Nick Carter Weekly (no. 126) (1899 05 27)

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Issued weekly. Antered as second clas: matter at the N. Y. Post Ufice by StREET & No. 126. Price Five Cents. OR es CARTER'S er. gee OF BRAVERY fa gee rn oe er ‘9 | AG 0 NICK.TOOK THE FELLOW IN HIS ARMS AND DROPPED TO THE TOP RUNG OF THE LADDER.

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Entered according te Act of Congress in the ec 1899 by Bont 4 Smith, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, ~ Washengion, Issued weekly. ~~ No. 126. srneer&surrn, Pubiisners. NEW YORK. eked sei cactad Masher the Woo Tork. N. Y,, Post Office. ; ern ie ota May 27, 1899, . Cants 238 William 8t., N. Y. SE’T ON FIRE OR, NICK CARTER’S BRAVERY By the Author of “NICK CARTER.” CHAPTER I. A DESPERATE EXPEDIENT. ‘*And so I’ve got to get out. It’s either Canada or Sing Sing.”’ **How much of the firm’s money have you taken ?’’ ‘“Thousands of dollars. I money on everything I touched. ever saw such luck.’’ It wasn’t a safe place in which to tell asecret, or to relate the details of a have lost No one crime. Harry Cole and Elmer May had both been drinking heavily in the early part of the evening, and that, in a measure, ac- counted for their veuturing upon so dan- gerous a subject in so public a place. They were sitting in the first gallery of an uptown theatre in the city of New York. Cole was employed in a real estate and renting office, while May was clerk in a Grand street clothing store. **] don’t see how you got hold of so much money,”’ said May. ‘‘I can’t get my hands on a cent down at my shop.”’ “Oh, I make nearly all the collec- tions,’’? was the reply. ‘I eae ait out two or three years ago.’ As the young men talked on in whis- pers a swarthy, black-eyed, full-bearded man, sitting in the row of seats directly behind them, leaned forward and _lis- tened. His eyes, small, sharp, and cunning, were fixed intently on the stage, but he heard every word that was saia. There were people just as near the talk- ers as he was, but they seemed to pe thinking only of the play. “You'll find some way out of it,’’ said May, in a moment. ‘‘Some of your

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2 NICK CABTER WEEKLY. schemes will wes then you can re- place the money.” ‘*T haven’t any schemes at present,’’ replied Cole, with a bitter smile. ‘‘Col- lections have been mighty slow: lately.”’ “Well, I’m sorry, old man,’’ said May, ‘‘but you have been going it a little heavy.’ “Ves, and now I’ve got to pay for it. I believe I’d cut a man’s throat, or set: fire to this theatre, crowded as it is, for money enough to square myself with the firm. ” The cunning eyes of the Tistener glit- tered with an inward satisfaction as Cole uttered these reckless words, and he ‘threw himself back in his chair with a ‘look of triumph on his swarthy face. **VYou’ll feel better in the -morning,’’ said May. ‘‘Hadn’t we better go home now ?”? ‘“‘We'd better go and get a cocktail,’ was the reply. ‘‘This is no place to do our talking, and I’m as dry asa fish.”’ The two young men arose to leave the theatre. ‘Phe man who had been listening _ steached the exit 7 he as soon as they ~ did. Z ‘*Say,’’ said Cole, as they turned into a brilliantly-lighted barroom, ‘“‘did you motice that chap who sat just behind us?” 5 *€No.”” : ‘Well, there was an ugly-looking _ brute in the chair right behind me, and he got up when we did. _I wonder what it means?’ ¢ _* “It’s all right, old man,” said May. “You'll be seeing a detective in 7 _ shadow until you get out of the city.”’ ___ Instead of walking directly to the bar, Cole stepped behind the screen which shut out the interior of the place from those passing in the street, and waited. ; a moment the ‘swarthy man passed = a and walked along to the rear énd of Be ie saloon: "G5 gocs his whiskers: ass NE said May, as Cole stepped up to the bar and ordered a cocktail. The young men disposed of their drinks and stood leaning against the counter, smoking and talking. Cole glanced quickly and keenly in the direction of the man they were talking - about. Then he turned pale and caught hold of his companion’s arm. ‘*What is it?’ asked May. Cole hesitated, with his eyes still look- ing toward the backend of the room. ‘‘Nothing,’’ he said in a moment. “Still worrying about that chump with the whiskers?’’ asked May. ‘‘I1 think you’d better go to bed.’’ Cole made no reply. He was watching the threatening eyes ang motioning hand of the man who had_ followed him. “Don’t go away; I want to see you.”’ The fellow’s gestures announced his will as plainly 4s words could have done, May saw nothing of what was going on. j Cole was white as a sheet, and his hand trembled visibly as he pulled at his mus- tache. ‘*You’d better not wait for ure,’’ said Cole. ‘*I couldn’t sleep if I went to bed. Go on home, and I'll see you in thie morning. ”” **You won’t go away to-night ??’ “No. ” “T don’t know whether to believe you or not,” said May, ‘You are acting strangely. Has that fellow with the tis- fit whiskers got anything to do with it?” ‘““There’s nothing wroug,’’ said Cole, “only I’m too nervous to sleep. Go on home.”’ May turned toward the door. “The stranger walked forward and stood by the young defaulter. May, turning back for the last word, saw them standing there side by side zt Went on without ee : ~ "

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on 5 oan a full glass and drank he doesn’t ‘Pam “It’s some crooked chum want me to see,’? he thought. sorry for the fellow;’’ ‘*What do you want?’’ demanded Cole, in no pleasant tone, as soon as_ his com- panion had disappeared. _ ‘*We can’t talk lere,’’ said the stranger. An angry flush crept over the young iman’s face. ‘“What have you to say to me,’’ he asked, ‘‘that may not be said here. and now ?”’ : “Don’t talk so loudiy,’’ said the other. “You have done enough loud talking to- night.’’ The fellow spoke with a sneer. ‘*“What do vou mear?”’ “T overheard every word you said in the theatre.’’ Cole sank back against the connte?. It seemed for a moment as if he would fall to the floor. ‘*Well?’’ he said, faintly. “Come to my room, I think I can help ” - Cole ec aciedd the follow i in amazement. omer me??? he muttered. ‘‘You?—an entire stranger!’ . “Yes. Come ays You are attracting attention here.’ More dead than alive, Cole took the stranger’s arm and walked out of the place. : ‘‘Where are you going?” he asked, as his conductor turned north. “To my room. It is s only a few steps.’’ we ‘In five minutes the defaulter and his strangely found companion were seated im a cozy room in an uptown hotel. ae s A box of cigars and a bottle of choice "wine - occupied prominent positions: on the table before them. eer “Help yourself, ’’-said. the aoe ate the bottle toward the young man. “Tt will drive away the hjue devils.” ~ NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 3 ‘““AsI said before,’’ commenced the stranger, ‘‘I heard your very indiscreet conversation with that young man in the theatre.’ **Well?’’ ‘“How many more friends know that you have stolen a large sum of money from your employers?”’ “*T have told no one else,’’ was the re- ply. ‘‘I only told May because I want him to aid mein getting away.”? “(In what way???’ “T mean to go into the woods, or on the bay, or somewhere, and work the accident racket. Then he can return to the city and report me dead.”’ The stranger laughed. ‘A foolish scheme,’’ he said. ‘*The moment your books are. overhauled the truth will be known.”’ ‘*But it will delay pursuit until Iam out of the country.’ ‘‘And also implicate your friend, It won’t do.’’ ‘‘T don’t see why you should interest yourself in my schemes,’’ said Cole, angrily. ‘*Because I can help you, if you will help me.”’ “Help you?” 66Ves,? “In what way?’ “You work for Burns & Sweet?” ‘*How do you kuow that?” “‘T heard you mention the firm’s name up there in the theatre.” ‘Well rgd " “T want you to destroy every record of your crime.’” “But the book will be missed.” _“The book ? There is only one, then ?”” “Only. one,’?. was the reply. ‘The book in which I set down my collee- a tions.’ The feraige hesitated a deceit an then said, die and with a threat in every word: “There are ‘some: ‘papers. in, the custody :

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Pa e 4 NICK CARTER WEFELY. of Burns & Sweet which I want de- stroyed. I followed you to the theatre to buy you up. I didn’t expect to find you already a criminal.”’ ‘But how is all this to be done?” asked Cole. The stranger bent forward and spoke rapidly for some moments in a whisper. **Now do you understand ?’’ he asked. **Yes, and I refuse to have anything to do with it.’’ **Then you go from this place to the police station.’ **In that case the proposition you have just made will be aired in court in the morning. ’’ ‘“Who would be believe it ?”” demanded the other, with a laugh. ‘‘My story will be sustained by the books. We are here alone. Who will confirm your story ?’’ *fAnd if I do this thing,’’ began Cole, “‘what proof have I that you will not turn ine over to the officers ?”’ : **You have my word that one thousand dollars will be placed in your hands the instant that office and its contents are in ashes.”’ “Well, show me how to do it.” Again the stranger spoke rapidly, and in a low tone for some moments. **Are you satisfied ?’’ he asked in con- clusion. ““VYes,’? said Cole, hoarsely. ‘The money will help me to get anew start somewhere, ’’ “And you will return herein an hour?”’ “Yes, if I am not in charge of an oth- cer.’’ - The young man arose and staggered to- ward the door. “Here, said the stranger, “‘you must not go in that way. Takeadrink and brace yourself up a bit.’’ Cole drank greedily again, and once more started for the door. : tty, a) f ‘The stranger watched him pass down the elevator, and went baek to his room with a diabolical smile on his wicked face. “We will be a valuable addition to the gang,’’ he muttered, “‘besides helping ine out personally. -I am in luck.”’ He dressed himself for the street, and in a short time was opposite the office where Cole was employed. Ina moment he sawa bright flame leap up on the inside of the private office. Then Cole came tothe door with a burning book in his hand and gave the alarin. He then dashed into the street and threw the book into a sewer manhole at the corner of the street. The covers of the book were closed ong small bundle of folded papers. ‘“The fool! The blind fool!’? muttered the waiting man. ‘‘Why didn’t he let them, burn ?”’ het all was confusion in the street, and fire engines and policemen swarmed like fliesin summer. Then the watcher saw his accomplice seized by a policeman and taken away in the direction of the station, CHAPTER II. A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE. “T want to see Nick Carter.”’ ‘*You may state your business to me.”’ **Are you Nick Carter ?’’ ‘“That is immaterial. State your busi- ness, please.’’ The great detective and his visitor were seated in the private apartment of the former at his residence. The visitor was evidently a Jew of the better class. He was handsomely dressed, and spoke with a musical, refined voice. ‘‘T_ came here,’’? he began, ‘‘on the re- commendation of the chief of police. My name is Samuel Lamb, and I desire to consult Mr. Carter on a delicate and im- portant matter.?’ - As he spoke he extended a card upon which a few words had been hastily writ-

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 5 “‘T recognize the signature of the chief of police,’’ said the detective, ‘‘and you may proceed at once. I am Nick Carter.’’ Mr. Lamb regarded Nick with a look of surprise on his face. “You are a young man to have a world- wide reputation as a clever and _ success- ful detective,’’ he said. The detective bowed. ‘“My time is limited,’’ he said. come to the point at once.’’ ‘‘About a month ago,’’ began the visitor, ‘‘two young mien of my race cate “here. When they stepped from the gang- plank of the vessel which brought them over they disappeared. I want you to aid in finding them.’’ “Do you know of any reason why they should remain in hiding?” ‘The visitor’s face flushed, and he hesi- ‘tated a moment before answering tie question. “There is no good reason why they ‘should remain away from their friends,”’ he said, ‘‘although I can readily imagine a condition of affairs which would cause them to do so.”’ - ‘Were they accused of crime in the old country ??’ : “They were guilty of a boyish prank which could in no way affect them in this country.”’ . “And you believe them to be in hiding for fear of the officers ?”’ Ves,” “And your only motive in discovering their whereabouts is to assure them of their safety?” “Not exactly. Since their departure from Russia, which was ‘some months ior to their arrival in New York, they have inherited a very large fortune. I ‘ want to place t them in pomeasion of their -y and their estates.”’ ; “Yon. are certain aie reached New ‘*Please **But you have no proof that they are still alive ?”’ “Not the slightest, and that is what troubles me. The property is claimed by a distant relative, who would inherit it in ease of their death.”’ ‘““What sort of man is this distant rela- tive??? “Tt is a woman.’? ‘Ah! what sort of a woman?’ “A cunning woman, with a beautiful face, a perfect manner, and a heart fit to mate with the Evil One himself.”’ ~ “This is becoming interesting. Does this woman attempt to show that her kinsimen are dead ?”’ “*No, but in their absence, through an agent named Brown, she demands pos- session of the property.’’ ‘She is none too good to connive at their death ?’’ ‘She would murder scruple or remorse.’’ ‘“What is her name?’ “Rebecca Sandler.” “‘And the names of the missing men ?”’ ‘*Joseph and Maurice Pressburg.’’ ‘“Have you the papers relating to this fortune ?”’ “*Certainly.’’ ““Are they in your possession now? Did you bring them with you?’ ‘““They are at present in the office of my agents, Burns & Sweet.”’ The detective gave an almost imper- ceptible start. ‘‘Have you been to the office of your agents this morning ?”’ he asked. “I have not. Why do you ask that?” | ‘‘Have you read the morning papers?”’ ‘“*T have not.”” Nick took a, newspaper clipping from his table and passed it over to his visitor. ‘Read that,’’ he said, ‘‘The office of them without Burns & Sweet was set on fire last night and valuable pepe are said to be miss- a. ing this morning.’ A - There was a chaos lok on the. Se

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- seem to do so,’’ __ “How shall I know you?” 6 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. of the.visitor as he read the clipping and handed it back. ‘tT don’t understand it,’’ he said. “What were the papers?’’ asked the detective. “*The will and a list of all the property belonging to the estate.’’ ‘“The original will ?”’ **T am not sure of that. It seems to me that it would hardly be possible to get that out of Russia; but of one thing I am positive.’? *(Well?’? “And that is without those papers my clients will be put to great trouble in securing their riglits if they get them at all.”? “Tt looks to me as if your bold, bad woman was getting down to business,”’ said the detective. , “Tf you will take the case we may de- feat her yet.’’ “T may as well aes you out,’’ said Nick, ‘‘especially as the case has already excited my curiosity.”’ “Then we may as well proceed to the office of Burns & Sweet at once. I am _anxious to know whether those papers were injured or destroyed.”’ Nick sat back in his chair with an ~amused look in his eyes. “Go and consult with your agents at once,’’ he said, “and remain there until os come.”’ “Very well.” ‘But you won’t see me there as you see me now,”’ said the detective, “Cand even if you do recognize me you edit not **You may keep looking until you hear a man talking about Erie stocks and “bonds in connection with farm ‘produce, on “T think you may trust to my Sie. gh ae In a Short time Mr. Lamb was seated in the private office of his agents, on Broadway. At first he could not suinmon. courage to ask the important question he was there to ask. “*You had an accident here last night,”’ he finally said. ‘“Merely a trifle.”? The expression of Mr. gave the lie to his words. ‘*The papers say you lost some valuable papers,’’ continued Mr. Lamb, Burus tried hard to seem amused. ‘*The papers always get things inixed,’’ he said. “Then my papers are all right ?’’ Certainly.’ Lamb gave a sigh of relief, *‘T am glad to hear it,’’ he said, ‘‘for the case is sufficiently complicated as it Ase Burns drunimed on his desk with the ends of his white fingers, and said noth- ing. Just then a voice was heard at the door of the private office. ‘“Never mind,”’ it said, ‘I'll walk tight in. I want to see about buying. Erie stocks or bonds. They’ll go a-kiting when the farm produce begins to come tS Lamb looked up in amazement. A portly, red-faced man, with a loud voice and a louder suit, stood in the door- way. ‘*Just reading about your being Sained out last night,’’ he said, addressing himt- self to Burns. ‘It doesn’t look as if you’d had much of a scorch. Papers all right ?”’ Burns was plainly annoyed at the inter- Tuption. “Tam busy at present,’’ he said. ““Can’t you call later in the day ?”’ “Oh, Pll wait,’’ said the newcomer, coolly throwing himself intoa chair. ‘(I’m Burns’ face John Boland, of ace. set I want to talk paar. ws pe aaa 2)

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 7 ‘Burns went on with his writing. The clerk bowed and went - back to his A clerk from the outer office appeared desk. in the doorway. ~ There was a peculiar smile on his face. “Step this way, if you please,” he They must be in the ocean by this said to the newcomer. ‘‘Perhaps I can time,’’ he nruttered. wait on you. Mr. Burns is busy, as you A short distance from the>office Nick see.”? “* walked up to Lamb and touched him on ‘All right,’ said the disguised detec- the shoulder. tive. ‘“You’ll do as wel! as another, per- “Tt is a good thing you gave mea haps. Are you the clerk the police arrest- word to recognize you by,’’ said the lat- ed last night and let go of mighty sud- ter. ‘‘I-never should have known you,”’ den ?”’ -“Whiat did he tell you about the pa- ‘The clerk’s eyes flashed angrily, but pers??? asked Nick. he smilgd as he replied: ‘*He said they were all right.”’ ~£©Ves, I ain the one. It was my first **Did you ask to see them ?”’ experience in that direction.”’ ‘‘No, I never thought of that.’’ “First time to everything, as the man ‘‘Well, the papers are not there, and z: said when they took him out and hung that clerk knows more about last niglit’s him,’’ said the Chicago man. ‘‘Any val- affair than he is willing to tell.” uiable papers lost last night ?”’ ‘‘What makes you think that?” * Nick eyed the elerk keenly as he asked “‘His actions principally,’’ was the re- the question. Theclerk bent over his ply. “‘What were the associations of the desk and muttered that everything was Pressburgs in Russia?” - all right so far as he knew. © . ‘*They were tailors, and associated with “Glad of it,’’ said the detective. ‘‘I people of their own walk in life. This expect to do a little business with this fortune comes from an uncle who | never firm, and I want to know that my papers recognized them in life.”” =~ are all right.” “Then I khow just where to look for After soilie conversation with the sk, them.’ Nick stepped to the door of ‘the inner The detective “steeped a cab, aud the room again. two men were driven to Suffolk street. Burns’ eyes were fixed on his desk, “This is the sweater district,’’ said : and so he did not see the signal which Nick as they left the cab, ‘‘and we nay passed between Lamband the seeming hear of them here.” er, RS, Closely followed by his companion, = “Pil call again,”’ said Nitk, “when Nick entered» a narrow alley and ‘soon you have more time., Good-day. Glad came toa wretched, rubbish-lined court, eee got out ohithe: fire ‘all right.” hedged in by towering masses of brick. Nick left the office, and in q moment The low but distinct whizzing sound ' Lamb excused himself and followed him. of many sewing machiues was heard. : : Then Burns summoned be into the Nick ascended one fli ight of stairs after. _ ___ Private office. another until he came to the fifth land- “Have you discovered that book or ing, passing’ through many dark and = = ‘those papers yet ?” he asked. “aus sty halls on the way. ; oa} am sorry to say that I have not.’ . At the fifth landing he ne ata. = 2 on looking. ‘They~ must be closed door and pushed it open without y- had to Bek to Lamb not amo- waiting for it to he opened. The room contained at Teast a a dowel 5

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: : heap of cinders on the office floor. 8 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. workmen of the black, scraggly-bearded Russian type. After one look at the visitors, they worked on stolidly. Nick talked in French to one of the inen who seemed to act as foreman, but got little information. In a moment he left the shop and went to another on the same floor. As they stepped into the dark hall, one of the men who had been at work in the room they had just left went to the spi and opened it. Then he turned back, said a few ena in Russian to the man in charge, and en- tered the hall. When Nick got to the door of the sec- ond room Lamb was not by his side. He called out to him, but received no answer. - The detective stepped a few feet be- yond the door, crouched down and lit his dark lantern. In a moment its rays shot down the length of the hall. Lamb was nowhere in sight. “There is something wrong here,” thought the detective. ‘‘Can it be possi- ble that the rascals have recognized Lamb as interested in this search and taken him away from my very side?’’ The detective advanced toward the landing again. As he did so, he heard the banging of a heavy door in the distance, a blow and a cry fer help. = CHAPTER III. FIGHTING THEIR FRIENDS. _ “But the papers were not destroyed.”’ **VYou saw the fire, and you saw the makes you say the papers were not E “burned?” The stranger, who had instructed Cole ‘ ‘to ail. him ne A walked up What ~ and down the floor of his room with an evil smile on his face. “You know the papers were not burned,’’ he said. ‘‘ You threw them into the manhole of the sewer.”’ ‘“How do you know that?’ Cole had, been angry before. Now there was a touch of fear in his voice. “Bah! I stood there across thé street and watched you.’ ““Then you were there before the offi- cer arrested me?’’ “Yes, and I was there all the time you were at thie station.’’ » “T thought you had more confidence in me than that,’’ said Cole. “*T have confidence in no one who first robs his employers and then sets fire to their premises,’’ was the reply. ‘Well, the papers are out of the way, at all events. They are in the sea by this time.’ ‘*How do you know that? Who knows what fortunate devil may find them float- ing on the water?’’ “T want my thousand dollars just the same. ‘This mystery can’t last forever, and I must leave the city.’ The time was noon, and Cole was sup- posed to be out for lunch. ‘You have a few more fires to set bé- fore you leave the city,’’ said Brown, coolly. ‘What do you mean ?”’ “T mean that there are peowis:s we want to get rid of.”’ “Then you’d better hire some one to do your dirty work. I have had enough of you,’’ replied Cole, angrily. a “In for a penny, in for a pound, my friend,’’ said Brown, coolly. ‘*You may as well stay with us now.’’ “‘And if I refuse?’ “Then the doors of the State prison open for you.”’ ‘‘Why do you insist upon dragging me into your schemes, when there are hun- dreds who would be aled 3 to assist you?’’

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; mh, 1 ‘onstrated that when I NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 3 ‘*Because it is not safe to take too many into one’s schemes. Besides, you are well dressed and seemingly respectable... You iiay wander into any building you choose without exciting suspicion. That is why we want you.”’ ‘You are a devil.”’ **No, Iam onlya prudent man. I dem made your ac- _ quaintance on the basis upon which we are now working.’’ ‘‘And you intended all the time to make me your tool in this dangerous work ?”’ **Most assurecly.’’ With an oath, Cole sprang at the throat of his tormentor. Brown seized him around the waist and hurled him fiercely to the floor, where he lay pauting with rage. Don’t try that again,’’ said Brown, bending over the prostrate man, with the look of a fiend in his eyes, “‘for you will not escape so easily the next time.”’ . Cole arose to his feet with a scow] on his face. ‘©When you are ready to listen to rea- son,” said Brown, ‘‘I have something to say to you.”’ “Then say it now, for I must hasten back to the office.” ‘*There are two men in the city who must be put out of the way.” “Go on. ” “They are friendless and without means, so the job is by no means a risky one, Besides, I have a plan which will make their death appear to be acciden- tal.”’ “Come. to the point. Why do hd wish these men murdered ?”’ Sry, friend of mine will inherit a vast - estate upon their death.” Cole walked’up and down the room for Some moments without speaking. Brown eyed him suspiciously. “What do you say os tie latter asked, “T will think about it.” “It is but a trifle. They sleep in a loft on Suffolk street. Drop a bit of a liquid I will give you into their beer and they will sleep soundly.”’ **And then ?”’ “If the building should happen to burn down in the night they will perish, like the rest of the vermin, in the flames.”’ “But the Suffolk street tenements are crowded with women and children, and hundreds might be burned to death.”’ Brown shrugged his shoulders. “They will be warned,’ he said. “Tt can’t be done. What you propose is wholesale murder.’’ ‘*It must be done. I would trample out a thousand ees in order to aid in secur= ing this fortune.’ ‘Give me until night to *over.’’ “Very well, come here at five.’’ Cole paused on his way to the door. **T don’t see,’’ he said, ‘‘how it is that think it these men you speak of can leave a for- _ tune to anyone, if they are without means themselves, as you just stated.’ * «They are ignorant of the death of a wealthy uncle, and they are -in no condi- tion to find out about it. They came here from Russia fugitives from justice.” “1’ll see yeu to-night,’’ said Cole, shortly, as he turned away. “Brown waited a few moments and then left the room. “T shall have to watch that fellow,’ he muttered. ‘‘He has the very devil in him. How his eyes glared when he sparng at me in there.”’ Half a dozen blocks away from the ho- | tel Brown paused on a street corner and glanced anxiously over the course he had pursued. : “There’s that fellow I saw when I went into the hotel,’? he thought/ "ei wonder if he’s following me??? - “apahy:” z The man in question looked like a me- ‘ os Bape ‘ = ¢ aa ; im

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lw NICK CARTER WEEKLY. chanic in hard luck. His face was half covered by a short beard, and his clothes, which were of the cheapest material, were faded and worn. He walked witli a slouching air, as if apologizing for his existence. He walked straight past Brown as the latter stood on the corner and soon dis- appeared in the crowd. ‘‘T believe le is watching me,’’ thought the plotter. ‘‘UJ] make sure before I go to Suffolk street.’’ He turned down a side street and en- tered a suall cigar store. ~ In a moment the seeming mechanic _ passed the place. Brown hastened out, fully resolved to face the fellow and demand an explana- “tion, but his shadow was nowhere in “sight. He called a carriage aud was driven rapidly to Suffolk street. . . ‘The pauper will be in good luck if he keeps up with this pace,’’ he thought, ~ “as the vehicle dashed down the street. * Buta block away another carriage was driving along in the same direction at equal speed, ° , A bundle of clothes lay in the bottom of this vehicle, and the occupant was a seedy mechanic no longer. ~ He looked more like a gay young clerk out for a holiday. ‘Brown left his carriage at the entrance to the alley;which Nick Carter and Sam- uel Lamb had entered but a short time fore, and began to climb the steep * = ; Ta one of the dark halls he came in = _ contact with a moving human figure, ae ad sprang back with a growl like that _ sof an angered animal. mie “Keep out of my way,’’ he said. “Why : don’t you. have some light in these cursed halls? A man might break his neck here, or get lost and never see the light again.”” He took a matcii from his pocket and struck it on the wall. The wall was dete: gue. ignite. Then he struck it on his clothing, hold- ing it aloft, after the manner of a torch, as it flared up. it refused to «. Two young men of two or three and twenty stood before him, both grinning to the fullest extent of their coarse mouths. . They ‘were rough-looking fellows, but there seemed to be nothing vicious about them. “You here??? other oath. you.”’ ‘““And we were going to see you.’? The talk was all in Russian. “Then you had something to tell me,’’ said Brown, hastily. ‘‘What is it?’’ Without speaking a word the men turned about in the hall and led the way upa flight of dark stairs to a miserable loft. **You ate mighty cautious about what- ever you’ve got to say or do, to say thie least,’’. “muttered Brown, as one of the men locked and bolted the heavy oaken door. This task completed, he fellow stepped up to Brown, by pees doubly mystified, and raised his hand as if in- voking silence. ‘‘What do you mean by such paca! ‘*Listen.” Through the loose boards of a light partition at the rear end of the loft came the sound of heavy breathing. and now ° and then the restless movemeuts of a hu- man body in uneasy sleep. The young Russians gtinued as the sounds came to their ears. ‘‘What is it?’ demanded Brown. “You remember the man you showed us and warned us against—the man of the law who wants to send us back to Russia for trial and execution ?” ’ said Brown, with an- ‘‘T was just going up to see .

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< pe NICK CARTER WEEKLY, uN The Russian pointed significantly, over his shoulder with his heavy hand. “He is there,’’ he said. Brown gave a start of pleasure and sur- prise. “Do you mean to say that you have Samuel Lamb in there?’ he asked, ina moment. ‘‘How did it happen? ‘Tell me at once, Joseph Pressburg.’’ **Hushj don’t speak that naine here,’’ said the young man, in terror-stricken tones. ‘‘He caine here with another man and we called him away. In one minute he was sound asleep,’’ added the fellow, with another grin. **Vou did well,’’ said Brown, ‘‘for the man would drag you back to Russia or execution. But what became of the man who came here with them ?”’ ‘*He disappeared. We hunted over the building for him, but he must have made his escape.”’ ‘This man, Lamb, must not be allowed to escape. You must kill him.”’ Joseph and Maurice Pressburg nodded sullenly, and sat down to plan the mur- der of the only man inthe world who had it in his power to place them in the possession of a mighty fortune. In the meantime the second chack had stopped in Suffolk street, and the gay young clerk liad entered the dark halls of the huge building. In the midst of their plotting the three men in the loft heard a faint noise at the door, and sprang to their feet. The noise, which was like the moving of hands overt the panels, stopped, and all three men moved toward the room at the rear of the dismal loft. Joseph Pressburg ‘unlocked the sbi he and all stepped inside. : sete in one! ‘The sound of heavy breathing was no - longer heard. ©. ‘The Russians pointed to a dark object corner-and made motions of congratulations. ii Bo ‘eats Brown stepped forward and raised a heavy cloth which covered the object. Then he sprang back with a curse upon his lips. “There is no one there, he almost shouted. ‘‘While we have been idling there he has escaped.”’ The Russians, not knowing what else to do, tore frantically about the room, looking in all possible and impossible places for the escaped prisoner. Brown opeued the door and stepped out into the hall. Then the young men waiting on the inside heard his slow steps turn into a run, and heard a shrill call. They dashed out to find Brown stand- ing by the landing with blood dripping from a huge knife in his hand, ‘‘T met him here,’’ he said, excitedly, ‘and we had a struggle. Someone came to his assistance, andI struck out with | my knife.’’ Joseph Pressburg pointed toward the bottom of the staircase. ‘“There is someone down there,’’ he said, ‘‘and there is blood on the stairs.’’ ‘““Go down and_ see who it is,’’ said Brown, faintly. The Russians both stepped toward the bottom of the stairs. Then Brown heard soft footsteps behind him and turned hastily around. As he did so he received a blow on the head which felled him to the floor. Then he saw a sttange face bending over him, heard a cry of alarm from the foot of the stairs, saw a score or more of bearded Russians spring into the hall be- low, and heard the sound of blows. Then he fell back on the floor like a dead man.

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12 : NICK CARTER WEEKLY. CHAPTER IV. © THE FIREBUGS. A slouching figure, dressed like a deal- er in rags and iron, crept into a basement on Twelfth street, not far from the Kast River, and crouched down in a corner. In five minutes, seeing that his en- trance had not been observed, he took a can of kerosene oil and a package of matches from a bundle which he had car- ried under his arm. He poured the oil over a dry partition and left a little pool of the inflammable stuff on the basement floor. Then-he laid a small fuse and lighted it. This done, he sneaked out of the base- ment and joined a man who appeared to be waiting for him on the opposite side . of the street. “Ts it all rignt?’’? asked the waiting man. ee Yes. ” ‘*How long will it take ?’’ He ‘*Rive minutes. ”’ “Then we must hurry.’’ The two men walked west a short dis- tance and entered a ‘‘furnished room’’ building. Ascending to the top floor they un- _ locked a door and entered a small, plainly _ farnished room. = One of them stepped to the window and raised it, and then both pi cco to _ change their clothes. ‘The suits they put on in place of the ‘2 foul ones they had previously worn were SS ag costly material and were well made. In a short time the two rag and iron men became fashionably dressed gentle- men, so far .as appearances were con- 4 “Say, Dick,”’ said one of them, after “the change had been made, ‘‘I don’t see amy « commotion in the street. Your fire a seston _— been Becoered and put out.”’ “Ttis hardly time yet, replied the other. The time was five o’clock in the after- noon of the incidents at the Suffolk street tenement. “T don’t like the job we ave on hand,’’ said one of tlie men, in a moment. ‘No more do I.”? “T can burn houses in the daytime,” continued the other, ‘‘and make myself merry robbing flats, but this cold-blooded murder goes agaiust ine.”’ ‘*Still we must do it or break with Tom.”? “Curse Tom,’’ said the other, ‘‘I wish the people down on Suffolk street ~ had finished him to-day, instead of giving him a good pounding.”’ ‘How did it happen?’’ asked Dick. “T know that he came home with a bad cut in his head, and that’s all I know about it.’ “He went down there on some business and was knocked down. He would have been killed, I guess, only the Russians rushed ont@of a sweatshop down stairs and chased his assailant away.”’ “Didn’t they catch him?” “The assailant? Yes, and no. cornered him.”’ ‘“Who was it??? ‘*Brown swears it was a detective.”’ “It seems as if all those men ought to have captured him.”’ ‘Well, they didn’t, but they’ve got him where he can’t get away.” The men pavsed in their talk and lis- tened for some indication of alarm in the street below. “I guess your fire went out,’” said one of them, whom Dick called Bob. “T don’t think so, Wait a little gyhile. Where is Brown now?’ ‘(He went back to his hotel, He says he must return to the tenement to- night,’ replied Bob. “T hope he’ll get killed there,’’ said Dick. ‘*He leaves all the dirty work for They >

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 13 us todo. Here we’ve burned a dozen buildings for the purpose of robbery, and have stclen thousands of dollars worth of stuff, and what have we made by it?”’ “Nothing, and now he wants us to murder this woman.’’ ‘Do you know who this woman is?’’ asked Dick. ‘No. ” ‘It is his wife.”’ ‘**Impossible.”’ ‘Nothing is man.’ “But why should he want his wife murdered ?”’ “He married her this morning to——”’ Bob stopped him with a gesture of sur- prise. ‘*This morning ?’’ he gasped. y “Ves, this morning.”’ ‘And wants her murdered in the after- noon ?”’ SV es.?? “Tt seems incredible.’’ ee ‘fom Brown, as he calls himself,” re- plied Dick, ‘tis not a man, but a devil.”’ ‘But this murder ?’’ “Pshaw! He married the woman in order to get his fingers on a fortune which she will inherit.’’ “But she may aot leave it to him.”’ “She made a will in his favor this morning, just after the marriage cere- mony was performed.” © “*Well,”’ said Bob, ‘‘of all cool-headed deviltry I ever struck, this is the worst.” “You may well say that.” **T propose that we fool him and let ‘the woman live,’’ said Bob. “Tt won't do. The woman is as bad as 2 he is. She is trying to murder two men in order to get the fortune, so he says.’’ Bob walked to the open window and listened again. / : ‘There is a cry of fire down there,’’ he said, after listening a moment. impossible with that Fe __**Now understand,” said Dick, ‘‘we rob tlie flats in the building where the woman is before we go to her room.”’ *“Of course.”’ *“Then we do our work in her room.”’ ‘*T understand.’ ‘‘And the newspapers will say in the morning that she resisted the robbers and was murdered.”’ ‘““The scheme is all right,’’ said Bob. ‘*Brown always was a devil at schem- ing.”’ The two ruffians locked their door and hastened to the street. The building Dick had fired was en- veloped in flames from basement to attic. The inflammable oil had done its dead- ly work well. The street was crowded with people, and the police were forming a fire line. Fire engines were rattling up, and all was excitement. The men explained that they lived within the fire lines which had been stretched across the street, and darted away toward the building where their ghastly work was to be done. ““The people are either on the street or looking out of the front windows,’’ said Dick, ‘‘and we shall havea clear field. Remember, now,’’ he added, ‘‘if we are caught, we are simply looking for fur- nished rooms. It’s an old gag, but it will work.”’ The men were soon in the building, on the second floor of which two young wo- men were watching the fire from a small balcony. “It is a dangerous fire,”’ one of the wo- men was saying. “Ves,’? replied the other, a tall, slen- der-looking American girl, with pretty — brown hair and eyes, ‘“‘and they are say- ing downstairs that it is the work of an incendiary.”’ The girl’s companion was a handsome young woman with black hair and velvet | black eyes. Her figure was slender and — a ie eS — = - > SG 4 « « — goes —_ a ‘ (agi ae © ei fe. . ini Ere Dea Seat pe oy

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said the girl. 14 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. graceful, and’ she would have attracted attention anywhiere for her beauty. **You are kind to allow me to visit you so soon after my arrival in the building,”’ *‘T have been here only a few hours, and yet you treat me like an old friend.”’ “*You_have always lived in New York ?”” “*Always.’” - “And always shall?” “Ves. And you?” ‘Oh, I shall go back to Russia, where I have inherited estates. Did you know that I was married this morning?’ ‘*Married this morning?’’ exclaimed the other. ‘*Where is your husband?” “*Away on business. He may not re- turn for several days.’ ‘And your name is?’’ “Mrs. Thomas Brown. surely.’? The girl went to the: “door aud looked down the long hall. ‘There is always stealing going on,’’ she said, ‘‘whenever there isa fire. I mean to watch my room.”’’ ‘The door of the girl’s room was in full view from the door of the front room. As she looked she saw it niove a trifle. “Tam certain I left it locked,’ she thought, starting down the hall. ‘‘Some- A plain name, one must have broken in.” Her step was remarkably light as she moved down the carpeted hall. - « She did not go directly to the door, but turned to the right and passed down a little hall leading to some rooms on the east side of the building, from one of which a door opened into her room. There was no one in the rooms when she entered, and in a moment she was on — chair looking through the transom. _ The two men were searching her room aE ees valuables. $e ae. to herself. Instead of crying out, the girl laughed : oe have a great story to tell Nick lady assistant having her room searched by thieves while she is tryiug to entrap a would-be murderess.”’ - Finally the men gave up the search, but before they left the room they fast- ened balck masks over'their faces. ‘‘There is something more than rob- bery going on here,’’ thought Nellie, climbing down from her perch and hast- - ening through the little hall. 2 Just as she reached the main corridor she heard.a screain from the room where she had left Mrs. Brown. She drew a revolver and opened the door. The woman she had just left was strug- gling with the two masked men. As Nellie entered, revolver in hand one of the men sprang at her. The other drew a knife and struck at the woman on the floor. The girl fired, and the fellow with the knife fell with a stream of blood pouring from his side. Then the fellow facing the nervy girl struck fiercely at her with a billy and darted toward the door. With the light of a wounded divers shining in her eyes, the woman staggered up from the floor and seized him by the ankles. “T know you,’’ she screamed. ‘Tell me who sent you to dothis thing and then finish your work.?’ Nellie leveled her weapon and called to the fellow to surrender, but he bent over the woman with a brutal laugh, whispeed a few words in her ear and then struck her down with one savage blow. Nellie sprang forward, but was too late. The fellow darted through the doorway and bounded down the stairs. Then the girl bent over the wounded woman. i : ‘He did it,’’ cried the latter. ‘‘He did it. Help me to live that I may be a curse to him.’’ Then a _ succession of heavy knocks

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sounded on the door and Nellie called ont that the door was not locked, and that the person might enter. ; The door opened and Mr. Brown stepped inside. Thomas CHAPTER V. HIDE-AND-SEEK. “When Nick Carter found himself in "7 ' the dark hallway withthe cry for help Dy ringing in his ears, he ascended to the at- ; tic floor and glided into a little passage 7 from which the sound séemed to proceed. He heard doors opening and closing on the floor below, and voices speaking in Russian. | Then he heard heavy footsteps on the stairs, and presently a voice asked in * French: **Who’s there?” ~ There was no answer, and the ques- tioner advanced up the hall to the little - passage where the detective was con- cealed. ‘Joseph !” Still no answer, ‘ “Maurice!” : Receiving uo reply, the fellow struck amatch and stepped into the narrow : passage. _ ss ‘The match « Gad for an instant and a went out, ~ \ Nick heard him tala for another and ‘ glided past him and crouched down in _-the main hall, close by the passage. — The fellow found a match and lit itand went on down the passage, . ~ “Pressburg!” As the fellow called. out ee knocked ra. heavily on a door at the end of the little hall. "TI hope he'll find them,?” thought _ Nick, with a smile. ‘I want to see Jo- = seph and Maurice Pressburg myself.” Met The fellow waited a momient and ae Knocked ion — out in oi French have good news for you.” NICK CARER WEEKLY. 15 language as he did so, that the man who stood at their door was a friend. ‘What do you want?’’ asked a voice, speaking in the-same language. “T heard a strange cry up here,’ was the reply, sane I thought hes might be in trouble.’ “Tt is pee other side of the door. and hurt himself.’’ The fellow blundered back down the passage, muttering to himself as he went. Nick heard him pass down the stairs and enter the sweaters’ shop below. Then be crept up to the door and lis- tened. ‘Joseph and Maurice Presskurg are in that room,”’ he thought, ‘‘and they have captured Lamb in some mysterious way, believing that he came here to help drag them back to Russia. I wonder if I can make them understand just how the case stands.’ After a moment’s reflection, however, he abandoned the idea. “*T should only -get. myself into: trou- ble,’’ he thought. ‘‘The men are preju- — diced and ignorant, and I could not make them understand,”’ Ina moment he heard the two brothers © talking, still in French, on the other side of the door. “This isthe man Brown warned us against,’’ one of them said. - - ‘Doubtless. ’’ Then he heard Lamb’s voice. ’ “You are Joseph and Maurice Press- burg?’’ he asked. The brothers maintained a sullen si- lence. ov “TE you said the voice on the ‘‘My brother fell are,’’ continued Lamb, “" “Well?” : The fellow spoke in a sneering tone. * ‘Your uncle in Russia is dead and you, inherit all his property.” 3 The brothers broke into a coarse lane he

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mA yous?’ 16 NICK. CARTER WEEKLY. ‘‘But we must go back to Russia to get it?’’ one of them said. *“*T'o take posssession of the estates, yes, but to become possessed of the money, no.’’ “Give us the money, and you may have the estates.” : The fellows laughed again at what they considered an excellent joke. ‘*Why do you act so strangely ?’’ de- manded Lamb, ‘‘and why do you look at mein that way? Ishall not attempt to leave the place unless I goin your com- pany. I have searched for youa long time.’’ ‘*You want us to go back to Russia?’’ Ves, ” ‘To become meat for ‘the headsinan. A nice fortune that is to come into, eh, Joseph ?”’ ‘*Decidedly.”’ **But that boyish prank amounts to nothing. It has already been forgotten.’’ ‘You are cunning,’’ said one of the brothers, ‘‘but we are more cunning still. Instead of going back tothe headsman with you, we propose that you shall re- main here with us, in this loft, until we have made up our minds what to ade with “‘What to do with me?’’ sind Lamb. “Do you mean that I am a_ prisoner here?” “Undoubtedly.” - “And Icame here to restore you to your friends.”” “You are mistaken. We claim no “friendship with the headsman. ” _ You won’t believe me??? ~ “No.” The detective heard a Sort struggle, | yan then a heavy fall. “Bind him,’ panted one of the broth- ea “He fights like the devil that he int ‘ et Nick: was about to force the door and : _ take a hand in the conflict when he heard sonore on- the Stairs again. ‘I can’t fight a mob of Russians,’’ he thought, ‘‘so I’ll see what I can find in the way of a hiding-place.”’ The detective cast the concentrated rays of lis dark lantern hastily around, and saw that a small door opened from the passage to the right. It was locked, but his pick-lock soon shot the bolt back, and he entered. The room was dark, dusty, and, what was more to tlie purpose, empty. It had a door connecting with the room in which the brothers had taken refuge with their prisoner, and a window look- ing ont into a dark court, but the latter was so covered with cobwebs and dust that very little light crept through the broken panes. The roof of the great building sloped almost down to the rough floor on two sides, and old trunks and boxes were tucked away under the slanting roof- boards. Nick located a hiding-place behind one of the boxes, and then went to the door and listened. Two men, evidently from the sweaters’ _ shop below were in the room, talking in Russian with the brothers. The detective could understand very little what was being said, but he Knew that they were discussing the whiere- abouts of the man who had — the building with Lamb. Finally the two brothers went away and then the others talked in French. “He is an officer,’’ one of them said. ‘*He came here to pry into our busi- ness, as well as to take the Pressburgs away to execution.”’ =. **That is so.”? ‘“The building must be aoe. He is secreted in it.’’ ‘*Undoubtedly.”” In a short time the brothers wetornest held a short conversation with their friends, and went away again. “They have gone to get some of what aan ee

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Oh ane Le ‘ eh ee Oe et Oe he “1s ~~ et NICK CARTER WEEKLY. i7 the Americans call knock-out,’’ said one of the men, as soon asthe door closed, ‘“‘and then we will give it to our friend here and search the place.’’ Niek felt nervously in his pockets and found that he had. his antidote for **knock-out”’? with him. Before long the brothers were in the room again, and Nick heard them strug- gling with Lamb in their endeavor to get some of the drug down his throat. The struggle was a short one, and Nick knew that for the time being he could expect 10 help from Lamb, He knew, too, that he inust get to his friend as soon as possible and adininister the antidote, for the stuff frequently proved fatal in its effects. Presently he heard a key inserted in the lock of the door connecting with the room in which he was concealed, and hastened into his hiding*place. He had scarcely concealed himself when the door opened and the four men en- tered, bearing the unconscious man be- tween them. Then the two brothers hastened away, but thé Russians waited a moment to in- spect the room. ‘“There is no one here,’’ said one of them. . The other gave an exclamation of alarm and pointed toward the floor. “There are tracks in the dust,’ he Es said. ‘‘Some one has been here within an hour.” One of them came directly eee the spot where the detective was concealed. Nick knew that the sharp eyes, which, faygiliar with the dim light of the sweat- ers’ shop, had discovered the tracks on the dusty floor in the twilight of the room, would eventually seek him out, and so he prepared for action. - At last the fellow bent over the box and reached out his hand. _ “Here he is,” he said. The detective sprang to his feet and struck out with his right. The Russian fell with a. thud which seemed to jar the floor, and his compan- ion sprang forward to his assistance. Directly he was in the same fix as his companion, and then Nick turned to as- sist Lamb. He poured the antidote down his throat and got him into fair shape ina very short time. The two Russians still lay on tlie floor, where they had fallen. Nick-was about to bind them when he heard the two brothers returning to the room. He locked the connecting door with his pick-lock, and stood waiting. ‘*T wish Chick was here,’’ he thought, “*T wonder what he found at that real es- tate office to trail away. And Nellie? She must be having a gay time getting rooms in the same building with Miss Rebecca Sandler. I think the ropes are laid all’ right, if I can get out of here with a whole hide.and take Lamb with me.’? Lamb sat on one of the boxes with his head on his hands. His head still ached from the effects of the ‘‘knock-out,’’ and he was in terror of his life. Nick got him into a hiding-place and again con- cealed himself. Presently they heard Brown’s voice in the front room, aud then the connecting door was unlocked. The Russians staggered _ to their feet and, without knowing what they were doing, blundered through the door Pee ing into the passage. Then the three men entered the room and Brown stepped forward and raised a heavy cloth which covered a trunk. With a cry of rage, he darted out into the hall, andina moment Nick heard a shrill call. Bae has mistaken the Russians for ,’? whispered Nick to his» companion. > LGR LEO ee 2 a

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2s pee) have killed our frien 3g tS btn Russi As NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “I'd like to be there and see the fun.”’ The brothers hastened out, and Nick crept on behind. He saw the two brothers pass down the Stairs to look at a body lying there, and saw the remaining Russian sink down in a corner in a'swoon. He had not yet re- covered from the effects of Nick’s blow. “They won’t find him there tight _ away.’” thought the detective. Brown stood at the head of the stairs. Beckoning to Lamb to follow him, the detective darted forward and dealt. the plotter a blow which had about the same . effect that the drug had had on_ Lamb a short time before. The Russian staggered. to bie fies again and bent over the prostrate man. ~- Nick was about to spring dowustairs when a swarm of sweaters rushed out of the doorway below and started upstairs on a run, jabbering all the time in their na- tive tongue. Lamb, frenzied with fright, sprang forward as if to do battle with the crowd, but Nick pulled him back. Before the detective could get away the mob was upon him. ‘ ‘— He struck out hard and quick, but _- there were a dozen strong men to one-— for Lamb was of ittle use in that shout- ing, surging mob—and the detective was borne to the floor. Then the men before him seemed to fall away, and a slim-looking young fel- _ low fought his way to his side. "You are just in + Chick,” said _ the detective” “We can’t fight like this long,’ said Chick. ‘Is there no way of escape?” _ Then Nick remembered the dusty win- _ dow looking out on’ ‘the dark court, and, seizing Eamb by the arm, he dashed _ away, closely followed by his assistant. “They are cornered, ’* shouted a voice in French. “After them, and show no dashed into the narrow passage in, search of their prey. In a nioment they were thundering against the locked and barred doors ‘of the two attic rooms. “Come out,’ | they shouted. “You can’t escape. We are prepared to remain here all night.” Nick went to the window and raised the sash. The distance to the ground was at least fifty feet. : There was no rope, ladder, fire-escape, or other means of getting down. The two detectives looked into each , Other's face with questioning eyes, “‘Cornered.”” It was Nick who spoke. “T had rather fight Indians than those howling devils out there,’ said Chick, Lamb sat on the floor in a complete state of collapse. ‘“Get me out,’’ he said, ‘‘and the Press- burgs may go to their master, the devil, for their property.”’ ‘<'d like to get out myself,’ said Nick. Then the Russians threw themselves against the door, and it gave away. CHAPTER VI. NELLIE IN TROUBLE, The wounded woman staggered to her feet when Brown entered the room on Twelfth street. “You!’’ she shouted, hoarsely, dare to come here?”’ Brown made some reply in a language which Nellie did not understand, and the woman sank back on the floor. ‘(Call a surgeon,’* said the girl. ‘She was wounded by aman who cam e here for the purpose of robbery,” ous Brown pointed to the man lying on the floor. _ ‘Is he the one?” he asked. af: iS Vou Ca Ie a SEN ag gf cl

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/ NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 19 Ves. ” **Who shot him ?’’ "I id” ~ Brown regarded the girl with a smile. ““You are too young and too pretty,’’ he said, ‘‘to do such deadly work.”’ The girl looked at the fellow in as- tonishiment. Brown bent ever the still figure on the floor, “He is dead,’’ he said. Nellie stepped toward the door. ‘‘Where are you going ?”’ Brown spoke almost impatiently. ‘To summon the police,’’ replied the ~gitl. **You will do nothing without my con- sent,’’ said Brown. ‘‘I am master here.’’ **VYou?”’ **Ves, 7 ee ee Nellie pointed to the wounded woman. “Are you her husband ?”’ she asked. ‘*'Vas.?? “And you spend your time over a dead robber while your wife lies dying. I am ashamed of you.”’ Nellie was not talking as a detective, She was speaking as a sympathetic, pity- ing woman. Brown flushed and placed bin hand on the door. “Did you understand what she said just now ?’’ he asked. “No. ” “T thought so, said Brown. ‘She asked me to promise not to call the po- lice—not to make any outcry over what has taken place.”’ Nellie looked the man in the face and knew that he was lying. ~ “The man who is trying to secure the - foftune,’? she thought, “‘stands before [Ao are ; me. The woman lying there is his too.’ “still,” continued Brown, ‘‘I will call - the police if you insist upon it.’” _ Pinsist upon nothing,’’ replied the “Tf there is nothing Ican- - girl, a ! aes for your wife Iwill retire.” Brown opened the door with a low bow. “When my wife has sufficiently recov- ered to be removed to her own room,’’ he said, ‘‘I will turn this carcass over to the proper officer.’’ Nellie stepped to the woman’s side and raised her head. - Can I do anything for you?’’ she / asked. The woman motioned for her to come closer. The girl did as requested, and the wo- man’s lips moved. “Don't leave me with lim.” Something more was said, but Nellie could not understand what it was. ‘What does she say ?’’ asked Brown. ‘She asks me not to leave her.’’ ‘Ah! The face of the man grew black and sullen. "In that case,’’ he said, ‘‘you may re- main with her, if you choose, while I summon a surgeon.”’ ‘“My wound isnot serious,’? said the © woman, as soon as Brown disappeared, ‘“but I don’t want to be left alone with that man a single instant.’’, “‘And you were married to him only this morning ?”’ ‘Yes, but I did not understand. Did you hear what that man said to me before he struck me down?’ **T did not.” “He said,’ continued the woman, “that he had done the work given him to do by my husband.” ‘And you believe him?’ “Yes; don’t leave me alone with him for an instant. He will complete the work they began if you do.”’ In a short time Brown appeared in the doorway with a surgeon—a hard-looking citizen who glanced about the apie < with snaky eyes. : . The fellow completed his work — ina der: moments and turned to his employer.

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20 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘She will be all right in a few days,”’ he said. There was a knowing look on his face as he spoke. The woman motioned for the doctor and her husband to retire. When the door closed behind them the woman tore the bandages from her bleed- ing head and called to Nellie to bring her water and fresh cloths. “Oh, I know that man,”’ she said, “‘and I know the surgeon he employed. His bandages are poisoned.”’ ““Poisoned ??? Used as Nellie was to all phases of crime, she could not comprehend the deviltry the woman had suggested. **Ves,’? replied Rebecca, ‘‘poisoned, aud they would have sworn that I was struck with a poisoned blade.”’ Another knock came on the door and Nellie opened it. The man who stood there was Cole, the defaulting clerk. Nellie had not seen him before, but she knew him in an instant from the description Nick Carter had given her when she was put to work on the case. This description Nick had written at the desk in the outer office, with the clerk sitting in front of him. It had been mailed while Nick was on his way to Suffolk street. The great detective never failed to give accurate descriptions of all the principal people in a case to his assistants, whether they were trailing the persons described or not. _ In this case the system worked splen- didly. Nellie knew that she had another man to watch. Until Brown announced himself as the husband of the wounded woman she had devoted all her thoughts to the woman herself. #2 She now recognized him as the chief conspirator. Cole seemed to be embarrassed at not seeing Brown in the room. “YT have an appointment with Mr. Thomas Brown,’’ he said, after a mo- ment. ‘‘Is he here?’ “He is not.”? At that moment Brown’s voice was heard in the back end of the hall. “I am here,’’ he said. ‘‘What do you want ?”? ; H® walked toward the front of the hall as he spoke, and Nellie saw that the doc- tor was still with hii. He stopped and shook hands with Cole, and the doctor passed on down the stairs. Thetwo men then stepped into the front room. “The surgeon says that my wife had better be taken to her own room,”’ Brown said. Nellie assisted in the removal and then sat down by the side of the bed. Brown looked at her with angry eyes, ‘‘We will not trouble you further,’’ he said, ‘‘Let her stay,’’ said Rebecca. ‘‘I want her hefe”’ - ‘Very well.”’ Brown went into the front room and closed the door. Rebecca started up in bed. “Go to the door and listen,’’ she whis- pered. ‘‘Hear every word they say. Hu- man life depends upon it.”’ “Nellie locked the door and softly opened the transom. : One quick glance told her that ther were three men in the room instead of two. The third man was a villainous-look- ing fellow with wicked eyes and a pale face half covered by bushy black whis- kers. “T come directly from Suffolk street,” he said, in French, ‘‘and things are in good shape there.”’ “You caught that detective?”

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 2) ‘*We cornered him in a room. Hecan’t get away. We also cornered one who came to aid him.”’ Nellie smiled at the idea of getting her chief into any corner from which he could not escape. . “*And Lamb is there?” “ce Yes. ? ‘And the detective who followed me?’ “Yes. That is the last one I spoke of.”’ ~ “Where are Joseph and Maurice?” “The fellow laughed. ‘““They are watching the detectives,’’ he said. Brown turned to Cole. “You see, I have bunched my en- emies,’’ he said. ‘‘When that building burns down to-night there will be no one left for me to fight.’’ The stranger pointed toward the inner room with one dirty hand. “She will be dead before morning,’’ whispered Brown. “] don’t think she will,’ thought Nel- lie. ‘I wish Nick and Chick were wel] out of that building. I wonder how I can reach them ?”’ The girl had no fears for her chief and Chick. She wanted to save the lives of those in the building by warning theim that, unless the plans of the ruffiians could be defeated, they would be in deadly peril before morning. “Who is to fire the building?” It was the stranger who asked the as abies ; Brown pointed to Cole. ‘He is,’? he safd, briefly. Cole sprang to his feet. ~ &©You assume too much,’’ he said. | Brown laughed brutally, and passed around a box of cigars. Ffere’s to your good luck,’? he said. * “I aie get ona different Mes" said “Then do it at once and come here.’? sels took ee games and Brown and the stranger got their heads nearer to- gether. **T don’t see what you want him in it for,’’ said the latter. ‘“*T don’t want him in it,’? was the cool reply. “But you have set him to do the most important part of the work. ‘He may squeal after it is over.’’ ‘He will not do that, for the reason that he will be cremated in the fire he lights.”’ ‘What a fiend you are.’’ “No; Iama prudent man. I had to use him in order to yet some important papers destroyed. Having used him, I naturally want to get rid of him.”’ La § see. ” ‘Any one of us could have set fire to the building, but that would not rid us of this young man.’’ ‘*‘When do you propose to get rid of ime in the same way?’* asked the stran- ger, suspiciously. “Never. You and I alone will remain. We both know how to use our tongues— or, rather, how not to use them.’’ ‘Are you certain that Cole will re- turn ??’ ‘Yes; he expects me to give him money enough to get a start in some new land.’? Nellie had heard enough. She stepped down from the transom and approached the bed. “T must go,’’? she said. ‘‘If you heard you know the reason why.” ‘Have they removed the dead man ?”” ‘*Not yet.’? ‘““They don’t mean to. Brown is not known here, and he will never enter the place again. He is afraid of the police. That is the reason why they plan murder ' with a dead man before their eyes.” Then the voice of the stranger was heard again. “Where will you be after tie fire?’ he asked.

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22 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “‘At the hotel. Report to mre there.” Nellie opened the door of the side room. At that instant, as luck would have it, the stranger opened tlre door of the front room. His quick eyes saw the crouching fig- ure of the girl, and his first idea was that she had been listening at the outer door. He seized her by the arm. “What are you doing here?’’ he de- manded. Brown stepped to the door and looked out. “She is nursing my wife,’’ he said. ‘Let her alone.’’ But the stranger’s suspicions were ex- cited, and he drew the girl into the room he had just left. ‘“‘Where was she when were were talk- ing ?’’ he asked, turning to Brown, who seemed to regard his actions with disap- proval. Brown pointed toward the inner room, | ‘She was in there,’ he said. The keen eyes of the Russian took in every detail of the door and the transom above. Nellie had left the transom open. ‘‘Go in there,’’ said the stranger, ex- citedly, ‘‘and see if you can hear what I say when I speak in the same tone of voice we used.”’ With an oath, and a fiendish: glance at the girl, Brown complied, and in an in- stant returned and said that every word spoken in the front room could be heard in the inner one. : . ‘“The girl must not escape,’’ he added. - Realizing that she was in a desperate situation, and that the safety of hundreds of people might depend upon her efforts, __ Nellie wrenched away from the stranger aes and darted toward the door. Brown canght her and threw her back, and the girl drew a revolver. The chief plotter caught her arm be- ore she coula bring the weapon into po- sition, and it was soon in the possession of the Russian. ‘“The pretty cat has long claws,’’ he said, with a grin. Brown locked the door again, and the two inemstood regarding the girl with angry glances. ~ **T’ll fix her so that she won’t make us trouble for some time to come,’’ said Brown. ‘‘We’ll tie her good and strong and leave her here until our other work is done; then wecan. dicide upon her fate.’’ “But your wife? She may aid her to escape. ’’ The chief plotter opened the door of the inner room and looked in. ‘The wound- ed woman lay upon the bed pale as death, and perfectly motionless. ‘She will never move again,’’ he said, turning back. ‘‘It is safe to leave the girl here.’’ “*And you?” ‘*When Cole returns I shall accompany him to Suffolk street.”’ “Vou must wait outside. There was a pistol shot here some time ago, and after the excitement of the fire is over the po- lice may coine. Here are a dead man, a girl tied hard and fast, and a wounded woman. What could you say to the offi- cers ?”’ Nellie was taken to the inner room and left bound and gagged by the side of Re- becca, and then the two nien went down stairs. Then the wounded woman opened her eyes. Nellie motioned to her to remove the gag, but she only groaned. “I think the wound has paralyzed me,”’’ she said, ‘‘for I can move neither hand nor foot. We are at last in the power of those murderers.’’ Outside the two men were waiting im- patiently for the return of their tool, but the time passed away and he did not come,

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a ag CHAPTER VII. COLE COMES OUT AHEAD. Cole went directly from the building on Twelfth street to the office on Broad- way. --¢ He kept a rougli suit there for, use in his night rambles, aud it was his purpose to wear it on this occasion. mn m stepped inside, he noticed a say leave ~ the opposite side of the street and cross in the middle of the block. “ It was early in the evening, ewe and the street was full of people, so he _ thought nothing of the occurrence. = He turned out the lights in the: office -and changed his clothes. Ly. Then he lit the gas in front of the safe and went out. % When he reached the next corner he = saw that the cover of ‘the manhole to the zs" sewer was up, and that two street clean- 3 ers stood around the opening with lan- TS ogee d in theirhands. A sudden chill of fest shot through his Ying ‘The manhole was the one in which he pad deposited the book and papers on the Sight he had set fire to the office. clean manholes,’’ he thought. ‘‘T wonder &: "what they are looking for?” Bie approached the opening, and stood by the ngs of oné of ae men wpieeloyed ‘there, ox ; “Something ost?” tis Dy3 . he ania that the ae (was NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “a As he unlocked the office door and & _ “This isa strange time of night to. and th it A quantity of eyes Loo 23 One of the men descended into the manhole and poked around in the rubbish with his feet. , “There is nothing here,” the clerk heard him say. He came up in a moment, and the other man went dowu. ‘“It must be here somewhere,” said the second manu. ‘‘What does that young fellow want here ?”’ Cole saw that he was attracting atten- tion, and walked away a short distance. He was meditating a desperate niove. “If that manhole was clogged as it is now,’’ he thonght, ‘‘when I threw the books and papers in, they are sure to find them. . They may consider them to be of no valueyybut they may keep them and see the name of the firm onthe book. Then the true condition of affairs will be © discovered.’ He reasoned that it would only be necessary to place an unusual weight upon the rubbish in order to sa Se it into the ‘sewer. “The man in the ee he thought, ‘‘rests most of his weight oma rope, in which he has fixed a loop for his foot. If I could manage to cut that rope, the fellow. would fall into the sewer and f carry the rubbish with him,”’ He placed his pocket. knife where it could be reached instantly, on went back to the opening. As he reached the” place the man_.on the street turned away for an instant to ware a passing teal. Cole reached out his hand ar drew the | knife across the. rope which was fastened to a bar of wood lying across the apening. Some of the ‘strands gave way, but the - rope was thick and strong, and could not be sere severed by one ae the knife. 3 “ BE ar

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a4 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘*What is it?’’ he asked. Cole crept away. ‘*The rope is breaking. I shall be in the sewer in a moment. Pull me up.’’ The man reached down to take his com- panion by the hand. For an instant he bent over the open- ‘ing. Cole rushed up and gave him a violent push. He lunged forward and fell into the hole, but caught on the edge of the pave- ment so that his weight was not upon the man below him. Cole saw him fall.and hastened to the walk. ' “That wasa bright idea, '’ he muttered. But the man who had been pushed clambered to the surface again, and soon had his companion with him. ‘The latter’s feet were drawn closely to- gether, and the trembling defaulter saw a package between thein. “Tt is the book,’’ le muttered. The men closed the manhole and went away, Cole following at a distance, until they entered a saloon, where a man ‘seeined to be waiting for them. Cole saw the man take the book and papers into his hand and make a brief ex- amination of them, and then give the men soe money. The fellows went away, and in a short _ time the man having agian of the book also left the place. Before long the man turned into a side street and then Cole crept up behind him. He raised his arm to strike. The man wheeled around and raised his arm. “Tt took you a long time to get up to me,’’ he said, with a smile. ‘You are fot a cautious man with your feet when engaged in this sort of business.’’ _ With an oath, the defaulter sprang , upon the man. ein Se was met by a blow that sent him ea “whirliag to the walk. : i bts The man stood regarding him curiously until he got on his feet again. ‘“‘Whenever you are able to behave yourself,’’ he said, ‘‘you may walk along with me.”’ ‘With you! Whiere?’’ “*To the police station.’’ “And if I refuse ?”’ “Then I shall take you by force.”’ *‘On what charge ?’’ ‘*Rmbezzlement and arson.”’ ' £*Who are you??? “Tt is enough that I am an officer.’’ Cole stepped nearer and peered. anx- iously into the officers face. **T don’t know you,’’ he said, ‘‘and I don’t believe what you say. Release me, and I will go about my business.”’ ‘*You will come to the police station.’” Cole looked searchingly at tlre fellow again, ending with a stare at the pack- age under his arm. ‘©What have you there ?”’ he asked. ‘*The books and papers you threw into the sewer.’ “I threw nothing into the sewer.”’ ‘Then why did you cut the rope when the men were searching there to-night?’’ The officer took outa pair ef hand- cuffs. The young defaulter made a Feck 4 at ” the book in the officer’s hand and started - away ona run. The street was crowded, andthe officer did not like to shoot, for some innoecnt person might be struck by the bullet. _ He darted after the defaulter, and al- most had his hand on him, when he whirled suddenly and darted into a sa- loon. : A tough gang \ was d sthnding 3 in front of the bar, one Cole called out to them as he passed: i ‘Stop him.’ % A burly ruffian threw himsett in the officer’s way." “Get that book away from him!’’ oe fe Or een bs Aig Cpe Pp. Ptr FO a Pee ee

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shouted the defaulter. ‘‘It is my prop- erty:” _ The officer, pushed past the crowd of toughs and made forthe defaulter again, but he dodged away and disappeared ina dark hall-in the rear of the saloon. As he turned to leave the place the tough who had first accosted him stepped ‘up again. ‘*Wot youse come chasin’ in here for?” he demanded. The officer grasped the bundle more firmly, and started for the door. He saw that it was no use to try to capture the young man thiere. ‘*Wot youse doin’ wid dat young kid’s book?’ demanded the bully. The officer tried to reach the door, and tried to draw his revolver, but half a dozen bullies sprang upon him. He was thrown tothe floor and the book and papers taken from him. Then Cole made his appearance. He was overjoyed at the return of. the evidence of his crime, and the papers so important to Brown and his gang. “J can make my own terms with him now,”’ Cole thought, ‘‘and we shall see who will do the dirty work to-night.” _ Phe young man’s whole nature was in revolt at the brutal manner in which the plotter had treated him as soon as he had served his ends. 4©Who sent you after the papers?” he’ asked, turning to the officer. “Your employers. They have been - watching you ever since the fire.”’ “Then you'll have to stay in the cus- tody of thé boys until I get out of the country,’’ said Cole. ‘‘I don’t like this watching business.’” ‘Phen he turned to two burly toughs _ who stood looking on in wonder, -- Come on, boys,’’ he said, ‘I want your help to-night, and I want you to _ seesme down a chump who thinks he has me dead to rights.” _ fr: NIOK CARTER WEEKLY. 26 Accompanied by the toughs, he started away to meet Brown. CHAPTER VIII. GETTING OUT OF A TRAP. When the door of the Suffoik street attic fell with a crash under the assaults of the Russians, the attacking party found a steady row of revolvers blocking the way to the interior of the room. “Stand back,’? said Nick, coolly. ‘“The first man who attempts to enter will be shot down.”’ The sweaters fell back to the end of the hall and consulted for a short time, then several of them returned to the lower floor. Only three were left on guard. Two of these were Joseph and Maurice Pressburg. Chick stepped to the window and looked down into the court. ““There is no hope of escape there,’’ he said. “It would take a pair of wings to get out in that way,’’ said Nick. They could hear the men outside whis- pering, and occasionally a soft footstep was heard approaching the broken door. In a short time the brothers began to talk louder, and in French. Nick stood close to the door and lis- ' tened. ‘*No one knows they are here,’ said Joseph, ‘‘and so it will be safe to carry out the boss’ idea.”? ‘“But tlre others ?’’ ‘He will wait until the people have gone away from the shop, and the others can be aroused when the fire starts,” The detective turned to Chick and said: a “It seems you got here just in time to be roasted.”’ “T don’t understand,” ‘‘They mean to set fire to the building _ as soon as it is dark.”

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28 ) NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Lamb staggered back and sank down on one of the boxes. ‘‘Help me out,’’ he said, piteously, ‘help me away from this horrible place.’’ “‘Keep up your nerve,’’ said Nick, ‘‘we have been-in worse holes than this, and canie out of them with flying colors.” **But to be burned here, like rats ina trap. It is terrible.’’ ‘*We are not burned yet,’ was the re- ply- - “YT wonder where Nellie Chick, in a moment. “‘Lamb here,’’ replied Nick, “pave me the address of the woman who seems to be making all this trouble, and she went to call on her.”’ ‘“T9 call on her ??’’ Nick laughed. r “Ves,” he said. ‘Nellie went up to Twelfth street to form the acquaintance of the woman in the case. /I have not the least doubt that she will succeed.’” “Then she may catch on tliere,’’ said ‘ Chick, ‘‘and help us out in some way.”’ “7 think we’ll have to help ourselves out,’’ said Nick. The detective went into the front room and remained some moments. Then he came back and whispered to | Chick to make all the noise he could, and returned. ‘ ' Chick shouted out to the men who stood in the hall and moved the boxes = about the floor until the men in the shop . below heard the noise and the foreman cae rushing up stairs. “What are yee ~doing = there?” he demanded. Chick talked back to the fellow 3 in Eng- is?’ said Be lish, and invited him to have a game of | cards. The foreman talked with his subordi- | back to his shop. =/ Poe going away Soon, ” Chick heard nates for a few moments, and then went After his departure, Chick went to the front room and looked in. Nick was cutting away the partition between the front and the, door opening into the little hall. ‘What are you doing ?’’ Chick asked. **Getting out.’’ Chick thought a moment. ‘‘That will lead into another room,” he said, ‘‘but that other room must lead into the main hall or the little passage. What will you gain by getting into such a room ??’ “Gain the rear of the enémy,”’’ replied Nick. ‘‘They will hear something drop directly.”’. . , ‘*Well, work aways and I'll keep up my minstrel show.’ Chick went back to the rear room to find Lamb gazing excitedly toward the corner of the room to the left of the door. ‘““What is that noise ?’’ he asked. Chick listened, and heard the dull grinding of a bit. ‘They are cutting through there,’’ he whispered. ‘They want a good shot at us without taking any risk.’’ Lamb almost fainted away. “Tet thei cut,’’ said Chick. ‘‘When they get most through we will go into the front room.” Nick laughed when informed of what - was going on. . “Pm glad of it,’ he said. “It will keep them in that little hall, and we can come up behind and so get them where they now have us.”’ In a short time the hole in the parti- tion was large enough for the detective to crawl through. ‘ He found himself. in a well-furnished room having two doors. One opened into the main hall and one into the little passage. The door opening into the* main hall was not far from a window which looked out on the street, some distance from the head of the stairs. 2 gts, a

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As Nick stood there listening he heard some one ascend the stairs. - Then he heard the voice of the fore- man. “‘Tvan,’’ he called. . ‘That must be the third ruffian,’’ thought Nick. ‘‘The others are Joseph and Maurice Pressburg.”’ S) One of the three men approached the window, and stood talking with his mas- ter. ‘“There is no use of three men staying here,”’ said the latter. ‘‘ You come down stairs. We are short of workmen in thie _. «shop.’’ “But the Pressburgs? They will do something rash if I leave them alone.’’ ‘What aré they doing in that hall?’ ‘“‘Cuttmg through the partition, so as to get a shot at the men in that room.”’’ “‘Tell them that I have other plans, and then come downstairs. ‘T'o tell tlie truth, you are the only one I dare trust there in my absence, The workmen think something criminal is going on.” ‘*And then?” cS The foreman did not want the detec- tives and the lawyer killed in the man- ner proposed by the brothers. There _ would be too much risk in seeey the ~ bodies. --» Besides, he wanted the brothers: and . Fran to meet their fate in the burning building. Then all evidences of the crime would bedestroyed. > "There would be no one left to tell the __ story of the. Geese the pion that had - _ brought it about. — He did not know until after. his talk Sette Brown in the on on Twelfth The plotter shally wanted the man he is calling away to stand guard in the <shop, and intended to send him back ‘You are to come back when Lreturn.’” NICK CARTER WEEKLY. a7 The two men left the loft together, after explaining the matter to the two brothers. ‘*We have only two to fight now,”’ said Nick, ‘‘and I guess we can manage them.”’ When the Pressburgs ahead working at the partition, in obedience to the com- mand of their master, they stationed themselves in the main hall in a position which enabled them to look down the whole length of the passage. ‘We'll have todo some quick work when we get out there,’ said Chick, ‘‘or they will shoot and attract the attention of the people who are watching down- stairs, ’’ ‘‘We must wait until that foreman goes away,’ said Nick. The two detectives went back to the front room. “There is something about this that puzzles me,’’ said Nick. © ‘‘ They are try- ing to get rid of these Pressburg brothers, and yet they keepon the best of terms with them,”’ “We'll find out before long,’’ said Chick. ‘‘It is getting late.”? Nick stood by the window a moment and then turned to his assistant with a, smile on his face. “T have it,’? he said, “Well?” ‘““They mean to cous: them here until the building is set on fire and allow them to perish in the flames.’ “You've hit it,’? said Chick. ‘And that puts a new responsibility on us.” ‘What's that ?’’ ‘‘We must help them out.”’ ‘After their brutal attempt on our lives ?’’ replied Chick. ‘““They are innocent in all they do, was the reply. .‘‘They think we are here to take them back to the headsman in <3 Russia, and they can hardly be biasned " for what they are doing.” x “T MEISE: you are rigkt said Chick, -

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a 28 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “*but I would like to see them scorched a little.”’ ‘*We may all. get scorclied,’’ was the reply. The detectives waited a long time be- fore acting. They had no doubt that they would be able to overcome the two brothers, but they knew that every moment they re- mained there after such a step had been _ taken would be an extra risk. ‘*We must wait until dark,’’ said Nick, ‘Cand we may as well leave the guards alone until that time. Then if anyone comes up lere all will be in proper shape.’’ ‘Good idea,’’ said Chick. When it was twilight outside, it was very dark in the hall, and the waiting men heard the brothers talking about get- ting a lignt. Then the detectives crept out of the door, after unlocking it with a pick-lock, and advanced upon the men whose lives they were trying to save. At that instant Joseph and Maurice stood looking into the little passage, with their backs toward the door by~ which the detectives left their hiding place. In a moment there were two quick blows, followed by heavy falls. The men struggled on the floor a mo- ment, and made a good deal of noise. The door below was opened, and a voice called out, demanding to know whiat was wrong up stairs. CHAPTER IX. NICK CARTER’S BRAVEST DEED. The door of the sweaters’ shop opened, and Brown and Cole walked in and stood = for a moment talking to the foreman. Then they all stepped ont into the hall, for the business they had to discuss es ‘was not understood by the workers. Z . _ “Are the peg all i sineson asked ‘“Ves,”? was the sullen reply. ‘‘You have been long enough getting here. They might have escaped, for all of you.”’ ‘‘T had to wait for Cole,’’ was the re- ply. ‘‘He went back to the office, as you know, to change his clothes, and found an officer and twovstreet cleaners search- ing the manhole where he threw the pa- pers.”’ ‘Did they find them ?’’ ““Yes; but Cole followed on and got them away from the copper.”’ ‘“He did well.” ‘And now,’’ said Brown, ‘the refuses to give them up orto set the fire. He has hidden the papers in some safe place and proposes to keep them to insure his safety. He brought some toughs with him, but sent them away.’’ The foreman turned to Cole with an oath. ‘‘What do you mean?’’? he demanded. ‘If I had my way you would be _ killed riglft here.’ ‘Kill me,’’ said Cole, coolly, ‘‘and the papers will be in the hands of the officers in the morning, together with a full con- fession from me in regard to this whole business. ’’ ‘Vou are cunning.’’ “*T can take care of myself,”’ Was the reply. ~‘*Give me ten thousand dollars and all the papers will be delivered into your hands.” We've got to do it,’’ said Brown. ‘‘Where is Ivan? I presume the Press- burgs are still on guard?” “Ves, they are on guard, and Ivan heard a noise up there a moment ago and went up.’’ “Well, the oil is there in the closet,’’” said Brown. ‘‘Send the help away, and I will sneak np there and saturate. the stairs and hall with the stuff. Cole can help.” “How did you leave things at the other place ?”’ asked the foreman.

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 29 “All right. The dead man won’t talk, Rebecca is dead by this time from the effects of the poison, and we can finish _ the girl when this job is done. Besides, we have the’ papers under our control, and everything will end with this fire. Things could not be in better shape.”’ The fellow would not have been so sure of success could he have seen the crouching figure on the stairs. The foreman sent the workers away and brought ont the oil. Bown and Cole went on upstairs with’ it. “Tf the foreman has done his work well,’’ said Brown, ‘‘a barrel of the stuff ‘has already been poured about the base- ment. the building after the fire is set.”’ The two men stopped on the landing and poured out the oil until the stairs were saturated with it. Then Brown asked his companion to step along the hall softly and put some . there. : Cole started to do so, but the instant his back was turned he was seized from behind and thrown to the floor. “Where are the papers?’’ hissed Brown in his ear. ‘‘Tell me how to get them or you shall never leave this place alive.”’ __ #*Will you release me if I tell you * ph _ gasped the defaulter. ; “Ves, Speak quick. We may attract the attention of the men who are watch- ing at the end of the hall.’’ . «They are in the safe at the Monmonth Hotel. No one can get them but me. If Ido not return in the morning they will t be given to the police.’’ - **F can get them, you traitor.” __ Brown struck the prostrate man as he - spoke'and the defaulter sank back un- conscious, with a bad wound in his head. “It is strange that I see nothing of the muttered Brown, as he crept 2 a There is no hope for anyone in a ee eee down stairs. ‘‘They must be watching in the front room.”’ The sound of crackling flames were now audible on the first floor, and smoke in heavy volumes began to ascend the stairways from the cellar. In a few moments~more the smoke burst through the closed blinds on the street floor. The firebugs had evidently begun their deadly work. : Two of the scoundrels carefully opened the hall door, gazed, furtively around, and then bounded into the street. They had hardly touched the sidewalk when a man arrayed as a countryman . leaped after them, and with each hand grabbed one of the murderous villains. The countryman was Nick Carter, and he held the wretches in his iron grasp. Nick gave utterance to a peculiar whis- tle, a prearranged signal, and Chick came to his aid. Nick handcuffed the scoundrels hand to hand, and turned them over to the cus- tody of his assistant. Meanwhile, before the outbreak of the flames, exciting events had been going on in the burning tenement. Whien Brown had reached the landing below, he saw a girl toiling up the long stairway. She was paleand miserably dressed, and she looked at the man above her with appealing eyes. “‘T want work,’’ she said, when she stood by his side. “Come in the morning,’’ said Brown. ‘The foreman is not here.’’ The girl did not start away at once, and something in her manner excited the suspicion of the fellow, He took her roughly by the arm. ‘‘Come in here,’’ he said, ‘I want to look at you.”’ Once inside the room, he tore away the hood and scarf worn by the girl and struck at her. ; ee ee “ - 2,” en chi ts kate anies ee ae YO ee RS

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20 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Tl know you,’’ he shouted. ‘‘ You are the girl I left bound at the house on Twelfth street.’’ Nellie drew her reoviver and fired, but the bullet went wide of its mark. Then the door was thrown open, and Nick Carter bounded in. There was a short scuffle, and Brown lay handcuffed on the floor. “Quick! to the basement!’’ shouted Nick, ‘‘the entire building will soon be in flames.’’ Leaving Brown, in charge of the brave girl, Nick. once more hastened down- stairs, and was soon in the basement. The doors had been forced, and the light wooden partitions had been satu- rated with kerosene oil. The cellar was divided off into bins,. where the wood and coal of the tenants were kept, and every partition had been soaked with oil. As the detective sprang inside, a figure, evidently one of the firebugs, glided away from one of the bins, and they saw a faint light flare up into a big one. : The fiends had done their work, and the third man had remained behind to be sure of its success. \ In an instant he was under arrest. The only thing to do now was to save the people in the brilding. And the Pressburgs and Cole were help- l.ss on the top floor, with the stairs satu- rated with oil! Chick here -rejoined Nick, having ‘turned his prisoners over to two policemen. When the detectives reached the second landing, giving the alarm as they went, _ they saw that the flames had crept up through a back stairway, and that the whole interior would be on fire in a mo- ment. — . We waited too long, + said Nick. ‘*But those people must be saved. It is our fault if they are burned alive now.’’ They reached the fifth daniey and — darted into ‘We sete Shop: a5 ee ~ ‘Get up,’’ shouted Nick, pushing Brown with his foot, ‘‘and you, Nellie, take him to the street and deliver him to an officer. Shoot him if he makes a false move. ’? : But Brown was thoroughly frightened, and walked away without a word of pro- test. Then Nick turned to the stairs, but Chick caught his arm. ‘“The flames have reached the floor,’ he said, ‘‘and the stairs are saturated with oil. It is certain death to go there.”’ Cover them with your revolver when they come down,’’ shouted Nick, break- ing away and dashing up the slippery stairs. He reached the upper floor without difficulty, and called out to the men who lay on the floor that the building was on fire. Their struggles directed the detective to tlréir side. Their bonds were soon cut, and they started downstairs. Then Nick lifted Cole in his arms. Lamb had already left the building. As Nick lifted the unconscious man a sheet of flame sprang up on the stairs, cutting off his escape. “Drop him and jump,”’ shouted Chick, retreating slowly before the terrible heat. _ You may save yourself yet.” It were madness to attempt to pass through that sheet of flame. Still carrying the unconscious man in his strong aris, Nick made for the attic room which looked out on the street. — The oil on the floor of the hall eanght fire as he passed along at.d set fire to his clothes. He extinguished the flames and strug- gled through the blinding smoke to the window. He dashed pers the sash at one blow and leaned far out to fil] his lungs with air. _ The people below saw him aud. raised , (a * mighty ck

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>a} ~The firemen put up .a ladder, but it as not long enough to reach the window ndacry of terror went up from the crowd. ‘“Teave the man you are catrying and drop to the ladder,’’ shouted. a fireman, “the buildipg will soon collapse.” But Nick refused to leave Cole there to the death f which the defaulter would have consigned him, although the flames Were now in the room. _ He took the fellow in his arms and dropped, releasing one arm when he came » _to the top rung of the ladder, Another cry of terror went up from be- > low... They all expected to see the daring “man dashed to pieces in the street. / But Nick caught the ladder and held 2 On. Fos; Sha iis “Not one man in a million could have _ done that,’? shouted a man in the crowd, ' and then a great shout went up. “4 ‘When Nick aeached the ground it was some time before he could escape from NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 31 **How did you get out ?”? asked Nick. ‘“The woman recovered sufficiently to aid me,’’ was the reply. ‘‘She was merely a tool, and lays no claim to the fortune.’’ *“Then it was all Brown’s work ?”’ S*Ves. +B The woman was found without trou- ble. The dead man was removed and the woman soon ‘recovered. -No complaint was made against her, and she soon re- . turned to Russia. Nick secured the papers and the con- fession in the morning. ‘This is the first time on record,’’ he said, ‘‘when a detective working on a case on his own hook ever helped me,”’ and then he added: ‘‘I suppose the toughs + e released him before now,”’ For the whole story of the capture of the papers was told in the written confes- sion made by Cole and left with the pa- pers in the hotel safe. The officer who had done such good - service without knowing it was found — and rewarded, and the toughs were prop- . _ the crowd which swarmed around to con- tatulate him. “At last, however, he reached a “com- paratively quiet place, and laid Cole down % pete an officer. erly punished. The confession cgnvicted Brown of aiding in’ setting fire to -an inhabited dwelling in the night time, and he was executed. Cole received a long ene and the Pressburg brothers got their fortune, The remaining firebugs got long terms, being old offenders. ‘ The brothers were very grateful to Nick when fully acquainted with all the facts, and insisted on rewarding him handsomely. They never returned to Russia, although they might have done so. Lawyer Lamb never mixed up in de- tective work again. And Nick is not anxious to take an- other case against the firebugs. [THE END.] The next number of the Nick Carter g Nowy will contain ‘*A Demand for Just- ice; or, ‘Nick Carter Offered a Bribe,” a2 eeitiet of ese Seater, gg : Then Chick and Nellie made their ap- pearance. . Youll have to have a guardian,”’ the former. ‘You nearly lost yout life~ ; ‘ing to save the man who would have murdered you.” _ “Where are the others?’ asked Nick. 7” =s The Pressburgs ae Brown are under said ‘ompt alarm.’ a eg to. be stn $2 said

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High Prices Are On Vacation — THE MEDAL LIBRARY. AA Money Saving Criumpb. Oliver Optics Books for Ten Cents. There is a line 6f 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 long as the English language endures. They have done more to shape the mind e refer to the writings of Oliver Optic, Horatio Alger, eut. Lounsberry, Harry Castlemon, etc. These names are familiar wherever tlic of American boys for the last te years than any others. Edward S. Ellis, J. G. Holland, Li American flag floats. Unfortunately, they have heretotore 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 nearer his price. We have made the ten cent 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. 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 contain no story that the boys have not approved as a ‘‘ standard.” Pian © agi bought them by thousands at $1.00 and up- wards, atid now they can get them for TEN CENTS A - - - MEDAL LIBRARY... No, 1—The Boat Club, - - - - - No. 2—Cadet Kid Carey, - - - Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry. No, 3—All Aboard 7 ~ - - - - Oliver Optic. No, 4—Lieutenant Carey’s Luck, - - - Lieut, Lionel, Lounsberry, Others Equally Good to Follow Order them at once, If you cannot get them send to us, ..Remember these are 12mo books} printed from new plates, with elegant covers, and are the “ real thing,” and only TEN CENTS A COPY. Oliver Optic.» , : c STREET & SMITH, Publishers Diamond Dick, Jr., Quarterly: ‘The earlier issues of Diamond Dick, Jr. are now on sale in the form of Quarterlies, each including 18 consecutive issues of this favorite weekly, together with the 13 original illuminated illnstra- tions, and an elegant cover in colors, The price is 50 Cents per yolume, for which sum they will be sent by mail post-paid to any ~ address in the United States. = = NOW READY. = «= No, 1, inclnding Nos, 1 to 13 of Diamond Dick, Jr, No. 2, f Nos, 14 to 26 of Diamond Dick, Jr. No. 3, ss) Nos. 27 to 39 of Diamond Dick, Jr. No. 4, L~ Nos. 40 to 52 of Diamond Dick, Jr, No. 5, Ue Nos. 58 to 65 of Diamond Dick. Jr. If your Newsdealer bas not got the Qnarterlies, remit direct to the publishers, STREET & SMITH, 238 William st., N.Y. Tip Top Quarterly. The earlier issues of Tip Top Weekly are now on sale in the form of Quurteriies, each tucluding 13 consecutive issues of this favorite weekly, together with the 13 original Hnminated illustra- dons, and an elegant cover in colors, ‘Tie price is 50 Cents per _* — volume, for which sum they will be sent by mail post-paid to any aS address in the United States, = - = NOW READY. = « - No, 1. cA Nos. 1 to13 of Tip Top Weekly. No, 2. “ Nos. 14 t© 2% of Tip Top Weekly. Bo. 3. ¥ Nos, 27 to 39 of Tip Top Weekly. He 4. “ Nos. 40 to 62 of Tip Top Weekly. Oo. 5. ” Nos. 53 to 65 of Tip ‘Top Weekly. No, 6. % Nos. 66 to 78 of Tip ‘Yop Weekly. Bek Ee eect ty he wee ‘0. ‘08, y. No. He ¥ Nos. 105 to 117 of Tip os AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHY. Many people imagine iat a photographer's camera is a diMicult machine to handle, and that the work isdirty and disagreeable. All this isa mistake. Photography is a clean, light, and pleasant ae- complishment, within the reach of all. The camera will prove a triend, reporter, and helper With a very inexpeusive camera any boy or girl can now leary not only to take good pictures, but pletures that there is everywhere a demand for at renmunerative prices. 4 complete guide to this fasciuating art, entitied AMarruR ManoaL or PHoroeral WY Will ba sent on receipt of ten cents. Address STREET & SMITH, 238 William st., N. = ¢ WRESTLING. History tells us that wrestling was the first form of athletic pastime, Without doubt itgives strength and firmness, combined with quickness und pliability, to the limbs, vigor to the body, coolness and discrimination to the head and elasticity to the tem- per, the whole forming an energetic combination of the greatest power tobe found in man, The book is entitled Proresson MULDOON's Wreatiine. Tt is fully illustrated and will be sept Postpaid on receipt of ten cents. Address STREET & SMITH, 238 William St, N. y. OUT-DOOR SPORTS. Complete instructions for playing many of the most popular out- ot-<door games is found inthis book. ‘The games are illustrated and very easily mastered, ee i Price ten centp. Address _ STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., ¥. 7 oe _ 2

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‘Nick Carter Wee «© Price, Five Cents. \ Back Numbers always on hand. Price, post-paid, Five cents each. Coreen eeeeee eee teeeinete 77-—-Roxy’s Talking Clew; or, The Mystery of the Magic Maze. 78 —The Living Target; or, Jack Burton’s Friend For Life. 79—Buff’s Slide For Life; or, The Man Who Planted Money. 80—On the Back of a Turtle; or, Bob Ferret and the Big Mitt Men. 81—Tue Silver-Plated Man; or, The Young Tramp Detective. 82—Roxy’s Mid Air Rescue; or, A Diamond Mine in a Mummy’s Head. 83 Trusty No. 333; or,The Face on the Prison Cell Wall. 84— The Skeleton Hand; or, The Dumb Shadowers of Nick Carter’s Detective School. 85—Nick Carter In Charge; or, A Murder in Broad Daylgiht. . 86—Postman No. 45; or, Nick Carter’s Pupils ; After the Post-office Robbers. 87—Nick Carter’s Ten-Thousand-Dollar Bill; or, The Hold-Up of the Bank President. 88—Bob Ferret’s Government Message; or, The King Spy of the Out \t. 89—Nick Carter’s Poker Game; or, A Play For More Than Money 90—Nick Carter In Devil’s Hole; or, More Than Four Aces in a Pack. 91—Nick Carter In Harness; or, The Stolen Safe Combination. - 92—An Attempt to Bunco Nick Carter; or, Barking Up the Wrong Tree. ge In the Act; or, In Training for State son 94—Accused of Shop-Lifting; or, Nick’s Secret Signals and a Piece of Court Plaster. 95—Forced to Sleep; or, How Nick Carter Turne the Tables on the Doctor. 96—Nick Carter Near Death; or, The Escape From the Bridge of Sighs. 97—At Nick Carter’s Call; or, The Whole Gang ‘Taken at One Time. 98—Five Dollars for a Nickle; or, Why Nick Made the Purchase. 99—Seen Through a Window; or, A Snare That Was Set for Tough Birds. 100—Nick Assists a Body Snatcher and Saves the : Life of an Innocent Man. -101—Nick Carter Arrested at the Box-Office; or, An Act Not on the Programme. 102—Nick Carter Shows His Nerve and Winds Up the Case . t the Freight Honse. THE BEST LIBRARY OF DETECTIVE STORIES. 124—Killed by His Victim; or, The Green-g 125—Nick Carter a Prisoner; or, How Bob Dalton Illuminated Cover. Md ‘ 1u03—Burned to Death; or, The Great Insurance Swindle. ; 104—Nick Carter’s Prophecy; or, A Case That Was — Worked in the Park. 105—A Lightning Change Crook; or, A Catch That Pleased the Inspector. 106—Killed at the Baths; or, Nick Carter Right on Hand. dis: 107—Among the Express Thieves; or, Released from Jail for Good Behavior. - 108—After the Policy Sharps; or, The Game Tha Rob. ed the Poor. i 109—Held Up in Chicago; or, A New Systemof Keeping Books. 110—The Spider and The Fly; or, The Battle of His Life. ' 111—A Scientific Forger; l2—The "High P Burg] h —The Hi, ‘ower Bur, ; or, Behind the Poker" Wall. i atl at Low Tide; or, The Body in the ool. 114— Officer Dugan’s Beat; or, The New Membe of the Force. 115—Nick Carter’s Chance Clew; or, The Rogue o ‘the Race Track. 116—Nick Carter After a Missing Man; or, The Work of Ghouls. 117—Nick Carter at Hellion City; or, The Notice Posted on the Door. 118—The Great Poisoning Case; or, What !ap- ned at the Laboratory. 119—Nick Carter Among t e Peter Players. 120—Fighting the us Crooks; or, Ten Thous- and Dollars Short. ; A 121—Out of the Devil’s Clutches; or, Nick Carter's New Friend. 122—Waiting to® be Robbed; or, Nick Carter’s Diamond Case. 123—The Sleeping Car Mystery. , or, The Great Bank Men at Work. Found His Match. 126—Set On Fire; or, Nick Carter’s Bravery. 127—A Demand for Justice; or, Nick Carter Offered a Bri e. 128—Was It Murder; or, Nick Carter’s $ - Vacation. ‘ . 129—Nick Carter’s Mascot; or, Treachery Among Thieves. 438 % 130—Roxy’s Signal In the Sky; or, A Gold-Bu Worth a Fortune. -