Nick Carter Weekly (no. 172) (1900 04 14)

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Tssued weekly. Subscription price $2.00 per year. 8 he N. Y. Post Office by STREET & SMITH. aes ——$—$$$—<$<—_ ——— me c es —_———— a —_—_—_—_— o. 172. P | ; "he Price 5 Cents. v4 l) We ; IMCKMCARTERR: = A *‘STAND WHERE YOU ARE, OR I’LL SHOOT YOU DEAD.”’ ‘

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j xned weekly. +8: “No. 172. STREET & SMITH, Publishers. NEW Laie NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1900 by Lage cer Smith, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washergion, ; Entered as second class Matter al the New York, N. Y., Post Office. ; Subscription price, $2.50 per year. April 14, 1900. 5 Cents. 238 William 8t., N. Y. - Joes A —— OR, me Zt CHAPTER I. i. MOND’S. “Dr. Martin Raymond.” Nick Carter read the name on a card before him. It was evening, and he sat in his office. ecard bore, besides the namie, the S: of the doctor. It was on Forty- Nas street, near Fifth avenue, ‘Specialist: diseases. Still a ung man. Fashionable. Sikeia'cind I never met him,’ . a ‘Such was Nick’s review of what he knew about Dr. Raymond. Then he gave orders to have him shown in. They Steeted each other, and then the octor said: rid swant your advice. ” es ‘It is at your service,” 4 “A mysterious cod has occurred at my house.” =. STRANGE AFFAIR AT DOCTOR RAY- ~ NICK CARTER’S LEAP IN THE DARK. By the Author of ‘*NICK CARTER." **You fear that a crime will follow."’ “TI scarcely know what I fear. What I do know is this, that I need the advice of a mau skilled in all sorts of mysteries, as you are.’’ ‘*Very well; please state the facts.’’ “Yesterday afternoon, about half-past five, two men called at my house. I was alone in my consulting-room. ‘*The men were admitted. They intxo- duced themselves as father and son, and gave the name Fernandez. “The older was short, shouldered, and thick-set. fifty years old. ‘‘His son was very tall, and strongly built. Both were handsome in face, and were well dressed. “They said that their home was in Ha- vana. I was not surprised, for they were of dark complexion, and looked like Cu- bans. ‘* “My father,’ said the younger man, ‘wishes to consult you.’ very broad- He was about

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Ss ; NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘¢ ‘(What is the trouble?’ I asked. *€ ‘Catalepsy,’ replied the elder man, gloomily. ‘You are, I believe, an expert in such diseases.’ **T bowed, and then suggested that we proceed at once to the examination. ‘At this the son immediately arose, and said that he would step into my waiting- room. *‘I was about to urge him to remain, when he made a-sign to me, behind his father’s back. ‘I understood him to mean that his father would answer my questions more freely if le were alone with me. This is often the case. “8 therefore said nothing more, and the young inan passed into the waiting-robm, ‘*We then proceeded to the examina- tion. It had gone on for perhaps fifteen minutes, when suddenly I perceived a change come over the face of my patient. ‘His eyes became fixed and expression- less, He was staring like a dead an. His form was rigid as iron. He sat bolt upright in the chair, with his hands clenched upon his knees. - “T recognized the symptoms at once. In the very act of describing his dreadful | - disease, my patient had been stricken by a; =) when Hee. ball Epa’ treet it. He was in a cataleptic trance. “The remedies which I employ in such cases were all down stairs in my labor- _atory—a room I have fitted up for the purpose in the basement. **] hastened to this room, but some miinutes were occupied in finding the niedicines required, **When I returned to my office it was empty. ; “Considerably alarmed, I ran into the an-* waiting-room to call the younger Fer- _— mandez. * E35" _ “Nobody, had seen the mén go out. In fact, nobody was in that part of the house He had disappeared. except the | y who answers thie bell. He usually sits. in the lower gets runs ___. To continue my bes Pee; ; oe a Ad : i vale | a aw es ‘He had heard nothing. loss to explain the affair. “Naturally, I did not expect to see the men again, but this afternoon, at the same hour as before, they called upon me. “*They apologized profusely for their strange conduct of the previous day. ** *My father’s mind is always confused when he wakes from one of his trancés said young Fernandez. ‘He woke yester- day while you were out of the room. His memory on recent events was a blank, as it always is for a time after his seizures. “* He found himself in a strange house, and did not know how he had got there. As quickly as possible, he made his way to the street. ‘© *T saw him pass out, and supposed that the consultation was over, When I overtook him on the sidewalk, his condi- tion was such that he could not explain anything tome. I put him right intoa™ carriage and took him to the hotel where we are staying.’ spe “‘T was obliged to be contented with this explanation. Mr, Fernandez, Sr, earnestly requested me to continne nry examination, so strangely interrupted, and I did so, ‘The son again retired to the waiting- > room. In half an hour we joined him there. ‘The father had already thanked me, and paid my charges. I had advised him,,_ and prescribed for him. Both men took their leave most civilly, and succeeded in making me forget the strangeness of their former leave-taking. _ “They had hardly gone out when Mr. I was at a ae Joseph Allen came in, I should have tol you that Mr. Allen is a resident in my house. He is my patient, and also a - partner.”’ ‘“That’s a strange combination,’’ said ; apatt Nick, A “It certainly is, I will explain it later. 4

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an ia a = 3 room, and immediately I heard an _ outcry. “TJ ran up stairs, and along the hall to the rear of the house where his apartment s. The door was open, and I saw him ates about in great excitement. i ee ‘Who has been in my room?’ he erie d, over and over again, without giv- _ 4ng me a chance to answer him. “He is an exceedingly nervous man. Indeed, it is for a chronic nervous disor- pit that I hayes treated him for many Yeats... ale ; was oy excitement that I feared ld do him great injury. ” “« ‘What makes you think that anybody has been in your room?’ I asked, as soon ~ as he gave me the chance. ja ‘Took here!’ he exclaimed, and ) pointed to the carpet, which is of a very _idig sht color. Upon the carpet I ehuld plainly see the footprints of — aman. It was a very long, but fa iat tee easily recognized. fi Eeludeed; Mr. fe, and yet I had no difficulty in assur- = ‘ing myself. that that footprint was made by the younger Fernandez. “Tt was perfectly clear that he had vis- ‘ sited Mr. Allen’s room while I had been = , with my cataleptic patient. as your safe beens opened ?’ I asked, x to a strong box on Stefigar by ot of the bed. aid no attention to my inguiry, alarm. A thief had ns Toom, and had gone anything. Why ; jesperately afraid? Sad in| a dis- Carter, re am no detec. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 3 eased condition, but, in spite of my knowledge of that fact, I was surprised to see him yield to such childish fear.’’ ‘Had -you ever seen him so before?’’ asked Nick. “Twas just going to tell you. About ten days ayo he had a similar attack, but less violent.’’ ‘“What caused it?’’ “That is more than I can tell.”’ ‘“What were the circumstances ?”’ ‘(He sat in my office reading a paper.’’ “What paper ?’’ ‘The Sun’? **Do vou know the date?’’ “Morning paper of a week ago Mon- day,’’ repled Dr. Raymond; ‘‘but the paper had nothing to do with the attack.’” ‘“How do you know ?”?’ ‘*l examined the page which he had been reading. There was absolutely noth- ing of a startling or sensational] character on it.’’ **Any deaths ?’’ **No.’? ‘Any criminal news??? “Nothing of any consequence.”’ ~ “Very well; what happened?” “He suddeuly turned very pale, and rose from his chair. He trembled vio- lently. ‘‘At first I supposed it to be only one of his ordinary nervous attacks, but I soon saw the difference. I asked him what the trouble was, but he gave no satisfactory answer. He said it was a chill.’’ ‘‘His behavior, you say, was similar this afternoon when he found that some- body had been in his room,’’ f ae Yes.”’ “VYowvare sure that nothing had been stolen ?”’ ‘*He told me so afterward.”’ “Ts that the whole story ?’’ ‘*VYes; I succeeded in calming him, and then he told me that he was nervously alarmed about thieves. We talked for “some time, and then I ‘suggested getting

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& NICK CARTER WEEKLY. advice regarding the matter which had so startled eae He consented, and I came to you.”’ “Did you tell him to whom. you were going to apply?” ‘*No; I did not wish to alarm him. He _ would not hear of my consulting the police. SolItold him that you were a friend of mine, and an unusually shrewd man, ‘He asked if you could be trusted not to talk about the affair except to us, and I assured him that you could. ‘Then he expressed a desire to see you.”’ “Tt was on his account, then, that you came ?”? “‘Ves; 1 believe, as a physician, that it is important that something should be done to quiet his fears. You will do that,’ and at the same time will tell me just what you really think of the affair.’’ “*T"]] do the latter, at any rate,’’ said Nick. ‘‘Come; let us talk with Mr. Al- len.”” Thev found the doctor’s carriage at Nick’s door, “(Does anybody live in your house ex- cept yourself, Mr. Allen, and the serv- ants?’ asked Nick, as the carriage started. ‘sNo.”” ‘How many servants have you?’ ‘An old woman as cook; ler daughter as chambermaid, and a young man whio attends to the door.’’ Nothing more was said till they reached -the doctor’s house. It seemed to be al- most dark, except for a lamp in the doc- * -tor’s office, a corner room. ‘‘What’s happened’ to the hall lamps, - I wonder?’’ muttered the doctor, as he opined the door. Certainly the hall was almost dark. Phe gas was not burning. At the head of tle stairs was an oil _ lamp, which seemed to Ifve been placed _ there for some peculiar purpose, for it __was shaded so that it shed no light in the . io hall. What : oe: was thrown along the stairs, but it burned - badly, and the broad staircase was very dimly illuminated. Without a word, the two men began to ascend. 3 : Suddenly they were aware of a hurried movement in the hall above. Then they heard a couple of sharp clicks, A harsh voice cried: . Stand where you are, or I'll shioct you dead!’’ There was just light enough for Nick | to see two pisto] barrels resting on the banister tail, and to make out the dim shape of a pale face behind them. ne Ripley CHAPTER II. NICK’S ADVICE. ‘*Never draw a pistol till you’re ready to shoot,’’ is a familiar saying in the West. The man who confronted Nick Carter and Dr. Raymond came near learning the . wisdom of that adage in avery unpleasant — mianner. : - Nick was not the man to permit any-~ body to “hold him up.’’ Despite the fact‘ that the person at the head of the stairs seemed to have the drop, he would doubt- less have had the worst of an exchange of — a Se shots. — But Dr. Raymond’s exclamation pre- : vented any stich result. “‘Alleu,’’ he cried, ‘‘what nonsense is this?’’ | ‘*Is that you, doctor ?”’ ee ‘Of couse it is.”’ Bes “Who's with you ?”’ ; “The gentleman I spoke to you about tf — Mr. Nichols. ; There was the sound of a match pele } struck in the upper hall, Presently the — gas flamed up. 7 It showed Nick a fat man in adressing- — gown, much too large for him. This fact, and the flabby folds of skin apie his face ue ey pe a A “3

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"and neck, Siccwedl that, though he was still fat, he had been much fatter. = had a pistol in one hand, and there © was another sticking out of a pocket of * the dressing-gowm. — cosh beg your pardon, doctor,’’ he said ; * - you kuow my excuse. “ A very alarming affair, Mr. Nichols,”’ a continued. ‘‘Of course, Dr. Raymond has told you about the thief. I-have some teason to be alaraem don’t you think so?’ S yere rie devils come back.’’ ~ “You were prepared for them, I see,’’ said Nick, pointing to the shaded lamp. “Ves, indeed. I had to be. You see I’m all alone.’ _ ‘How about the servants ?’’ sleep away off. This is a big a lap of thunder in” the get. ids Fight down in the parlo ee Si e was eaingt a ghastly effort to. be jocose, as Nick clearly saw. ae ‘Dr. Raymond Jed the way to Allen’s room. It was very large, and had an al- cove in which stood a great, old-fashioned - om vols, but my parthaiattn fector has yielded me something. pauks. He. sir. I keep ch “you can have your eye on him. - tor’s carriage. ‘ Sree ; NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 5 are after it. The doctor has, a course, told you all about that matter.’ ‘(Who are these thieves?’’ asked Nick. ‘‘Hasn’t the doctor told you ?”’ ‘‘He told me what they pretended to be. I want to know who they are.”’ ‘“‘How can I tell that?” “Mr. Allen, you have asked me to ad- vise you in a very serious matter. I can’t do it unless you tell me the truth.”’ “Of course I'll tell you the truth. Dr. Raymond says you’re safe, and he’s about the only man I will trust.” ‘Very well. Do you still say that you believe the men whi called here this aft- ernoou wished to steal the contents of that box?” ‘Why, certainly, and——’ ““Good-night, Mr. Allen,’’ ‘said Nick, rising. ‘What!’ cried Allen. advise me?”’ “*T advise you to tell the truth,’’ said Nick, as he left the room. : Dr. Raymond followed him instantly. Allen remained standing with his mouth half open, as if he wanted to say something, and couldn't make up his mind what it should be. “Conte into my consultation room,’ said the doctor. ‘“There’s no use,’’ said Nick. ‘‘I won’t have anything to do with this man. I a act for a client who tries to deceive me.’ ‘Then advise me. I at least am acting in good faith.’ ‘Twill give you the best advice I have “Vou refuse to to offer. It is this: Keep close watch of Allen. Make Tim stay in the house where Don't “Peglect this, for the case is very serious." ‘Doctor Raymond looked puzzled for a ‘momeiit. Then his face lighted up. he understand -you,”” he-said, ‘and will do as you say.’” 2 Nick returned to his house in the doc-

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6 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. About eight o’clock the next morning, while Nick was in his office, he heard a carriage rattle up to the door and stop. Evidently the driver was in a great hurry. Looking out of the window, Nick rec- ognized Dr. Raymond’s carriage. The coachman jumped off the box, ran up the steps of the house like a madman, and nearly broke the doorbell] with the vio- lence of his ringing. Nick got down to the door aliead of his servant. He flung it open. "Ts Mr. Carter here?’’ asked the coach- uian, in hurried tones. **T am he.” “Dr. Raymond wants you to come to his louse just as soon as you can.’ ‘*What has happened ?’’ ‘Mr. Allen has hung himself.”’ Without asking for the particulars, Nick jumped into the carriage, which was instantly set in motion. At the doctor’s house all was in confu- sion. Dr. Markham, corouer’s physician, was just entering. Nick went iu with him. At the head of the stairs was Dr. Ray- mond, - “This is dreadful,’ he said. ‘I had no suspicion of anything like this.’’ “Why not?’ asked Nick. ‘I warned you.’’ ‘“Warned me?” “Ves.” " “*You told me not to let Allen go out of the house."” ‘J told you to watch him, to keep your eye upon him constantly.’» “But I couldn't remain in his room all aI the time.’” “You should have guarded it.’’ “T did. My servant—the young man IT told you about—sat up in the hall all night; that is, after midnight.” “Where is he?”? . out.”’ “were spoken while the ng on the hall, and- while the doctor was opening the door of Allen’s room. “It is exactly as I found it,*’ Dr. Ray- mond said. ‘‘] have uot allowed anything to be disturbed, not even the body.” The sight which confronted within that room was shocking, Allen’s body hung by a rope from a strong hook in the ceiling. The corpse was dressed only in a night shirt, pantaloons, and slippers. It seemed that the great weight of the body had drawn the neck out to twice its length. ‘The face was even more distorted than is usual with persons who have beer hanged. The expression of terror which Nick them had seen upon it on the previous evening= was now horribly exaggeiated. Evideutly the man’s last moments had been tor- tured by fear. With a movement of his hand, Nick prevented Dr, Raymond and the coroner’s officer from advancing far into the room. His quick eye swept over all the details of the scene. ‘*VYou see,’’? said Dr, Raymond, ‘the had gone to bed. You can see the imprint of his body.”’ Nick nodded. “TY should say he had been dead about four hours when I found him. would show that he hanged himself about three in the morning.’* “Rather an early hour,’’ remarked the coroner’s pliysician, wait till daybreak, Four to six o’clock is the hour.’ “He seems to have smoked heavily all night,’? said Dr, Raymond, pointing to — the stubbs of two cigars in the grate. That — “Suicides usually —— ” 4d | ‘“There’s another on the edge of the — desk,’? said Dr. Markham. ‘*You’ll find it the case quite often that men smoke constantly before they commit enti i. ‘(Suicide ?’’ asked Nick. “Certainly,” "RE both the Goctors | in chorus. = ar x

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“Nonsense,” said Nick, quietly. ere is no suicide here. This is mur- i and one of the most deliberate, cold- blooded, and remarkable crimes ever com- mitted in this city.’’ aie La CHAPTER III. THE GREAT DETECTIVE’S FINE WORK. Both the men whom Nick addressed ‘started back im surprise when the word as was spoken. - however, quickly recov- mpossible,’’ he exclaimed. _. "Why do you think so?’ asked Nick, calmly. z= _. *Whoever heard of such a murder as this? How could murderers hang a man in this house and nobody hear his cries?”’ s done, nevertleless,’’ said Nick. ssible, I say again. The door was inside. oe boyoweeelf re- ae i ‘The two men aprang otwaka _ “Do you see those marks?’ Nick asked, pointing to the end of the key. ~ “Nippers,’’ said the corner’s ESPs, _after a careful look. Wh at do you mean?’’ cried Dr. Ray- s' Ber which bury Soar use.” how could they have got into the | bie have got to this door with- out his ez hem.” corp 1 01 }of murder breaks chas that young man been in are NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 7 your serv- ice?”” “About a week.” “Where is he now?” ‘*He went to the police station to give ' information of this affair.’’ ‘How long ago?’’ Dr. Raymond looked at his watch. “Fifty minutes,’’ he said. ‘And no policeman has come to the house ?”’ SSNo,”” “Well, that ought to settle it. He nev- er went there. He was in the plot.”’ Dr. Raymond seemed to be overwhelined by this statement. Then suddenly an idea flashed upon him. ‘‘How could these men,’’ he asked, ‘thave got into Allen’s room without waking him? They must have surprised him asleep, and gagged him, or somebody would have heard his cries,’’ “Well, so they did.”’ “Gagged him?”’ _ Ves. I knew that in a second. Look at his mouth.’? Nick led the two men to the side of the dangling body. The feet were only a few inches above the floor, and the face was thus about on a level with those of the men who now eagerly examined it, . “It is true,’’? groaned Dr. Raymond- “There are the marks of a gag.”’ ‘They filled his. mouth with rags and then put a tight bandage across,”’ said Nick. ‘*It seems impossible’? said Dr. Ray- mond. ‘I left Allen at midnight. He was so nervous that I was peelackl. cer- tain he would not sleep.”’ “They could not have come in and done that while he was awake,”’ said Dr. Markham. ‘ “Certainly not,’? Nick assented : ‘the was asleep fast enough. af! 3 as “oy can’t believe it. Why, when I left ie “he was nearly mad. Sleep was im- .

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8 : NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “ “*And for that reason you sent him this glass containing medicine,’’ said Nick, picking tip a wineglass from a stand near the bed. “Yes; Isent him that. I quite fre- quently sent him medicine at night.” **You sent it by your young man—the one who has disappeared ?”’ 6€ Ves,” ‘*What was in it?” ‘Bromide of potassium. That is as good as anything in such a case as his.’’ “Any laudanum ?’’ “Certainly not.”’ Smell the glass.’* Nick held it under the doctor’s nose, and he started back with a cry. “Laudanum! He was drugged.’’ ‘Certainly; and we know who did it.” “TI guess that’s right,’’ said the cor- oner’s physician. “It must have been the Cubans,’’ ex- claimed Dr. Raymond. “What Cubaus?’’ asked Dr, Markham, and in reply Dr. Raymond briefly told the story of his mysterious patient. ‘‘But they aren’t Cubans,’’ said Nick. “Why not?’’ **Look at these cigars.’’ _ As Nick spoke he picked up the stubs which Dr. Markhain had noticed. “These are all domestic cigars. No Cu- ‘ban would ever lave smoked them.’’ ‘Smoked!’ cried Dr. Raymond. ‘*Oh, come, now, Mr. Carter, you don’t mean to tell me that these men calmly smoked _ cigars while they were committing murt- der.’” “No doubt about it. If they didn’t smoke them, who did?” . “Why, Allen, of course.” Nick felt in the pocket of a coat whieh was hanging over a chair. “Here is Allen’s cigar case,’’ he said. “It contains one cigar; genuine Havana, very good quality. Nothing like these _stubs."” #3 eee while they strung him up,’ _ muttered Dr. Raymond. ‘‘Smoked while they watched him in his death agonies. Well, for sheer, cold-hearted brutality this beats everything on record:’’ “Let us take down the body,” said | : ‘Nick, and they laid it upon the bed and covered it with a sheet. ‘“‘Now, Mr. Carter,’’ said the coroner’s pliysician, ‘‘since you seem able to read } this criminal mystery like an open book, /{ tell us how it was done.”’ “It was done by three men. Two of them Dr, Raymond has already described, The third was smaller than the others. He was short, slenderly built, and a good deal of a cheap dandy.”’ ‘‘Mr. Carter,’’ said Dr. Raymond, | *thow can you possibly know that?’’ “I know that he was small because I saw his muddy footprints on the light stair-carpet as we came up. They were | not nearly so large as the others, and | they were not so distinct, which shews. “4 that he stepped lighter. ‘*I call him a cheap dandy because he | smoked cigarettes and oiled his hair.’ “Oiled his hair?’ cried Dr. Raymond: “‘Oh, come Mr. Carter, this is going too — far,*" 4 “T tell you he did. Look at that ious on the wall.”’ ; He pointed to a faint stain on the pa- per. It was just beside the dressing-case- A straight-backed chair stood in front of the spot. “He sat in that chair,’? Nick con = tinued, ‘‘and tilted it back against the — wall. There’s where he put his head. You can detect the smell of the hair oil now. ‘“Tuit the chair back against the wall | thus, You can see where the back ees of the chair were by the dents in the car-- pet. There, now, estimate the size of the man by the distance from the seat of the chair to the spot on the wall. He was’ ‘very short; wet over five feet five. inches ~ oo — Lear 7 i fA_ <5

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“Now take these ashes bas the floor. They are not cigar ashies.’ “Certainly not,’ said the coroner's physician. ‘‘He smoked cigarettes sure _ enough.” **He smoked four,’’ said Nick. _ “Where are the stubs?’ asked Dr. ro Raymond, suddenly, “He carried them away in his pocket. The first one, he threw on the carpet. Then he thought it wouldn't be well to have it found, or ove of the other nen 2 him, and he picked it up.’’ Dr. Raymond rubbed his foreliead, as if. he wished to make sure tliat he was awake. _ “ve heard a good deal about your work, Mr. Carter,’’ he said, at last; ‘‘but I never thought that any man. on earth id do what you’re doing now.”? a imple,’’ said Nick. ‘‘Here is _ the mark wh re h “stepped on the cigar- “ ette stub, to pute it. out. * Then he must have picked it up, decause if he didn’t, where is it? . “Of course he put. it aie ‘ie pocket. ~ Here” are marks on the wall where he : rubbed the ends of the other cigarettes in order to put them out, so that they would _ not burn his pocket. Three marks, and one on the carpet is four. That makes the wn sd I spoke of. d no ark us go back: These three yy the front door. ‘That man let them in, : the old man the tall man “Tt was now Dr. Markby Shivavic hold up his hands in amazement, ‘“Phat’s too much for me,’” he said. = 7 here. can be no doubt of it. On the eee Dr. Raymond, that NICK CARTER WEEKLY. - claimed Dr. Rayniond. ac. soba? they all stepped in the same 2 footprints last. “They opened Mr. Allen’s dvor with nippers, as I have described. Then, of course, they gagged him. ‘By the time he had shaken off the in- flueuce of the drug, he was bound and helpless. What his feelings were, gentle- men, when le waked to find his enemies upon him, I leave you to imagine. They left him, I think, sitting up in” the bed, and shaking, no doubt, with mortal terror, I presume that he was left in the bed, because I see no chair pre- pared for him, and because the pillows are rolled up as if they had been used to prop him in his helpless condition. ‘‘Then the men lit more gas jets, using this match, which you will notice is dif- ferent from any I can find in the room, They drew back the curtains from the alcove, and then they took their places and proceeded with the trial.’’ ~ “Trial !’’ cried both the doctors at once. was first. made, and which ~ “YVes,’’ said Nick, ‘‘it was a trial. The stout man sat by the table, and acted as judge. He took notes of the proceedings with a pencil. Here are the shavings of the pencil when he sharpened it. I know that Allen did not make them, because here is a gold pencil full. of lead in his waistcoat pocket. “When the evidence had all been pre- sented, they took a written ballot. It was probably unanimous. At any rate, the dude who sat by the desk, and wrote his soe lot in ink, voted for death.” “For heaven’s sake, Mr. Carter, are. you something more than human?’ ex- “Nota bit of it,’ said Nick. look at this blotter.” He picked up a common white blotter a ¥ ‘Just a > from the desk, and handed it to ero E mond. “Give it back ewe s ae. _ “T see nothing here but the usual nee work of lines,’? said Raymond. — eZ <a

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10 He took out his knife, and with the large blade scraped the surface of the blotter, removing many lines and leaving others. Then he handed the blotter back to Dr. Raymond. In the middle of it there now . appeared—written backward, of course, as any word appears in such a case—the record of one of the ballots that had condemned Joseph Allen. ‘Death!’ cried the two doctors in one breath, as they gazed upon the word. i = ee CHAPTER IV. THE STRONG BOX AND THE SECRET PANEL. : “Did you suspect the secret last night??? asked Dr. Raymond, as soon as his surprise had somewhat subsided. “1 knew that Allen was afraid for him- self, and not for his money,’’ Nick re- plied. ‘‘Anybody, I. should think, could have seen that.’’ **And- yet these men were thieves as well as murderers."’ ‘“Why do you think so?’’ ; ‘His strong box is open and empty.’’ “It always was empty.’’ **What!’’ “There was nothing of value in it.’’ ‘How do you know?”’ “Did Allen examine it last night, after he found that the man had been in his toom?"’ **No.??- “Is that likely, supposing that the box contained his fortune as he said it did?” “Well, I didn’t think of that. I was a good deal excited at the time.” « “*You know perfectly well that he would have been on his knees before it, examining every nook and corner, if it had contained what he told us was in it.’’ “T think he would.”’ ‘““Then he lied about the box?” .“*He certainly did."’ ‘*What does that prove?’’ NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “*T can’t say.”’ “It proves that the box was a blind. Now, when a man sets up a blind does he | put any valuable thing in it?’ Now ‘*So that settles the question of the safe. But it fooled the assassins.’’ “How do you know?” *Because they didn’t discover the real hiding-place.”’ “There is one, then, in this room?” SV egr? As Nick said this word, he approached the mantelpiece. “It was here,’? he said to Dr. Ray- mond, ‘‘that you saw Allen last night.*’ Dr. Raymond nodded assent. ““Then,’’ continued Nick, ‘‘it is in this part of the room that his real treasure is hidden.’’ The great detective examined with the utmost care the woodwork around the mautelpiece. ‘‘T have found it,’? he said at last. He touched a spring, and instantly a small, rectangular piece of the woodwork started ont. Nick took hold of it, and pulled it farther out. It was a little secret panel which Nick had discovered. It swung upon au invisible hinge, and behind it could be seen a little eupboard containing money and paper. “The presence of these things here,’ said Nick, ‘‘shows how completely the — assassins were fooled by that alleged safe. They were so badly fooled, in fact, that they hung their man first and made their search afterward.’’ “That seems extraordinary,’ said Dr. Markham. “Von’re almost certain to find one such blunder in every case like this,’’ said Nick. ‘Those men were so dead sure that what they wanted was in that sa‘e that they never even asked Allen whether it was there or not.’? — Ly a ss Soe Se re os ~ = 3 ie < a : —

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ae z NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Perhaps he refused to tell,’’ said arkham. “If you’d seen the man alive,’’ said i Nick, ‘you wouldn’t say so. They could _ have made him think his life depended on it, and he would have toid them any- tliing they wislied to know.” **Phen they were looking for some- thing?’ said Raymond. “Yes; their going through the _ proves that. What they wanted is here.’ “The ‘money Pike “No; you see there isn’t much. Allen , his money in the Tenth National _ Bank. ” ~ “Bank !? exclaimed Raymond; ‘‘why, he was always saying that he wouldn’t trust a bank.”’ pea He lied,’’ said Nick, calmly; ‘look _ che hook. Here’s his balance stle ‘was echoed by the oth- ers. Allen’s balance in the bank was _ $161,450. “ aa © ‘The money in the a Sins: was less than $200. It was mostly in small a bilis, 2 “Now for the papers,” said Nick. ‘*Mostly memoranda of business transac- ;' tions ; throw no light on the present case. parent way of determ _It seemed to be wild I pie § posi- of several hills, Yocks and trees were Sie but 10 houses, barns, roads or The distances between some of these jects was = down, with the conieees 11 “The meat of the whole transaction is here.”’ “But how is anybody to get it out?’’ ‘One thing is certain,” said Nick; “this map was made for the purpose of showing the location of this spot.’’ He touched a figure on the map. It was a square near the centre. In each corner of the square were four little marks shaped something like keys, Nick fixed his eyes upon this peculiar diagrain. for several minutes, and-then he again searched the locker. ‘*Here is a clew,’’ he said. In his hand he held a rusty key of a peculiar shape. ‘‘T begin to see a little light,’’ he said. “Tt looks dark enough to me,’’ said Rayniond, shaking his head. “This map,’’ said Nick, ‘clearly shows the location of buried treasure.” ‘That much I grant.’’ ‘*The spot is indicated by this square. The four marks on the- square are four keys. ‘‘T infer from that, that four men buried the treasure. They were unwilling to trust one another, and so they made an iron vault or safe which could be opened only by means of four keys. ‘‘Each man then procured his own key and kept it. Doubtless, each has a plan of the spot, so that doesn’t so much mat- ter. But the key was really of some con- —, sequence to the assassins who were here last night.’’ ‘“Then they failed in their purpose ?”” “Oh, no; their principal purpose was revenge! ‘That they have had, you must. ‘admit.’’ “Have you any idea why they took such a vengeance?” is “T can’t say positively.” % “It may be that he found a way to get “< all this treasure for. himeel,??= typi: = “No; for, in that case, bs be fo

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12 “Then you think that the treasure is still there ?”’ **T feel quite sure of it.” ‘*But those men will get it?” ‘*Ves; they will unless we stop them. The key would be only a convenience, not a necessity. ‘*Probably the vault is so strong as to be very difficult to enter. But no place is strong enough to resist modern burglars’ tools.’’ : “Then I don’t see what was the use of ~ the four keys. They could betray one an- other just as well.’ “No; you’re mistaken. The place is probably near some traveled road. Per- haps it’s on Staten Island or in Harlem. The vault is covered with dirt, and it - is so strong that it can’t be burglarized in a sitigle night. That’s what these fellows depended on. ‘They said, if anybody tries to get in, he’ll have to take -two nights for it, and the hole in the ground will be noticed ~ during the day. a believe that their scheme was good, and that I. shall yet. see that wonderful : hiding-place and its treasure.’” ES Bt af CHAPTER V. * ; BURGLAR JOR, At this point Dr. Raymond was in- P a2 _ for ned that three young men wished to NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Shall I say anything about a reason for the suicide ?’’ : ‘‘Temporary insanity caused by excite- Don’t tell who the Just say that Allen got to ment about thieves. thieves were. brooding on the subject of burglars.’’ Raymond went down stairs to talk with the reporters. Nick took charge of the things found behind the secret panel. He pledged the coraner’s physician to silence. Dr. Markham presently went awa), promising to send an undertaker to take | care of the body. Whien the undertaker caine, Nick joined Raymond in the con- sulting room. The reporters had got their story, and had gone away. “T am impatient to go on with the in-_ vestigation,’’ said the doctor. itu “Very well,”’ Nick replied. ‘‘Let us | see how far we have got, Here was a | murder committed for purposes of revenge by three men. The murderers and the victim, years ago, buried a treasure. ‘(What we wish to learn is: Who were the murderers, who was the victim, what was the treasure, where did they get ity~ and where is it now ?”’ Dr. Raymond shook his head dubiously. ‘*That’s a hard task,?’ he said. hee) ‘‘On the contrary, it is easy.’ ‘‘How shall we go to work.”” doesn’t seem possible.’’ ‘First, you quust tell me how you came to know, Allen. You said he was your patient, and your partuer,’’ ‘It’s a strange story,’’ said ‘Raymond. “Tn fact, everything in this case is Te-. markable. Srey yeas ago I was a young ga

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. nearly impossible. “| won’t weary you with a story of my trug les. Chance helped me. “One day, as I was walking on Twen- ty-third street, I saw a man stricken with a cataleptic attack. I ran to his assistance; j carried him into a drug store; brought him to his sane ae at last took him home. ee “He proved to be old Colonel Blakesley, the suillionaire. Perhaps you think that ‘his gratitude was what put mé on the right road. Not a bit of it. I didn’t even get a fée for attending him. I had to awn wy watch to pay for the carriage in k him home. physician took charge of to. be at the house art 3 some conversa- about Blakesley, ace gave my rf opinion. ; ’ e° i af SC — “When that doctorwho' was a_ damidee re spetialist—told his story to the reporters, y shad the most “ae eras: y accepting this proposition : his house, aud establish ‘to treat him, and give sts of all the money I NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ae gacotigned my name, and in ue blunt | ever was in the world, and — 13 got into a fashionable neighborhood I should succeed. ‘I have succeeded., My success has made him a rich man.”’ ‘6A very wonderful story,’’ said Nick. “Tt certainly is.”’ “Jn all the years since then, you did not see the men who called themselves Fernandez until day before yesterday ?’’ ‘(Never saw or heard of any such peo- ple. “Vet their enmity to Allen must date ” back to a time before you met him.’’ “‘T am sure of it. He has had no clfance to meet them since then.’’ ‘Has he stuck pretty close to the house ?”’ ‘Indeed he has. Perhaps once a month he would go out in the forenoon. Except -for that, he has been indoors till about five in the afternoon, when he has usually walked for an hour.’ ~ . ‘Did he seem to fear anybody ?”’ ‘Not particularly. He was anxious, in a general way, to avoid observation, but I vever saw him terror-stricken till that day in my office.” ‘When he was reading the Sun?”’ **Ves. ” “You have that pees ?” ‘‘Here it is.”’ ; “You know the page?” “Tt was the fifth.” “Where was he sitting?” g “Just where you are now.”’ “Very well. Did he hold his paper this way?’ a at ip BAD ee it Nick took the sheet in. the ordinary . way with one hand on the i cor Ww aS F ner; i See other son the Jo

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14 “That was the way,’’ said Raymond, ‘Suddenly he let the paper fall.’’ “Not entirely., He held on to it with one hand,”’ Which hand?” “The right.’’ ‘*Then what he read was on the lower, tight corner, A man startled in that way will almost always keep hold of the paper with the hand which is nearest the item ‘that has startled him. Let us look at that part of the page.’’ Nick ran his eye rapidly ever tlie lines. Suddenly he looked up with a peculiar glance.. Raymond was so excited that he jumped out of his chair. *©You have the clew!’’ he cried. "Tt is all here in eight lines,”? said Nick. ‘*Read them!’ ‘* ‘Robert McCreary, James Harris and Roland Brown, burglars sentenced in 1880, were released from Sing Sing prison to-day. They are three of the famous Cortlandt Bank gang. Besides that cele- ei brated safe-cracking, they were suspected of the Maiden Lane burglaries in ’78 and | ’79, by which large quantities of jewelry a were secured, but the crimes could never. = be traced to them.’ ” = ‘What can that have to do with the =” » F “a present case “J will show you. In “ie first place, “you must know the story of the Cortlandt ieee Bank burglary. - oeItowas very dish worked. The : detlars. got in from an adjoining sche o si ‘Brown were ate NICK CARTER WEEKLY. rested purely on suspicion. There We not a particle of direct evidence. . “The men would certainly have beet acquitted but for the treachery of the partner, Joseph Hanlon, known as ‘Bury lar Joe.’ a ‘‘He made a deal with the eT They were so anxious to get this gan broken up that ‘Burglar Joe’ was prot 7 ised complete protection from the. law io he would testify. ‘He sent his three partners to peso for fifteen years each, and the case agains himself was dismissed. Burglar Joe hid himself. Where? is, this house, Dr. Raymond, He wasyou partner and your patient while his 2 were in Sing Sing. ‘Was there ever a cleverer way.of hid), ing? You never suspected that the capita which started you in business came froa a burglar’s plunder.”” “Can it be possible ?’’ te “It is true. Of course, the money ail not come from tlie bank. Burglar Joe hat), to return that plunder. But he had doubt, less been in many other successful burg, laries, and there’s where he got his money ‘Now you see why he feared vengeance Now you understand the mystery of. youl cataleptic patient. y ‘“That was McCreary. He was the old I est of the three. He must “e a ee hi actor to deceive you, an expert." “ «phen these three men tried and exe cuted their treacherous partner in im Y house,” cried Dr. Raymond, ‘‘No doubt of it. And now for the treasure, That is doubtless a part of the proceeds of the Maiden Lane burglari A vast quantity of jewelry was a ae z . —— : ms w “ ir coe > ~ by N

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nd it mever was accounted for. It did A csclaen in the pawushops, and none t was ever found in the possession of nces.’ Z "It was thought that Burglar Joe must ave taken it abroad. But we now know that it was hidden. “We have a diagram of the spot. We lave one of the four keys ¢ of the robbers’ reasure house. We shall find the jewels.’’ here's no way of finding out they are buried.” “Yes, there is.”’ “The diagram gives no clew: That os may be anywhere in the United tates.’ E a can you do?’’ of _ Nick took the boy in charge, and they left the house. What do you intend to do with him?” asked Dr. Raymond. “Vm going to hang around one or two places where these fellows may show up, “You asked him about, it, and le would « and see if this ney can get his eye on one of them,’’ “Isn't that rather a Seine chance ?”” “Tl don’t think so. There is one of old pals named Ledyard, who Sins =” Aven 1 ae

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16 ‘He’s a half-reformied crook; doesn’t go in for burglary any more, but in his days was one of tlie slickest cracksinen in the world. have a hard time cracking their own safe, it may be that they will get him to help At any rate, I shouldn’t be sur- If these fellows are going to them. prised if they gave lim a call.’’ The three rode down town in a closed carriage. Ou the way Nick completely disguised his two companions. All the afternoon they hung. around Ledyard’s place, but without any result. It was about seven in the evening. Nick and the boy were standing near the side entrance of Ledyard’s place. Suddenly Nick said: ‘Don’t jump. Dor’t show any sign of recognition.’ ‘“‘What do you mean ?’’ asked the boy. **T mean,’’ said Nick, ‘‘that here comes your man.” . A thin, sickly-looking man, very hand- somely dressed, was advancing along the street. He carried a switch cane, and was ‘smoking a cigarette. The boy swore a round oath. ‘That's him!’? he cried, and would have sprung forward, eesti of Nick’s warning. But the detective clapped his hand over the boy’s mouth, and turned him around. “You go to Dr. Raymond and stay with him,” said Nick. ‘Tell him to take vou home. And say to him that Iam on the trail.” oan ‘ CHAPTER VI. ‘ go FOCER IN HIGHWOOD. : } NICK CARTER WEEKLY. } The detective followed in a saan. © Harris walked up to the corner of tist bar where Ledyard stood. ™ ‘*Well,’’ said Harris, ‘‘1’m off.’’ ai “This evening ?’’ vh “Ves. I'll take my bag now. Mué | obliged to you for taking care of it fwe me.’’ h Ledyard reached behind the bar, au drew out an ordinary traveling bag. Hi handed it to Harris. “‘Good-by, Jim,’’ he said. ‘‘Good ing to you.”” They shook hands, and then Harr went out. w Nick had made a note of several things First, the bag was not Harris’. It was not old enough to have bought before he went in. Thir Harris tried to disguise the fact that t bag weighed more than usual. “It’s as plain as print,’’ said Nick, fo It was not new enough to have bee bought since Harris came out of aes * Second, the bag was very heavy. we j himself. ‘‘The bag contains a burglar’. kit. Harris has bought or borrowed it Ledyard. = q “He’s going to dig up that treasure. : believe that the job will be dons. t night.’’ When Nick got upon the street he took‘ off his hat, looked into it, and then p it wrong end. front. A young man, lounging on tle opposi side of the street, immediately er and followed Nick. Harris was walking briskly down ~ ward Forty-second street. He did 1 look behind him, and if he had, he» could have seen ane yt coma picati ja

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tween Nick and his clever young as- ' at, Patsy. ; “If he goes to the Grand Central,” sick said, ‘‘see his ticket and wire Chick yhere he is going. “IE he goes down town, follow us till get to one of the ferries. Then wire 4+ hick and leave a trail for him to follow. - ‘In any case, he is to follow me. Let Him be prepared for a desperate fight.” Patsy ee on, whistling as if he adn’t as us thought i iu his head. ty-second street, ‘aarris took the Seated down town. Nick and Patsy were on the same train. YI Pe Harris got off at Chambers street. Nick followed him to the ferry of the New Jer- ther Railroad. zlai ticket for High- on ube ride ae They. au o'clock, Harris, with his bag in his hand, alked up the street from the depot. After walking about ten minutes Nick upon 1 the night a large house which k from the road. ~ ent straight to the door a path, and ee se alread of mes ‘The detective ’ Nick. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 17 He was dressed as a butler, and looked like an Englishman of fifty years or more. He was short, squarely built, and of light complexion. “Can that be McCreary ?”’ ‘He is a good deal that sort of a man. His Cuban rig, when lhe called on Raymond, was a clever disguise. ‘There’s nothing dark about him except his rec- ord,”’ Nick was now determined to get a luok into the interior of the house. thought He suc- ceeded, after much difficulty, in getting a place where he could look into the par- lor. : : Only one person was there—a young man of gigantic stature. before a table, and Nick thought at first that he was writing. ‘’That’s Brown,”’ said the detective to himself, ‘‘I’m sure of it. And he isn’t Tialt “writing; he’s making figures. I should Say that he was working a problem in arithmetic. “But what can these men be doing here? They haven’t had time to fit up this honse, and I can see by the looks of it that it hasn’t | been standing vacant. I must see that upper toom.”? "With the utmost caution, Nick climbed the veranda. One of the windows was open a little at the top. ‘The wind blew the curtain aside so that Nick could look in. _ McCreary and Harris were there. They seemed to be in earnest conversation, but. they spoke so low that not a word reached the detective’s ears. He could hear the hum of their voices, but nothing more, at first. Then he he be- came aware af another sound. gh He was sitting at

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18 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Just whiat it was le could not say. It did not seem to be in the room. , Finally it grew so loud that Nick was able to determine its cause. The sound was that of the sobbing of a woman. Nick was sure of it. At first it seemed possible that a child was making the sound, but the detective’s quick ear soon corrected that impression. But where was the woman? The sound was not clear; it was stifled as if it came through walls. Nick knew that the two criminals must hear it. Indeed, he could tell by their im- . patient gestures that they were discussing it. The sound grew louder. At last Harris evidently lost his temper. He pulled a big revolver from his pocket, and rushed to one of thie doors. It evidently communicated with a rear room, Harris unlocked the door and flung it open. As he did so, Nick covered him with his revolver. If Harris’ had raised his arm to fire Nick would certainly have dropped him in his tracks, But he only flourished the revolver. He evidently had no intention of using it. So Nick lowered his weapon, and as he ‘did so, he heard, Harris say in a low, fierce voice: Keep still in there! Another sound from you, and it'll be the last you'll ever make.’’ _ Instantly the sobbing ceased. - Harris closed the door and locked it. a: **Now, old man,” he said, “it’s time to = to work. v é So ee aie aS 2. a ‘ : a oe oe % t ““No; Suppose somidhiad should come to the house ?’’ s “Well; **T won’t risk it. not yet. § {3 you could go to the door.”’ I wiust be right o, shand, Wait till later.”’ | ‘fAll right, if you say so. There’s pleq. ty of time.’’ is “You stay here, and keep an ey, on——” . McCreary did not finish “his sentence] He simply jerked his thumb in tlie direé tion of the door. he t Harris nodded. “Tll go down stairs and see whethel, his nibs has finished his figuring.’’ McCreary left the room. ;, Nick was in considerable doubt as what he should do. Evidently these me had prisoners in that back room. s Should he release them? Nick woul : have been glad to do them that servicé, but on reflection he decided not to try i at once. # It was of the first importance that thic suspicions of the criminals should not bf, aroused. Nick did not think it would bé possible to set the prisoners free withouh giving an alarm, especially as there was ir. woman among them, ; As he was debating the question, h heard the sound of a carriage on thi driveway leading to the liouse. a Creeping around the end of the veranda he took upa postion directly over tht front door. : Nick coul make out a man and woman within ith The carriage had stopped. for it was an open vehicle. The driver had got down from his_ sition, and was just ringing the d | Si a _- ‘mT a ee ee a! ahs ra “

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ae pepeetreary. in the guise of a butler, ap- ared at the door. y “Ah, Stewart, is that you ?’’ called the an from the carriage. No, sir; if you please. Stewart has gone away, sir. I’m the new butler, an’ € name is Johnson, with your leave, sir. w ~ “Well, Johnson, is Colonel Harding at home??? : rs sir; the whole family’s gone to I’m sorry. Dunham, leave The driver handed cards to McCreary, he ex-convict. Then the carriage drove hese fellows a the deck!” ath. ‘‘FKor cold “the es fy - He had no doubt, now, who the pris” ‘Joners in the back toom were. They were hl Colonel Harding and his entire family» ¥with the servants, too, no doubt. frig. a. “< (on) “ How this great stroke of villainy had acconiplislied, he did not know, nor m the motive. Tt could: ee: be robbery, for certainly Mthe burglars had had time to steal every- ng in the house, if. they had wished to el Harding,” said Nick. | softly down from the ver- an to make a circuit of the i se NICK CARTER WEEKLY. nen on tea 19 Nick conld distinguisl, in spite of the darkuess, the glint of a great white rock.” It seemed to bear agaiust the trunk of a giant tree, A flash of recollection passed over Nick’s mind. He ran to the rock, and kneeled beside it. The gleam from the little lamp he al- ways carried soon broke out upon the darkness. The rock shielded him from tonya tion. He drew a piece of paper from his pocket. It was that which he had taken from the. hiding-place in Burglar Joe's room. He unfolded it and examined the dia- gram. “Tt is the place, beyond any doubt,” he said. : Drawing out a pocket compass, he took a bearing from the rock, and paced off a certain distance very carefully. “There should be a tree here,’’ he said. ‘Ah, here isthe stump, half buried, “That settles the location. Now, the spot where the treasure was buried can be reached from here, from the rock, or from either of two other places, according to directions on the diagram. The rascals were too shrewd to select only one landinark which might. be re- moved, Now, north by east, two hundred and ten feet from this tree.” He paced carefully. Every step meas- ured a yard, x Sixty-three paces brought him to the Southern corner of Colonel etre? house al ‘Well, by all the seven wonders of the world” Bs ece! iy is

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Harding has built his house right on top of that treasure.” —— ‘ CHAPTER VII. NICK TAKES A LEAP IN THE DARK. The discovery which Nick had made explained the only poiut which had pre- viously puzzled him. . He now knew why Burglar Joe had not dug up the buried treasure. Naturally, he would have waited a year or more until he was certain that the police no louger watched him. ; It was during that time that Colonel Harding’s house had been built. Nick felt sure that the treasure had not been discovered by the workmen who built the house. Such a find could not have. ‘been kept secret. ; “Tt was” buried deep,’’ Nick said to himself. 652) is under the cellar floor of that house: now.’ ” 3 His future movements seemed to be perfectly simple, He had only-to wait until Chick and Patsy arrived, and then the criminals could be taken into custody, He decided to go down the road to meet them. Otherwise, they might possibly miss the house. Just as he tumed away, a sharp cry ‘rang out upon the night. It was a woman’s scans, and it came om the room in which the prisoners vt ie valrous instinets would not per- g ag appeal which NICK CARTER WEEKLY. boldly, and confront the three well-armed and despearte men within was madness. « It would do no good. Cunning and not brute force must win in this battle. To get into the house, and stand ready to take the part of the lelpless prisoners ‘: was what Nick resolved to do; but he ; would enter secretly. - It would not do to get in onthe ground floor. Some one of the ruffians would cer- tainly have command of the main hall. It seemed better to make an entrance higher up, and work down to them. A lightning rod ran up the rear of the. x house. Nick seized it and went up like a sailor. 1 It was his intention to asceud tothe roof, but just under the peak of the gabie — he caine to a round window. It evidently a # He put his hand upon this window 4 and found that it could be opened. be. In a second he was inside the garret. 4 lighted a garret. It was entirely unfinished. The beans were not completely floored over. The darkness was intense. Nick drew out his light, and flashed it ahead of him. His glance rested upon what seenied to be a trapdoor by which he could get down into the house. ea At the instant when he saw this, an- other cry was uttered below him. What — horror was being enacted down there ? ES Nick determined that not an instant &. should be lost. iil He sprang ahead, across the beams. # Just as he did so, he heard the hissingage cruel voice of Harris below. eel her!’ it cried, “and. mi

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 21 The sound added a to Nick’s feet. i e made a great bound forward into the kness. Riese’ ‘There was a crashing sound. The whole house seemed to be yielding under his f eet. ] He flung ont his arms, but met no solid support. } In an instant he shot straight down | rom the dark garret into a brightly- | room below. eA Ginga of broken laths and plaster followed him, making a fearful din, in nidst of which he beard the voices of e three ex-convicts howling with feat audsage. = sudden descent might have give” him an advantage, It frightened his foes, never for an instant did the great de- if ective’s Presence of mind desert him. = He struck on his feet, and a revolver sasin his hand. ct. ; The a of the fall was violent, but . s practically unhurt. The air was ull of the white dust from the broke" lastese Jt Nick made out the details of he scene instantly. He was ina large bedroom. The clothes 3 a been torn from the bed, and thrown i gorse. Dpon pes series Gne-look- him, he was securely le bandage diomnd Wik Reed d 6 doubt that = was Colo- eace There was foot, toa heavy chair in which she was sitting. A gag was in her mouth, but it had slipped so much that she had been able to cry out. Her scream had summoned ick. Of this he had no doubt. Bound to another chair was a beautiful. young Woman, whom Nick instantly guessed to be the daughter of Colonel and Mrs, Harding. She was in a dead faint. McCreary and Harris stood one on each side of Mrs. Harding. On Nick’s left, uear the bed, stood the giant figure of Roland Brown. So much Nick saw in an instant, as he braced his muscles after the shock of his fall. The three criminals, dazed with the — suddenness of his strange appearance, were for a moment incapable of attack. Here was Nick’s opportunity. He might have held that gang covered, and killed or captured them all. * But fate played him an ugly trick. He had stepped forward, drawing a second pistol as he did so, when there came a great crash. Some heavy object struck Nick square- ly onthe head. A blinding dust enveloped him. He was borne to the floor, A great piece of plaster, loosened by his fall, had trembled for a moment, and had then crashed down upon him. Plaster js heavy. It falls very hard. The human head, which happens to be in its way, stands a first-rate chance of being broken, - Nick’s head was not so unfortunate, but he was dazed and nearly blinded. As he struggled to his ‘feet, the “giant

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heavy mattresses off the big bed, and, holding them before him, flung himself upon Nick’s prostrate body. Oue of the detective’s pistols cracked, but the bullet lodged in the mattresses in- stead of in Brown’s heart. The great weight pinned Nick to the floor. His right hand was under the mat- tress; his left wrist Brown had seized with both of his hands. In a second, the other two criminals came to their pal’s aid. Nick was a pris- oner. . Bruised, bleeding, and helpless, the de- tective was dragged to his feet. A rope had been passed around his arms, pinioning them behind him. Brown held him by the collar, while Harris pointed a pistol at his head. McCreary faced him, livid with rage. ‘"Who’s this?’ he cried. ‘Here, let’s have a look at him.’’ Nick’s face was so covered with dust and blood that his best friend would not have known him. McCreary took a towel from a rack in the corner, and wet it in a pitcher of wa- ter. Then he mopped Nick's face, washing off dust, blood and the artificial lines of his disguise. “Ah!” said McCreary, “it seems to me that I know you." ‘Guess not,’’ said Nick, ‘‘I never met but one such scoundrel as you are, and he was hanged.’’ “‘Nervy, isn’t he?’ said Harris, “We will take that out of him.” - “You go outside, Jim, and see Sicther ‘ eoerae * any more of them, "* * NICK CARTER WEEKLY. go. * “Right you are, old man. I'll And, as for you, take that!’ The little coward, as he said th words, strode up to Nick and struck him full in the face with his fist, while Brow held him from behind. “*T owe you one,* Mr. Harris,’ ‘sai Nick, quietly, pay.’’ Harris laughed. Then he hurried away to obey his chief’s instructions. McCreary was still staring at Nick. ““Yes—you,’’ he said, “‘I know yom You’re a true chip of tlhe old block.” Yo ‘fand you'll find me goo look just like your father.”’ “ “Thank you, Mr. MeCreary,’’ sai Nick. ‘The resemblance has been 16 ticed quite often.”’ “Brown, this‘is Nick \Carter, old Sj Carter’s son. It was his father who put me behind the bars.’’ ‘“‘Why not?’ asked Nick, blandly, “That's where you belong.”” j “Took here, young man,’ said Me- ; Creary, in a voice trembling with passion, “you won't be so flip when you hear how | I propose to settle with you for the little | account I had with your father.”’ 25 “If it’s a debt to pay,’ said Nick, “Im safe. It’s pretty well known that you never pay your debts.’ In keeping the rascals talking, Nick had a definite object. He wished to gai all the time he could, for there was no - telling how long it might take Chick ané Patsy to find ‘him. His last retort. made McCreary grin his teeth with rage. “What do you propuse to do wil him ?”’ asked Brown. fy “When we get that stuff ont of

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ps vault,’? said McCreary, witlr a horrible yath, ‘‘we’ll put this fellow into it. V Vell bury him alive.’ : Nick met this awful threat with smil- ing composure. But, for all that, a chill truck to his heart. ~ He knew that the horrible sentence would be executed as:surely as that which had been pronounced upon Burglar Joe, unless help came, ; ; Aud the man capable of facing the idea being buried alive, without an inward Temor of horror, has not yet been born. CHAPTER VIIL , = ot - teed i= rey - DIGGING FOR TREASURE. q “Tie him down on that iron bedstead, Brown, ™ said McCreary. “That's the safest place for him at present.’’ “T thought you intended to take them 11 down cellar while we work. If we eave them here they may make a noise, nd we couldn’t hear it.” ‘ e’ll take them down there by and by. At present we have other work on our hands.” #3 “What work?” ae We must be sure that | this devil has no Easeoge any am kind,” “Jim will at 9 that.”” We'd b peter all goand make a thor- © gh search.’ ou're dokt:' be “Nick upon the bed as been a bundle of feath- tied him ¢ dowh with many 1 and twist of the rope, aah is month was then forced open, anda ied over his tong . at the back of - the head. ee — 45 + NICK CARTER WEEKLY. . It was” 23 As a gag it was a failure, but as an ad- dition to Nick’s misery it was a great success. ; ‘*Now one last word to you all,’’ said McCreary. ‘‘If one of you gets his gag loose and raises a rumpus, I’]] torture you as no red Indian ever tortured a pris- oner.’? . He went out and shut the door. Nick heard him turn the key in the lock. The prisoners were left to their own devices. Nick quietly tested his bonds. They were too strong for him. Not even his great strength could burst those ropes. “‘Mr. Carter.’’ It was the elder woman's voice, ‘*Ves,”? said Nick. ‘Oh, I am so glad that you can speak !"? “«] cau speak all right. Those fellows don’t understand gags, but they can tie knots to beat a sailor.” In view of his own experience, Nick wondered that Burglar Joe had been so effectually silenced on the preceding night. In the present instance, however, the crooks doubtless knew that there was no real need of gags. The nearest house was almost half PY mile away. With Dr. Raymond's resident patient, it had been a different matter. . “How came you here?’ said the woman. “(I tracked these villains. Tell me how they managed to overpower you all." - “My daughter and I were alone in the house at noon to-day, except for the serv- ants. ‘There was a ting at the bell, and the butler answered it. “They must have seized him by the. throat the instant he opened the door. I °

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24 was in the parlor. I heard an unusual noise in the hall, and stepped to the par- lor door. “In an instant I was seized, and choked until I lost consciousness. My daughter was madea prisoner at the door of her room in the same manner. ‘It was probably an easy matter to The coachinan was at the station waiting for overpower tlie two female servants. Colonel Harding. He was at the Engle- wood station, about a mile below here. Colonel. Harding was coming out on an express which did not stop at High- wood. . “When my husband arrived, he was struck down the instant he entered the front hall. I suppose that the coachiman and the groom were taken in the stable.’’ ‘*Where are the servants now ?”’ ‘“Dhey are in the cellar. I learn this -from what these wretches lave said.” “Hush! There was a cousiderable noise outside the door. soine one is coming.”’ ‘Iwo of the desperate villains had re- turned. To judge by the sound, they were cattying some heavy object which they threw down upon the floor. Then the key turned in the lock. The door was thrown open. Brown and McCreary entered, bearing what seemed to be a corpse, ‘Here? sa friend of yours, Mr. Rate as aid McCreary. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 4 Seno” said Brown, ‘we found Wis looking for you, and so we politely showed him up.’’ McCreary laughed. ‘‘He didn’t want to come at first,’’ he said. “In fact, he seemed to object to the society of my friend Harris. ‘‘He was impolite enough to knock Harris down, and he was running away But he ran right into the arms of my friend Brown, who squeezed the life out of him, I guess.’’ a “Do you know him, Carter?’’ aske Brown, turning the face of the uncous scious prisoner toward Nick. | Nick succeeded in raising his head hig! enough to see over the edge of the bed. "One glance realized his fears. The pri - oner was Patsy. Nick could not help realizing that the} Chick,| alone, and imperfectly aware of the qa-) situation was now desperate. ture of the case, could hardly effect rescue, - He was far more likely to fall into the clutches of these murderous villains. Brown let Patsy’s head fall back upon} the floor, Then he and: McCreary sa down and stared at Nick. Presently McCreary began to laugh i | a low, chuckling way such as a demo might have envied. : opt “Pin thinking how you’li look, Mr, Carter,’’ said he, ‘‘when they find you im the vault, you know. We peal be far be - youd pursuit by that time. wwe es a very nice little plan f

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NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 25 Pyour escape. I’d like to tell you about it. wed ,, ‘ ou’re said to be a slirewd inan, and You'd enjoy it. But prudence forbids. ‘Ah, here’s Jim.”’ Harris entered at that moment. His left eye showed the mark of Patsy’s fist, and his face wore an even more dia- bolical expression than usual. "It’s all right,’’ he said. ‘*There's no- body else about the place.’’ The let’s get to work,’’ said Brown, rising. ‘‘The first thing to dois to get ‘these prisoners down cellar.’’ Patsy and Colonel Harding were carried down. The others were made to walk. The manner in which Nick was man- aged showed that the criminals knew him well for a dangerous man. His hands were fastened behind him. theh a rope was tied to each of his ankles. ck, While Brown held him by the collar, a Harris took one of the ropes and Mce- t 4 Creary the other, In this remarkable fashion Nick was } : . . tél Jed to the cellar. A single gas jet lighted a small part of it. on . : " Near thie stairs Nick saw the servants — fastened in various attitudes to iron or brick pillars which supported the house. in} = or : Nick was led to that part of the cellar on where the light burned. He was inade to sitdown on the cement floor with his Te back against a brick pillar, to which he was securely tied with ropes. “‘Now, Brown,’’ said McCreary, ‘‘have you figured this thing out?’’ ““Sure,’’ replied the gigantic ruffian. ‘“The old shanty stood right here. The vault is Just under my feet.’’ Brown stainped with his heel upon the floor. “*T made my measurements and marked the spot while you were up stairs,’’ he continued. “‘How deep have we got to go?”’ ‘*About twelve feet.’’ ‘Well, then, here goes,’’ said Mc- Creary, stripping off his coat. Brown also prepared to work, but Har- ris, the dude, remained sitting on a keg, smoking a cigarette. ‘*Come along, Jim,’’ said Brown. “YT say,’’ drawled the dandy crook, ‘it’s going to be a big job."’ ‘Have you just found that out ?”’ “No; but I’ve just got an almighty bright idea.”’ ‘*What is it?” ‘‘Why, to make these fellows do the work for us.”’ Harris waved his hand_in the direction of the spot where the servants were. ‘There are three able-bodied men,’’ he continued. ‘‘Rour,’’ exclaimed McCreary. ‘‘There is Carter." “Is it safe to let him loose ?”’ ‘Safe ??? McCreary uttered a fearful imprecation, and drew a big revolver at the same time. “I'd like to see him try any game while my eye’s on him.”’

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26 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Then he began to laugh. ‘*T did some hard work for the State on his father’s account,’’ he said. ‘It will please me a good deal to get square for a part of it.’’ “*T would let all four of tlem loose at the same time,’’ said Brown. “Then we’ll work ’em in pairs. Let Carter and the coachman take the first trick.”’ This suggestion came from Harris. It was i1umediately acted upon. Nick and the coacliman were set free. They were provided with tools aud were ordered to cut away the cement floor. McCreary directed operations with a revolver always ready. Brown lent the aid of his enormous strength to the work. Harris still sat on the keg. He had a re- volver in each_hand. Nick was never more delighted in his life than when he was unbound and set to work. For all that, he realized that it would be madness to attempt resistance. He might kill die of the ruffiaus with a pickaxe, or shovel, but the others would certainly kill him. He could hope for no support from the coachman, who was a spiritless fellow, and shook with fear that one of the. re- volvers would go off ‘accidentally and shoot him. _ <It was half-past ten when the work was begun, Daylight was struggling down into the cellar long before Nick’s shovel struck the metal top in the treasure vault, Coachman, butler and footinan had taken turns at the work, but McCreary had kept Nick at it all the time. ‘‘This is going to be his grave,’” said McCreary, ‘‘and it’s only fair that he should have a chance to see that it’s prop- etly dug.”’ ‘‘Thanks, Mr. McCreary,’ Nick re- plied, “I think I shall like it as well as any grave I ever had.”’ _ The excitement of the criminals when the vault was reached rose to fever heat. | Nick's was not less than theirs. His grave was dug, and tliese men intended to ‘cousign him to it without mercy. CHAPTER IX. TRICKED AND TRAPPED. The top of the vault was about five feet square. Its door opened upward. It gave every indication of massive strength. Nick wondered how these men, though they were all skilled workers in : iron, had ever been able to put it to- yether. It niust have been tlie work of many months. Probably during that time one of them had inhabited the old shanty which Nick had heard mentioned during the night. It doubtless stood above the vault, and . shielded them while they were at work upon it. . ‘‘How long will it take us tocrack it?” asked Harris. ‘You ought to be the best judge, Bob, 7 Ge for you had most of the castings made.”’ — : ap) es o s5 prt ~~ o = a

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aot will be a long job,’’ said McCreary. Then he swore frightfully, and called ern curses on the memory of their trait- orots comrade, Burglar Joe. “Where did he hide that key? If we iad it we could finish the job and be out of here before people begin to stir about much.” AS it | is, we’ll have to hold this house all day, perhaps,’’ said Brown. : “We might as well quit talking and go o drilling,’’ said McCreary. ‘“Tie up Carter and the other fellow.’’ imind tying Carter. Perhaps we can make him useful. Tie up the other It was done. Nick was permitted to sit on the edge of the -hole that had been er : = - Only two of the crooks could work to advantage om the safe door. The other “guarded Nick. — The great detective was not altogether hopeless. He had worked with brain as Has hands during that night. le ground through which he had dug had seemed firm and h hard. It had been "possible to ¢ three ‘sides of the exca- 2 7 e5 “The wall? ‘open: side was ‘reallly = Throughout the picks: he had done NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 27 er part of the earth taken from the ex- cavation should be piled on the weak side. — In short, he had been setting a trap. He had constructed that hole so that one side of it was on the point of caving in. The cement floor of the cellar held it up, but Nick believed that he could strike a-single blow with a pick on that floor, and send the side wall and the great pile of earth above it down into the hole. If he could catch two of the criminals in the cave in, he believed that he might deal with the other. But how was he to spring the trap? The vigilance of the sentry seemed never to relax. Nick was covered, every instant of the time, by revolvers, in the hands of his cold-blooded captors, Harris was on the outside. McCreary and Brown were bending over the iron top of the vault. s ‘Here, Jim,’’ McCreary called, ‘‘come down here a minute.” ‘How about Carter?” “Brown will go up and look out for him.” The big burglar began to climb the side of that hole which had been left on a slant for that purpose. Harris started to go down. He still kept his pistol leveled toward Nick. Brown was just drawing his own weap- on, so that he could mount guard. Suddenly McCreary stopped drilling, and began to swear.

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28 ‘To think how easy we could do this,” he exclaimed, ‘‘if we only had that other key.” : ‘*There it is,’’.said Nick, suddenly, and threw it down into the hole. It fell ringing upon the iron. Nick had chosen his opportunity well. It is easier to tlhirow two sentinels off their guard than one. Brown depended on Harris to guard Nick. Harris depended on Brown. That was just what Nick knew would happen, © When that key fell, ‘down the side of the slant. both men dove Their excitement carried them away. They forget their prudence in their wild desire to see that key. - Then Nick sprung his trap. He struck with his pick at the cement floor. must be directed. He knew exactly where the blow The great heap of earth, which had been taken With a rush, the bank fell in. from the hole, fell down upon the heads of the treasure-seekers. MeCreary and Harris, who were bend- ing down to get the key, were crushed against the iron top of the safe. Brown was more fortunate. He had just realized that Nick was left unguarded. Perhaps he heard the detective move, - though his motions were almost noiseless. age “At any rate, Brow straightened up to : _ hie full height, and met the rush of earth = NICK CARTER WEEKLY. He discharged his pistol wildly up into } the air, but the bullet went nowhere near Nick. Then, dropping |iis pistol, the gigantic desperado gave his undivided attention to getting outof that hole. He clawed his” way up the bank, Nick might have struck him down, but he did not. It looked too much like mur- der to kill a mam in a hole like that. | Man to man, Nick was willing to meet the gigantic criminal, and try his strength. It was a fair field, and no favor. Nei- d ther man had a weapon. Brown had iost his in the cave-in, and — Nick’s had been taken from him when he was captured. The pickaxe he had thrown down. : With a dreadful yell of rage, the giant sprang upon the detective. , He had no de- | : an antagonist. Nick leaped to one side. sire to wrestle with such He put his faith in skill and hard blows. ; As Brown lurched by him, Nick struck . hard and true. If the criminal had not had the skull of a bull, the blow would have bronght~ re him to the ground. : As it was, it confused him, but no — | more.- He turned, and again rushed upon f Nick. a: a Again the detective stepped aside, aud” planted a blow without receiving a rettt Ne The burglar was hurt, but he was far : ee His SEperience in these brief seuss from being disabled,

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a Se Se ee ee ee ‘ Ege had taught him caution. He realized that _he ‘must bring his strength to bear and do it it speedityg or he would fall. beneath the “terrible blows of his antagonist. ‘sate advanced upon Nick slowly, pre- pared to close with the detective, if the _ Teast chance offered. In spite of himenlie ick was forced ~ into an unfavoraly Mrs "The pit was o1 ‘his left, a wall of brick at into the cellar was on his right, and the foundation wall of the house was Esbebind him. He was being driven into a a + : see a. 20" a ay ‘Worse thari all else, he heard sounds * < plainly indicated that one or the Bee the two men in the pit was fore- ing himself out t from under the mass that had been cast down \ upon them both. 3 met os either of them was able to come 2 to S - Browss aid, Nick knew that his own _ must settle the Si: Be Ad a flashed through Brown’s saw Nick back away toward 35) 7 a the: detect ste A NICK CARTER WEEKLY. | E ua nce for life would be less than nothing. . 29 tremendoiis blow planted squarely on the jaw. The action was so unexpected that the hardy ruffian had no guard, and no poise. He went down with a crash, and so much easier than Nick had anticipated, that the detective went down, too, falling on top of his prostrate enemy. Brown had just consciousness enough left to lock his enormous <ina-atound: Nick’s body like a gigantic vise. Then, with a convulsive movemeut, he turned the detective over, and rolled on top of him. But Nick was too wily and too strong to be held in such a posi- tion. He, in turn, threw Brown off, though he could not loosen the clasp of those powerful aris. 3 The .cousequence was that the strug- gling foes rolled over once too often. Be- fore Nick realized his danger, they were over the side of the pit. The excavation had been so far filled by Nick’s landslide that he and his an- tagonist fell only about five feet. They came down exactly on the head of Harris, who was struggling out from under the debris. Brown still struggled and clung to Nick, despite the detective’s terrible “‘short-arm”” work upon his opponent's ribs. ‘Harris, though beaten back by the 2 altel we. two eer had still some fight ade Ue +

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» 30) NICK CARTER WEEKLY. But suddenly a loud cry rang through the cellar. Though the giant’s arms seemed to be crushing Nick’s ribs, he still had breath enough for an answering shout. For he recugnized the voice. It was Chick’s, and it meant that the fight was over. CHAPTER X. A VAST TREASURE. “Chick, you have saved my life again.”’ “Oh, You’d have done tlie rascals alone.” “Well, I don’t know. He is one of the hardest citizens I ever had to deal with.” no; not quite so hard, Nick! ‘As Nick spoke, he pointed to Brown, who lay bound upon the cellar floor. Beside him was Harris, looking like a disinterred corpse. He was alive, though, and very ugly. ' The men whom Chick had brought with him were engaged in clearing away the earth from on top of McCreary. ; They found him lying flat on his face __ Upon the vault’s top. He was alive, but unconscious. His first words when restored to the possession of his faculties, were: ‘*How long have I been buried alive ?’’ Nobody answered immediately, and he asked: Ts it. more than two days”? “He has suffered all the agonies which he planned to: inflict upon you,” said i lick, to whom Nick aad told the Ste of the horrible revenge which McCreary , had proposed. “‘T suppose you wondéred why I was so long in coming,”? Chick continued. “Well, I would have been glad to see you at any time during the night,’? Nick replied, with a smile, ‘*Patsy’s telegram went wrong,’ said Chick. “That made it much harder for me to “It was delayed several hours. ‘follow your trail when I finally picked it up. “T finally spotted this. house, but not seeing either you or Patsy about, I de- cided that something was wrong. So I . sent out for more men.”’ “And you came in the nick of time. All’s well that ends well. amine the robbers’ treasure house.’” ~ Now let’s ex- The four keys were found in thie earth, which was quickly cleared away from the They were fitted, and, with the aid of oil, turned in their locks » Then the heavy door was thrown back, top of the vault. revealing a cavity about four feet square, A great sheet of chamois skin was the first object visible, and when it was lifted ~ it disclosed a dazzling spectacle. } “Jewels by the bushel,” exelaimed — Chick. ‘What do vou say to that, Dr. Raymond?” . ay? ya Indeed, Dr. Raymond was present, hav- ing been brought along by Chick. _ ¢ “‘T say,’’ said the doctor, ‘that only one ‘man living could have solved the ~ aayetety of ey topidents patient's connec

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= 3 tion with this heap af treasure. In my opinion, no such detective wurk was ever “done before.”’ With that verdict, the story ends. it “The stolen treasure was most of claimed, and Nick has many a jewel ‘which the owners presented to him in recognition of his work. Neither Colonel Harding ‘was fot to be seriously injured. Indeed, ng detective was on his feet again nor Patsy in a few days. ; 2 ; NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 31 The three cracksmen wifi have to an- swer for a more serious offense than burg- lary when next they appear at the bar of justice. Murder will be the charge, and the ver- dict cannot be in doubt. That strange, mysterious crime, the hanging of Burglar Joe, will be aveuged,. [THE END. | The next number of the NIcK CARTER WEEKLY will contain ‘Caught in Six Hours; or, Trouble in Room No. 46.”’ He eH THE BEST LIBRARY OF DETECTIVE STORIES. Ht eH 173—Caught in Six Hours; or, Trouble in Room No. ar Joe; or, Nick Carter’ the Dark. ioNice ris Bog® Shadow: of fne Man with 701 city; or, Nick Carter Bags an TO CautPotiender » teounmasked by Nick Carter; or, An Attempt at Second Sight; or, A Dumfounded Seeks Carter Makes a Loan That Brings Him Big and Loses } a Carter's Prisoner. Returns, “4 Pe ee Prevents a Diagartanes, pes Carter | in a Hole; or, A Plan to Catch Him Track, but Has Another ter Jumy “a Train, and Takes Big tr Saves a Life, and Earns a Woman's a Bank President; or, A 164—Ni See © the c r vr ne String to ts Bow. atitude. ones Carter Corners Balance That Was Grosked. pee Niey. Carter's Steamer Trunk; or, A Crime in Ocean. ‘ter’s New Uniform; or, A Bribe That he Sewanet Man; or, An In-- ; or, A Battery That be or, A Drive at a ; or, A Criminal ; or, A Telegram i LATEST ISSUES: 153—Nick Carter’s Mid Case Con- cluded Before Devineks Callen: t:2 152—Nick Carter’s Fake Murder Case; or, The Plan to Wipe Out the Agenc 151—Nick Carter Stands ela, and Wins a Game nds i 130—Nick Carter's Beg ee aed or, Outwitted by Duplicate Methods. Like- 149—-Nick Carter Exchanges Prisoners; or, 4 ss Easi E eg Carters Snap Shot: or, A Photograph That ave vi n esate « Carter's race at the Wheel; or, Red and ac oth the Same. Me—Nick Carter's Race for Life; or, An Accident in e Nick of Time. 16k Carter's Midn ight 4 Arrest; or, An Interrup- Potn, and Turns It Over to the Right Own me wn prisoner; or, How Her 148—Nick aie * oa to eocinate Him, M2—Nicke Carter, ‘Meets a Wizard and Shows Him a ic Limited; or, The Man Mi—Niok. “Garter on the vant a on Nick he orter’s. Greatest Compliment. Ib—Strue 2 ste’ or, How the Superintendent Lent 1gs—-Nie! ieanter’s Mouse Trap; or, The End of Doc ; tone. 437—Bob peed (date a Card; or, What Was Found a werk wth. ‘Work th ‘Train Robbers; or, ‘That Was Marked with Blood. ae Mame. edits: Ab nit ve Abduction Case; or, A Baby’s Cry for 134—The Malay's, Charge; or, Roxy's Life Saved by a New numbers peyicnd 2 it you cannot get our publications from your newsdealer, five 1 by mail, postpaid.

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High Prices Are On Vacation THE MEDAL LIBRARY Oliver Optic and Others. - - - - - The Right Books at the Right Price. ‘There is a line of classics for youth—the books your fathers read—the books you want to read— the books the boys and girls will read and like as long as the English language endures. They have done more to shape the mind of American boys for the last fifty years than any others. We refer to the writings of Oliver Optic, Horatio Alger Edward S. Ellis, Lieut. Lounsberry, James Otis, William Murray Graydon, etc. These names are familiar wherever the American flag floats .. Unfortunately, they have heretotore been procurable only in expelisive binding at from $1.00 to $1.50 each. The average boy has not got $1.50 to invest. 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 our well-known ‘eagle and Magnet Libraries, at ‘the uniform price of ten cents. Thousands of boys l1ave asked us to issue this line, Thousands more are ready to buy it on sight, There is no jine 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 tht the boys have not approved as a “‘ standard. v They have bought them by thousands at $1.00 2nd up- wards, and now they can get them for TEN CENTS A COPY. 1—The Boat Club. F : : . : ’ r . . y Oliver Optic 2—Cadet Kit Carey : is F 7 5 P : By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry 8—All Aboard . = ~ . ° 7 2 : : : By Oliver Opti¢ 4—Lieutenant Carey’s Luck s 7 . ~ J : - By Ohve~ Optic 10—Don Kirk, the Boy Cattle King By Gilbert Patten 11—From Tent to White ——. (Boyhood and Lite of President McKinley. ) By Edward S. Ellis 12—Don Kirk’s Mine = By Gilbert Patten 13—Up the Ladder By Lieut. Murray 14—The Young Colonists. A Story 0: Lite and War in Africa : . By G. A. Henty 15—Midshipman Merrill . . By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry 16—The White King of “eRted > a . By William Murray Graydon 17—Ensign Merrill c ; $ : ; = ‘ - By Lieut. Lionel Lounsberry 18—The Silver Ship . F - ~ 7 - ? esos 7 . By Lewis Leon 19—Jack Archer $ é % . ° = ? 4 4 ; 3 ° . = <4 ; E 3 By Matthew White, Jr. OTHERS EQUALLY GOOD TO FOLLOW. wz Order them at once. If you cannot get them send to us. Remember these are r2mo_ inted from new plates, with aes covers, and are-the ‘real = Sette and ss 3 i A COPY.

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Another STREET & SMITH'S | v LATEST eader omrades” HIS new weekly library will be mtroduced to the public f) on Wednesday, March 28th, 1900. It is bound to be ay) like all of Street & Smith’s lines, a sure winner from fi the start. Tom Wright, the hero of Comrades, is a + bright boy who has decided to devote his life to the service of “ King Steam” in one of the great railroads of our land. Rest assured he will reach fame and fortune on the ees express. The life of an ambitious railroad man is full of exciting incident, and Tom has his full share of adventures. Through all of these, he will be found Wright by name, right in word, right in deed, and always right. The many adventures of Tom and his friends will be followed with the deepest interest by all who are fortunate enough to read this new series of splen- did stories. Tom will be surrounded by several ‘“ comrades,” who will join hands with him and stand by him in his various enterprises. R. ROBERT STEEL is an author of wide experience in the field covered by these stories, and we are certain his work wiil please all who admire our well-known “Tip Top Weekly” and “ Do and Dare Weekly,” to which “ Comrades” will be a companion. Street & Smith know just what the boys and girls of America like best, and as announced in a previous card, propose to render it possible for every boy and girl in the land to find just what they want, and as great a variety as they desire in the publications issued'by them. They cover all fields, and fill all demands. All their lines are leaders. Remember, No. 7 Comrades will be on sale Alarch 25th. “Jom Wright on Jrial; or, A Clear Jrack to Success.” READ IT! PRICE 5c. —illuminated cover—uniform in size and style with Tip Top and Do and Dare.