Deadwood Dick Library (v. 3) (1899 11 15)

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@opyright 1880-1886, by Beadle second class matte ae ip iain (James Sullivan, Proprietor,) ee 5 ce Vol, Ill. Nov, 15, 1899. 379 Pearl street, New York. $2.50 a Kear. NEARER—NEARER TO THE BOAT SHE*PULLED, STRONGLY AND STEADILY,

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EDWARD L. WHEELER'S DEADWOOD DICK, JR. NOVELS IN THE HALF-DIME LIBRARY. Price 5 Cents per Copy. 443 448 453 459 465 471 476 481 491 496 500 508 515 522 529 534 539 544 549 554 561 067 572 578 584 590 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr.; or, The Crimson Crescent Sign. Deadwood Dick, Jr’s, Defiance. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Full Hand. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round. Up. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 10, Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Corral. Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Dog Detective. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Deadwood. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Compact. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Inheritance. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diggings. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deliverance. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Protege. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Three. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Danger Ducks. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Texas. Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidoeq. Deadwood Dick, Jr , on His Mettle. Jr.’s, Still Hunt. s, Dominoes. 716 Deadwood Dick, 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. 734 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Deal. 740 Deadwood Dick, Jr. ’s Death-Watch. 747 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Doublet. 52 Deadwood Dick, Jr. ie) Death-Blow. %58 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Desperate Strait. 764 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Lone Hand. 770 Deadwood Dick. Jr’s, Defeat. 776 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Resurrection. 482 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dark Days. "87 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Defied. i: 792 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Device. _ "97 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Desperate Venture 802 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Diamond Dice. _ 807 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Royal Flush. 812 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 's, Head-Off. 816 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Rival. 822 Deadwood Dick, J r.’s, Boom. Deadwood Dick, Jr., Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, in Gotham. in Boston. in Philadelphia. in Chicago. Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, 600 606 612 618 624 630 636 642 648 Déadwood Dick, Continent. glers. Deadw ood Dick, Deadwood Dick, 700 704 710 Deadwood Dick, Jr., For sale by all ages or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price, 5c. per copy, by the publis M. J. IVERS & CO., ers, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Coney Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Leadville Lay. Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Buffalo. Jr.’s, Chase Across the in Denver. s, Decree. Tsland. in Detroit. in Cincinnati. in Nevada. in No Man’s Land. Deadwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smug- Jr.’s, Insurance Case. Deadwood Dic k, Jr., Back in the Mines. Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, Jr. in Durango. s, Discovery. ’s, Dazzle. Jr.’s, Dollars. 695 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. at Danger Divide s, Drop. at San Francisco. in Beelzebub’s Basin. 828 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Scoop. = 834 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Proxy. : 840 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Clutch. , 845 Deadwood Dick, Jr,’s, High Horse. = 852 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Devil’ s Gulch. 858 863 870 Deadwood Dick, Deadwood Dick. Sih Abe Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 876 882 891 898 904 910 916 928 Deadwood Dick, Jr 940 946 951 957 965 971 Deadwood Dick, Jr 980 992 1018 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 379 Peart Street, New York Crry. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr. ., at Dollurville. 934 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Deadwood Dick, Jr. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ .’s, Ten-Strike. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Deadwood Dick, Jr. 977 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ Deadwood Dick, Jr. 998 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’ 1005 Deadwood Dick, Jr., 1011 Deadwood Dick, Jr. s, Death-Hole Hustle: s, Bombshell. | . in Mexico, a 8, Decoy Duck. ro Siiver Pocket. Dead-Sure Game. = Double Drive. ’s, Trade- Mark. at Tip-Top. ; *s, Double-Decker. at Flush Flats. ’s, Shake-Up. s, Double Drop. s, Right Bower. , Gold Dust. ’s, Oath. s, Death-Doom. s, Best Card. , at Gold Dust. s, Big Play. Branded. ’s, Dutch Pard. *s, Big Four. is SE ena tea rn

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A % yee: r Rem Ran Ge 7 2 . opyright 1880-1886, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1899, = Ean M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers Ne 36, been Pe eeily, (James Sullivan, Proprietor.) : L Nov. 15, 1899. 379 Pear! Street, New Yorks iy, * : ——————— Bi NEARER—NEARER TO THE BOAT SHE PULLED, STRONGLY. AND STEADILY, é . 4 = ta 5 Fe Sad ph te 3 :

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- time when ‘Re ~ New York Nell, The BOY-GIRL DETECTIVE: OR, OLD BLAKESLY’S MONEY, BY EDWARD L, WHEELER, AUTHOR or ‘‘ DEADWOOD DICK ? NOVELS, ‘‘ ROSE- BUD ROB” NOVELS, ETC., ETC, CHAPTER I. UNCLE BLAKHSLY COMES TO TOWN, “Papwrs! papers! Herald, Times, Chronicle and Sun! Buy one, mister?” And the newsboy paused in his parade eereuae one of the Markét street cars, to hold a freshly rinted daily under the nose of Mr. Redmond lakesly, retired merchant, who chanced to be one of the passengers, ; ‘Well! well! my boy, I suppose I might as well humor you,” he at * although I alread ” have a pocket full. hat’s your name, my lad? You look like a girl. : * Phow! you’re mighty sharp at guessin’, Gov- ernor. Bul, tra! la! Dll see you again.” And hastily out of the car the nimble news- dealer skipped, in time to jump upon the tender of a westward bound ‘‘ dummy,” which was pass- ing. Bncle Redmond Blakesly put on his spectacles, went to the door, and took a long lovk at the re- treating car. oe ‘Well! well! well!” hemuttered. ‘ Blast my old Sa y? : \ Z “‘ Whats the matter, Cap? Didn’t git took in by the little cuss, did you?” the conductor asked, with a grin; whereat Uncle Redmond shifted his to him. youngster, I did not. By the way, I look a liftle verdant, don’t I, compared wi’ the city folk?” iF 3 . —“Yes—that is, you look as if you had just come from up-country,” the man-of the bell- punch replied, with a smile, ‘ S pose I do,” the retired merchant assented ; “but, for all that, my boy, just chalk it down that the old gent ain’t picked up fora fool, every day, an’ ain’t half so green as some of you city snobs who laughs at him, Who was the young- ster with the papers, my friend?” “She? Oh! that wasa new one they’ve got on the force—a gal, by the way, just over from N. Y. Nell Niblo, she calls herself, and they do say she’s reg’lar smart.” ‘Oh! they do, eh?’ and Uncle Redmond scratched the bald portion of his head reflec- tively. ‘‘ Well! well! well! who ever heard of agirl dressin’ up in boy’s clothes, an’ sellin’ news- a Humph! it’s shameful what poverty will fetch folks to.” ‘ “Why, old man, you talk as if you never had known want?” **No, I don’t talk nothin’ 0’ the sort, young- _ ster, fer I’'d be tellin’ lies, an’ them’s ag’i”’ my honest, orthodox princtplees Thar uster be the t Black’ had hard luck, an’ ‘slept where night overtook him. Ye see, young feller. 'm Redmond Blakesly, from Hudsondale, New York Nell, up on the Rudson River, an’ I uster live in ther city, jes’ as well as you, an’ they called me Black. Times have changed, tho’, an’ nobody recognizes in the kale, hearty, «nd well-to-do country gentleman, the former ‘honest dealer of Chatham street,’ Purty place, this Philadel- phia?’ ‘Tho Keystone city of them all,” the conduc- tor aaa now courteously, ‘‘Yes, I uster run over heer when I did busi- nessin New York,” and something like a sorrow- ful expression came over his face, as the old fel. low stumped along back into the car, and be came seated. Uncle Redmond Blakesly did look rather “ green,” taken at first glance, He was of me dium hight, and portly, his fat dumplings of legs, apparently inadequate to the task of sup- porting his trunk, ashe walked with a heavy cane, His face also was fat-and florid, and good-natured in its ie oh pean with a friage of straggling white beard under his chin, and hair to match upon his head, rer ts directly on the the top, where was a shining bald spot. His attire consisted of a pair of coarse Loots, which had been polished; a pair of linen trow- sers, too shortin the legs; a vest of the same material, too small to encompass his ervey girths and an old gray overcoat, that evidently seen ene of usage, and that, in spite of the fact that it was now the sultry August weather. His head was ornamented with a broad-rimmed Panama hat, and his eyes shaded by spectacles, Taken ata glance, he looked a hale and hearty down-East farmer, and was the source of con siderable amusement to a few of the “‘nobs” in the car, who were not careful in making r marks about the country and its natural advan- tages, : But, if Uncle Redmond heard, he heeded not, having the satisfaction of knowing that he suited himself and his friends, and was able to pull through life, despite these differences he- tween the city nabob and the country gentle- man. Aboutan hour later he left the Thirteenth and Fifteenth street line of cars at the P. W. Baltimore railway station, and entered the large and elegant depot which is one of the features: of South Broad street. The train had already arrived, and the wait- ing-rooms were filled with passengers—old, middle-aged and young of both sexes, and many nationalities, Among them was a young man of effeminate appearancé, faultlessly attired in navy-blue, with spotless white shirt, collar, vest, silk tie, white silk hat, kid gloves, patent-leather walk- ing shoes, and gold-headed cane—a very dan- dified personage of some twenty-one summers, with a fair face of attractive cast, light blue — eyes, brown hair, and a faint mustache ofa towy color. ' He carried a sachel and duster with his right hand, while on. his left arm leaned a lady, at- tired in a gray duster, pretty hat and vail, the _ latter being drawn down over her face, screen- ing it from view. \ Both evidently were strangers in the city, for they paused, in seeming hesitation, until the young man’s gaze rested upon Uncle RedmonG — - (Bs ee ‘ .

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New York Nell. PII PEs a Blakesiy, when his face lit we with an expres- sion of recognition, and he led the way forward to where the countryman was standing. ‘*Eixcuse me, sir,” the young man accosted him, ‘but, can it be possible that IT am ad- dressing my jolly old dad, Redmond Blakesly?” Uncle Redmond stared a little, and gave the young man: a critical survey through his glasses. * “Well! well! well! I don’t know about that, sir,” he replied, taking off his hat and scratch- ing his bald spot, ‘I’m Red Black, that’s sure —red when [’m angry; black when P’m mad, as the boys used to say. Yes, youngster, ’m Red- mond Blakesly, from Hudsondale, on the Hud- son. ,And, next to that, who in the world are you? mas Your own son, Jack Blakesly, alive and well, after an absence of eight years,” was the Jaughing response, and the new-comer put forth his hand warmly. S But Uncle Red shoved his down! into the pokes of his pantaloons with a quiet little laugh. “Just hold on, boy. The old manis jest as smart as ke used to be, ef he is a little older, an’ he ain’t goin’ to be took in on sharps. You tell me you’re my boy, Jack Blakesly—you?” “Why, certainly, my royal dad—of course I am! Didn’t I write you I'd be here to-day—the prodigal returned, after many years? Of course I’m Jack, just the same as I was years ago, when I was kindly booted out, and told to go make my own fortune.” “Well, have you made it?” the proprietor of ‘udsondale demanded. “Not ared! Every cent I have been able to get hold of I have spent on education.” Blakesley, Sr., closed one eye obliquely. * Are you certain about that?” he demanded. Positive!” the young man protested, ‘‘T can converse in seven languages, and am com- petent to handle the professorship of a college.” “Tha” settles it,” Uncle mond cried, slap- ping his thigh, delightedly. ‘‘I recognize you, fer my Jack he was allus fer study! study! study an’ eddication, an’ allus would ruther loaf around town, at school, or in ther free readin’-rooms, than ter stay up-country an’ hill pertaters. I uster git so ’tarnal out 0’ pa- - tience, an’ when he told me he wasn’t goin’ to farm it, but was a-goin’ to shirk fer hisself, I ive him fifty dollars, an’ told him not to cum’ at till he hed got all ther book Yarnin’ he wanted.” And seizing the bs Sane hand, the old ap wrung it in a way that made his returned offspring wince. “Yes, I’m thunderin’ glad you’re back to keep your old dad company, boy,” Uncle Redmond pursued, “fer ye see, ye can be a heap 0’ com- fort to me. I ain’t a poor farmer no more, by a long shot, nuther. They uster count old Red Black a sorter greenhorn, wi’ the barnyard clingin’ to his boots; but I went inter a leetle mercantile speckilation, an’ furst I know’d, I went out ag’in, ownin’ a mansion up on ther Hudson, a city residence, an’ a plump leetle nest- g, asides, ye see ther old dad’s fixed, arter . an’ thing’s is a-goin’ to be gay when we all eit up at Buc gio he sate Fale Re pe ee pease oe gittin’ old’ an’ vinegary, like all old maids do, _ but I reckon she'll ‘liven up, when she sees you back. But, see hyar, Jack, thar’s one p'int Pd like ter ask ye about—can ye spel! ?” ig “Well, I should presume so,” Jack replied, a ttle sarcastically. ‘‘ Educated people generally know how to spell.” : *“Welll well! Is'pose so. Didn’tknow about it, you know. ‘You see yer old dad never had much success at wras’lin wi’ the gare tie a tho’ he ked allus leave off, ahead. as, I s’poscae — ‘ou must know how ter spell, an’ hey heaps of — *arnin’ besides, Why, I’d near fergotit, boy; I see’d a trained hog down ter Barnum’s show, in ~_ Brooklyn, last year, what could spell, an’tell the time o’ day. It’sastonishin’ whatthis world is comin’ to. But, come, boy, ye hain’t given me a knock-down tew the lady, heer. Whe is she? Hain’t been gittin’married?” . ie “Oh! no,” young Blakesly replied, glancing around him, uneasily, and noting that Uncle — Redmond’s hearty manner was attracting at- tention. f And not only attention, but many curious — glances, « ian 3 ‘“No, I am not married, This young lady — allow me to jntroduce to you as Miss Viola Ver=- — non. She is a homeless orphan, whose people were recently killed by a railroad accident out West, and being acquainted with her, and know- _ ing her circumstances, I took the liberty to bring her home with me, as a guestof Aunt — Prudence, until she can get tidings of a brother, — who lives somewhere in the East. Show him — your face, Viola.” The young lady accordingly raised her yail, and turned her face full upon Uncle mond, who gave vent to a prolonged whistle of sur- prise. f “Well! well! well!” you're a beauty, and no mistake!” he ejaculated. ‘“‘Durn my eyes, ef _ you don’t take the glimp off *n any of our East- _ ern gals!” ae Miss Vernon was indeed remarkably pretty, with a fair face, dusky eyes, and brown hair, her power of attraction lying chieflyin afas cinating smile, whiclt she knew well how to use. _ “T faney she would resemble my poor little sister, who was stolen away, years ago, if we could find her,” young Blakesly said. ‘But, come! tell us what hotel you stop at, and we — will seek it, after I attend to a little business, in town. Do not put yourself to any trouble to — show us, as we can easily-find it, if you give us the proper directions.” a “T put up at the Girard, on Chestnut street, boy. You will find me there later.” pe hee “Ah! yes, Thanks, We will’soon join you there,” then bowing, Jack led his fair compan- ion away toward the carriago stand. : After they were gone, Uncle Redmond shut one eye, and spat a yolume of tobacco-juice at an unobtrusive fly which was crawling along on the floor, It was a fashion the honest but illit- — erate old gent had, when ina study. - yrs “T wonder if I don’t smell a rat?’ he mur- — mured, era off his hat, and scratching. his — beldspot. ‘* Guess maybe the boy was a leetle ard i m

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mre cme ee, New York Nell, But, let it wag. Old Red Black’s honest, an’ straight, an’ that suits him.” Still the master of Hudsondale seemed consid- erably *‘ cut by what be had rightly drawn as @ conclusion, and paced to and fro about the waiting-room, some time in deep meditation. He was thus engaged, when he was startled by a familiar voice crying: “Papers! Herald, Times, Chronicle, Sun, Star!” and turned quickly to see the same newspaper girl, whom he had seen a short time before on the Market street cars, just in the act of passing. A girl she was, too, he discerned at a second glance, her face betraying femininity, Tn form she was scarcely of woman’s medium hight, but well'rounded and graceful, and eaviently of movement, In face she was decid- edly girlish and pretty, her features being round and charmingly chiseled, the mouth in particu- Jar wearing a roguish, spirited expression, and the eyes a brilliant, independent flash, that be- trayed a nature at once gay and happy, yet bold, fearless, and scorning wrong and evil-do- ing. : tie hair was of a golden hue, and curled ina - elose mass about her head, which added to her pretty appearance. In the way of attire, she wore aslouch hat up- on her head, and rough pants, vest and jacket of coarse brown woolen, a checkered shirt without any collar, and a pair of rather coarse shoes up- on her smail feet, which were much too largo for them. Taken as a whole, and not forgetting that her ; face was somewhat dirSy, and that she was smok- ing the stump of a cigar, she was about as good a specimen of a street Arab as one could have found in all the Quaker City, the importance . with which she strutted about giving her the ap- pearance of one of the urchins she personated. What her age was no ordinary observer could ess, probably, for while her form and manners longed to a girl of seventeen or eighteen, her face and its expression were those of one less than ‘sixteen, As he saw her passing. him, Uncle Redmond ' put outhis hand, involuntarily, and detained her. ‘Hold on, my dear,” he said. ‘* Ain*tyou the one I bought a paper of this morning?” “You bet lam! There ain’t another gal what pas papers, in this town o’ Philadelph’, as I now of,” was the roguish apt “Why ?-what’s the rip? Wasn’t the paper all right?” ) “Ts pose so; but, that ain’t what I want. I want ter hev a little chat with you.” “Oh! that’s it, eh? Well, ’'d just as lieve chir- ‘with you as any other good-looking feller. Wh _ What's your name?” te live over in York, but had to skip “My name? Well, ’m Redmond Blakesly, of Hudsondale, up the Hudson, And who are 2 *“Me? Oh! I’m New York Nell, the news girl. Niblo is my name, when I’m to home, tho’ I don’t bear any relationship to Niblo’s Garden. a out, be- cause I p’isened a butcher’s big ugly dog, an’ the cops was going to put me in the Tombs, Oh! I tell you I’m a tough youngster, for my age!” _* Well! well! I should say so, But, somehow, sk T kinder take toyou Can't you get more profi ‘ ty wet, 2 0 Rae % oa aed = about. table employment than dressin’ up in boy’s clothes, and peddlin’ papers?” “Nix! it’s what suits me. TI like the togs first rate, because a person can get around ship-shape, much better. If you want to play ball wi’ the boys, run a foot race, or do most ennything, these togs is enough sight handier than skirts, And as for sellin’ es , L make a dollar or two a day, an’ learn heaps to help me in my biz, too.” “Your biz?” “ Yes, my biz.” “What's that?” ; “Thats a secret of my own, but I'll confide it to you, as you seem to be a sort of honest pal, an’ I guess you won’t give itaway. Ima de- tective.” *¢ A detective?” ‘Precisely! Identically adetective. Oh! you bet I make a sharp one, too. What I can’t nose out, there ain’t many as can. I’m a rogues* ter- ror, an’ they all know me by heart, over in York, and are beginning to find me out here in Phila- delph. Got any detective business you want ex- ecuted with neatness and dispatch? If so, ’m your ferret.” “No, I guess I haven’t any thing to be detect ed,” Uncle Red replied, ‘‘But I'd like you to dress in proper attire, and come up to Hudson- dale and pay us a visit.” A “Get out. D’yes’pose I’d throwaway my togs jest for one visit? No sir-ee! If I ain’t good enough to come a-visitin’ in breeches, I ain’t good enough to come at all.” é “But, my gracious! Prudence she'd faint clean away if she’d see a woman dressed up in men’s clothes!” “But I ain’t a woman; I’m only a gal. They call me a little euss over in York, ’cause I allus hoe out my own row, an’ keer fer No. 1. Who’s Prudence?” “ She’s my sister.” ‘* An old maid, ain’t she, sourer than pickles in the month of June?” “Well! well! Blast my eyes ef you hain’t hit it purty straight. But did you see my boy, a bit ago? “ What! the sickly lookin’ feller with the gal a singing to him?” es. That’s my boy, Jack, whom I started out eight years ago, to make his way in the world.” ‘“Humph! Guess he hain’t never paralysed any one, judging by his looks. Kinder like me to come up to Hudsondale, an’ fall in love with, and marry him, wouldn’t you?” , “Just my RUOUE NS, my girl, sure’s I’m an honest but illiterate old chap!” the master of Hudsondale admitted, slapping his knee. ‘‘ How old are you, child?” ; “Dunno, Guess I never knew. Old mother Niblo never would tell me, and one day she slipped her wind, and her spirit took a waltz, *Spect ’'m old enough to not marry sech a sick- - looking squash as that feller you say’s your son.™ “Then you don’t like the looks of him?” — **Not much! likes purty quick, an’ I set that chap down asa snide, the minnit I clapped my eyes onto him.” “Well! well! that’s strange. Dunno : chim, myself, You see, the boy’ I allus form my likes and dis-~

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New York Nell. . & mat, cages ae an’ I don’t know jest what he’s like. He was only thirteen when he cleared out, an’ his poor old dad never heard a word until afew days ago, when he writ fer me to meet him here. But he sez he’s spent every cent he’s made on eddication, an’ is awful smart!” “ll bet he is,” with a sarcastic grimace. “He looks as if he know’d more than some hull book binderies. I-say, unkle, ain’t you a little bit mn, an’ liable to be took in?” The old man locked grave, and at the same time scratched the bald spot on top of his head. “Well! well! well! I don’t know,” he mut- tered, slowly. ‘‘Mebbe I ain’t so smart as I used ter be, though I’ve allus counted old Red Black about as chipper as the average. Why, “ Because it strikes me—but never mind. Tl give you my opinion some other time, In the meanwhile I'll make observations an’ report b an’ by. Am goin’ back to N. Y. to-morrer, If you ever ae a in town when I’m there, jest tellany o’ the b, b.’s or n. b,’s you want to see New York Nell, and they’ll put you on track. Tra! lal la! Take care of yourself, now, and don’t Jet that son of yours bleed your pocket- book,” And then, with a laugh, she walked away.’ CHAPTER II. ‘CHAMPAGNE QUITE THE THING.” Oxp Uncle Redmond Blakesly had not guessed wrongly, when he concluded that Jack was ashamed of his sire’s rough-and-ready appear- ance, and had filled in the excuse of having some business elsewhere to attend to, in order that the old gent should not accompany him, for the young man had gone direct to the Girard Hote “Ts there an old chap stopping here by the name of Redmond Blakesly?’ he asked, as he registered his name. ‘Yes, certainly,” the clerk replied, po “You will find his name registered with to- day’s arrivals, Believe he is out just now.” “Oh! that does not matter. I have already seen him, Just arrived from the West, and met him at the depot, and he directed me to stop here, at his expense.” “Ah! yes. Heleft orders to that effect,” and the clerk touched a call bell. ‘* This boy will show you to your apartments,” They were een an elegant suite of rooms upon the third landing, consisting of bedcham- rs and eae parlor, ali richly furnished. Jack Blakesly threw himself upon a sofa in "the parlor with a lazy yawn, while Miss Vernon was removing her wrappings. ‘¢ Well, my dear, hew do you fancy the master of Hudsondale?” he asked, quizzically. ‘* Think he resembles his dutiful offspring any?” “JT did not see any marked resemblance,” Viola replied, ce “J should judge, how- ever, that Mr. Blakesly would be a nice man to et along with—an easy, good-natured man, of iberal and ape ee! habits.” “You refer to the younger Blakesly?” “No; to theelder. You are not at all of the same nature as the man you introduced to me as your father.” politely. “Thank heaven for that! He looks like a — regular old codger more than the master to Hudsondale. Did you mind_how nicely I got rid of him up at the depot? I was ashamed to have folks ct any connection between and so shook him. Of course he was too thick- headed to know the difference.” ““Maybe, and again maybe not. I hope we can keep on the right side of him. Have you — seen Colonel Baxter?” . “No. He got off the cars at the first station — out of town, intending to hire a cab and drive in. I guess he had no desire to meet the old — gent at the depot, for feara scene might ensue,” ‘* What is the secret about this matter? Does © Baxter fear Blakesly?” “Tt would seem so. _There is some old grudge between them, which I do not know.” “ Then, tell me, truthfully, and for the last time, do you believe you are the son of this old countryman?” Miss Vernon asked witha strange — eagerness, the meaning of which it would have been hard to interpret, Yes, I do,” Jack replied. ‘Up to the age of fourteen years, or rather, previous to that date in my existence, I have no recollection whatever. My first remembrance is of being in — Baxter’s care, at about the age I named, and from that “time up the present, he has ever taught me that I am the son of Redmond Blake- sly, who booted me out upon the world when young to shift for myself.” ; Miss Vernon was silent as she gazed out of a front window upon the street below. Her pretty — brows were knitted in an expression that was a's ee “‘T have no choice but to believe you,” she — said “pars “But I have sometimes been as-— sailed with a fear that both you and Baxter were arrant knaves.. How are you responsible? You might fail to fill your promises, and there would be a pretty state of affairs.” re ge need have no apprehension on that score. ou have seen the old man, and taken a liking to—his coffers! Ha! ha! I have yet to meet the woman that gold will not tempt. Once we get safely to Hudsondale, your conquest will — be easy with the old man, and, first we know, youn be thy step-mother instead of my be- othed, as you are now. By and by the old ent will waltz off and leave you and I the mas- fets of the situation—and a very soft snap it is, — too—much better than doing a song-and-dance for ten dollars a week at the Bella Union in Cheyenne! Ha! ha!” Miss Vernon scowled. She evidently did not not like the reference, ‘« Perhaps,” she said. ‘ But, if I do not suec-— ceed, either you or Baxter will have to pay back the.money you have borrowed of me, or there will be another tragedy for the morning papers — to chronicle.” ns And the young woman shut her lips Hehe: in- a way that detracted somewhat from her ee c while Jack Blakesly smiled Basan dive imself, — as he tipped back in his chair and lit a choice ‘ cigar. #3 Uncle Redmond Blakesly arrived at the Girard just before dinner hour that evening, and in ao-— eordance with a life-1 n, stepped up to long custom, stepped up to 4

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' 8 the bar and took a glass of ale, “just for an appetizer.” More than three glasses of any kind of drink‘never found their way down the ' sturdy old farmer’s throat per day, and it was one of his favorite boasts that no one had eyer seen old Red Black when he could not walk as straight as a bee-line. ‘“ Well! well! Philadelphy is gittin’ to be a big town, I deciare,” he said, as the barkeeper was pouring out his beverage. ‘‘ The old man’s been takin’ a good look over it, you see, on foot, an’ is pretty well tuckered out. §S’pose my boy Jack’s been around?” “Ah, yes. Quite a fine young fellow, and a good judge of champagne in the bargain.” “Champagne?” Uncle ‘Redmond gasped, put- fing up his hands. ‘‘My Jack don’t drink champagne?” “Ah! yes; certainly. It’s quite the thing among the young men of the day to take a couple of bottles just after luncheon.” “Ob! is it, eh? Well! well! things have changed since I was young. And you say my boy Jack has been guilty of drinking cham- avemne 2? ** Merely two bottles—that’s all, you know. A friend came along whom he knew, and he sim- ply did the courteous.” ‘Hang the courteous! Ill have to seo to this. Ho ae for it, I s’pose?” “No, not exactly—that is, he said just dot it down to you, and it would be all right!” Uncle Blakesly brought his cane down upon the counter with a yehemence that made things jingle. “Well! well! well! The impudence of the boy is astonishin’!” he cried, gruffly. ‘‘ Mind you, sir, no more of this. If the Young scape- 16 must pay Sige wants champagne to drink, or it. How much for what he has had? Ill pay for it, and it'll b& the last you can set down ther old man, an’ don’t ye fergit it. Upin the quarter of the globe where I was born, every feller paid for his own toad an’ ef they ain’t got uster them ideas down heer, it’s high time they was a-l’arnin’. How much fer that cham- pagne, bark’er?” “ Only five dollars to you, Mr. Blgkesly. Six is the regular price for two bottles, but I will ete ~ out plow.” down into th break the usual custom, since this has been rather an unexpected honor to you.” ‘*Six fiddlesticks! Here’s your money, bark’er, an’ now do ye mind not to charge anything more to Radmond Blakesly.” And the sturdy old ruralist slapped a five- dollar gold piece upon the counter, and walked away. ““So Jack be a drinkin’ chap, eh?” he mur- mured, as he sauntered about. ‘ Well, well; it ain’t much more than the old man has expected these many year. The boy was allus a wild’un, an’ w’at’s born in the blood can’t be erradicated wi’ beech gads nor tongue-lashin’s. A nice fel- Jer, to rule Hudsondale, arter ther old man’s dead an’ gone! Humph! we'll see about et— res, yes! we will see about that, ef we aire got- n’ old and sorter off our track, like a played - Abont an hour later Jack Blakesly sauntered lounging-room of the hotel, airily PR ie New York Nell. attired in a suit of spotless duck, with patent- eee: slippers on his feet, and a silk hat on his ead, He purchased a choico cigar at the stand, and then threw himself into a great lounging chair before one of the open windows that loo! out upon Chestnut street. He was hot long thus positioned ere he was tapped familiarly upon the shoulder, and a man drew a chair near by, and became seated. He was tall and of commanding figure, witha face in which was expressed cunning, self-con- ceit, and an evil nature; and this face was orna-~ mented with a heavy black mustache which con- nected with a bushy crop of side whiskers; his hair was black, his complexion dark; even his attire was black throughout. Jack Blakesly uttered a grunt of surprise at sight of him, ‘ ‘So yowre back, eh?’ he said. ‘‘ Soisthe old man Blakesly.” “So I heard,” the dark man replied, ‘Just heard about his raising the deuce over your champagne bill, You may as welldry up ,your fountain-head now. Nomore champy at his expense.” “Ha! is he angry, then?” “Yes. How does the coast lie, now?” “Tl be hanged if I know. Guess it will all work out right. If it doesn’t, you are the loser, not I. Fancy your chagrin at a total defeat, Colonel Baxter!” ra dark man gritted his teeth, and scowleda trifle. “IT do not intend to court defeat,” he said, with an evil grin. ‘‘ Flem Baxter has played in dramas, before, and played in heavy parts, too, in, which he has always come _outi the victor, Consequently, he is not to be cast for any parts inferior, nor where there is not a moral certain- ty_of his winning.” ‘‘ But the old country elk isn’t so green as he looks, You’d best play low, Jack and sure,” Piguet 3 Blakesly Rus peated, knocking the ashes from his cigar. ‘‘ ve always noticed that the more carelessly you fool around a country bum- ble-bee, the more likely you are to get stung.” ‘“*Nover fear on that score; I and Redmond Blakesly have met before. And, betwixt you and moe, the old man dare not say his soul is his own, when I remind him. But I do not desire to approach him this way, unless he gets unruly. Always tempt a horse first, and reserve the whip for the emergency. How about Viola? Is she getting uneasy?” ‘A little, T guess. She thinks there is some villainy in the matter, and that we are trying to swindle old Blakesly.” '“ Ah! this is bad. She must be disarmed of that suspicion, or our influence over her is at an end. One point is for you to arrange: Kee her at ease; another: Get packed off for Hud. ~ sondale as soon as possible.” “For what? The city is much preferable to the odor of rural barnyards,.” ‘You mistake, Hudsondale is no such place as youimagine. They tell me it is one of ees most cheng, resorts along the Hudson. It will be better for you you in soft-soaping the old man.” you are the master—I the servant. 7 interrupt “ Wel a3 cw there, where no oneean

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- New York Nell. matcst obey. Iam none tco sanguine of success, however.” 8 “Bah! you are weak-minded, I have given ae your lines, see that you act them well, or ‘11 no longer be responsible for your welfare, and keep the wolves from your door.” ““T will perform according to your directions. If the girl gets unmanageable, it will not be my fault.” “‘T will attend to her, myself. We rnust get another deposit, and then, if she gets dissatis- fied, either let her go, or shut her up.” “It would not do to let her loose, She’d . And were it not that heis already on the chase, I would shove her in as Blakesly’s long-lost.daughter |” “Sho wouldn’t hear to it, She is too scrupu- lously honest.” “Baht Money and position are what she craves, or she would never have backed our little enterprise with ber fortune, in hopes of marrying the heir of Hudsondale, But I have not much time to talk on this subject, now, for there is danger in another direction which de- mands my attention.” “Where?” ‘In New York.” “From what source?” ‘from the Colorado mines.” * What! not the real Jack?” “ Axactly! the genuine and original!” ** How did you learn this?” “From Sherer whom I sent to ferret him out, ere I came Hast. It seems that he’s got his fill, up in the mines, and is coming on to seo his father.” * * And is in New York?” * Rather, is liable to arrive there, at most any minute. Sharky telegraphed me that he was close at his heels, in Chicago.” ‘‘Where are the others—Mose Barker and Johnny Fish?” e) “Laying low in N. Y., watching for him. Also for Monk, of Leadville.” Jack Blakesly grew pale. “What! is he coming on?” “Yes. But he'll find he’s tackled game out of his sphere—tigers, instead of common prairie wolves. Ha! ha!” : “What are you going to do with the other? He'll be dangerous?” “Scarcely. He'll find New York too large for him, when he be there. He must suspend breathing as quickly and quietly as he arrives.” Blakesly shook his head, rather dubiously. “Tt looks to me like a desperate undertak- ing,” he demurred, ‘‘ and, ten to one, we lose.” ‘Fifty to one we do not,” Baxter responded, confidently. ‘‘ All that remains is to keep on the right side of the old man, and not let him get suspicious. If, however, he does get sus- picious, we must put our heads together and work. I’m off to New York, now, to look out for the game. Get packed off for Hudsondale as soon as you can,” i “T will see toit. Report soon.” “ Of course.” Then Baxter arose and sauntered away. 2 — But he was destined not to leave the hotel un- disturbed, In the bar-room of the hotel he came face to face with Uncle Redmond Blakesly, the two halt- ing at a respectable distance as if by a mutual impulse. ' The colonel gazed at the ruralist in his coolly cynical way. Uncle Red flushed angrily, a de- termined, belligerent light shining from his eyes as he grasped his heavy cane, firmly, “ Ah! really! is this you, Uncle Biakesty? Tt is an unexpected honor to meet you,” Baxter said, putting out his band and adopting a pleas- ant smile for the occasion. “Oh! it is, is it,” and Uncle Blakesly gave a grim stare. ‘‘ Mebbe, by the time I tan yer in- fernal jacket fer ye, Fleming Baxter et won’t be quite somuch of a pleasure. Doyewant I should try it, an’ see?” ‘ ‘Oh! no, I won't put you to that trouble,” the other replied, sneeringly, : ‘oT won’t be no trouble at all, an’ blame me ef I wouldn't do it, ef Lhad ye out somewhere, whar I could unloosen myself. But, never mind. Flem—the old man’s hale at sixty, an’ he’s goin! ter live long gout ter peel yer hide yet, an you recollect it, “Ther day ain’t fur off, nuther,’ “This is a strange greeting to come from an old-time friend and schoolmate,” and Baxter well feigned surprise. “Friend?” uncle Red gasped, wiping the per- spiration from his bald spot. ‘‘ When were you ever my friend, Flem Baxter? Didn’t we allus uster be fightin’, an’ quarrelin’? Didn’t you steal away my poor misguided sister, an’ abuse her until she was glad ter lay down an’ die to git rid of you? Oh! Flem, ye'll find ther old man hes’ got just as good memory as he had five-an’-forty years ago!” Baxter gazed round him with a quick, nervous glance, but gave asigh of relief, when he saw that their conversation had attracted no notice. ‘*See here, you accursed fool, do you know what you are saying?” he hissed, fiercely, taking a step toward the master of Hudsondale. ‘‘ You may have forgotten that you are afraid of me.” “T afraid of you?” Uncle Blakesly retorted. “Well, that is the first I ever heard of*it.” “You lie! Did I not make you confess, five years ago, when I caught you in a very unpleas- ant situation, that you held me in absolute awe?” ‘No! Flem Baxter—no/ I never told you I was afraid of you, nor will I ever tell you so. Listen! ye ain’t so keen as ye might be, or ye’d hev learned, long ago, that the murderer o’ the gal ye found me kneelin’ over, has since diced over in Sing Sing, and confessed his crime oO killin’ her, along wi’ several other deeds, So you see your little game is baffled thar.” , Baxter scowled, anc uttered a fierce oath. “You are lying to me,” he growled, Sareea : esly - “No, I ain’t—not fer a cent,” Uncle B declared. ‘‘When ye go up ter Sing Sing fer astay ye can find out all about it from the keeper.” y ‘When I go toSing Sing it will beafter you're — dead,” Baxter gritted. “ Don’t think I’m layed, old friend, because I am not, You know I al- ways wasfamous in getting the best of a bar- _ gain, and since we are to be enemies, I shall try to make you as uacomnfortable as I oan, Tha Be a ’ 7 ts

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that we are, or were, once slightly related. Tal ta! now. Ill drop up to Hudsondale as soon as T have time.” “You'd better not, Flem, fer you'll find it ain’t a werry hospital place fer you when I am to home. Ef ye show your mug thar, [ll punch it for yeastrueas I’m one 0’ ther old stock they uster breed up in Schoharie.” “Presumably I shall not come until I shall have gained some hold upon you whereby I can make you my loving friend. Ha! ha! always capture your bear first and break him in after- wi ard, And then the dark man laughed triumphant- ly, and walked away, leaving Uncle Blakesly in rather a warm-tempered mood. “Drat that man!” he muttered. ‘He has ever been an evil shadder in my path, and seems. determined to crush me. But, just let him > oo his head at Hudsondale, an’ I’J/ smash CHAPTER Iii, NEW YORK NELL SHOWS HER HAND, Pree!” “Fire!” Fire!” Shouts and lusty yells anuounced the cause of ‘the mass of humanity that surged through the _ streets, of the rumble of heavy trucks, of the clang of pealing bells, and shrieks of whistles. _ In the darkest hour before the dawn had the Babel of excited sound burst upon the night, and although tho streets had been temporarily deserted but a moment before, it seemed searce- y an instant later that they were filled to over- flowing with excited beings, who rushed pell- mell toward the North River, in which direction the sky was flushing ruddy with tho reflection _ of a great fire. : : It proved a useless task for the police to check the excited multitude, as there seemed a hundred fire seekers to every officer—conse- pepntly: the rush was as of a mighty army, t on storming some offending citadel, The fire proved to be upon the river. A large, palkvineed vessel of Southern ‘‘ hail” was riding at anchor but a short distance out in the river, wrapped in a brilliant sheet of flame, ‘about the bull and deek, while the masts tower- ed like gaunt specters into the night, as yet un- scathed by the flames. Other vessels in the vicinity were being towed away, and every where wasa scene of bustle and excitement. « The fire digs guarded the river front and kept back the crowd with their clubs, but it _ was only by hard work that they succeeded. And they did not even do that, for one figure eluded them and ran toward the water with the agility of a fawn. t was no use, however, for the patrol sprung. - in pursuit, and soon sueceeded in capturing the offender, \ “See here, you young devil, what do you mean by breaking past the law?” one of. the - Officers cried, shaking the personroughly. ‘See here, jbeys—shall we bundle him off to the ‘Better try it if you know when your pants flon’t fit you,” the offender replied, saucily. “ Just by drop your grip, cully, or Fl report < Tone overboard into the firelit water of the river, ty 4 “” = $ Pal ¥ F_semagy ~ Ai, * 7 8 “A New York Nell. “What d’ye mean? Who the devil aire you, you sassy— “Shut up. Don’t go to callin me names or I'll thump you. I’m Nell Niblo, of the-N. Y. D. F., ef you want to know it, and the sooner you let go of me, the better it will be for you.” The officer released his hold instantly, his manner changing from surly to courteous, ‘Excuse me,” he said, ‘1 did not recognize you, Where are you going?” ic +0 release the victim of a trap,” the girl re- plied. Then she darted on, and leaped from the pier into an empty row-boat that was rocking at the water's edge. The next instant she was seen pulling toward the burning vessel. The people who could see her watched with eagerness. hat she was going todo was more than they could determine, On, on, she went as fast as she could row, to- ward the burning boat, herself and the frail craft she so skillfully managec, the center of many wondering glances. Nearer—nearer to the boat she pulled, strong- ly and steadily. Once or twice she was hailed and warned that the masts were liable to pitch into the water at any minute, buther only answer was a wild, reckless laugh. She pulled directly beneath the prow of the vessel, and shipped her oars, then, without a word, leaped into the river and disappeared from sight. ; In two seconds she reappeared, and catching hold of the prow rigging, went up, hand over hand, with the agility of a monkey. A moment later sho clambered aboard where the flames had not yet reached, and swung her hat triumphantly, a thunder of applauding shouts that seemed to come from sea and shore, The next instant she turned and plunged from view gireorly into the flame. The horrified ery went up from the watchers in the boats, upon the river, and the many ex- cited gazers upon the docks. Was the boy-girl insane? Certain death lurk- ed everywhere within the seething sea of flame that enveloped the greater portion of the vessel, and was now licking the rigging spitefully, making brighter the lurid night. The boats oie the river, of which there now were scores of all kinds, pulled nearer to the doomed ship, as if awaiting to receive the ven- turesome creature who had gone into the jaws _ of death for—what? u i This was the question uppermost in the minds and the mouths of the eager, excited watchers, The vessel was a whaler, just ready for sea — again: What could attract the venturesome dare- devil aboard such a craft, in the face of the merciless flames, remained a mystery. But not long. 1 Soon she burst again from the flame, upon the unscathed portion of the boat, and bore in her arms a form draped in female atitire. — i A moment she pa

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? New York Nell, Instantly two boats nearest the vessel pulled swiftly toward the spot where she had gone down. One boat contained Colonel Fleming Baxter and two low-browed ruffianly-looking fellows; the other contained two young men of some four and twenty years of age, respectively, one of whom was decidedly western in appearance, with his slouch hat, long hair, and tanned buck- skin hunting shirt; It became at once apparent that each boat was determined to reach the spot of rescue be- fore the other, and a single moment proved that the boat containing the long-haired chap and his companion was destined to be victorious, for the little craft seemed to fairly skim over the oe of the water, so fast it went. olonel Baxter urged his men fiercely, a tor- rent of oaths escaping his lips as he saw that he was not to be the rescuer of the brave girl de- tective and her companion. “Stop! stop!” he yelled, fiercely. ‘Those are mine to rescue—mine to protect! Hands off, I command you.” You go to—Mexico!” the man with the long hair shouted, just as Nell Niblo came to the sur- face, bearing her fainting or unconscious com- rir and both were hauled quickly into the 0B ** You see I have got them, my savage frieud,” the long-haired man continued, turning and mockingly addressing Baxter, ‘‘and, what's more, I intend to keep them for a bit. So just whistle a solo, for your pains, and go home,” The next minute the boat shot toward the piers rapidly gliding through the choppy waters. With smothered curses of rage Baxter ordered his companions to pull ashore, which they did, . landing at a pier further up the river, S young lad, you are a hero!” the long- haired young man of the rescuing boat said, turning to New York Nell, who was seated in the stern with her charge lying across her lap. Boe did you know the lady was in the ship, oy ¢ qin the first place, you’re sucked in about my being a boy; and in the next place, it’s my own rivate biz how I found out about the ht in’ in the boat,” Nell replied independently, “Tf you want to a oe Reo my name is Nell ‘Niblo, alias, New York Nell, news girl, tter, detective and hard crowd generally. Row, what's yonr pdpeseai tied “ My name is Jack Carson, and I’m from up Leadville country,” the long-haired man _ re- onded, tipping his hat. ‘‘My companion, ere, calls himself Val Vernon, I believe. We met below hero just as the fire broke out, and became acqainted to the extent of jumping into a boat and pulling for the blaze.” ows . “Correct! He’s Val Vernon, all right, no doubt; but I twig you allee samee, as the China- men say. ‘‘ You ain’t Carson no more’n I’m John Jackob Astor or Tony Pastor. But it’s all right. Tt will keep with me.” ; ‘Well! if you ain’t the queerest gal in boy’s clothing 1 ever met, I'll be shot!” the Westerner exclaimed in surprise. ‘‘ Of course my name is Carson, Do you suppose I am some criminal, scuting around under an alias ?” : s 7 a { . “You are liable to bemade most anything to suit the fancy of a pair of scheming villains, if —— ‘ou don’t look out for yourself mighty sharp,” ~ ell replied. ‘Hold on! don’t pull ashore — where all the crowd is, or the perlice will be nosing into what is none of their business, Pull down-stream till I tell you to ae The order was promptly obeyed, and the boat headed down the stream, Re After ten minutes’ ride, Nell gave the orderto go ashore, and they pulled into an empty dock and tied up. The long-haired man took the girlish form of the rescued woman in his arms and sprung — ashore, and Vernon assisted Nell to disembark, ~ following her example himself. = “Where do you want this lady taken, young lady?” Carson asked, pausing and gazing into ~ Nel)’s face with a long, searching scrutiny, as if he were trying to read her purpose, ‘“ Well, if you want the job of carryin’ her, come along and I'll show you,” she replied, flushing, and turning away. ‘“‘T’m going to — take her where she will be cared for, and don’t — you forget it. So come along.” ‘She led the way up the dark, narrow thor- oughfare which led from the river into the dense city. Cargon followed his strange conductress, — bearing the insensible lady, whose face was heavily vailed, and Val Vernon brought up the — rear, In the 2ourss of fifteen minutes, they arrived \\Wore thy door, or rather opening, of a staircase — which ascended into a tumble-down, grimy- looking tenement building, which evidently had been one erected a half-century before. = Up the rickety staircase the news girl led the us, to a hallway in the third story. ere she paused, and gave a loud rap upon the door, and a few minutes later it was opened _ by a toothless, ugly-looking old hag, whose tat- tered dress and disheveled hair served to make — her appearance akin to frighful. Ae “Well, what @’ye want, gal?” she demanded, surveying the news girl sharply, ‘‘ Who’s them fellers, an’ what’s wantin’?” ; ‘Tf you'll hold your tongue a minnit, and let us in, yous be apt to find out thequickest,” Nell — replied, fearlessly. ‘‘ Scat! now!’ tee he old woman growled something unintel- — ligible about being disturbed, and threw the door open, admitting her visitors into—not a dirty, filthy hovel, as Carson and Vernon had ~ expected, but a richly furnished parlor of con= — siderable size, with frescoed walls and colliaees rich plush belt stuffed furniture of elegant pattern and finish, luxurious sofas, a Steinwa: grand piano—in fact, many and many attract- — ive and costly adornments that would not haye rc ee a palace on Fifth avenue, oie arson was not sorry, either, when he receiy- — ed directions to deposit his burden upon one of — the apes for her weight was beginning to tell upon him, “Well! well!” the old hag grunted, setting 3 her hands upon her hips, with her armsakimbo, ‘ 4¢ “Now, what’s up, you, Nell Niblo? Whoaire — these two fine-lookin’ fellows, and who is the — woman yonder with the vailed face?” : e: “The lady is my pg New York Nell an- nounced, ‘ from the burning — I, rescued

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aA 10 ship, and I'm goin’ fo assume charge of her for a spell. You mush keep her here, and treat her like a lady, and see that no one gets a glimpse of her. Do you hear?—nobody, except yourself and I.” ‘*T hear,” the old woman assented, with an old smile, ‘‘No one ever come a-visitin’ to Mag’ Mink yet when she sed they couldn't, and them as tried allus went away with sore heads.” “Yes, yowre a good watch-dog, Mag, and have done me many a good turn,” the news girl said. ‘*Thése young gentlemen are Mr, Carson, and Mr. Vernon, who kindly volunteered to help me ashore with my charge. The long-haired feller is Kitopher Carson—t’other’un is Vernon, Come, boys, let’s take leave now. Mag, she’ll take’ keer of the lady, and you can get back to sear hotels, carryin’ with you the thanks of ew York Nell for your services.” Thus dismissed, Carson and Vernon bowed themselves out, and Nell followed them to the t. “Til show you the way out of this place,” she said, taking the lead. ‘Heaven only knows, there are traps enough to catch the un- initiated.” In ten minutes she had guided them out of the narrow place into one of the well-lit, principal thoroughfares. “There! you are now where you can go it alone. Better get to your roosts, too, for late ‘uns are allus s’picioned by the police, Whar'll I find you ter-morrer, Kitopher Carson?” -.* At the Union Place Hotel; miss.” “All right. Just you lay low there, until I drop in to ses you. S’pect I know somethin’ more about you than you do yourself, And, above all, avoid familiariziu’ with strangers,” Then, turning abruptly, she hurried away in an opposite direction. She at once sought her lodgings, in a tenoe- ment building in Baxter street—a single apart- ment in the fourth story, furnished neatly with arag carpet, a stand containing a lamp and a few papers, a white counterpaned little bed, and a single chair. It was not much, but was all she could afford, after purchasing her meals, and still was a home to her, which she often sought as a welcome refuge, after the toils and turmoil of busy metropolitan days. Early the following morning, even before the day was light, she was abroad, with a large budget of morning papers, which she disposed of upon her delivery route, after which she was again equipped with another armful, to sell upon the street. : Newsboys has New York without limit, but none of them stood a ghost of a chance in the business with pretty Nell Niblo, who invariably - sold her papers as fast as she could hand them out, and make change. The Bowery was her bonanzaground. Every - one knew her, and admired her, and if was no of. oe trick for her to sell a hundred papers, from sun- rise till seven, in summer time. _ The same success greeted hor on lower Broad- way, and everywhere she went, many of the « mashable” young mon purchasing in the hopes rewarded by a smile, which they al ways got, if gentlemenly and respectful, alt ; New York Nell. The policemen knew her along the whole force, and although it lay in their power to ar- rest her for masquerading in attire not natural with her sex, they seldom offered her molesta- tion, for she was ever modest, well behaved, and just independent enough to “‘ to hoe her own row,” and defend herself from insult, and no one of an honest and honorable turn of mind ever let drop a word or hint that New York Nell the news girl was not in every way re- spectable, ; > To-day, of which we narrate, her trade was good, and by noon she had disposed of over two hundred and fifty papers, on which she realized about one dollar and fifty cents profit, so small is the margin on the dailies. It was now that her thoughts reverted to her promised call Bpoe Carson, and she accordingly went to a deserted corner to sit upon a step, and count the contents of her pockets. The result was twenty-two dollars—all her own, which it had cost her two whole weeks to accumulate. Out of this had to come six dollars for rent, leaving her sixteen dollars, ** Jest enough to rig up in style fer onc’t,” she murmured, eying the money. ‘ An’ I’m goin’ fer new togs, if I don’t never make another cent. Et’s good enough to go ragged a-sellin’ papers but when one’s goin’ to call on sech fel- ers as thet ar’ Carson, good togs stand pre-emi- nent. Mebbe, too, he’s on the romantic lay, an’ I can mash” him, Ha! ha! fancy me a hero- ine of a love scrape! Bet I'd get laughed at. S’pose I orter put on gal togs, but I ain’t goin’ to, no-sir-ee! It’s just eight years ago since Mam Niblo put boy’s togs on me an’ lent me the front end of her gaiter, with the motherly in- junction to go sellin’ news for a livin’, an’ so "ve hung to my costume faithfully, an’ it’s too late now to try an’ play on sumthin’ I wasn’t brought up to. Bet I'd trip in skirts first shot.” It had been a long time since she had been ex- travagant enough to invest in new wearing ap- parel, and she now was resolved to break the monotony of her appearance, for once, at least. To think, with her, was to act, and a visit to different furnishing stores soon put her in pos- session of what she needed. * She then repaired to her Baxter street lodg- ings and arrayed herself the best she knew how, hen she again appeared upon the street, she was a picture, compared with her former origi- nal self, She was attired in a suit of nobby light-brown cloth, with neatly-polished shoes upon her feet, and a jaunty straw hat upon her sunny, curly head. er shirt front, ornamented with collar and tie, boasted of,a large paste diamond pin, while rings of the same material graced her fin- gers and she twirled a natty little walking stick. As a boy she was a “ masher,” while in her femininity of graceful figure and roguish face, she ‘caught ’em all,” judging by the admiring glances she attracted, as she sauntered over into the Bowery, and thence wended her way to- ward the Union Place Hotel. “Oh, my! what a figger I cut!” sha laughed to herself, as she saw her shadow in the show — windows, ‘“S'pose half of my old acquaints won’t know me, If I only could get along with- x

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New York Nell. odt sellin’ papers, I’d just like to play sport all the time, soI would! But, now, I must on that Jack Carson and see if he knows anything about danger m under them long hairs of his’n. CHAPTER IV. JACK BLAKESLY HEARS OF A RIVAL, ‘ Mr, Jack Carson bad just gone out for a stroll, when she inquired for him at the Union Place Hotel. Would be in a-time for two o'clock luncheon, said the polite clerk, who fail- ed to recognize in the nobby inquirer the rollick- ing news girl who came sec uEy. to tease him to invest in a paper, which he never found time to do because she ‘‘chaffed” him, poked fun at the few sallow hairs ance his upper lip, and ad- vised him to go out West and buy a complexion. So Nell lounged about the rating rome smoked a cigarette to be fashionable, an waited for the long-haired son of Colorado to put in an anpeatance: a hile she was waiting, she heard a familiar voice, and saw the dressy Colonel Baxter enter, accompanied by two companions, also well at- tired but evil-looking as any pair of knaves one could find photographed in the Rogues’ Gal- lery. The colonel spied our heroine about the same moment she spied him, and, dismissing his com- panions, he approached her, with a dark scowl, “ Aha! so it’s you, is it?” he saluted, taking a chair near by. ‘I’ve been searching all over the city for you. Where is the woman you res- cued from the burning boat last night?” ‘Where she’ll keep,” was the ccol reply. “Take care, my pert miss—for I’ve found out that you are a girl instead of a boy, and if you know when you're well off you'll use more cour- teousness in. addressing.” ; “Will I, though? 8’ I do as I please— how are you going to help yourself?” “Tl show you mighty quick, my gal. I want you to tell me what you did with the woman you rescued.” , “Then I'll plainly tell you it’s none of your business, I’ve put her where she will be in good care, and out of your villainous clutches.” a? But, you fool, that woman was my wife. What business have you to shut her up, where I cannot find her?” “Your wife, eh?” “¢ Of course she is!” ‘‘What was she doing aboard the burning boat, then?” : a Basily answered, The ship was to sail to- day, and I took her aboard to be ready, and was on my way to join her when I discovered her!” “Phew!” and Nell Niblo took off her hat to give her curly head a dig. ‘‘That’s too shaky a yarn to swaller, old man—too transparent, What was the lady doin’ chucked away in the hold, bound hand and foot, if what you say is true?” “She wasn’t!” **She was!” ** You lie, curse you!” “You lie back again, curse you!” : “‘- You impudent hussy, Pll strike you, if you contradict me.” “No, you won't, Baxter, Just close your you take care! That’s al hee : valve and listen. Your little game is all known to me, or most of it, at least, and the whole will eventually come into my possession. while the opportunity is offered me, I want to tell you that if you hope to keep yourself out of Sing Sing, the best thing for you to do is to get right up and climb out of the city—go West. I — ain’t foolin you, neither. The sooner you are fifteen hun red miles from New York the less liability there is of your being hanged. Doyou know what I am?’ ' ** An accursed idiot!” the colonel growled, not yet determined whether the eccentric creature was to be feared or not. “No, not an accursed idiot,” Nell repiied, proudly, ‘God gave me the usual gifts of hu- manity, and I have sharpened the same up by experience, until I am just ordinarlly smart, Professionally, heretoforé, I have been a detec- tive and a news girl, the latter serving me in the former capacity. Professionally, hence forth, I am a detective. \ I tell you this because I would rather battle with an armed villain than one unarmed. The victory is greater. the satisfaction keener. Look at me. am @ mere chit of a girl—seventeen years of age only —and never had the advantage of a common school education. Still, there isa heap of sense and understanding in my curly head, and Ihave eyes like a hawk. The detective business suits moe, as I always happen around just out of sight but in hearing, in time to hear important dis- closures. I was in Philadelphia a week ago, and heard a few things which I put on file, and shall use them when the proper time arrives.” _ Baxter scowled fiercely. “You evidently know nothing against me,” he said. ‘‘ But in case you do, Pll take good care you don’t do any one any particular harm!” “Ha! ha! I am glad you take it so lightly. Open enmity is ten times easier to conquer than hang-dog sneakism. And about this rescue business; I strolled into a down-town saloon last night, where a lot of sailors were carousin, on the strength of a ten-dolar note which one’ of ote toe received, Any idea whom he got it rom “Not the least,” Baxter replied, without — flinching. have. The sailor said as how he had ot it from a black-lookin’ chap, who had rought a lady aboard, and wanted her stowed away in the hold and taken out to sea on the Lady Julia, which sailed on the morrow. He x didn’t want her harmed—only kept aboard dur- ing the out trip, and if she should be acciden- tally left upon some desolate island, it would not have been a matter of much consequence, and it would be a matter of five hundred dol- lars deposited in the bank at the sailor’s dis-— posal on his return. I heard this much, anda waltzed down to the rescue, 11 I saw your. anxiety and concern, and rightly knew where @ to place you, after seeing you in the Quaker _ City. That’s what about the lady, c her, and have stowed her away until J get time to hear her case. Then I shall find what’s the I rescued secret between you. I’ve a suspicion about the : matter, tucked away, and mayb it ain’t fur out of the way. As for fe! Blakesly schema

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12 Tn his repidly rising rage, Baxter’sface assum- ed a grayish pallor. Here were ail his plots in the knowledge of a mere child—but a remarkably sbrewd,keen child, as he was forced to admit himself. “Curse you. I'll fix you,” he said, with a ma- licious gleam in his eyes. ‘‘Ive tamed canary birds for a living, and not lost my art yet.” ‘“ Yes, but you never tamed a little New York bantam rooster—a regular little game-cock!” Nell retorted, as he arose and stalked out of the zoom, muttering baleful oaths. “ Bet a clam he feels as if he'd like to shut off my wind,” the girl muttered; ‘* Mebbe I hadn’t ‘orter let him know’d I knew so much, but I eouldn’t resist the temptation. But, neverthe- jess, I’m goin’ ter get the fat of the game. Won- der just how I’m going to commence, anyhow? The first thing is evidently to see our long-haired Western coon.” ; = It was the middle of the afternoon ere Carson put in an appearance, and came forward to be seated, and shake hands, “Sorry I kept you waiting,” ho said, twisting his handsome mustache, ‘‘ but I got interested in alittle game of faro, upon Broadway, and could not tear myself away, until I cleaned out the bank. But now I am at your service.” “What's become of your companion?” _ Vernon? Ob! he’s up at Police Headquarters. instituting inquiries for a lost sister, who eloped _- with a precious rascal who was, at the time, her - music-teacher. Vernon has keen searching for _ them, far and wide, with a vengeful vow to plant the aforesaid music-teacher, when ho finds him.” “Has his sister money?” ‘‘Yes, She and her brother each came into : ea of a large cash fortune, recently I be- ~ lieve. : “Then, Pve twigged the game, already. The music-teacher lax coaxed her off with him sim- Ply to get hold of filthy lucre.” f * Ah! have you seen her, then?” ; -. Mebbe—mebbe not. ‘Spect I might lay a paw on her, possibly, if I was hit with a big in- clination.” “ Well, this is good news, and Vernon will pay you well to tell him.” *‘ Perfeshional detectives ain’t a-goin’ ter shuck off p’ints, even fer money, sometimes, I trow. - But, laying aside that matter, I want to inquire what business brought you to New York?” ' ‘Oh! I came Hast on a visit to some of my re- lates,” the Westerner confessed. ‘ You see, I’ve been gone some eight years, and got kind o’ hun- — ery to upon old friends.” ~~ * And your name is Jack Blakesly?” “Well, yes, though up in the West I was call- ed Jack Carson, because it was easier on the tongue. But, how did you know?” “Oh! DPve a peculiar faculty of gaining ; Paes. Was in Philadelphia, when old Uncle mond Blakesly arrived there to receive and welcome you back!” - , ‘What! are you crazy, girl? I have not yet had a pais of the old man. Indeed, I have been rather doubtful about seeing him, since he lent me the toe of his boot to start me on my own hook, over eight years ago.” ~~ “Ha! ha! that’s the same story the other fel- low told.” = * . > A New York Nell. Fn En EEE RR EREnnEnnnneT ‘« What other fellow?” j “ Why, the returned prodigal, Jack Blakesly, to be sure.” E / “Pshaw! you speak in riddles. What doyou mean?” “Well, Vl tell isa just for greens, Jack Blakesly, of Leadville, Col., arrived in Philadel- bon last week, and was met by his father. ince that they have gone up to Hudsondale, the old farmer’s country seat, to spend the heat- ed term—tho old man, the young man, and the pretty orphan.” The real Jack Blakesly gave vent to a whistle of surprise, “So, another Jack Blakesly ‘has got in ahead of me, eh?” he said, reflectively. ‘‘ Well this is romantic—and not so very strange, either, for T’m told the old gent is worth a cool half ‘a mil- ee ; What for looking fellow is the other ack? “ Rather white-livered—like a hot-house plant w’ot ain’t been watered lately.” ; s a And he calls himself Jack Blakes- ly, e On course he does.” ‘t But, does the old gent take him inall right?” **Reckon so. Leastways, he took’em down to Hudsondale.” ‘<-You intimate that there is a third party?” ‘Yes, an orphan when Jack has under his oiaree until she can Jearn the whereabouts of a rich brother who lives in the East.” “Ah! then judging by what you say, there is not much of a show for me. If the other feller’s Jack Blakesly, who the deuce am I?” “You're N. G., in that respect. You're left out. If you are the bona fide Jack Blakesly, you maybe have something, in the way of proof, that will establish your ecg ‘‘T am sorry to say that 1 haven't, to my knowledge. I didn’t expect I should have a rival, or I should hardly have taken the pains to come East, for quarreling is not one of my ac- complishments. Still I opine I shall have to in- terview this rival of mine.” : ‘Bully for you! Don’t give up such a little game, when there’s a show for winning. If you want help and want to pay for it, ’'m ready for biz—New York Nell, at your service, perfesh- ional detective, an’ ef I can’t win a case I take hold of, I don’t charge a cent.” ““As you say,I shall not give up the little game, I care nothing for what little property ey be at risk, as I am pretty well heeled, but, I don’t propose to let any usurper occupy a apres that is rightfully mine. And I s only too glad to enlist you in my service, for you appear to have all the qualities of a thorough detective. Youcan do the planning and light work, and leave the fighting, if any, tome. As for the pay, youmay command your own ternis, as I’ve got a gold-mine and a bank at my order. Perhaps you will want some money down? If so, here is a hundred dollars.” ** Which I will accept only to purchase such things as will aid me in my labors for you,” Nell said, ‘‘ Now I will leave you, to allow you to think the thing over, and form an idea how itis best to go to work. But, look out for one Colonel Baxter, anda couple of villainous com- _ panions he has, He is the backer, I take it, of — may be

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SS ere a ey New York Nell. and if he finds out who you are, will probab ep todo you harm, There- fore, it is well enough to keep on your guard.”” “1 know this Baxter by repute,” Jack Blake- sly'replied coolly. ‘*He comes from up in the mines, also, and this is not his maiden attempt at villainy, Tll take care of myself, as far as he is concerned. I once had the pleasure of knocking him down for insulting a girl; per- ie shall have occasion to repeat the oper- ation. y the pets ot New York Nell, after leaving the original Jack Blakesly, resorted at once to a well-known costumer and invested a part of her money in wigs, costumes and effects to match. All of these she ordered sent to her lodgings, after which she strolled in the Bowery in quest of some one. This one she found in the person of a dirty young bootblack of some fifteen years —a stout fellow, with a face like a prize-fighter, and a pair of fists to match, while in his eyes there was a bold, yet drowsy expression, the meaning of which one was liable to mistake, He was seated upon a barrel in front of a groggery, engaged in puffing away at a pipe, while he swore alternately with his puffs at a ang of smaller boys who were throwing peas at im, which they bad purloined from a neighbor- jog grocer’s basket. He eyed New York Nell in surprise as she ap- proached, “Hello! been a fire, Nibs? You're fixed up like a dandy i” *“SolIam, to be sure,” the young detective replied gayly. ‘Who's got a better right?” ** Dunno ’bout that. Se a bonanza, ain't ye? Gracious, but you're y! G “ Yes, and you might be, if you had any am- bition. Why don’t you brace up and have some style about you?” ‘How in thunder’s a feller goin’ to brace up on @ business of ten cents a day?” the boy de- manded, sourly. ‘‘Hain’t got but two cash shines to-day, an’ both o’ they was counterfeit nickels, Ali the rest on tick.” ‘‘ When you ketch old Niblo doin’ biz on tick, or gettin’ roped in on bogus, you sing the Dead March of Sal, will you?) Know what I’m going to do with you, Sam Snicker?” “No!” the boy replied, not manifesting much interest. “Well, Pll tell you; I’m goin’ to take you to work fer me, on a salary of twenty-five cents a day, Will you accept?” . * What's to do?” ; “ Shadow—dodge, sneak—eavesdrop—in fact, ' do a general detective business.” “Phew! dye s’pose T'll do, Nibs?? “Of course you'll do! LPI give you instruc- tions, an’ when you comb your head once with a sharp-toothed comb, I’m sure poet find wits -enough to keep Sas afloat. If you don’t, Pll stir you up with the toe of my shoe.” — “Allright. Dll do it!” '“Then come along to my brown-stone front, and [’ll give you your cue to work on.” The bootblack accordingly left his perch on the barrel, and followed the girl detective to her lodgings in Baxter street, where she took *Spect you’ve been cap-" > > Paths t The land containing the park sloped gradually from the mansion, half the distance to the river—then. by a sudden freak of nature rolled upward toward the water, terminating in a great wooded cliff, which broke off perpen- dicularly at the water’s edge. This weoded tract — contained in all several acres, making a most — lovely and picturesque feature of the grounds, On the opposite of the avenue there rose from the river to the mansion terrace after terrace of beds of flowers and plants and flowering bushes, Not a small assortment, but every known Amer- ican variety, and many foreign shrubs, ese: and bushes remarkable for their beautiful bles- soms, perfume and foliage, It was now the time of the year when all of nature’s adornments were wreathed in smiles, and the view of the grounds was most enchant- ingly beautiful. . ee ae the foot of the lawn, asteam-and-sail yacht of diminutive size and graceful build rocked — on the water at anchor ready for use. ae And it was to such a home that Uncle Red- | mond Blakesly had brought the pseudo Jack and Miss Vernon and installed them. ants “Thar!” ke said, after he had gone through the preliminaries of introducing them to Miss Prudence, a prim old maid of five-and-fifty, with a keen gray eye and a sour temper—“ thar they.ar’, Prudence—my boy Jack and his lady friend, Miss Vernon, who has eome East arter her brother. An’, d’ye mind, Prudence, they’re to take their ease an’ hev what pleasure the sit- tywation offers ’em; an’ ll bet a chaw of Navy that Hudsondale beats any home ‘they everdhad before. Take care of ’em, Prudence, Thar] be an extra servant gal up on the evenin’ boa ter help Sally, An’ now Um aff fer a good "fs 4

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- “ t Soe SH ee " ¥ Sa eee”! ¢ ‘ arter which ther old man will be as lively as a flea.” _ And so Jack and Viola were ieft to entertain - themselves in the great mansion, with its com- Jement of many magnificently-decorated rooms ‘urnished with everything that the taste of a - connoisseur could conceive. For in Miss Prudence there was not much en- _ tertainment, as she seldom spoke except it was - to sputter, find fault and scold. _ After making toilets in theif respective rooms, the young:people joined in the parlor and took a strol i there was relief from the heat of the day in the _ eool shade. » “Well, how do you like it now?” Jack de- -manded, triumphantly. ‘Is this not all and _ more than [ boasted of—a grand home, such as ~ any person might be proud of?” — “Tt is all very beautiful—too beautiful to seem true. But, Jack, is it yours—will it be - yours? I have strange fears sometimes, after - all your assurance.” “Bosh! You are silly, What further assur- ance can you ask, after [ have been openly as- sured a welcome by my father?” _ “YT don’t know, but—but maybe it is all right. Itis a strange romance, anyhow, Jack, First, you were my music-teacher, and asked me to marry you. I hesitated, not: because I did not like you, but because I deemed you a penniless - wanderer. But one day you told me a strange story of baving a grand home here, from which you had been alienated for many years, and could not return because you had not money to establish a recognition. You besought me to loan you a part of my fortune to help you re- gain your position, promising to wed and mako me your wife. _“Dazzled by your description, I was tempted, and finally consented, and eloped with you from if my home and my poor loving brother, who even now may be blindly searching for me. You ve brought me here, Jack, and I have found lapparently as you held forth. But there is still one thing puzzles me: What became of the sum of three thousand dollars I have from time to time loaned you out of my fortune?” Jack was silent for a few moments, his fea- tures working nervously, and his eyes gleaming piarely. “Well, I will tell you. Years ago I stole a diamond-set gold locket, which for ages had been an heirloom in my father’s family, and p é yawned it for drink. I was wild in those days, and ungovernable. For that theft my_ father _ kicked me from his house, and told me I never % hereafter could be his son and heir until I re- burned the lovket to him. The tavern-keeper Piadcleared out for parts unknown, and noth- ing was left for me but to go out into the world oer search for it. For eizht years I spent my earnings in putting detectives on the trail. But _tono purpose. No trace of it could [ find, until “one day, while yet your music-teacher, I read a lescription of a curious locket possessed by an {Indian in.Colorado. I got possession of some of your means, as you know, and set a detective on the track once more. The Indian was found, and had just sold the locket toa French trader, , route for Europe. New York Nell. down into the park, where. fi “Resolved not to give up hope, I dispatched’ the detective to Bure , in Dae ; said eee te fore we started for the East, I received a tele« gram that the locket had been found. I wrote my father, and explaitied, and asked if I could come home, on the strength of it. He tele- pa tees on ia the affirmative, and we came on, left my matters in charge of my old friend, Colonel Baxter, and he met me in Philadelphia and told me that he had received a telegram from Morgan, my detective, to the effect that the Frenchman was in possession of the locket, but would not part with it, short of five thous- and dollars.” Miss Vernon put up her hands, with a horri- fied little gasp. “The outrageous monster. He ought to be gibbeted. So you cannot obtain your rightful position? Oh! Jack! you were very cruel ever to entrap me and my means, this way. I shall never forgive you!” And she dropped into one of the rustic settees they were about passing, and burst into a pas- sion of tears. Jack bent over her with apparent tenderness. “Tut! tut! don’t ery, Viola,” he said. “TI have not yet despaired, and while I have hope you ought to have. Perhaps when I explain matters, father will relent, and give me the money to redeem the accursed heirloom.” “Oh! then letme go to him. I am sure f could prevail on him, if any one could. I will go at once!” ; “Stay!” Jack said, hoarsely, pushing her back ae oe seat, his face suddenly growing death~ y pale. Not for the world would I have you to inter. fere with so much as a word, in this matter, You do not know my father. Wis opinion of women, viewed at a respectful distance, is rand. But he will not listen to advice or en- reaties from one. If you were to let fall a word, to give him an idea that you were inter- ested in my weifare, he would pronounce me a fool with a woman tied to my apron-strings, and my hopes of a place in his esteem would be lost forever. In this respect he is unreasonable—un- movable.” . ‘* How terrible. I took him for such a good, genial old soul.” ‘Because you knew him only as he is when everything goes smoothly. Even I dread to ap- proach him with the plea for fear he will show me the door again as he did eight years ago, Viola, you have the amount, have you not?— only think of it; just five thousand to place us the eventual heirs to this grand estate, and a half-million bank aecount.” : “Jack! can you ask this? It is all T- have left in the world, out of the little fortune I hada week ago,” : : “No! I will not ask it. I will suffer myself to explain to father, and stand the consequences. If I win, I am lucky. If I fail, I must go out into the world a penniless man, and try and — earn the sum,” “You shall not! I will yield, and you shall send for the locket. But, stop, Jack, Listen! Tf it should ever come out that you have been swindling me, God have merey upon you, for vengeance shall be mine, and mercy for you J

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New York Nell. shall not know. Come. We will go to the mansion and you shall have the money.” That evening Jack Blakesly the impostor, took the beat for New York, with five thousand dol- lars.in his pocket, promising to return from New York by the morning boat. *“Going to meet a couple of distinguished eol- lege professors, you see, Who are about to sail for Europe, you see,” he explained, to satisfy } Uncle Blakesly’s curiosity. , And the old man patted him on the shoulder good-naturedly, bidding him satel ees “Take keer o’ yerself, boy, an’ look ye don’t sit peeled. It’s a great place fer greenhorns to 4it roped in, I tell ye. Cum back when you git thr’w wi’ your perfessors; an’ in the mean time yer old dad will spark around ther gal, just fer _ to see if sparkin’ seems as nicé as it did fifty years ago. Ha! hal” ; And after the oid servant had rowed Jack out a-stream, to meet the down boat for New York, the old farmer turned back toward the long veranda in front of the mansion, where Viola was standing, watching the departure with an eager, wistful, half-scared expression in her eyes. “ Sech a boy fer book-l’arnin’, eddication, and refinement is that Jack,” hoe said, his jolly old face beaming with pleasure. ‘‘ At first he didn’t eem like as ef he was my son, but, by golly, I hike him the more I see him. “Oh! Iam so glad,” Viola said. we both love you dearly.” “Oho! then you an’ Jack ar’a leetle thick, eh?” the old man queried, quigzingly. ‘* *Spect you'll be hitchin’ up in double harness one 0’ these days, eh?” i ? “Oh! no, sir. We have never thought of such a thing, even. Your son has always seemed to me more of a brother than a—a lover.” “Then, by thunder, I reckon Vl court yeup a little myself, when I get the time,” Uncle Blakesly laughed, as he limped away. Jack Blakesly, the bogus, went to New York, arriving there in the ate twilight, and found Baxter in his room at the Union Place, engaged in getting outside of several varieties of wine and cigars. » The colonel was in none too pleasant a mood, but bowed graciously, and pushed forward an arm-chair with his foot, “Sit down,” he said, lighting acigar. ‘‘ Here are cigars and some good wine. Help yourself. What brings you here?” ** Money. trumped up the locket story ac- cording to your plans, and succeeded in getting the last five thousand.” “Good, Give it tome. I know just where to put it to good advantage.” “So do I,” the younger man said, throwing a roll of bills upon the table. ‘‘ There is half of +he amount. The other half I'll take the liberty of using as a lining for my own pockets.” “What! how do you mean? [am to have all the profits of the business the first year, for my services.” ‘Oh, no!’ You’ve got a wrong idea. ve flayed my part long enough for nothing, and #ither I have a big share of the spoils, or you can *“T am sure find another Jack esly.” — | Jack returned to Hudsondale—that is, the 15 — *“Curse you! But rever mind. I? we get the Blakesly estate it will be a fat thi ‘or our pockets, How does Miss Vernon feel about it?” “TY think she trusts implicitly in me, in hope that I will get the property and marr her.” ‘“‘Humph! she'll rave if there should be a col- lapse. How goes it with the old man?” “‘Outwardly allis serene. But, I trow, ka is ©» watching with the eyes of a hawk, for something to con his suspicion that I am not genuine. If nothing arises to further arouse this sus- picion, all promises to work well. But there is one thing imperative.” “ What is that?” : “The other Jack Blakesly must be put out of the way, before he has a chance to do any harm. ~ Were the old man to hear a word that there was another person claiming the position, my chan-. ces would be knocked in the head.” “Tam as well aware of that as you are, and have been finishing my third bottle of wine in — endeavoring to Se a satisfactory plan for his disposal, I think I have hit upon one.” “Good! Let’s hear it.” “Ttis this. Blakesly, Jr., has been taking the girl detective into his confidence, and she, by — some means unknown to me, has gained a pretty correct idea of our business, : Of course, she has — told him about our little games, and he willshort- ly go up to Hudsondale to investigate. Ihave arranged to Sore him. To-morrow he will - be waited on by Sharky, in disguise, who will represent bimself as an attache of Hudsondale, bearing a letter to Blakesly. Sit closer to the table, and take ink and pen, and indite what I shall direct you on the sheet of paper lying there, for your nerve and hand are a blamed, sight calmer than mine.” ; Jack took the required stand. fe “Date the letter, and head it at Hudsondale,” — Baxter said, ‘slinging a broad style of chiro- — graphy. Then write as follows: ““*My Dear Son:—Through accident I learned of your presence in New York, and hasten to send you my trusty_hand, to fetch you home in my little — steamer, Do not fail to come, for there’sa grave — matter, here at Hudsondale, to be settled. Another — oung man has come to me, claiming to be my son. wish to decide on one, and boot the other out. — Don’t fail to come, as Tam confident youaremyson, i bak wos and the other an bd ernst é “ “Your father, : ES ““ReDMOND BLAKESLY,’ “Of Hudsondale,’ Be “That will do,” Baxter concluded. “Young | Blakesly will be the recipient of the letter, to- morrow. He can have no doubts as to its orig- — inality, and will accompany Sharky. A little — steamer, I have chartered, will convey them up _ the river, after dark, and my two tools—you know who—will surprise the heir in his cabin and after binding and weighting him, will thro him into the river, so that we shall nothaveany _ more trouble from him.” =e “ A capital plan,” Jack agreed, with a sigh of — relief—‘ that is, if it works.” aie shad “Tt will and must work. After that I have another plan, a hundred times more diabolical. But, I will not unfold it now. It is best to work only one trap at a time.” ve Ey

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16 New York Nell. Be ie i counterfeit Jack did. The genuine Jack re- mained at the Uniou Place, and waited for New York Nell to put in another appearance, where- at they could hold another consultation. During the course of the day, he was ap- proached by a seedy-looking individual, with red hair and stubbly beard, who doffed his hat and bowed bumbly: “Sur, tha be afther tellin’ me at tha office, there, fot you be tha lad by the name of Carson, sur,” he said, in an unmistakable Irish brogue, ‘TY am Jack Carson, yes,” was the long-haired Westerner’s reply. ‘* Who are you?” “Sure, me name it is Andy, sur, an’ I’m tha hired mon, up at Hudsondale, fot does the work. An’ tha old boss, he was afther sendin’ me down here to New Yorick, to tha Union Pallus How- tel to give a letther to a gintlemon by the name of Jack Carson, an’ wait for an answer.” ‘Well, give me the letter, for I am undoubt- edly the man you seek.” ‘ ceordingly the Hibernian produced the let- ‘ter, which was addressed to ‘‘Jack Carson Blakesly.” “*T wonder what now?” were Jack’s thoughts as he tore open the envelope, But, when he perused the inclosure, his countenance was the scene of many contending emotions, “See here; you Limerick,” he said, turning to the Irishman, ‘‘ Did you get thisfrom old Red- mond Blakesly himself?” “ Raith, shure an’ I did. Who would be afther givin’ it to me but the boss?” “T don’t know. Maybe itis all right, How far is it to Hudsondale by water?” be A bit of a ways, sur—twinty or tin miles, I oss, “TY dare say it is,” Jack replied dryly. ‘* Have you a conveyance?” _ “& bit of a stameboat, sur, belonging to tha masther, fot I can manage like a daisy.’ “Very well. Tell me what time you propose to return, and I will be on hand.” “The steamer lies at Pier No, —, Hudson - River, yer honor, and will lave at eight this avenin’,” - “Why do yu pull out so late?” “Because I have business to attend for tha masther,” “Very well, at the time and place.” The Irishman bowed and took his leave, while Jack lit a fresh cigar and pondered, “* How I will bounce out the usurper when I et there! It will do me good, and secure me - favor with my dad, He admires muscle as well - as brains. wonder why the girl-boy don’t come around, It must be I’ve taken a fancy to oe for my thoughts wander to her most of the me. Go attend to it, and look for me = _ But Nell did not put in an appearance, and night drew on, rapidly. _ Arranging to have his baggage left at the hotel, Jack took a cab, and in due time was landed at the pier where awaited the Hudson- dale boat. : ae euay. was just getting steam up, and yet found time to doff his hat, respectfully. * Ah! the top of tha avenin to yez,” he said, i: rhe Tf you'll be afther goin’ into tha cabin, below'| on you so nicely,” he said. ‘“ Troth, deck, you'll find a snug place, sure—an’ I'll have stame up an’ tha vissel movin’ direct, sur,”/ “Thank you. I prefer to remain on deck ant catch the breeze,” Jack replied, and he agcord: ingly seated himself by the lee rail, and lit 4 cigar for a quiet smoke. Sess Any suspicion of danger or unfair play hat) quite vanished from his mind, as there wernt only two persons besides himself, about thw boat, being the Irishman, who was firing up, and a rough, black-whiskered looking fellow it the pilot box, / Tn due time the steam was up, and on, and the propellers began to vibrate, while the Sarals Jane, as the boat was named, glided out into the harbor, looking up-stream, Jack enjoyed the departing view of the city, as they steamed away at a rapid. rate, and set. tled himself eomfortably into his seat for «, snooze, ; How long hesnoozed he was not aware, foi’ when he awoke, startled by some strange dream the surroundings were enveloped in the mantly of night, The boat was still movin, the water, up-stream, an shores were only dimly visible, as 1! swiftly through, the ae ct ey drifted ye “Well, young man, I see you have had your nap,” a voice said, near by, and Jack saw a man attired as a police officer, standing only a few paces away. Impressed with a sense of Papeete danger he now became phoroae tty awakened, and dis covered, for the first that his hands were locked in handcuffs, ° “Yes, I am awake, and fail to understand why it is that my hands are in limbo,” Jack re- plied, with flashing eyes. : “That is an easy question. I havea warrant from Albany, for the arrest of a fellow of your description, for horse theft,” the policeman re- plied. ‘* At least that is the oe should have told you, to have secured your arrest, had I not found you asleep. Now, all Ihave to say is that you have been trapped by tools paid by your enemies, and in the course of a few min- utes, will journey off into a new world, where there is a law permitting immigration, but for- bidding emigration.” ‘“ What! have I been tricked—duped?” “Roped in, as sure as you area sinner, My name is Fisk, and my companion’s name is Shakry. We are, professionally, border ruffians, but are a little out of our sphere just now, be- cause it pays. A party wanted your lease of life to expire, an’ we tuk the job of furnishin’ the desired effect, sine die.” Villain! Release my wrists. You.are fool- ing with the wrong man this time. Free me, or I will call for assistance and have a quick revenge on you.” “Bah! Callif you like, for only the waters will catch your vain appeal. The river is de~ serted, the shores at this point are too wide apart aud too sparsely settled for you ever to make any one hear, Come, Sharky!” The Irishman advanced, a triumphant grin — distorting his features. : ‘“‘ Sure it was the divil’s own trick T pared

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i New York Nell, litile ashamed of mesilf to take an advantage of sich a purthy young feller, but, sorry is the conscience fot won’t be appeased by its weight in granebacks. Eh, Fisky?” ‘Sart’in,” the other replied. ‘* Money is the root of all evil, an’ the one who captures the root is decidedly the best feller.” “What do you intend doing?” Jack demand- ed, calmly. ‘‘ You surely do not contemplate murdering me?? “Oh, no! not exactly what one would call murder. You see, the world has long beer in need of more sub-marine explorers who could bring about a revelation in regard to the bot- toms of oceans, Jakes and rivers, and I Ping rather a scientist, proposed to fill the want. That's all, Believing you might unreasonably object, I caused your hands and feet to be se- cured and your body weighted so as to keep you down long enough to do some good, When you have succeeded in making any discoveries worthy of mention all you'll have to do will be to get some mermaid to release tg ol “You devil! If I could get free I’d break our skull with the first thing [ could lay my hone upon.” ‘But you see you can’t get free, so you may as well make the best of a bad situation. You have just five minutes to devote to piety before you passin your checks, and so you may as well get down to business,” Jack did not reply. He saw that anything he could say had no effect upon the ruffians into whose hands he had so easily fallen, and he resolved to give them no satisfaction over his weakness. : Sharky’s companion took out his watch and stood where the mae from the pilot-hcuse re- flected upon its dial. “The five minutes is up!” he said, presently, closing the watch and restoring it to his pocket, “Then, come along, an’ let’s get through with the job. Got any li’ker?” Sharky assented, and produced a bottle, from which they both drank deeply, Then they ap- proached Jack Blakesly and raised him in their arms, he powerless to help himself, and too brave to evince any horror he may have felt at his situation, “Take him to the stern of the boat,” Sharky said, and they did so, Then bracing themselves, they swung the body to and fro between them, once, twice, three times and— : “Srop!” a sharp, stern voice cried, ‘‘ or you are dead men !” » They did stop, and dropped Jack to the deck; then faced quickly around, with frightful oaths. About a half-score of feet away, stood New York Nell, with a pair of cocked Smith & Wes- sons in her gripe, the muzzles of which were turned menacingly upon the would-be criminals a smile of triumph upon the girl’s face. “You are euchered!” she said, quietly. CHAPTER VI. THE GAME BALKED, THe light from the reflector in the pilot-louse sbhene Lown upon the tableau, giving it power and effect. : “The devil! who are you?” Sharky gasped, ) i? turning pale and red at the same time, ** What d’ye mean?” “IT mean that you just cheese it, where you are, or l'll bore a tunnel through your system quicker than an eyester ever slip) down a huckster’s et. My handle is Nell Niblo— New York Nell, the g’hirl detective, fer short.” “Furies! how did you come here? “On the boat. Take care! don’t try to pull no weapons, if you don’t want to have your throttle forever closed. I’m just the to do the biz, if you don’t obey orders. Yes, 1cumup on the boat. Overheard a little conversation that led me to believe my perfeshional services might not come amiss, so I slyly stowed myself away in the hold. You, Sharky, just be enough to free Mr. Jack Blakesly of those little incumbrances he wears,” The ruffian hesitated. , ** Go on!” Nell ordered, sharply; ** just sosure as you refuse, I'll let daylight oe pia o Pc harky saw that his best and only hope was obedience, and he accordingly knelt beside Jack, and released his feet and hands so that he. could rise, “That's the kind,” Nell said, approvingly. ‘I like to see rough cusses like you knuckle under, {do. Jack, ¥ ile you give them each a good kick, apiece, I'll keep ’em covered,” i i have a better idea than that,” Jack assur- ‘ve got grit and th enough to swim ashore all right. If not, let’em sink.” ~ ‘‘ But hadn’t we better take em down to New York, and give them a trial for attempted mur- der?” Nell suggested, “No. Let them go on the terms I have said, The next time they cross my track I'll shoot them on the spot, sure!” ‘* Then that settles it. Take a bounce, young men,” the little ares nr oe ee a ee regular go-as-you-please gait, six laps C) mile. ane walk Grarbonl: : “But stop! stop! I cannot swim a stroke} I shall protested. . ‘*But I can,” his companion answered, “and since we’ve lost the game, I’m goin’ to : and [ll try and help you ashore.” The next minute the two men had jumped overboard, and then struck for the eastern shore, Sharky’s companion, Fisk, floating upon his back, and causing Sharky to do. So, also. “Now, then, we’ said, accepting Jack’s proffered hand. “‘ Tt was lucky I happened to overhear the plot between — Baxter and your double, or your pie would have been fish-chowder. You'd ’a’ been takin’ sub- marine observations, as Sharky said.” “Undoubtedly so, my dear Miss Nellie, and It never can hope to find enough gratitude with which to pay you for eee unselfish heroism, — were I to live a hundre failing, I have a little bank account to place your disposal in the way of reward.” at wn—I cannot swim a stroke,” Sharky © e the | chance that’s offered, you bet. So come along pull for New York,” Nell ‘* Make ’em jump into the river. If they- — 2 4 years, But gratitude — “Bah! get out! Money is something I rarely — load my hands with, I guess I wasn’t never in- tended for a banker—at least, I have never been much of a cashier. [’ll take youn sre itso ee, not your money. Shall we go totown?? —

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is “Yes, YIl postpone my visit to Hudsondale a few hours at least. I think l’ll go up and take a look at the situation later.” Nell went forward and examined the engine of the boat, and found everything in working order. Sho then stationed Jack there, with proper instructions how to keep the fires a-going, ‘while she went to the pilot-box, and once more headed the boat for New York, which was made eurly in the morning. : Jack went at once to the Union Place Hotel for breik‘ast, inviting New York Nell to. ac- eompany him, but she declined, and sought her @wn home instead, It chanced that Jack was assigned a seat at table opposite Colonel Fleming Baxter, whose _ scowling face manifested the surprise he felt at seeing the heir of Hndsondale alive and appa- rently in the best of health. ‘You are quickly returned from your visit, I see, Mr. Carson,” tho landlord hailed from an- other table. ‘‘Didn’t you find the folks at home?” “Oh, yes, and well as usual. Such a wel- come, too, would have brought tears to the eyes of an anchorits. Buta telegram in the shape of # personal friend lured me again back to town for a few days.” xf Inno word or way did Jack betray that any thing had happened to him through the agency of Baxter’s tools, which quite nonplused that party, and he masticated his food in savage si- ce. Assoon as the meal was over, he followed Blakesly into the lounging-room, where the oo Westerner had gone to smoke a ar, ‘Hxcuso me, sir,”. Baxter said, drawing a chair near, and seating himself. “It appears to me that I have somewhere encountered such a face as yours in my travels?” be said, inquir- ingly... “And yet I cannot recall the time and lace. ar How very singular,” Jack retorted, coolly. “Why, Flom Daxter, that game won't work at all, It wasn’t six months ago that I had the pleasure of knocking you down, up in Leadville country, for insulting a lady on the street. New York Neil, Shouldn’t be surprised if I indulged in an ex- periment of a similar nature again soon, I feel some that way.” “What, sir? Do you mean to intimate that you ever knocked me down—I, Colonel Baxter, gentleman?” “Wal, yes,” Jack replied, coolly. ‘Oh! mi needn’t play off, colonel, for it won’t wash! lm your enemy and you’re mine. It’s as broad @s itis long, and T’'ll tell you right here that the first time I catch you out where policemen are not thicker than flies, I shall give you such a drubbing as you never had before. Tve also got a job on hand, to go up and boot your pal out of my rightful position as heir at Hudson- dale, too. I’m on the war-path now; so look ext for music.” Baxter grated his teeth fiercely. * We'll see about that,” he growled, ** You'll - {md I am more powerful than you think, at pre- gent, You had better go’back West, while you. have PRESS ER Oy ‘ f there is no use of denying anything, I'l! tell you frankly that I have set about to win thg lit- tle game, and I’m going to do it, if it takes a century of time and perseverance, and a/bank of money. Once I set about accomplishing a prouet, I never say die, until sufficient blood as been spilled to float my boat to a safé haven of refuge.” “T presumo so. If I were you, I'd’ build a vault to store the hogsheads of gore in,” Jack replied, sarcastically, ‘‘Of course you must know I am not afraid of you, Flem Baxter. From early youth I have grown up in a country where men of your type are regarded as harm- less I have dealt with more dangerous deviis than two of you, and always come out vic- torious, It isno matter of doubt to me that you will fail in your project of beating me out of my right and title—I am certain of it, if suc- cess crowns all your efforts in the same way it did, last night.” “What do you mean? Iamat a loss to un- derstand you.” ; 3 “What a pity! I simply referred to a little pee that lured me on a trip up the Hudson. erhaps you are entirely ignorant concerning the matiter?” “Tn truth, fam. But, to talk business: Will you quit the field, or not?” “ Decidedly not,” Jack replied, with great calmness. ‘* That isn’t the kind of a clothes-pin. Iam. In fact [ rather enjoy a scrimmage aud propose to see this thing through until you get a four by seven roost in Sing-Sing. That’s my game, Flem, and you needn’t go back on me.” “Then you shall die. Do you hear? You shall die, or be put at least, where you cannot interfere, If you will return West, keep mum, and leave the coast clear for us, I will keep harm from coming to you, and give you ten thousand dollars, Refuse, and you'll get the knife,” “Very well. Ill take the knife. Be sure and select a good one, however, A bad knife is more despicable than a low cur of a ruffian, like yourself,” Jack said, rising to leave. Baxter sprung to his feet, with an oath, rais- ing his cane, threateningly. “Chaw your words, you accursed whelp, or T'll break your head, for your insolence,” he cried. ““Ha!l ha! no! I never chaw anything but my victuals, colonel, Take care; hit if you think best.” The colonel did not think best evidently, for he made a pass at Blakesly’s head, that must have felled him, had he not warded off the blow, The next instant the miner’s hard, knotty fist took the colonel in the region of the mouth, with stunning effect, and the recipient went back to the floor with a crash that made the floor tremble. g With a snarl of rage Baxter regained his feet, and again rushed at his opponent, this time to receive a blow that not only knocked him down, but caused him to remain there in an insensible condition, While Jack. sauntered coolly away into the eee adjoining, whistling, a) ifferently. Z Cap, you'll ftnd one of your guests — : y, 1 ? opportunity, or you will never get there. Ving on the floor in the next room,” be said, in- p you seem to understand my game, and | Sn nee SS “He got a little too fresh—at

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tempted to ‘sault me, you know—adnd so I pickled him, Please impress upon his mind, when you take him to his room, thef I shall be in New York until to-morrow, and that if de- sirable to him, dueling pistols are on sale, a few blocks helow.” k Then \the man from the West, sauntered away, asif nothing had happened, leaving the flerk staring in open-mouthed amazement. . Baxter was carried to his room, and restored to consciousness, and was given the message that had been left for him. He swore fearfully, and sent for Barker, one of his pals, or, rather, one of his tools. He was a dark fierce-looking ruffian, with a brigandish black mustache, and a look about his eyes that was not pleasant to study, it was so suggestive of ferocity. Baxter at once explained how he had been handled by Blakesly, and was successful in mak- ing ne narration emphatic by the use of many oaths, “And now the young cuss has even had the cheek to challenge me!” he said, furiously, “Waal, ye hadn't orter growl at that,” Barker said. ‘It gives yea chance ter meet him, and git even.” “Fool! idiot! do you suppose I want to throw my life away? The fellow isa dead shot. Up in the Leadville country he has such a repute in that line that men fear him. No, sir, Pll not meet him, ‘You must goin my place.” It was now Barker’s turn to swear. “You're cheeky,” he growled. ‘“t As if I am a puppet to shield your carcass. I rather pre- sume not, Mr. Baxter.” _ “Bah! you areas good a shot as he, and could win. Even if you didn’t it wouldn’t matter much, There’s few would mourn your loss, I can tell you.” “As many for my side as yours. Besides I’ve no desire to pass in my checks yet.” “Well, then, let the whelp go, and I’ll hire him silenced. I guess he eluded Sharky and the an *un. Sco if there’s any one listening out- side, ; Barker obeyed, but the hallway was deserted, ““The ccast is clear,” he reported. ‘Go ahead.” “All right. Tl tell you how I’m going to get the nippers on old Blakesly, so that he can’t say his soul’s hisown. There’s anold hag living in a tenement on Baxter street, by the name of Snicker. She used to be an old flame of mine, when she was young, but married a worthless coot, and is now an avaricious thing, none too scrupulous as.to how she gets her cash, it haying been hinted that men had been known to have died suddenly through her agency. Now think a few dollars will hire her to do just what I want.” “And what is that?” “T willtell you. Yearsago, Redmond Blakes- ly drove his wife from his house because he suspected that she was unfaithful to him. From all I can learn, he has never heard a word from hersince. Now I propose to send Suse Snicker to stir him up, She shall arrange for a meeting on the bluff bythe river in the evening. She shall provoke and exasperate him, and I can easily foresee the result. He will attempt to New York Nell. sri as strike her, and she will back off the cliff into the Hudson, and disappear from view—until she can get ashore unobserved. About the same instant you and I will appear upon the scene. you being made upas a policeman, and we'll arrest the old man for murder! Ha! ha! what think you of the plot?” “Tt is most diabolical, and yet promises to ba successful, if you can arrange to your satisfac- tion with the old gal,” replied Barker. “‘ Which I am certain 1 can do, by flattering the old fool, “You see, after we catch Blakesly in the act, it will be all in my power to doas I will with him. The price of his life will be his obedience to my demands. I fancy that rather than go to the gallows, he will be as meek and tame asa lamb. If however, he is refractory, direct to the scaffold he goes and dances on nothing. After that I and Jack can carry things our own way.” ° Barker looked grim, : : “Waal, I hope yell do suthin’, purty lively, anyhow,” he declared, “fer I’m gittin’ hungry fer ther little scrip ye owe me, an’ Fisk and Sharky ar’ in about ther same fix. Bizness is bigness, and after ye git yer paws on Blakesly’s money, either you’ve got to whack up our salary, or down goes your ten-pins,” : ‘Of course, You shall have your money in full. Now, I must pay this Sue Snicker a visit, and see what I can do with her. You hang around here, and if you get a chance to hit Jack Blakesly hard and sure, without any one’s seeing you, be sure and do it, so it will settle ~ him,’ Baxter soon after left the hotel, and made his way to Baxter street, in which thoroughfare Mrs. Susan Snjcker was known to reside, in & single room in the top story of a dilapidated tenement. The house was a poor-looking affair, to say the least, but a fit representitive of the eenerat class of tenants who made it an abiding place. Up the rickety stairs to the fourth story he went, and secon found the door of Mrs, Snicker’s room, and knocked, “Come in, ef ye’ve got bimess—if ye hain’t, ss out,” a shrill voice cried. axter entered, and found himself in an apartment smelling strongly of tobaeco and whisky, and notable for the scarcity of its fur- niture, a single chair, table, bed on the floor, and cook-stove, all of the poorest description, comprising its outfit, A woman was crouching in the chair, before the stove, as if cold. She was meanly clad, her 19 head and the greater portion of her face boing ; enveloped in a white broad-edged cap; whic made her pretty effectually unrecognizable, taking into consideration that her eyes were also hidden bebind green goggles. She looked up with a nod, as Baxter entered, and stamped upon the floor with her cane, as she said: “Be seated, Flem Baxter, fer I see it is you!” was her invitation. “What will I sit on?’ the colonel demanded, looking in horror at the dusty floor, ‘I see no chair. What am T to sit on?” ; “The floor, to be sure. If it ain't too go ve for my boy, Sam, et ain’t too good for you, » ae .

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- ; @ which very significantly indicated that the! boy,” hans Sera 20 **T prefer to stand. I came to see if you are getting along nicely, Suse?” ‘*No!” she said, spitefully, without celine uo “I do not get along nicely. The worl tricks and cheats me, oney is scarce, Oh! these ’re sorry times for the poor.” “But, Suse, they tell me you have money in the bank and out at’ interest—fifty thousand or over” “ They lie! they lie! I have not got a cent, 1 am poor—penniless,” she said, pecan OF “* Ah! too bad; I pity you. If you mar- ried me, Suse, you would now be occupying a position of affluence, But there is a chance for you yet. If you are willing to do a little work, and not be scrupulous as to its nature, I have the lace for you at a figure of one hundred dol- jars.” “One hundred dollars, Flem Baxter?” ** One hundred dollars, Suse—all in good clean money.” ** But, stop—perhaps wouldn’t do that, Flem a hundred dollars,” ‘“This is not murder I would have you do,” the colonel said. ‘‘ Listen, and I’ll tell you.” The woman nodded her readiness to hear, and the colonel accordingly told her what she would have todo. It was, in detail, what he had told to Barker, a short time before. Sue was silent as Baxter explained, and when he had finished, she said: wasn you'll give me a hundred dollars to do is? ‘“Yes—more, A hundred now—fifty more when the job is done, But, do you mind, you must not appear where you can be recognized again. “Oh! I understand, Leave that to me, ll do the job up brown for you, Flem, for the sake of old days, and no one will ever be the wiser for it,” Mrs. Snicker said with a chuckle, as she gathered up the bills which he laid in her lap, Baxter then took his departure. ‘So far, so good,” he muttered, as he gained the street. ‘‘ That is settled, and another surety of ultimate success. The next thing is to ar- range some plan to still the original Jack and his champion, the girl detective. He must be collapsed, but no harm must come to her until I find where she has stored Eva.” To get rid of Blakesly, Jr., however, was no small job; be realized this, and he knew he must devise sone vertain plan, ou mean murder! I xter—at least, not for CHAPTER VII. VIOLA PURSUES IXQUIRIES—JACK, THE BOGUS, EXIT. A Frew hours later, at night, after his visit to Mrs. Snicker, Baxter entered Chatham street, with its rows of edifices used for every known business purpose, perhaps, under the sun. Finally arriving at one of the dingiest struc- tures of a dingy block, he made his way up- stairs to the second flight, and rapped upon the first door to the right, from the landing. Above the door a lantern swung upona bracn et, upon the panes of which was inscribed: “Bos Siuas; Jack or ALL TRapEs,” BS ee SAR he New York Nell. : 7 ne aforesaid ‘‘Slugs” was not particular as tothe nature of his business so long as the labor was rewarded by an equivalent in cash. } : The door was soon opened by a low-browed, villainous-looking little old man, witk white hair, mustache, and shaggy eyebrows that parteey. covered the expression of A small, d-like pair of eyes, He was /shabbily dressed, the only redeeming feature of his attire consisting of a magnificent cable chain of gold set with diamond ornaments, whi¢h he wore across his vest. i ; ‘Ah! good-evening, carer Do you know“a chap of my Ree axter asked, as he entered an office even dingier than the external appearance of the house, It depends how remunerative the nature of you visit may be,” Slugs replied, dryly. “If there is money ahead, I eh Seem youas Baxter —if not, I never saw you before.” 2 ‘““-You miserable old shyster!” the colonel said, in disgust. ‘I see you grow more miserly with age. Supposing I have no money and yet want a job done—didn’t I serve out an apprentice- ship under you, and can’t you afford to tip me F ah oS d, flatl he dropped o,” Slugs answered, flatly, as he dro into a chair, and lit an old clay pipe, the ia of which had been worn or broken off until none of it, to speak of, remained. ‘‘I do business on a cash basis now. If you want anything in m line, pay for it. I turned you loose well enoug educated in the ways that are dark, so that you might make your mark in the world, and you can beg no more of me.” “Nor do. I wish to, Slugs. P’ve got money enough to back my craft through rough water, What I want is to hire a trusty hand to puta girl out of the way.” “Abt that’s good. I have reduced my price- list to suit the times. Who is the party?” ‘A young snip of a girl who rigs up in and sells papers, Calls herself New York “Oh! but you don’t mean her?” ey; do, though.” ‘*-You'rea fool. There isn’t a sport in N. Y. who does not know her by sight or hearsay, and respect her, and there’s mighty few vou’ll find, who'd take a turn against her.” *¢Then you refuse?” ** Positively.” “Then PU bid you good-evening and look elsewhere, The girl must stop breathing, eda “Take my advice, Baxter. and let her alone, or she'll turn a trump on you,” was the older villain’s advice. ts ell. In the mean time, things at Hudsondale were © progressing after their usual tenor. e new heir and Miss Vernon hag Yecome ~ fully established in the grand mansion, at their — ease, and Uncle Redmond moved about the fo with a jolly, satisfied expression upon s genial old phiz. ‘ : ‘And to think,” he would say co Miss Pru dence, with a visible shaking of his portly sides with hearty laughter, ‘ that I she’d hev ever’# ] doubted Jak bei’ my cn sen! Why, ted — ye, sru, there’s the makin’ o' a presideat in ike

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New York Nell. “The president of a penitentiary,” Miss Blakesly snapped. ‘‘ Mark my work, Redmond, youre deceived. And worse than all, you’re getting mixed up with that unknown adven- turess, Miss Vernon.” __ “Pshaw! fiddlesticks! you’re crazy, Prue. ‘But s’posin’ I should _take a notion ter pop ter ther little woman, Prue—how would it suit? She is good and kind, and would make Hudson- dale a good mistress,” “When a new mistress comes let her go into the kitchen and do the housework, then—lll move!” Prudence retorted, sailing away in high dudgeon, While Uncle Redmond quietly laughed and hunted up Miss Vernon in a rustic arbor over- looking the sunlit river. Jack was not with her, . Indeed, since his return from New York, he searcely found time to more than passing] speak with her, spending a good share of his hours in solitary rambles about the premises, or xides upon the river, If Viola cared, she did not betray the fact. Nndeed, she found it pleasant to entertain good- natured, honest Uncle Redmond, not uncon- scious of a growing admiration of his sterling qualities, And as for the old master of Hudsondale, he felt youthful and fascinated in the presence of the pretty Southern girl, seeing in her much to admire and something to love—herself—with all his hearty nature. ; The upshot of the matter was a blunt but fer- vid ex) lanation, and an earnest proposal on Uncle ond’s part, all of which Miss Ver- {non received with a sober countenance, but kind- King expression of pleasure in her eyes. “To be sure,” Uncle Redmond continued, “ mebbe it ain’t hardly fair to speak afore the hoy, but he’s young an’ orter be smart enuff wi’ all his college e dication ter get ahead o’ his old dad.” “Your son cares nothing for me, I believe, ‘and really, I am not sorry,” Viola replied. **The more I see of and understand him, the less I admire him.” : You don’t say! Waal, mebbe that’s so, But he’s my son, an’ somehow I’m growin’ mighty proud o’ his book larnin’ an’ knowledge of the big arts.” “Then, Mr, Blakesly, do you candidly believe that he is your own son?” “Why yes—don’t you?” ** No, I do not!” The declaration wrought a change. Uncle Redmond sprung to his feet and paced about the little arbor in great surprise. “Tell me the reason!” he finally said, resum- ing his seat beside her. ‘Tell me why you do not believe that Jack is my own son?” “*T will first ask you why it was that your son left you years ago?” Miss Vernon said. “That is easily explained. My boy was of a wild, rollicksome disposition, and could only be kept in the school-room at bis studies, and not at work on the farm. He doused for the roving life of hunting and jockeying, too, and seeing no prospect of ever taming him, I started him for the West, some eight years ago, with a hundred dollars in his pocket, and a friendly lift with the | after stolen; and I have never to # 2i toe of my boot. Of course we parted friends. and my boy promised not to come back until either he had a vast store of education, or an equivalent in precious see That's the last I heard of him until he telegraphed me he was coming home,” “Then there is no truth in his story to me of his stealing a charm of you—a golden locket— which he has toreturn to you intact ere you will admit him as a member of your family?” Viola demanded with flashing eyes. “Waal, no—not that Iknow of. Tellme what you mean?” the old man said. She accordingly did unfold to him the whole story the false heir had told her, as a magnet to draw away the last of her eee Uncle Redmond listened, with genuine incre- dulity and amazement. “Well! well! well!” he ejaculated when she had finished. ‘‘It this don’t beat my time all holler, may I be sent down tew Sing Sing, fer life. Either you're a plaguey big liar, gal, or else that boy is an infe: rascal—that’s all.” “You don’t believe me then?” I'll make that all square, when you con- sent to be Mrs, Redmond Blakesly.” “Oh! you are too kind. But—” ' **No demurs, at all. Ther old man’s tuk a shine ter ye, fer earnest, an’ yer little misfortune~ draws you all the closer to my sympathies. Meb- be ye can stand the old man’s society a few years, and help him fight out of this strange battle— then there'll be a grave down in the park on the bluff, leavin’ a fair widder at Hudsondale for my boy, should heeever return.” ‘Oh! Mr. Blakesly, do not talk so, I have as yet given you no hopes that I can ever be aught ~ to you, and were I inclined, I should decline to give you encouragement, while you are in such a mood. I am no fortune-hunter. If I ever marry, it will be only when J have discovered the man Lcan love. I once thought I cared for your bogus son, but have awakened to find out my mistake,” “But, you do care for me enough to be mine, do you not?” “T decline to give you an answer, yet. There is a skeleton in your family closet. Miss Pru- dence told me so. When I have a full under- standing of your past, I may be able to give you a decision, Miss Prudence said you have others nearer to you of whom you never speak—it is of those I wish to learn, ere I—I—but never mind what!” A “She referred to my first wife,” Uncle Red- mond said, gloomily. ‘‘I rarely ever speak of her, because she was unworthy. I never saw her after the first month of our marriage, she having absconded, ’tis said, with a man who has been my life-long camer The same accursed — ruffian afterward wedded my younger sister. under an assumed name, and abused her until she was glad for the privilege to lay down and die, and thus escape his power. The second wo- man I wedded was an angel, and we lived hap- pily until she died of a fever, leaving two — babes, a boy and a girl, aged one and three years, for me to care for. The girl was soon is day found. 3

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22 a trace of her. I laid her kidnapping at the door of my first and unfaithful wife, but not knowing even her whereabouts, ie detectives were never able to gain aclew. She may live still, but I try to hope not, as fears dark and gloomy assail me, and totaliy unmnerve me, That is why I never allude to my long-lost child. As to the viper, she is said to be living, but where I cannot learn—how, I care not. to Jearn.” “My poor friend, how much I pity you I can- not express. Suffice to say, you are in no way blamable.for what wrong has been done you, and if I ever conclude to consider your kind pro- sal, I shall do so fully and freely, believing y my faithful affection I can lift a cloud from the past to let in light and peace of present and future.” “Bless you, my child. May God ever grant ou the peace and happiness you can grant me. you come to me you need have no fear of trouble, for, although I failed to get a divorce from the viper'of my first choice, I have no fear that she will ever seek to make me desperate’by coming across my path after all these years, Now I will leave you, to look after the impos- tor!” The false Jack was found in phe parlor, loung- ing in an easy-chair, while he smoked a hand- some pipe and perused the morning paper, “Ah! is it you, daddy?” he said, looking up leasantly, as Uncle Redmond came sturdily into the room, thumping his cane on the Pat with more than usual vim, ‘A terrible fallin stocks on Wall street to-day—bulls and bears in a fight, you see, Got any money out?” “Not ared. Idon’t bull por bear the mar- ket, sir. But if I ever do take a hand in bounc- ing out bears, it is about this time o’ day. So pick up your duds, young man, and bid yer adieux ter Hudsondale fer good an’ all.” “What!” the bogus Jack gasped, leaping to his feet. ‘' Father—” * Stop!” the old gent roared, sternly. ‘‘ Don’t ou call me father, you puppy! Get out of my poco of my premises at once, or I'll lam you over the skull with my stick. You've played your game.well, as far as it went, but it didn’t go fur. Your secret isknown, The cat’s out of the bag, and unless your heels are seen departing from this vicinity in short order, Dll Ce ee to New York for a pair of hand- cuffs. “ But I don’t understand,” Jack faltered. “You lie!” Uncle Redmond declared, with in- creasing emphasis. ‘You are an impostor aud a villain, If you don’t believe it, remain here until I get prepared, and I'll prove it to you, If my real boy Jack was here, ’'d have him boot » you ’way up to Kinderhook an’ back again!” “Then ring the bell for the race to commence, for the original Jack Blakesly is here to take the dramatic part assigned him,” a merry, laughing voice exclaimed. And into the room came two persons, through an open window, which looked out upon the arden—two persons, one of whom was of fault-' less form and costume, while the other was none other than the long-haired Westerner whom Uncle Redmond had just been wishing to see— Jack Blakesly, the original. ; New York Nell. © See / The firsh person it was who had spoken, and that was New York Nell. / Uncle Redmond immediately recognizea her, and put forth his hand. f “So it’s you, is it?’ he said, heartily. ‘*Glad e cum, fer I’ve got a job on my hands of boot- ing out this chap, who has been playing it strong on me in the shape of ason, But Ive made up my my mind ho is’possum, and he’s a-goin’ to walk out.” “Course he’s a snide! Didnt] tei you that, over in Philadelph? Why, ay here is your own son, alive and well—this el long hair.” see old man turned and surveyed Jack quite ¢c we “So you say that animal is my boy Jack, eh?” he observed. ‘Waal, I don’t know. S’pect mebbe he mought be, and again, mebbe h¢ moughtn’t. The old man ain’t a-goin’ ter ba tuk in so easy this time, not by a long shot. Howsomever, young feller, if ye’ve any notion of hitchin’ up in relationship, you can’t start in any better that to clear out this ere feller, who's been imposin’ on my ignorance and generosity, by representin’ hisself as my boy Jack.” “With the greatest of pleasure,” Jack No. 2 re- plied; and, as good as his word, he stepped oe forward and seized the bogus heir by the nape of the neck and right leg, and bore him out of the mansion. Down the lawn he strode as unconcernedly as though he were bearing no burden, and, on ar- riving at the water’s edge, he gave Jack No. 1a boost that landed him out in the river, where the water was up to his neck. Uncle Redmond and New York Nell, joined by Viola, watched the proceeding, greatly amused, inasmuch as the victim was great] frightened and bawled like a whipped school- boy. Not daring to come ashore again, where the long-haired Westerner stood, the defeated candidate swam down the stream below the nee and from there made his retreat to the shore. ‘ . i Jack No, 2 then joined those who had been admiring his act, and the whole party then re- turned to the parlor of the mansion, where gen- eral introductions and explanations were made. “Yes, mebbe you’re my Jack, and mebbe again you ain’t,” Redmond said, surveying the new candidate critically. ‘‘I!’m goin’ ter be | oes this time. Whar’d you pick him up, Nel. ie? “Tn N. Y.,” Nell replied. ‘He sed his name was Carson, but I cornered bim, and found out he was your son, instead of the t’other un whom I reckon you'll find is the son of Colonel Baxter, who has been settin’ him on.” “Oho! so that devil has been connected with this case, eh? I did not suspect that, deere the fact that I met him in Philadelphia. I see plainly where the impostor picked up his p’ints, now. As for you, young mau, what have you to say for yourself? ves “Not a great deal, either way,” Jack replied, indifferently. ‘‘I am your progeny if it suits your notion; if it don’t, it’s all the same to me. {tam not particular Set ees relation’s sake, as I have a snug fortune to this weary vale of tears.” Jer with the F k my career through ;

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i iid ‘New York Nell. 28 ! “Well, well! you don’t.seem very anxious, that’s a fact.” “Nor am I. If you've got any one in mind, whom you think you’d like better, take your vhoice, If you see anything of the Blakesly kind about me, all correct; Pm your son.” “Well, young man, I'll deliberate on it,” Uncle Redmond said, with a dig at the bald spot on his head. ‘Thar’s only one thing about ye, as puts me forcibly in mind o’ my boy Jack, of years ago, an’ that’s yer hair. Jack allus was thunderiw’ lazy about gettin’ his wool clip- ed, and I’ve give him many a whaling because e’d spend the money I gave him, for cigars, in- stead of hair-cutting.” “The peculiarity still clings to me—not be- cause of the reason you mention, now, but be- cause barbers were among the things we seldom saw up at, the mining-eamp where I held out. Biiled shirts were the next scarcest.” The conversation ran along smoothly, and without Jack’s making any attempt to ingrati- ate himself. Toward evening New York Nell signified her Intention of returning to the city, but upon being urged, Jack finally consented to remain ut Hudsondale, as a guest, until the morrow. During the fore part of the evening Viola pre- sided at the piano, and both surprised and de- lighted her hearers by her skill and proficiency in music. Jack retired early on the er of weariness, 4nd Viola was not long behind him, in going to ler room, Uncle Redmond always was the last up, in the mansion, at night, as he gave the closing of doors and windows his personal supervision. To night he was interrupted in the midst of is work by a ring at the front door bell, In some surprise, he grasped his stout cane, ~nd went to answer the summons, just in time (o see a female figure retreating through the moonlight toward the park upon the bluff. He at once called to her, but received no re- ply. ‘4 eet he shouted after her, with the same re- wult, Then, firing up with indignation, he grasped his cane, firmly, and hobbled off in pursuit as fast as lay in his power. CHAPTER VIII. SCORE ONE FOR BAXTER, Uncir RepMonD, although obliged, ina meas- ure, to use a cane for self-support, could get over the ground with considerable activity, when the case demanded, and more especially when in pursuit of vengeance. Thereforé, he was not long in catching up with the retreating woman, inasmuch as she was not apparently in any great hurry. He overtook her in the park, just at the edge of the bluff or cliff which dropped so precipitously off into the stately Hudson. ~ “Stop!” he said, authoritatively, laying his Jeft hand firmly upon her shoulder, and raising his cane. ‘“‘ Are yon deaf, that you didn’t hear me speak before “No!” the woman replied—‘t No, Redmond Blakesly. I heard you, and should have heeded, only I wanted to draw you out here, ? where I could talk to you in private. Look! do you know me, Redmond Blakesly?” And upon Hudsondale’s rotund and genial master was turned a ghastly face—a wrinkled, foe visage, the greater part of which was idden within a great cap. 7 Only one glimpse Uncle Redmond got, then the head was jerked to one side and the view obstructed. “No! Dll be hanged if I know who ye are, ner do I care, either!” he said gruffly.. “ What © I want to know is, what business have you got prowling round these premises?” ‘The business of a mistress, you old fool— the business of a wife and mistress. Ha! hal don’t you know me, now? Iam your own dar- ling lovey and long-lcs; bride—yes, I am Hester Blakesly !” Uncle Redmond leaped back as though he had been dealt a blow—and in fact, he had. “You Jie!” he ae d, hoarsely. *“T do not lie!” the woman replied, with a tantalizing laugh. ‘‘I am who and what I claim—your first and only wife—and I’ve got a little certificate, among my effects, which will prove it!” e “You viper! you wretch!” Uncle Redmond fairly shouted ina rage. ‘‘I know you lie—I know you are not the faithless one who deserted me years ago. You have about you no trace of resemblance to her.” ‘“‘ But I have her spirit and her tongue. If you remember, she was gifted with a superfluity of both. What other personal beauties I possessed so many years ago, high living and dissipation have consumed. Time works miracles, you know, Redmond.” [ “Yes; and I'll work miracles with you if you do not leave my premises.” “Oh, no you won't, my beloved husband. I am legally and lawfully your wife, and I’ve just as much right here as you, and confidently ex- pect and intend to maintain it.” ey By thunder, no! Blast my old eyes if ye do that!” the old man said, in a determined way. “You disgraced me years ago, you old devil; ou shall not add further to the same blow. ither yowll go away from here willingly promising never to trouble me again, or Di ee such a drubbing as you never got be- ‘ore “Drub as much as you please, Redmond, for Ican standit. I’ve been beaten until I’m with- out a particle of feeling. And, as for leaving, I certainly shall not. came here to take w my position as mistress of your household an your affairs, and shall soon blossom forth into a full-blown leader in fashionable society. Then Tll make your bank account look weak, I sur- mise. Ha! ha! aren’t you glad of my advent, dear husband? Of course you are. Any one can see that in the piacitivy of your counte- nance. Ha! ha! ha!” ‘*Curse you, woman! curse you! I was given to cursing you years ago—I am not backward - in doing itnow, and you have earned it all.” “ Oh! yes; I don’t deny anything. I always own up to the truth. I gave you cause to curse me, years ago, and I have come back to give you another racket now. If possible,Lintend to imake your life more wretched than it ever was 7 . ahah

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24 New York Neil. before. Come, I'll give you my arm, and let's go to the house,” “Never! I'd sooner touch a rattlesnake. Go away, I tellye—leave my premises, or I swear you shall have cause to repent it. Go, at once!” “Bah! talk to the wind. I am going to the mansion,” ? “Devil, go at your peril!” The woman laughed scornfully, and took two or three steps toward the house. With a gasp of anger, Uncle Redmond flew at her and aimed a blow at her head with his heavy cane, The blow missed the mark a half-foot, because she darted back, with an agile spring. It was a fatal move, for, standing just at the edge of the cliff as she had been, while speaking, she now went backward into the yawning spaco —down, down, through mid-air, into the deep, dark river, in a spot where the shadows lay “My God! what have I done!” Uncle Red- mond exclaimed, rushing to the edge of the cliff with a horrified expression of countenance. ‘I have been the means of sending her to a watery grave!” It seemed even so, for, Bier he peered from the cliff down upon the water, he did not behold the old woman come to the top. She had sunk to the bottom, to rise no more! With a groan, Uncle Redmond at last arose to his feet, and turned toward the mansion. But he paused with a start! If he was horrified at the fate of the woman, he was startled to see Colonel Baxter and anoth- er man standing but a few yards away—the col- onel with folded arms, and a triumphant smile about his sensual lips, His companion was attired in the uniform of the New York police. A bar of bright moonlight penetrated down through the overhanging tree-tops and lit the bluff where the trio si facing each other. ‘* Well! well! well!” Baxter said, sarcastically using Uncle Redmond’s own favorite expression of astonishment. “ This is a strange position to find you in, old friend. Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I should never have believed you guilty of such a crime. Too bad—too bad for you, Uncle Blakesly!”, “What—what do you mean?” the old man gasped, whitening. ‘Surely you do not accuse me of—of—” = _ “Knocking that poor woman over and push- ing her into the river—exactly!” Baxter re- plied. ‘‘Surely you do not deny it?” “Ido deny it, I struck at her, Pll admit. but did not hit her. She dodged meand backed off over the cliff.” ‘Ah! yes—but that’s too thin. It won't stand picking. We arrived justin time to see ou strike the woman, and hear the whack. idn’t we, officer?” “Yes, we did that,” the policeman replied. ‘Therefore, Redmond Blakesly, you stand be- fore us, and your God, a man upon whose soul is written the stain of murder, and it is our duty to arrest you for the crime!” said Baxter, * “Your.duty! What d’ye mean? You're not the law!” Uncle Redmond cried. z “ But, we are both servants thereof,” Baxter % o ge Ss ie ile es Gears ne ae said. ‘‘I am a detective, and my companion here is an officer of the New York Police Force, We came here on a different mission from this, The old woman you just murdered was under our eye, a ea of si rah and we took the ins to follow her up here into the country, oping toget a clew on which to arrest and in- earcerate her. Instead, we have been so un- lucky as to be in at the death.” “God help me!” Uncle Redmond gasped. ‘I am not guilty—no, I am not Lseae I struck at the woman, but, failed to hit her. Believe me, gentlemen, this is true. You saw the act, ye say—p’raps ye overheard the conversation, an’ know to what a test I was put. Spare me then, from arrest and disgrace, in my old age. Et ain’t long the old man will live, so lek me go unmolested I beg.” “Hal ha! this is my revenge, Redmond Blakesly!” the colonel retorted. ‘It is Pi os to hear you beg of me! Awhile ago you held the trump—now I have it in my grasp. But, I fear it is utterly useless for you to ask Sarak of me, as murder is a crime that should never escape gallows justice, Still, I will consider, Perhaps we can make some terms, If you will invite us to your mansion, and offer us its hospitalities, fer a few days, i will think the matter ever, and see what I can do for you.” Uncle Redmond bowed his head upon his arm, as it leaned against the tree near which he stood, and was silent for several moments, He saw what was the destined result, as he reflected. On the one hand was arrest, a prison cell, and — eventually, the gallows—on the other, Baxter held his own bike and would insist upon what- soever tyranny he might deem best; the first act of which would be the restoration of the false heir to the position he had been so sum- marily dismissed from. ; There was then but two choices—the one gall, the other wormwood. Uncle Redmond, fully aware that he was in one sense no longer his own master, resolved te acquiesce and await his chance, trusting in God to clear him of the coil that was winding about; him, “Come!” he said, finally, ‘‘ you shall be my guest. How about the officer? For him to be seen here will excite suspicion.” “True, Montford you may return to town, When I need you I will send for you,” Baxter ordered. ‘ The policeman bowed and strode away through the park; then Uncle Redmond led the way to the mansion, and showed Baxter toa comfortable apartment, “Don’t worry about your fate,” the polished villain said, with a smirk, as the victim of his machinations was about to leave, “I am not naturally so bad a fellow to get plone with as some would like to make me out. I cept my terms, all will be well, and no one will ever be the wiser for the little occurrence of to- night.” Uncle Redmond bowed himself out, witha troubled face, and when once locked within his _ room, he pillowed his head in his hands and help me,” he muttered. “Tam in the i wept. “God you ac-

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“7 ae New York Nell. power of the devil now, and have no chance to rebel, I am a slave to my life-long enemy, and he will show me no mercy—no mercy!” Baxter and his. tool had not been the only ones upon the scene at the bluff that night. The frowning old park contained many fantastically shaped shadows, and among them another wo- man stood. She never stirred from the position she occu- pied from the time she entered the park, a few minutes in advance of Uncle Redmond and the ill-fated Hester, until she left the park again, a short time after the villain, Baxter, and his prey had departed for the mansion. She had seen everything—overheard piety. thing that had bapa all without visible affection, and soon after Uncle Redmond left for the mansion, she made her way from the grounds and along the river road to the first railway station, a distance of some three miles, She was attired in a long linen duster and fashionable bonnet, but her face was closely screened from view by a heavy vail. On arriving at the station she got aboarda train bound for New York, and later was steamed away toward the metropolis. A few hours afterward she was installed in a pretty room at the St. George Hotel, and with pen, ink’ and paper before her on the table, usied herself in writing. For hours she plied a hae mn, and then fin- ished with a sigh, just as the first beams of day- ‘light streaked into her room. A short nap she then took in an easy-chair, after which she or- dered and partook of her breakfast in her room, With her hat and vail removed, she proved to be an elderly woman, Upon her face, which had once been hand- some, were grave lines and furrows that trouble had wrought, and in her eyes a sorrowful, tear- ful expression that seemed to define untold an- Guish. Her hair was as white, too,as driven snow. After breakfast she donned her hat, vail and ‘wrappings, and betook herself to the street. ' ‘There, signaling a cab, she entered, and gave the directions. : Later she was deposited in Baxter street, and found herself knocking at the door of Nell Niblo’s room, in the old tenement. Our heroine answered the summons in person, and invited the stranger to enter, while rubbing her eyes, for she had evidently just awakened from a late slumber, “You are Nelly Niblo, the news girl, are you not?” the vailed woman said, as she took a seat. ‘Snect that used to be me—but since then Pve shifted around so that I now stand in as New York Nell, the detective.” “Oh!” the woman said with a little laugh, “ Well, it is all the same, Do you know Red- mond Blakesly, of Hudsondale?” “Reckon I do, What of him?’ ‘**T have a letter here I would like you to take tohim. Also, I want you to take along with ‘ the young woman you rescued from the burning boat. When you arrive at the mansion - contrive to have your interview take place in the presence of all that are about the premises. _ You are then to open this letter and read it Gora: Tt will fwly explain itself, and every- £ | hiding all the morning?” * And you want me to do all this?” “ce do. 7 “ But I can’t.” ‘¢ Why not?” * Because I can’t allow myself to fall into none of your traps—oh! no, You'd like me to bee the young lady from her hiding-place, wouldn’t-you,so that Baxter could gobble her up?” “You mistake. Ihave no such desire or in- tention. I already know where Eya—the girl ou rescued is concealed, and could have find er spirited away a dozen different times, had it been my wish. I assure you I mean her only what is good.” ‘“Howeanyou? What proof havel that there is not some game afoot?” “When I swear to you that I am the girl’s own mother, had not that ought to satisfy you?” the woman asked. “T suppose so. But, yousee, Eva told me that she did not havea mother! How’s that?” “Easy enough to explain. She has. never known me as a movher, but as an aunt. The secret of this both she and you shall know when the letter is perused at Hudsondale.” “Then give me the letter and I will do as you say. What’s the salary?” ‘I will give you twenty dollars. That will pay your two fares to Hudsondale, and leave you considerable for your trouble.” a All right. When’s the starting time fer the 1Z : “To-morrow morning will do, No!—better say Friday, when I come to think of it. To- day is Wednesday. Friday will be best.” _ The woman then placed a twenty-dollar note in Nell’s hands, and took her departure. She went from Baxter street to the nearest district telegraph station, and paid for and caused to be sent the following telegram to Redmond Blakesly: “Do not be frightened by threats. Hold your own, Help will come when needed, ALLSEER.” This telegram was handed to Uncle Redmond that day, about noon, as he sat beside one of the fountains in the park, He read it in great surprise, then dismissed the messenger. ‘ “‘ Who could have sent that?” he wonderingly murmured. ‘Some one else must have been present, who foresees hope for me. God be praised then, if hope there is, for I have pur- posely avoided meeting that devil, Baxter, Btostitt g the consequences. This message is at least comforting.” And it was. “ He cheered up wonderfully from its influence —so much that he was so calm, that he was sur- prised at himself. He returned to the mansion and found Bax«: ~ ter lounging in the parlor. Jack and Miss Vernon were seated at the rustic table on the veranda, overlooking the Hudson, engaged in a social game of chess, in which both ppeeerod to be deeply engrossed. ‘So Uncle Redmond did not interrupt them, but into the parlor, where Baxter was seated, — “ Ah! it’s you, is it?” the colonel said, looking _ up from his paper. ‘‘ Where haye you beep —

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26 “T have not been hiding, sir,” was Uncle Redmond’s reply. ‘‘I have nothing to hide for,” ‘Bah! you hide because you fear me—be- cause you dread the vengeance you have a right to expect from me.” “No: I do not even fear you,” was the reply, again, in a collected way. ‘* What! do not fear me, whose power it is to send you to the scaffold, or to liberate you?” “No; I do not fear you. Nor do I’believe you have power to send me:to the scaffold. In fact, Baxter, I surmise that ye’d better not be too fast. Mebbe you've got the whip row just now, in your own opinion, but thar’s no tellin’ but what the old man may get in a few, yet. Read that, : He handed the colonel the strange telegram he had received, and the polished villain read it over, a faint scowl wrinkling his forehead. ‘Well, what does that signify?” he carelessly asked, as he returned it. ‘I seo nothing in it.” “T see hepe—liberty—escape from your vil- lainous clutches,” Uncle Redmond said, forcing an appearance of considerable confidence. “Look out, ’'m going to struggle, man.” “Bah! again, You are going to do as I say. Come around in about an hour and we will talk on. business,” “T am in no hurry, yet; any timo within a week will do;” “Hardly!” Baxter hissed, leaping to his: feet, ¢fter his victim had gone. ‘‘ Things look squally -there is need for more work !” CHAPTER IX. JACK THE BOGUS WEAKENS—A GERMAN RE- ORUIT. He foresaw that there was trouble brewing. The telegram itself suggested strongly that there was some one else who knew somethi freee the dark business at the bluff, Whocoul it be? ‘“Tll wager my head it’s the snip of a girl detective, New York Nell,” the colonel growled, cy: “She’s sticking her nose into every one’s business, lately, curse her, and it is vitally necessary that she a more quiet. Perhaps she may have seen old Suse Snicker creep from the water, or ma important proof that would disarm mo of m power over Blakesly. This must not be. t must be nipped in the bud. Already the old man has half a notion to resist. Should he get further encouragement, op defiance to my _wishes would foJlow. It therefore remains for me tosee that this boy-girl is summarily dis- posed of. As for the fellow, who claims to be the real Jack Blakesly, if he, too, were to dro out of existence, it would augur well for us, roust hunt up my Jack, and set him at this Jong- haired pilgrim, while I look after the girl. I will first ses Blakesly, and we will come to terms—easy terms, for the present. The serew- press ca.t be ‘instituted when it becomes neces- sary. He found Uncle Redmond in the garden, a half-hour later, superintending the work there. Ata beckon, the old man followed his persecutor to a neighboring arbor, and the two men took seats, facing each other. New York Nell. we nounced, briefly. “I am going down to New York to-day, and shall probably return late, to-night. I want to know if I am_to bring the. ocffier back with me or not; shall I understand that you defy my power, or submit to it?” “Ye can understand just as ye please. I’d advise ye to go slow, an’ not attempt to exercise your power, as ye call it.” “Then, listen. I shall send my claimant back here, and you must install him as your heir, in piace of the long-haired puppy, and both he and shall have the privileges of your sions, If this is agreeable, for ihe present I will not bring the policeman with me, on my return. Otherwise, I shall, and to-morrow’s sunset shall, find you luxuriating in the N. Y. Tombs, for: murdering your own wife. I will step over ta the stable and order yeur carriage to take me to the depot; you can ruminate until my re turn, when I shall expect an answer.” “Hold on. You can taveitnow. Send or your man, and you shall have your wishes—un til I get some ground for the defensive. Then I shall turn the tables.” “Oh! Pll run all risk of that. Be kind enough to advise the long-haired pilgrim that his pres ence is no longer desirable here.” “Tl do nothing of the kind. He ism of that I am fully satisfied—and he sha all the hospitalities my house affords,” ‘Oh! very well; [am not particular, only J thought it would be to your advantage, and his health to get him out of the way.” The colonel strode away toward the stables son— hava possess some other equally _. “T came ‘to tall on business,” the colonel an- then, with a mocking laugh. A few minutes later he was driven away in Uncle Redmond’y grand barouche toward the railway station, On arriving there, he made inquiries and learned that his coadjutor was at the village tavern, and on search found him there, half drunk on the poison they sold over the bar. Arousing him, the colonel led the way to a »room, and gave him a chair. “Sit down, you fool!” he said, sharply. “I am ashamed of you!” “What do I care?’ Jack retorted, with a — scowl. ‘‘Can’t a feller have a little fun?” ““Pll give you fun, you drunken idiot. What did you leave Hudsondale for when that long- haired devil came?” . ‘Couldn’t help it, daddy. The long-haired fellow throwed me out!” Jack replied, the pic- ture of innocence. ; “Throwed you out?” ‘-Yes—picked me up, and throwed me out in- to the river.” “Oh! you baby! you ninny! you sickly fool!” the colonel raved. “"-Yes, I know I am, daddy; but really J couldn’t help it. I got it all from you.” t “Take care, boy!” * ‘No, I won’t. It’s true. feller is awful strong.” “Bosh! I could handle him I’ve slain better warriors than he finger.” “Tn your mind. ; I see you laid out stiff by this same coon enough. my little with Can’t come it over me. We are both cowards, — A and there’s no use denying it.” Se Dae Tho elder villain fairly overflowed with rage — t An’ that Western — [t won't wash, dad. Didnt Perr: * Pies

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LO ee eet Oe -_ {ong since, mynheer Baxter?” New York Neil, 27 “Tl kill you if you don’t hold your infernal tongue!” he swore. ‘‘ You’ve got to go back to Hudsondale.” “What! where the Westerner is?” uy Een; sir.” “No, PU be hanged if I will. I don’t want my head cracked.” ‘No danger of that happening. Besides, I will pay you enough so you can afford to take a flogeing. i ‘Thanks. Money is no temptation. But I will go on one consideration,” ‘Name it, then.” “Tt is simple. A basket of champagne,” ** You will go for that?” *J will.” “Then I'll send it up direct from the city. There is something else I want you to do, how- ever.” “What?” “1 tell you. The Westerner and a New York, named New York Nell, must out of the way ere we can hold a show at sondale.” ry so?” “Because the man is dangerous, and the girl because she is sharp and crafty. I will attend to her case, while you look after your rival.” “But, how? I don’t like to tackle him openly. He might lay me out, you see.” “Don’t do it openly. There are a score of ways of doing for him. Take him when he is asleep, for instance, or slip a knife into his ribs, or drug him.” Jack looked dubious. “PN try,” he said, “but most likely ll be the pne who'll get switched off the track and take a term ticket in Sing Sing.” Colonel Baxter left for New York by the next (rain. Immediately upon setting foot in the metro- polis, he made his way to the Bowery, and into one of the dives, for which it is famous. The dive was a saloon in the basement of a building that was used for mercantile purposes. The saloon was well filled with a delegation of city roughs, Passing into the room beyond the saloon, to which a narrow hallway led from the ovtside, Baxter found himself in the theater, or concert- room—quite a spacious, but~ low-ceiled apart- ment, furnished with several hundred seats, and a stage at the opposite side, for performances, There was no performance, now, however, and the auditorium was deserted. Without noticing this fact, however, Baxter descended a side aisle, and entered through a narrow door upon the stage, and made his way to the further side of th® platform where he encountered a man engaged in mixing a bucket of paint for the purpose of daubing over a stretch of neigh- _ boring canvas, into a fairy scene. He was a villainous looking old German, with long stringy black hair, little peering eyes, and a red hooked- hose, while in girth he was of great dimensions. He looked up with a nod of recognition, as the colonel approached, his eyes emitting a pectliar sparkle. “Wie gahts!” he saluted. “‘ How you vas, so irl in pub ud- “Good. How’s yourself, Fritz?” ““Bad—very bad! Dot establishments dey vas make me vork yust so mooch like von dog, unt den dey don’d vas giff me some monish,” “Oh! that’s it? Well, Fritz, I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing pays so well as anti- pier and eash jobs, you say.” “Kh? How vas dot? Aunty’s sgrubles unt cash jobs you say?” “Exactly. It’s all bosh this living honest all one’s life, and rer than a church mouse. Now, listen! I have a cash job for you, with the ney. waiting for you, as soon as the job is completed.” ‘* Yaw! dot vas goot. But, what vas de shob you want me to do, and how much you giff me?” ““T want you to put a check on the breath of a girl—that is to say--I want you to kill her. The pay for you’will be one hundred dollars,” “or true—so much ash all dose?” “Just as I tell you. When I am convinced that you have forever hushed the girl, a straight hundred will I give you.” “Den I vas your man. How shall T fix de matter?” “To suit yourself, so that you make sure, and don’t mention names in connection.” “ All right. Giff me der description unt I leave der stage, und do de shob fer der hundred dollars.” ‘The girl I want fixed calls herself New York Nell. She dresses in boy’s clothes, and does detective biz. Used to peddle papers on the street, by the way.” “Yaw! yaw! I dink ash how I knows her. I will settle her account burty soon, und come for my hundred dollars, Vere vill I find you, Mister Baxter?” _ “ At the Union Place, any time to-day—or, at Hudsondale, up*on the Hudson, after to-day.” _. “Ferry well. I vill hunt for you, unt if I don’d vas find you, I vill advertise for you.” Baxter then took his departure. E “That settles the girl into a snug reposing- place in her native soil,” he muttered. ‘* Fritz will do as he ae and it behooves me to hang around, and fulfill my part.” Fritz bad served an apprenticeship at the business before this, and knew pretty nearly how to f° to work. . e immediately quitted the dive and went to _ a tenement-house in a narrow street not far — — from the Bowery. Seeking a room upon the second floor, where dirt, cobwebs and scarcity of furniture were chief characteristics, he called to a little boy who was playing in the hallway.. ‘* Mine goot leedle vellow, you vas kno’ Jamey Murphy?” he inquired, slipping a nickel into the child’s hand. ‘‘ Den yust you go tell Jamey dot an old Dutchman vants to see him.” The boy skurried away in delight. Fritz, after the urchin’s departure, threw hisa- self upen the dirty cot bed in one corner of the apartment, and looked sick. Perbaps few artists in expression could look as woe-begone and miserable as the Dutchman when he chose. It was a trick, this one he now contemplated, which he had successfully worked many times before, and which had brought him in consider- able ill-gotten cash, ae ¥ f Jamey Murphy soon put in an appedrance—a es . ae f. ee * ie 2 ™

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88 strapping, red-headed Trish youth, with a bull- dog face, and a physique that denoted great strength, “Did yez sind for me, Fritz!” he asked, eying the German critically, “Dot ish so,” the Teuton replied. ‘I vas sick, Jamey. I vas goin’ to cross ofer der rivers mit der angels. I vants you to do some- dings mit me.” ‘Phat would yez have, Fritz? Faith it’s many a sly lager ye’ve smuggled to me, an’ if I ean do yez a turn, here’s my will.’ “Dot ish right, I vas ferry sick, poy, unt I vants to dell some dings mit a detective. You know der gal, New York.Nell?” **T’ve seen her, sur,” *¢ An’ do ye subbose ash how you can find her?” ‘<Spect mebbe.” “Then, off you vill pe so kindness, yust send dat gal to me. . Tell her dot a dyin’Dutchmans vant to see her apout some bropertie:,” ‘Faith, an’ it’s mesilf will be doin’ the same, an’ after ye’r’ dead, Dutchy, I'll be applyin’ fer your job at the dive,” was the comforting assur- ance of Jamey, as he marched away out of the room. After he was gone, Fritz found himself well enough to sit up and smoke his pipe. But he was back on the cot again in a twink- ling, aig 9 mournfully, when he heard foot- steps approaching the door. moment later New York Nell entered the room, closing the door behind her. “Are hehe the person who wanted to see me?” she asked, approaching the bed. as Yaw,L vas der barty,” the German answered. “T ish dying, unt I vant to hire you to do some- dinks forme. Vil you?” .__ “Well, that depends, my German friend, what your wants may be,” Nell replied, taking a seat, and lighting a cigarette, funeralistic,” “Vot isdot?” fritz inquired, doubtfully ‘' Vot vas funeralistic?” “T meant to say that you do not look very much like a corpse.” “But you vas misdaken, I vas purdy near deadt, honest. I haff a cancer in my stumache, und der doctor dell me off I vas got some dings to make straight mit deir crookedness, better I vas tend to ’em, So I send to ask if you vill do somedings for a poor deadt mans, who don’d vas got some friends in der worldt?” : “T shouldn’t wonder, Spill out what you want to say, and I'll tell you afterwards,” “You ish von detectives, leedle girl?” Spect I am.” “Und you ish ohnest mit der helpless Dutch- mans?” “Bet yer boots I never was dishonest yet, when I know’d it.” ‘Dot is goot. Dot makes me like you most like der fraulein I left over in Germany. I dells you vat I vants. I haff no friends in der world, yet I haff some moneys vot I earned some days since I coome to America. There pe *“ several t’ousand dollars of dis moneys, und I pury him mit a tin box, mit der ground, oop along der Hudson River. But, now, as I vas goin’ to die, I vants you to get dish moneys for me, und I giff you some of it,” “You don’t look very New York Nell. — Well, now, that hits me, uncle. Give ug sour directions, and I’m off like a Fourth of uly firecracker.” ““You vil pe honest, und pring pack all dew moneys to me, first?” ‘‘On course I will. Hope I may be shot if 1 You know u play shenanigan,” ‘Allright. I tells you, den. along der Hudson dot place vot dey vas c Schneider’s Inlet?” “* Bet I do.” “Vel, you hire von leetdle tug-boat, an’ ride up to der mouth off der inlet, an’ get out on der furder point. Look sharper, und you find a pig flat stone mit some ashes on top where von fire haff peen puilt. You get you some stick, und py up der stone, und in von Jeedle hole you da tin box, vot gondains der money. See?” “Yes, I understand.” “Vel, dot ish goodt. You den come pring pack der box to me, unt I giff you ein—swi— five hundred dollars.” “Well, that ain’t bad, But suppose you’ve passed in your checks when I get back?” Fritz caused his countenance to elongate, dole- fully. “Vel, if I ish dead, den you keeps der whole, unt giff me a pig funeral, vid a lager beer supper * afterwards.” “Correct. Dll do that, my old boy, When had I best go for the cash?” ‘If you vas not one cowards, it vould be pet- ter for you to wait til purdy near dark, so dot nopodys would see you dig up der box und sdeal him from you.” “Allright, If the water is not too souEH Tit row up in a skiff?” Nell said, asshe turned to go, Schneider’s Inlet was merely the mouth of a small creek that flowed into the Hudson, some ten or twelve miles up that beautiful stream. Shadows were gathering thick that evening when a man appeared at the western point o land that was bounded by. the waters of the creek aud river, on two sides, He peered anxiously down the river, as if awaiting some one’s coming, then sneaked steal- thily back into the cover of the timber, carry- ing in his hand a small rifle, he man, of course, was the villainous Dutch- man, Fritz, lying in wait for the victim of his cunning but murderous scheme. “Tt vas time she comed,” he growled, a fiery patter in his eyes. “1 no like her stay avay so ong, vor my courage ish already up, und my hands pimepy get unsteddy mit der ichin’ for dot hundred dollars vot Baxter promised me.” He passed the big stone that had some time served as a fire-place for a a teed Be party, and ensconced himself in the bushes beyond, out of sight. An hour passed, and the murderous schemer still crouched silent and motionless in his posi- tion among the bushes, A moon came up, shot long bars of moonlight pith into ae weonlent work < arp and penetratin © German’s gaze peered Haight a ject closely as far as he could see. Presently the sound of a footfall came to his = sharp hearing. ¥ fab eR i, before him, marking every ob- 4

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New York Nell, In an instant he was doubly on the alert, with his rifle cocked and ready for use. And not too soon for his villainous purpose. The moment following he caught sight of a female figure away among the trees, standing silent and motionless, as if in an att#ude of lis- tening. The face was turned from , looking toward the river, Raising his rifle to his shoulder, he glanced along the barrel and fired. A piercing shriek answered the report, and the figure fell prone to the earth. With a hoarse laugh he then seized his hat, sue seraatet rapidly from the scene of his foul deed, CHAPTER X. THE CONCLUDING ACT. CononreL BaxtTER sat up until past midnight that night, and was rewarded by an expected visit from Fritz, “Well?” he said, inquiringly, as the German entered. “Vell” Fritz replied, ‘‘I fixed her.” “You are sure?” ““Yaw! Tish sure. I vaited for her at an ap- pointed place, and plugged her right through der prains mit a rifle ball.” ‘* How do you know?” ‘Because [ went up and examined after I had killed her.” *¢ And she was quite dead?” ““ Yaw! deadter as a door nail. There was no life left in her.” ‘* Well, (ll believe you, till I learn better. If I find you have been cheating me, I'll have you arrested for the crime.” “But where pe my moneys?” “Here is the amount—a hundred-dollar note. Take it and begone. And mind, you infernal beer soaker, if you ever open your mouth as to this transaction between us, I'll see that you fill an early grave!” Glad to get his blood-money, Fritz nodded acquiescence, and took his leave. fter he had gone, Baxter smote the table beside him with fist, to emphasize his satis- faction. “One more obstacle removed!” he said, with ahiss. ‘‘The next is at Hudsondale, for which place I must make an early departure.” He took the first train in the morning, accom- pes by the policeman, who had been with im before, at the time of the cliff tragedy, and who now wore citizen’s attire over his official suit. They arrived at Hudsondale too late for breakfast, but Baxter coolly ordered one, with as much nonchalance as though he were in fact the master, instead of the guest. ’ After breakfast, Baxter sought his son, and found him in bis room, with his head bandaged ' up, while he sat bolstered up in an easy-chair. with a stand beside him containing several bottles of liquor. j = ‘Well, what now?? the colonel growled, in disgust. ‘* Who’s been punching your head?” a eae awful We:tern feller,” Jack gasped, faintly. _ into his coffee, and knocked me down.” 6 “He caught me slipping something . emeceak Sone a “You dolt! you idiot! what did you do then?” | _ ie ee, e i i eS “He made me beg his pardon—then I crawled’ up here to doctor oe Baxter, Sr., fairly howled with rage. “Pve a notion to kill you!” he roared, draw- ing a pistol. *Do!” Jack said, beseechingly. ‘I’d rather die than live.” ‘Death would be too good for you,” Baxter snarled. ‘Oh! you're a disgrace to the human race—you poor cowardly idiot—you sieves sneak ofa cur! I’m ashamed 'to stand in your presence,” “Then get out of it. I don’t care. If you’re so brave, go sample the fellow, yourself. He'll thump daylights out of you in asecond,” The colonel gritted his teeth together. “T wish I was Eanes with my fists, and scon I'd show you,” he growled. ; He left the room and descended to the veran- da, where Jack was seated, smoking a ‘cigar. “See here, you young long-haired Ee PY, are you the person who struck my friend, 5 ack Blakesly?” ‘*T dare say I am the pilgrim who put a head upon a young snob whom I caught putting poison into my coffee, if that’s the one you refer to,” Jack replied, rising to his feet. ‘‘ As to the preferred titlé of ‘puppy,’ allow me to thank you for applying your own Christian title to one undeserving of the honor.” Baxter flushed red. : “Curse your impudence!” he cried, “Tf T had my cane here I’d chastise you.” “Bah! the cane is an instrument used by the aged, decrepit, lazy and cowardly. Men usena- ture’s weapons, out in our country.” fae you. ITamnota pugilist,” Baxter re- plied. my friend Blakesly again, ‘Pll break your head —that’s all. Good-day.” : “But hold on. If you wish, I can go up and clean out the poisoner ‘at once, so as to give you the desired opportunity.” The colonel stalked on into the house, how- ever, gs am te terribly deaf, while Jack re- seated himself, with a laugh, to finish his cigar, ‘““T came to say that if youlaid ahand on hotly. “That devil has obtamed some ‘mysterious — power over m: shot if he s exhibit much of it around here while ’m about. He's got my record to heart from the old mining days, and I guess he won't attempt to hurt me much, unless it is in a sly, stealthy way. He’s off for an interview with the old gent now. I wonder what's to pay?” Baxter was bent on interviewing Uncle Red- mond, as Jack had surmised, and found hira in the library at his desk, engaged in writing. ‘“Good!” the polished villain said, entering, and closing the door behind him, after which he drew a chair up to the desk. ‘‘ While you have Seat pen ready you and I had best settle our a “Oh! we hed, hed we?” Uncle Redmond grunt- ed, staring over his glasses. ‘‘ Waal, I ain’t so sure about that. I ain’t ready yet.” ‘On the contrary, you are just ready—to go to jail, if you do not come to terms. The liceman is lounging in the park yonder, and ¢ single call from me to him will bring him _‘ Well, what do you want? e father,” he mused, ‘but I'll be — a :

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4 is am not guilty of murder,” 30 **Money first. You can make me out a check for what:spare cash you have got in the bank, When you have done that you may write me out a clear deed to the rest of your properties, and I will call our business square!” ‘You are sure?” Oh! SEN positive.” ‘* And I suppose thereafter, I and my family ean skin out, and leave you in possession?” “fxactly. These are my absolute and only terms, and you can either accept them, or start for jail within the next hour, See! I have my signal whistle, Write me out the requisites and sign them, at once, or I will blow for the officer.” ue Then, blow at once,” Uncle Redmond said, quietly, ‘‘for I have thought the matter over, and fully decided to acceptarrest, and imprison- ment, ay, even death, rather than accede to a single one of your villainous demands, There! that is fully as final a conclusion as your own— my absolute and only terms.” : “Then, by Heaven, you shall feel anf power, and [ll trump in a deal on your wealth yet,’ _ Baxter cried, as he blew the whistle fiercely, Uncle Redmond went on with his writing, but from the nervousness of his hand, it was evident that he was somewhat agitated. A servant immediately answered this strange summons, and Baxter said: “Be kind enough to send up Mr. Montford Green—the gentleman that came with me, this morning.” “Yes, and you may also fetch along Miss Vernon, and Jack,” Uncle Redmond added. “Pd rather be taken before the full army than asa lone soldier on the field. Yes, yes. Bring along Jack and Miss Vernon.” “Vou are foolish,” Baxter sneered, ‘to wish to make your disgrace public?” “That is my business. I don’t ask any ad- vicefromyou. I realize that you, by some devil- ish scheme I cannot account for, have got mea intoa trap. That ought to satisfy you. If I die, however, I shall dio game, and innocent of the charge you prefer. Better than all, I have made a will, and placed it in safe hands, that will baffle you of all hops of fingering my property.” ‘*Curse you! you are lying to me!” “No, Iam not. But, here they come. ceed with your devilish design.” As he spoke, the door opened, and Jack and Miss Vernon entered, accompanied by the man Green, now arrayed in his official uniform. Both Uncle Redmond and Baxter then arose. “Tadies and gentlemen,” the latter said, moskingly, ‘‘ it becomes my painful duty to ar- yest this man Redmond Blakesly for the crime of murder, which he was seen to commit night before last. I have endeavored to arrange with him so that he need not be taken, but he refused all the advances I made, and therefore, must deal with the law. Officer, arrest him.” -“ Touch him, Sir Officer, at your peril!” Long Haired Jack replied, sternly. ‘Just Pro- ‘wait a bit, until I get a peep at this matter. Father, is there any truth in this accusation?” “Wo—in the face of Truth, no! A woman exasperated me to that extent that I rushed at her to strike her, but before [ could touch her, she backed into the river and disappeared. I New York Nell. : : = “You lie—you struck her with the cane and both the officer and myself are ready to swear to it, The courts are the proper mediums te render a verdict in thiscase, Arrest him,Green,” “ Not yet, if you please, Mr. Baxter!” a cool voice cried, and Nell Niblo came sauntering in- to the room, in her jaunty way. ‘ if you please, Mr. Baxter, I want to say something. Come in, my friends.” —_, : And in answer to her call, there entered the room, Mr. Valentine Vernon, Sam Snicker, bootblack, and a pale-faced intellectual-looking girl of some twenty-four summers. Baxter grew livid, and a gasp escaped from between his shut teeth. “Tadies and gentlemen, I am here on busi- ness,” Nell now announced, with a smile, “TI have arranged a sort of surprise party, with a view to giving you all a little treat. scarcely know where-to commence, but think proper first to interduce Mr. Val Vernon, sheriff’s special, from Leadville country. Mr. Vernon, with your authority will you see that no one leaves the room?” Vernon bowed, and took his place at the door, Then, Nell continued: } “Mr. Blakesly, senior, has this man Baxter been molesting you?” “Ay! I have ordered his arrest for willful murder!” the villain cried, fiercely. ‘* Officer, do your duty.” ** Hold on! That man is no officer at all, and has no power to arrest. e is one of your ruffian pals, rigged out in uniform, As for ar- resting Uncle Redmond Blakesly, Baxy, you'd better drop that game. It won’t wash. It’s too heavy for you to carry!” “Curse you, girl! What do you mean?” “T mean that pee hand is beat. Listen,’ while I briefly make a summary of the case: “In the beginning you trump upa game to — ae your son in at Hudsondale as the real heir, — ou lie to an innocent girl and get her to back your case with her cash, until you eventually get it all from her. The real Jack Blakesly comes to light, and the bogus one has to bounce, You get wrathy. You seek a woman who loves money, and arrange for her to come to Hud- sondale, declare herself a former Mrs, Blakesly, and exasperate Uncle Redmond to surh an ex- tent that he will attack her, when she is to back

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¢ New York Nell. ter and his pal, who stood at bay, with sullen faces, **No, don’t call me your gal, fer I ain’t no one but Neil Niblo, who wears trowsers in spite of fashion or famine,” was the reply. ‘‘ Besides, Is’pect ’ve found ye a better daughter than I could make. A woman gave me a letter ter fetch to you, along with the young lady, yon- der, sayin’ I should read 1toutloud. So if you'll all keep mum, I’ll try to display my poor educa- tion in a fu’st class oration, ‘*God grant that I may not be mistaken, for T already suspect that this young woman is my long-lost Eva,” Uncle Redmond said, crossing over and taking her two hands warmly in his, while Jack edged near, ready to claim a bro- therly kiss. “Well, I s’pect yowre right,” Nell said, tear- ing open the envelope. ‘* Anyhow, here goes: “New Yorr, —, 187—. “ My Dmar Huspanp:— 5 “After all these years of silence and bitter re- eae God has instilled into my heart the courage 0 write to you—a last, long letter. “ Accompanying the bearer of this message I send ou our child—understand, ours. The child stolen rom you by Colonel Baxter died in my arms, after Irescued it from his power, and I had it respecta- bly buried, The boy of your second marriage still lives, I have learned, a noble specimen of manhood, God grant he may ever continue in the right path through life. He is a legitimate son, for, on learn- ing of your proposed second marriage, I procured a divoree—to save your children, “Of myself, Redmond Blakesly, I must in justice say a few words. . As true as God witnesseth this, I never was the bad woman an had reason to believe. True, I left your house and home in company with Baxter. I accompanied him on the cars to New York, Hehad told me you were unfaithful—shown me letters he claimed to have intercepted, address- ed to other women in your hand. I became mad with jealousy, and in a condition bordering on frenzy fled with him to New York. Long ere we reached there, he insulted me, and I awoke to bis devilish scheme, Idenounced him, but it was too late. I knew you would never receive me at Hud- sondale, sol came not back. I left Baxter at the New York station, and sought labor for my support. I could get no position, so rented me an attic-room and rock in sewing. In this way, ever since, | have supported myself and child, who was born after my fatal misstep. God helping me, I have ever led a virtuous, respectable, Christian life—a hfe of bit- ter penitence and sorrow that has whitened my hairs. Our child I have reared as 1 would have her go—in the path of purity and righteousness, and in turning her over to your fatherly care, with the hope of your welcome for her, my earthly mission is ‘complete. If any suspicion of my unfaithfulness yet lurks in your mind, ask Baxter. Villain and_ut- ter wretch as he is, I can but believe that he will at least do the woman justice whose ruin he songht, but failed to secure. But cne thing yet I beg—let my child—our child—come ae gy eae and place flowers on my grave when _I die, From your divorced wife, HEsTER BLAKESLY.”’ Uncle Redmond had staggered to a chair, and with his head bent forward, the old man wept Silently. ; Nor was there a dry eye in the room, except those of the colonel and his pal. _ ieee She speaks the truth!” he said, voluntarily, in a busky tone. wewould to God I could “ say the same of myself. \ mS “As farasI have ever been : _ able to learn, she has led a pure, unstained life I have plotted and am baffled. Ihave nothing more to say—no = oot ies, no prayers, I knove the consequences; [ wi But, girl, there is one thing I would ask—did Fritz, the German, lay for you, and if so how did you escape?” “Ohl as to that, ee you see I ama sus+ picious little craft, and I smelt a big rat. So i tuk Sam Snicker, here, along with me, and in« stead of protrudin’ our anatomy before the muz- zle of an expected hostile gun, we slung out the dummy, and had the satisfaction of seeing that die an unnatural death. That’s all. No one was killed through your kindly machinations, Mr. Vernon, if you have any paper to serve on this chap, there’s no time like the present.” ‘No! no! stop!” Uncle Redmond cried, rising. ‘Let him go. I believe the lesson he has been taught apa te the instrumentality of our little detective will be the means of causing his re- form, for the only redeeming act I ever knew the man to do has been to exonerate an inno- cent woman of a life-long wrong and disgrace which he put ppon her!” 7 “Tt is not for me to say whether he shall he go or stay,” Val Vernon said, stepping forward, ‘¢ True, I am a sheriff’s agent, but I have no papers to serve on these villains—no advice to _ give them, except to go, as there is a detective searching for them, named Monk, whose busi- ness if is to bring them to the gallows. The for- tune they have inveigled from my too trusting sister I care not for, as I think the cure the les- son has given her is amply worth the expendi- _ ture. “That settles it. Get out, while all are so lenient, or you may get your head into a noose yet,” the girl detective cried. ‘‘ And, aboveall, if you ever come to New York again, don’t fool around a certain little hornet called N, Y. Nell or it is pretty likely you'll get stung. Tal ta! a vanquished heavy villain—skip out! The t act has told the story!” A few words suffice to close. Accompanied by his son, and pal, Colonel Baxter took his departure, and was never heard from thereafter. The following day Uncle Redmond, Eya, and New York Nell left for the metropolis, and later there was a joyous reunion betters the stanch old master of Hudsondale and his long- lost wife, during which all wrongs of the past were freely forgiven, and peaceful happiness brought about. take them as they come, ~ + Later still Hudsondale exchanged hands, and* grand homes in a Western State knew those — whom ‘our pen has favorable kuown—three homes, close to: a where peacefully dwell — Unele Redmond and Aunt Hester—Jack and his bride, nee Miss Vernon, and Val Vernon and bride, nee Eva Blakesly. Materially rewarded, for the services she had — | performed, the authoress of much of the happi ness radiating those Western homes went back to New York, and since then has made a happy choice in a noble husband, who is jostly proud of his wife whose experience in the detective business brought about such auspicious results THE END, ig eae

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$2 Death Trailer, the Chief of Scouts; or, Life and Hove in a Frontier Fort, By Buffalo Bil, te pe Py s “4 } phot yids Wy Xi6 The Doomed Dozen; or, Buffalo Bill, Chief of Scouts. By Dr. Frank Powell. {.% Wild Bill, the Pistol Dead-Shot, A Romance of Buffalo Bill’s Old Pard. By Col. P.iIngraham, % Witd Biil’s Trump Card; or, Tne indian Heiress, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 189 Wild Bill’s Gold Trail; or, The Desperate Dozen. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 48 The Pilgrim Sharp; or,The Soldier’s Sweetheart, By Buffalo Bill, Government Scout and Guide. : ves $19 Wild Bill, the Whirlwina of the West. By Buf- falo Bill my The League of Three; or, Buffalo Bill’s Pledge. By Col. PrentissIngraham, . 7 The Wizara Brothers; or, White Beuver’s Trail, By Buffale Bill. Tne One-Armed Pard; or, Red Retribution in Borderland. By Buffalo Bill. (? Buffalo Bill’s First Trail; or, Will Cody, the Pony Express Rider. 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Buffalo Bill and His Merry Men, By Ool. P. 1 Ingraham, ~ Buffalo Bill’s Blind. Ry Col. P. Ingraham. a3 Buffalo Bill’s Flush Hand; or, Texas Jack’s Bravos. By Col. P. Ingraham, 150 buffalo Bill’s Big Four, By Col. P. Ingraham. %57 Buffalo Bill’s Double; or, The Desperado Detec- tive. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. "61 Buffalo Bill’s Mascot, or, Death Valley Victim 0. 18. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. '@6 Buffalo Bill’s Dozen; or, Silk-Ribbon Sam, By Col Prentiss Ingraham, 69 Buffalo Bill’s Sweepstake, By Col. Ingraham, \77 Buffald Bill’s Spy-Shadower, By Col. Ingraham ol. Prentig® 1 182 Buffalo Bill’s Dead Shot. ayy =~, 800 Wild Bih, the Dsad-Center Sho or, Rio Grande Ralph the Cowboy Chief. By Buffalo Bill, 807 Wila Bill, the Wild West Duelist; or, The Giri Mascot of Moonlight Mine. By Buffalo Bill. 812 Buffalo Bill’s Death-Knell; or, The Red Hand Riders of the Rockies By Col. P Ingraham. 820 White Beaver’s Still Hunt; cr, The Miner Marauder’s Death-Track, By Buffalo Rill. 822 Buffalo Bill’s Best Bower; or, Montebello, the Gold King. By Col. P. Ingraham. 826 Buffalo Bill’s Sharp-Shooters; or, The Surgeon Scout to the Rescue. By Col. P. Ingraham. 830 Buffalo Bill’s Boys in Biue; or, The Brimsicne Bind's Blot-out, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 839 The Ranch King Dead Shot; or, Texas Jack’s Proxy. By Buffalo Bill. 845 Buffalo Bill’s Redskin Ruse; or, Texas Jack’s Death Shot. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham, 851 Buffalo Bill’s Double Dilemma; or, The Grear Secout’s Big Tbree. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham) 857 Buffalo Bill’s Royal Flush; or, The Pony Rider’s Death-Run, By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 863 Buffalo Bill’s Death-Charm; or, The Man Wtib a Sear. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 869 Buffalo Biil’s Road-Agent‘Ronad-up; or The Mys- terious Masked Manin Black. By Ingrahem. 874 Buffato Bill’s Buckskin B-aves; or, The Card: Queen’s Las Game By Col, P. Ingraham. 882 The Thre< Bills: Buffalo Bit], Wild Bill and Bana box Bill: or, The Bravoin Broadcloth. Ingraham 890 Buffalo Bill's Life Stake; or, The Pledged Three, by Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 895 Buffalo Bill’s Secret Ally; or, The Texan™ Double. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 900 Boffalo Bills Rough Riders; or, Texas Jack’ Snarp-Shooters. By Ocl, P. Ingraham. 904 Buffalo Bills Tangkd Trail; or, Gentleman Jack, the Man of Many Masks. By Ingraham, 909 Buffalo Bill’s League; or. Red Butterfly. Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 915 B ffalo Bili and the Surgeon Scout; or. Go-wan: oO, the Redskin Rider. By Cul, P. Ingrabam. 921 Baffaio Bill’s Quandary; or, Velvet Bill’s Vow By Col, Prenti, Ingraham. 927 Buffalo Bil’s Buff; or, Dusky Dick, the Sport By Col. P. ingraham, 936 Buffalo Bill’s Black Pard; or, The Gold Beoxeerr of the Big Horn, By Col. P. Ingraham. 943 Buffalo Bill's Block Game, By Colonel B. Ingraham. 4 950 Buffalo Bill at Bay. By’ Colonel Prentiss Ingraham. 956 Buffalo Bill’s Volunteer Vigilantes. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 960 Buffalo Bill’s Blue Belt Brigade. Prentiss Ingraham. By Coloner 964 Buffalo Bill’s Invincibles. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 4 869 Texas Jack, the Lasso King; or, The Rob- a Rangers of the Rio Grande. By Isuffale ill. 973 The Dread-Shot Four. By Buffalo Bill. 97S Buffalo Bill's Relentless Trail. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 484 Buffalo Bill's Life Raffle; or, The Doomed Three. Ready Sept. 1. 189 Buffalo Bill’s Marked Bullet- By Col. ©, Ingraham. Ready Oct. 6. é 94 Buffalo Bill’s. Lone Hand. By Col. P. Inc graham. 000 Buffalo Bill's Grim Guard. By Col. P. In- graham, The above Dine Libraries are Yor Sale Bk » QL NEWSDES*- ERS, ten eents per o ent by mailon™ tof nrica. 3 ‘BUFFALO BILL Novels in the DIME LIBRARY ce,

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SWART TOASTS FOR THE SMART NBT Vest Pocket Size. “YIDDISH” YARNS.—A Collection of Hebrew Jokes, Stories, ete. GENTS’ LETTER WRITER.—A Perfect Guide to all kinds of Correspondence. FAMILY PHYSICIAN.—Family Diseases and Their Treatment; Rules of Health, etc. BOOK OF DREAMS.—Their Romance and Mystery, with a Complete Interpretation Dictionary. HOUSEWIFE’S MANUAL.—How to Keep House; How to Dye, Cleanse, etc. VAUDEVILLE JOKER.—Best Jokes by Eminent Vau- deville Artists. BOOK OF ETIQUETTE.—Society, Visits, Introduc- tions, Dress, Balls, ete. FORTUNE TELLER.—Fortune Telling by Cards, Tea or Coffee Grounds, Eggs; Palmistry, ete. - BOOK OF 100 GAMES.—One Hundred Games for Social Parties and Home Amusements. COOK BOOK.—Economical, Practical, Excellent. LADIES’ LETTER WRITER.—How to Write; ,When to Write; What to Write. The above books are bound in handsomely illustrated lithographed covers. Price by mail, postpaid, 12 cents per copy. M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers, 379 Pearl Street, New York City. BEADLE’S BOYS’ 5 CENTS PRICE 1 Dandy Bill’s Doom. By Oll Coomes. By A. W. Aiken, 4 lillie, the Reckless Rider. By Stoddard. 5 Old Grizzly in the Rockies. By Ingraham, 6 Deadwood Dick asa Boy. By E. L. Wheeler. 7 Wild Bill. By Ingraham. 8 The Prairie Ranch. By J. E. Badger. 9 Roving Joe. By A. H. Post. 10 ‘Yexas Jack. By Ingraham. 11 Charley Skylark, the Sport. By H. B. Stoddard. 12 Brimstone Bill’s Booty. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 13 Roving Ben. By J. J. Marshall. P 14 The Ticket-of-Leave’s Trick. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 15 Wide-Awake George. By E. Willett. 16 Wide-Awake Ned. By B. Ringgold. 17 Peter, the Dandy Greenhorn. By Noah Nuff. 18 Adrift on the Prairie. By Oll Coomes. 19 Joe, the Rover Sport. By A. H. Post. 20 Giant Pete and his Pards. By Harbaugh. 21 Yellow Hair. By Ingraham. 22 The Snow-Trail. By Harbaugh. 23 Old Grizzly Adams. By Dr. Powell. 24 Woods and Waters. By Whittaker. 25 A Rolling Stone. By W. R. Eyster. 26 ited River Rovers. By C. D. Clark. 27 Buekskin Sam’s Wild Ride. By Ingraham. 28 The Sword Prince. By F. Whittaker. 28 Snow-Shoe Tom. By T. C. Harbaugh. 30-Paul De Lacey. By C. D. Clark. 31 Round the Camp-Fire. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 32 Fancy I’rank’s Drop. By Ingraham. 33 The Boy Crusader. By Capt. F. Whittaker. A 3 Kit Carson. 64 Pages. By Mail, Postpaid, 12c. per Copy. BEST LINE OF HAND BOOKS PUBLISHED. Sewed Book. Up-to-Date. RECIPE BOOK.—For the Parlor, Nursery, Sick-room Toilet, Kitchen, Larder, etc. BOOK OF BEAUTY.—Beauty of Form, Color, Head Hair, Complexion, Skin, ete., with chapters o Perfumes, Cosmetics, ete. BOOK OF ¥ERSES.—Comprising Rhymes, Lines, an Mottoes for Lovers and Friends. THE LOVERS’ CASKET.—A Treatise on and Guid to Friendship, Love, Courtship, and Marriage. “GERMAN ” JOKER.—‘ Dutch” Jokes and ‘Gags’ by best ‘‘ Dutch” Teams on the Stage. “HAYSEED” JOKER.—The Doings of “Our Countr Cousins ” in a Humorous Way. “TRAMP JOKER.—Good ‘‘ Handouts” in this Bool for Professional and Amateur Entertainers. “COON ” YARNS.—Best Jokes Relatirig to Our “ Dark er-Skinned Brothers.” “TRISH” Joker No, 1.—The Wittiness and Whimsicali ties of “ Pat’? at His Best. “VARIETY ”* JOKER.—Good Things from all the Na tionalities: ‘‘ Pat,” ‘“‘Alphonse,” ‘‘ Haus,” “* Jona than,” ** Moses,” and “ Ebenezer.”’ LIBRARY. PER COPY. 34 The Chase of the Great White Stag. By C. D. Clark, 35 Old Tar Knuckle. By Rover Starbuck. 36 The Dashing Dragoon. By F. Whittaker. 87 Night-Hawk George. By Ingraham. 88 The Boy Exiles of Siberia. By T. C. Harbaugh. 39 The Young Bear Hunters. By Morris Redwing. 40 New York Bill, the Dodger. By Edward Willett. 41 The Settler’s Son. By Edward §. Ellis. 42 Walt Ferguson's Cruise. By C. D. Clark, 43 Rifle and Revolver. By F. Whittaker. 44 The Lost Boy Whalers. By 'T. C. Harbaug’. 45 Bronco Billy. By Ingraham. 46 Dick, the Stowaway. By Charles Morris. 47 The Colorado Boys. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 48 The Pampas Hunters, By T. C. Harbaugh, 49 Nebraska Charlie. By Ingraham. 50 Jack, Harry, and Tom. By F, Whittaker. 51 ‘om Stone, the Old Sea Dog. By C. D. Clark. 52 The Boy Detectives. By T. C. Harbaugh. 53 Harry. the Country Boy, in New York. By Charle Morris. 54 California Joe. By Ingraham, 55 Tip Tressel, the Flatboat Boy. By Edward Willett, 56 The Snow Hunters. By Harry De Forrest. 57 Harry Somers, the Magician. By 8. W. Pearce. 58 Captain Jack in Rocky Roost. By Ingraham. 59 Tim, the Mule Boy of the Mines. By Charles Morris, 60 The Young Trail Hunters, By 'l'. C. Harbaugh. 61 The Tiger Hunters. By J. E. Badger, Jr. 62 Doctor Carver, the Champion Shot. By Ingraham. 63 seer Bill, the Bandit Wrecker. By Roge Starbuek. 64 Young Dick Talbot. By A. W. Aiken.

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Deadwood Dick e Library e Sxtracts from the New York Evening Sun. LATEST AND BEST. HANDSOME TRI-COLORED COVERS: 82 Pages. Issued Every Wednesday. Price 5 Cents. Buy One and You Will Buy the Rest TWO REMARKABLE HEROES, {n only one sense of the word can it be regarded as a Aovei statement when the faes is here recorded that litera- ture has givén many heroes to the world, and perhaps more than one reader will have to think a moment over this pemark before the subtle delicacy of its genial wit strikes home. But it is mest essenWally a half dime novel statement that will be news to many when it is added that litera- sure, if traced from the dimly distant days when Adam was a mere child down to the present day, would show but few heroes that in the eyes of boyhood would be aven judged worthy of comparison with the two greatest Reroes known to American literature, or, to promptly re- veal them, Deadwood Dick and Deadwood Dick, Jr. * * * The modern heroes of fiction for young America, who are now as countless as the sands of the sea, and of whom the Deadwood Dicks are much the most important > * * jit is but natural that their * * * should bear away the palm of popularity, and suchas * * * be left far behind In the race, It can be easily believed, therefore, that the two Dicks are so firmly engrafted on the tree of popular literature for boys and young men, that their position is assured * * and that they stand to-day head and shoulders above all rivals in the eyes of the public for which tney have lived, and for which one of them has died, American boyhood, and that is a tremendous factor tn the land, now knows Dead wood Dick, Jr., a good beal bet: ter than i¢ knows its catechism, and millions of young minds absorb the thrilling incidents of his career in his everlasting warfare against crime and his never-ending solving of bmpenetrable mysteries. Millions of boys follow his stealthy footsteps as he tracks his vicious victims to their undoing, and then, when th~ victims are thoroughly undone, the millions wait hungrily for the next volume, which on every Wednesday appears with the certainty of the Wednesday itself, and a new set Pe een thrills go thrilling away from Maine to Call ‘ornia, There are the volumes each so crowded with thrills ang heart-tugs that it were madness to hope te do justice to them collectively and rank injustice to discriminate be tween them. To abandon the idea of giving a few extracts causes im finite pain, but if once a start were made in that dl tion, it would be cruel to The Bvening Sun's readers stop, and it is therefore better not to relate one Mnughs adventure. Suffice it to say that the stories are cleap and welt written. DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. i Deadwood Dic, the Prince of the Road 3% Tic Louble Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance 8 Tu Buffalo Demon; or. The Border Vultures 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol # Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval 5 Death-Face, the Detective 7 The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza 8 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand 9 Bob Woolf, the Border Rufflan _ (@ Omaha Ol), the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger HT ie ees Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to eat. 12 penowood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood ' Bar 18 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 14 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter 3 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo i? bart Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the Gulch 18 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 40 Photograph Phil: or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance 9 Watch-Eye, the Shadow 1 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double Cross @ Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief % Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty #4 Deadwood Dick as Detective % Gilt-Kdge Dick % Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelve ¥ Chip. the Girl Sport % Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune ® Boss Rob, the King of Bootblacks % Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Gulch #i Blonde Bill; or. Deadwood Dick’s Home Base ® Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent ) ”, 3% Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Beb’s Boss Job 34 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike 35 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 36 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Det«t've ke 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The © _ps of tie Sierrag 38 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravc 30 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Adventure 40 Deadwood Diek’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Read 41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer. the Boy Sharp 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues 44 Sap Nr Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's ame 45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme 46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorade 47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam's Claim 48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the Road-Agent 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective 50 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Deteet- ives 51 posit Sag Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough anc 52 The Girl Sport: or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise 58 Denver Doil’s Device; or, The Detective Queen 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Spert 56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Deteetive; or, The Messenger Bey} Fortune 59 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport 60 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 61 Deadwood Diek’s Mission 62 Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective’s Deco: 63 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa- fras City 64 Colorado Charlie's Detective Dash; or, The Co Kings ) M. J. LIVERS & CO., Publishers (James Sullivan, Proprietor), 379 Pearl Street. NEW YORK,

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MES SULLIVAN. * SESS ew York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar. 15, 1899 Copyright 1880-1886, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, No. 36 THE ARTS wanes oe Vol. II ——=- J NEABRER—NEARER TO THE BOAT SHE PULLED, STRONGLY AND STEADILY, G

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Dopyrighs 1880-1886, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N. Y., as second class matter. Mar, 15, 1899 ‘ |, THE ARTHUR WESTBROO : ; INo. 86 : Ceci One Ale: Volare

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THER Deadwood Dick e Library e LATEST AND BEST, « HANDSOME TRI-COLORED COVERS. 82 Pages. Buy One and You Will Buy the Rest! For Sample Cover See Othe: ide. DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY. t Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road & The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance 8 The Buffalo Demon; or, The Border Vultures 4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol 5 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval 6 Death-Face, the Detective % The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza 8 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand 9 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian 10 Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger 11 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to Death 12 ig Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood aur 13 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team 14 Gold Rifle, the pba erga 15 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane 16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo 17 Bosetad Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the » ule: 18 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand 19 Photograph Phil: or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance 20 Watch-Eye, the Shadow 21 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Sign of the Double ross 22 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief 28 Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for pegs 24 Deadwood Dick as Detecti7s 25 Gilt-Udged Dick 26 Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelve 27 Chip, the Girl Sport : 28 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune 29 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks 80 Deadwood Dick's Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s Quleh 81 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base #2 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent 83 Tony Fox, the Ferret; or, Boss Bob's Boss Job 34 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwoud Dick’s Big Strixe -85 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party 86 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective 87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of the Sierras 88 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo 89 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Adventure 3 40 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road 41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel 42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp 43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues 44 ae Ft Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's ame 45 ‘The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam's Scheme 46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorado 47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam's Claim 48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the Road-Agent 49 Sierra Sam, the Detective 50 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Detect ives 51 Sierra Sam’s Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough Ranch 52 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise 53 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen 54 Denver Doll as Detective 55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport 56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss 57 Deadwood Dick Trapped 58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy’s Fortune 59 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport 60 Dumb Dick’s Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner 61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission 62 Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective’s Decoy 63 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa fras City 64 eS Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The Cattle ings i