intend to answer the summons, After a long sleep Monk Merry awoke. He rubbed his discolored eyes and looked around stupidly. Kell was in the front room, and Monk did not remember meeting him there, at all, so Vincent escaped questioning. Monk had an unnatural thirst upon bim, and he was uot long in taking steps to satisfyit. He went down the first flight of stairs, and was about to proceed further when Nicolo showed that he was duly watchful. He suddenly dodged out into the hall, and he and Monk stood face to face. The recognition was mutual, but neither spoke at once. Monk looked troubled; the Italian was evidently as radically pleased. ‘* We meet!” he finally exclaimed. ‘‘ Good! I am aoa ‘* Don’t know ye, mister!” growled Monk, try- ing to pass. Wait! I would have a word with you. Where is the boy?” He had caught Monk by the button, but the ragged man shook off his hold roughly. ** Don’t know no boy, an’ don’t know you. Git out o’ my way!” Nicolo remained in his path, ana kept his com- ure admirably. ‘‘ Friend, be not hasty,” he ed, ‘*I know ou will not throw away two dollars to get one. here is money in the boy. You and I know it. You have him, and hope to make money, but you can do nothing alone, With me and m friends at your back, all things can, and shall, be done, and riches shall be ours, Don’t reject my offer; don’t reject the power that can hel you. Look you! the boy is up-stairs, now, t can take him by force if I will, butI am no robber. Come into partnership with me, and we will win together.” Nicolo spoke rapidly, but with a measure of rsuasion not usual tohim. It was plain that © wished to convince Merry, and he had made icolo ’s elumsy evasion. ‘‘Come!” He took Merry’s arm, and led him a captive, and not wholly a willing one, to the pee hall, Curly Kell nearly closed the door of his room, and prepare to listen. , “Friend,” the Italian went on, rapidly, ‘‘ we maust be allies; let us be frank. You know who and what the boy is.” It was not a question, but an assertion, yet cS Monk slowly answered: Curly Keli, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. c Yes,” PI sng you ever hear of the Sons of the Stilet- “cc Yes.” ** What are they?” ‘“Hs I hear it, they was a secret serciety in Europe, which worked its way into a perlitikel pie, thar, an’ become the men what did secret work for the politicians, but the scheme failed, the leaders kicked out the Sons of the Stiletto; an’ then the Sons give Europe the slip, came ter America, an’ exist here asa body wholly sepa- rate from politics,” ‘Right! But,” Nicolo darkly added, “ those who kicked us out have paid dearly for it— how, { will notsay. But if morerecentattempts in Europe at political agitation and liberty bad had us back of them, the result would have been very different. Enough of this; the Sons of the Stiletto now owe allegiance to no one but themselves. They number many men and wo, men, make much money, and are all-powerful Woe unto those who incur their anger!” ane: see! I see!” Monk exclaimed, ‘t Buterbout iz “It is in my power to take the boy away from you forcibly, but you have earned a re- ward by getting and keeping him when he was all adrift. Join me in this plan, giving me equal preprietorship in the boy, and you shall have one thousand dollars,” Monk’s eyes glittered greedily. ‘An’ th band will see that we git it?” “ Yes.” ‘¢ When?” * To-night!” **Tt's a bargain!” Nicolo grasped the speaker’s hand. : ‘*Enough bas been said, After this, work is the word. I do not hesitate to say that the boy’s father will be here within two hours. Before midnight,” the Son of the Stiletto darkly ac led, ‘the boy will be the only one of the family that need interest us!” CHAPTER XVI. BEAUCLARE ENTERS TARE TRAP. HAVING arrived at an amicable understand- ing, Monk and Nicolo went down-stairs and had a drink in the latter’s room of liquor which the Italian bad slong with him. Curly Kell felt that more of interest would be said, and tried to overhear it, but they were not where their words were audible. Neither was chance given for him to make his escape from the house. When in the front room Kell had noticed that the wall between that and the rear room was dilapidated and cracked, and as n! ht was close at hand, and a view of Vincent might be very im- portant, be went back to see what the means of observation were. He found that the partition was only one of a single line of boards, and the pelaenr pasted upon it was broken in several aces, ? At a crisis, he b ieved he could burst the boards away. J This he was w «ing to do for Vincent’s sake, though he was sensible enough to see how weak his efforts would be against the men, Once more he went to the window and looked eagerly for Mrs. Belden, but there was no sign of her, The a Sanayi delay had be nt wearisome and discouraging. He could only decide that his messenger bad proved faithless, and that he would not see her at all. Just as the day was waning he heard move- ments on the stairs which betokened the ascent of a woman, and he peered out curiously. | He had a fresh shock when he recognized rson who had given the name of Madame “ip ope ' ell aware that, at that moment, Nicolo was down-stairs and Monk in his own fe pe Kell ran to a good point «f observation in the broken wall to see what would occur next. He was treated to a dramatic tableau. Madame Lapierre had paused at the door, and was calmly looking at Vincent and gyal The latter had risen and was looking at ber in consternation. He was speechless, and, after waiting awhile, she srailed scornfully and broke the silence; ; ‘Perhaps you would like to run again, my aerr 4 ‘4 speak onk did not change his tion, or “ ‘“*You beat me ont at er tod g-house, but only because I did not know what cards were in our hand,” she added, ‘This time I know he 8 here!” She pointed to Vincent. “Pd like ter know,” cried Monk, flushing with anger, ‘““what business you hev ter come here?” My business is with you.” 13 ** Tf don’t want to see as soon as you please. Monk advanced threateningly, but stopped short when Madame Lapierre suddenly drew a. revolver. ‘* Did you wish to see me?” she calmly asked. Merry scowled savagely. Some women could not have frightened him with a revolver, but he made no mistake in the Frenchwoman; he knew that she had abundant nerve, and suspected that she could send a bullet straight to the mark. ‘*T'll have you arrested!” he stormed, ** No, you won’t, that would put you in the soup, so to speak. The police would get their hands on this boy, and your case would be set- tled.' Better be wise, and meet me as a friend,” ‘What do you want?” ‘+ Possession of the boy.” ** What fur?” **To put him in a quiet retreat. ** Guess you're on the off side o’ the ace, ‘*T certainly don’t want him to go to France, and he shall not go.” ‘“You speak pretty confident, seems ter me.” “Look you, get you and I need not quar- rel, I have my plans, and they are going through. The only question is, will you be dum on the rocks entirely, or will you come in with me and share the money I am sure to make. Take your choice at once!” Monk looked at ber in uncertainty and be- wilderment. He was willing to join hands with some one, in order to make money out of Vin- cent, for he was well aware that the case was too deep for him to handle alone, but he did not see how he was to be the ally of all these persons who were applying for a chance. He was helped out of his dilemma when the. door again opened and Nicolo came in quietly. Madame Lapierre retreated a step and raised her revolver, but the Italian smiled and spoke in a soft tone: : ‘“Be at ease, dear lady; we are all friends here,” ‘‘ How do you know we are?” she retorted. ‘* Because our interests are alike.” ** How do you know that?” ‘*T have listened at the door!” “ Sp ‘ala Nicolo ut out a deprecating hand. ‘* Amiable lady, do not misunderstand me,’” he gently returned, ‘‘ Far be it from me to do what is wrong, but I have my own interests to: defend. In this case, we three—you and I, and worthy Mr, Merry—all have a common aim. Ripe mou we pull ari each other?” ‘Why should we pull together?” Lapierre re- torted. ‘‘Because union means success; contention means failure. There is money to be made if we manage the matter rightly, but lack of har- mony will ruin all, Suppose we quarrel? What then? There will be trcuble; the police will come into the case; the identity of acertainchild will be established. How, then, can we make money by keeping him from sight?” For once, Nicolo was in earnest, His manner convinced Madame Lapierre, and after some hesitation, she consented to sit down and talk with the Son of the Stiletto. Their voices became so low—they wished to be unheard by Vincent—that Curly Kell could dis- tinguish nothing, nor was he oe to stop and listen. palovink: that he hadachance to leave the house, he determined to go out and no- tify the police at once. He went as far as the head of the stairs, and then stopped short. “ yee second Italian was on guard in the hall elow. Cobwebs retreated to the front room, seized yaper and pencil, and hurriedly wrote these nes: “To THe Potrce:—There is a Murderus Skeem bein’ hatched in This hous. iff the offisers would save Life Let them cum af yunce. Them Who is in it is Nicolo Mazzeo, Monk merry and Maddam lapier, Proof will be Giv iff you will cum. but the riter can’t git owt. Help! J. Kear.” So far all was well, but it was another matter to get a policeman to respond to the call, He loomed up and down the street for one in vain. Twilight had come and passed; darkness was. gathering, and but few persons were on theside- walks. For several minutes he watched for a blue- coated officer, and then, growing nervous, called to a small boy who chanced to pause below ‘Will yer take this letter to a perleeceman?” ee What, fur?’ was the reply. “Because it’s important. ’ “Ef you says so, I will.” It was an indifferent reply, but it was all Kell could hope for, and he dropped the letter. The, boy picked it up lazily and sauntered away, ou, an’ you kin get out: Skip!”
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(14 Curly Kell, the Prodigy of Paradise Park. ‘¢ He needs some ginger!” muttered Kell, dis- contentedly. He was watching the receding messenger when a close carriage left the street and turned into the alley at the side of the house. Kell’s blood seemed to leap in his veins—it was in that way that Nicolo had said Jean Beauclare was to be lured to the house. Before the Prodigy could fairly realize the situation the carriage had passed his point of view. ‘+ Murder will be done, an’ I’ve got ter make a break!” he decided. ‘* Here goes!” He ran out of the room, and, wl no one in the hall, went rapidly, but lightly, down the two flights of stairs, Before he had passed the second flight, he knew that he was not to have plain sailing. The unknown Italian stood in front of the closec front door, grim and motionless, Kell made a pretense of ignoring him and tried to pass, but he was caught by the shoulder and held back, ‘* Stay here!” the man sternly ordered. “What fur? I want ter go out!” There was enough of rebellion in the answer to show the Italian that danger was at hand, and he promptly bared a knife of true stiletto shape. ‘* Be quiet, or die!” he ordered. At that moment there was a scuffling noise at the side of the house—the sound of a struggle— and Kell knew that Jean Beauclare was in the trap. What would be done? Would they slay him at once, or was there still hope? If a short reprieve could be gained, all might not yet be lost. The sounds ceased, and Nicolo entered the hall hastily. ‘¢ Ha! whom have we here?” he demanded, ‘*T know not, comrade. hg ‘A boy!” cried Nicolo, a look of recognition appearing in his face. ‘‘ He is an accursed spy! By my life! he has come here to hunt us down!” CHAPTER XVII. KELL @REATES A DIVERSION. NicoLto drew a knife as he excitedly spoke these words, and Curly Kell turned and made a dash for the door, regardless of the second Italian’s interposin form, but the latter caught the Prodigy, close his hand over his mouth, and the prisoner had no chance to cry out. - “Bring him this way!” Nicolo directed, re- covering his calmness, and putting away the knife, The order was obeyed, and, though Kell struggled to the extent of his ability, he was soon in the rear room. Ile was not surprised to see Jean Beauclare there, but was some- what relieved to discover that he still lived. Nicolo caught up a small er a portion of which had previously been used to render Jean helpless, and the Prodigy was soon bound as fast as his companion in misfortune. Then he was dropped on the floor without ge pg Beauclare remained the center of interest, but he had nothing to say. His whole manner indicated the utmost terror. His body was limp, and he could only roll his startled eyes and look beseechingly at his captors. «The latter held a whispered conference, and in a short time, the leaders—Nicolo, Merry and Madame Lapierre—collected, as it proved, to interview Beauclare. Kell looked on iu silence. He realized his own danger, but did not aban- don hope wholly. He had sent out a message —perhaps it would fallinto the hands of some policeman with enough curiosity, if not confi- vom to test the truth of the statements it con- tained, ‘‘ Prisoner,” spoke Nicolo, ‘you are in the presence of your judges.” Beauclare did not answer, ‘Your father was a marquis in France; you might be one now, if you had been wise, You were not wise; you joined the Sons of the Sti- letto, and then betrayed them.” ‘‘ Nevair!” exclaimed Beauclare, feverishly, ‘‘T knew not ze ways of ze league when | s’all have joined it, and co, it only for ze polit- ical purpose; and when | knew ze whole truth, I leave zeband, But peer it—nevair! nevair!” ‘¢ Opinions differ. We have hunted for you; we ee found you.” “You persecute ze life of me!” groaned Beau- clare. i voars ago I had ze happy home, but I know ze Sons of ze Stiletto were on my track. Zat ees what drove me insane, I wandered away; I came to ze reason, years after, in an asylum; I Jeave zere, and hunt for my family, but find zem not,” ‘They thought you dead. A body was found in the river. It could not be recognized, but it had on your clothes—so they decided. Of course it was a mistake; the clothes were like yours, but not yours. You have been the same as dead for many years.” ‘‘ And my family—do zey live?” asked Beau- clare, eagerly. + Yes. ‘¢ Where? where?” ‘¢ You will never know.” ‘* Heart of stone!” ‘‘ More than this, another political turn of the tide in France has put your family in favor. You are being hunted for to fill the shoes of\a marquis,” ‘7 care not for ze empty honor.” “Tf neither you nor your son appears, the title and estate will go to your cousin, Basil.” ‘* He can have them.” ‘¢ He shall have them, but he shall pay us well to keep the real heir out of sight.” Cobwebs began to see why the birds of prey were so interested in Vincent. ‘* Believe me, ze estate I s’all not claim,” Beauclare quickly answered, ‘‘Right! We shall not use you, but your son. AllI need to work the game is certain papers now in your wife’s hands. I bribed aservant of hers to get a duplicate key made to a certain room in the house—the front door is secured with a chain, as wel] as lock—and get the pa- pers, but was defeated. I shall not fail the next time.” Beauclare sighed. *¢ Do you know this woman?” continued Nico- lo, pointing to Madame Lapierre. ‘© Only too well!” ‘¢She was one of the band in olden days; she is stilla good schemer. She knew the money that was in this case, and was working the same game. Now sheand I have joined hands, as we often did in Continental days. This honest man is also my ally.” This time he pointed to Monk Merry. ‘*T know,” replied Beauclare, bitterly. ‘‘ We wandered through ze country roads together, ragged companions in misfortune, and I told him too much,” ‘“A feller’s got ter earn a livin’,” growled Monk, not without signs of shame. ‘*So much to make all plain, Beauclare. Now,” continued Nicolo, his voice growing hard, ‘‘ we will return to the matter between you and the Sons of the Stilettos Do you know wih we have lured you here?” hi ain. ‘¢T know not,” he faintly replied. ‘‘To-night you and the League settle the old score. ears ago you betrayed us—”’ ‘¢ Never!” cried the prisoner. ‘‘ I Jeft ze band, but I swear by ze saints zat I never lifted ze one finger against you.” ** Why do you lie?” ‘*T speak ze truth.” ‘‘ Enough of idle talk, You are doomed by ye Council of the banded Sons—to-night you 6! Beauclare unclosed his lips to plead for mercy but hice came to his aid and he suddenly ca off the appearance of weakness. No wonder he had broken down when hunted for years by hid- den foes whose stroke might come at any mo- ment, but he was not a craven. The doom he had so dreaded seemed certain, and he resolved to meet it like a man. t During this conversation no one had been ying any attention to Curly Kell, Regard- ng him asa very unimportant factor in the wi now that he was tied up, he was left to him- self. This was just where they made a mistake, The Prodigy was nothing if not plucky, and he was no sooner in bonds than he began to scheme to get out again. It was his first experi- ence in that line, but he soon made a discovery which the others had overlooked. His wrists were much larger, proportionately, than his hands, and his the cords upon the former sent his hopes away up. All the while they were king he was at r work, and at last he succeeded in drawing one of his hands out of the noose. This done the rest was easy, and he was soon wholly free. His first impulse was to make a dash for the street, and this he had cause to believe would be successful, but the certainty that the would at once fall upon Beauclare dckareed him. He surely would doom the Frenchman by oing. yi The decision was heroic enough for a veteran soldier, but Kell made it with modest disregard MELE RSL ee. of everything but a desire to help his fe eunfortunate Frenchman began to tremble attempt to squirm out of’ prisoner. He had a pocket-knife with a big, keen blade, — and this he drew and opened. Just as Nicolo was finishing his remarks the Prodigy carefully rose to his feet. There was a general stir among the enemy which indicated that all regarded the interview asover. It was at that moment that somebody else stirred—Curly Kell. He made a rush for Beauclare’s side, and with two quick strokes severed the bonds on the latter’s hands and wrists. ‘The Frenchman was free. ‘‘ Up!” the Prodigy cried. ‘‘ It’s life or death —fight yer way through!” Every one was taken by surprise, and no one more so than Jean, but the very Janger that he was in spurred him on to promptness of action unusual to him. He sprung forward and knock- ed down the nearest Italian, and then essayed to rush through and escape, but Nicolo’s stiletto was raised for work. One moment it looked as if nothing could save the imperiled man, but Kell was there, and keep- ing his eyes open. ‘hat cunning young man lowered his head and ran between Nicolo’s extended legs, and the Italian fell like a log, But Madame Lapierre threw her arms around Beauclare’s neck, bound to frustrate his escape, and, as the first of the Sons of the Stiletto was on bis feet again, ruin stared our two friends in the face, It was a serious crisis, but of short duration, Suddenly the door was flung open, and blue- coated policemen rushed into the room, Kell saw Mrs. Belden close behind them, and flung up one hand in a wild gesture. ‘‘ Hooray!” he cried; ‘‘the under dog is on top now, b’jinks!”) The turn of the tide had come, Madame La- pierre, Monk Merry, Nicolo and the other Ital- ian were secured, but not without a hard strug- gle. When it was done the foundation of the plot was utterly gone, and not a shred remained whereby the schemers could console themselves. They were hurried away to jail, while Beau- clare, his wife and Vincent, husband, wife and child, were reunited after many years. Mrs, Belden’s delay in answering the summons was due to the fact that she had been away when Kell’s note arrived at the house, The Prodigy never knew what became of his second note— the one sent to the policeman, : Nicolo and his countryman were never tried for their crimes. They escaped, were pursued took to the river in a boat, and were drown by being upset in collision with a passing mer, Monk Merry received as long a sentence to Sing Sing as his abduction of Vincent wouid al- low, while Madame Lapierre, who was an old offender, was tried for a former crime and given fifteen years at the same retreat. The charge against Bianca was not pressed, but in less than a month she was in prison for participation in a robbery, and was convicted and sentenced. Investigation showed that the Sons of the Sti- letto, individually and as a band, were about extinct, and, on being assured that he would be in no danger, Beauclare decided to resume his old name. After communicating with friends in France, he took his wife and child and sailed for the Continent. The political power of the day received him gladly; he resumed the title of marquis, which had been his father’s; and in the years that have since ela he has never seen a Son of the Stiletto, or heard from them. heey Nicolo’s death they practically ceased to exist. The family did not forget that their success— their victory, happiness and prosperity—all was due to one certain person, and when safe in the old home they sent a large sum of money to a prominent New York lawyer with the injunction: ‘*See that the boy, Jehiel Kellar, is given a chance to go to school and become a true, honest and noble American, which he surely will be- come if properly encouraged and helped.” It is bard for ple to throw off all their uliarities, but ‘‘ Curly Kell” left Mr, Tubbs’s odging-house and went to school with a deter- mination to succeed if possible—in any case, to do his very best. That meant a good deal in his case, and to- day— But our story does not deal with his later life. Enough to say that, perhaps, Ba will some day happen into the Broadway store where he is doing a flourishing business as a merchant, THE END.
Page 15
ublished Every Tuesday. ee BY OLL COOMES. Kit Bandy, Detective; or, Silver Star, the Boy Knight, Kit Bandy in Texas; or, The Young Mustanger. 8 Kit Bandy’s Catch; or, The Boy Hercules. 2 Kit Bandy’s Right Bower; or, Baby Sam,the Boy Glant Kit Bandy’s Swoop; or, Little Buckskin, tne Centaur, Kit Bandy’s Slick Scheme; or, Old Tom Rattler. Kit Bandy’s Deliverance; or, Banner Bsn. » Kit Bandy’s Pard; or, Dauntless Dan, the Freelance, 91 Kit Bandy Rattled; or, The Intant Giant. 95 Kit Bandy in Red Ruin; or, The Young Whirlwind, 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Ruatle; or, Saddle King Sam, 804 Kit Bandy’s Brigade; or, Dan, the Mountain Guide. 158 Jack Drew, the Nemesis, or, Eagle Kit. the Boy Demon, AS2 Jack Drew's Drop; or, Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. #02 Jack Drew in Deadwood; or, Prospect Pete, 27 Keen Knife on Guard; or, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. ey «OF 81 Keen-Kunite, the Prince of the Prairies. ; : f : - F & Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. bad id 18 The Dumb Spy. T i} Al Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. i 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foo. > fo 1! 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 7 a 4 Mawk-eye ad f the Young Trapper Ranger. 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger; or, The Helress. - : 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Ritleman. tar \ 148 Sear-F ace Saul, the Silent Hunter 17S Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 218 Viger Tom, the Texas Terror, '* 224 Dashing Dieks or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Pratrie Nomad. a | R88 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger. a ua 248 The Disguised Guide; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. : fs 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger, 272 Minkskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy; or, Old Caleb Arbuckle. |e 800 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. ss B84 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. iy 409 Hereules; wr, Dick, the Boy Ranger, Rei, AI? Webfoot Moxe, the Tramp Detective. a A577 Wingedfoot Fred 3 or, Old Polar Saul, 468 Tamarae Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. fiz type peed yobs ihe a! Trojan. ae 4 undering Baail, the Hermit Boy Trapper. 3 G52 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, hahha ye 670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. " : qs Pightand Marvy, the Wizard Rifleman. y 28 Poker Jacks the Detective Sport. BY T. ©, HARBAUGH. ty . Se) 28 Nick _o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of ’76. ay 87 Fhe Midden Lodge; or The Little Hunter, be AT Nightingale ass ot, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dand ack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trait. . $2 Kit Harefoot, the Wood-Hawk; or, Old Powder-face. 94 Midnight Jack ; or, The Boy Trapper. 406 Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 428 Klowa Charley the White Mostanger. 189 Judge bomch Jr.t or, The Boy Vigilante. 155 Golk Trig er, the Sport; or, The Girl Avenger. M 16 Tornado Tom; or, [njun Jack From Red Core. ~~ 488 Ned Temple, the Border Boy; or, The Mad Hunter. X GPR Arkansaw ¢ or. The Quon of Fate’s Revenge. o ant aoe te ae a .. 7 7 ‘207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Tovknot’s Crusade, 21 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Re} Jezebel. “41 Bill Bravo; or, Tie Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoli -» tne King-Pin of Bowle. 267 The Kuckakin Detective; or, The King of Road-agents, { 279 Old Winch; or, The Buckskin Desperadoes, . «294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowie Blade of Gochetopa. _ 802 Th e Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. $16 Old Eellpse, Trump Card of Arizona, : B26 The Ten Pards¢ or, The Terror of Take-Notice, BS6 Big Benson; or, The Queen of the Lasso. . 846 Pitiless Matt; or, Red Thunderbolt’s Secret. Bea: aha — ae) mee warss om oe Spetihte Six. wy ¥ : elve oo e Indian Detective. +: Ber $20 Captain Cutlass; or, he Brccaneer’s Girl Foe, «B96 wiongh ag | or, The (win Champions of Bloe Blazes, ~—s-« 41 The Silken Lasso; or, The Rose of Ranch Robin, e:.*. aa es Fox, the Boy i mn aay th Gold Gang of New York, 4 ‘exas Trump. the Border Rattler. ; +, 486 Phil any the New York Fox; or, The Mystery of Room 21. i 445 The City Vampires; or, Red Rolfe’s Pigeon, Y act ae Assia oni me ~ as es of Keno Bar, e Boy Shado or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. 433, heed et een A caane Sreskingiee Spotter. Single ir e One-Eyve port. EDs Becaded Ben, the Night Ferret, el 4 12 Dodwer Dick. the Wharf-Spy Detective, ‘a Bah Dodger Rick's Bent Dow me} ors ue Gotham Gold Gang, ; ’ ale e ery’ a . a Ban Rater Dick, the Dock Ferret. $48 Dodger Pick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives, i SS «8 Dodger Dick’s Desperate Case, " ‘ 6638 Dodger Dick. the Boy Vidocq; or, The Gang of Three. B78 The Two Shadows; or, Dodger Dick’s Stop Game. 5S 2 Dodger Dick’a Drop}. or, The Man from Jersey. 594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. s $38 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Sharp on Guard, 6 The Champion Pards; cr, The Lucifer of Silver Bar, 2 Dick Doan, the Dock Bov Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. “4 bos) Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle. — 1 Jersey Jed, the Boy Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. 685 Happy Hugh; the Boy Musician Detective. cee Ol Peticaraph Fred, the Camera Sharp. ye iY 15 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret, ' * if %82 Daisy Dell. the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game. os fa oe A2 Billy Winks, the Bell Boy Detective. My 54 Billy Winks, the Poss Boy Shadow. ; 868 Fagle Ned, the Boy on Guard: or, The Camp Spiders. “ae 80 Tonkaway Tom, the Red Wizard. AS wes 27 The Eantam Sport. $48 Clip, the Battery Ferret; or, Jack Jeffers’ Foul Play. RY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8. Fall.) A & 884 O14 Rocky's “Boyees; or, Benito, the Horse-Broaker, — 246 Giant Georges or, The ‘Ang’ of the Range. | 2a 75 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George’s Pard. ¢ olk >) ae 297 The Tarantula of Taoa 3 or, Giant George’a Revenge. _ 07 The Strange Pard ; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. ; 818. Phatelcvad Ker-whoo: or, The Tarantula of Taos, — B2T Creontng at, the Caddo; or, The Red and White Parda, _ $882 Frio Fred: or, The Tonkav ay’s Trust. 3 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattleanake, the Tonkaway. ‘ay | Wild W olf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. 857 The Ranch Ralders3; or, The Siege of Fort Pargatory, Ses Anap-Shot, the Boy nger. ‘ et 875 Chiota, the Creek 3 or, The Three Thunderbolta. 881 Randera Bill; or. Frio Frank to the Front. ‘ 892 Romeo and the Reda; or, The Beleaguered Ranch. ie. eee 404 Tittle Lariat; or, Pecan Pote’s Big Rampage. . zy Gat thet lay aoa ver. Sy = The ee Tratle or, Old Rock Rampage, 448 Bla Tey 01, The Lynx rot the Lanna ayy | e Lone Star: or, The Belle 884 Coche Carl, the Chico'G i: Sigopes fant. i Be a Rp BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. ZY Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angela and His Boy Pard, 447 New York Nat. A Tule of Tricks and Traps in Gotham. 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 ‘Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!-Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorado in New York: or, The Cowboy’s Fight. BY GEORGE ©, JENKS, 455 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor; or, Deadholi, the Kid Detective. 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective, = 598 Flute, the Singer Detective; or, Owney ina New Role, 608 The Pitcher Detective’« Foll; or, Dan’s Double Play, 616 The Ocean Detectives or. The Last Cruise of the Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. 786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side, 779 Lron Hand, the Charmed Detective $54 Uncle Sam’s Detective in Chicago. BY CHARLES MORKI&s, 118 WIL Somers, the Boy Detective. i 122 Phil Mardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Pleayune Vete 3 or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective, 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Mandsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildtire, the Thoroughbred, 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the Wooda, 165 Billy Bagwrage, the Railroad Boy. 170 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Luses 74 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 79 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, S8 The Hidden Hand or, Wil! Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed 3 or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective: 220 Tom Tanner}; or, The Black Sheep ot the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway ; or, A Dakota Boy In Chicago, 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Jobs or, The Youn x Detective, 298 The Water-HMound; or, The Young Thoroughored. 805 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, 824 Ralph Ready, the Hote! Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detectives or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, BOT Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. B79 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard. 408 Fireily Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger ; or, The Entrapped Cashier, ; 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective, \ 2 Invinelble Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy. Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge ; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty. 488 Wild Dick Racket; or, How He Fought for Honor, 501 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Secret service Boy Detective. 596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves, 627 Tom Bruce ot Arkanansy or, The Wolfln the Fold, 655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. 667 Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 709 The Curbstone Detective; or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat, %57 Vetective Frank’s Sweep-stakes. 869 Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker, BY J0 PLEROE. 897 Bob o’ the Bowery ; or, The Prince of Mulberry Street. 415 The Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom. 452 Hotspur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective. 460 The Lawyer’s Shadowy} or Luke’s Legacy. 472 Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Sim, the Young Ferryman Detective. 504 Five Points Phil, the Pavement Prince, 509 Jack Jaggera, the Butcher Boy Detective. 5616 Tartar Tim; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerie. 526 North River Nat, the Pier Detective. 538 Wrestlin Rex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward. 541 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective. 551 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow; or, The Old Well Mystery, 5659 Harlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective. 577 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter. 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector, GOR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer, Thistle, the Road-House Detectives Z1T Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin. pac Dennis Dui the Brown Sport’s Kid, 44 Dick of the Docks, the Night-W atch, 765 Flipper Flynn, the Street Patrol. @71 Foxy Fred's Odd Pard; or, The Keener’s Hoge Hustle. TSI Cast-O Cale, the Scapegoat Detective. 824 Bowery Billy, the Beuco Bouncer. 883? The at 4 Four of the Bowery. ° 8465 Packs t e New York Sharper. 850 wand purest Arab. et ; es roadway Gamin. 860 The Boat-Olub ay unsots or, Dan Decker’s Double Deal. 864 The Union Square Baggage Boy. BY PHILIP 8. WARNE, 67 Patent-Leather Joe? or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer, 175 Captain Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe's Big Game, 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Despard, the Dueliat; or, The Mountain Vempires, 888 A nomen Boy} or, The Dwarf’s Revenge. 868 Little Tornados or, The Outcasts of the Glen, 878 Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 888 Little fhemy or, Caught in His Own Trap, 401 Litt! Shoo- Iv or, A Race for a Ranch, 408 Little Leather-Breeches ; or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood. 451 Oolorado Kate. A Tale of the sTines. 480 Three Jolly Pards; or, The Pets of Paddy’s Flat. 517 Jim Gladden’s Deputy; or, The Jolly Pard’s Campaign, 527 The Jolly Pards to the Rescue; or, The Jack of Hearts, 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down. 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. 574 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs. 598 Keen Olem, the Ranch Imp. 599 Jim Dandy the No-Name Sport. 618 Billy og or, The Skeleton’s Legacy. nye pe og m1 Be phe Peg speaxitter Reach! appy Harry’s ndj or, The Beantifal Jezel 6¢4 Oheeky Charley. the Special. " -BEADLE'S*HALF-DIME*LIBRARY. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers. areal ee BY BUFFALO BILL (lon. Wm, F. Cody), $8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom ORy or, Ihe Pilot of the Prairie, 55 peadly-bye, the Unknown Scout; or, The Vanded Brotherhood 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 5s Kaney Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust. ; BY COL. A. F. HOLT, 817 Wideawake. the Train-boy Detective, Sli Moadlight Harry's Flyer; or, Duke Derby. 678 Meadlight Harry's Hazard, 691 Headlight Marry’s Haul; or, The Rallrond Pards, 727 Headlight liarry’s Stren; or, Mad Madge. 759 Headlight Larry's Heritage. 94 Headlight Marry’s Hunt; or, The Cache of Gold, BYyY Binck Buckskin; or, The Masked Men of Death Canyon. 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King; or, The Doomed Six. 485 Littic Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods. SVs The Dandy Sport; or, The King Pin Conspirator, BY JOSEPH E, BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowstone duck; or, The Trapper. AS Black John, the Koad-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Wurrieane BILL; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard, 119 Mustang Sam 3 or, The King of the Plains, 186 Ni htethaw k Kit; or, The Danghter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Reacue, 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy, 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire, 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Pardsy; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban oi Celestial City, 810 The Rarranca Wolf’ or, The Beautiful Decoy, 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, 885 Old Double Fist ten ‘The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or. Damel Boone's Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Traller, 677 Chineapin Dan's Second Trail. 688 Chincapin Dan’a Home Stretch, 698 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head, ZOS8 Light-Heart Lute’s Legacy. T18 Light-HMeart Lute’s Last Trail. 728 Silverblade, the Shoshone, 729 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay, 789 Silverblade, the Hostile, or, The Border Beagle’s Trail. 748 Silverblade the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle’s Boy Pard BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Glants of Nowhar’s 498 Cactus Burr, the Man trom Hard Luck, BST Old Buckeye, tho Sierra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner; or, The Man Without a Past, 609 Bolly Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. 620 Little Lightning’« League; or, The Mystery ofthe Island 688 Plueky Paul, the Boy Proapector, 751 Gold-Dust Dan, the Trail Patrol. 755 Gold Dust Dan’s Oath; or, Keckless Roy, the Regulator, BY OAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR OU, 8. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker, 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet: or, The Gambler Guide. BY EDWARD 8&8. ELLIS, 6 Bil Biddon, rappers 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier, 10 Nat Todds or, The Fate of the Sloux Captive, 2: ‘xne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners; 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 Munter¢ or, The Steam Prairle Man, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters, By Capt. Mayno Relo and Frederick Whittaker. y/ 12 Gulliver’s iraveler By Dean Swi 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderfnl Lamp. 16 Robinson Orusoe. (27 Tilnstrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor, His Seven Vi 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crasoe, By Juan vwis, ; 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; or, The Red Pirates of the Carribees, By 8, W, Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown} or, The Arena Queen. By & 8. Finn. Bi Ris Noy tient ng To Uoaerfoaed Camp, By kc tran ne Bo e435 or, The Underground Camp. .C, 95 The Rival Roverays or, The Freebooters of the Misslesippt By Lieut.-Col, Hazeltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Uutlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof, Gilderaleeve, 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive, By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Iuntery or, )be Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texans or, The Young Champion, By George oPaon. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. \ 148 Sharp Sam or The Adventures ot a Friendless Boy. By J, Alexander Patten. 227 Duaky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- a61 eso re, sheen sp ¥ rk Boy, By@. L, Aiken, ergus Fearnau e New ¥) . . L. R66 Killb’ar. ane Ge de; or, Davy Crocketi’s | Crooked Trail, naign C. D, Warren. : 298 Rea Claw. the Cuero Trapper; or, The Maid of the Cliff, vy Captain Comstock. ‘ 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville, By Liou tenant Alfred Thorne. u 828 The Aky Metecttys' or, A Boy's Fight tor Life and Honoi, ator che ree. 850 Red 1 ‘alphy the ae Rover} or, The Brother’s Re- venge. By Ned Buntiine. B65 Baltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morrks, 874 Gold-Duat Tom: or, Ben’s Double Match, Ba G H, Morse, 876 5 re an aie Joe's Firat Trail, By Colonel! Thomas oyer Monstery. | A18 Billy Hombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F. 8. Winthrop. 475 The Black Ship. By John S$ Warner. 4 Comanche Dick and His Three Invinelbles, By Henry J. Thomaa. &82 The Cowboy Duke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest, B52 Artel the Athlete, By David Droid. — ‘4 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret. By I, Enton. 682 The Dead Petective’« Double, By Gerald Carlton. 721 Maverick Mone, the Arizona Detective; or, The Wizard of Urko» Pasa. By Will Lisenbee, 809 Don Danton, the Gent from Denver. By King Keene, of the . S. Secret Service Corps. 814 Ace Nigh, the Frisco Detective, By C. E. Tripn. 880 The Grim Lodgers in Rag Alley; or, Citizen Ke.be of Number Seven. By Ben D. Hallidny, 881 The Chicago Drummer’s Peal. By J. G. Bethune, 841 y rinse Charlie, the Cat’s-Paw Sport. By Marma- nee avs 848 Dan, the River Sporty or, Foiling the Frisco Sharp, By Harold Payne, 861 Billy Brine, the Swamp Fox. By Chas. F. Welles, \ New tance Pvery ‘Cuesday. : The Half-Dime Library |» tor sale oy all Newsdealers, five: counts per copy, or sent aL A on receipt of six cents each, " BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, I —_ : q
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td “BEADLE’S*H ALF-DIME*] IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newedealenea BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novela. 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road, +4 ondwand 4 9d i Pefances or, Louble Daggers. cad woe ¢ n saguises or, Buffaly Ben 85 Deadwood Dick in His Castle. 42 Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza; o:, The Phantom Miner. 49 Deadwood Dick in Danger; or, Omana Oll, BZ Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 7B Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity é ‘ne, the Heroine 100 Saige beta} Deki wanes Feat or, Corduroy Charlie, adwoo ck in adville. 104 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghoat. 168 Deadwood Dick’a Home Base; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike} or,'A Gane of Gold. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party, 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Rond, 201 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. ao? pease set py peom ior eaeny Jane’s Adventure, endwoo ck’s Dea eal. 221 Deadwood Dick’s Death-Plant. 282 Gold-Dust Dick. A Romance of Roughs and Toughs, b+ eawees ba ah a ol tae Spirit of Swamp Lake. ead woo ek’s Death Trail, B09 Deadwood Dick’« Deal; vr, The Gold Brick of Oregon, 443 rnaweos pieke posen or, hag Fakir Gh tac ieps irda eadwoo ek’s Duecats; or, Days in the Digginga. bes peadwood sak Mowsenceds or, The Terrible a - endwoo ek’s Claim, 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City, 410 Deadwood Dick’s itawmenda.” 421 Deadwood Dick In New Yorks or, A “ Cute Cane.” 480 Deadwood Dick’s Duaty; or, The Chained Hand. rend pend wood ee ort wire Crimsou Crescent Sign, 4 end woot ck, Jr.'s, Defiance. 458% Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Full Hand, 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. 465 Deadwood Dick, D hMen Racket at Claim 10, ath peacwood picks 5 ad ain Red ne Bil. endwoo ck, Jr.’s, Dog Detective. 481 Deadwood Dick. Jr., In Deadwood. 491 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Compact. 496 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Inheritance, it nanawees pick? Cat ZS iginge. eadwoo ek, Jr.’s, Deliveranee, 515 Deadwood Dick,.Jr.’a, Protegee. 622 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Three. 5209 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducka 684 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Death Hunt, Bia Deadwood Bek, Irs the Wid West Vide 4 eadwood Dick, Jr., the W Jest Vi eat Peadwood pisks res aoe Mettle. . » be cad wood ck, Jr., in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick, Irs, in Boston. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Philadeiphia. 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago, 578 Deadwood Dick. Jr., Afloat, 6S4 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Decree. 595 Deadwood Dick dJr., in Beelzebub’s Basin, as srarecd Bice: grit comgsieee cadwood ek, Jr.’s, Leadville ° 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detrolt. “ 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinuatl, 624 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada, 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in No Man’s Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Atter the Queer. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Buffalo. 648 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’a, Chase Across the Continent 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. 660 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case. 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines. 672 Deadwood Dick, dr. In Durangoys or, “ Gathered In.” ait Yecdvece Rue Sam beanies 7 eno 4 , + Be 4 * 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Dollars. 695 Deadwood Dick. Jr., at Dunger Divide, £04 Deadwood Mek, Bry at dack-Pot eadwoo ck, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 710 Deadwood Dick dry in San_Franclsco, 716 Deadwood Dick, Jy.’s, Still Hunt. 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dominoes, 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise, 784 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Deal S + Dosa macd Tee pay oh aes cadwoo ck, Jr.’a, Doublet. 752 Deadwood Dick, Jr,’s, Deathblow, 75S Dendwood Dick, Jdr.’s, Desperate Strait, ie Reedwoan Picks preity james wane, end woor ek, Jr.’8) Defeat. 776 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Resurrection, TZ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dark Days. 28ST Deadwood Dick, Jr. Defied. 97 Deadwood Dick, Jr’.s, Desperate Venture. | 802 Deadwood 807 Deadwood Dick, 812 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Head-off, 816 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’«, Rival. 822 Dendwood Dick, Jr’s, Boom. 828 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Scoop. #84 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a, Proxy. 840 Deadwood Dick, Jr's, Clutch, 845 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, High Horse. 852 Deadwood Dick Jr., at Devil’s Gulch, 85S Deadwood Diek, Jr.’a, Neath-Hole Hustle.§ 868 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’4 Bombshell. ’ S70 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Mexico. 876 Dendwood Dick, Jr's, Decoy Duck, BY WM. G. PATTEN. 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee ot Jacktown. 66% Violet Vane’s Victory; or, The Jasper City Clean Out. 698 Violet and Datasy, the Posy Paris. 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Cratty Detective’s Craft. 724 Violet Vane’s Vengeance; or, The Wipe-Out. 780 Violet Vane’sa Verdiet; or, The Game at Coffin City. 7A1 Violet Vane, the Ventriloquist Vidoeg: or, Sport ye. Sport. 750 Violet Vane, the Vanquished, or, The Life Strugg'e. 768 Violet Vane’s Vision; or, The Fiery Hand of Fate. 489 The Diamond Sport; or, The Double Fuee of Bed Rock, 519 Geptats Myatery § or, Five in One, $81 Ba wf Ware the Sport from Denver. BS? Old Bombahell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Lron Fern, the Man of Fire; or; Among the Vultures, 19 The Bo Tramp Detectives or, The Donbie Grip Witness 41 Dismal Dave’s Pandy Pard; or, The Clue to Capt. Claw 51 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 82 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 14 Old Misery the Man from Missouri. : 74 Clear-Grit Cal, the Never-Say-Die Detective, 789 Sam Sheridan, the Seeret Service Special, 806 Cowboy Steve the Ranch Mascot, thy Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective, 6 Sharper Stoke’s Double Deal. 857 Spot Robin New York. 866 Spotter Bob’s Bowery Racket. ANISSTAD ~ +) db one = Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 80 Rosebud Robs or. Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Rosebud Rob on Hand; or, [dy], the Girl Miner. 88 Rosebud Rob's Reappearance; or, Photograph Phil. 121 Rosebad Rob's Challenge; or, Cinnamon Chip. 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee's Surround 281 Denver Doll's Victory; or, Skul! and Crossbones, 255 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. 296 Denver Doll's Drift; or. The Road Queen. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherery or, The Life Lottery, STR Yreka Jim’s Prize; or, The Wolves of Wake-Up, 885 Yreka Jim's a paama or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 889 Yreka Jim’s New Role; or, Bicycle Ben, 804 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 20 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective: or, Dot Leetle Game, 218 Fritz to the Front or, The Ventriloquist Hunter 244 Alerra Sam, tho Frontier Ferret; or, A Sister’s Devotion, 248 Sterra Samra Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra San’s Pard; or, The Ange! of Big Vista. 258 Sierra Sam's Sevens or, The Stolen Bride. 884 Kanguroo Kits or, The Mysterious Miner, Kangaroo Kit’a Racket; or, The Pride of Played-Out, 89 Death-Fuce, Detective; or, Life in New York. 69 The Boy Detective; or, Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter, 96 Watch-Eye, the Detective; or, Arabs and Angels, 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 145 Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective. 226 The Arab Detective 4 or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp. 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co.,, the Detectives of Philadelphia. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective, 416 Wigh Mat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsides, the Beggar-Boy Detective. 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures, 82 Bob Woolf’ or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 45 Old Avalanche: or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 5S Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix, 61 Buckhorn Bills or, The Red Rifle Team 92 Canada Chet 5 or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 118 Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. 125 Bonanza Lill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 188 Boss Bob the King of Bootblacks, 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent; or, The Branded Brows, 177 Nobby Nick of Nevadny or, The Sierras Scampa. 181 Wild Frank the Buckskin Bravo; or, Lady Lily’s Love, 286 Apollo BAll, the Trail Tornado; or, Rowdy Kate. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator; or, The Locked Valley, 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol: or, The Rival Heirs. 299 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the irl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. 880 Little Q@ufck-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 858 VFirat-Classa Fred, the Gent from Gopher. B78 Nabob Neds; or, The Secret of Slab City. 882 Cool Kit, the Kirg of Kida; or, A Villain’s Vengeance. 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son’s Vengeance, 486 Seulskin Sam, the Sparkler; or The Tribunal of Ten, BY LIEUT. A. K,. SIMS. BS9 Tom-Cat and Pardy; or, The Dead Set at Silver City. 622 Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, The Affair at Tonbstone. 68L Tom Cat’sa Terrible Task; or, The Cowboy Detective. 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph} or, Black Dan’s Great Combine. 646 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock; or, Josh’s Ten Strike 668 The Dandy of Dodge; or, Rustling for Millions, 576 The Silver Sport; or, Josh Pepper mint’s Jubilee, 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 601 Ila py Hans, the Duteh Vidocg; or, Hot Times at Round-Up 611 Billa Barnacle, the Detective Hercules. 646 werner Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mouutebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiahs the Plains Detective, 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout. * 689 Billy, the Gypsy Spy: or, The Mystery of Two Lives, - 699 Birnple Sim, the Broncho Buster; or, For Big Stakes, 712 The Meamertat Sports or, The Mystified Detective. 788 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector, 745 Kansas Jim, the Crose-Cut Detective. 761 Marmaduke, the Mustanger Detective. 778 The Rustler of Rolling Stone, 785 Lone Hand Joe, the Committee of One, 801 Kent Kirby, the Hich-Kicker from Killbuck, 882 The Doctor Detective in Texan. 872 Two Showmen Detectives in Colorado, BY J. ©. COWDRIOK, Broadway Billy Novels. 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 514 Broadway Billy’a Boodle; or, Cleming a Strange Case 5686 Broudway Billy’s ‘Ditikilty.” 657 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 579 Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party. 605 Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning, 628 Broadway Billy’s Dead Aets or, The League of Seven, 669 Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootblack in Frisco. 675 Broadway Billy’s Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest, 687 Brondway Billy In Clover, 696 Broadway Billy in. Texas; or, The River Rustlers, 708 Brondway Billy’s Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clever Dea), 720 Broadway RBilly’s Full Hand; or, The Gamin Detective, 785 Broadway Billy’s Business. 7838 Broadway RBilly’s Curious Case, 758 Broadway Billy In Denver. 262 Broadway. Billy’s Bargain: or, The Three Detectiv 769 Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. 775 Broadway Billy’« Shadow Chase. 788 Brondway Billy’« Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest. 786 Broadway Billy’s Teamy or, The Combine’s Big Pall. 790 Broadway Billy’« Brigade; or, The Dead Alive. 796 Broadway’ Billy’s Queer Bequests 800 Broadway Billy Baffled. 805 Broadway Billy’s Signal Scoop. 810 Broadway Billy’« Wipe Out, 815 Broadway Billy’s Bank Racket. 821 Broadway RBilly’s Bluff. 826 Broadway Billy Arnone Jersey Thugs. 888 Broadway Billy’« Raid. 889 Broadway Billy’s Big Boom, 844 Broadway Billy’s Big Bulre. $49 Broadway Billy’s #100,000 Snap. 856 Broadway Bllly’s Blind: or, The Bootblack Stowaway. 862 Rroadway Billy in London. 868 Broadway Billy Shadows London Slums. 874 Broadway Billy’s French Game, 860 Allver-Mask, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keys, 869 Shasta, the Gold King or, For Seven Years m 420 The Detective’s Apprettice; or, A Boy Without » Name. 424 Oibuta Johny or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Diaco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 506 pealigné Ralph. the Prince of the Road. 524 The Engineer Detective; or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. B71 Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer; or, The Double Cane 592 oy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascals Ont. 615 Fighting Marry the Chief of Chained Cyclone, 640 Rareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle. GAZ Typewriter Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morgan the '‘ Pizenest ’’ Man of Ante Bar, apg > 7 wnt . BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, St? New York Nat’s Trump Card. S871 New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls, 865 New York Nat’s Masked Mascot. ort had nok N Sais Gamin Detective. > f ek Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out. 847 Dick Doom’s Ten Strike. $42 Dick Doom’s Flush Hand. 72 Dick Doom’s Death-Grip; or, The Detective by Destiny, 77 Dick Doom’s Destiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror. 84 Dick Doom; or, ‘I lie Sharps and Sharks of New York, 88 Dick Doom in Boston; or, A Man of Many Maske, 798 Dick Doom tn Chicago. 298 Dick Doom in the Wild Weat. $08 Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep; or, Five Linka in ~ Clue. 808 Dick Doom’s Death Clue. S18 Dick Doom’s Diamond Deal. 819 Dick Doom’s Girl Mascot. 829 Dick Doom'’s Shadow Munt,. 885 Dick Doom’s Big Hoeul, 749 Dashing Charlie: or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s Firet Traii. 756 Dashing Charlic’s Destiny; or, The Renegade’s Captiver 760 Dashing Charlie’« Pawnee Pard, 766 Dashing Charlle, the Rescuer. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 787 Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive, 748 Buck Taylor's Boys; or, The Red Riders of the Rio Grande. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. 718 Pawnee Blil; or, Carl, the Mad Cowboy, 719 Pawnee Bills Pledge; or, The Cowboy's Doom. 25 Pawnee Bill: or, Daring Dick. 692 Redfern’sa Curious Case; or, The Rival Sharps, 697 Redfern at Devil’s Ranch; or, The Sharp from Texas, 702 Redtern’s High Wand; or, Blue Jacket. ZO? Redfern’s Last Tratl; or, The Red Sombrero Rangers. 668 Red Ralph’s Ruse; or, The Buccuneer Midshipman, 674 Red Ralph’s Bold Games or, The Wizard Sailor. 679 Red Ralph, the Shadower, or, The Freebooter’s Legacy. 644 Butterfly Billy’s Disguise. 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Express Rider, 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt. 662 Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. 565 Kent Kingdon; or, ‘The Owls of the Overland. 570 Kent Kingdon’s Shadower 3 or, the Card Queen, 5675 Kent Kingdon’s Duel; or, The Surgeon Scout, B86 Kent Kingdon’s Doom; or, The Buckskin Avenger, 545 Lafitte Run Downy; or, The Buu neers of Barrataria, 550 Lalitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Son. 555 Latitte’« Confeeslous or, The Creole Corsair, 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow, 525 The Buckskin Brothers in Texas, 530 The Buckakin Bowers; or. The Cowboy Pirates. 585 The Buckskin Rovers: or, Tne Prairie Fugitive. 5640 The Buckskin Pardes’ Quest: or, Captain Ku-Klux, 508 The Royal Middy ; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. 5607 The Royal Middy’s Luck; or, The Huntea Midshipman, $11 The Royal Middy’s Foe. 4560 Wizard Wil: or, The Boy Ferret or: New York, 454 Wizard Will's Street Scouts. 474 Wizard WSI's Parcs or, hiira, the Flower Girl. 488 Wizard WILl’'s Laat Case; or, The Ferrets Afloat. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 Duncan Pare’s Flot; or, A Cabin Boy’s Luck. 487 Duncan Dare’a Prize; or, The Sea Raider. A41 Duncan Dare’s Secret: or, The Ocean Firefly. 402 Iacdor, the You ng Conspirator ;: or, The Fata) League, 407 Isodor’s Double Chase; or, The Boy Insurgent. 412 Isodor’s War-Cloud Cruixe; or, The Wild Yachwman, 216 Bison Bill, the Prince of the Reina, 222 Bison Bill’s Clue; or, Grit, the Bravo Sport, 804 Dead Shot Dandy’s Dilemma. $08 Dead Shot Pandy’s Fouble; or, Keno Kit. 814 Dead Shot Dandy'’s Defiance or, The Boy Bugler. 607 Dead Shot Bandy’s Chic f; or, The River Detective. Merle Monte’s Leap for Life. 250 Merle: Monte’s Mutiny ; or. Brandt, the Buccaneer. 264 Merle’ Moute’s Treasure Island. 269 Merle Monte the Condemned, 276 Merle Monte’s Crulse; or, “The Gold Ship” Chase, 280 Merle Monte’s Fate; or, The Pirate's Pride. 284 Merle Monte’« Pledge: or. The Sea Marauder, 197 The Kid Glove Sports or. Little Gritythe Wild Rider, 204 The Kid Glove Sport’s Duums; or,* Buffalo Bill, the Pony Express Rider, S78 Deck-Hawk Roy’sa Big Scoop, 867 Dead Shot Ralph’s Drop, S25 Pavlos the Cowboy Coaster, 781 Ruth Redmond, the Girl Shadower. 6R6 Orlanda, the Ocean Free Flag. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout. 602 The Vagabond of the Mines, bYt The Texan Detective; or, The Black Bravos. 5Y1 Delmonte, the Young Sea- Rover; or, The Avenging Sailor. 580 The Outcast Cadet; or, The False Detective. 495 Arizona joe; or, The Boy Pard of Texas Jack. AST Nevada Ned, the Revolyer Ranger 468 Neptune Ned, tle Boy Conster; or, Pirate in Spite. 462 The Sailor Roy Wanderer; or, The Born Guide, 446 HWaphazard Warry : or, The Sea Scapegrace. 898 The Red Clasped Wands; or, The Boy Lieutenant, B87 Warpath WILL. the Traitor Guide. B88 The Indian Plot: or, The Search for Pirate Island, 877 Bonodel, the Buy Rover} or, The Flagless Schooner, 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, of the Rio Grande. 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 229 Orimson Kate, the Girl Trailer; or, The Cowboy’s Triumph. 116 The Hussar Captain: or, The Hermit of Hell Gate. 111 The Sen-DPevi) ¢ or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 102 Ivick Dead-Eye, the Smuggier, or, The Cruise of the Vixens 75 The Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Woll, 62 The Shadow Ship? or, The Rive! Lieutenants, 24 Diamond Pirks or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone. 17 Ralph Roys the Boy Buccaneer; or, The Fugitive Yacht. ® The Flying Yankee}; or, The Ocean Outcast, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 880 Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwers; or, The Detective Queen of Paris. By J, ©. Cowdrick, 881 Turkey Billy, the Shine-’em-up Detective; or, The Gamin Guardian, By Charles Morris. 882 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Silver Pocket; or, The Gambler Queen’s High Stake, By Ed. L. Wheeler. 888 New York Nat’a Crook-Chase; or, The King of Diamonds? Duve, By Col. Prentiss Ingrabam. 884 Farrel Fox and His Girl ferret; or, The Bogue Banker’s Di¢e-Sharks. By Dan Dunning. 885 Dend-Shot Ralph's Ten-Strike; or, Marlo, the Gold Ghouls’ Chief. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 886 The Five Points Lofging House Boy Janitor; cr, Monk Merry and the Italian. By Jo Pierce. | 887 Battery Bob, the Dock Detectives for, Rounding-up the Western Sharpe. By J. C. Cowdrick. » New Isaue Every Tuesday. The Half.Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealérs, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt ot alx centa each. (BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, {98 William Street, New York,