Nick Carter Weekly (no. 111) (1899 02 11)

Page 1

issued weekly. Subscription price, $2.50 per year. Sintered as second clas: mater at the N. Y. Post Ofice by STRYKT de Sturn) a = — $3 No. 133. Price Five Cents. =a ——_ BY THe AuTHeR OF Ack CARTER NICK IN DISGUISE WALKED RAPIDLY FORWARD AND.AT THE SAME TIME PASSED A WRITTEN NOTE INTO ( BICK’S\ FAND.

Page 2

Page 3

Pe - te Os _ *. - ae = - aw NICK CARTER - - WEEKLY. Entered according to Act of Congress in the your 1899 by ogg, 8 Smith, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, a Washwngton, D. Entered as second class Matter at the New York, N. ¥., Post Office. Subscription price, $2.50 per year. February Issued weekly. No 111. STREET & SMITH, Publishers. NEW YORK. 11, 1899... ‘ ~— eoet 5° Cents 81 Fulton 8t., N. Y. + ‘The Great Bank pein By the Author of ‘““NICK CARTER.” igs OR SR Ie een ee -. CHAPTER I. FORGING REDUCED. TO SCIENCE. r. Carter, Iam glad that you j so promptly to my telegram; I respond am very glad that you are here.’’ ‘Thank you.’? The first speaker was the genial chief of police of the éity of Cincinnati, and the second was, of course, the real detective, Nick Carter. - oie The occasion of the detective’s trip to Cincinnati was remarkable in every way, _ but as the reader can get a better idea of what actually occurred by obtaining in- formation precisely asdid Nick Carter, we willl give the conversation that acttally _ took place between him and the. _gentle- : a: —- gra sie 3 his ‘Scientific alia Es. 2 +a oOo ew re? ie 188 eaaiens? * Be a ae \ ‘You have heard about the case, I sup- pose,’’ continued the chief. : ‘*Very little,’’ responded Nick. Ah y»? ¥ 4 “ «] have been very busy of late, and the bank swindle here has escaped my notice.” “Indeed!” a “Ves,” 7 ‘ * “Tt is the most ce. See case on rec-— ord.”? “T have. known some - very strange ; ones,’’ said Nick, witha snide. on ie -“AndT; but this beats them all.” 7 “I shall be glad to have pe particu- : lars.’? yi Be '. “And I to give them.” ~ ‘“Thanks.”? * “Tf when I have explained, you do agree with me, that this fellow 1

Page 4

RS “Good! So his naine was Hunt.” — Yes 5 at least that? s the only name by “appr ? - ~ “Thomas Hunt.” _ “Indeed! That tells us nothing.’’ “Certainly not.’’ “You have made some searcli for this

‘*Van Arsdale looked it over”? ‘“‘Naturally: ” ‘“‘He is familiar with writing and——”’ essyt ‘Who is Saxton ?”? ook ‘ Assistant cashier of the First National of Chattanooga.”? out. “Oh itd : iJ ‘*He was familiar, with. Saxton’s hand-- writing, and the draft seemed all yaa and ° proper,” Soe SR 4 sa +s ren =e* -<

Page 5

> 2 } } } : we e NICK CARTER WEEKLY. - . aoe ee : ~ “After examining it he told Hunt to ‘“Suppose you tell the mo yourself, = indorse his name on the back,”’ . Carter. ”’ ee “Well?” “7 dan’t,?? : eg “The fellow went to one of the outside “Then let me do it in my we ‘way. ” desks, coughing and spitting and breath- “Good! Iwill.” 4 ing hard.” : “Humph! Hunt told Saxton that he ‘He probably felt badly.” would have trouble in being identified in “He acted as though he was going to Cincinnati——” paren = die.” x ‘‘Have you seen Saxton ?”’ 2 “Part of his ne eh?” es, eC Saeae 2 “Probably.” : “Go on.’” f eS “So he indorsed his name on the bask: “To enable him the better to disguise : a of the check; and Saxton wrote his — his voice.’ eo beneath it.’’ *‘ Doubtless. ” tigeaeas < ae _* Well?” ot a - eS . cc =. = “Mind you, Saxton had already certi- we easy and ‘Asia way of dential ne fied to the indorsement.”’ ane ores eee ‘Certainly. oe “How is that?” = Dae “Why, Hunt, when he procured the draft of Saxton——”? aeess me, chief. Can’ t you be a lit- licit?” : re explicit was done. See?” _ “About what?” - ‘Certainly. ” “About, the fie: fests lees ‘Well, the fellow came back to t How?” ¥ window presently and passed in ‘tlie drat ‘Well, ave you chetitenast the trans ‘That's a_ very poor pen,” action as a sw indle.”” ee coughed. — I eoula ey write my na Seed Wel. lane a aa ” “However, he had written it~ - aaa to satisfy Van Arsdale, 2 “ handed ont eighteen hundred dolla ij “phen you said it only appeared. tobe “Hunt took’ it, said psn 3 all: cae a asda si: sotthded like ‘thank you,’ and cot P are himself out of the door. That i is t vt _£*The bank which paid the draft ‘would simply’ ask Hunt to write his name, Ones é; more beneath that of Saitou: If both « Hunt’s signatures were alike, the thi “eth «

Page 6

Spot Mi .... NICK CARTER WEPKLY. -_ where.the amount is.punctured, are rather careless about the manner of writing them.’ ‘Ah py ‘You see,’’ continued the chief, — cross, added two ciphers and made a new Cross and ie bine rea ” ey * ch ; ‘*How do you mean?’’ . The chief took aslip of paper and wrote the words ‘‘eighteen’’ and ‘‘dollars,’* put- ting the words far apart, making a double cross after eighteen and drawing a black wavy line from ‘‘eighteen’’ to ‘‘dollars.”’ ‘*That,’’ he said, ‘‘ be dotig.”™ **Certainly.”’ ‘Instead, relying upon the punctured figures, it was written with a single cross and no line. **Vou see,’’? he continued, ‘‘all the for- ger had to do with that line was to oblit- is the way it should erate the cross aid write in the word ‘hundred.’ ” “Exactly. 1 “Then in the upper left hand corner are the figures.’? “Ves, ”»> “The printed or engraved dollar sign and the handmade figures that follow it.”’ 6 Ves, ?? ‘Like this,’? and he wiry out another slip of paper. i: ‘That is the way it should be Pe doae,”” 4 he continued. ‘Of course,’ said Nick. Instead, and again relying upon the punctured figures, he omitted the double ea cross and putin a single one every faintly.’ “Well?” State Our forger simply obliterated the faint ai EPR: a Pas!

Page 7

“Explain.” “He managed in some way to fill up ‘the holes made in cutting out the figures. He filled them with paper pulp.”’ “Ah! “Then he had simply to use one of 5 those cutting machines, otherwise per- forating stamps, which ger pess: can buy. See?’’ = -€¢ Yés.”’ * ‘“The msytery is, how did he press the > pulp into place so it would stay and so that it would exactly resemble the paper _. of which the check was made.’’ “Fumph !’?_ “Experts have ‘examined the check - since the forgery and they cannot detect the | slightest _ cere of what took _place.’” « “And yet——”* “And yet we know that it was done.’’ “Ah! , 3 Saxton recognizes the check. He says ___ it is the one he drew, that he drew it for < 3 “cig inte dollars and stamped the cut fig- "i ures over the word Chattanooga. Here it : _ is, the same check only for eighteen hun- dred dollars with the cut figures for that amount stamped in the same plese i - Well?” - eae do you think of it?” think the eee mo. ee “But how did he do. a NE a | “Just as you have deseribed.”” x _ “T know, but I eet, 8 described — ‘err NICK CARTER WEEKLY. . Well 2” trade baa SF <3 profession, every trade is a science un itself, eh ?”? . “Certainly, in one sense.’ : 5 a to | aay yee OPO Ji ut Ps “Your business and mine are sciences, we only follow different branches.’’ + “True, but what has that to do with this question ?”’ c rey ee, ry Monae re CHAPTER II. BS REDUCING HUNTING TO A SCIENCE. ' “T will show you presently,’? continued ~ Nick. “Let us begin with the banker.” “Very good.’’ = **He had reduced the technicalities o! es his business to a science.” tees. 2? - “Every bank, wit which he corre- sponds has methods peculiar to itself,’? i) “Certainly.” . : a 4 ‘“He knows the methods of each one, just as you recognize the work of a cer- tain crook when you see it.” Ss “Of course. ’?4_ = eed “Just as you knowa fiend’s step i the corridor before he opens your door, = ’ ‘‘Assuredly.”’ ‘‘Besides that he has methods of own which are just as certain, and fro which he never departs, except in” th most extreme cases, and then only to. turn to them at the first Rene: ee _ “Naturally.” pias “Tf you or I Second sufficient the study of those patterns ° je bes

Page 8

z “Dariks i in’ this city that were victimized, were as thoroughly known to us as to the bankers themselves, it would bea simple matter for us to swindle them if we were ‘so disposed. " _ ‘I don’t quite see it; but go on.’ - “Chief, did you ever go rabbit hunt- 0 >? ‘Eh? What the dev——” “Wait; I am not changing the subject. - Tam only enlarging upon it.” - => ¥ «No, ” “They are hunted’ “wth nun ? “Are, eh 2?” 2 and it,. Carter, tit ae rabbits to do = checks?” ¥ NICK CARTER WEEKLY. where the rabbit will run, where it will cross a ridge, and whiere it will follow a tavine.”’ : ‘SWell?”’ “If he is in a hurry he posts himself at one of those places and waits. By and by the rabbit comes along and lie shoots it.’”’ “Sure.” “If the snow is deep, . he is tired, or if” he is late in getting to the scene, he takes his stand somewhere near the rabbit’s starting place and waits there.”’ 3 ‘Humph!”? ‘(He may have. to wait a little longer, but he gets the rabbit.”’ “Well?” ‘‘Now, supposing this forger to bea rabbit and we the hunters, everything considered, what is our best course ?”’ **Vou’re talking, I’m not.’? Nick smiled. _ “Very good,’’ he said. a trifle old, is it not?’ “e Ves. Sap ‘‘And weare rather late upon the scene, eh?’ SVs. ” “Our rabbit may citi have seni the ridges and ravines where we know he should run.’’ : “Ves, but—-—”? > et Te. ee - “Aad: therefore. our best course is to — start out the hounds and wait here,’* ‘“Where are your hounds, unless we are bee the creatures ourselves??? Mpcerie Fe =e: a “}-have, them.” -..... omegteye es oo “Do you mean to say that you Propase sitting here and: waiting for that con- _ eS founded tact ee ee ‘““The scent is

Page 9

pe Z " =. . “The hunt, and therefore the Hunt will oa come to us.”’ bs 7 “One would think——”’ os © What??? s “That you might end by arresting me °C yourself for a forger.’’ 2) “Not so bad as that.” ‘“Well, set on your dogs,’’ said the _ chief, grimly. “Not quite yet. "Phe scent. is old, and we must find a fresher track. Now, an. experienced hunter. knows were to find _ that.” ; = | ah are: a A 2 “Yes, and an experienced rabibt—or tS: hare—knows just how to avoid that very Sh: spot.” . —_ **On the contrary, he don’t.’’. ; es “Onr. aaeneal : x “Rabbits and thieves are always fools.’ ‘*Granted.’’ “Tf they appear smart it is only the re- spnigemarcident. ” “4 “Humph pr. “And the thief can no more avoid re- : ~ turning to his _ Hatting point than the aa sp aaeayt 5 Well?” aa ees reached tes scene of our hunt- E = 5 ] ack. =f mean by that a a place where the 3 ou eae has clung more ten- i to folio. see NICK CARTER WEEKLY. fore we get through.”’ j next track. ” : aes has giver t the thing up.’’ you compel me to adopt this form» “And our science must be exerted to-— ward finding the track of the hare.” “Ves.” ny a ‘‘Where would he be most likely to leave a scent ?”? -* Ne **You answer.”’ ae ‘‘Why, at the bank.’ ats ‘*How so?’’ “On the check.”’ = “Well?” . ‘*We produce the check, we examine ifs and sure enough we find his footprints. ’’ “Rather, his finger marks.”’ ‘The same thing, chief.’ ‘‘Where do you find them, Carter?” “(In the soft pulp with which the orig- inal cut figures were obliterated, or rather, _ 3 filled up.”’ : = “any? * = ‘*We are getting down to business now, | eh, chief ?’’ J te “Sounds more like it. All that bosh , about rabbits and hounds seems——’’ ~ “It will prove to be vety significant oe ~*~ ‘ual “All right. Go on.” “First, then, the few tracks we ina BE there are surrounded by hard, stony ground. which leaves no ment, a = “Right.” ” F Z tephere our science toni again, | fc we want to know where to eae eee he “Sure. 2 “That's where’ eee th i. “More shame to them.” es. “They folind the first” tracks, but & sinc nee 9 speech, their noses t Sela: sala cugh

Page 10

wish: I thought: so. *. “or hey -are better because. we don’t st eatizely to our noses.”’ An BN hound when Pe can- t follow a trail, will sometimes go on ¢ back-track for a while, knowing that “Thanks—awtully! ! We have a, d the pulp, haven’t ‘we???’ mes % Yes.” _ Where did he get : it?” Z = ~ “By Jove es a “The answer i simple.” kaye so. “4 don’t see it, but = ; p of that kind doesn’t lie around He bits that you could Said under inger-nail. “ ; cee Peart : ~ “ai fret tine tiie: to the feet of we know t it he must. have been e was a lot of it.”” oF: : ee eS ¥ . + $i a= 6 Ye5.7 = e — ge te WEEKLY. “Do you like to hunt hare?” “*VYes. Go on.”’ “We haven’t started “our dogs yet, so don’t let your gun go off by accident.’’ *‘Not much!”’ ‘*Before starting out on this idea we go into the science of the thing still fur. — ther.”? ‘Very well. I’m with you now.”’ ‘We find that this pulp 3 is of a peculiar kind.”’ . “Sure!” “Tt is not éommion by any means.” “No. » 4 ‘ ~ pod “That makes our task easier.’’ “Oh, doesit?” >i acelin “Certainly.” pss 4 og . ‘How so?”?- “Well, this pulp i is of a ine used by people who have their peculiarities—like ourselves. ’? ((Ves,?? : _“Bankers.. They have thousands and hundreds of thousands of checks printed sz every year.’’ SOR COUNT SEE SENS ‘“They contract with some firm to pine these checks for them.” > : ““Certainly.”’ “But they are very carters in the sélec- - tion of the paper ita use.’? Ah? : ¥ ‘‘Bankers are sake ate like old maids, they have arule for every thing. _ . “Now, we as hanterbdiea’t Pas just next where to look for this. ‘particular pulp Banks are =

Page 11

NICK CARTER WEEKLY. — ae .” hunters we dc know the signs by which ~ we can. find it.” ‘ **Tesee, ? ‘*Suppose we find the firm from which the First National Bank of Chattanooga orders its checks. ’’ “Ves. »” _ From that firm we find out the qual- ity and character of the paper used for those checks.”’ “Ves. : ‘Also, from what mill that paper comes originally.” “Good!” ‘““We gofo that mill and, lo! my dear sir, we have found our pulpswamp; eh?’’ “Capital!” “But we hawen’t. picked up the lost trail yet.”’ . “No. But isn’t it time to let the dogs loose ?”? . a ~“Not quite,” ss _ **Well, because we can save time by assisting them still farther.”’ ~\ All right) Go ahead.” “The paper mill, we will say, does an extensive business.’’ a: . “Naturally.”’ “Tn other. words, the swamp where we a Took for the t track is very negate ee ena “Any bates “i The pulp readies i our rabbit's feet in a peculiar manner.” _ : ne stg r ~ We vega oh and from: it we deter. **Chief, the forger knew a an aes pa- per pulp, didn’t he?’’ ‘Rather.’ ‘‘He knew how to tint it to match the check he intended to doctor.’? q SW eee 1 : “Or else he knew where there was some in bulk already tinted to suit.”? ae “AI? - ae ‘*He furthermore knew how to use it after he had secuted it. 4s PPE. ; ‘(He did. % , a = ‘‘He knew that it would require great pressure and some heat to fill those foratious with the pulp Gnd smooth it down so that the fact» could gt pe de- | tected.’ : = ‘“Yes.)¥ € : . | ‘*My dear sir, our man was alid is an expert paper manufacturer. Nota meres: workman ina mill, but aman who un derstands the business in every way,’ in : other words, one who has ges it to a : science.’ he & “Ah! by doves Carter, aie are a won- ws derful reasoner,’ 453 “More, he knew how to gain access. to , that particular mill ; how to get what h wanted without attracting notice, and ho to use one of the machines which pre: se the pulp into. blocks, for pressing that minute article into thecheck.”? > - : Wonderful! ges oe > - “Now, chief, welll = the dogs.” a - . "CHAPTER 1 ot STRIKING ‘THE SCENT, -

Page 12

> _ “Therefore I have. “my ort - ‘Hasmph !* Wliere?”” © »- ‘Just outside.”? “ER? Wou tai mind ringing your bell?” “Neat afl.” "when the sergeant comes in may ive : hint-an order ?’’ ~ £0) Sergeant,” said Nick, ‘is there an lian Sacer outside ?”’ Yes, s sir.” Fong 2 FS them here, please.” _ until you drive the game around, or pie : into. some cover near by." Y . “Wel? Ves, ” “Eh?” ‘‘T am the hunter ; these are my, y found See ?”” On! ibe ‘Chief, did you ever hear of my assist- ant, Chick ?”’ “Often.’’ “ “Behold him in the organ-grinder.” Ah y _ ‘And of Patsy?” = - “os z “You see him in the kid.” S ““By Jove!’ “My lads, this is the chief.’” ' Chick and Patsy bowed gravely, = **Chick !?? continued the detective. **Ves,; sir.’* . oe ‘‘We are out hunting.’’ ‘(We-are,?? zs “Rabbits, or rather ae 1s our ‘eile, 3 i ’ “Correct. 5 ‘*Here is the scent,’’ As Nick spoke he held up, AE note- book in which he had made a. number or, entries while, he and the chief were talk- ing. 5 “Do you see sit?” he added, “Yes. ” ‘ * “Take the scent a follow.” ” “Correct |?” ie eer 7 b! Cee r es “Being the hunter, I will remain, here - is s 77% © St Res of ray 1735 “Very Look)” Sere ae _ “Look the scent over, x3 _Nives, sin =

Page 13

>. =—- > Rha ntrtad 87 ; anything.” e* cst that i is all. Wire ine e here aes “]t was not: bdceaiany. ” Es BAe ie “But what is he to follow old Selick made a ‘sign to Patsy. wees. 3! the scent? a8 “Then he seized the organ and, followed , “Oh, come! I say; how in blazes is r the lad, left the office. : . man to work up a case with no more ‘in The chief fad looked on in amazement. formation than you gave him?” “ i, Pm—er—h’m—blessed ! ” he “He isn’t to work it up.” ned roe he and aaa were again “Eh? What in——" ) y: ; = em | follow the scent; : sonata Sat rated “= * ee : : NICK CARTER WEEKLY. u* the detective’s note-book, just as he am greatly blessed in having two such a handed it to Chick: thoroughbreds as they are.’’ . : “Thomas Hunt, forger, a hare. “*T say, Carter.” 2 “First Nat. Bk., Chattanooga, Tenn, “Well?” = as a feeding ground. x “Do you mean to say that that stupid- re : ‘Third Nat. Bk., Cincinnati, also a looking organ grinder and that kid, who, oz feeding ground. looked as though he couldn't digest an — : J “Draft for eighteen stave raised to idea any easie®™ than he could a cobble- Ss eighteen hundred—the feed. > Stone, are your—er—hounds?”” : “Scent strongest ina paper millat ‘‘Precisely.”’ _ ~present unknown. ae » z “Chattanooga bank checks from some You said you had heard of Chick and 5 ~ 2 paper mill. Must be found. Ss oe \ % ee ae bap, pave: mall, Dest ground: for “Did you sea wear anything about 2 Epeking. = < : them to make you think them stupid?” “Must match cliecks in quality, tint, ‘Never !”” ete., etc., etc. : “Well, the ‘stupid-looking organ- ; ‘‘Hare feeds on pulp. (Note this. ) gtinder and the kid with the bad diges- # =i **Knows~all about it; how made; how 4:5.) are Chick and Patsy.”” ; ¥ handled; how used in various ways; “Granted; but——” ig __ knows machinery; has ready access; ‘Well? Speak out, chief.” : = posted. : ‘What did you give Chick?” = . ss ‘*Rollow scent till, iol instructions. “My notes.” . ag es: Report daily.”’ ‘‘Made since you sat here?”’ oa ee (Chick read the notes over slowly with» ‘Ves, . ily. * = Aten brows. “And he knows what to do from those ‘ . Presently he looked up. few sentences?” 3 zs = “(Well ?”’ asked Nick. ‘*Precisely.”” * mes ES ee <s think I’ve got it,’’ said Chick, ‘But confound it! you didn’t tell him

Page 14

y + Ve’re playing the old-fashioned game ; yf hare and hounds, and with paper for at, too.’’ And I suppose you meaft to sit here slowed. if 1 see. avout scheme at all, se 3 aS What did. you tell Chick todo? An- ver that.”” Sertainly. ix Well i ¢ knows from my notes that he is to the paper mill where the paper used he pepe il of checks for the yee onal Bank of Chattanooga is made.’* oF and then Ne . if I think it! spit? 5 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. , 6¢Ves,?? ae ‘*Wait and see!’’ ‘Suppose he does find it?”? ““Well?”” ‘*How in the mischief do you expect that he’s going to drive the game to us?” ‘“‘Tdon’t know yet. There isa great difference in hares,” “Qh, there is, eh?” “Ves, some are rangey and some are not. I have a fancy that this one is not, but we will have to await developments..’ “*Oh p ‘“When we hear the first cry of the hounds we’ll know better how to pro- ceed,” ) ‘Well, this beats all the police work I ever did.”’ - “Phere i is always waned newin the world, chief.’’ **So it seems. “Well?” ‘‘Adopting your confounded jargon of the hunt, just to humor you——”? © ‘*Well?”” ‘*Suppose this hare is of the RANGEY kind, what then ?”’ Ts ‘‘We may have,to go over a ridge or down a ravine somewhere in order to bag him. A ee . ‘“Humph! That meaws Sut of town, e: ze a I say.”’ suppose. ’? a es ‘* Ves = ae Se ‘«Suppose he isn’t rangey?? a “Then the honuda. will sine him . ae us. +z ae - “Weil, [ hope So, >, but vm be pulveaed 3 roma aes “Look haere, chief.””

Page 15

over this case ever since the thing oc- ‘curred, haven’t you?’ << ““You bet we have.’’ “Didn't you try every expedient you _ could think of before sending for me?”’ ‘*Well, yes.’” “ : “Now, why did you send for me?”’ aa “Why? Because I thought you might ¢ . Suggest something——” e: He paused and sniiled, “Go on,’? said Nick. :. “‘Very-well—somethinig new.’ . “Exactly. Now, isn’t that just what I % have done?’’ = a should say so, with a vengeance.”’ Pe -. “Tt wouldn’t have done any good for 3 me to go over the same groupd that you have explored.” | ¥ ~ ‘Perhaps not”? ee se ~~ **In the first place, you *re too Phoradehis= 3 in the second, such a course as that on my part would have disgusted you right : away.” " “46S o, it would, but——”’ “Well? But what?” ~~ “7 didn’t expect to be taken out rabbit hunting with a pack of hounds = L you. came. met =. es, ES < Nick ioughed. aloud. ie _ “Perhaps not,”’ he said, spas you wanted ona: mew, an a ig Deiat SP rag ean. Let's see if this one does.”? “Oh, I'm willing.” eS aoe thief, Se setae favor.” ether? NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Se + Bi “that part’ of the thing that I want. cae mean.” = $0 far 50. ‘good, ‘New 7 eas ee 2 dow, cand presented his draft.” x : ee Right: He cough eee = a. iy? ome brah des “Humor me.”’ “Bh? _ “Enter into this ‘rabbit hunt’ idea with me for a few days. I have a fancy that it — 4 will work.” fa “All right.” **Will you do it?’’ “Yes.” 5 = “‘Heart and soul ?’’ “*Ves, my gun’s loaded.” *“Good!’ : £ “When do you expect to eet the hounds ?”’ * aa ® mS ae a “About noon to-morrow. ’’ “4 “And then?” x - We anust, be ready to help them. es “How ??? “We'll do ‘our scientific work nom om as to be teady.”’ “Agteed. . vig oe a eae “To work then.” or “Ready !”” The First National of this town was also victimized, was it age “VYes,?'. ; Eos “Well, never mind the saieent: or” the a check. I’ve got all the ‘information about = = “What do you want?” ae 2 E “Tell ime about the inthe har % “On! Well, he coughed . ne “sc at “Yes, and they? Ef w _ to be pa =)

Page 16

“Then he indorsed his draft and pre- ed it.” “Naturally.’”” When he got the money he went ietly tothe desk and counted it over ‘slowly.’’ ‘He wasn’t in any hurry then?’’ “Not a bit.’ Having done that he stowed it away is | pocket and coughed himself toward He got outside, paused, turned around — ae in again.’’ : . ust” ‘to exhibit his gall—or | his cough, ° a ckon. to x “What did he do?” sae __ Went back to the window, drew out vad, took a bill from it, and- asked ‘ing .Teller Koehler to reduce it to change.’’ a d, eh? What for?” te said he might want to get some 1, and small change was handy any- / ” al, sidieatt he?”?’ ‘ should say so.’’ : a to be pt hf certain of te ' gontinwed Nick, what did fe 7 pee” ’ t his “poodle, and : NICK CARTER WEEKLY, ‘‘And always Thomas Hunt?’’ ‘* Always. ’? ‘‘Did he say or do anything while there worthy of mention ?’’ ‘He said something about going home to die; said the amount reprsented by the draft had cost him a good deal of labor, and if he had it all to do over again he’d back out.’ “‘He did, eh?” SV.es, © “We'll remember that little remark, chief. Did he say anything more?” “No,?? ot “Just pocketed the cash and left, eh?” **Just that.’’ “And that was the last seen of ori res 6(Ves, ” ‘Disappeared, eh ?”’ ‘Dissolvedg coughed himself intosa ghost, perhaps.’’ “Remarkable hare that.’? “Ves, May rove rangey, eh?” “Can't-tell yet. No, I don’t thjnk so. We'll wait now till we hear the hounds.”’ ‘All right. I say, Carter!’’ Wel] ? ?» Re “You haven’t once er for a descrip- tion of the fellow.”’ ’ ‘*T don’t want it.’’ “Ah! You got it before you — ‘No, ” “Don t you know how he looked” ‘No. eed : “Or how he was dressed ?”” - ‘‘No. » “ “Don’t you want to know?” **No,”? “Why? . “The fact wouldn’t help my bai 2 a bit. Time enough——’’ . “‘Blast your hounds !”” i cheater ‘Time enough to examine and nish. our game after we have bagged it.74 : + “Well, pete running this ‘thing now.” Se es $ ak eh See 2 2 ee mg it into

Page 17

- *Well, yes.” 2 ‘“Wait and see.” ; (Oh, I'll stay in till the hunt is ove~ ” ‘Thanks. I'm going now.” _ _ Where??? “To the hotel.’ ‘No more talk to-day?’ “No, not till ave hear the dogs.” “All right.” “11 be with you ‘at noon to-morrow or very soon after.’ ‘“Very good.” »- Nick went out and walked slowly. to- ward the hotel. On the way he had fo pag the Third National Banks . In® passing he paused, ‘thought a” mo- * ment, and then turned, ‘retraced his steps and entered the door. - _He stopped at one of the. desks. Jong ; enough to write his name on a card, and ws down in one corner he added the name of — , the genial chief of police. Then he sent the card to the president of the bank. “Well, Mr. Carter, what can I do for % you ?? was his greeting, as he entered the ; __ president’s private office. ~ @ ‘Nothing very particular, Im sorry ‘to - My. ” replied Nick, smiling; ‘have you cashed any drafts for one Thomas Hunt * lately?” ag 3a ie THE president looked glum. _ “Are "you. here on that matter?” he oa shed A ES “ : Oh, I'm just ‘stopping over for a Se donee T heard the particulars of the = Very. Daina ‘ Sez “Am I taking, up eee APPR sir > i = “UN & at all, not at all! Glad to see you. ’? rae tS ‘Thank you. “You know I spend most of my tim hunting for criminals.” be ee ‘of cotirse.” oat NICK CARER WEEKLY. cerning him —? ; > os case for the first time foxday. Rather ex markable, wasn’t it?” ee F Sew “3 be induced to take j a hand i in the interest me, particulars I can concerning them.’ ‘ “CATS si-see.! : P ““My friend Deutch intimated that you — could give me a few points about this bet- 5S ter than he, and—=#’ : we “He is yee ie mistaken.”’ a Aq! 9 a ‘ I like to pick up al, the Se “T did not even see the man when he é came in to get the money on his draft. ‘So you never saw him?’ a ‘““How could lif I did not see ai then? It was the only time, I believe, that he ever was seen. @ you want his — i description? The——”” a ‘*No, indeed !”” ia is ‘‘He caine and went like any customer = or patron of the bank” A gain, why? Pe : “Tf the bet were large ¢ enough IT if a

Page 18

er es . ha - > | NICK CARTER WEEKLY. eat _ thinking and Nick waiting for “hiny to dred dollars wa 5 oan ie from Pebryary peak. : “Do: you think you can catch him, Mr. Carter?” he asked. ey “TT dén’t know.*? x To be sure; bitt what do you think? » ‘I have only my past experience to rely ae b) on. “What i is that ?”’ “T never started in pursuit of a crim- al et that I did not catch.’’ mAh! Bhs a sticianek higke =” “You thin that you might catch this e. w . SYes,** : Wotld you like to try » ick shrugged his shoulders. —., seurgiaont is wee: he “Wout the size of the draft -he soathean re an inducement ?”’ “It might.’” oT you shiould fail ?”’ oss att bank.” SS 5 a A That isn’t a os see.’? ox _ **No, not exactly, as Hum! That would be just one year é “ag the swindle,’ 3 os . rhile, asa matter of fact, it it:'gives uppose I = you till the tenth of ‘ ads than - four_ionths ‘to, ae the | = had he tried. 10, 1892. a VER “If he is not I make good the bank? S loss, With interest. ’’ ““Yes;”” “T don’t think that can “ty called ¢ a bet; ”» “No; it is simply an agreement. — “Very well; I'll.do.it.”’ “*Shall we reduce it to, writing?’’ ‘“Ves, if you please.” ~ The strange agreement was accordingly reduced to writing then and there. : It showed that Nick Carter was to take * sir. ‘charge of the case from that moment. in the interest of. the bank. That eu the event of his apprehending the man who * had succeeded in cashing a draft for $1,800 on the.tentl: day of February, 1892, _ by name Thomas Hunt, the bank was to pay-him an amount equal to thesize of the draft with interest thereon from the date it was cashed. ‘ If he failed in apprehending said Hunt until one year from the date of the erime then he was to make good the bank’s loss. It was a very unusual arrangement for a detective to make, but Nick Carter always doing original things; he likka ~ them. Besides, he had gone far osbiaigs in the — case to feel that he would succeed. © = He did not get the idea from any clew that he had obtained, but rather from a vague intuition that he felt regarding the whole case. ae It had not taken shee: as set ay Ne He could not have defined itin, words © 33 ee ie Sic! oss ~ Vet he felt that the matter. ncminet os some extraordinary — entirely out: Hs the usual channel. ba in he ia tec as” G3 deft xe

Page 19

pe i . ees 4% “banking metas would have aes es “wrhe fellow knew the bank het he procured thie draft, and also the bank that ~~ eashed it for him. . ‘‘He was familiar with theit geculiati: + ties from A to Z. “ : _ ="“'Second, he was also familiar with the paper busitiess. Not in the abstract, but _- in the concrete. “He knew precisely the quality of pa- per from which the Chattanooga bank lz -cliecks were made. - eee ” «He knew where the pulp came from, “where it was tinted. What is still more important and to the point, he knew just the amount of pressure and, heat necessary to fill those perforations, and to match the tint of the check. — - 4 degree cooler and. the tint of the pulp would have been darker than the Check he wished to match. - “A degree hotter and “the tint would have been lighter. ats “In either case the fraud world have is been at once detected. ~ sop — * * “What have you been — since we | parted ?”’ “Thinking.” ‘‘Of scientific principles, I suppose.” _‘*Precisely.”? **Raked up anything new?”’ Cee. # or “Ah! Let's hear it.” es = ‘‘Hirst, do you know the Pp acee of — the Third National?” = ‘Oh, yes, very well.”’ Sear ‘““Bine fellow, isn’t he???- ‘‘None better.’’ : . Ex. “have you = 2S . a Ph ogee ‘‘Much of a sport ?’’ +. “Rb? E é ‘Does he ever bet or do anpeliag ae that kind?” < a ‘““Guess not. e] think his principles « are against it, and his position soe ren- : der——’’ ‘Ves, “obec course.’ “Why do you_ask ?”? = Nick then recounted what shad | ken place the preceding afternoon. cp The-chief laughed. 3 “He's shrewd in business metas,” he | said. gi “Certainly.” aed ‘That, wasn’t a bet.” ‘‘Of course not.’? __ “If he wins the bank is made tak for its loss. If he. loses it only has to pay “ it ‘has already « offered. sitet Soe Be <a ae se = a = ather ee. ine weren't yon 6 Caer think so.’”. : is cx? cowhy.?”? pet oe, Well, durinig the iaheeaivge) pic a = Bi a a ies, Good!” Ree

Page 20

7 | CHAPTER V. WORKING IN BLUFF AND PUTTY. * = “They have been ‘puzzling me ever since,” continued the detective, “and I them,” ; ; Ate you giving that thing : An right.’ _ “I say, chief.”’ f‘Well?”’ _ “IT imay do two or three things ‘duridg this affair of which you won’t approve. ” 2 “Humph ! Ps “T want to apologize beforehand and say that I won’t do eee matiipus, an xcellent reason. o = = 3 “All right.” 2 * “Do we understand each other, now?” “a “Ves. » < ry N ick was sitting near ie window. et s he looked _ out at that moment he saw a telegraph messenger approaching. 7 ae hear the ae ba he sab coslly.’ Shief laughed, e right; he said. ee ns entered. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ~~ “Well?” demanded the chief, impa- tiently. “Those are good dogs,’ murmured Nick. ‘Have they struck the scent? ” “They, have.” ‘And are in full cry, eh?” “Pretty near it.” ) / a **Read me the message.” “It is in cipher.”? ~ . ‘*Well, translate it.’’ « ; “‘Good! Listen.’’ eR ‘ «Played agent for paper mill in he k east. Wanted contract. Got on scents» Found mill wanted. Applied for job for ~ Patsy. Set him to work. Not in mill but — in office. Can’t send more now. Will wire later in the day.’” | “ Such was Chick’s message. “The chief had plainly expected some-- thing imore, and his disappointment - . _showed itself'in his face. ““Humph » he said. “There fsn’t much there. ‘No, not- ae ‘*Any fool — have found out that much,’’ ‘Ves, if any fool had thought to ‘try. 8, Eg Spm p? - : “About ‘eight months have expired. | since the forgery, and I am the first fool in this case, according to, your remark.” ae “Ttake it back, Carter. 6 ) eis | ‘They bothlaughed. —* & * “What did. yon. wire. back aes the chief. uf ‘“This,’? and ‘Niksead | Gioed, “ ‘Look “for rabbit in. parlor, 1108" re kitchen. Keep an eye on the king bee or one of his chief aids. Wire Bai Gt <= as fast as deaxped” wa a ig opi

Page 21

' “He is somebody who thoroughly un- | derstands the manufacture of paper in every detail.’’ “*Indeed.”’ “And besides that, ie is familiar with | banking methods.”’ “**Vou don’t say so!’’ ~ And I wouldn’t be surprised to find | in the end that he is a man who is known . in society.”? _ - - * nr! Won’t you introduce me?”’ J) » “Yes, chief, I -will—by and by.”’ | ‘h? You mean it?” “Of course I mean it.”’ ~“You feel certain that you will catch him?” Sven?’ aa “If you do, I’ll——”” “What?” . "TE reat.”? Aren't you fiying rather high?” , “Why rr == “Chasing our rabbit into a parlor?”’ ee don’t think so.” 2 (614 like to know the reasons for the ra heqgenta you just made.” -- About the hare’s social status ?’’ **Ves.’? = Sek | \get them from our measure of sci- » / Well, explain.”’ 5 Very well. A workman, we will say the: foreman of the mill, if you please, ‘heme.’’ ines “Sure. ” j ~ “But he couldn't have done the bank ” ‘#4 W ell, in the ee place, he is not y to bean Ne aiees —— va * ; NICK QARTER WEEKLY. — Pe ae and knew nothing about it, would not hesitate to blunder into a bank and find out what he wanted to know.” “*Of course not.’? - “‘A rogue, who meant to defraud, would never take such a step.”’ made “But——” ‘ “Chief, the point is that he would have to be thoroughly posted about such things before the idea of committing the fraud would suggest itself.’’ “AHumph! There’ s something 4 in, ‘that,’ . ‘*Thereis. Now again, a book- keeper, : a secretary, A cashier, or, in fact, we man min employed in the office of ‘the » “Concern, who could have carried through | the banking part of this deal, could not have done the pulp paft.”’ : 2a “He mighit.’? = “You mean by ineatine a workman to — 2 assist him??? r. “Ves, ” " ‘*That is'true, but unlikely.’ “Why?” 7 - - - ‘‘Because men seldom have confidants 4 in an affair of this kind.’’ a **True enough.” a s == 3 MS “You might say that some well known forger conceived this idea, argued a paper workman into becoming his eee 1 and then did the deed.”” _ - “*It seems very plausible.” conte don't think se.”” - “Why >?” 5 ‘*For the very reason that with all your aa sagacity you have in biog months failed to find a clew. for me to suggest something new, pee you would have ‘caught bi) “Ah p

Page 22

“TY said: First, our man is not an old ‘and well known forger. Why? Because if he were the chief -would have gotten trace of him before this. _ “Second, he is not an old offender at all. Why? Because some part of his work would have been recognized before this. “Third, he is aman who knows men, = who goes about among gentlemen, and Why? Because in every move he made, ere Was a coolness, an audacity and a 1€ ‘experienced criminal. No matter how 3 the anxiet} he feels, always." “This fellow came to ‘town, se visited ree banks. Has it occurred to you to— k why he did not bleed. them all? ‘Simply because he got ‘all the money = wanted at the three. Third, he is a man of means, who for > reason a eagee suet the yuld have swindled banks in Col- Covington, : ‘and, without nam- ¢ them, ina dozen different towns near e, with ‘ease, and, with no more Bee Six: > hundred in NICK CARTER WEEKLY, ho is accustomed to business methods. elin; of security that you never find in- I argue from. of ' being ver h than he je do- = = re di ; 3 in smal towns.” & Me, thousand here, a paltry hundred chess, and so on; cou laees he?’? ‘*He erecta for sure.’’ ““By playing the country banks first, where. they are not so methddical in their balances with other banks, by taking two days to it and keeping on the move.” ‘Right! I see it.’’ Z “He didn’t do that.’’ ‘No. -—_~ ‘He was contented withasmall amount ~~ when he might just as well have takena , large one.’? . “¢ Sure 1?’ ‘‘He even walked right. past the doors he may be, he shows some. trace of “of some of the banks here to tackle the ones he did.” fe “A nr! yy) ‘*Now, what do you make of that?’ “What do you?’ ‘“My fourth point.” ~ “What is it?” rig a ‘‘Rourth, znoney, for the mere sake of gain, was not his desire; in other words, he did not seek to enrich himself by theft * : when he might have done so ~ jest as well as not.’ 2 , “A. (AHP pos “An old offender sotia have dhe so; a new offender who did the thing for gain alone would have done so.”’ ; “Go on, Carter. By Jove, I begin to — think that you’ll demonstrate that the en thing wasn ee at all before you get through.’ 7 a ‘‘And prove that you’ ve all had ‘the a nightmare, el?” ‘ = ae “It looks so.’? ; “Well, that. brings. me back to Set principles—to the question you asked ‘re pea ve I Fige sae to ae pies “Because the Sag. be—aiane ae president, the- manager, the superin ent, or, perhaps, 1 ' this mil

Page 23

_ whom we might find some one capable of the whole thing.” *“The banking and the pulp Sikachak. a St Ves, ? “Isn’t that going it rather strong ?”” “Bless you! I don’t say he is there; that one of them did dothis thing. I’m _ only following out ascientific deduction.’’ “Humph!”’ ‘““From my reasoning—that is, the most likely place to find our hare, therefore I -seud in the dogs. If they don’t start him, _ will begin over.’’ **J don’t see why this fellow Bas got to -be.such an expert in pulp.”? “Tl explain.”’ “Wish you would, I’m sure.” **Send out for a piece of putty. When “it comes divide it in half, and work one of _ the parts up well.” ti Am Pr? zz a + © Phen add a little red lead, work that in, and put the putty away to dry,”? * ae ‘‘Why not? Have you thought to go into that?” - “Only to decide that this feliove ba = “Not at all.” :: ‘What, then ??’ ; “*T don’t think he used eset: at gtk ego “Why?” “I thirk he used a common steel- eraser,’? ‘*But, Carter, the scratches could aes no, would have been detected at once.”? See “Granted, if he had.not fixed them.” “Fixed them t fe §€Ves:?? . “How?” on: SAY? & < ae - “He simply re caer epee” b= 2 x ete _ Such an operation would in 0° 4 3 a“ 3 fe 3

Page 24

op prove that our forger was an expert paper lade ” “Now for the balance.” “Which is——”’ **That he is diesesoted with this par- tictlar mill where our hounds are at Sean, that won’t be so easy.’ _ On the contrary, it’s easier.” **How so???’ - “Well, first, suppose he does not be- ng in that mill, but in another one.’?’ 2s.” “He thinks out the salient points of his F Scheme and decides to try it.”’ “Well?” ‘Being ‘a paper inaniufacturer, he is c familiar with all the sik ties inmylre way.’ Cane \ 4 inly.?? zg “Having decided to work ie game, he looks about for a bank to play it upon.’’ ° were tla: several which used om his mill. See?’’ ot iustance, if the bank here used pa. sured in his mill he would be nstead, he eislvive have wetie the : ed ere.’ ea 4 « Sen : course he would.” eS . a paper manufacturing expert, we to. ‘rant, second, that he is ith the mill where the paper likely to select the Chattanooga “you see, granting first, that our. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “You have.’’ “Then you agree with me that we are to look for the man we wantin this par- ticular mill; at least until we find that he is not there,”’ . “Ves, ” **So far so good. The hounds are out of hearing for the present, but I think they will come over the ridge soon.”’ “When do you expect another tele- gram ?’’ ‘‘At any moment; though probably not before dark.”’ Amn p *“T will go now.”’ ‘*And return at dark ?”” SV boi? “Do you know, Carter, I feel as though we were not doing anything sitting here and waiting for the forger to come to us.”’ ‘*Excuse me, the hare.’’ ; “Call him what you please; you know what I mean.” és _ “Yes... On the other hand, I have an idea that we shall arrest our man——”’ ““Excuse ine; the hare”? _ 2 “T stand corrected; that we shall bag our hare right here.”? “What! In this office?’’ “Oh, no! In this town.” “On the principle of running a cir- cle, eh?’ = {tWes, o) be “Then the place should be in one of the banks.’’ m “7 think it will be.’’ os “You don’t mean that you ES any — of the bank officials.’ “Rar from it.’’ . ¥: ies “Then what do you mean?” oo ue 3 am not ante sure what T do | mean, ae yet.” as ge “<a, Cdnjectyts po - 2, “Partly. ” has 2 Fen BA ; _ “You are going now? tt Ves, $$. LAL ERS af ‘To stank" ae Se

Page 25

— : NICK CARTER WEEKLY. . 2 2 2 Nick went out. “T believe it’s made of wood, is it “3 In passing down the street he met the not?’ ee bank president with whom he had talked _ “Yes, for wrapping paper.”’ = . the preceding day. “Of spruce and white paper.”” ais ' “Ah, Carter!’"he exclaiined ; ‘“‘any news “Yes? = yet?” ; 7 _ ““That, then, is not used for our writ- ‘None. " ing paper, checks, and so forth.”’ Saal “You don’t seem to be working very - ‘“‘No, I think not.” ‘ x - haid to earn the reward.”? “‘How.is that pulp made?” ; - - “Did you expect to find me with my **You mean of what?’ a coat and hat off, dodging around corners * ceVes.? . ina wig and beard, looking for the for- “Rags.?” i ‘. ae ~ ger?” “5 Ort ate you know the eee meg “No; not exactly.” “No.” ie a ‘Nick was silent a moment. “Have you an acquaintance who does??? — 4 .. = *‘J_ will stroll along with you a little ‘*Yes, several.” a way, if I may,” he said, presently. “‘Could you send me to one of them??? “Happy to have nae “Por what?” ‘ : _ Thanks.” ‘Ror information. I want to study | . ‘You miei to ae some questions, I pulp.” ; 3h presume.” “Hm! Let me see.” J * ‘““Ves:afew. |. *©A letter of introduction will suffice. x 'Twarn you before you begin that I will do the rest."”" me oa : know perhaps less than you do about this ‘They are very busy men.” = ease.” ‘©Aj] men are busy, or ae be.”? a : Tre”? . a re “Perhaps 1es9, perhaps more.” Sg 3 “Bhp? cag 7 os mean that you may have. picked up a point or ai here and there which have escaped me.”? ? weatt cle a Iy it Z * But, I mean, how sha you app 5 “ hink’so.” Mais I hardly think so. the asad eet * . oe ms ou ete pine = - ¢} don’t know yet. Perhaps not at all, As mi ue, , . and, again, | it ony aie A me ee. ce - - “Hm! DoS ¢ dep geass cophis forger ‘was probably sn old offend oe is ance?” é er; don’t you think so?’ BAP Oise asian ce dy: subject — “Really, ‘the subject is so out. of m pees ro eatin ie, Fine, He ay i cS not be.” — canaaace: we say He 1s oe exga ; “Thanks. In the first place; our fc sa ae , es r run in his opens ve: « “Tp put ee should be obliged.” Sr “What do you expect to ean: by is : investigation ‘oe fe PS “A knowledge of pulp. Her oP om as ae

Page 26

Z, ae Ms ep (ir iis ; fy There, he drew forth the letter dnd glanced at the address on the envelope. **Good!’’ he exclaimed. . se It was adressed to the manager of the - very concern where Chick and Patsy “It’s hardly the thing to read such a _ letter,’? mused Nick, ‘“‘but I want to see - the inside of this one.” In a moment he opened it. “My Dear Keeser,’’ itran. ‘“I'he bearer of this letter is Mr. Nicholas Carter, a detective. - “He has a fancy that he can run down.and catch our forger of paper pulp fame. He seems convinced “that the man isan old offender, a rogue of the deepest dye, and I begin to be of his opinion. _. “Following his own ideas, he, to-day, _ requested me to give him a letterto some- body who conld post him regarding paper pulp and I naturally thought of you at once. You are the most thoroughly up in at business of any man I know, and any information that you can give Mr. Carter nding to the apprehension of the base criminal who so cunningly defrauded our nks, I will duly appreciate. _ “With, best regards and hee cee s.—etc., ete., etc.”?. ag dora. it happen that he: about a rabbit hunt; it isn’t in it. Z pent b? said ae: “now, let me does he write such a letter as that instead of one that is short and terse, and to the point? “Fourth, why is he so particular to say that I am convinced that the forger is an old offender, and that he begits to be of the same opinion? Begins to be. There isa good deal in that word, ‘begins.’ It would be more naturakif - had enter- tained that opinion at the start and had begun now to change his mind. Humph! He only now begins to believe that the forger is an old offender. “Rifth, why does he congratulate-Mr. Keeser ?”’ - Nick paced up and down the room sev- eral times in deep thought. Suddenly he paused and uttered a sharp exclamation. Then he sat down ina chair near at. hand, and laughed long and loud. ‘It’s beautiful!’ he exclaimed, pres- ently. ‘“‘It’s the prettiest thing I ‘ever saw, and the neatest! : ‘‘Why didn’t I think of it before? Oh, well, that can’t be wondered at! But talk : Mr. Forger, I’ve got you and, what’s more, T'll have some fun with you.” ay <—s ee NICK CARTER WEEKLY. me ’ ze. “‘Now, please?’ = ~ “Certainly.’’ ay “Come into the hotel. You can write - 1. ,it-there.”’ Ee 2 They entered the hotel together and s the letter was soon written. BS: Then, placing it in his pocket, Nick eS bade his friend good-afternoon, and 4 _, Sought his own room. eer CORR a, ae ad her ee eee E CHATER VII. BS NO CRIME WITHOUT INTENT. 3 “Well, Carter,’’ said the chief of police, c when, shortly after sundown, the detective | Ss entered the private office of that official, = ‘there’ ‘sa telegram here for you.” ss Nick tore open the ee te and) reads, the message. ‘Want to hear it?” he asked, present looking up. - ‘Of cou “Chick ae i ot goes to Bios . fuashes instruc-— i pvp nati to-night. Send, a:

Page 27

Se u - 3 «Mighty little, I call it.”? “Tt’s the- _best news he could have R ent. ” “Well——”’ % Sov till I wire the further instruc- ‘tions.’ “Any objections to telling me what they are?” « “Certainly not.’’ ; “Then tell me.” » --. “Look over my shoulder while I write.” Here is what he wrote: “Shadow king-bee everywhere until further orders.”’ The chief did not speak until the mes- 3 “sage had gone. _»Then,-with stern face and rather fierce eyes, he said: _« “Carter!” “Well >”? _. “Who do you mean ane Geingotiec?” : “A gentleman a the name of John M. Keeser. *, “TI thought so.’? ““Well?”’ ested me.’? _ “Thank you.”? “Since you went out J have looked up awe this paper mill aris oe Si . 4 find that the manager i is Joba M. Keeser.”” a3 : »* “Exactly.” — sieran “I know him well. ” Hy a ss Side by sia but Sere | yell?” t = eres ‘tends to direct sus- EERE a him. ta%h Meet eek ie me RIERA We ll, it's ‘preposterous! i. ye there was a man who ic ¥: Recter: ” | NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 3b . wp his confounded hunt of \yours inter- “Every 1 move you have este every ar- committed those cigars chair. - s “Then whats in blazes——’’ “The knowledge doesn’t alter may: Opinion. ”’ ~ “Why, confound it, Keeser is a rich man.’’ “T know it.’’ “Director in half a dozen bauks.’’ “T know it.”” -‘‘An upright, honest, honorable ae 1 oe “T know it.” Sa “Ts there any little ease that you don't Enow ?” | “*Yes, a good many. = “One wouldn’t think it to hear you talk,’’ Mee * ‘Pact, nevertheless. ”? ‘Wumph! Do you for an instant think: Keeser committed those forgeries ?’’ ‘“Wait. “Before I answer that question | you answer a few for me.” ~ **A dozen if you like.”’ ‘*You say you know Keeser person- ally ?”’ "Ves. ” ‘‘What sortofa manishe?” ~~ 2 ‘One of the best, most genial, hearti- 3 est, best fellows that ever lived.”” ‘ “Fond of a good time? sone and — laughs?’ a “Ves.” e ; = “‘Has hosts of friends?” 2 7 : “Of course.’"” nae - € a = “Rich? : “Very. ” = “Director, you say, in several banks?” > “Ves. What are you driving at?” i: “fKeeser. Is he friendly with bank ~ officials ?’’ . ‘Of course,’’ “a ‘‘And has a good deal of business with .. muh ee many of them, eh?”’ es: = ‘Naturally. ”? ’ ae “Now, ask me your question again.” 7. ‘“‘Do you believe that Jolin M. Keser ks ae “Ves.”? The Soot of police bounded ii Sie

Page 28

_ **Then, by thunder!”’ he cried, ‘‘we’ll - ~ stop this nonsense here and now!”’ *‘How ?”? asked Nick, quietly. “Why, I won’t love any more to do ~ with it.’ : oe “But I will.” **You forget that Iam chief of police here.” : “No, I do pate I remember it. “You, however, forget that I stand to lose be- - tween nineteen hundred and two thousand ° dollars.’’ ga **T don’t care a fig.”’ ety do. »”» ~ ‘What do you want to do? Go out and arrest Keeser when he comes to town to- _ night?” - ; “By no means.” What a ” 7 * oe 2 z= Pe 68 “You asked me if I believed him to be the forger. I do, However, I haven’t roved it yet.’ v “No, nor you won"t.”? “Bet you I will.” ~ “Carter, I believe you’re as iad as one f those animals we’ve been pretending to 1t—one born in the month of March.”’ “Chief, I'may be mad and I may not. rom the very beginning I have felt that re was something extraordinary in this ' To-day I have found it.”’ Well, all I have got to say is that in_ DR ~ =. peting apse Mr. id you a . a , - re arrest any man jaa you be guilty, would you: not: fm eae ar e Rito furnish y see ‘ NICK CARTER WEEKLY. _ about midnight, ougiitu’t le?’’ and at the same time pressed a written Sa _ down and waited. with “cc Ves. ” 4 “Tf Ilcannot convince you that he is the man who presented those drafts for payment I'l] drop the thing.’?, **Very good.’’ ’ “‘T will further .agree to convince you before I make any move in the matter.”’ ‘Oh, very, well. With that understand- ing go ahead; only I’nsorry for you.”’ “Why ?”? - “Tf you don’t know don't ask me to ex- plain.”’ “Chick ought to reach here somewhere ~ Io, 55- ” ‘Thanks. ’’ sae Nick soon after took leave of thre chief and returned to his hotel. Tien for the first time he adopted a disguise, for he believed that the chief would also be at the 10.55 train, and he did not care to be recognized. Being satisfied that he would not be knowny the chief he went to the depot shortly before’the ‘time for thé train to arrive, He saw the chief, also waiting, con- cealed in a dense shadow from whence he — could observe without being observed,‘but ~ knowing the perfection 6f his own dis- guise tle detective walked upand down | the platform until the train came puffing 74 im,y > eS Then he watched for Chick. x Presently he saw him. Then he walked - = rapidly forward, brushed past him roughly, Z g a —_— he 6 ra note into his hand. _ Then whistling gayly and not. once looking back he kept on his “way, << paused until the hotel was reached. a There he divested himself of the diss guise he wore, lighted a cigar, ang, ‘sat = Nearly two hours | fend nian disturbed. : . oe deresche a. ;

Page 29

“Come in!’ he said, and Chick en- _ tered. “Take a seat,’’ said “Nick. cigar.”’ ; ry “Thanks, ’? “‘Read my note???’ “Of course.’’ **What success?” **Perfect.’? ““Tracked him home??? Steg.) ; ‘*Did he see the man I named ??’ “No, ” “Didn’t, eh??? “He’s going to the tie ‘though, in _ the morning.” _ Good! At what time?” ‘ea ‘Ten-thirty.”’. -, * . “Pll be there. Now about the rig ?”” “T left that for Patsy.’ _. **Hum! Ida little rather that you had gout it yourself.” 3 __ Patsy’ ll be all right.” ~ “Thope so. What instructions did you 2 give him ?”? ae “To come here at once.”’ - “Right. If he gets those things that “Have a we've got him.”? _ * “But Teay, Nick.”’ “Well ??’ ~“Tean’t see why that fellow would ant to rob a bank.’ ¥ te blind yet? oe ona bk: 52. ; "your frend NICK CARTER: WEEELY. 2 ‘the consumptive forger wore that day _« Youre an, ae man; so am By Jove! “‘T wish I had.” 4 “Vou venture the remark that banking is reduced to a fine art, and that fraud in the shape of forgery is next to im possi- ble.” oaks “Very good. What then?’ “T langh and say that. nothing is easier.’’ rane.) 2 Au - “Tadd that I know a way in whichI can without being known or identified get a check or draft cashed at your own bank.”’ - Em? “*You pooh-pooh the idea.’? ‘*Sure.”’ “<T offer to bet that I can do it.” “AHI? 5 “‘You take me up, and then I turn to % two more bankers who are present, and _ banteringly ask them if they ,want to bet.’’ 8 § see’? “Three bets are made. The amounts are not uamed, for I object, on the ground that it would give them a clew.’’ : = “*Exactly,”? 4 “The agreement is that I amto secure — the cashing of a check at each bank. If within a year I have not been caught I win the several amounts. If I am caught — I mars the losses good. See rae = “Thats all. There as been no crime ia - committed bécause the intent is not there, oa I do the banks a service because I show — them a weak s mpot in their armor. See??? _ “Yes. But what's to hinder my pute ting a detective on yore eg and — so winnineE. : = Bada ie hier - "You agree to be perfectly non-comimstial _ I believe you.” What a joke!” Sez should say so.’ = “Tf it hadn’t ag for eis —_ sha

Page 30

. ‘What are you going to do?” es ‘“Have some fun with him.” = ‘sHow?”” ‘You will see. It will be rich.” "=~ A tap came at the door. ‘Ah!’ said Nick, rising; “there is Patsy; I hope he’s got the clothes.” —_—— — CHAPTER VIII. NICK CARTER’S TRIUMPH. _ lowing morning when Nick Carter ran up thé steps of Police Headquarters in Cin- _ cinnati, and hurried at once to the private office of the chief. **Well?”’ said that gentleman, not-with- out some sarcasm in his tones, ‘‘do you hear the hounds this morning?” -_*Piginly. Don’t you?” — **Can’t say I do.’’ ““They’re coming. I came to tell you _ to get your gun reddy.” “Baht? = _ **Aren’t you going to fire?” "No; you may bag the game.”? ~ “Thanks. Chief, how long have I begat on this case?’’ ‘*Altogether too long.”’ * * “Now, that’s unkind, keglty: ” “7 mean it.”? “Oh, well, you'll apologize bees I feave.** =. “What are you going to do?” ~ “Convert you.’? = SAnY i “fo my way of igukiug: sd ~“You’ll never do it.” aren 1? Look!” , : ~ NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ~ It was not yet nine o’clock on the fol- — a ots ‘2 eS 3 OTe 2 “Dou you remember the dress that. our consumptive friend wore ?’’ “*T’ve heard it described often enough. T ought to.” S‘Look !”? Nick opéned the satchel and drew forth a bundle of clothes. The chief’s eyes began to bulge as he looked at them. **Very clever,’’ he said at length when Nick had spread every article out piece by piece before him. ‘‘A very good imi- — tation. One would think they were the very clothes, disguise and all, that the forger wore.’’ ‘«They are. ’’ “Where did you get them ?”’ ~ “From a trunk in the rooms occupied ~ by your friend Keeser, when he is in Cin- cinnati.”’ “‘Nick Carter, swear by all you hold dear in this world and the next that you speak the truth, or—or——’”’ ‘Don’t finish, chief, for 1 so swear!’’ “Well, ’m-——”’ ‘Hold on. You ueedn’t swear.” "No, I won’t.’’ “Now, chief, here is a little more evi- “dence. What do you think of this?’’ As he spoke he held up a draft exactly like the one we have already seen as hay- ing been passed. at the Third National > Bank of Cincinnati. - The only difference was that it was Gt $2,500 intsead of $1,800, anditshowed on _ its face that it had been tampered with. “The sane application of pulp had been — used, but in this case the tint was not ee fect and the fraud could be easily dex By tected: ioe “Vou see,’? said Nick, “he got ‘two drafts on that bank. One was for $25 ar one for $18. This one didn’t work to suit him, so he laid it by. The others did, au he used them. ae fie Bac eeieg to say; go on, eee ees 3

Page 31

z E NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ing fouiid with these clothes—what more do you want?” é ~ “Nothing.’’ ‘‘Well, here is something else,’’ and Nick held forth a slip of paper on which the name ‘‘Thomas Hunt?’ was written scores of times. ‘*See,’? he continued; ‘‘that’s where he practiced writing his name.’’ _ “Tt looks so.”’ “Do you want anything more ae = **Ves. ” “What?” ‘Proof that Keeser is the man.’ **Here you have it.”’ _ This time he handed out two photo- graphs. One represented» the man sup- _, posed to be Thomas Hunt as he appeared ~ at the time he got the drafts cashed. They were beyond doubt the same man in the enough of the disguise had been reinoved -$o that the face was unmistakably that of. S oe M. Keeser.... "What did the nee 0 that for!’ ejacu- lated the-chief when he saw the pictures. ~“*You tell!” said Nick. ‘‘I can guess; but we won’t go into that now.”’ —“Did you find all these things in Kees- _er’s rooms ?”’ Yes, ” = Ao that he eile keep them, s*; = not eal 9 for geeks a rich find.” devil! Paes PE s har writing and signed a Pe seen __ Whole history of it like that?” same rig, the only difference being that ~ ‘broadly. later, “P'd_ have setting said. “oe = “Go there, of course. TI carry the an game bag, and you the guri:?”" ge mee Ke you carry su ; + “Til carry the grip, and you carry the eat Warrant,” Ky “Oh! “In getting the warrant get it of ete judge who won’t say 2 a word till you eine: es him permission.” “1 can do that.”” ““Keeser may want to settle, ? a anor “No, sirree! Not by a jugful. — “It hes “did this thing there shall be nosettlement: out of court.’? .” : “That's the talk. Bee Ba > Nick turned, €.% head ae grinn ’ ‘All the same, 9 added, ‘a mom

Page 32

- “Get it. I'll wait here.” 4 The chief was gone half an hour, but the warrant in his possession. _ Nick looked at his watch. “If we walk along now we’ll be just in tine,’’ he said. **““Good! Come on,”’ chief. = : _ He had dropped the man, and become the officer again. * In the meantime Chick was following i some directions given him by Nick. “This consisted. in calling, upon three gentlemen—the three of course who were interested in and who knew about the forgery business from its inception—and 3 delivering a message which Nick. had given him for each, Re # answered the —_ . The clock pointed at 10. As When Nick, : Rais smiling, and the chief, looking very ‘stern, entered the bank. : = The detective stepped at once to the - _ eashier’s window. Is the president in his office?” he asked. 2 iz Wes but he’s engaged at present.”’ - “Tf you will send in word that the chief oH of police is here, accom panigd by Nick ~ Carter, I think he will receive us.”? **Very well.” Word was sent in, and presently ‘the _eashier said: ~~ You may step in.” “Thanks,” replid\Nick. Then, follow- te ing the chief, he entered the private office. _ There were four men there. They were the presidents of the three inks supposed to have been victimized, d Mr. John M. Keeser.. “Ah, chief,” said the president of the ant duty to periortias at ts 3 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. at the end of that time he returned with” ‘Third, rising and extending his hand, ‘‘in | ir,” said the chief, “y have a very ito see these other _gentle- they are all interested," thi —- 7 epee = ses Jai tes “Ah! you refer——”’ ““To the great forgery case.”’ “Indeed! You don’t mean to say that. the—er—criminal——”’ “The forger has been found,’’ inter- rupted the chief, coldly. Keeser started violently, back and Jauglied. “*Good !’’ he said. ‘“This gentleman. greatest detective—— “Draw it mildly, chief.’’ “Unhung!’, grimly. “Good !? laughed Nick. ‘Have you arrested the forger yet?’’ asked the president. ‘*T am about to do so.’ “What do you mean?’’ ‘*T mean that he is here in this room} that he sits there! that his name is John M. Keeser.’’ Then with a quick stride the chiet stepped forward) and laid.a heavy hand_on : the astonished man ’s shoulder. *"Keeeser, 4 h€@ sa id, ‘‘I have. the war- | rant in my. pocket, No Vickery on, 1M) down you.’’ F a The others acted their parts wel] They looked theroughly astou de Keeser alone of the group seet concerned. ‘“Well,’’ he said, “the game is Up: I’m beaten, my friends.”’ ‘I have. the proofs all here in that 2 satchel,” continued the chief, ‘‘so aeerte : try to get out of it.’ - ‘Wait, chief. Not sofas. It was = a hoax.’ ae ‘Ves, a bitter hoax Yor you, 1, sir.” <a “T say-unhand me. Don’t itd neg then leaned “Who found him??? Nick Carter. The ” stand ?”” “Understand that you're a thief? Yes, I.do.”’, Shek . “Look: pene eiciiimes Kocsis a an: grily, ‘‘this has gone about far eae -“Gentlemen,’’ he continued, turning to his friends, ‘I want you intl the chief

Page 33

“Farce, el ?’’ muttered the chief. “Explain what?” asked the president. , NICK CARTER WEEELY. Bs) “Do you believe now that rabbits do travel in a circle?”’ “*Sure.”” Then Nick turned to the president of the bank. _* ‘“By the way,” he said, ‘‘1 have a lit- .tle agreement, sir, by which you hedged ak 3 “Aush!”’ “‘With these gentlemen. You-—-— **Hush !”? 4 “Oh! all right.”’ . But he had said enough. The laugh was on the president. : . Se (THE END. ] . ”» ’ ae Tne next number of Nick Carter " Weekly will contain ‘‘The High Power Burglars; or, Behind the Broken Wall,”’ by the author of Nick Carter. BOOK FOR EVERYBODY TEN GENTS EAGH, USEFUL AND INSTRUCTIVE INFORMATION. Album Writer's Assistant. Oww Book of Boats Short Hand for Everybody. Tha Hook of Knowledge. How to Do Business. Keyan) toe sent. Awateur’s Manual of Photography. ‘The Taxidermist Mavual,, Mille’ Universal Letter-Weiter. herent ‘ve unter and Angler, e Interna’ : oa zoe Gempiate "Angler Amateur and Professioual Qarsman’s | ng and ng. Guide Amateur £ Poe's Foot-Ball, ; plete Training vp Campbell's Lawn Tennis. Dunu’s Fenei as ere eal The Complete Checker Player. i phair ane Backgammon and F He Out Door Sports, The Young Gymuast, Nor FORTUNE-TELLING. ¢ Breast Napoleon's Book of Fate. 4 Breen Cupid's Dream Book TRICKS. eee: Hand Book of Magic, Helleraw’a Tricks with Cards. \ lie. in quatic Guide; or Yachting and Aquan Sailing. : a. a inl - Herrman’s Black Art. _ ‘The Way to Do Bagic. hag “J RECITATIONS AND READINGS, a Peerless Select Recitations and Readings, 1 The Young The Standard Reciter, te whew orng, please Pad DoF nnane fil Wie ‘ a books desired, also your full name and address, The books are. es cents each, postage 7 Address Sevag: 4 ¢ & SMITH, 25 Rose St., New Yorks (Manual Librare Devertment.) - rats t eg

Page 34

: - Bigb Prices Are On Vacation THE MEDAL LIBRARY. ae ti A Money Saving Criumpb. eee Oliver Optics Books for Ten Gents. ’ > « There is a line of classics for youth—the books your fathers read—the books you want to read—the books the boys and girls will read and like as jong as the English language endures, They have done more to shape the mind of American boys forthe last fifty years than any others. We refer tg the writings of Oliver Optic, Horatio Alger, ’ wEdward S. Ellis, J. G. Holland, Lieut. LOupanerey, Harry Castlemon, .etc.~ These names are famillar wherever the 3 American fag floats. | Unfortunately, they have heretofore been procurable only in expensive binding at from $1.00 to-$1.50 each. ____~ The average boy has not got $1.50 to throw away. Ten cents is neater his price. We have made the ten cen} book , ._the leader with the elder readers, Now we are going to do the same thing for the boys, and give them their favorites # in a form-in every respect equal to cur well-known Eagle and Magnet Libraries, at the uniform price of ten cents. a8 ‘Thousands of boys have asked us to issue this line. Thousands more are ready to buy it on sight. There is no line ~ like it in the world. We-can justly call it the Medal series, as every book will be a prize winner. \, It will conta’ no "Y story that the boys have not approved as a “ standard, They have bought them by thousands at $1.00 an“ up- wards, and now they can get them for TEN CENTS A COPY. i s Oi 33 . - - « MEDAL LIBRARY... No, 1—The Boat Club, - - - - - Oliver Optic. No. 2—Cadet Kid Carey, - - - ~ Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry. : ; No.*3—All Aboard, - =: - - - Oliver Optic. < ts No. ptettenene Carey’ s Luck, = is Lionel Lounsberry. 24 Brg: os ‘ Others Baas Good to Fo 4 : i “No. 1 will be ready the latter part of January, and the succeeding numbers will follow weekly. Orderthemst |. once, “If vos cannot get them send to us, Rémember these are aie oo printed from ‘new plates, with elegant bes _ covers, and id are De “real thing,” and only TEN CENTS A CO) = . 3 “es ~ ee (STREET & we Publishers - . r = AMA T EUR PHOTOGRAPHY. Diamond Dic / Quarterek ti z was? pions imagine that a photographer's camera is a dimeun« 53 machine,to handle, and that the work isdirty and disagreeable, All thisisa mistake. Photogeaphy is a clean, light, and pleasant ac- complishment, within the reach of all, The camera will prove a triend, reporter, and helper. With a very inexpeusive caniera any _ boy or girl can now learn not only totake good pictures, but pictures The eurlier issues of Diamond Dick, Jr. are now on the form of Quarterliles, each incindiug 13 consecutive tavorite weekly, together with the 18 orginal illura tions, and an elegant cover in colors. The price is 50 volume, for which sum they will be sent by mail post-paid to — that there is everywhere a demand for at remunerative prices. & address in the United States. _ complete. guide to this fascinating art, entitled AMareun MaNnuar ; *. oy PHovoeRAI HY Will he sent on receiptoften cents. Address, - = NOW READY. = = _& MANUAL LIBRARY 25 Rose St., N. Y, No, 1, includ Nos 1 to 18 of Diamond Dick, Jr. No. 2 ou ne 08, 14 to 26 of Diamond Dick, Jr. No, Fd he 27 to 39 of Diamond Dick, Jr. * . ~ WRESTLING. No, ss #e Nos. 40 to 52 of Diamond Dict, Jr, 4 y; If your Newsdealer has not got the Quarterlies, remit direct to a : the publishers, “History tells us that wrestling was the first form of athletic STREET & SMITH, 81 suites st., N.¥. quickness and pliability, to the limbs, vigor to the body/ 2 ‘coolness and discrimination to the head and elasticity to the tem- S Fewermcominran wera oommatn orem Tit) TOp Quarterly. a Without doubt it gives strength and firmness, combined 5 y's WResTLING. It is fully iMlustrated and will been : : Phe ge i rissues of Tip T Weekly are now on sale in the Postpaid on receipt of ten cents, Address — ge en ator con ina me a a ate the : MANU. vorite weel together with the 13 0 nated —— nhs DEE nd an p blee. ALooeer in colors. ‘The P 25 Rose Street, New York. vale, for mhien: sum they will gtd by m yrs oA aay address in the United States. - = NOW READY. 3 Nos, 1 to 13 0} i UT-DOOR SPO RTS. Bo, xe a. playing many of the most popular ou = NO = potas book boahang- te Leesa t

Page 35

Page 36

iy a 60—The Electric Girl; or, The Figures on the Toy Balloon. - 61—Nick Carter's Junior Force; or, The Man With Four Arms. 62—The Tin Foil Clue; or, Told by ‘the Phono- ; graph. _ 63—Nick Carter’s Strongest Team; or, The Glass Face of a Coffin. _ 64—A Fight for a Boot Heel; or, The New Mem- ber of the Ready | landlers. —Caught by the Lightning Mail; or, Bob Ferret's : Alliance Wit a Peruvian Mesmerist. 66—Fighting Electric Fiends; or, Bob Ferret mor iB the Wire Tappers. ta) F 4 gered: Burn; or, Handling a Million Dol- lar Case, tigtes — of Glass; or, Little Roxy in a Double le. _ 69—The Man From 'l'exas; or, Bob Ferret and Jack Burton in Double Harness. 70—Shadowing A shadow; or, A Ghost in Nick Carter’s Detective School. ~71—Green Goods; or, A Catch in Bob Ferrtt’s Rat Trap. 72—Bob Ferret's Password; or, The Chase of the ad Gold Ship. - 73—Roxy’ s Golden Decoy; or, The Girl Detective i Plays a Lone Hand. 74—The Great Detective Trio; or, Nick Uarter’s Boys in a New School. : _ %5—The Human Fly; or, Roxy’s Message to the Wide Awake School Boys. 76—Bob Ferret’s Trolley Trail; or, The School Detectives Patchedup Quarry. _ 77--Roxy’s Talking Clew; or, The Mystery of the Magic Maze. _ 78—The Living Target; or, Jack Burton’s Friend Z Be a oa STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK. paca ake Sign all Nevwsdealers.