Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 973) (1896 03 17)
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‘ ww \ \ . \ WY WU WANA TKK MRE, NRE UHRA, ee SN SO Peis Tee AN Entered as Second Class Matter at the Nev March 1, 1896, } 2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS i O 9 3. $ L. A? AMS. Price - 7 a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 cents. Vol. XXXVI. ny \ AN DUNGAN’S DOUBLE DROP. A STORY OF DETECTIVE LIFE in the BOWERY, BY J. C. COWDRICK, AUTHOR OF “‘BROADWAY BILLY” NOVELS, ETC CHAPTER I. DETECTIVE AND AIDE, OnE was a lad fifteen years of age; the ether a youth of twenty, PROOF OF IT!” It was night, They were standing under —— ‘yrs, I DO MEAN IT, BANTAN; AND HERE I8 THE
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‘hand emphatically: Bantam Billy, the Corker- Ferret. the glare of one of the electric lights in Union Square. The first mentioned, Billy Block, or Bantam Billy, was small for his age, was fairly well dressed, and had a keen, intel- ligent face and a pair of snappy bright eyes. The other was of medium height, of strong build, and had a face expressive of determination, He was good-looking, and his full, dark eyes had a penetrating glance. He was known as “ Dunk Dun- can ”’—otherwise Duncan Douglas, a. de- tective expert. “Yer don’t mean younger exclaimed. “Yes, I do mean it, Bantam,” asserted the other, “‘ and here is the proof of it!”’ He held up his right arm, pulled back the sleeve with the fingers of his left hand, and there, on his wrist, displayed a broken handcuff. “Yer name is Dennis now, Dunky, for sure,” said the other, extending his left Yer will never git sight of Kilgore Stiver again, an’ you kin bet on it,” “We'll see about that, Billy Block, ” 're- joined the expert. “I am now all the more determined to get him. I had him déad to rights, and would have gotten away with him if I had had another minute before the gang got onto me, but they dumped my cart.” “An’ dat is what dey’s goin’ ter dod every time, cully, you see. Don’t believe I ‘kin ever put you onto him again.” “Maybe not, Billy, _ but Tll have him just the same; I vow it. As for their dumping me again, they will find that nean Douglas is not to be trifled with twice the same way.” it, Dunky!’” the \. “Ducky fer ye dat dey didn’t crack . your cocoanut,” suggested the lad. *“T admit it. They would have done so, I know, if I had given them any trouble. “ig “Which yer didn’ t?” “Not a bit. I saw that it was dead against me, and let them have their own way.” They sat down on a Meds near at hand, while talking, and the younger of the air was fairly bubbling over with eager excitement. He could hard- ly contain himself. “How did it happen, Dunky?” he asked. “ Tell a feller all about it, won’t yer?” “Certainly I will, Billy.” “Go ahead, then, and let ’er flicker.” “Well, you see, I got the crude note you sent me, saying that you had lo- cated the escaped convict at No. — Bow- ery, and I was certain that Ivhad him as good as caught, then.” “But, yer hadn't.” “Yes, I:had! Don’t this show for it? 4 and he gave the handcuff a rattle. ““Dat’s so. Go ahead, cully!” “You are pretty familiar, Bantam; but no matter. Well, here is the whole thing in a nutshell, for you are entitled to know ‘it, having put me on the fel- low’s_ track. Instead of coming right here to meet you, as you asked me to. do, I thought my chance would be better if I went for the fellow at once.” i“ And yer went?” “Well, rather! I dropped in, and be- ing familiar with the lay of the land, walked right through as if I belonged there. a door that was locked, and I believed ny that I had located my man. I knocked, and he asked who was there. I knew his voice, and gave the name of one of his pals, and he opened the door at once.” “Bully fer you, Dunky!” “T nailed him, on sight, and you ; I hadn’t gone far when I came to know that I am some in a scrimmage. The tussle lasted for about half a min- ute, and then I had the pulse-coolers on him, one or his arm and one on my own. But he had let out a yawp mean- time, and just about the time I was go- ing to drag him. out, into the room popped four of his chums, and they made it hot for me, you can a be- lieve.” * Wonder they didn’t do ye fer bits: Dunky.” “ They would if they’d dicod to, I be- lieve. As it was, they didn’t know but I had backing close at, hand; so they made me their prisoner and got down to work in a jiffy. They brought a file, and in a short time they had my man away from me and let him scoot. In fact, they all scooted, after tying and gagging me, and I was a deuce of a while getting free. When I got out, not a sign of ’em was! to be seen, and I have hurried here to meet you to see if you know any more of their secrets.” “See what comes of not havin’ yer pardner with yer, cully!’’ reminded the little chap; speaking as if he meant even more than he said. “ Now, if yer had only come to me first, and let me piloted ye, it would been all day with Mr. Kil- gore Stiver; I’m tellin’ ye.” “What could you have done, you little rooster?” “ Huh! what couldn’t I done? I could fetched the perlice while you said scat! and scooped the hull kit an’ b’ilin’ of ‘em! ” “Maybe so, if you had found the po- lice, my boy. They are not always on hand at the minute they are wanted. But that dog ‘is dead. What I have got to do is get hold of Kilgore Stiver again, and I want to know if you have got any more points for me.’ “Well, cul, I think mebby I have, som’re in my t’ink-box, if I kin only git holt of ’e It is like dis: Dey don’t know how you got onto ’em, ‘less you guv it away—” “No, they don’t know that.” “Well, den, two an’ two’s four—see? Dey won’t go back to de Cherry Street den, ’eause dey will t’ink dat’s where ‘you got onto ’em. What dey has done, I take it, was scoot off to Toby Grimm’s dive, where dey will t’ink dey’s snug as bugs in a rug—see?” “Ten to one you are right.” — - An’ if Iam, what den?” “That’s the question. It would’ be all my life is worth to go there, after the last arrest I made, if they happened to get onto me. Do y6éu think you are fly enpigh to go there and scent him out?” si Wouldn’t wonder a bit, Dunky. If dey git onto my shape an’ do me iD; 2 won’t never be missed, anyhow,” “You must take care they don’t do that, my Bowery Bantam.” “T’ll try to, sure enough, you bet!” “Then you'll let me know; but how?” asked the expert. “That is fer you to say, Dunky. You a perfesh, and askin’ p’ints of a kid like me!” “There isn’t a kid in New York better able to give a detective points than Billy Block, the Bowery Bantam. What you don’t know about your quarter of the town, isn’t worth knowing,” compliment- ed the expert. | “Well, mebby you’s right, Dunky.” “@Qive me your ideas, then. How do you think you can best do the little trick?” “Tt ain’t early in de evenin’ any more, boss.” “No, it is getting late, true enough.” “ And it won't be easy ter sneak in un- >. | seen—not that they wouldn’t see me vany- how, but they’ll dead sure s’pect me.’ - Yes, that is just what I am afraid of, my boy. But, if we let it go till to-morrow he will be out of the city and away, even if he isn’t so already, and that will settle it.” “And you.l be left.” “Badly. Ana, that’s not the worst of it. When it is known that I have had him, and he got away, it will make me feel like hiding my head.” “Huh! ‘Let dem fellers try it them- selves, if they’ think it is a dead easy job to take a prisoner out of a nest like that, alone. Jes’ let ’em try it, an’ see if they don’t change their chune.” “Yes; but your plan—what is it?” “Well, see how hard dis hits yer: S’pose’n’ dat I slides home an’ git on me rags, an’ go up to der dive wid me boot- black kit on me arm, an’ make out I want ter see Jed Darby. I know he ain’t in town, f2r he has gone ter iB fer a secrappin’ match.” “Ha! that will do nicely. You ae there, ask for him, and say you will wait until he comes. But, what if they know where he is, and tell you that he has gone to Boston?” “Dey don’t know it, ’cause he only went dis evenin’, and he went off sud- dent.” “ Well, I trust you to work it.” “ All right, we’ll work it like dis: I'll go dere, and I’ll sure find out all I kin. By’m’by, you come in togged out fer a tramp, and if der bloke is dere I’ll give ye a sign like dis, an’ if he ain’t dere, I’ll give ye a sign like dat; see?” “Yes, I sce; and in order that you may know me beyond mistake, ‘you will see a streak of smut right across my nose, like this. No matter how I look other- wise, if the streak of smut is there you can. make up your mind it is Duncan Douglas. We are going into a wolves’ den, my lad, and if, we get out with our lives we’ll be lucky.” “No matter, cul; I ain’t afraid if you ain’t, you bet!” CHAPTER II. BILLY BLOCK’S STORY. One of the greatest escapes on record had been that of Kilgore Stiver. Convicted of murder, his sentence had been withheld for a time, and in the in- rs terim he had mysteriously disappeared ; from jail. How he had escaped, no one knew, and it was a great sensation. The news- papers were trying to solve it, the po- lice were at it, and every private detect- ‘live and novice as well. It had happened one evening about the time the guards were changed, and al- though they were closely questioned they.could throw no light upon it what- ever. . It was believed that they had somehow aided the escape, but this they denied, and the proof could not be brought home to them. On the evening in question, the judge who was reserving sentence had come to the jail to see the prisoner for a few moments, to inquire particularly into a certain statement the prisoner had made, and while he was with the riso er in his cell the guards changed ‘for night. The judge left a few later, and he said he left the prisoner safe in his cell. There was the mystery in a nutshell. While the ain of the guardsmen might have been doubted, that of the honorable judge certainly could not be | disbelieved. Detectives watched the LL RE Se on duty and off, but all to no purpose.
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= 2" 5S, Vret 4 cr t's Po peat ee . Nota single thing could be found against them, and suspicion had to be removed. * police, Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. It was darker than ever. Then presently Kilgore Stiver seen. A detective spotted him one night, and made for him, but a crowd got between him and his man, and the fellow got away. Of course, the man’s picture was in the rogues’ gallery, -and every detective was supposed to know him at sight, so this man’s word was hardly to be. doubted. Further proof lay in the fact that the man had made every effort to get out of sight as soon as possible, as if he had recognized the detective at the same mo- ment. Such, anyhow, had been the de- tective’s story, and he was a man whose word was not to be doubted. This gave new impetus to the case at once, naturally. Among the best of the private de- tectives of the city was the young man Duncan Douglas, ““ Dunk Duncan,” as we have explained. Though the youngest man in his call- ing, perhaps, he already had won a name equal to the best of the force. He was brave, shrewd, and his strength was pro- verbial. Acting upon the story the detective had told, Duncan began looking in a cer- tain quarter, in disguise. And, not only did he look himself, but he engaged a young street scout whom he knew, Billy Block, to assist him, and really he relied more on the boy than on himself. The outcome of it all, we have seen. In less than an hour‘after arranging with the detective at Unien Square, as we have narrated, the Bantam entered a dive on — street. No one who had seen him before would have recognized him now as the same boy. He was ragged and dirty, carried a beotblack’s kit, and was alto- gether a hard-looking specimen of the genus gamin. He entered as coolly as if he belonged there. It was a vile hole—e place of which the if not actually afraid, were not eager to tackle. “Well, rags, what do you want?” a man soon demanded. “Nawthin’ that I can’t carry, boss,” was’the prompt response. “Then you had better take it and git. No room here for your size, sonny.” “Be you boss of ther shebang, Mister Grimm?” ‘ “That’s who you are talking to.” “Den I reckon you’s de feller I want ter see.” ‘What for?” and he showed surprise. “YT want ter find Jed Darby.” “And what do you want to find him for; “To tell him somethin’, dat’s all.” “What do you want os tell him?” “Come, now, dat’s private, see?” “Well, he isn’t here, you can see for yourself.” “Now, don’t fool a feller, boss. Yer see, I don’t know ther man.” “Oh! that is it, eh? Well, nobody is trying to fool you, you young gutter- snipe.” “Den he dead sure ain’t here?” ' “Dead sure.” “Know where he is, den?” “No, I do not know where he is. Haven't seen him to-night.” “Reckon I'll have ter wait ‘round, den, boss, if you don’t ‘jeck to dat. I'll, hunt a corner.” “ Who sent you?” “Give it up. Got a quarter out of it, was - dat’s all I — “T’ll give you another to tell me what the message is. It can’t be anything private.” “Show up de quarter, boss.” The proprietor of the den took a quar- ter from his pocket and flipped it up with his thumb. “There it is,’ he said. “Give it here, den.” “You'll tell? ” Sure.” : The quarter was handed over. “Here you are, and now what is it? I can tell Jed when he comes, and you needn’t wait.” “No, yer don’t!” demurred Billy. “You ain't goin’ ter git me in no fix like dat, boss. Here’s yer quarter back again, see?” *“What’s the matter?” “ Don’t I tell ye dat I wasn’t ter tell nobody but you? If de feller ketches me, won’t he wring my neck? Well, I should snicker!” “Oh! I see. You are willing to tell me, but you must remain all the same and see Darb yourself. I see. I see. You are a smart little snoozer, hang me if you ain’t.”’ “Dat’s de way it is, boss.’ “Well, you can stay, of course; I only thought maybe you would be glad to get out of it, having got your money—” “Dat am one place where it pinches, boss. I’m to have a big round dollar when I go back with de answer, see? If it wasn’t fer dat I wouldn’t care so much. I am on de make, an’ a dollar is big as a cartwheel to me, see? ” “T see. I see.’ Well, what is it?” The proprietor had drawn the urchin a little to one side. “Why, dey’s a scrap on up to Bos- ting, and dis feller wants _ter git Jed Darby in it, see?” “Ha! is that so? Tell me all about it. What do they want Jed to do? You are a fly one, my lad, no mistake. Tell Sead about it, for I may turn dollars on it.” So, knowing all about the matter as he did, Billy twisted it to suit present circumstances and told a story that in- terested the proprietor of the dive not a little, he being something of a sport- ing man himself. And what Billy told would be borne out by the facts. CHAPTER III. THE BANTAM PLAYS ’POSSUM, Toby Grimm was a grim man. He was what is denominated a ward heeler. That is, he was a graduated tough, who had made his pile. Let your Bowery tough get a little ahead in the world and he opens a sa- loon. The degree of his toughness will, in nine cases out of ten, measure the char- acter of the place he will try to run. Only the rein of the law curbs him, and that not always. Toby Grimm had been the toughest sort of a tough in his day, and now he was the same kind of a heeler and sport. He displayed a big diamond sttid, a stunning diamond ring on his little fin- ger, wore a plaid shirt with the loudest kind of a collar, and carried his cigar in his coarse mouth at the proper angle becoming his station. His place was in keeping with his ap- pearance. Outwardly it posed as respectable (1) ‘but within it was rotten to the core. The proprietor of this den was “ boss” in fact as well as in'‘name, and his. word there was law. Lesser ruffians feared and obeyed him. All of which Billy Block knew, of course. He had not been kicked around on the Bowery ever since he could remem- ber without learning a good deal of the ways of the people who went to make up its populace. It had been a part of his scheme, on coming here, to engage Grimm in con- versation, if he could get started, for if noticed by him he would not be likely to be troubled by any one else. Favor from the proprietor would mean favor from all, So, when Grimm turned away, the gamin walked to the rear of the room and took a seat in a corner. The proprietor had promised to point out Darby to him, if he came in, and as Billy knew the boxer would not come in, being even then on a steamer on his way up the Sound, he was booked for as long as he cared to stay. He was noticed at first, but after a time no one paid any attention to him-- which was just what the Bantam want- ed. All this time he had been looking around carefully, surveying every one present. There was hardly a crook belonging to his own ward but he knew by sight,. and more than once he had given valua- ble information to the police, He was looking now to find some one whom he knew to be friendly to the es- caped convict, or murderer, Finding such a one, it would be an easy matter to learn something about the hiding place. . Anyhow, he hoped it would. He was on a low settee that ran close along the wall. A table was in that corner, and the settee served as a seat be ge it. The end was against the side wa Presently, while Billy was watching, a man came into the room by a rear way and looked around as if to discoy- er some one whom he expected to find there. At sight of him, Billy dropped down on the settee at length, putting his box under his head for a pillow. He had recognized the fellow, and not wishing to be seen, he now so tly pulled the table so close to the settve that it hid him entirely. - Watching the new comer, he saw him advance down the room, and presently another man stepped forward and greet- ed him. Billy did not know this second per- son—did not know that he had ever seen him before. Yet it was plain the, two were comrades or pals., The first, whom Billy knew, was 2 ‘““heeler,” known as Red Murphy, and was a friend of the escaped murderer, The Bowery Bantam, therefore, had an eye upon the two, and was ready to follow if they left the place. This was just the meeting he had hoped to see. To Billy’s surprise, Red Murphy led his friend to the very table behind which the boy was. concealed. Grimm had gone out for the present. The two came forward and _ took chairs on the opposite side of the table. The Bantam could have touched their legs if he had reached out his hand. Not to overhear what they had to say — would be impossible unless he plugged his ears—which was wouldn’t do. He was “ ‘was worth.” “Well, you are here,” observed Red Murphy. “Yes, and on a dangerous mission, too, Reddy.” onto it for all he just what he
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% “ Right ye are, me boy. But, you don’t care a rap for that, Ryan; you ain’t afraid, are ye, John?” “Tt ain’t the safest job in the world, you'll admit.” “Well, that’s so, but even if ye get caught at it, what harm done? A big fine will let ye off.” “T don’t know about that. I might get sent up. This is the most ticklish piece of work I have undertaken in a Jong time.” PS Well, it ain’t dead easy, John, that’s so.” “You are right it ain’t, Red. Fact of the business is, I don’t see how it is going to be done at all.” “Tt has got to be done, somehow.” “But how?” “You will have to ‘raaslé with that, I guess. ” “Here is Stiver, at large in New York, but he might as well try to fly to the moon as try to get out of here.” “But you are the man to get him out.” “And how is it going to be done? Every place is watched by the police, and the privates, so he might as well try to get into heaven as out of New York.” Red Murphy grunted. “That is what you have been fetched there fer,” he declared. “How did he get. out of the jug?” asked Ryan. “ Give it up.” “You mean to say you don’t know?” “That's what I don’t.” “The mischief! I thought sure you could tell me that, Reddy.” “Well, I can’t. He was simply out, and that’s all there was of it. Nobody knows how he got out.” * Nonsense! He didn’t get out of there without help.” “Who helped him?” “I believe you know, but won't tell.” “No. do, and nobody else knows,” “ He must know himself.” “That stanis to reason, but he won't tell. Who was it sent for you to come here and get him out of New York?” “Boss Gowney.” “T thought so. You can set it down that he is the one who got him out of jail. »- “ But he wasn’t in the city at the time, I understand. That ain’t here nor there, however. Where is Stiver now?’ “Not so loud. He is here in this house.” “Then the thing to be done is for me to see him right away. Anybody know Ihe is here?” “Nobody but me, Grimm, and maybe Boss Gowney. Come and rl show ye where he, is holed.’ You can then have a talk with him, and maybe some plan can be hatched for gettin’ him off.” They rose from the table and started toward the door at the rear, by which Red Murphy had entered, and Billy Block popped up from his place of hiding to see if the detective had yet made his ap- pearance. At the same moment Red Murphy, chancing to glance back,.saw the gamin. ie CHAPTER IV. BILLY AND PARD IN TROUBLE. The Bowery Bantam knew, then, that ‘the was in for it. He. gave a start—could not help it—and Red Murphy’s eyes flashed. The red-headed tough strode pare A odged | Pa the table and out on the other 1.) eu ais direction, and Biily Block ‘ec. “What was you doin’ there?” cried : Murphy, savagely. aa an ’ I don’t know any more’n you Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. ‘Takin’ a snooze,” answered the Ban- tam. - “Ye are lyin’ to me.” “How do you know I am? know best about it®” “Maybe ye do, but I am goin’ to take no chances with ye. Don’t ye run, or worse fur ye.” “Keep off!” cried Billy, swinging his box around his head by its strap. “Tl smite ye one on de jaw wid me box, if ye do, see?” “T’ll see your gizzard, ding ye!”’ “Not this evenin’.” “‘T’ll show ye!” Red Murphy made a spring at the boy, but a strong arm stopped him. “What yer doin’ to de kid?”’ a voice demanded. “Let him ’lone, will yer— see?” Billy Block looked quickly up. He beheld about the toughest-looking tough he had ever seen in his life, and he a gamin of the Bowery. He did not knew the man from Adam. He was a fellow of medium height, broad of shoulder and evidently strong of limb, with a face as begrimed with dirt as if it had not seen soap and water in six months. Across his nose was an extra daub of black, and the Bantam could hardly be- lieve that he saw aright. Could this be Dunk? “No, I won’t let him alone, see!” cried Red Murphy. “Mebby you will.” “ See here, cully, who are you?” “T ain’t no feller ter fight kids, any- how.” — “Oh! yer ain’t?” ‘““Naw, I ain’t,” with extreme tough- ness. ‘I take a feller my size, every time.”’ ““Mebby you'd like ter take me?” “T’ll have ter, if you go ter doin’ anything to this little feller. Iam with the weak side in a muss, every time.” The fellow, John Ryan, and many others, had drawn near, and were look- ing on to see what the outcome of it all would be. A scrimmage in Grimm’s place was no rare occurrence. ; Meantime, Billy Block had given the detective the signal agreed upon. Their man was there! his signal said. “Well, yer hadn't better git into no muss here, I warn ye,” cried Red Mur- phy, boiling with rage. I'll spat ye once Don’t I fer luck, if ye don’t git out of my way, see?” “Naw, I don’t see nawthin’ of the kind, see? You leave de kid alone, an’ dat’s all dere is of it.” “ But I am goin’ ter wallop him.” | “What ye goin’ ter wallop him fer?” “Fer lis’nin’, dat’s what! I'll l’arn him somethin’, I bet.” “Wuz ye lis’nin’, kid?” the detective demanded, turning upon By in a curt way. “T was snoozin’, dat’s what I was do- in’,” cried the Bantam. “ What is all this row about, now?” It was a new voice in the matter, and Toby Grimm was seen making his way | to the scene. “ Dis feller has jumped onter me, boss, dat’s what,” whined Billy, in a plaintive tone. “ He says I was lis’nin’, an’ he is goin’ ter wollop me.” Fat, ” “He is all right, Grimm. “T don’t know about dat,” disputed Murphy, “Me an’ dis here gent was informed a-talkin’, an’ when we got done dis kid “ht da his head up s ohare behind de ta le.” “4 “ An’ you know I aa waitin’ ter see Jed Darby, boss,” pleaded Billy, ‘ answered the detective. -neral of mine, anyhow.” | He stands in wid de naire dat “does.” “Yes, I know you said so.” “But what was he layin’ down fer?’ ey demanded Murphy. ‘“ We couldn’t see him layin’ down, could we?” “T was sleepy,” explained Billy, “an jist took a snooze.’ “Ye lie, cuss ye! sleepy ‘n I be.” “How do you know I wasn’t?” “Yer was too wide awake. Yer was lis’nin’, dat’s what yer wuz doin’,” While this was being said, Grimm had exchanged a few words with Ryan. Grimm now caught hold of Billy by the arm. “I believe you were lis’nin’, hang ye!’”” he cried. ‘Own up to de truth, now!” All that part of the room was now giv- ing attention, and the three men immedi- Ye wasn’t no more ately concerned looked dark and furious. | And no wonder. “Naw, I wasnt lis’nin’!” protested Billy. “What wud I be lis’nin fer, any- how?” “That is just what we want to know.” “Well, I dunno,” ““T believe you came here with a lie, anyhow,” asserted Grimm. “Well, don’t need ter blame me fer what ye believe, do ye? I told ye ther straight gab; that’s what I give ye.” “But, Jed Darby has already gone to Boston.” “Gone to Boston? Ye don’t say!” “Yes, I do say. He went to-night.” “Then I ain’t got no more biz ’round here. Bid ye good-night.” And, so saying, the lad made a start for the door, but Grimm held on to him and he did not get away. “That was purty cute,” said the pro- prietor of the den, “but it didn’t work. You will go when we get done with ye, not before, see? What did you hear these gents sayin’?” “You have seared it all ral of me,” answered the gamin. “ Mighty little you are scared.” “But I am, though. You jes’ feel o” my pulse, if ye don’t believe it, boss.” | ~.“ You have got too much lip. I am going to take care of you here for a day or two, do you know that? folks can spare you, I guess.” “Dat’s what ye better do,” answered Red Murphy. “Sure,” Ryan added. Grimm started to drag Billy away in the direction of the rear door, put the Bantam began to kick in a way that made it interesting. He not only kicked, but he yelled as well. *f Lemme go!” he shouted. “Why don’t you interfere now?” de- manded Red Murphy of the tough who had protected Billy against him. “T ain’t got no call to, if he was really doin’ somethin’ he hadn’t orter, see?” “Tt ain’ t no fu- “You show good sense.’ *T ain’t no fool, Reco “Let go me!” screamed Billy, yell perlice, if ye don’t!” “Yell an’ be hanged to ye!” grated Grimm. ‘ Perlice know better’n to come in here. They know me, they do, and keep hands off when I say so.” “What kid have ye got there?” wud denly asked another new voice on the scene. ‘Why, hang me if it ain’t the Bowery Bantam! What are ye doin” with him, Grimm?” 4 ‘Hello, Boss Gowny, that you? Why, » we caught him lis’nin’, and I am moins i at ad. to take care of him—”’ “Lis’nin’? Who was he lis’nin’ Your, “ Vit oh
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_ Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. -“ Ye don't say!” iar Yes) 4; .do say,’ ney. heard ye say that he had tried to in- terfere. Red. Is that so: * Yes, dat’s so. He set out to take de kid's part. but he has taken water on dat. Guess he has found dat it was more of a lump dan he could swoller whole, see? ; ' I mean to see who he is, that is what i mean to see,’ growled Gbw ney. ‘Ten to one he is a police sneak, and if he is. we have got to take care of him, and of de kid, too, if he has been lis’nin’ to anv- thing important. You know best about dat, Red.” assured Boss Gow- CHAPTER V. BANTAM IS MISSING * Boss” Gowney made a stride toward Douglas. About the time that he did so some- thing happened and Gowney would have found it difficult, in the instant, to tell what. There was a twinkling shadow before his eyes, a sharp spat! and Mr “Boss ' Gowney was sent staggering backward until a table caught him, seeing more stars than there are in the firmament. The others knew what had happened. The fist of the hard-looking tough had shot out from the shouldey and — pasted ’ him. “JT don’t ‘low no man ter call me a p’lice sneak, see?” he growled, putting out his under jaw in the true tough style. ASE Anybody else here want ter see who a am?’ and he glared around, defiantly. “We all want to know who you are,” put in Grimm. “ What is more, we are going to know who ye are.” “Ts that so?” “We'll show ye.” In the irstant of excitement, Grimm had let go his hold upon Billy, and the Bantam made a dash for the doors, but Red Murphy, now on the alert, nabbed him. “No, yer don’t!” he cried jerking ‘him back again. By this time, brief as it had been, Gow- mney had regained his footing, and he now shouted: “That feller is Dunk oeeaas 845 that’s who he is!” “ Duncan, the detective? ’ asked Ryan, ain trepidation. “ Just him, and nobody else!” There was a threatening grow] all over the room. wm The detective laughed outright. It weemed to amuse him greatiy. ‘ “A fine detective I am,” he cried. “Better send up fer his nibs de chief, and find out who I am, anyhow. Dis is de best joke I ever had played on me!” “That is who he is,’ insisted Gowney. “We know what he is here fer.” “And this rat was sent ahead of him to learn somethin’,” - “Dat’s it, exactly. We have got ’em.” And it looked as if they had, too, They were inclosed in a circle of hard ~ customers, and it did not look as if they could possibly get out of it. “That is the whole programme,” an- -swered Grimm. “I see it now, clear as can be. This rat said_he came here to ee Jed Darby, when he must ‘a knowed ed was away already.” ““Couldn’t help knowin’ it,” snarled ‘Gowney, who was nursing his injured | ‘ll, what yer goin’ ter do about it? — “m manded ‘the detective. Oe fe see mandine in a careless atti- One tude. iP ‘ ie a wave. a a J $k / hacen instant half a Monen men hurled / themselves upon ‘the suspect, “And who 1s this other feller? I} struggle commenced. The detective fought like a Hercules, and in less than two seconds no less than four broken noses could be counted, and the owners of those four noses were out of the fight He shook them off right and left. "Tell me he ain’t Dunk Dunean!” cried Gowney. ' No other feller could do that ’ He is our mutton,’ authoritatively announced the proprietor “Lock the doors, somebody. and be as quiet as you can about it. We'll fix him off. you.bet!” Fights were soon settled in Grimm’s dive—settled always one way. It was going that way this time; Doug- las could not hold out long against such odds. But now his turn came. In a momen- tary respite, when one hand was for the instant free. he put a whistle to his lips and blew a deafening blast for. police aid, That settled the question, if there had remained any doubt as to his identity. They knew him now, and it was of the utmost importance that they did not al- low him to get away. The struggle continued It was already of some seconds’ dura- tion That it must soon end was apparent, and Douglas had one object to accom- plish first—to liberate his little aide, the Bantam, with the hope that he would make his escape from the den and bring help. Seeing his opportunity, he Seipat At. He managed to break away for an in- stant from those who were holding his right arm. Out shot his fist, straight from the shoulder, and Red Murphy was not quick enough to avoid coming into contact with it, getting it in the neck Over he went, and in the same instant Billy Block disappeared from sight, no one noticing where he went to. In fact, he was not thought of in the melge that ensued. The crowd was pressing toward the rear door. Duncan was now overcome and ren- dered helpless, the rear room. The door closed upon him there; the trouble was all over so far as the outer room was concerned, and, had the police come in, nothing would have disclosed what had been going on. Once in the room, they locked the door. Half a dozen fellows were holding fast to their man, and it was useless for him to strain himself further: He was breathing heavily as it was, and had about used himself up for the time being, and they knew it. Red Mur- phy wanted to get at him and kill him. * Let me get at him!’ he cried “No, hold your temper,’ ordered Grimm. eae Look at de eye he has guv me, will yer?,” “We had to expect something from Dunk Duncan. The wonder is he didn’t shoot.” “What are you going to do now?” asked the prisoner. ‘‘ You have downed me fair enough, about a dozen to one. Yer da’sn’t take me man to man, not one of ye,” still playing the role of tramp. _ “ Haven’t you had enough? demanded Gowney “I'd like ter give enough.” “ What is the use of yer tryin’ to a eodl dat yc ain’t a detective?” cried Mur- DEI. Tages - his badge, fellers. ’ —— and was dragged into No Roden geigkealion of that kind was and the wanted. They threw open the detective’s coat at once, but not a sign of a badge was to be seen. ““ Well, are ye satisfied?” cried Duncan. “No, we ain’t!” insisted Murphy. Look furder, boys.” They made a thorough search, but nothing was found save a pistol. “Why didn’t ye use this?” one de- manded, > * Do yer think dat I go about shootin’ me friends?” ““We ain’t yer friends.” “T don’t know as ye are me foes, either.” “Pshaw!” put in Gowney, “ what is the use of.this? Didn’t he blow a p’lice whistle? What more do we want?” Short as the time had been, that point seemed to have been forgotten, but it was remembered now fast enough. And, it was strange that whistle had not been found. ‘An’ where’s dat kid?” suddenly de- manded Grimm. *‘ Red Murphy, have you allowed him to git away? Yer have, sure as guns! Git out and after him, quicker’n lightnin’! He’ll have der perlice, down. here in no time. | this feller out of sight!” ~ CHAPTER VI. WHERE BILLY WENT. * Blazes!’ eried Murphy. He opened the door and went out, one hand to his injured eye. ~ The jig is up, if that kid got away,” concluded Ryan, ~ 1 don’t want to be | caught here.’ : * They won’t get in here if he does fetch em,” assured Grimm. ~ I stand in O. K. wid the v’lice. Dey won’t bother much ‘round here; if I tell ’em it 1s all right, all right 1t is.’ But if they think Douglas is here, | what then?” ‘ But he won’t be, see?” “How is dat?’ “ll let ’em search, if dey want to.” “ And they’ll find—” “No dey won't find him,” was the quick interruption as if the proprietor feared what was going to be said. I will take care of dat.” | ‘How will yer?” ““See dis place? ” He touched a spring and opened & panel, “You will put him in there?” “What beiter place? ’. “ But he will holler out ” “Will he? Not if we gag him” “ Something has got to be done, sure,” asserted the man Ryan, with emphasis, | And this is what well do, without any more palaver about it,” declared Gowney. - } They proceeded to do it. Meantime. Red Murphy was having @ liv ely hunt for Billy Block. j t ‘ Did anybody see dat kid?” he de- manded, as soon as he went into the main room of the dive > Naw, nobody seed him,” some one answered. . “Did he go out, Mike?” That to the man at the bar. * Naw: he didn’t go. out; swear | Did anybody see him?’ * shouted it seemed that nbhods: had seen him, for -one said so. ho unlocked the door?” demanded Murphy. He didn’t go out (tore, it was unlocked certain “ee die” the sdibderwrrae KD: was over,” — a cb lg Quick! while we pee _ that : rie y Murphy ¥ Apacs Pe een answered Mike, e hai not ui ae
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Red Murphy was redder than ever; he rushed around, with one hand over one eye, eagerly looking and inquiring for the Bantam. But Billy Block was not discovered; he was “out of sight,” sure enough. ne The moment he had been released, Pat when Duncan sent Murphy over, he had dodged under a table. The next moment, as we have seen, the fight was at its hardest, and he dodged from his first place of shelter into ‘the room in the rear, and, as it hap- pened, without being seen. There he nad paused just one second to look around. In one corner was a pile of chairs, some thirty or forty, maybe, the heap reaching to the ceiling. These were for use in the main room when business demanded. At other times they were stored in here out of the way, ready at hand at a moment’s notice. He spotted that place. Down he went, flat upon his face, and wiggled under the chairs in no time, clear to the corner. There he lay as still as a mouse. The space was so open that he could ' not have helped being seen, had any one thought to look there. At the same time, it was a place not likely to be thought of as a place of hid- ing, for that very reason, and, unless the searcher took the pains to stoop down to look, he was safe. The deeper shadow in the corner cov- ered him nicely. ~ Back into the rear room came Red Murphy presently, cursing'roundly at the luck. “Didn’t you get him?” Grimm. ““Nary a git; de rat’s escaped.” ‘Then we have got to hurry with this biz. He will have de p’lice down here in no time. Into dat hole wid dis feller, and we'll keep him fer a time.” The hole or cut in the wall was a small one, not more than two feet wide at most, and barely a foot in depth. : rey The door to it closed tightly as a ee panel, save that there was a hole at the bottom and another at the top, to admit a circulation of air. At the top the hole was disguised by a gas fixture, and made to appear noth- ing more than an ordinary burner and at- tachment. That same, however, was the thing by which the door was opened. At the bottom, this air vent would have been taken for a mouse hole. Into this coffin-like niche the detect- ive was pressed, and the door was closed upon him. He had been gagged and his hands and feet bound; therefore, apparently, there demanded help himself. There he would have to stand till some one opened the door. “ There, curse him!” grated Grimm. “He is safe.” oa “Yes, and he will be a mummy before he gits out of dére, too, if ye leave him _- to me,” averred the irate Murphy. “He must stay till we can do our lit- tle business,’ declared Ryan. “I have not come on here from Philadelphia for nothing, I hope. I want to know all about what I’m to do.” “You and I had better have a talk,” _ suggested Boss Gowney. “Yes, you two must talk right here,” informed Grimm. “With that feller there to hear what We say?” “Bah! he is safe enough, and he can’t hear if you talk low. Besides, even if he does hear, what matter?” ~ » was no wy by which he could possibly i Laer. Te a aie ee Dee Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. ““T won't take the risk,’’ Ryan objected. ““ Besides, that kid will be back here with the police at his heels, and I don’t want to be seen having anything to do with hie : “You are mighty skittish, ’pears to me.” “It pays to be.” “ Well, you and Boss go upstairs, then, and talk it over, and I’ll take care of the p’lice.” Saying which, Grimm passed out into the outer room, Red Murphy with him. Grimm closed the door after them, leay- he the other two to go out by the other oor. The other door, apparently, opened on the hall. “ Well, Ryan. “We have got to get our man out of New York, that’s what.” “And you have got a plan?” “No, that is what I want you to help me with.” “How did he get out of jail?” “Nobody knows that.” “Nobody?” “Well, nobody ain’t s’posed to know. But, here we are, talkin’ after all. Come on; we'll go up to a room where we can speak out without fear of anything.” “ All right, lead the way.” what’s to be done?” asked CHAPTER VII. BANTAM BILLY’S BOLD VENTURE. “ Boss’ Gowney opened the door, and they passed out into the hall. Ryan closed it after them, and the room was deserted, save for the Bowery Bantam. “Well, here is a go, sure enough,” said Billy to himself. ‘‘ How am I goin’ to git Dunky out of that fix, I wonder? Likewise, myself, too. We're in fer it, I guess.’ He remained quiet for a time, listening. Nothing could be heard, save the roar of the street and the babel of voices in the main room. “May as well be killed first as last, I suppose,” said the Bantam to himself, “IT won't be gainin’ anything by layin’ here, with Dunky in that hole in the wall and myself no better off.” He began w iggling out from under the chairs as he had wiggled in. The room was well lighted, and he dia not know what instant the door would open, but he had to take the chances of that Little by little he made his way out from under the heap of chairs, till at last his legs were out, then his body, and lastly his head, when he leaped lightly to his feet. “ Dat’s bully!” he exclaimed under his breath. ‘“ Now, de next move is some- thin’ else, and what is it ,goin’ ter be? Guess I'll lock dis door fer a minute while I whisper to Dunky.” There was a bolt inside, and he slipped that into place. “Dere, now I’m safe fer a bit,” he said to himself, “if dey don’t git in on me by de other door.” He skipped lively, and lightly across ‘the floor to where the detective was con- cealed in the niche behind the panel, ‘and knocking lightly on the panel, he whispered. “We'll come out on top yet, Dunky, you bet! I can’t git ye out right away, but I'll fetch de perlice as soon as I kin and have you out of dat hole or know de reason why. Keep a stiff upper lip till you hear from me again. Dey don’t know I’m in here.” There was a grunt in response, the de- tective being gagged. “T’m goin’ ter try to git more p’ints, now,” Billy said further. “ No one thinks I am here, and mebby I will make it go all right. If I don’t, de worst dat kin happen, dey kin only kill me, and I ain't of much ’count-anyhow. You hold de fort, Dunky, till you hear from me again, and den we’ll make Rome howl ’round dis ranch, you bet!” In response to that came a series of very emphatic grunts, but of course Billy could not tell What they meant. “ Dat’s all right, cul,” he whispered. “Tl git all I kin, you bet!” Still more emphatic the grunts were heard. “Don’t jest git on to what you say, Dunky,” Billy rejoined, “but I take it dat you want me to do my level best, and you kin bet your braces dat’s what I will do, every time.” Yet more grunts. “Wonder what he means?” the Ban- tam asked himself. He scratched his head. It did not occur to him that maybe Douglas wanted him to try to open the panel and set him at lhewt+, The reader may have rightly guessed that this was just what the detective did want, but could not make his youthful aide understand it by his mode of grunt- ing. “You want me to hurry, eh?” said Billy. “ All right, cully, I’m off like a shot. You stay there till I come back. Dey don’t mean to kill ye, and you can’t find a safer place if ye tried. T’Ir be back here again in a little while.” He hastened off, much to the detect- ive’s chagrin. Stepping lightly to the door that peat into the saloon, he withdrew the olt. It would never do for him to leave that door secured, he thought, for that would give away the fact that there Was an enemy in the camp, if any one happened to try to get in. Having so done, he skipped lightly over to the other door. Opening that, he was out into the hall in a moment, and then began another | series of adventures. The hall was lighted, but not brighithy. Only one lamp burned, and that was near the front entrance, where it was incased in a red globe that made it all the more obscure. The two men had said they would go upstairs. Billy made his way swiftly along the hall to the front, having made sure no one was there. “Reaching the stairs, he bounded light- ly up them, three steps at a time, and was quickly on the next floor, where he stopped to take a survey of his sur- roundings. He still saw no one. _ There was little chance that he would be heard above the hum of voices in the dive below. Light shone through the transoms of some of the rooms, and he was at loss. which way to proceed or what move to make first. He did not want to make: any mistake. \. He recalled Douglas. ‘He wondered if he hady’t already made | a mistake in not trying to free him. Ha! maybe that was what the detect- ive made such a fuss about, when the Bantam was talking to him. He wondered if that hadn’t been it. If so, it was too late now for him to go. back to make amends, for he might be caught and neither object accomplished.. No, he could not take that risk. He had. © to go on as he had begun. Ss rah A ‘ 4 | ve + ig ee s ef i be esa eee w A ae ~ I Oe ee ee ee ae gS ee | ie ‘ a Bnd x
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: aaa nis eS aeer’ xe tas + Be eae eee a Sao ae ES nena AE § he made sure that no one was in the hall, and began applying his eye’ to the keyholes. This was rot satisfactory. He could see only a limited portion of the rooms, and he reached the end of | the hall without having made any dis- covery. The house, by the way, was something of a fourth-rate hotel, above the main floor, which was occupied as a dive, and all the rooms had transoms over the doors. If he cduld only get up and peer in over the doors, he wished. ‘He stood leaning back in a dark cor- ner. Something he leaned against moved a little, and he felt to see what is was. To his immense delight he found that it was a small stepladder, about four steps high, probably used for the pur- pose of cleaning windows. It was light,, he could easily carry it in one hand, and he picked it up quickly and hurried to the first door, where there was a light in the room, and in a mo- ment was surveying the interior. He noted all that was to be seen, it was nothing of interest to) him. He wanted Boss Gowney and John Ry- an. It did not take him a great while to try all the rooms on that floor, and he proceeded to the floor above. but He carried the stepladder on his shoul- | der, and his heart was in his throat, as | the saying goes, for he expected any instant to sée a door open somewhere. There was a light.in each of the halls. On reaching the next floor he thought of turning the light out, and did so. “Ha! that is better,” he said to him- self. ‘“ Would have thought of it sooner if I hadn’t been a lunk altogether. Won- der they didn’t name me Billy Block- head.” ' With the light out in the hall, it was easy to locate the rooms that were lighted within. The transoms gave forth some light, but there was plenty of shadow, too. He was on the point of placing his ladder against a door, when «nother door, further down the hall, suddenly opened, and a man came out. ° The Bantam’s heart almost. stopped beating, for he felt sure that he would be d‘scovered, and that discovery would be the means of getting him into serious trouble. CHAPTER VIII. THE BANTAM’S BIG SUCCESS. To think was to act. There was no time for consideration. Right across the hall was a room that ‘was dark. Billy was at the door in an instant, and softly turned the knob. Thé door opened, and he slipped in and closed it after him as quickly as he could. It was safe to assume that it was not occupied, or it would have been locked, there being no light, yet he could not be sure of that. He remained as still as a mouse. .The man passed along the hail, passed the door of that room, ae went’ on _ down stairs. ‘The Bantam drew a breath ot great re- lief when he had gone, and listened at- _ tentively for a moment before opening the door to come forth. “This he presently did. The hall was now empty, and he pro- ay ceeded with his work. ~ Looking up the next flight of stairs, | { btn ieee! Bi tack Billy, the Corker-Ferret. the ladder against “it and stepped up. He found that he was still at the wrong room, and he proceeded from door to door as quickly as possible, the same as on the floor beiow. It was at the extreme end of the hall that he met success. The last door of all, situated at the end of the passage, was the one he was looking for. Climbing carefully up, he looked in cautiously, as he had done in every in- stance, but he had met disappointment so many times that he hardly looked for anything else. He gave a great start. Here were three men in earnest con- | clave. They were Boss Gowney,. John Ry- an and Kilgore Stiver, the murderer! Billy Block almost toppled off the lad- der in his first surprise. This was even more than he had dared to hope for. ‘Here he was, only a ‘ kid,” looking upon the very man for whom all the police of the great city were searching! The transom was closed, and Billy could not hear what was being said, for the men were speaking in low tones. He desired to open the transom just a little, but was fearful of discovery. It had to be done, if he expected to hear anything. Drawing down out of sight, he pressed gently with his fingers on the lower edge | of the sash. It did not move, must be fast, He pushed a little harder. Presently it moved, and with onty the faintest suggestion of a creak, and stood about an inch open. Billy listened, ready to jump and run if any @ne came to the door, but no one came, and after a few seconds he vent- ured to peer into the room again. The situation remained the same. Apparently the three men had not heard the slight noise at all. “Tell us how the trick was done,’ Ry- an was just saying. “That is something I can’t do,” said the murderer. “Why not?” “T am pledged to secrecy.” “You must have had help.” * “JT am not saying that I had or hadn’t. The thing is as you see it; I am out of the jug, and now I want to get out of New York.” “And you won’t tell)” ae No.” “Well, course.” “And I take it that the last job is go- ing to be the hardest,” spoke up Gowney. » “What is that?” “Your getting out of New York.” “Yes, you are right. I wish it was as easy aS my gettin’ out of jail was,” “In fact, I don’t see clear how it is going to be done,” said Gowney, with a dubious shake of the head. “Tt has got to be done,’ said the con- vict. “ Yes, that is true,” agreed Ryan. “But how?” “We must take time to think,” said Ryan. ‘“ You are safe enough here, so long as you keep out of sight.” “T hope I am,’ “T am anxious about that confounded boy,” growled Gowney, “If he did hear what you and Red Murphy were saying, it may make a deuce of a trouble for us and he feared that it that is your own business, of before we get done with the matter.” “Do you think he would dare to come Taking the nearest door first, he placed ' back here?” asked Ryan. SS ee carefully ; “Hard to tell, for those rats dare do anything. If he stood in with that des tective, he is bound to come back.” The prisoner was on his feet. “And supp se they search the house? * he suggested. “ We'll have to juggle you through the panels, that’s all.” “And maybe juggle me back into the jail, w ith no earthly show of getting out again.’ “You could play the same trick again.” “ Not on your life.” “Why not?” rd i couldn't be done a second time.” “Tt’s a poor rule that won’t work the same way twice, old man.” *Can’t help it, that trick could not be done again. It would be utterly impos- sible.”’ “And you won’t tell me how it was done.” P “No, I can’t.” / “Well, no use asking you to let us in if you won’t. The question is now, what ‘is going to be done with you now that you are out.” The three were thoughtful. The escaped murderer was pacing the floor, his hands behind his back. He had a hunted, frightened look, and was haggard and nervous in the extreme, afraid of his shadow. “See here,” said Ryan, presently. “Well, what is it?” asked Boss Gowney. “ You are the man who sent for me.’ “T know it.” “What did you want of me?” “Hasn’t that been made clear to you “We want you to smuggle Stiver to Philadelphia and give him a show to get clean off.” “That’s all right, but if you didn’t have the plan all hatched, what was the “use sending for me?” “We expected you to come prepared to do it for us.” “There it goes again—what do you mean by we? Who is in it with you, old fellow?” ““ Why—we,—that is to Say, and I together.” “T know better.” “What do you know?” “TI know that there is a man behind the scene in this business, and he ought to come out and show himself. i: “Oh, you are too much given to sup- dheing’ things. If we had had all the help we wanted here, would we have sent for you, do ye think? Well, mebby not, b fo WE", career “ All this chin don’t help me a bit,” complained the murderer, “If, you are going to help me out of here, be about 1 “That is logic,” said Gowney. “ Let’ ~ get down to a plan of some sort and done | with it.” “That is the kind of talk that suits me, ” said the convict. ‘ Let’s be about . He sat down, and once more they put their heads together. The Bantam opened his ears. CHAPTER IX. UNEXPECTED DISASTER. Bantam Billy was absorbed. ; He was not Only listening, but think~ ing. What he wanted now was to get on.to their scheme, whatever it was. He had almost forgotten his own dan- . ger—that he was likely to be caug zht at any moment. His plan was to hear what he could, then slip down and see if he could not. Grimm
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Banta aml Billy, the! Corker-Fer ‘ get his friend isla eat of the fix he was in, and then scoop the set. It was nearly the same situation that had been found earlier in the evening, which had been discovered previous to the time of the opening of our story, and for the second time that night Douglas had been foiled. It was rough on Duncan. OD ie He was accounted one of the best de- : tectives in the city, and he would feel it keenly. _ The Bantam felt that everything uow rested upon him, and he did not want to lose a single point. So he strained his ears to hear what would be said next. *T have got a thought,” said Gowney. “ Let’s have it,” Ryan invited. woman, and he must pass for your wife.” “Ha! just the thing!” the convict ex- house will be watched.” a woman,” said Stiver. “Yes, that’s so.” “Tt is worth trying.” “Will you take the risk, ‘Stiver?” “What else can I do?” “You have got to také some risk, no matter how we try it.” “T know it.” “Will you do it, then?” “Yes, I'll do anything. get out of here.” ‘“Well, then, let’s consider that part of it understood. You are to be dis- guised as. a woman.” “Tll want a veil.” “We'll tog you out in deep mourning. I have got to keep your face covered.” e are coming at it now, Ryan. . ‘ Yes, said we'll soon have it arranged. You can go to the P Hotel and reg- ister for yourself and wife. I'll set the toggery for Stiver and he can come there.” “That is just the ticket!” cried the convict. The idea seemed to suit him exactly. “Phat is settled, then,” said Ryan, rising. “I want to get out of here as _ goon as I can, so I will be off. Gowney ean do what he has said, and then you + come to the hotel as soon as you can.’ He stepped toward the door, The Bowery Bantam was down from his perch like a flash. “ Yes,” he heard Gowney saying, “ that -is understood. No use to talk all night ~ about it.” der, tripped along the hall in the direc- tion of the stairs, but just as he came to them he saw a man coming up. Here was a pretty pickle, pees it Lai ecg as if he pets? be caught this oe He thought of thé 3 room he had dodged _ into before, however, and made for the - same door again. This time it was lock- ed, and he wondered what new mishap - would come. . - Who was in that room? irs, and had he been seen listening a ‘the transom? He did not know, but these thoughts - quick spring for the next’ door, which ; euened and he Ay no more than ies ‘in ti me. nan came - ig up the bo eae owed claimed, “Yes, I believe it will work,’ Ryan agreed. “ But if that boy got away this | That will make a good excuse for you to_ Billy, with the stepladder on his shoul- _ Had that person come silently up the shed through his. head. He made a | the next floor | had found “We have got to rig Stiver out as a} the Bantam. it had Koaer a narrow escape. “Whew!” Billy whistled softly to him- | self, “but that was a close one fer me. If it had been any closer, I'd goner, sure enough.” He waited patiently until he thenght the coast must be all clear, .nd then he cautiously opened the door, He barely put out his nose at first. Finding that no one took his nose off, he ventured a little further. He put out his head, took a gocd lcok in every direction, and, seeing no one anywhere about, ventured forth. With the ladder on his shoulder he made his way down the stairs, and on left the ladder where he it and made haste to get down to the ground floor. — He reached there safely. At the foot of the stairs he s consider. Should he go to the relief of his friend, or would it be better to get out if he stopped to | could? “They will be looking for a man, not He did not ponder that *yuestion long. If he went to reiease ihe detective he might get nabbed, and hen ood-by to their success, On the other hand, if he went out and | got hold of a policeman, or went to the nearest station and told his story, the rescue of the detestive would be uas- sured. He decided upon the latter course. That accomplished, he could then tell the detective what he had overheard. They could still stand a good chance then of making the arrest and returning the escaped murdere” to the hands of the jail officers. He made for the front door 4S soon as he came to this decision. To his dismay it was locked. He looked to find the key or that was holding it, but in vain. Try as he would, and did, it was no use, he could not open "the door. | Filled with alarm, he ran to the rear to get out that way. There was another door at the end of the hall, But that, too, was fastened. “Here is a mess!” cried Billy, under his breath. ‘‘ How the mischief am I goin’ to git out of here, anyhow?” . There were two other doors; one of these under the stairs apparently led to the cellar, and the other was the one by which he had come into the hall at first. As he had no business in the cellar and no desire to see it, hé entered the room where the detective was impris- oned. . No one was there. Everything about the room looked the same. Ryan must have passed through that way, for it was not likely that, he had a key to the front door. Billy looked swiftly around, and, being sure that he was alone, stepped to the. panel - behind which he knew his com- rade in misery was confined, and he tapped on the panel. A decidedly energetic . grunting | was the response. Ste have Zot it down fine,” whispered “Tam goin’ fer de police now, and Vu pate ye out of dat in no time.” _ Douglas made a noise in a way that fairly startled the antam, and he sprang back in alarm. Besides the grunt- ing there was a great. pounding, the de- tective evidently doing it with his head. “He must mean dat he wants me ter let him out,” said the boy to Aimisei tie I'll try it, anyhow.’ He stepped forward again, but at that ries) fea hiweze the knob: of Ae birse who gave er a ite | ’ been a sh bolt’ rst deoe Hise, and, knowing that dione very) was imminent, he made a dive to get under the chairs again. His haste brought disaster, for before | he could get out of sight the door opened iy. and Boss Gowney came into the room. At the same time the Bantam caught | fast under one of the chairs and down ‘} came the whole pile w ith ¢ a terrific clatter and crash. ‘ CHAPTER X. BANTAM DOOMED. The fat was in the fire, truly. Gowney stopped short, with ay look of alarm at first. Then he broke out into the loudest kind of a guffaw, the humor of it strik- | ing him. “Haw! haw! haw! So, that is where you have been hiding, is it, you whelp? ” he cried.; “You thought to get your pal out of his fix, did you? Well, we have got you now!” “You have killed me, dat’s wot you have done,” wailed the Bantam from un- der the pile of chairs, “T have killed you! How do you make that out?” “You pulled all dese chairs down on me, dat’s wot you done.” “Haw! haw! Why, you rat, you did it yourself; what are you talking about?” — ‘ The door opened at that moment; the one leading into the main room of the dive, and Grimm and Red Murphy dash- ed into the room, ei) 3 “What’s up?” cried Grimm. Bar eS “ Nothin’s up,” answered Gowney; “ it’s \ a ee warae ee . ee ne Se ‘ SS eee Dpto See all down, don’t ye see?” : it “Who knocked ’em down?” Bt, “Dat kid,” Dey “Where is he?” va “ Under de pile.” Mae _“ Ha! is that so?” hae, Sure.) “Bully!” cried Red Murphy: “I thought it was funny if he was out of de crib.” | “He was there when we were all in here, then, and he knows where de de- tective is in hiding.” “Sure he does, but dat is all he knows. He didn’t hear nothin’ said here dat could do him any good. We have got him.” : * Bet your life we have got him, and we'll fix him out, too; you bet we will. ‘| Noo York will be minus one dirty kid, eas 5 ull sure as you are born. Nobody will miss = | “Come out from under dere, ye rat!” ordered Grimm. ' “T can’t git out,” wailed the Bantam. “We'll have ye out, den, Pull away dem chairs, Murph, and it won’t take us long ter git him.” Red Murphy and Gowney began to remove the’pile of chairs, but as fast as the bulk of the heap was removed to an- other place the “rat” would be found, under it in a new corner. 17 ue “Here, we'll stop dat,” cried vteaiiy and he produced a formidable pistol. “You try dat once more, my boy,” he said, ‘‘and I'll try hittin’ ye wid a pill, see?” Sal “Yes, I see,” said Billy. “Hold on, — I'll come out.” Bree) He saw that it was useless for a te if hold out. ; "There: wi no escaping these me and it would probably be beta anger them. Besides, there was the. sues dis- played by the proprietor of the den, and — he had spoken in a manner ‘to alte He that he meant business. _ ‘ the Bantam wiggled out. | He was instantly seized by sh ‘now, ‘ Ot to. 6
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ee 2 Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. “ “Ye: little divil!” the fellow cried. “Fur two cents I would wring de neck off ye!” “Please, mister, let me go,” the Ban- |... tam whimpered. “I didn’t go fer to do harm, honest I didn’t. Please let me go, won’t yer?” “Yes, we'll let ye go, sure,” Grimm. “ Bet yer life!” cried Gowney. “ Have ye been here all de time?” de- manded Murphy. “Yes, sir,’ whined the Bantam. “How did ye git here?” “*T slipped in when you let.go of me.” ** And what was ye goin’ ter do?” **T wanted to git out, dat was all.” “And what then?” asked Grimm. “ Nawthin’.” ** Sure? ” “ Honest.” “ Nothin’ but fetch the perlice here in a rush and rescue yer pal, of course,’ sneered Murphy. “Tf you will only let me go I promise dat I won’t fetch no perlice here at all,” whined the boy. ‘“ You jes’ try me an’ see if ‘I do. I have had scare plenty enough.” “We'll soon put ye where de wicked cease from troublin’,’ Grimm grimly hinted. “Ye ain’t a-goin’ ter kill me?” cried Billy. “ Not on yer life,” sneered Murphy. “Please don’t!” “Ha! ha! ha! Oh! , - =| me answered , rs he at Be FES, igs at eg a aS SS, Aen ae no, we wouldn’t put yer to sleep, dat’s all.” They all laughed, and the bantam pre- tended to snivel and cry. It was the last * thing he would think of doing, in real- ity. He was not that kind of stuff, be as- sured. ; Your street arab, picked up out of the gutters as it were, naturally forgets all about crying ere he is very old. i Billy was playing a part. Che “But what is going to be done with - him?” asked Murphy. “That is the question,” said Gowney. “Tt is for you to say, Grimm. You know your accommodations best.” _“ We'll drop him below, I guess,” said the proprietor. ah ‘.All mght.” 3 ““Where’s dat?” whined the Bantam. “You'll see, all in good time, con- found ye,’ was the retort. “See here, though,” Gowney called at- tention. “ We are talkin’ where dere’s ears to hear.” “Whose ears?” “Dat feller’s in de wall.” “He is all right, nobody knows he is here.” “Sure of dat?” : “Shows fer itself, don’t it?” “‘How’s dat?” * “If dey knowed he was here, wouldn’t dey been in after him ’fore dis?” “Dat’s right, I reckon. Besides, he - blowed his whistle and nobody comed in answer to it, shows. he hadn’t no help - around.” “Den we needn't be. *fraid of him, fer we kin send him de same way. It will be a couple of mysterious disappearances, ” will miss dis kid.” j “Oh! we are on the safe side all right,” Tagg Murphy. “De whole business is workin’ all Might ” P a paring him along,” ordered Grimm. ie detective had. been concealed, yet | ist sh wing a different sort of opening. i 6 disclosed a narrow passage, | streets of New York, hurt a little chap like you. We’ll only | death, and he utterly helpless to render Best ‘stepped to the rear of the room, cord where | he opened another secret panel | he would The bther: te follow oa iter. arhaging | the boy between them. The Bantam was doing his best to | hold back, and he let out one ery for help. That brought him such a sound thwack on the side of the head, however, that he desisted and kept still. There was no help for him. “Tl V’arn ye ter yell like that!” cried Murphy. knock de whole head off ye!” - Having opened the panel, Grimm stepped back and pointed with his finger into the dark opening it disclosed. “ Right in there with him,” he ordered. “Push him ahead of ye, and give him a shove and let him go it. That is the ‘last you will ever see or hear of the little louse, you can bet.” The Bowery Bantam held back like a pig, but it was of no use. Into the pas- sage he had to go, and with a shove he was sent headlong into the undiscovered darkness beyond, and the panel was closed upon him with a sharp click, At that stage of the game villainy was de- cidedly on top. . CHAPTER ’ XI. DUNCAN CUTS AND DEALS, While not exactly a witness, the de- tective was ss ssyaneie of what was going on. Here was his little ally, the best of the kind he had ever picked up on the being sent to his him aid. He regretted that Billy had not tried to release him before attempting any- thing further. If he had done that, they both might have escaped. So he thought. But it had not worked to his liking, and he had to accept it as it was. Not only had the Bowery Bantam been put out of the way, but he had every reason to fear that he would shortly share the same ill fate. . It would never do for these villains to -allow him to escape out of their hands now. He had run his head into their trap, and he must suffer the conse- quences for his temerity. He heard all that was said, heard the Bantam’s last despairing cry, and heard the closing of the panel door. His heart seemed to sink. ' “ Well, there is.one of ’em out of the way, anyhow, ” he heard Red Murphy saying. “And the other is just as good as there,” remarked Grimm. “ He will keep where he is for the present. What is the plan for the removal of the party, Gowney?” “We'd better not talk about that here,’ answered Gowney. “ Our man is safe, but he ain’t dead yet.” “Well, I guess you are right. on.” They passed om out into the dive proper, and Grimm sent in an employee to stack up the chairs where they had been. All this time the detective, confined Come dat's all, or only one, mebby, fer no one} in so narrow a space as he was, had nevertheless been trying his best to get his hands free. Of course, he had met with little success. He had been too well secured to get he bonds loose in a minute. efforts had somewhat loosened the , however, and he felt in hopes that eventually work his hands If he. had had more space in which to exert’ himself he might have done it in a senecti) vasa That was not to be pick “ You try it once more and [’ll | be gti eis : sidered, though; ka: was where he was | and had to make the best of it. Lucky for him he had plenty of air. The place he was in had been made for the convenience of criminals, as a place in which to hide from the police. Douglas heard the man moving about replacing the chairs in a heap in the corner where they had been piled, and if ke had had the use of his tongue he might have spoken to the fellow. If only an employee there, he might be bought. But, as said, speculation upon what might have been done under other con- ditions was useless, Of a sudden, though, he met with a great surprise. He could hardly believe it had hap- pened. It was too good to be true. His hands came free! “Ha!” he mentally ejaculated. “‘ May- be this will work a little better than I. dreamed of. We'll see now.” The first thing he did was to work his hands around to the front and bring them up until he got hold of the gag which was in his mouth, which he re- moved. That was a great relief. He then prepared for another scheme that had just occurred to him. It was useless to think of trying to free his feet, for he could not possibly reach them. Bracing his back against the wall, he crossed his clinched fists in front of his chest, gathered up all his muscles and waited until he believed it was the right moment. He could hear the man moving around the room picking up the chairs, and he listened attentively to his movements. Presently he came near to the, secret panel. Bringing all his strength to bear, the detective applied it with a sudden force -against the panel door. It was sufficient, more than. sufficient. Crash! went the panel, split straight ‘through the middle, and out the de- - tective went. Had he been able to see, he could not have chosen a more opportune moment. The fellow who was gathering up the chairs was right in his way as he came forth. Dunk Duncan was a man of quick thought, And, too, his action was as quick as thought, and in this instance both were like lightning. He saw the man the instant the panel split in twain, and as. he fell forward he grappled with the fellow and both ‘went down to the floor together in a heap. - Dancing -was going on in the other room, so they were not heard. Douglas had his man by the throat f instantly. He could not stand, not having the | use of his feet, but what he lacked in that respect he made up in arm strength. “If you make a sound, you are a dead man!” he hissed in the fellow’s ear. The man struggled his best. . But he was no match for such a stant) <* as Dunk Duncan. ~ It did not take him long to find it out, and’ he became as meek and quiet as a_ a lamb. Wisse: Fak 9, There, now, you are showing sense,” : said the detective, more in a friendly — . way. “I won’t harm you if you bis do what I tell you.” ~“Dey'll kill me if I do, boss.” ae BR “And [ll kill you if you don't, 0 take your choice.” “Well, you have got de best of me
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a 10 Ea te ed Bantam oo i. Oe ee nat Regintnoane St so what kin I do. Say what it is vou want.” “T want you to untie my feet.” “ All right, jes’ let go of me.” “ Wait a second first.” Duncan remembered that his pistol had not been taken away from him. Releasing the fellow with cne hand, he reached around to his~ hip and brought forth his revolver. Having that in hand, he let go of the fellow altogether. “Now, untie them,” he said. “ At the first sign of shenannigan down will come your temporary tabernacle, sure as you’re born.” “You hold the best hand, boss,” said the fellow, humbly. “I guess it will have to be as you say. But why not cut the string and save time? I have got a knife.” “ All right, go ahead, but mind what I have told you.” “‘T’ll mind it hard enough.” The fellow produced a knife, opened it, and at once cut the bonds that con- fined the detective’s feet. Douglas leaped to his feet instantly. “Now, off with your jacket «nd let me have it,” he ordered. “I must get out of here, and this is my chance.” The man put up his knife and peeled off his, jacket in a hurry, seeing there was no help for it, and awaited further orders, ready to obey anything rather than risk his life. “Now hold out your hands,” ordered the detective. “What yer goin’ ter do?” “Bind you, of course.”. ** What. fer?’”’ “So that you cannot give me away before I can get out of this hole.” “T won’t give ye away, honest I won't. You jes’ leave me as I am and give me a show to git out, too.” “You mean to desert?” “Sure. Dey will kill me if I stay.” Duncan thought for a moment, and he quickly decided the point. Time was too precious and he could not waste any of it. He would not take the fellow’s word. CHAPTER XII. BAFFLED AT THE LAST MINUTE. “Qan’t do it,” Douglas told the man. “Hold out your hands.” * But dey will kill me, boss, sure as you live dey will. Give me a show fer me alley, won’t yer?” “Tl fix that all right. I'll bind you the same as they had me, and you can - tell them that I jumped out on you and you could not help yourself, believe it.” “Yer think so?” “JT know it. They know me.” “ Well. I can’t help myself, of course.” “Not a bit. If you don’t comply, I'll down you and do it by force.” The man held out his hands and the detective speedily had them securely tied together. He then did the same with his feet, and the next thing on the programme was to put a gag into his mouth, which was likewise speedily accomplished. “There you are, nice as can be,” he said. : ' He took up the fellow’s jacket then, which was a white linen one such as waiters usually wear. This he put on, tucking up his coat so it could not be seen below the jacket They will and buttoning it across, all the time keeping an eye.on the door. He had his revolver ready for use. It was his intention not to be taken gain if he could help it, even if some- body got hurt, ‘ His hat was a soft slouch, and that he put under the jacket in front, and as it happened, his prisoner’s and his own hair were somewhat alike in color and quantity. “Now for it,” he said to himself. He stopped to think, to make sure that he was ready. He ran the situation over in mind rN and a sudden thought came to im. What his prisoner’s name was he did not know, and that was a point of vital interest, or so it might prove, at any rate. He must, know it. Dropping his revolver into his jacket pocket, he stooped over the man. The fellow looked frightened. * Don’t be alarmed,” said Duncan, am not going to eat you.” He quickly untied the gag, and soon as he had done so demanded: “What’s your name? Say quick!” “Tom Mince, sir.” “What do you do?” “Wait on tables.” “Suppose you wanted to go right out to the street, would any;one be likely to stop you?” “Mebby not.” Dunean wanted to catch the voice, in order to imitate it if to do any talking. “Well, that is all I can ask.of you, I guess,” he said. ‘“ You are 2 fair-to- middling decent fellow, and I’m scrry to have to use you rough.” He prepared to replace the gag. “You can’t never do .the though,” said the man. “Why not?” asked Duncan. “Yer face is too mighty dirty.” The detective gave an impatient start. “What was I thinking about?” he muttered. “I clean forgot that for the cok as feliow’s he had trick, moment.” “You had better clean remember it, then, if you hope to get out of here,” .said the prisoner. “Where can I wash?” : “Go out of this room, turn to the right, and enter the next door.” “That is a mighty risk to run. Is there no other piace? Or no other way to reach that one?” “No, not another chance.’ Dunk hated to replace the gag, but le had to do it. He would not take the chance of the fellow’s playing a trick upon him. He might be working for that end. Replacing the gag with all haste, for he knew that every minute he wasted counted one against his chances for get- ting out, he prepared to leave the room. Another thought had come to him, but he put it away. The thought had been to let the fellow go free for.a moment, if he would prom- ise to bring him a wet towel. That was not to be considered for ean |. instant. . He thought of a trick. Taking his handkerchief from his pocket, he held it to his face as if his nose was. bleeding, and, with head bowed, hastened from the room. k It was now long after midnight, but the dancing in the place was yet going on, although the crowd had’ somewhat thinned out. He was seen, but no at- tention was paid to him. — He turned to the right and entered the first door he came to. He had been rightly directed. It was a closet and wash-room ‘and there were soap and towels. ‘ In a moment he was busily engaged washing his face and hands, and in cne minute he looked like a different man. ee silly, the Corker-Ferret. ; —_ 3 Of course, he did not look enough likes the waiter to be mistaken for him, but . if not observed too closely he hoped that the white jacket would carry him through. When he had wiped his face and hands and had taken a look in the glass to arrange his hair like Mr. Mince wore his, he was ready. He opened the door and stepped cut. | At the first table he came to stood a} waiter with some glasses on it, and this he picked up. ; Holding it so that it partly hid his face, he went down the room in the direction of the bar with hasty strides, hoping to gain the door unchallenged. He hoped in vain. He had taken but a few steps when he was called. ° He recognized the voice of the pro- prietor of the place, and he stopped in- | stantly and turned. Keeping the waiter so he could just look over it, but so that his face could not be seen in full by any one sitting down, he responded, imitating the voice of the fellow he was personating: MGR SITS : He saw Grimm, Gowney and Murphy all seated at a table. “Did you get them piled up?’, proprietor inquired. ‘eV OS, Bir. ‘CAll right, go on.” Dunean hurried on, had escaped. ._ He made straight for the bar, intend- ing to put down the tray and\ reach the street with a couple of strides: It worked as planned, and he would have been successful, but for one thing— perhaps more properly two things, but certainly for one. ihe thinking that he ‘He reached the door, but it was locked. ~ Meantime Red Murphy had leaned over and whispered a word to Gowney and Grimm. They both started, turned and looked ‘in the direction of the supposed Tom Mince, and in the same instant they leaped to their feet. The man was rec- ognized. Murphy and Gowney made a dash for him at once. ‘ In the same moment that Duncan found ; the door locked, their hands fell upon his shoulders, and he was jerked back- ward with a force that carried him off his feet.. : There was no chance given for the in- trepid detective to defend himself. He could not draw his gun, and before he could even shout they had him pinned by the throat and were dragging him in the direction of that rear room which had already witnessed tragedy. : ye CHAPTER maul. ANOTHER TRAGEDY. Meantime, what of the Bowery Ban- tam? Had he been instantly killed when thrown into that darksome pit?- If not, the chances seemed altogether in favor of his having been horribly maimed by the fall. Lay Let us, see. j F ' It was a sensation of horror for the lad when he felt himself flying off into space, and that into space so dark that he could see no object before him as he went down. He seemed to be an age in falling. Hig thoughts were all in a whirl, and in the “aE ‘ ‘ midst of it all was the one thought as to his fate. He had heard, or read, some- where of somebody who had fallen off | into a dark place and had been impaled _ on an iron rod, “ 4 i ' a k
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Al "He. wondered if such a fate would be é Pais. The human mind can cover a great deal of ground in thought in a remark- ably short space of time. Before he could dwell long on that frightful idea, however, the end came. He fell with a loud splash into a body of water and went under, head, neck and heels. It was a chilling blast, and he rose to the surface spluttering. Billy could swim like a rat, so he had no dread of immediate drowning, but he realized quickly his predicament. What if he could not touch bottom? _ How long would he be able to keep afloat? Would it not have.been better if they had tied a stone to his neck and ended it quickly? As soon as he had recovered his breath he let his feet down. He found that he could touch bottom, but that he had to hold his head high to keep his chin above water. It was a desperate situation. ‘Well, here’s a go,” he said to himself. “It was a mighty cold duck at first, but I won’t mind that after a minuie, till the second chill comes on, and then good- ness help me!”’ He might expect the second chill in from twenty minutes to an hour. Wading around the place, he found that it was not very large, maybe ten feet in the square. He guessed that it had been built for a cistern, for some purpose or other, but for just what purpose he could not guess, nor did it matter. His concern was to get out. The side opposite to where he had been thrown in was not as deep as the other. Here the water was only about up to his armpits, and, naturally, that was the side where he stopped to think what move he should make next. ; Feeling along the wall, he tried to dis- cover something by which he night climb to the top, but nothing was there. He made the round once more with that 2 in view. “No use,” he said to himself. ‘“ They have put me in a pickle to stay, and I guess I am booked to stay here.” He looked at it in a philosophical man- ner. If he could not get out he would prob- ably have to stay, It was one thing cr the other. Returning to where the water was least deep, he stood there turning the situation over in his mind. Without a light he could not tell much about his surround- ings. Presently he began .a very careful in- spection of the walls. He passed his hands over every por- tion of them within his reach, trying to find a loose stone or a hole. At last, near one corner, he felt a hole, and, to his delight, discovered that one of the stones was slightly loosened. He resolved to begin operations right there. The hole marked the water height. : ‘Tt jwas probable that the water had ; a - Jeaked out at that point to its then level. 5 Feeling around on the bottom with his feet, he discoyered the dislodged stone, ey, and, standing on it, lifted himself a few eae inches higher out of the water. . -. He then began his task. ' ' It was a slow, tedious undertaking “with nothing to work with. a ‘The stone seemed to be quite lecse, Res but it was of considerable size and it would. not come out of its place.. He pulled and tugged at it for some tee time; till at last he let go of that par- - ticular one and tried another and small- Sige ae read (acaba. Joey 8 oe . Barvtain. - Billy, the Gorkcar orice” er one which larger. The smaller much effort. This had the effect to loosen the larger, and in a little time that, too, was re- moved. Dropping them down into the water, Billy stood on them, and this much suc- cess encouraging him, he kept on with a will and ere long had removed several of the stones. This had the effect, though’he did not discover it till later, to lower the water in the cistern. It ran out slowly through the hole he was enlarging. He was thus engaged, when he heard the sudden tramp of feet over his head and heard the click of the panel. Having been so long in the darkness, the ray of light that entered the nar- row passage from the room above faintly lighted up the cistern so that he could take in its dimensions. He found that it was about the size he had guessed it to be in the square and about.six or eight feet deep, to the sur- face of the water. All around was nothing but the grim, cold walls. Immediately following the click of the panel he heard voices in suppressed but angry tones. “Do ye think the rat is dead?” one. “Dead sure,” said another. “ Better call down and find out while we're fixin’ this feller,” said the first speaker. There were steps to the edge of the pit, and a voice called down: “Hello! you boy!” The Bantam made no response. He recognized the voice. It was that of Red Murphy, and he knew that he could expect no niercy from that quarter. If they found he was alive, might they not come down there and finish him? He would not give them occasion to do so. “Naw, he’s dead enough,” he heard Murphy say. “Yes, he must be.” “Got that one ready?” “Yes, get out of the way.” Bowery Bantam’s heart throat. He wondered who they meant. Was it his friend Dunky Douglas? Red Murphy retreated along the short passage to the room, and immediately came other steps. They were quick and scuffling in ‘sound; then there was a sudden pause, and the next instant came a loud splash in thé water and Billy knew what had hap- pened. Another victim had been thrown down into the pit. * Ha! ha!” was the heartless laugh that followed him. ‘“‘ You would have it, so there you are!” The victim made no response, but in the dim light Billy Block saw the form of a man struggling in the 4vater, vet in a way to indicate that he was bound. “And there for keeps!” cried another voice. ‘“‘Come away, Red, and let us get out of this. He would have it, so it is no fault of ours. The blame is all his cwn. Come!” They delayed but a few seconds, yet that seemed an age to the boy. He wanted to go to the rescue before too late to save the man’s life, yet he knew that it would be Goats to him if seen. Their steps retreated; tien was a click one came out without esked was in’ his . $e incl ae gr ‘ ae rested just under the | of the panel and the place was plunged in darkness as before. With a hasty push ° Billy Block waded forward in the direc- tion where he had seen the man strug- gling, CHAPTER XIV. DESPERATE SITUATION. It was then he discovered that the water had lowered. It was no more than up to his armpits at the deepest place, and he guessed the cause. He reached the man in a moment, and, feeling for his head, found it and with a jerk landed him right end up, with con- siderable despatch if not with the sreat- est care. The man was gasping “and terribly. Billy felt for his face, and found that he had been gagged before being thrown in. It was but the work of a moment for the Bantam to take a knife from bis. pocket and cut the gag away, and, hav- ing done so, he pounded the man on the back desperately. ; In a few. seconds he had the man coughing at a lively rate, and knew that he was successful. “ Dunky,” he exclaimed in a whisper,. “is it you?” ‘ “Yes,” was the gasped response. That was all the detective could at- tempt to say yet, but it was enough fcr his faithful little ally. “Jingo!” the Bantam cried. “A won- der dey didn’t cut yer t’roat before dey chueked ye in. Reckon I wWouldn’t been much use to ye if dey had done dat, cully.” It was some time before the detective could make rejoinder. Meanwhile, the Bantam felt around and. found where his arms weye tied and cut the cords that held him. Likewise, too, he ducked under, much as he disliked that performance, and liberated his feet, and, having so done, Douglas was able to stand alone without. assistance. Duncan had been well-nigh strangled... “ Ain’t yer got yer wind yet? 4 asked. the Bantam. “IT came pretty near not getting it, that’s a fact,’ was the response. “If you had not been here, Billy, it would have been all day with “me.” “And mebby it will be all day with us anyhow, cul.” “It will not be the fault of those vil- lains if it isn’t. It is a wonder you are not dead; this water is enough to kill you.” “Yes, it’s mighty cold, dat’s a fack,’” agreed the. Bantam. “Have you found no way of getting out?” “No, not even a rat hole.” “And yet we have got to get out seme- how. It will be terrible to die here.” “And have ‘em tellin’ how nice dey dumped Dunky Duncan and his boy pal, wheezing: hey? Yes, dat will be nice, now won’t - it? Dunky, we must git out.” “JT quite agree with you, my lad, but how? 9? “Dat’s de Q.” “What have you been doing?” “Well, I have been pullin’ stones war's of de wall.” “Where?” “Tn one corner. It has let out some of de water if it ain’t done nothin’ else.” “That is enough, I should say, for a beginning. Show me the place, and if we can get rid of this water it will be a big stroke in our favor. I am chilled to the bone.”
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J ot S- ele ee eS — i ae, cto, Pee at “Don’t reckon I’ll show you much here in dis blackness,” said the Bantam. “ Well, feel me to the place, then, if that is better.” “ All right, I'll find it.” Billy felt around till he came to the corner where he had removed the stones, and to his delight found that the water \ was down to the bottom of the last hole he had made. Duncan was soon at work, and his greater strength speedily brought down a portion of the wall. The water did not go out with any rush, of course, but the earth took it in as rapidly as possible, the cement of the cistern having been all that held it. There, that will do for the water, and now for ourselves,” said the detec- tive. **] guess de water will have de easiest time gettin’ out, cul.” “Yes, I think so, too.” “Tf we only had a light to see what we’s about.” “T have got matches in a waterproof box, or said to be such, and I guess this will test its quality.” “ Bully! Let’s have de glims.” “But with my hands so wet I would spoil them getting them out.” “ Dat’s so. Jes’ as bad off as if we hadn’t ’em. ._Dunky, we are in a doose of a fix. do ye know it?” ““We shall be if we don’t get out of here.” “And what if we do get out?” “That is the question. They will have thrown us off the track by that time.” “Oh, will dey? On yer life dey won’t, eully.” “What do you mean?” ““T mean dat I am on to deir bunko, see?” ‘“No, I can’t see anything. What have | you found out?” 3illy Block quickly told his story, re- | peating the scheme he had heard con- cocted among Ryan, Gowney and the murderer. The information rather excited the de- tective. “So that fellow was right here, was he?” he cried. ‘‘ We have got to get out of this, Billy, somehow—we have got to do it! We must not waste a minute, either.” “T’m as anxious as you are, boss.” ““ We'll have to take down some more of the wall, and maybe we can climb to the top.” “Down with ’er! thing, I tell ye.” Duncan applied himself to the task, and in a little while he had so under- mined a portion of the. wall that it came down with a rush. He had before that placed Billy in an opposite corner, telling him to stand there, and on the first sound to indicate the fall he himself sprang ‘back out of the way. The water by this time had receded till it was no deeper than up to the Ban- tam’s middle. “Good fer you!” cried Billy. ““It won’t be good for you if you don’t ve ta in lower tone,” the detective warn- ed. ““Seuse me, Dunky, I didn’t think, in my delight. If you fetch another fall like dat you will have de whole shebang down, sure’s you live.” “And that would be too much of a ‘good thing. Come, you shin up here and see if you can feel where you are at when you get to the top.” “T have got a better plan,” said the Bantam, I am ready fer any- Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. “What is that?” ““T have been dryin’ my hands best I could, an’ I think dat I could light one of dem matches if dey’s any good, see?” * All right, you may try it. Take your left hand and feel in my vest pocket, and keep your right fingers dry for opening the box and getting the matches out.’ Jantam followed the directions. He found the matchbox, and in another moment had it open. Using care, he got a match out with- out wetting it and struck it on the wall higher than the water had been. To their immense satisfaction nited. ‘ “Good enough!” chuckled the Bantam. ‘We are not so bad off yet, Dunky, are we?” “And no better off, either,’’ was the reply. ‘“ But there is a chance for you to climb up, I guess, and you will be under the floor of the building. Go ahead, and I'll follow you to the top.” “Why not you first, Dunky?”’ “You are the smaller and can the more easily slip under the fioor.” “Oh! I see. Well, all right, here goes it ig- fer it! I'll take de matches wid me.” “Yes, for you may need another if you come to some place where you can- not tell what is before you by the feel of things: I hope you will find a way out of here.” CHAPTER. XV. ESCAPE FOR THE BANTAM. The Bowery Bantam made ready, and was soon shinning up over the slope of dirt and stones in the dark. He had taken a survey of the ground while the match lasted and had it pretty well fixed in his mind where he was go- ing, and he aimed to reach a certain beam. He found it and stopped. “Are you on top?’ asked Douglas. “Yes, come on.” The detective followed, and they were soon side by side. Then began the creeping forward un- der the floor, and ere long they came to a dead wall. A “Dis settles it,” said \the Bantam. “ Here is another wall, wid de house a- settin’ down hard on it, and dis is as far as we are goin’ ter git, my,opinion.” “Light a match and let us see about that, my bantam rooster.” Billy complied. The light revealed a wall that ran the entire width of the house and down both sides and across the end in the rear. It inclosed the cistern out of which they had just made their escape, and if there was a cellar, as Billy had before supposed, it must lay just beyond the wall they had reached. They debated the situation for a few minutes. It was decided that Billy, being so much the smaller, should make the cir- cuit of the wall to see if there was en opening anywhere. He set off at once. It was slow work, for he had to creep along, of course. Finally, at the rear wall he came to a narrow opening, about a foot in length, fitted with a grating. He gave a signal that had been agreed upon. The detective responded to it, and Billy summoned him to come to the place. After a good deal of exertion and con- siderable loss of patience the detective reached the point where Billy was, and Billy explained what he had discovered. “Now, cul.,” he said, “if you kin pull out dat gratin’ I wilh ’gree ter git out through de hole, or bust myself a-iryin. You can do it, I guess, fer it feels mighty rusty to my touch. What do you think about it? Put yer muscle to it, anyhow.” “If I have got any muscle left after that creep. Pull back out of the way and give me a chance.” Billy got back and made room. Duncan got hold of the grate tested it. We have said before that he was noted for his ‘strength. ' He believed that he felt it yield_a lit- tle under the pressure he applied. Taking a firmer hold, he exerted him- self. There was a rasping, snapping sound for a moment and the grating came loose. “T-knowed yer could do it!” exclaimed the Bantam, in a whisper. ‘“ You ure a reg’lar Sampson if ye only knowed it, Dunky!” “Yes, it is out, if it will do any sood now that it is out,’’ said the detective. “You said you would get through or burst, and I, guess you will have to burst if you get through.” “Tl git through if I have ter strip my clothes,” said the Bantam, determinedly. He crept forward and made the at- tempt. it was about the closest fit he had ever tried in his life. In the first place, it did not look as if he could get his head through, to say nothing of his body. “T'll do it,” he declared. ‘‘ It will only cost me my ears, and I kin spare thent in a good cause. Good-by, Dunky, if L never see you any more. I am goin’.” “VTll wait till I see you go before L say good-by,” was the response. Billy wriggled out of his jacket, and, trying again, pushed his head through the narrow opening by main force. it hurt him not a little, making the tears come to his eyes, but he stood it manfully and forced it. And, having his head out, he believed he could follow it up. He stopped for a moment. to breathe. Then, letting out his breath and mak- ing himself as small as possible, he be- gan to wriggle. Of all the tight places the Bowery Ban- tam had ever been in in his life this was about the tightest, as he found, and it looked as if he must stick fast. One thing was certain, he must go ahead. There could be no ‘ come back” to the ‘arrangement; it would not work that way. So he wriggled and wriggled, and little by little he got the thicker portion of his body through, and at last he drew out his legs and was on the cutside. “What did I tell ye, cully?” he de- manded. “T didn’t think you could do it, Billy,” was the response. “Your turn now.” “This is no time to fool, Bantam. Everything now depends on you. I have met with bad luck at every turn.” “ Well, what yer want me ter do? ” “I want you to go. straight to the th station and iell Sergeant. Mc- Gilson where I am and how I'm fixed.” ‘ All right, if I kin git out to de street.”’ “I was there after I saw you in the square and had that handeuff taken off there ‘and McGilson told me if I wanted help I had only to send for it. He has men ready,” * All right, cul., him, What next?” “Don’t say anything of the scheme we and I'll carry de news to een, Peta
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know alli about. I still want to tackle - jt alone.” “ Ain’t yer had enough of dat?” ““No, I haven’t. I want to work a sur- prise—Say!” “ce Say on,” “ Why not bring the sergeant here to this hole and let him try to make it bigger, so I can get out?” “What’s dat fer?” “They will not know I am out, and the surprise will be all the greater when ae We scoop them.” Pace f(y “ All right, cully, you’s de boss. A bar ba te will work out some of dese here bricks, Re and den you kin come out slick as grease. I'll do jes’ dat t’ing, sure.” “ And another thing.” | “ Wot’s dat?” “You must be quick, for I am shiver- ing with the cold as it is, and I won’t be worth a cent if I have to lie here long, wet as I am.” “Same wid me, boss. I am _ shiv- erin’ ready to shed my teeth. You bet dat I won’t let no grass grow under my feet when once I git out on de street. Now, is dat all?” “Yes, be off with you, and good luck to you.” “ Off it is, boss.” Billy turned away from the hole cut of which he had just made his escape and took a survey of his surroundings. He was in a narrow back yard, behind two high board fences. There was light sufficient for him to see fairly well, after having been in such utter darkness, Going down the yard to the rear, he there stopped for another survey of the premises. There was a back door of the dive opening upon this yard. Billy was half tempted to venture that way. Prudence, however, prevailed. And, too, he remembered that the front hall door had been locked when he tried it before, So he gave attention to the fence, scaled it and let himself down on the other side. From there he went over other fences, taking care to keep the lo- cation of the dive in mind, and. finally _. he came to an alley that let him out to the street. Once on the street, he lost no time in carrying out the directions the detective had given him! CHAPTER XVI. K McGILSON TO THE RESCUE. hi | Biity Block bounded into the station like a whirlwind. E A policéman who stood nace the door . at the moment held up his hands with ro; horror. “ Hold on, scavenger!” he cried, “ Don’t ou come in here with all that dirt now! That hog pen have you been wallowing in? What d’ye want, anyhow? Hold cn, I say!” “Can’t hold nothin’!” cried the Ban- ; tam. - want him, and I want him bad!” “Who the mischief are you?” _“ Billy Block.” “The deuce! You are a fine-looking been up to?” “tT tell ye I ain’t got no time ter talk, e cried the Bantam. ‘“ Where is de ser- g ant? I must see him right away soon- r, fer there is somethin’ on ice dat won’t keep long, I tell ye!” ib Here I am, boy; what is it?” sergeant at that moment ap- ie - “Why, Dunky Duncan is in a fix and gh me to bats for help.” Pes “Where’s Sergeant McGilson? I specimen, I must say. What have you - 4 eS Led ¥ , 5 Sy te oe Sev ee ee oh A hae 522 UR a ge ae : Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferret. “Ha! is that so? Why didn’t you say so at once? Tell me about it as quick as you can,” “Scat! I couldn’t git in a word fer this duffer, who wanted ter pitch me out headlong ‘cause I didn’t come in a swaller-tail coat and buff kids, or some- thin’ like that——” “There, there, never mind that; tell me where Douglas is and what word he sends.” ““All_ right, Grimm’s dive?” “Certainly.” “Well, dat’s where he is.” “Enough. Call out ten men, Jimson.” The policeman hastened into a rear room where the reserve were napping to call them forth. “Now, the particulars,” said the ser- geant to Billy. “Soon told,” said Billy. ‘“ Dey put him an’ me into a cistern full of water ter drown us, but we got out of dat fix and I got out from under de crib by creepin’ through a small hole in the wall, but Dunky is there yet, ’cause he is too tig ter git out.” “The wretches! ” “Yes, somethin’ like that, I ’gree with ye. He said fer me ter come ter you and git you ter come with a bar and make de hole big enough fer him to git through, He don’t want yer to pull de ranch, see?” ; “Then why didn’t you say so?” “Yer didn’t give me time.” “Well, is that aJl of it, now?” * Dat’s about all. You and one man will do de biz, and I'll take ye to de place where Dunky is waitin’ fer ye. He don’t want ye to let a breath of dis git out, see?” “Yes, I begin to see now. Never mind the men, Jimson. You and I will be enough for what is wanted. Clarke. will take my place till I come back.” So, with a few trifling details to ar- range, they set forth under the guidance of the Bowery Bantam. Billy was shivering in his wet clothes, but he kept dancing about to keep his blood moving. They went at a rapid pace, and he was presently warm enough. — On the way they consulted as to the best means ‘of reaching the rear of the dive, and decided that the same way Billy had come out was the best way to reach the desired point. Accordingly, when they came to the alley the Bantam led them in and guided them over the fences to the rear of the building. They approached with due silence. ‘The policemen were armed, and were ready to use their weapons if it became necessary, As soon as they reached the desired point and had stopped to make sure that no one had discovered their presence, Billy Block got down to the ee and whispered: “ Dunky! ” ; : “Yes, I’m here,” was the response. “ Had a notion ye would be,” Billy. “I have got help.” | “Then let them get to work as soon as possible, for : am about dead with chill.” This Billy repeated, and the sergeant took the bar in hand and began as si- Jently as possible to try to work out some of the bricks. It was found that they could not get cully. Ye know ‘Toby said along very fast without a light, depend- ing on the sense of touch for the placing of the point of the bar, but it was thought best to have no light. With greatest care they proceeded, and tS a De | come of him, and Kilgore Stiver would | never be retaken. Sater ey, after a time of patient work the bricks. began to come loose and drop out. They had not made a sound loud enough to draw attention. Finally the hole was large enough for Douglas to attempt to crawl out, and he tried it. He had enough room and came through. without any trouble, having first passed through such things as remained with him, Billy’s coat, the grating and some of the bricks. “T owe my life to you, Billy,” he said. “JT won’t forget it, either. Neither will I forget the gang that put me there, curse them!” “Do you want the den pulled? ’” asked the sergeant. “No, I have their scheme now, and we'll give them a big surprise party to- morrow.” “All right, just as you say about that. But, come, let’s get to the station, where you can warm up and put something in your boiler to keep you from taking your death of cold.” “We must fix this hole up first.” fi How? ” ‘“ Fit in some of the bricks as best we can and stand the grating in place, so it will pass muster unless inspected too closely.” This the detective inaisted on, and it was done. Then they hastened from the scene, At the station the detective and Billy Block changed their clothes and took. something warm, and washed up. After that they turned in to bunk end got some refreshing sleep. When morning came Duncan Douglas was ready for the business of the day, — having, thanks to the Bowery Bantam, the correct cue to the whole scheme for the getting of Kilgore Stiver outeof the city from under the very noses of the -watchful police. Meantime, what of the evil clique? After disposing of the detective they had been able to draw a full breath and consider. ; Having a desperate case in hand, they had been obliged to adopt desperate means for its accomplishment, and had stopped at nothing to gain their ends in view. John Ryan had already left the dive. ‘He had gone straight to the hotek, where he registered for himself and wife under an assumed name. He explained that his wife had been invited.to spend the night with a friend, but would probably join him at the hotel on the following morning, when they might remain for some time. Of that, however, he could not’ be cer- tain; they might depart very early next morning. That did not matter, however; gripes counted. He paid the score. Red Murphy and Boss Gowney at- tended to their part of the scheme and procured the needed disguise for the convict. A woman’s outfit was obtained, of mourning material, with a bonnet and heavy veil, and everything needful for the perfecting of the deception, and a fs woman’s help was obtained to fit it to — the wearer. . Before morning everything had ‘been . made ready, and there did not appear to be the least flaw in the arrsnkenenee. Ae It seemed” as if it must work with suc- cess. The only detective who had ye giving them trouble had been removed, . no one would ever know what had = Mat ‘ pegs 4, hy 5 of _
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CHAPTER XVII. DETECTIVE DUNCAN’S BOLD CHARGE. Judge Tehndaiz was seated in his of- fice on this morning. It was he who had Kilgore Stiver’s ease under consideration at the time of the prisoner’s strange escape from cus- --tody. He had been withholding sentence for aa few days while he looked into certain particulars of the case, as we have men- tioned, and on the day of the escape he visited the prisoner in his cell. The door opened and a young man en- ‘tered the office. He-was one we have seen before, cf medium height, strong build, and with face of expressed determination. It was Dunk Duncan. “Good morning, judge,” he said, re- moving his hat. “Good morning, young man,” was the response. ‘“‘ Well, what news do you bring me?” “T hardly know, sir,’ in a thoughtful manner. “It looks as if Kilgore Stiver would make his escape in spite of ull ” ’ the precautions of the police,” and he}. scanned the judge closely while saying. Ht. His face seemed to lighten. * You think so?” *T said that is the way it looks.” At that his penetrating eyes discovered that the judge’s inward feeling was of chagrin, or alarm. - “What do you mean?” asked. *T mean that it is not certain that he ‘will escape.” “You think, then, that you can pos- sibly apprehend him yet? Then you must \ have a cléew.” “Well, I have.” In spite of his effort the judge be- trayed emotion. ; A less capable detective might have taken it for excitement for the recovery of the prisoner. Dunk Duncan read It ‘differently, and believed that he had made no mistake in a conclusion he had reached. a “What is it? I am, of course, deeply interested. I would give anything for his retaking.” “Are you sure of that, judge? Would ‘you not rather have him escape?” The judge sprang to his feet, his hrows contracted and his face furious. “Have you come here to insult me?” he thundered. “Not at all, sir. I am here for the purpose of having a plain understanding with you.” ; “What do you mean?” “Well, the fact of the matter is, I am onto the game.” The judge’s face paled. “What game?” he asked hoarsely. “The game of getting Kilgore Stiver out of the grasp of the law.” “Young man, you are dreaming. Do you forget to whom you are talking? Do you forget my position, sir?” - “Not at all, sir.” “T think you do. I demand a full ex- planation, sir.” ; The judge was pacing the floor, evi- dently in a furious mood, but the de- tective read alarm in his every word and action. the judge “Well, you shall have it, judge,” he _ said. “Boss Gowney has let out the whole matter and you might ag well con- fess to the part you played in it. Noth- ‘ing can save—” k The judge sank upon a chair as limp asa rag. | “In heaven’s name, have mercy!” he cried. _ know. By heavens—” — } . “You must never reveal what you | Bantam Billy, the Corker-Fer ret. “Keep cool, sir, keep cool!” warnod the triumphant expert, for now he well knew that his surmise was right—that his desperate ruse had succeeded. What other man would have dared ‘io face Judge Tehndaiz and make such a charge as he had hinted? ““T am lost, ruined,” the judge sighed, his head and arm hanging imp. “ God knows I was forced to do what I did; I could not help it. In fact, I would do the same thing over again were occasiva to arise.” “IT believe you would, sir, the detective. “You know all about it, then?” “ Could I have made the charge without knowing?” counter-questioned the cau- tious Duncan. Nevertheless, he was still in the dark concerning the matter. He did not know yet the mystery of Kilgore Stiver’s escape from the jail, nor did any one else save the judge and his confederatas. “True, true,” the judge sighed. “‘ And you, what are you going to do about it, sire = “That remains to be seen.” “What do you hint?” * Nothing.” “You say so, but do you mean it?” “T assure you, sir, that I meant noth- ing by what I said.” “Maybe not; you would say that any- how. I am not a poor man, Mr. Douz- las, and I will give you ten thousaud dollars to let Kilgore Stiver get safely away.” ' The detective could hardly himself. Here was something, fixing the respon- sibility upon the judge, and yet some- thing that would not amount to anything without a witness.. He might say the judge had said thus and so, but if the judge denied it it would place Duncan in a bad situation. That was a small point, however; the judge believed the matter to be fully known and would doubtless act accordingly. While they were talking thus the door opened and into the room stepped—Boss Gowney. i This was something Dunk Duncan had not counted on. At sight of the man-hunter, Gown2y looked like a ghost and recoiled a step, but instantly the expert whipped out a revolver, ordering him to sit down on a certain chair, adding: “Don’t take me for a ghost, Mr. Go-w- ney, though it is not your fault that I am not in the spirit rather than in the body at this moment. I am real enough, I assure you.” _ “How the dey——’” ” assented contain . © There, now; don’t grow excited abdut |. it. Here I am; let that suffice for the present. Keep your seat where you are, or take the consequences.” Duncan blew a whistle. ‘Why did you give it away?” de- manded the judge of Gowney. “‘ Why did you go back on me like that?” “Gone back on ye!” in the great2st. amaze. _“ Yes, telling this detective the whole matter, so that he came here and——” — “T have done nothing of the kind, I swear it!” “You have not told——” “Not a word.” “No, not in words, perhaps,” chipped in Douglas, smiling, “ but as good as. in words by other means.” ; “My curse on you!” cried the judge. “T took you for my friend, Douglas, and here you have turned against me and trapped me.” “And I took you for an honest judze, really eager to have the escaped prisoaer. recaught. I thought so up to the moment of my coming here this morning, when my suspicion turned against you. I came here to tell you that I have now a clew to the prisoner’s whereabouts and am going to arrest him within the hour.” “That is a lie!” cried Gowney. “That is another bluff, judge. Are we going to stand it?” CHAPTER XVIII. -+ MYSTERY SOLVED. The door opened again, but this time to admit a policeman, with two more directly behind him. Their eyes stuck out with amaze at what they beheld. And with them was the boyish Bowery Bantam! Billy was in respectable attire onze more and was altogether a likely-looking lad. He, too, showed the surprise he felt, and looked from his comrade to the two men he held covered. “You lied to me!” cried the judge. “You said that you did not know of this till the moment of your coming here, and yet Here are policemen whom you had with you. Oh! I wish I nad you at the bar and could send you up for twenty years!” Duncan smiled serenely. “No doubt you would take pleasure in doing it, sir. But you wrong me. ‘It was as I told you. These men were simply awaiting. me, to go to the arrest of the escaped convict. And I find that no time is to be spared now. Officers, arrest these men and have them held at the station until I appear to make charges agaiast them.” ‘ There was no help for it; the expert had the authority, and his order had to be obeyed. “ Will you have no consideration for me? asked the judge. “You have tricked and trapped us: will you not let me have a chance——” “A chance for what, sir?” } “Well, will you drag me to the station like a common thief?” “ Would you prefer to remain here until I return with my other prisoner sir? If so——” ; “Yes, yes, let it be that way.” “Very well.” So Duncan changed his order, and the policemen were left there to guard the two men as prisoners in the office, and he and the Bowery Bantam set out to intercept the escaped murderer, The detective expert had already post- ed some capable allies near the hotel, and had given them sufficient of the story to enable them to detect Kil- gore Stiver should he attempt to escape before the time arranged. When he .and Billy Block neared the hotel they met one of these men. To <he detective’s inquiry if their man had yet come out from the hotel the answer was that he had not. That was sufficient, and Dunk Dunzan and the Bantam waited for his reappear- ance. : He had not a great while to wait. Bre long Mr. John Ryan made his appear- ance, with a woman clad in deepest mourning leaning heavily upon his arm, | and they moved slowly down the street. The signal was given, the allies closed in and followed their game for some — distance before they made the arrest. They waited till the’suspects were at — the nearest point to the police station. | As they gained distance the rascals a
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8 “ 3 Duncan stepped out in front of Ryan and his companion and brought them to a stop. At the same time his allies laid hands on their shoulders. The surprise was complete. Ryan uttered an oath, and the convict tried to get away. : “No use!” warned Douglas. ‘ The best thing you can do is to come right along without any fuss.” Which they quickly decided to do, and they were taken to the office of the judze, from whence it was Douglas’ intention to take all to the station together. Meanwhile another officer or two had been sent for Red Murphy and Toby Grimm, and they had been arrested. They had just been brought to the station when Duncan arrived with his prisoners. ”~ When they entered Grimm and Murphy almost collapsed at sight of the detec- tive, whom they supposed they had sent to his death the night before. They stared at Duncan as if their eyes would bulge out of their heads, and it was hard for them to realize that he ac- tually stood before them in the flesh. “Oh! yer kin look!” cried the Bowery Bantam, dancing around in delight. “Here we are both of us, lively as crick- ets, you bet! It will take more’n that to put us out of the world, bet your life on it! You thought you had us done brown, but yer didn’t, see?” They saw! There they were, prisoners every one of them! The veil was torn from Kilgore Stiver’s face and he was recognized. The judge and the prisoner looked at each other, the prisoner with something of a ferociovs expression, at first, while that the judge bestowed upon him was one of pity. “Did you lay this trap for me?” the murderer demanded. “No, but fate has been against you,” ‘was the response. “I did everything in my power for you.” “And I am der fate dat was onto yer | haze, you bet!’’ chimed in the Bowery Bantam. ‘I got der facks of der case an’ b’iled ’em down till I knowed»der whole matter, see?” “T’d like to boil you down!” grated Boss Gowney. “Why didn’t yer when yer had de chance?” the Bantam bantered. Dunk Duncan made his formal charges against the prisoners, and they were en- tered. | . When he came to the judge that crest- fallen magnate said: “No, not me! You cannot make me a prisoner here. Let me tell you a simple story: “This convicted murderer here Before you is my own brother! He has been ‘a disgrace to the family, and out of 1¢e- spect has been living under other names than his real one; but blood is thicker than water. When he was brought be- fore me I could not sentence him. I re- called what he was to me, and resolved to save him if I could. ; “TI planned it, and with the help of one of the prison keepers carried it out. I called upon the prisoner in his cell about the time of day when the guards- men changed their places. I was let in by the one who aided me—he has died since, so I do him no harm by, telling. I gave my clothes to the prisoner and left ‘at onee., ; |.“ When the other guardsman came on he was told that Judge Tehndaiz was in ‘the cell with the murderer and would probably soon want to go out, and when ‘the prisoner appeared clad in my ha- -pbitual attire he was allowed to pass un 65 Hurricane Bantam Billy, the Corker Ferret. challenged, and when the cell was next visited it was found empty. It might have been a mystery to.the end of time had it not been for this tireless young detective. I do not blame him; I only regret that it happened.” “Tt is all up with me, oner. “One word with you before we part,” said the judge. ‘‘ May I speak in private, officers? ”’ Every eye was dimmed, and the re- quest was granted. The judge approach- ed his brother, and for a moment they stood close together, the judge talking rapidly. Suddenly each raised something to his lips, and then, taking hold of hands, they said a good-by and soon sank to th floor, deathly pallor overspreading their faces! They had taken a poison, and before help could be summoned they had both expired. * : It was one of the greatest sensations in police circles, but it was kept from the press. The facts in the case were never made known to the public. It was hush- ed up as much as possible by the au- thorities and soon passed out of the minds of all save those who had been most intimately concerned in it. There are two who can never forget it. Needless t6 say, they are Duncan Douglas and his little ally, the Bowery Bantam, who to-day are very much alive detective experts of exceptional abil- ty. ” said the pris- THE END. NEXT HALF-DIME LIBRARY, No. 974. 7 Old Sant’s Dark Deal; MINER MAT’S IRON GRIP. BY WILLIAM PERRY BROWN, Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl, 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 79 Bol Ginger, the Giant cranes ; 288 Joe buck of Angels and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham. 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Fourdling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizons Sport. &10 Cool Colorado, the Half-Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorado in New York: or, The Cowboy's Fight. \ BY JOSEPH £. BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowatone Juck; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, Bill 3 or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 Mustang Sam ; or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-Liawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Glant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy, 168 Deadly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Patb. 208 The Boy Pards; or, Dainty Lance Unmasks. 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, 885 Old Double Fist H or, The Strange Guide ¢ 855 The King of the Woods: or. Daniel Boone's Last Trall, 419 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Traller. 677 Chineapin Dan’« Secon 688 Chincapin Dan’s Home Stretch, | 98 Old Crazy, the Man Without a Head, © O8 Light-Heart Lute’s Legacy. 18 Light-HWeart Lute’s Last Trall. 28 Silverblade, the Shoshone. 29 &ilverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay. 89 Silverblade, the Hestile: or, The Border Beagle’s Trail. 48 Silverblade the Friendly; or, The Border Beagle’s Boy Pard BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Sea; or, The Vailed Lady, 186 Cool Desmond; or, Tle Gambler’s Big Game, - . 7 6 z z z z z z | 220 8 917 Flash | : # —————— > «> vsoOOOvOvOLMTDLDL OSS BY OLL COOMES. 146 Kit Bandy, D etective; or, Silver Star, the Boy Knight. 168 Kit Bandy in ‘Texas; or, The Young Mustanger. 208 Kic Bandy’s Catch; or, The Boy Hercules. 422 Kit Bandy’s Right Bower; or, Baby Sam,the Boy Giant 444 Kit Bandy’s Swoop; or, Little buckskin, tne Centaur, 478 Kit Bandy’s Slick Scheme; or, Uld Tom Rattler. 661 Kit Bandy’s Detiverance; or, Banner Ben. 680 Kit Bandy’s Pard; or, Dauntless Dan, the Freelance. 791 Kit Bandy Rattled; or, The Intant Giant. 795 Kit Bandy in Ked Ruin; or, he Young Whirlwind. 799 Kit Bandy’s Big Rustle; or, Saddle King Sam. 804 Kit Bandy’s Brigade; or, Dan, the Mountain Guide. 927 Kid Bandy’s Brigade in Arizona. 989 hit Bandy’s Star Engagement. 955 The Dandy Dead-Shot; or, Old Kit Bandy’s Compromise. 158 Jack Drew, the Nemesis; or, Eagle Kit. the Boy Demon, 182 Jack Drew’s Drop; or, Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 Jack Drew in. Deadwood; or, Prospect Pete. 27 Keen Knife on Guard; or, Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide, 81 Keen-Knilte, the Prince of the Prairies. 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Juw. 18 The Dumb Spy. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. re 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy, 74 Wawk-eye Harry the Young Trapper Ranger. 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger; or, The Heiress. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 148 Sear-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. . 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dick; or, Trapper Tom’s Castle, 22S Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad, 288 The Parson Be tective; or, The Little Ranger. 248 The Disguised Gulde; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 DPare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkakin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy; or, Old Caleb Arbuckle, 800 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 Hercules; vr, Dick, the Boy Ranger. ‘ 417 Webfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. 457 Wingedfoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 468 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. 562 Blundering Baail, the Hermit Boy Trapper. - 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, 670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. 77S Highland Harry, the Wizard Rifleman. 828 Poker Jack, the Detective Sport. BY WM. G. PATTEN. 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Sport; or, The Jubilee of Jacktown 665 Violet Vane’s rastns 54 or, The Jasper City Clean Ont, 698 Violet and D alsy, the ony Pards. 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Crafty Detective’s Craft, 724 Violet Vane’s Vengeance) or, THE Wipe-Out. 780 Violet Vane’s Verdict; or, The Game at Coffin City. ZA1L Violet Vane, the Ventriloquist Vidocg; or, Sport va. Sport. 750 Violet Vane, the Vanquished. or, The Life Strugg'e. 768 Violet Vane’s Vision; or, The Fiery Hand of Fate. 489 The Miamond Sport: or, The Double Face of Bed Rock, 519 Septet ayer 7} or, Five in One, 581 Daisy Dare the Sport from Denver. 587 Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Iron Fern, the Man of Fire; or, Among the Vultures, 619 The Boy Tramp_ Detective: or, The Doubie GripWitness 641 Diamal Dave’s Dandy Pard; or, The Clue to Capt. Claw 651 Beund Boy F rank, the Young Amateur Detective _ 682 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 714 Old Misery the Man from Missouri. 774 Clear-Grit Cal, the Never-Say-Die Detective. 789 Sam Sheridan, the Secret Service Special. 806 Cowboy Steve the Ranch Mascot. 820 Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective, 836 Sharper Stoke’s Double Deal. P » 857 Spotter Bobin_ New York. 866 Spotter Bob’s Bowery Racket. BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective. * 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Boy. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. | 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wildfire, tre Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. « 157 Mike Merry the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will Wildfire in the W eoda. 165 Billy Baggage, thé Railroad oe : 70 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses 74 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 79 Bob Rockett, the Bank Runner, ¥ 88 The Hidden Mand; or, Will Wildfire’s Revenge, 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers. 189 Bob Rockett; or. Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed; or, Bob gs tg Fight for Life. 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective, a Tom Tanner}; or, The Black Sheey of 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 Dasha way: or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. 262 The Young Sharps: o:. Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail, 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound: or, The Young Thvroughored. 805 Dashaway, of Daketa: or, A Western Lad in Quaker City, 824 Ralph Keady, the Hotel Boy Detective. Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective 3 or, Fred Flyers Blizzard. 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firetly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Fiver, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vaganond. 466 Wide-hweke 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 Roots, the Boy Fireman : or, Teo Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Secret Service Boy Detective. 59@ Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolves. ’ 627 Tom Benes of ‘A ananat or, The Wolfin the Fold, 655 Plucky Paul, thé Roy Speculator. 667 Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 709 The Curbatone Petective; or, Harry Hale’s, Big Beat, } 757 Detective Fran k’s Sweep-stakes. Ned Norman, the Gamin Broker. 1 Turkey Billy, the Shine-’em-up Detective. Lightning, the Mountain Mascot. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library {s tor sale vy all Newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mall on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, : [ 98 William Street, New York. | et RE PRES BH we eS ene
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rea eh BREADLE’S* H ALF- [IME | IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. BY 1 Deadwood 20 Deadwood 28 Deadwood 85 Deadwood 42 Deadwood 49 Deadwood 57 Deadwood 78 Deadwood 77 Deadwood 100 Deadwood 104 Deadwood 109 Deadwood 129 Deadwood 188 Deadwood 149 Deadwood 156 Deadwood 195 Deadwood 201 Deadwood 205 Dendwood 217 Deadwood 221 Deadwood 282 Gold-Dust 268 Deadwood B68 Deadwood 809 Deadwood 821 Deadwood 847 Deadwood B51 Deadwood 862 Dead wood 421 Deadwood 480 Deadwood 448 Deadwood 448 Deadwood 458% Deadwood 459 Deadwood 465 Deadwood 471 Deadwood 476 Deadwood 451 Deadwood 491 Deadwood 496 Deadwood 600 Deaawooa 608 Deadwood 515 Deadwood 622 Deadwood 529 Veadwooa 534 Deadwood 689 DPeadwooa 544 Deadwood 5649 Deadwooa 554 Deadwood 561 Deadwood 567 Deadwood 572 Deadwood 5678 Deadwood 684 Dead wooa Deadwood > Dendwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood 672 Dendwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood & Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dendwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Degd wood Ded wood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wooa Deniwood Read wood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Dead wood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood Deadwood 876 Deadwood S82 Deadwood SPL Deadwood 898 Dead woo 904 Deadwood 910 Deadwood 916 Deadwood 928 Deadwood 984 Deadwood 940 Deadwood 9416 Deadwood ’ 95L Deadwood 957 Deadwood 965 Deadwood d Dick, EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels. Dick, the Prince of the Road. Dick’s Detlance; or, Double Daggers. Dick in Disgulse; or, Buffals Ben. Dick in Ilix Caatle. Dick’s Bonanza; or, The Phantom Miner. Dick in Danger; or, Omana Ol, ivick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. Diek on Decks or, Calamity 4 me, the Heroine hee woe ati or, Corduroy Charlie. ek in adville, Lt pe “oN a 3 hy The Double Cross Sign. ck a6 Detective. Dick’s Double; or, The Gorgon'’s Gulch Ghost. Dick’s Home Hasc; or, Blonde Bill. Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold, Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party. Diek’s DPrenmg or, The Rivals of the Road. Dick’s Warc; o;, The Black Hill’s Jezebel, Pe owe Ro sac Jane’s Adventure. ch’s Den cal. Dick’s Death-Piant. Dek. A Romance of Roughs and Tougha, 4 oe bey ee Spirit of Swamp Lake. ck’s Dbentn Tra’ Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon. Dick’a Dozens or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats Dick’s Ducata; or, Days in the Dignings. ne Plage Sage or, The Terrible Vendetta, ck’s m. Dilek in Dead City. Dick’s Diamonds, Dick in New York} or, A “Cute Care,” Diek’a Dust; or, The Chained Hand. Jr. cr, The Crimson Crescent Sign. Jdr.’#, Deflance. Jrv« Full Wand, dr.’s, Big Round-Up. Jr.s Racket at Claim 16, dra Corrals or, Bozeman Bill. J ve Dog Detective. dr., in Deadwood. Jr.’«, Compact. Jr.'s, Inheritance, dre oi ings, Jr.’ Deliverance, dr.« Protegee. 5 Ltn Taree. Hhikek ra, Danger Ducka, Jr.’«, Death Hunt, dr., in Texas. Jr., the Wild West Vidoeg Jdr., on Hla Mettle, dr., in Gotham, Jr., in Boston. Jr., in Philadelphia. dr., in Chicago, Jr.. Afloat. vr.. in Denver. dr.’s, Decree. < Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin. dr., at Coney Island, drs, Leadville Lay. Jr., in Detroit. Dick, Jr. in Cincinuattl, Jr., in Nevada. Jr., in No Man’s Land, r., After the Queer, dr.. In Buffalo. dra, Chase Acroaa the Continent Jr., Among the Smugglers. Jr.’«, Insurance Case, Jr., Back tn the Mines, dr., tn Purangot or, “ Gathered In.” Jr.’« Discovery; or, Found a Fortune. dra. Dazzle, Jr’. Dollars, Jr., at Danger Divide. Jr.x, Drop. Jr., at Jack-Pot. dr., in San Francisco. Jrv« Still Wunt. Jr.a Dominoes. Jr.’s, Disguise, Jr.’s, Double Deal, Jr’«. Deathwatch, dr.’s, loublet. dr.’s, Deathblow. ar.’s, Deaperate Strait. dra, Lone Hand, Jrvs Defeat. Jdr.’s, Resurrection, Pek Eee vy Days. e ros Defied. Dick, Jr.’a, Double Deyice. Dick, Jr’.«, Desperate Venture. Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice. Dick Jr.’s, Royal Flush, Dick, Jrvs Mead-off, ee oy pivat. Wels drs; Scoop.” Dick, Jr.’*, Proxy. Dick, Jr.’s, Clutch. Dick, Jr.’s, High Horse. Dick Jr., nt Devil’ Gulch. Dick, Jr.’«, Peath-Hole Hustle. Dick, dr.’* Bombshell. r., In Mextieo, Jr’a Decoy Duck. Jr. in Silver Pocket. Jrva, Dend-Sure Game, Jr’a, Double Drive. Jdr’«, Trade-Mark, Jr., at th tad Iris Double-Decker, | Jr., at Dollarville. Jr. at Flush Flats Diek, Jr.'s, ae a Pick, Jr.’s, Double Drop. Pick, Jr.'s, Right Bower. Dick, Ir.’s, Ten-Strike, Diek, Ir.’s, Gold-Dust, Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick, BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER. 190 210 Bava Darke ¢ or, The Tigers of High Pine, a Frank t or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards & ro 818 The Hustler Rogue-Catcher. 888 Poker Pete's Double Dod e. 851 The Te-To Sport ; or, High Vestling at Sinners? Flat, 888 Monte Saul, the ® 901 Diamond Da ve, ot Datay’s Drop, 919 Crack-Sh port. the Gilt-Edge Shooter, 981 The Peers in Velvet; or, Big Burk’s Blof. 945 Billy 962 Flip-Flap rd’a Ronanza: or, ‘The Rook-Ravens’ Root-Out, Fred at Hard Pan hed < Poe Geet sme Te PRO RO MY Other Novela by E. L. Wheeler. 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Rosebud Kob on Hand; or, Idyl, the Girl Miner. 88 Rosebud Rob's Keappearanc¢e; or, Photograph Phil. 121 Rosebud Rob’s Challenges or, Cinnamon Chip. 277 Denver Doll, the Detective Queen; or, The Yankee's Surround 281 Denver Doll’s Victory; or, Skul! and Crossbones, 285 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. LitUe Bill’s Bonanza. 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or. The Road Queen. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gatherers or, The Life Lottery, 872 Yreka Jim’s Prize; or. The Wolves of Wake-Up, 885 Yreka Jim’s eg or, The Rivals of Red Nese. B89 Yreka Jim’s New Roles or, Bicycle Ben. 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam, 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective; or, Dot Leetle Game. 218 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter 244 Slerra Sam, the Frontier Ferret: or, A Sister's Devotion. 248 Sierra Sam Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 258 Sierra Sam’s Purds or, The Ange! ot Big Vista, 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven or, The Stolen Bride. 884 Kangurov Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. 889 Kangaroo Kit’s Racket; or, The Pride of Played-Out, 8Y Death-Face, Detective; or, Life in New York, 69 The Boy Detective; or, Gold Rifle, the Sharpehooter, 96 Watch-Eye, the Detective; or, Arabs and Angels, 117 Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sport Detective 145 Captuin Ferret, the New York Detective. 161 New York Nell, the Boy-Gir! Detective. 226 The Arab Detective ¢ or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp. 291 Turk the Boy Ferret. 825 Kelley, attekey & Co,, the Detectives of Philadelphia, 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Detective, 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 High Hat Harry, the Base*Bual! Detective, 426 Sam Slabaldea, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectives. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures, 82 Bob Woolts or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 45 Old Avalanche: or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand, 63 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. : 92 Canada Chet ¢ or, Old Anaconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 118 Jack Hoyle the Young Speculator. 25 Bonanza Bill, Miner; or, Madam Mystery, the Forger. 88 Boss Bob the King of Boothlacks 141 Solid Sam, the Boy Rond-Agent; or, The Branded Brows. 177 Nobby Nick of Nevaday or, The Sierras Scamps. ist Wild Frank the Buckskin Bravo; or, Lady Lily’s Love. 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado; or, Rowdy Kate. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiatom or, The Locked Valley. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Voy Patrol: or, The Rival Heirs. A Nao. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. », the Girl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. B80 Little Qu!ck-Shots or, The Dead Face of Daggersville. 858 Firat-Clasa Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 878 Nabob Neds: or, The Secret of Slab City, 882 Cool Kit, the Kirg of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher; or, A Son’s Vengeance. 426 Sealakin Sam, the Sparkier: or The Tribunal of Ten. 918 Kit Kelth, t ¢ Reve: ue Spotter, 922 Rol Sharpe, the New_York Night-Hawk, 948 Old Mayseed Among Bunco Men, BY J. ©. COWDPRIOK, 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 614 Broadway Billy’« Boodle; or, Clearing a Strange Case, 686 Broadway Billy’s ‘DIitkilty.” Broadway ea Peath Kacket. Broadway Billy’s Surprise Party. Broadway Billy; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. Broadway Billy’s Dead Act: or, The League of Seven. Broadway Billy Abroad; or, The Bootblack in Frisco. 675 Broadway Billy’« Beat; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy in Clover. Broadway Billy in Texas; or, The River Rustlers, Broadway Billy’s Brand. 711 Broadway Billy at Santa Fe; or, The Clever Deal. Broadway BIilly’s }'ull Wand: or, The Gamin Detective, Broadway Billy’s« Rusiness, Broadway Billy’« Curious Case, Broadway Billy tn Denver. Broadway. Billy’s Vargains or, The Three Detective. Broadway Billy, the Retriever Detective. Broadway Billy's Shadow Chase. Broadway Billy’s Beagles; or, The Trio’s Quest. Broadway Billy’« Team; or, The Combine’e Big Pull, Broadway Billy’s Brigade; or, The Dead Alive. Broadway Billy’« Queer Bequest. Broadway Billy Bafiled. Broadway Filly’s Signal Scoop, Broadway Billy’« Wipe Out. Broadway Rilly’s Bank Racket. R21 be Sah Billy’s Bloff. rondway KBlily pecs Jersey Thugs. Broadway Billy’« Raid. Billy's Big Boom. Billy’« Big Bulge. Billy's #100,000 Snap. Rilly’s Blind: or, The Bootblack Stowaway. Billy in London. Billy Shadows London Slums. Broadway Billy’« French Game, Broadway Billy and the Bomb-Throwers. Milver-Mask, the Man of Mystery; or, The Golden Keys. 869 Shasta, the Gold King or, For Seven Years Dead, 420 The tretective’« Apprentice; or, A Boy Without » Name, 424 Cibuta Johns or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar, 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scont. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude 506 Redlight Ralph. the Prince of the Road, 524 The Engineer Detectives or, Redlight Ralph’s Resolve 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 571 Air-Line Luke the Young Engineer; or, The Double Case 5692 ‘The Boy Pinkerton; or, Running the Rascals Out. 615 Fighting Marr the Chief of Chained Cyclone. 640 Rareback Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, 647 Tynewrltér Tilly, the Merchant’s Ward. 659 Moonlight Morenn the *' Pizenest ’’ Man of Ante Bar. 887 Battery Bob. the Dock Detective, 894 Arizona Dick’« W pent 900 Jumping Jack’« Jubilee. 906 Satety Samy, the Cycle Sport, 912 Train Boy Trist’« Wot Mustle, 918 The Trumn Bock-Boy. 924 Big Roots Bob, the Fire-Laddle. 980 Rustler Ralph, the Boy Spotter. 985 The Ex-News«boy Detcetive’s Chum. 941 The Bowling Green Detectlve’s Drop. 944 Cowboy Charlie’s Double. 4 947 The Bowery W reatlers or, The Butcher-Boy’s Backer, 958 Paddy’s Trump Card; or, Silver Sallie, the Girl Sport, 960 The Broadway Sport; or; Flyer Fred’s Clear Case. ~ BY HAROLD PAYNE. 8418 Dan, the River Sport; or. Foiling the Frisco Sharp. | Broadway Broadway Broadway 6 Broadway Broadway Broadway 892 Rowery Ben tn Chinatown, 911 Bowery Bob, the Enat-side Detective, 952 The Circus tective. at Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents, by all Newsdealers.. NOVELS. BUFFALO BILL BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 964 Buffalo Bills Decoy 5 or, The Arizona Crack Shot. 955 Buffalo Kill’s Mazeppa-Chare. 948 Buffalo Hill's Bnap-Shot ¢ or, Wild Kid’s Texan Tally 942 Butfalo Bill's Tough Tussle. 986 Buffalo Bill’s Boy Mascoty or, Joe Jarvis’ Hold-up. 929 Buffalo Bills Crack-shot Pard, 650 Buffalo Bill's Boy Pard; or, Butterfly Billy. 216 Kison Bill, the Prince of the Reins. 222 Bison Bill’a Clue: or. Grit, the Biavo Sport, BY BUFFALO BILL, 8 Kanaas Kings or, The Red Right Hand, \ 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. ' 55 Deadly-Eye. the Papown Secut; or, The Banded Brotherhood! ‘68 Border Robin Hood ¢ or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Faney Frank of Colorado or, The Trapper’s Trust. BY CAPT. ALFRED B, TAYLOR, U. 8. A, 191 Buffalo Rilly, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bill’s Bet: or, The Gambler Guide, BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 982 New York Nat’s Drop: or, Ex-Ferret Sykes’ Bold Game, 926 New York Nat and 743 ‘lraiter Ferret. 920 New York Nat Trapped, 914 New York Navas ‘Three of a Kind. 908 New York Nat’s Double. 902 New York Nat’s In Colorado. 896 New York Nat in Gold Nugget Camp. 88Y New York Nat’s Deadly Deal, 888 New York Nat’s Crook-Chase, 877 New York Nut’s Tromp Card. S7L New York Nat and the Grave Ghouls, 865 New York Nat’« Masked Mascot, 859 New York Nat, the Ganin Detective. 858 Dick Doom’s Kidnapper Knock-Out, 847 Dick Doom'’s Ten Strike. 842 Dick Deom’s Flush Hand. 772 Dick Doom’s Neath-Grip; or, The Detective by Destiny, W777 Dick Doom’s Deatiny; or, The River Blackleg’s Terror, 784 Dick Doom; or. | lie Sharpe and Sharks of New York, 788 Dick Doom In Boxtony or, A Man of Many Maske, 798 Dick Doom tn Chicago. 7298 Dick Doom in the Wild West, 808 Dick Doom’s Clean Sweep; or, Five Links in a Clue, 808 Dick Doom’a Veath Clue. 818 Dick Doom’s Binmond Deal. 819 Dick Doom’s« Girl Mascot. 829 Dick Doom’s Shadow Hunt. 885 Dick Doom’s Big Herul. fi 749 Dashing Charlie; or, The Kentucky Tenderfoot’s First Trait, 756 Dashing Charlie’s Destiny: or, The Renegade’s Captive, 760 Dashing Charlle’* Pawnee Pard. 766 Dashing Charlic, the Rercuer. 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 787 Buck Taylor, the ( omanche’s Captive. 748 Buck Taylor's Boyas «ty, The Red Riders of the Rio Grande, 560 Pawnce Bll, the Prairie Shadower. 718 Pawnee Bills or, Carl, the Mad Cowhoy. 719 Pawnee Rill's Pledge: or, The Cowboy's Doom, 725 Pawnee Bll; er. Daring Dick. 692 Redfern’s Curtoua Cases o, The Rival Sharpe, 697 Kedtern at Pevil’a Fanehy or, The Sharp from Texas, 702 Redfern’s High Handy; or, Bive Jxcket. 707 Redfern’s Last ‘Tratl: or, The Red Sonibrero Rangers. Aud Fifty Others. BY .LIECT. A. K. SIMS, B89 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver;City. 622 Tom-Cat’s Triad; or, ‘Ibe Affair at Tonibstone. 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Tasks or, The Cowboy Detective, 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumph; or, Black Dan’e Great Combine. 646 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Coch; or, Josh’s Ten Strike BER The Dandy of Dodges or, Rustling for Millions. 576 The Silver Sport; or, Josh Peppermint’s Jubilee. 588 Saffron Rol, the Man With a Shadow 601 Happy Hana, the Dutch Videcg; or, Hot Times at Round-Up 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Detective, 657 Warbling William the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremiah, the Plains Detective. 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy, the Gypsy Spy:_or, The Mystery of Two Lives, 699 Simple Sim, the Rroncho Buster: or, For Big Stakes, 712 The Meameri«t Sport; or, The Mystified Detectives 788 Toltee Tom, the Mad Prospector. 745 Kanaaa Jim, the Cross-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 High-Kicker from Killbuck. 882 The Doctor Dete etive in Texas. 872 Two Showmen Ietectives In Colorado. 987 The Texan Firebranday or, Brazov Billy's Snap.Shot. 961 The Tramp’s Trump-Trick, RY T. J. FLANAGAN. 909 Midshipman Dare, the Pirate Catcher. 925 The Young Cowboy Captain. , 988 The Two Midshipmen; or, The Corsair-Chaser’a First Cruise. Lieutenants } 4 The Mandi Middy ¢ or, The Four Commanders. 966 Fighting_Jack Shubrick, LATEST ISSUES. 978 Bantam Billy, the Corker-Ferrets or, Dunk Duncan’s Double Drop. By J. C. Cowdrick. 974 Old Sant’s Dark Deal; or, Miner Mat’s Iron Grip, By Wn). Perry Brown. 97¢ Buffalo Bill’« Rifle Shota; or, The Buekskin Bravo's Lone Trail. By Col. Py Ingraham. NEW ISSUES. 967 1 atid Reward; or, The Rival Reporters’ Sleek Scoop. sy J. C. Cowdaick, 968 Buffalo Bill's Rush Rideg or, Sure-Shot, the High-Flyer- By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. meen he Sirk Sport-Shadower }; or, Clark’s Close Shave. By ym. Eyster. 970 Ahoy Abe, the Dock Sharpt or, The Parson Sport’s Mys- terious Mission. By Jo Pierce. 971 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Oaths or, The Clown Comp, Py Baward L, Wheeler, ; 972 Fighting Jack’s Middies; or, Dandy Dick’s T. J. Flanagan. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library 1s for sale by sll newsdealers, five gents por eopy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each, r BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York, of Paradise Dash, By a