Nick Carter Weekly (no. 180) (1900 06 09)
The text was read from the page scans by machine (OCR), so it has mistakes and its columns may run together. See the pages · About this title · At the Internet Archive
Page 1
ICK CARTE WEEKLY Issued weekly, Subscription price $2.50 per year. Entered as second class matter at the N. Y. Post Office by STREET & SMITH, No. 180. Price 5 Cents. ‘YOU FOOL!’ HISSED NICK, AS HE CAUGHT PATSON BY THE WRISTS.
Page 2
; x Soateoes ed according to Act of Congr ess in the ye de by chk per Smith, in the eae of the Librarian of Oongrese, ashington, D. Entered as second class Matter ai the New York, N. Y.; Post Office. Issued weekly. Subscription price, $2.50 per year. June 9, 1900. No, 180. 8rreer & Surru, Publishers. NEW YORK. 5 Cents 288 William 8t., N. ¥. The Government Gustom’s Swindle OR, ~ NICK CARTER’S WORK FOR THE U. S. TREASURY. By the Author of ‘NICK CARTER." CHAPTER I. A GOVERNMENT AFFAIR. ; “T have a mind to demand the resignation : of every agent connected with the force,” ex- 3 claimed one of the heads of the secret service branch. of the Treasury Department, as he c knit his brows angrily. ss “Why, what’s the matter, colonel?” ques- _Hioned the person addressed, the chief of a bureau in the War Office. 3 “Matter enough. = Satan over in Canada who has amassed a million in smuggling fur, goods across the line.” ef “And your agents have not yet stieceeded i in running him down, eh?” “No. I have sent scores.of my best men, There’s a. crafty 3 imp of smuggler went to London last month—I got _ e a ie - ‘ oS in every conceivable disguise, to Quebec, peas Me ~ Montreal and Ottawa, and they haven't gath- - ered a single grain of evidence agaitist him. ee “He must be in league with the Evil Ose : indeed.” oi “And the worst of it is that Logan, the pasta detective I ever had, who served his appren- ~ ticeship under Baker and Pinkerton—old Ale” lan—had his hands on the fellow two days | ago, and let him slide.” “That's bad.” eae: “Bad! -It was downright stupidity. The this ‘piece of news from Scotland Yard—and, ; after a splurge that cost him thousands of dol- a lars, engaged passage for America by a cers tain steamer, giving” out to his rascally 4 friends te he -cupoar to extend — oe
Page 3
Jee eae -<make the most of his journey in the seclusion - of his sleeping-car berth, s@ture from the pry- ing eyes of the officers of the law.” “And your agents failed to i advantage of this clew 2” “Logan did, certainly, though he worked his points well up to a certain stage. “A full description of the fellow was sent to me, which I placed in the hands of Logan. “The steamer arrived in Halifax, and our man went on to Quebec, where he remained two days. “Logan occupied the same car with him, and when,this fellow bought a ticket for New York, and had received checks for fourteen ; trunks, which he intended to take with him, 4 “the detective rubbed his hands in proud satis- faction.” . “Te thought he would soon have the rascal without much trouble, eh?” Yes: if Of the affair. And now comes the disgusting part When the frontier station was reached Logan, with a number of local offi- ; cers, who had been wired to be on hand, walked into Mr. Smoothy’s car and informed _ him that he was the much- wanted P. D. Mar- ~ quette. As every one of his franks was : “marked P. D. M,, and as he completely an- swered the Scotland Yard description, there wasn’t much Chance of his getting off, one would think.” “T should think not.” “# And yet Logan let him go.” s: “T can’t understand——” : | Zit Nog can I,” interrupted the other, with an ex Ps pression of disgust. —Ts = NICK CARTER WEEKLY. learned of his change of tactics.” isfaction that he4vas P. D. Mason, and not S P. D. Marquette, and that he was a reputable tradesman of Albany.” “What sort of proof did he Bene: for- ward?” “The statement of two of his fellow- passengers and the ‘positive asseveration of the conductor.” “Perhaps it is a case of mistaken identity.” “Not at all, for half an hour after the train | had left the frontier station the plain evidence reached Logan—who had remained behind < with the locals—that the man he had permit. ted to go was indeed Marquette. “He then wired ahead to have him detained, but the wily rascal, who is as sly and cunning’ , as the foxes whose skins he deals in, had fore- seen the exposure, and at the first junction he had taken the back track and was safe on Do- minion soil with his trunks before Logan “Where is your detective now ?” ; “In Canada, He swears henull overhaul the fellow yet. But I have lost confidante frie him.” elt seems to me,’ ’ remarked the representa- tive of the War Office, “that Logan acted with proper ‘judgment and discretion when he tac-_ x itly accepted Marquette’s representations and. declined to make the arrest.” — “I don’t agree with you.” : - “Let ts suppose that the man wit the wal trunks was P..D. Mason.and not P. D. Mar- Cal qiente” say ee Sa Saas “Very well 3 7 at “Tn that case) \ if the: arrest had been made, _ 4 Logan, sor the department she Be a
Page 4
“The Government would have paid the bill.” : “And Logan would have been discharged.” “Well, as to that “There is no doubt about it. citizen publicly arrested as a notorious A reputable smuggler would have caused such a hubbub over the affair that the arresting officer would assuredly have lost his position.” “Still, chances.” Logan ought to have taken the ‘He is too careful an officer to make a bad break.” ’ ‘ “And at thersame time,” said the secret service official, “he is not keen enottgh to see when he has the game in his own hands.” “We are none of us perfect.” “There are detectives who would have stripped the mask from Marquette in-an in- stant.” -s “T know of only one who might have over- miata ig) smart Canadian smuggler in cunning.” “You must refer to Nick Carter.” -"T do.” eo b « “By the great horn spoon! he is the man I want,’’ .exclaimed -the secret service official, with emphasis. “T would like to have my friend, Nick, take the case.” “Vl wire Superintendent Byrnes at once.” “Tt is not necessary, colonel.” "No? ??? “Nick Carter i is in Washington. I met him ~ an hour ago.” The colonel’s face beamed with pleasure. “Where is he now? Do you know?” “Ee is at Willard’s. A telephone will bring him here in fifteen minutes. He told me : - NICK CARTER WEEKLY. - the struggle. hotel. ete 2 : Before he had been twenty-four hours in he had something to do which would occupy” him for an hour or more.” : The telephone was brought into requisition. Nick Carter answered the summions. For more than two hours he was closeted with the official of the secret service depart-_ ment. : At the end of the consultation he left the office, and was a passenger on the late after- noon train for New York. Ss The next morning, after issuing certain in- | structions to Chick, his courageous and skill- ful assistant, the great detective set out for Quebec. He realized that he was entering upon a difficult undertaking, for Marquette was a man of great wealth, as unscrupulous as he ~ was cunning, and by long odds'the largest and — most successful offender under the ‘United — States customs laws ever known. Ns To catch him at his unlawful practices, and 4 at the same time put a stop to his gigantic. system of smuggling, would require patience, cunning, resolution and courage of the et: order. 3 E es ae, Nick Carter was not dismayed at the Pros: Ae pect before him. =e The greater the Stistaales ina case, ies —™= keener the zest with which he entered upon % ‘> That night he occupied a room in a Quebec _ thé place he had picked up, ina casual way, a number of important items. . Quebee is a city where little swisttieate is. done, but it is a place of great historical in- terest. Hundreds of tourists resort there an nw y
Page 5
: ie These tourists are persons of wealth for a the most part. . ‘In Quebec at this time was one of the larg- est and finest fur stores in the world. P.D. 1 Marquette. was the proprietor, and as nearly all the cabmen, or “carters,” in the city - were in his pay, the tourist was always driven to his establishment as one of the sights. ; The spectacle presented there was indeed . worth seeing, for nowhere else under oné roof could be found sich costly furs of every de- scription. Mr. Marquette, a large man. with a bald head, twinkling gray eyes, and voice low and ~ sweet as that of a woman, was standing in the door of his establishment on the afternoon of the day following Nick Carter’s arrival in - Quebec, when a cab’ drove up, and a young ee man, whose -attire and facial. appearance - seemed to proclaim him an Englishman of wealth and distinction, alighted and came for- ward. Marquette smiled. benevolently, and invited him “to enter and inspect the store. pL he Baglishman did not break out into ex- _ pressions of enthusiastic delight at what he = - saw. | ~- Qn thé contrary, he was as cool as a cu- the proprietor escorted him cumber, as & through the i iromielise establishment. “Did you eyer see anything finer ‘than: 3 ; “that? said Marquette, as he Ridicsted a sable- lined coat that would have been fine enough _ for a Vanderbilt, — vie (ph € The Bogisnaey calmly igepected the oat = ‘ment through his eye-glass. res : el sen know,” he drawled, Be cawn’t “caun't” eee NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘ 4 * the world. Ais Lee quette, “Just the thing to encase a gentleman’s — form when he drives on. the boulevard next | a3 winter,” insisted Marquette. “Deah me, but it wouldn’t look out of piece really... How much?” A-remarkably low price was named. — Before the Englishman could express an opinion, the smiling and oily Marquette called his attention to a lady’s sealskin coat, caleu- = lated to drive the average society belle wild with envy when observed on the person of a rival. “What could be a more fitting present for te, wife or sweetheart?” said Marquette. “You. may have it at half the New York price.” The Englishman stared hard at the mer- chant. “You must get them very cies,” “I do. quette, he said. Ae s “I haven’t a brother,” laughed ‘Mar- “who steals them for me, nor do “E At the same time, I enjoy unusually exch a employ a force,of hunters and trappers. facilities for underselling any other firm in a “Really, my deah sir, I would be pleased to Be purchase the goods, but I cawn’t, don’t know. To be plain, Iam not prepared i in a financial sense, don’t you see? er “That makes no difference,” Soi Mr. Mar-. “You can send me your check wh ever you. please.” This was a strange proposition a a ba e ness man to make, and yet, though ae had sold on unlimited credit, , wane few accounts. Reon or New York, eras ie astute Mar- a of Quebec, had made a fortune oul
Page 6
NICK: CARTER WEEKLY. = The Englishman ‘softly caressed his beard as he pretended to gravely consider the mat- od ere FE : “It’s all very well, my deah sir—the price, -don’t you know, and the dused good opinion you have of me, don’t you see, but there’s. one blawsted thing we haven’t thought of, don’t you know.” “And-what’s that?” queried the urbane Marquette. “Tt is this. If I bought the goods, my’deah sir, and had them sent to<New York, where I am temporarily residing, don’t you know, ut would have to pay thirty-five per cent. duty, dor,’t you see? And, besides, I have no way to carry them.” mit al At this point Mr. Marquette proceeded to get in his fine work. In-his most courteous and enigaging man- ner he explained that, by reason of his large business, high standing, ete., he enjoyed spe- cial arrangements with the authorities, which enabled k him to send his goods very cheap, etc. = And that for the modest sum of five dollars ~he would deliver the goods, duty paid, at the tourist’ s abode in the United States ; and. the tourist need not pay until he received them. Marquette had made this explanation, and was waiting for the Englishman’ s reply, when 8 é a telegram was put into his.hands by his head clerk. gees es He opened the envelope avickly, and read _the following: —— “New York, October {7 ee nee “To P. D. Marguerre, Quebec.—L. G. left for 2 “yesterday. Treat-him well. ° aR 5 ; “Orson.” Without a change of countenance, the great fur merchant and smugglef folded the tele- ee and put it into his: ene boo _The Englishman was passing his hand over’ the soft sealskin coat, when Marqueite again spoke to him. rs “Well, what do you say, sit?” “T think I'll accept your kind See G cawn’t see any objection to it.” “Thank you.” Marquette’s face put on a more engaging - smile than ever. The order was booked, a few more ques- tions were asked, and ne plese took his — leave. : res He had no sooner passed out of the door than Marquette touched an electric button un- - der one of the large plate glass windows. In an instant a dark, sharp-faced young man, under the medium height, was by ge side. “You saw thé fellow who just left, — < “WieS Sits Sg a olow him and find Gat where he i is stay- ‘ing and all about him.” nee “Very well, sir.” Peter was out of the door quick as a flash. — The Englishman walked down the street a few rods, and then halted in front of a jew- ; s eler’s window. . Out of the corner of his eye he saw Peter, and instantly came to a cértain conclusion. . After remaining by the window for afew moments, he hailed a cab and was driven to the hotel where he had registered the day be- __ fore. a Peter Lafitte was on the afew 3 in Sean « owe of the hotel office when the Englishman mounted the stairs to his room. Five minutes sufficed to put the spy in pos- session of the following information : The Heglieiae 2 name, as indicated ty =
Page 7
_ the register, was Clarence Fitzmaurice, and : he represented himself to be the younger son - of the Earl of Carriston. He was well provided with recommenda- tions,.and~the hotel proprietor had, at the Englishman’s own request, telegraphed to a well-known banking house in New York to ascertain his financial standing. The reply was a-most satisfactory one. Clarence Fitzmaurice could draw on them - for a hundred thousand dollars. Hastening back to his employer, Lafitte rapidly communicated his discoveries. Marquette listened carelessly, stroked his heavy chin, and smiled. “YT am well acquainted with’ the Earl of he said. weeks ago at Liverpool.” | “hen his son is O. K.?” let “Yes, and—that’s all for the present.” Carriston,” “Tn fact, I saw him two Lafitte glided off, and Marquette repaired is his private office. After talking eit the telephone to a person he addressed as Pat for some time, he sat down with a wrinkled brow. “T might fre told Lafitte scpeetBin that - would have opened his eyes,’ * he said to him- _ self, “if any further proceeding i in this affair had been within the scope of his duties.” Ms se “Tt is, indeed, true that Carriston’s soneshe has but one—is at this moment in England, but he is the inmate of an insane asylum.” _ The merchant, smuggler took out the tele- "gram from New “York, and re-read it: i A G.—which means Little Giant, other- ¥) gave ut wise Nick Carter— left for ‘Quebec yesterday. Treat him well.’ “So I will” —rubbing his hands: softly ae M50 T will, if Pat suc- i wae ee n a _ NICK CARTER cere Fitzmaurice’s room. ican accent. with.” Half an hour later a tall, brosd-soldeg Irishman, with a smooth face, > upterly ni ; ot expression, and a pair of small, sleepy eyes, e called at Hotel, and writing a few 1 es ona card, asked that it be taken to Clarer “The clerk’s reply made the sleepy | ae in- stantly disappear. e Left fifteen ont sf ago, ee in time to — the Grand Tron <e ve “Fe has gone, sir. express.” — dupieretelng an 1 oat the Trishman » tamed and left the office and went, oF se ita store. Montreal. Noah In the same car with him was a a consump- * tive old gentleman, who was pe see up to his “= oe was troubled with ech * a hing eo re that he annoyed ‘the Irishman almost b endurance. ee Arriving at Montreal after dark, he jum into a cab, and ordered the driver to tak | “All right “now,
Page 8
& The clerk ores knowingly, and nodded his head. : Upon the register the stranger wrote the following, i in a round, clerkly hand: “Jamus Sxssrons, St. Louis, “Mo.” - The clerk gazed at the stranger in open- mouthed admiration. He believed that the man before him was _ the defaulting bank-president, whose plunder- _ ing operations had been chronicled but a few days before. The hotel was the resort of defaulters and “embezzlers from the United States, but not one of the ilk had ever registered’there, whose peculations, like jt ran up into the en 5 “After he had been shown toa room, the man from St. Louis opened the blinds of the front window slightly, and looked across the street. On the first floor of the building opposite was an express office. As he gazed a man came down the stairs with a small package in his hand. He so closely resembled the man Pat that he might have been his own brother. After he had passed into the express office the person who had been watching him nod- ded his head in satisfaction. “This is the second station of Marquette’s _ mysterious underground railway,” ran his .thoughts, “and if my Ick holds out, T’ll get aboard and travel to the end.” The alleged consumptive, otherwise the de- ‘ ‘faulting St. Louis bank president, was Nick Canter. yi _ CHAPTER It, A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY. ‘Phe great detective had visited Marquette’ s % pany as a driver. hs - store, in ‘Dupes, in the | wales of an pics tourist, with the hope of pe fot oe daring: enUeEIe conducted his nefarious bus- . iness, A certain ee mapped at ae his mind when he left the establishment, was changed when he observed that he was being: e 7 yo folewed. 3 “That telegram must have given me away,” Nick thought. .“All right. kind of a game, then.” It did not take him long to change his dis- Til play another ‘guise after he had left the hotel, He had heard the Irishman’s cotiversation with the clerk, from a corner. in the office where he was sitting as the consumptive when Pat came in, and he shadowed that worthy to the Grand Trunk Depot, saw him buy a ticket for Montreal, and then tok his own rheastires accordingly. _ Nick knew that he would be safe for a week at least in assuming the part of Sessions, the St. Louis defaulter. ee : The day before he left New York, Sessions had nea captured, but his arrest was a pro- found secret, and publicity would not be given. it until the greater part of the money he had stolen had been recovered. In the opintion of the officers who had charge of the case, this undertaking would occupy about a week in accomplishment, At the brealcfast-room, next morning, Nick saw the man whoni he had observed going _ into the express office, and who bore such a a : strong resemblance to Pat,’ the Irishman. . During the forenoon ‘the detective. Jearned that the man’s name was Jerry Pursall, and ee that he was in the employ of the express com- Ss That evening Nick went into a tise private r > ae ie NICK CARTER WHEKLY. a : Hee oe :
Page 9
4 8 . NICK CARTER WEEKLY. emer room back of the office, where the guests, whose tastes inclined that way, were wont to indulge in a quiet game of poker. Pursall was one of a party of four at one of the tables. * After half an hour’s play one af the quar- tette got up and left. Nick saw his chance, and at once asked if he might take the vacant seat. Pursall smiled genially, and said: “Certainly, Mr. Sessions.” The fact that Pursali had become caus in reference to thé name and character of the man he was assuming to be, pleased the shrewd ‘detective greatly. His work would now be much easier. When the game broke up, Pursall and an- other of the players, introduced to Nick as Car] Dent, adjourned to the bar-room. After a drink and a short conversation, they returned to the card-room. The great detective sat at the table, play- ing solitaire. During the four-handed game of poker, he “had dropped a hundred and fifty dollars. The money had been placed on the table in notes taken from a pocket-book that appeared to contain many thousands. Pursall came up to Nick, and said in a low vcice : “Do you ever try the tiger?” “When I get the chance,” was the smiling _ Teply. “Dent and I are going toa point down the street, where one of the squarest games in the Dominion is conducted. » Would 78 to go along with us ?” “You het ! id ty ¥ ; Pursall’s eyes twinkled with’ sativiaetion: Presently the three men left the hotel. On the way to the faro joint, Nick; whose tongue seemed loosened. by the vast quantity of liquor he had pretended to drink while the poker’ was in ‘progress, informed his cM a 4 ~ oe te get them.” down the stairs. companions, confidentially, that he wasa high roller, and that he intended to go the pace at a stunning rate while he remained in Mon- treal. This information made Pursall and Dent exchange secret glances of approval. When Nick left the faro joint at daybreak she was several hundred dollars the worse for his encounter with the tiger. But he was anything but dissatisfied with his position. When he parted with Pursall and Dent, he ~— was convinced that he had: worked his points well. - After a short nap, and a light ‘vdalieaiy he took a stroll down the street. On his*way back to the hotel, Dent passed him without speaking or even looking at him, - The man’s face was pale, there were dark — circles about his eyes, and his lips were mov- ing spasmodically. é “He didn’t see me,” thought Nick, “and he - has something weighty and unpleasant on his mind.” Dent walked rapidly until he came to ae tea door of the express office opposite the hotel. After looking into the office for a moment, — he turned and went up the stairway, down which Jerty Pursall had come > the? suai “be- fore. The great detective went into ee hotel, and took a seat by one of the front windows, so that he could command a view of the build- ings opposite, and waited for develogaee They were not long in coming. A few minutes after Dent had: ees Jerry Pursall came out of the express office “3 and went up the stairs; > “Dent has some vaaaner | to send off,” was Nick’s conclusion, “and the Irishman has gt Pye (A short. time ‘elapsed, and, theée
Page 10
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. oo 2 One was the fellow, Pat, whom Nick had shadowed from Quebec. He bore several small parcels in his arms. _ Behind him followed Dent and Pursall, supporting a heavy Saratoga trunk. When the sidewalk was reached the trunk was put down, and Dent, after looking up and down the street in a suspicious manner, pro- ceeded to wipe the perspiration from his face. While he stood by the trunk, Pursall went into the express office, soon returning with a book, a handful of labels, and a paste-brush. After his work as a representative ‘of the express company had been concluded, and Dent had handed him some money, the man Pat put the trunk and the parcels on an ex- press wagon and then mounted to the seat. Pursall spoke a few words with Dent, sprang up beside Pat, and drove off toward the Grand Trunk Depot. .Nick Carter looked at his watch. - The train for the United States would leave in twenty minutes. It was a five-minutes’ walk to the depot. After watching the wagon for a moment or two, Dent walked down the street to a saloon and entered. g As soon as he was out of sight, Nick Car- 2 ter went up to his room. _. Five minutes before the departure of the train, he was at the depot disguised as a tramp. He had determined to find out, if possible, - to whom the trunk had been consigned. The peculiar conduct of Dent, added totwo © further facts—that Marquette was neither. in a the habit ‘of sending large single consign- ments, nor of using the express in any of his smuggling deals—made him stispect that an unlawful game, out of the Srsacaty, had been i inaugurated. : Could he trust a railroad pele messen- » ger? egies: scrutiny of that individual's face, as he stood in the open doorway of the express compartment, convinced Nick that he was an honest fellow. The great detective looked about. for the express wagon, and finding it gone and the two Irishmen nowhere im sight, stepped to- ward the door'of the express car, just as the — messehger was moving away from it. Reaching the door, Nick looked in. The trunk was in a corner of the car. Beckoning to the messenger, Nick said, quickly : : “T am a detective, and I have reason to sus- pect that there is crooked work connected with that trunk.” “Show your credentials,” returned the mes- senger, as he gazed at the disguised detective with suspicion. “Frere they are.” A glance at the documents submitted to the messenger made that individual Gheemtioacly polite in an instant. Quite correct, Mr. Carter. And now what can I do for you?” “T want-to know the name of the party to whom that trunk is consigned.” ‘The messenger looked at the tag. “Mark Lees, esas” NSE “Thank you.” ‘ “Anything more, Mr. Carter?” “Ves. Did you receive any package from the Irishman who placed the trunk in your keeping ?” “No.” “That’s all.” = . The bell sounded, and Nick moved away. That forenoon Chick, in New York, re- ceived a telegram which caused his immediate departure for Canton. - ” In the evening, still disguised as the tramp, Nick went to the telegraph office for an an- swer to his dispatch. it was placed in his hands, ait to his” aud *
Page 11
10 amazement and horror it contained these words: “T have captured trunk,\and have Mark. Lees. Inside of trunk was dead body of Lo- gan, Government detective. He had been stabbed to the heart. , Will keep secret. Go ahead.” So CHAPTER III. NICK MEETS WITH SURPRISE. Nick Carter had great faith in Chick’s abil- ity to do as he had promised, and keep the affair of the finding of the body of the mur- dered Government detective a secret until the guilty parties had been brought to justice. ; But he was not entirely easy in his mind, until next morning when he glanced over the dispatches in the daily papers, in his character of the defaulting bank president. js A Canton dispatch gave him an idea of the plan Chick had adopted. Under a sensational six-header, the finding _ ef the body was graphically chronicled. It had been discovered in a trunk in a field near Grass River by a tramp. The article concluded with the statement that there was nothing to show where the trunk had come from or to whom it belonged, and that the murder itself was ——— in the deepest mystery. In the afternoon of the same day came a letter from Chick. _ After stating that he had placed the trunk i with its ghastly contents in the field himself, after a consultation with the prosecuting at- torney of the county, and had afterward caused it to be found, the young detective fur- nished this piece of gratifying information: “The man Lees, who is one of Marquette’s tools, was scared out of his wits almost when he found what the trunk contained, and I had little difficulty, therefore, in molding him to mys eae z NICK CARTER WEEKLY. : others: corapany.” trunk into ‘tes river under cover of. i after removing all tell-tale marks and cover-_ ing the trunk with a coat of blue paint. ie “Don’t open it,’ the instructions’ ran, ‘for it contains nothing that will interest you? “Tees is an ex-convict, and he says ae i = “Diet has a Wokve had -abia-sharaciar which : he refuses to divulge, and that, in conse- quence, he felt himself compelled to. carry. out Dent’s wishes in this and all other respects. “At my request, the fellow wrote a teens to Dent, which will go with the post that con- veys mine: Inthe assures his employer that everything is all right, although he had ae me dump the trunk in a field instead of the river, iv E on account of the number of beats that were s plying in the stream when he set out to per- form his work. 1 Shaped oS Se = z ““T£ you don’t hear from me for a week, the letter concluded, ‘you'll know that I am keeping’ shady to avoid a collision with the 2 detectiv e who are sais as bees around here” oe to-day’? ae Nick tore the letter up, burned the frag. oe with Dent. He was nore to see ee ac of Eat Saale Dent van rooms when he met Pursall coming, down. . “T want to see your partner,” sa ‘ ‘iega detective, as he put on “My partner?” with ; a eos start, “Yes, Dent.” a “Oh! 53 (eet =, 1AM, i “Tcall him your partner,” a Tee y, quickly, * ‘because you are so > ih
Page 12
_ “terest. +o 5 * Pursall, shortly. ‘pseudo Sessions, ‘Montreal I have ventured to call on you.” turned Dent, cordially. he consolingly remarked. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “What do you want of him?” “T want his advice ona delicate matter. Is he upstairs?” “Yes. I'll take you to him.” Pursall turned, and went up stairs again, Nick at his heels. The Irishman stopped at a_door at the end of a long corridor, and rapped twice: The door was soon. opened, a i ap- peared. Nick saw that he was nervous, and readily guessed the reason why. : “T am in need of a friend’s advice,” said the “and being a ane in “I am a friend of yours, certainly,” e- “Come in.” Nick entered, and so did Pursall. ° “You may speak before Jerry,” said Dent. “Isknow him well, and I wouldn’t be afraid to trust him with my life.” “Here goes, then: ‘There’s a detective in Montreal who i8 worrying me.” ~ ‘Dent started slightly, but soon a smile over- spread his face. : F “You've nothing to fear from detectives,” “They can’t arrest you on Canadian soil.” “He doesn’t want me; he’s after my “money.” “Oh” with a | sudden, ‘change to keen: in- Si Wag Gi “1 haven't had a etiige to bury it yet, ~ and——” ye “You carry it about you: ie: os ; “No; but it is not far from here.” “Wm. And you are obliged to look at it every now and then?” : oN aturally. Po see that it ae not tect re-. ; time,” thought Nick, ee might bet in peril ; of his life.” Pe weet: Z action T must take to circumvent this detec- : tive.” “Of course. I. am willing to pay twenty thousand doilars to'save the rest of the swag.” - “T think we might risk it,” said the Irish- man, in a whisper to Dent. “I don’t believe we are in any danger.” g Dent knitted his brows in thought.) _ The great detective shrewdly guessed what was passing in his 'mind. — Finally Pursall’s friend said: “T had just made arrangements to leave - Montreak for a month, but I'll stay a few days longer and help you out, Mr. Sessions, if I cat: i Se a : “nna you.” replied Nick, in a tone of re- lief. “And now where is this detective?” & “He looked in at the hotel opposite about ‘an hows, ago. I art t know where ne is stay- 30 ing.” “Describe hin Nick gave the description of a Govern- ment detective, whom he had left in New. York a few days before. This detective was then about to leave for the West on a Government mission. z Dent nodded vise head while Nick was speaking. 5 know the fellow,” he said, with a Bk) _ “His name is Patson.” ~Pursall turned pale at the name. | The great detective looked from one to the other with a questioning expression. es He knew as well as they that Patson had been the associate of the murdered Logan in _ many important Government ‘cases. Yi “It’s lucky for Patson ‘that he is hundreds : of miles away from Montreal at the present » Dent now ‘spoke. Dent hesitated. ve ; ee “Anything in it for “us?” qaaieet Basle bers
Page 13
12° - “We have got to find Patson,” he said, with decision, ‘and the sooner the better.” “That's the idea,” assented: Nick, eagerly. ~ “Suppose you go out on the street, and walk. around for a while. Patson will shad- ow you, if he is the rian he used to be, and» at the same time I will shadow him. See?” “Yes, yes,” returned Nick, with twinkling eyes. : When. the disguised detective had left the room, Dent whispered a few words to Pur- sall, and then started for the street. Nick reached the sidewalk in an excellent frame of mind. The falsé tale he had told, had had the de- sired effect. Dent and Pursall, scared by the letter from Mark Lees, had intended to leave town, but they would now remain and brave the conse- quences in order that they might secure the twenty thousand dollars promised them by the supposed St. Louis defaulter.. - “Three days in their society,” thought Nick, “ought to give me hold enough to arrest them, not only for the murder of Logan, but for their smuggling operations as agents of Marquette.” He walked down the street a couple of blocks, and then turned his head and looked back. He was greeted by a Seniee: surprise. Not half a block in his rear was a man, ~ who was walking rapidly in his direction. 4 The man owas Patson, the Government de- tective. Behind him at a distance was the villain, Dent. And now ensued a curious and ‘exciting game. | CHAPTER IV. THE FATE OF LOGAN’S PARTNER, Nick Carter would never have given Pat- 3on’s deseription to pent if. she had wines Se ry, NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘treal. “to the Globe Hotel, room — ~ tinue to follow me in “spite of his Prone se And yet here he was, and taking ie part. in reality which Nick had given him only 4 in imagination, us The great detective did not waste any time in trying to’guess what Patson meant in fol- a lowing him, or why Patson had come to Mon- 2x. Another and a more serious consideration © engrossed his mind. a Patson was in imminent peril of his life, 3 for Nick believed that Dent would kill the . Government detective at the first favorable rat opportunity. “T must put Patson on his guard, = thoughtss Nick, “and without arousing Dent’s suspi- — cions.” sh * A chance of doing this soon offered itself. a Nick had just crossed a side street, when a horse attached to a spring wagon and with- out a driver dashed by him and around the corner at a furious runaway. x A moment later the wagon collided with a a horse a ms ini dray, went to smash, and the thrown down with a broken deg: 7 The incident diverted Dent’s attention from : the man he was shadowing, for upon the dray he had discovered the figure of the Irishman, Pat; whom Marquette had sent’ from Quebec. rae As he rushed forward to. ascertain if Pat had been ‘injured, Nick stepped up to Patson, who was then a few feet behind him, and said rapidly: “Tf you want to see me, come in diseuis a , in an hour.’ vr i “All right, Mr. Sessions,” returned Patson, oy without exhibiting any surprise. aie “He thinks I am ‘the defaulter,” thought Nick. “T mus -undeceive him, or he will con- ” “My name’s not Sessions. I am- “The great detective did not i ¥ 3 ee Kee
Page 14
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Supposing that it contained the money sto- Jen from the St. Louis bank, he made a grab ' for-it just as Nick was about to reveal his identity. “You fool,” hissed the now angry detec- tive, as he caught Patson by the wrists and held him tightly, “Tm no defaulter.” “Too thin, Mr. Sessions. You can’t work any of your smooth games on me.” A struggle would have taken place between the two men had not Dent appeared at this juncture; - | Finding Pat, the Irishman, unharmed, he had quickly retraced his steps from the scene of the collision. He saw Patson dash at the supposed de- ‘faulter, and at ‘once rushed to the false Ses- 4 sions’ assistance. A couple of sledge-hammer blows sent Pat- son sprawling on the sidewalk. es “Run, i me to look after this snoozer.’ “Nick nodded his essa and started down the stiecn : oh ; But he did not go ro ig Half a block away from the corner a crowd of men and boys was collected about an organ-grinder. Nick passed through the crowd, and then being out of Dent’s sight, looked about him for a place that might offer him temporary” concealment. : A few rods’ ‘below him was the wreck of a large brick building. a A fire had gutted the inside of it a few days before. : The front walls were still standing. Nick hastened to the place, and, - passing through the opening in front, where a door- - way had once been, found a spot secure from is _ observation behind the vault. i Se hee he made « a pega net in Bis per i =e os ie vive ¥ ” whispered Dent to ee “and leave. to the Government » detective, and then both of the tramp, just as Patson and Dent. were» leaving the corner. 2 Nick noticed with some surprise that they ’ appeared to be engaged in friendly conversa- tion. : ; “What kind of a ganie is-he working on: Fatson, I wonder?” tan his thoughts. “He ‘must have gained the detective’s confidence ~ by some plausible yarn, or else eee. is pre- tending that he has been taken in.’ Dent and his companion walked rapidly for a few blocks. Re, Ther a-cab was hailed, and they got into it, and were driven up a long hill in the di- rection of Mount Royal. : Nick followed in another cab. Dent and Patéon left their vehicle in front of an old, unoccupied building’standing upon - a terrace within half.a mile of the summit of the mountain, and at some distance from the : nearest habitation. as Nick dismissed his driver -about a block _ from the house, and then. went forward on x foot. j He saw Dent go up the steps to the front : door, take out a key, and enter, leaving Patson — 5 outside. Presently Dest came to the door, beckoried ty Pes rb Heel disappeared | within the house. Believing” that the detective was in immi- ie: “nent danger, Nick ran to the rear, picked the “lock of the back door, and entered the kitchen. » Moving along. -cautiously, he was about to el try the knob of a door, which opened into the a dining-room, when the Sguan's of voices Bete : him: pause. Be Gene vee Dent and Patson had come aks the + roortt: ma he was about. to ‘invade. + =
Page 15
14 “And you think he will take it?” queried _ Patson. “Of course; fe will take it, else I would not have brought you here.” ae T see, creted his stolen plunder somewhere about the premises ?” f “That's the idea. on purpose to hide the money.” “Then. let us begin the search for it at once,” responded Patson, eagerly. “All right. Suppose we try the ¢ellar first.” “That suits.” 4 Nick Carter quickly made up his mind to a certain bold cotirse of action. He came here yesterday, It would never do to permit Patson to de- scend to the cellar in company with Dent, for the ‘Government detective’s murder would certainly follow. ; Dent had lured Patson to the houses for the purpose of putting him out of the way, not __ only that he might do the supposed St. Louis - ‘defaulter a favor, but also that he might still ae ‘the tongue of the dead Logan’s partner, who, if allowed to live, would: undoubtedly give _ / him trouble. . 7 Before the door opened, and the two men 3s stepped into the kitchen, Nick Carter had slipped into the pantry, partially. closing the _ door after him. » ". Dent opened a door on the other side of the room, disclosing stairs which led to the cellar, and motioned Patson to descend. The Government detective smiled, and | shook his head. - : fe eka are the leader,” he said. “Go first, and I'll follow.” 2 At this moment Nicke Carter emerged from _ the pantry. : i suprie. You believe that he has already se- ‘ breath of satisfaction. ig pte He had Fesumed his disguise as Sessions, . "Tam tired edt this espionage, ana ve a _ glance — of oe meaning, ae é NICK CARTER WEEKLY. great mind to kill myself,” he en: ina tone of reckless desperation. Another instant and his pistol was out, and the muzzle was pressed against his forehead. Patson sprang forward, grasped his. arm, and snatched the weapon from his grasp. Nick sank to the floor, and covered his face with hig hands, while it seemed that the great sobs shook his frame. 3 Dent shut the cellar door, and looked at the sis false Sessions in stupefied amazement. What did the scene mean? Had-the man he looked upon as the St. Louis defaulter really weakened, or was he playing a part? If the latter theory was the correct one, then what was Sessions’ object? Undecided how to proceed, he remained si- lent, and looked at the cowering figure’: on the iat) floor for his cue. % ak Nick readily interpreted Dent’s silence, and broke out falteringly : “T give in. I will turn up the money, and you may take me back to St. Louis, Patson.” The Government detective drew a. deep _ He had not come to Montreal in search of Sessions, but seeing the man he supposed to” be the defaulter in town, and knowing noth- — ing of the actions of | the officers who had charge of the case, he determined to. recover the stolen money, if possible, and then trans- act the business So had eS ete him to . Canada. : ae “Where is the money?” he eagerly asked. “Tt isn’t here, for one thing.” Dent scowled. The pseudo Seid must be -weakening, + Se “Where i is it?” Sieg o “Up the hill, buried under a rock.” “Let's go there and get it.” a Nick sighed, ands arose to his feet, % a. Unobserved by “Patson, he sh nt c=
Page 16
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. _ The villain’s confidence in the man whose interests he had sought to further began to revive. Nick walked to a corner, and beckoned to Patson. When the Government detective was close to him, and facing him, Nick, glancing over his shoulder at the expectant Dent, inclined his head toward the door. The villain took the hint, and went out quickly. When he had gone, Nick stepped to the door and closed it. Then he said to Patson, in a low, earnest whisper : i “Tam Nick Carter, and your life is in dan- ger. Hush! Not a word’—as Patson was about to speak—‘“but do as I tell you, and we'll win the fight.” Patson had once met the great detective in New York, and the flash of the eye, the pe- culiar resonance of the voice, and the mag- netism of manner, all conspired to carry the conviction to his mind that he stood in the presence of Nick Carter. Alive to the situation in an instant, Patson said, promptly: “T am at your service.” “There must be a struggle, and I shall pre- tend to give you a blow on the head, and you “must pretend to be dead.” “Good !” Dent’s hand was fingering the knob outside, _ when he heard the sounds of a> desperate ier Se . os) scuffle. Re-entering quickly, he saw the false Ses-. sions just rising from the seemingly uncon- scious form of Patson on the floor. A deep groan from the Government de- tective had preceded his entrance, and the vic- tim was now turned over on his face, stiffened out and motionless. he hilt of a dagger was disclosed as if driven through the body, skill- _ fully so arranged by Nick. comment. Nick arose to his feet, and confronted Dent, his face taking on an expression of malignant joy. i # . “He’s done for, I reckon,” was his hoarse ” “Had to do it, you see.” “You have taken the job out-of my hands,” was the smiling reply. “But you'll be paid for it, just the same,” “You're a gentleman.” ; Nick grinned. “T never go back on my friends,” he “Cea: quietly. ts Dent looked at the form of Nick’s victim, and*said: ss “We've got to get the body out of here.” “Let’s put it in the cellar.” “Too risky. A tramp might come in and discover it.” “What of it?” “Then somebody might turn up who had — seen me enter the house with Patson.” . A short silence ensued. T have’ it,” “said Dent, as ‘if-a sudden thought had struck ‘him. “I'll go down town, 3 get a big trunk, and have Jerry put it / in his | wagon, and drive’'up here with it. Then we'll dump the body in the trunk, and cart it away — somewhere.” Nick looked siodghi ie at the floor. “That's a pretty good plan,” he said, slow- — ly; “but if ever the trunk is found, might it not be traced to you?” ; ae : ‘Dent answered with a reassuring smile. “No chance of it, for I buy my trunks of a man who is, as true as steel.” - “You deal in trunks, then?” Nick asked, with an innocent look. 2 é at have use for them occasionally.” “Do you favor any pees kind?” = “T am partial to Saratogas.” 3G Dent would not have made this ‘admission 4 had he not been convinced that his compan ion was a murderer. "3 Ane expression of shrewd understanding. ; * : a ues
Page 17
16 “ble a hat on it.” ; -“Then you have done me the biggest kind showed itself in the great detective’s counte- narice. he said, with a smile. “You A neat job, very neat,” he added, before Dent could put “T see, I see,” are the cove who fixed Logan. in a word, “and proof.positive that you won’t be likely to make a botch of this job.” “Don’t have any fears on my account, Ses- sions.” “T won’t. Go for the trunk, and I’ll stay here and keep out tramps.” He gazed at the body of Patson, and nod- ded his head complacently. “Tt’s a good thing I took a notion to fol- low you two,” he continued, “for if I hadn’t waltzed in when I did, you might have been ~ Jaid out yourself.” “Nonsense.” “Not much. -Patson was onto your game, and you would never have been able to sur- prise him.” “How do you know?” “Common sense gives me the knowledge. He did not come to Montreal to find me, but te hunt the man who put his, partner, Logan, - to death.” Dent turned pale. “But’—he stammered—“he could not have suspected me!” “Don’t be: too sure. Patson was a keen one, and he knew all that Logan did, I'll gam- of a favor in laying him out,” responded the villain, earnestly. “And helped myself a trifle into the bar- gain,” said Nick, with a twinkle of the eyes. But little more was said. Dent soon took his leave. When the tall form had a eee from view down the hill, Nick told Patson he might - _ get up. ie 7 The Government detective, who had been NICK CARTER WEEKLY. whole of the conversation between Nick and Dent, arose quickly, and stretched out his hand, which the great detective gatas grasped. “Carter, you’re a brick,” was Patson’s en- thusiastic comment, “and if we don’t get that — fellow dead to rights and avenge poor Lo- gan’s death, then Whiz! A bullet from an air gun cut the window- 2 pane back of the speaker, and entered his head at the base of the brain. With a hoarse, gagping cry, he staggered - forward a few steps, and then fell forward | on his face, dead. * CHAPTER V. NICK SCORES A POINT. Nick Carter ducked his head just as a sec- ond shot was fired by the unknown assassin. Then he made a rush for the door. A third builet grazed-his shoulder as he turned the knob. As he stepped into the yard, the murderer of Patson showed himself. He was Pat, the Irishman. 5 a ne There was a quick interchange of. shots, ‘and then the man whom.Nick had followed from Quebec dropped his pistol and fell to his knees, his face contorted with agony. The great detective reached his side just as eee he rolled over on the ground, and ceased ae breathe. — At this moment a number of claiiotans Pike i tracted by the shots, were entering the front yard. j Bes << Nick had no desire to meet them, for a pei: discovery of his/identity would naturally fol-' low, and this would interfere with his scheme Sie to éntrap Dent, the murderer of Logan, ep : also expose the workings of wees s un- derground railway. — - He had not yet been seen, and at the me men arrived ‘at the kitchen door eres over
Page 18
ea NICK CARTER WEEKLY. the back fence and speeding down a narrow lane, flanked by high board fences, and lead- ing to a broad street with a few scattered houses in sight. : An hour later Nick stood was Dent, in the latter’s office. “What’s—what’s the matter?” the villain anxiously exclaimed. * “Old Nick to pay. Where’s Jerry?” “Gone to the house to fetch the stiff away.” “Then he’ll run his neck into a noose.” $ Dent’s teeth chattered with fear. “Spit it out,” he gasped hoarsely. has happened ?” “Nick looked the picture ‘of terrified excite- ment as he began. “The man Pat came to the house and shot Patson through the window.” “The blanked fool. Shot a dead man?” “Yes. I was lifting the body from the floor, and was about. to fulfill a duty which you had neglected.” “Oh, I forgot to go through him, and se- cure his papers and valuables. Well?” “Then pif! went an air gun, and a bullet bored a hole in Patson’s head.” “Pat must have been off his nut—too, much ‘booze, I expect. What next?” “Then I blazed away.” “What "You did?’—regarding Nick with suspi- _cion. “Certainly,” was the cool response. ~ not see Pat, and how was I to know that the ‘next shot might not play hob with my own ~ thinking apparatus?” i "Yes, yes, I see,” Dent hastily rejoined. : “And though I fired at random, I hit the. mark. Pat croaked in a jiffy.” : Dent, to Nick’s surprise, *rubbed his hands. smiled, and “I’m not sorry,” he said. ‘Pat was a fool, » and Mar—that is, those who trusted him ‘made a big mistake. He always Pretended to “know a little more ‘haat any one else. Said “T did. 17 there wasn’t a detective on earth that he couldn’t circtimvent.” “A little cranky, I reckon,” BP ys ase carelessly. “That's what he was. Why, no longer ago than yesterday he insisted that a detective had followed him from Quebec, and that his ob- ject was to do up Mar re Dent stopped a moment, looked at Nick keenly, and then impulsively went on: “I may“as well make a clean breast of it. Pat was in the employ of Marquette, who works the fur racket on Uncle Sam’s revenue officers. He was sure when I saw him last that a detective had got onto some of Mar- quette’s curves, and was now in Montreal, trying to dig up evidence that would send the old man to the wall.” “Patson was the man he meant,” said Nick, with decision. “You're right. I had not thought of it be- fore.” This discovery seemed to please Dent. But he was not yet entirely rid of his anx- . iety. s ) “There'll be an investigation,” he moodily remarked, after Nick had finished his story, “and some mug will show up who saw me enter the house.” Tt you were seen, then I am in the same boat,”’ rejoined Nick. /~ “That’s so. We're both in for it, I reck- on. % : “What’s the matter with our dideuisite ourselves until we know just which way ‘the wind blows?” “Good idea. I can fix myself up 80 ny own mother wouldn’t know me.”. . «ee “T haven’t had much joanet said Nick; “but I think I can work the change racket to deceive your Canadian coppers.” “Then let’s get about the business instant- ly.” : q 3
Page 19
18 “Til have to go to my room to make up.° But Pll-see you in the course of an hour.” Don’t come here. It wouldn’t be safe.” “How about your trunk friend?” suggested Nick, carelessly. “He'll do. Yes, the very place.” “Where is it?” Pee Dent furnished the information quickly. The man who sold Saratogas had*his place - of business in a basement on a street near the river. Me The great detective left Dent in 4 satisfied frame of mind. : ; An hour later he was in front of the build- . ing occtipied by the trunk dealer. Descending the basement stairs, he gave - two sharp knocks at the door. Dent answered the summons quickly, but gave a start of surprise when hé saw~before him a ragged “glass put in man” from the sunny land of Italy. & He was about to shut the door hurriedly, when Nick Carter spoke: +’ “How’s this for a Dacre: ro “Tt beats the world.” Ne) - “Tt isn’t bad, I think,” rrerurhedd Nick, com- placently. “Yours will do, too.” vee ' Dent had disguised himself by changing his ‘attire, and assuming a black wig and beard. ‘ Pe Once in the basement, with’ the door locked | ‘i behind him, Nick ‘said: “Where is your friend?” “The trunk dealer?” 4 “Yes,” | “He has mizzled.” “What! There was more at the rae of Nick’s ex- AES of* cnepponasenh than Dent. sup- posed. ~ racket, and skipped out.” ‘ : ie had he to seat ve NICK CARTER WEEKLY. = J SHer must have got wind of the Patson- a “T sent Jerry here for a trunk, ee - must have got it. See?” “Your friend is a timorous sort of a fel low, then?” * vite ee Eg manages to Took out for number one. © But he won't betray 1 though. es = “Where has he one: Haye you @hy — idea?” i a RS; “Out of town? ““No. He has another crib not far from z here.” “Then, let’s start for it instanter.” — Dent thought a moment. Then he said “I'll go out and see if he is there; you re- I won't Tes gone i I Bie where: to fia him,” Ae See ee main here in the meantime. long.” . Nick did not like ‘his. programme, rie felt that to make any objection might arou Las the villain’s suspicions. = he saps Dent to EDA “for fifteen minutes. ; art _ During that time he ae the apar ment thoraneny: which he fold de oe * meee a Tittle ee aa corner. E ae “ei e * ‘plied to the mass. res The fire had burned a se and ead out. rg One ~The letter was wel and was un-— signed. ies Tt read as follows: ea have “ae to D. to ‘ee vi eyes. open an spect of Le, for loose the ‘entire p
Page 20
others exercise a sharp lookout and do not lose your wits. The messenger I’send is a keen one, and is not likely to be hoodwinked. _ Vake this. advice about the last representation of the hound fraternity.” The great detective smiled as he folded the 3 letter, and put it in his pocket. “Marquette is the author’of this effusion,” ~ he said to himself, “and the messenger he re- fers tc is Pat, the Irishman, whose earthly career I was compelled to end at the vacant house up the hill. L. is poor Logan, and I am the hound, I suppose.” Two sharp knocks at the door aesseee Nick’s oma "Dent has made mighty good time,” he “muttered, as he hurried forward to admit ‘the “He must have met his friend on * . $ cogitations. knocker. _ the way to the latter’s hiding-place.” Fa The door was opened, and a short, thick- pi Skt, ugly. faced young man sprang in. : He was trembling with ‘excitement atid ter- eS eee, ana is _ At the sight of Nick his terror increased, atid he made an attempt to draw a pistol from his hip-pocket. ; yf Meer Arts “Quit that,” was the stern command, “and come to your senses. I am Dent's partner.” This. statement might not have made the 4stranger drop his hands to his side. oo But the presence ofa cocked revolver, the ‘muzzle of which was within per inches of his head, did. ge _ Where’s Dent?” he hoarsely muttered. -“Gone out to find you. Didn’t ‘you meet. ' ‘hina 2s «No. T expected to find. him here.” Ee said/you had a place a short distance ~ - from here, and he. went out to see you, prom- aT ising to. return immediately.” Nick CARTER. WEEKLY. “Jerry Patsall v was oe when he ott ao the house where———”.__ “Where Dent and 7 had our “little racket : ‘with Patson, the detective,” "put. in Nick, as : the trunk dealer hesitated. “So you were the man who stood i in with Deni?” “Didn’t I say I was Dent’s pariner?” “So you did.” : * | The trunk dealer now felt that he ‘could a speak freely. re x “Jerry was arrested, as I said, but he got . away from. the officers while they were tak- ing him to the police station, —_ his first _ move was to hunt me up. ice “Not finding me at this place, heSwent. fo » the other crib. While we were talking at the back door the officers hove in sight. ; “Jerry went over the back fence,. and while: the officers were chasing him Isslipped out b ethe front way and cate here to warn’ Dent, who had made an appointment to be at! my — place*at this time.” : /The trunk dealer paused, and looked . ward the door, as if expecting that a stern de- mand for admittance might be made at any moment. “They'll come here next,” he ‘said, with chattering teeth, : “Is there. no way to escape but by means of the front door?” asked Nick. : “There’s the back er But the © building, may be surrounded.” “We'll try the ioe way, anyhow.” ’ With these words, Nick. seized the’ trem bling wretch by the arm, and dragged a2 him’ 3 toward the rear of the basement. : =. RP Peis - The back door opened into ant alley. © * A quick glance, with the door opened a few inches, showed the alley to be deserted. “Then he’s s done for,” returned. the trunk vA tremendous: pounding on the front door _ made them pack hurry ‘out: into the She See
Page 21
ie ‘20. Nick’s eyes roved from side to side of the’ alley as they ran along. Descrying a gap in a fence whére a board had been.torn off, the great detective pointed to it, and said: “We may find a temporary refuge by crawling through.” Bi ae “You’re mad,” was the reply, “for it will 4 put us in the back yard 6f the man who owns the building we just left—my landlord.” “Tt-can’t be helped. _ In with you.” - Nick shoved the trunk dealer through the gap in the fence, and quickly followed him. In one corner of the yard was an ice-house. Nick dragged the trunk dealer toward it. = There Was no ice in the house. The floor was of sawdust; several feet in \ depth. Nick quickly formed. his plan. “I am going.to bury you in this sawdust,” “he whispered to the trunk dealer, “and ep ‘go ott and run a bluff on the coppers. -So _ get down on your knees, and help me Scoop : out/a hole.” — “He was covered with ae sawdust in one ~ corner, and the floor bore its ordinary appear- | © ance when Nick left him and stepped out into the yard. The great detective, who had come to the | “rendezvous | selected by Dent with a kit of “tools with him, walked up to the foot of the “back steps of the landlord's house and began, ZS t6 cry out: ; ae Bae ii to » menda—glass Pe. * Ete was engaged i in this etnployment. with. * his back turned to the fence, when a harsh: - voice saluted his ears: 4 ; “Dry” “up. Iwobody ‘wants glass puddin’ here. They’ ve just, had dinner.” Nick turned to behold a sergeant of »f police. Back of him stood three policemen, “Alla ‘ighta,” he ‘said, with a scowl nad tt Eto « — Ahead NICK CARTER WEEKLY. at 7S - The sergeant stopped him with a wave of the hand. ~ ae “How long have you been in this sbagee ra “Da tima?” ee “Ves.” “T coma five mins ago.” 7 iis “Any one. come in the yard through that hole in the fence while > you have been here?” > “One man =e through lika Hess was scare © ; lika da dey’.’ : ; ie oe _ “Aha! And which way did he go?” ~“Kroun’ da housa. Whiz! I coulda play soma marble on hees coat taila.” The sergeant rubbed his hands. “What sort of a man was he?” ees bod’.” - “That’s the fellow,’ ’ said the sergeant, and * with his men he made a dash ter the front. Nick saw them depart, and then looked ap” - ethe steps of the house. The kitchen door was closed. After calling out several times more, and es the door still, seeping lobed, Nick went back to the ice house. volver. . a 4 “What’ s ‘that for? ?” the rascal demanded, in ‘ surprise. Sinead eet re St Face “That's blabla “] don’t seé——” “Because you are a “fool,” Ke was pti quick ¥ Bu rl opeageet yeh, You are my prisoner.” “ate fon The trunk’ “dealer uttered 2 a choking <1 and then mado dash for the door, terruption.
Page 22
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. See 21 -“You've got me, I reckon. Now, what do you want?” - Motto’s words were welcome ones. They gave Nick the cue he had been work- ing for. Es “What do I. want ?” the great detectivesre- peated. “I watit to send Dent to the gallows, “and”—giving the trunk dealer a terrible look —“and I am going to do it, and also send you along with him, unless——” “Unless what?” “Unless the confession you shall sake as important enough to make me change my mind.” “T had no hand in the murder.” ' “Prove it,” said Nick, sternly. “T-can and will.” ‘CHAPTER Vie DEN'T’S DESPERATE VENTURE. “Last week,” began the trunk dealer, “T re- ceived a visit from the detective who was af- : terward killed.” ~ ' “What did he want?” “Just what you are getting now—thy con- fession of thé relations that existed ‘between me and the Marquette gang.” » ~ “But you didn’t confess, then?” a ““Come up to my office,” said ‘Dent, “and we'll talk this matter over in private.’ : “Logan shook his head. ‘It won’t do at all,’ he replied, ‘for if I leave this coon’— meaning me—‘he will take leg bail, too quick.’ “ ‘Very swell,’ said Dent. yee settle the business here.’ we t “Both were seated, and Dent drew his chair close to’ Logan as he spoke. ? “Before we start in,’ remarked Dent, ‘T would like to see your eredentials. .Your statement that you are a Government Sas “ie is not ‘enough. é “Deceived by the speaker’ S nets and man- ner, Logan put-his hand “nto the breast- pocket of his coat for the purpose of with- drawing some papers, but as he made the mo- tion, Dent sprang upon ee and eg him | - by the throat. ang “The attack was so sudden and unexpected that the detective had no chance to defend a himself.” 3 “T never made a move in the wihate ‘affair, é and in a minute it was over. Logan lay dead on the floor, stabbed to the heart. “That evening the body was taken away’ from the basement by Jerry Pursall. Sean “Where it went I never knew mel T read the newspaper account of the find, at Canton, “Not much. I was not ready for that sort Ne YL of business then. Logan said he had evi- dence that: I eas one of the gang, and that if I would squeal he would use his influence to get me off without punishment. Just about that time Dent walixed in. = “T saw in an instant that the detecee had no idea who Dent was, so I at once intro- duced him as my attorney. “Dent twigged, and when I requested Lo-~ gan. to repeat his offer to my legal representa- tive, Dent nodded his head and was at once the SS oe of the Lamyer, who scents a “Does Marquette know who killed Lo aa “gant 27? : “I don’t think he does. He may suspect, F *, a ‘but he is a man who never asks questions in matters of that kind. It is enough for him to know that an enemy has Lace removed | ‘ from his path.” eS a ' There was silence for a few. minttes. ‘i Nick had received, information — “which ~ would likely be the means of placing the hal- ster ter around Dent’s neck, ‘in the event, of the". villain’s ae but he had pd ag ae
Page 23
‘ He did not intend to return to Washington, until he had achieved a double object, the ar- rest of Logan’§ murderer, and the exposure of Marquette’s smuggling system, together _ with the arrest of all the offenders. “Anything else you want to know?” asked . Motto, somewhat nervously. ; * Ye; about Marquette’s sniuggling operations.” “He sends his goods to Dent, and Dent works the quiet business. You must tell me all you know A lot of goods came in this morning, but. they won’t likely. go out to-day, now that Dent and Pursall, who help him; are in hiding.” “How do the £oods come?” “Tn packages, a single article in a package. Each one is marked with a single letter or fig- ure, in blue pencil,-and then all are placed in one box. ‘The box is consigned to Dent by express, and the mail of the same day brings him a plain tag for each package containing the name and address of the consignee, and bearing a number or figure corresponding - with that on the package.” “T see. A very ingenious scheme, and when Dent gets a consignment from Mar- qutette, it becomes his duty to devise ways and means for sending the goods it contains to the United States without payment of duty.” “You've struck it.” “How does he work it?” pi don’t know. Better ask him, or inter- view Pursall.” AF “Perhaps I may pick up a clew in Dent’s office,” said Nick, carelessly. “You might.” *T'll try_it. But T’ll have to get through with my business with you first.” st thought you were through.” NICK CARTER WEEKLY. : (Ss fession wouldn’t hurt you, and it sha’n’t. You'll probably get a light sentence if you tell the same story in court.” This was some consolation, and the trunk ~ dealer accepted the situation without further "Sig words. Nick escorted his prisoner to the-jail, told his story, and received the congratulations of». the officer in charge. ent and Pursall, he learned, were still g ats large, and the pursuing officers had obtained no clew as to their whereabouts. ae After leaving the police-office Nick went to The door was locked, but a skeleton hey soon opened it. Not a:box or a package containing fur goods from Marquette’s Coralie could % be found. ‘ eae eS And yet the trunk dealer had Acereed that a consignment from Marquette had reached Dent. in the morning. oN There was but one explanation | ‘é the- ab- sence of, the goods—Dent. had disposed of. them so that they would reach thee aeyaae destinations before Nick’s visit to the Seta The great actin looked at his watch. The train for New York by the Grandin as? os a Trunk, Delaware and Hudson would leave in” wis “an hour. ; IE ; cane? N ick went to his room in the hotel, packed his traps, resumed the character of See the defaulter, went downstairs, paid his bill, | and then walked over to the express “office. ‘A few questions elicited the information that Jerry Pursall had. driven” an express” wagon to the depot earlier in the day, and that after receiving a number of Doxes and . eparcels from the office of the company, had — “Not _quite. IT won't be through until I "gathered several armfuls of: packages gas : hs BE you safe i in jail.” “pre “But yort promised to let meioff if 1 would — whispered B Matte. oe a 2 private parties: upstairs. Sean mer The sae ee Gass themselves i in- Dent’s office. je ¥
Page 24
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. quette’s blue pencil packages had gone into the express-car. -What had becotne of them? Nick was standing on the edge of the plat- form nearest the street, his brows knit in per- plexity, when he saw a brakeman come out of a hotel opposite the station, shove something under his coat, and then cross the street. Hardly another minute passed before*an- other brakeman emerged from the hotel. He did not repeat the action of the first, but as he approached the station platform Nick saw that his coat bulged out suspicious- ly in front. The great detective watched him until he disappeared in the baggage-car. .. Then he hurried across the street — en- tered the hotel office. ditional station on ace saa et re tailway. “The case up. to this poi. ” ran his thoughts, “is now as plain as a pikestaff. “Marquette sends his goods in a mass to Dent. : “Dent then sorts them, puts on the tags, and gives them to Jerry. “Jerry takes them along with the other par- -cels with the ostensible design of conveying! He arrived just in time to see a third brake- . man step behind the counter, enter. the cloak- room, andi take up a number of small pack- ages.in a corner. These he thrust under his coat, and was in the act of buttoning ‘up his garment when Nick rushed in and brushed roughly against him, as if by accident. The packages fell to the floor on the in- stant of the collision. The brakeman gave utterance to a savage oath, and might have assaulted the disguised . detective, if Nick had not burst out with a string of apologies. One glance at the packages sufficed to show him that they had tome from Marquette, for - he had seen the mark of the blue pencil. He paid no attention to the brakeman while ‘the packages were being picked up, but with “his back turned to the fellow appeared to be hunting for some article whi? he had left there.” . The brakeman was on the street ‘petote Nick emerged from the cloak-room. ‘ Luck had favored him at a most opportune ‘moment, for at this hotel he had found an ad- somethin’ in- em.’ them to the depot.. “But he does nothing of the kind. He stops at the hotel before he gets to the depot, deposits Marquette’s goods in the cloak-room, and leaves the. brakemen, who follow the double occupation of working for Marquette as well as the railway company, to play the next trick. : : “Now. the problem to be solved is this: How and where are the packages secreted on the train?” Nick was back at the station with fifteen minutes at his disposal when an express wagon was driven ‘up to the platform, and a number of empty bags were dumped out. A shrewd suspicion crept into Nick’s brain, as he gazed at the bags. 23 Ca: When he saw one ae the three brakemen who had come out of the hotel remove the bags to the baggage-car this suspicion devel- oped almost into a certainty. After the bags had been taken away, the great detective followed the driver of the ~ wagon into a saloon close by. The man’s face was honest, and Nick be: lieved he could be trusted, . “Say, my friend,” he said in a broad Yan- _ kee dialect, “I’m naterally curious; all the Like ter find eout things.” “Well, how can I favor you?” family wuz. “IT wanter know why on airth yew ierhoot s T allers had Ang empty bag’s at’ the depot? idee that the ies carried things with
Page 25
oe “Those bags contained New York papers when they came up. back to be refilled. See?” The expressman now turned his attention to his liquor, and Nick walked out. He bought a second-class ticket, and found a seat in a compartment which opened into the baggage-room. A couple of Chinamen, a red faced Scotch- man absorbed in a newspaper, and an old man with white hair and beard, who sat muffled up in a corner and shivered, although it was not cold, were his fellow passengers. At the point of entry into the United States a number of revenue officers inspected the train. Nothing out of the way was discovered. Nick took advantage of the wait to wire certain instructions to Chick. At Lawrenceville, Nick’s assistant, having come from Canton by a special, got on board. He had made up to look like a farmer, and when he entered the second-class compart- ment he merely glanced ‘at Nick, and then sat down and took outa paper. : In a short time Nick got up and went to the _ , platform. As he passed Chick he threw a ball of pa- per into his lap. oe : Chick opened it without being observed by . his fellow passengers, and read the following: - “The old man in the corner is Dent. Ps Marquette’ s packages are in the baggage- in the news-bags piled up under the desk. Three: brakemert are impli- cated. One of them is acting as baggage- master on this trip. We’ll take Dent first. When I enter the car be ready to Eive me your _ assistance.” Chick crumpled the note in his hand and then glanced at the croner where Logan’s : murderer still sat. car, concealed To Young Hercules’ surprise the disguised rs 2 es was poesutee | ai fixedly. Now they are going Some | ‘master, and that worthy was now ge de- NICK CARTER WEEKLY, Did he suspect that a net was is being drawn about him? While Chick was pondering the. matter, ~~ Nick Carter re-entered the car. At the same mioment Dent sprang from his seat, and dashed into the baggage compart: ie ment, The two,detectives reached the door to have _ it slammed in their faces. The train was some miles from the next - station, and going at a high rate of speed. “He daren’t jump off,” said Nick to his as- sistant, “and if we act quickly we'll get him.” They threw themselves with all their force against the door. pee a It fell in with a crash, and they sprang to one side to dodge an expected bullet. But none came. . A glance into the baggage-car disclosed the acting baggage-master as the only occupant. Bidding Chick cover the man -with his re- volver, Nick rushed through the room and on to the platform outside. : What he saw filled him with Gapetigt 35 ment and rage. aisegey Dent had slipped the link and detached the ren coupling between the engine and baggage- -car, ne: s and was now clambering over the wood and _ ae coal in the tender ee his eee pointed | at. Fi the ‘ engineer. elie a tae es There was giready 2 a gap of Seer yards between the detached parts of the train. The cars left behind came to a standstill in a few minutes, for they were on an “up- grade, while the engine became a a mere speck in the distance. Ree Nick Carter returned to the partment in anything but an enviable frame of mind. “See Chick had aneient the acting baggage- 3 ~ jectedly oes a stool, handenffed.
Page 26
“Five miles,” the acting. baggage-master . gruffly answered. ae The two brakemen who were equally guilty with the speaker in having assisted in Mar- quette’s smuggling operations, entered the car at this juncture. —_ S Feeling sure of his position, Nick at once ordered them to throw up their hands. Believing that they were in the presence of two train robbers, the brakemen complied. It was only when they had been handcuffed that the truth was made known to them. ' Then they raved and swore at their stu- pidity. Nick examined the bags under the desk, and soon brought to light the tell-tale Packs ; _ ages. Having accomplished this stroke of busi- ness, the great detective went forward just in time to meet a number of passengers who were coming toward the baggage-car with the conductor. In 4 few words he revealed his identity, and “announced what he had done. Then, placing the prisoners in the hands of the conductor, with a request that they be turned over to the Canton officers, Nick ao Chick started in pursuit of Dent. - Half a mile from the train they came to.a farm-house, where they procured horses. _ The country road ran within sight of the railroad, and they followed it until they came in sight of the ecpie, Banding motionless on Sieg track. Pt = 2 - Beside it stood the engiiee:: frowning and y eiciae his head. ¥ 7 “Busted the lever, and stove in the oiler and knocked the throttle out of gear,” he ex- _ plained, in answer to Nick’s question as to the nature of the injury. -“Where’s the fireman?” Ps “Gone to town ‘to telegraph for another en- NICK CARTER WEEKLY. instantly “And ie rascal who did the damage— where is he?” “Went over that way.” pointing toward a clump of trees on the banks of Grass River. ‘Without asking how Dent had managed to subdue the engineer and his mate, and disable the engine, Nick rode swiftly toward the river, Chick at his heels. To shorten the distance they soon left the. road, made an opening in a fence, and crossed. a long field. — It was not until evening that they learned what had happened after Dent sprang on the engine. Neither the fireman nor the engineer were: armed, and by using his pistol as an argu- ment, the villain induced the engineer to push the engine forward to the spot.where Nick and Chick had found it. When it came to a standstill, Dent 63a the engineer to bind the fireman with cords found in one of the boxes of the cab, This done, he tied up the engineer himself, and then proceeded, with the aid of a crow- bar, to disable the locomotive. Having accomplished his purpose, he took to the field and ran in the direction of the river. gr ‘A few minutes after he had gone the fire- man freed himself from his bonds, and then cut the cords that bound his comrade. Before another engine arrived at the spot, Nick and Chick were across the river sa rid. ing furiously toward Canton. Ss j They had got on the track of their quarry es on reaching the river; a small boy, engaged t in fishing, having informed them that a man answering Dent’s description Ahad crossed a — foot-bridge a short distance below him and_ a then taken the road for Canton. ee ae ae “He must have a friend there,” said Nick, “or he would pak have made such a ven- ture.” : ; nee “We can guess the name of the friend,” a 2 Ww is
Page 27
ire. 4 26. said Chick, with a meaning look at his supe- rior. ‘Tees, of course, the man to whom the trunk, consigned.” J ~ “That’s the man. Dent swallowed the let- ter I induced Lees to write, and, of course, he believes that Lees is in hiding at a place fa- miliar to both, nseeaet of being locked up in jail. / “We must find the hiding-place, Chick.” “Lees tiust tell us where it is, and he will, without doubt.” Nick Carter breathed more “freely. . The capttre of the’villain, to his mind, was now a containing the body of Logan, was * question of only a few hours. They rode to the Canton jail, and Chick asked the jailer to conduct them to Lees’ cell. “Can’t do it.” “Why not?” with an uneasy glance at Nick. “He is not here. He escaped before day- light this morning.” CHAPTER VII. ’ CHICK’S DEADLY PERIL. The two detectives were about to remount “their horses, when the whistle of a locomotive was heard. . ~ “That s our haa said Chick. - Yes) it is.’ » They rode up to the ae and dis- mounted, B The conductor had fulfilled his promise, ' for the three brakemen were found. hand- 4 cuffed in the baggage-car, as Nick had left them. After seeing*them locked up, with a special guard at the jail to prevent an escape, Nick and Chick took up the search for the missing Dent and his accomplice, Lees. Several hours were spent in scouring the outskirts without finding a trace of the fugi- _ tives. ; ae risk ee NICK CARTER WEEKLY. _ the,ground by the side of the road. - Late in the afternon Nick and Chick set Bt to return to town. They were passing a dilapidated building— ce once used as a church—in a small yard, over- grown with weeds, when Nick reined in his animal, and pointed at a small object lying on RR It Was a thick paper label, of the exact size and style of the ones used by Dent in his smuggling business. A gleam of understanding showed itself in : Chick’s eyes. Nick dismounted and picked it up. “Just as I thought,” he said, in a low voice. “Tt’s a Marquette label, and has a number as well as an address. Must have been dropped de accidentally by the man we are after.” ve Chick looked curiously at the old church ae es building. 2 Nick followed the direction of his eyes, and xe nodded his head. : . “The hiding-place is there,” BP young, Her cules Bie ie “T think so.’ a: ; They ia their borg? anak eee the * ie yard. ; es Se $B Nick went aed to Bie rear, leaving: Chick to enter from the front. As the great detective reached the end of | the building, the back door - aed =A wee man’s head protruded. a Nick darted quickly out of a repress: ree ing with difficulty, the exclamation of oe ment that rose to his lips, For the man was neither Dent 1 nor reas bu P. D. Marquette, the chief of the’ smuggling - firm, and the owner of the great fur- ene ; rium in Quebec. ie ae Es: When and why had heat to Canton? wa38 Nick was trying to find an answer to this question, when soft _ footsteps were heard on tlfe back steps. a ae. a cages Marquette was evidently coming’ ‘out, z ee The actions of the ees n: front o oft the ry
Page 28
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. church must have been observed, and the smuggler was undoubtedly making an effort’ to escape. Nick was flattened up against the side of the building, close to the corner. He peered around the corner and saw that Marquette was making for the back fence, be- yond which was an apple orchard of several acres. He walked with many side and backward glances. Before he was half-way to the fence, Nick drew his pistol and made a dash for him. Marquette uttered a cry of. terror and broke into a run. There was a heap of brush close to the fence, and Nick was within a few feet of it, and in another instant would have had his “hand on Marquette’s shoulder,“when a man - suddenly afose from behind the brush with a heavy club in his ‘hand. Before Nick had time to act, the club was hurled with crushing force at his head. | "The aim was a true one, and the great de- tective fell to the ground unconscious. With a few rapid words to Marquette, the “ assailant, who was no other than Dent, sprang over the body of his victim and ran | to the back door of the church. Entering a small room used for receptions, he glanced hurriedly about it, and then tip- ‘toed to the door opening into the church _ proper. rod He listened a miodiedt, and hearing nothing, operted the door softly and stepped in. _ The church was empty. S24 His face paled suddenly. What if one of his plans had miscarried ?. The noise of feet above his head ee to increase his fears. : On one side of the pulpit-platform, was a door opening into a staircase leading me the - pell-tower. ‘The door was open, and the sounds seemed, to proceed from the tower. — Dent advanced to the door, and called out in an anxious voice: “Who’s there ?” : The answer calmed his agitation at once. “Lees.” : “What has iceenat Vey “The cursed spy -twigged the front-door racket and got in. But I lured him up here, and knocked him out.” 4 “Ts he dead?” ; “That’s about the size of it.” “Come down, then.” > “All right, And how have you eres ite .. “T gave the other detective a sickener, and - if he isn’t dead, he soon will be.” Steps were heard approaching the head of the stairs, and Dent was looking upward in anticipation of seeing Lees’ face, when, with an angry exclamation, the man’ above moved back into the little room from which the bells were rung. ; . The sounds of a fierce struggle made Dent hurry up the stairs. : As he reached the top he met with a start- ling surprise. _ A club descended on his head and made him see stars. His senses did not entirely leave him, but while he was on his hands and knees, endeav- _ oring to get at his pistol, he was flung over ~ upon: his back, and his arms Were pinioned. Half dazed, he looked up into the stern, im- placable face of Chick, ‘Turning his bloodshot eyes from Chick, the y villain saw the form of his accomplice, Lees, = lying i in a corner, Se Cords were upon the Fee wrists and ankles, and his face was: covered with’ blood. a: “He isn ’t-dlead,” said Chicks. “only battered up a little. He was foolish enough to run against my fists, sift he might have avoided ae oie rs : 0 ate h a
Page 29
ri 28 physical punishment by throwing up his hands.” “How in the fiend’s name did you get away with him?” snarled Dent. Chick shrugged his shoulders. “How did I get away with you? By exer- cising a little strategy. ° IT made a monkey out of your tool thereby pursuing similar tac-° qICSE Chick ‘did not further enlighten the villain, but he had worked his points in this wise. When he reached the front door of the building, after parting with Nick, he tried the knob and found the door to be unlocked. This circumstance made him suspicious of a Snare. Therefore instead of boldly entering, he gave the door a kick, sending it flying inward, and then stepped quickly to one side. As he did sg an old mattress, on top of which was a man, descended to the floor from “some point above the doorway with a thtid that shook the building. “Quick upon this descent Chick was inside. Before the man, who proved to be Lees, could rise to his feet, the young detective was raining sledge-hammer blows upon his face. Inside half a minute Dent’s tool was not in a condition to make even the slightest resist- ance to the designs of his muscular and de- termined foe. ; After he had bound Lees, hand and foot, the young detective looked up to see from what station the rascal had dropped. , “Very deve? Chick muttered, as he gazed, “but not as clever as it would have been if the _ front door had been locked.” Each’ side of the church interior was pro- vided with a gallery. The space between the two railings was a _aboutten feet. This space, . _at the end toward the dies ; and above the doorway, had been bridged by --a couple of heavy planks. _rear, taking the side of the church opposite to. ‘on the grassy path, and he was telling him- the front door open and some person NICK CARTER WEEKLY. On this planking, with the mattress by his : side, Lees had stationed himself by Dent’s — instructions, when Marquette, from his point — of observation in the bell-tower, had seen the ~ detectives stop in front of the building and. tether their horses. ; “ “One of them will enter from. the front,” said Dent to Lees, “and by coming down on him with the mattress you can easily get away _ : with him. In the meantime Marquette and T » will look out for the approach at the rear.” ee Marquette had arrived at the rendezvous is ; ‘ - half an hour in advance of Dent. eae The young’ detective, after binding Lees, had carried him up the stairs to the little cubby-hole of a room in the bell-tower, and there waited for developments, which were ee not long in coming. After re-examining the cords which bound... his two prisoners, ‘Chick descended the stairs. Not only Dent’s words, but the ‘appearance me of the villain in the church, some time after — Chick's entrance, and Nick’s movement to- ~ ; ward the rear, convinced him that the pied detective had met with a reverse. +e Instead of making his exit from the build ing at the rear, the young detective went out the way he had entered. ig Then he cautiously worked his way to the that along which Nick Carter had gone. + Sees His feet gave no sound as he walked softly — self that the chances were in favor of sur who must be guarding — " Nick somewhere at the*rear, when he heard — oes urried- ae prising Marquette, ly enter the old church. Chick hesitated for an instant as to his course of action; as to whether he should go on, as he had intended, to ‘the assistance of. ie Nick, or re-enter. the “church to discover the character and intentions. of the man sae had 2 just enters, ;
Page 30
NIOK CARTER WENKLY. eS een 29 The voice of the newcomer decided him. room after Chick bad addressed his first “Hullo, there, Lees,” it called out, from words to Pursall. e ws within the church. “Where are you?” A yoice—Dent’s—now called out: The two’ prisoners in’ the tower had ‘not “Pack him up. its Mr. Detective. We're beer! gagged, and both answered the call. *. lonesome.” The steps ‘of the stranger were heard as- “That’s what Ill do,” said Chick to hinnele: cending the stairs of the bell-tower just as “and then I'll gag all of you.” — ; Chick rushed in by the front door. Lifting. the body of Jerry Pursall in his He was hurrying forward to intercept the Strong arms, Chick ascended the stairs. newcomer before he could release Lees and When his head appeared above the opening at the top he saw a sight that instantly drove - the blood from his face. _ Dent and Lees were on their feet, and be- side them stood Marquette. She, yeas: Dent held a pistol in his hand, and it was BE Dent,, regardless of the dangerous odds against him, when like a flash the man’s iden- tity was revealed to him, ARO PE hear He could be no other ‘than Jerry Pursall, ; Dent’s partner in evil at Montreal, of whose GAG eteen head. He ~ doings Nick Carter had given him ay par- Renee aes Foe Sees = : had been cau ht i in a tr: _ ticulars. 4 pues ah Sete In another instant a report rang out. Disguising his voice, he called’out from the 2 rae middle of the room: - Se Sp ah SS es CHAPTER VIII. + “Jerry, is that you? For God’s sake, get zt THE TABLES ARE TURNED. out of here quick. There’s a whole mob of Ps officers. coming down the street.” When Dent Lege the trigger of his re-~ volver Chick duckéd his head, dropped Hise) human burden and went tumbling down the " stairs. He escaped death by a i The bullet grazed the top of his head and imbedded itself in the woodwork beyond iene Dent was the first to peer down the stairs, In the terror caused by this announcement ~ Jerry Pursall’s customary caution fled. ~ He reached the bottom of the stairs in two bounds. ~~ Chick was at the doorway to meet him. Pursall’s amazement was so great when, in- stead of confronting a friend, he looked down He saw Chick lying motionless on his face _ the muzzle of a cocked revolver, held by a 24 ine foot, ‘und instantly came to the con- _ man whose flashing and honest, resolute face giusion thar his enemy was dead. an betrayed “his character and purpose, that he A second glance disclosed. Pursall doubled _ trembled fike-a leaf and caught at the jamb up a few feet beyond the body of Chick. = of the aoe for support. 3 ee Marquette pushed by Dent and went down ; "What does this mean?” he gaspinely hte stairs, : 4 oe. tered. “An joke? A ; _. He gave the body of the detective a vic a “You'll find it no joke if you. don’t put up kick, and then ‘stooped over the ee o- * your hands.” : - of Jerry. Kg 2 p. ‘The hands went up. 5 ; “Dead, is he Ret queried fee as he started _ After: relieving Pursall of a revolver and: © descend the stairs. poy cnife, Chick forced him to lie down and eb “Yes.” gen ott “mit to be bound. ee Lees was ‘still in the litte t tower-room, in- A ws Not. af word had been ¢ uw eed. in the tower- structions havin, es iven him : Dent. to. g ge y 3 oe #
Page 31
H ‘ 30 ig remain there by the window as a lookout un- til the moment arrived when all three might leave the building. It was ttow close upon dusk, - . In half an hour at‘ furthest Marquette and his accomplices might venture forth. Marquette arose to his feet when Dent reached the lower floor. “We must get rid of these carcassesy’ 7 ae latter said, quickly. Marquette nodded his head. “Tt’s a pity you didn’t put a knife into Nick Carter’s heart while you were about it.” a ought to have done so, I suppose, when I found out the fellow was that terrible ‘sleuth, but I have never killed any one yet, -and I hadn’t the nerve to stab a helpless man.” “Bah! Your morals are so mighty slack in other directions that you might have dbne. him up without batting an eye, it seems to me,” replied Dent, in a tone of deep disgust. “Now, if I had been in your place——” “You can settle him now if you like,” inter- rupted Marquette, hastily. “We'll pack him in here and $ “Put him to sleep~ beside his fool-hardy ‘partner, eh?” 4 “Do as you please about that,” said Mar- quette, resignedly. “At right, there ~ As he spoke the hoot of an owl outside was zs Park : “That fellow is forcing the pace alittle,” + re- marked ° Marquette. “But, then, he is prob- ably in the same boat with us. -He is in a _ hurry for darkness to set in.” “< Dent grunted something in reply, and then ~ turned and bent over Chick, in order to satisfy - himself that the great detective’ s assistant was ie Hipaes is At that moment Chick, ii ue senses were “never more alert, suddénly leaped to his feet, and before p Den sont recover from ae sure pay NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘to rush to a little door which opened a foam io the handeufs ‘on Dent: 4 prise he received a blow under the car w ich D sent him staggering against Marquette. _ Another blow stretched the murderer of Tee gan senseless upon the floor, _ eee me As the villain went down wey made a =o dash for the staircase. “Stop!” demanded the young “nage Yl fire.” we terror, paid no Reed to the words. Crack! “A scream of ee fortowed the 1 i _side. But he never stopped in his upwards Another bullet ies i el roof of the L part of apts sm and let a “AN right. And eee is es you, “Tl have things in shape’ as soon as Lee t — “ne
Page 32
riage ee ee NICK CARTER WEEKLY. =e eee ee . : They hands. | . “Come up and I'll explain.” 3 met on the stairway and clasped “How in the world did you get into that tower?” asked Chick, “without coming through the church?” They entered the tower-room. Lees lay beside’ Marquette with his ankles bound, and handcuffs on his wrists. - Nick Carter told his story in as few words as possible. When his senses. returned to fet: after the ~ blow from a club on the head given by Dent, he found himself behind the brush heap by the fence, bound hand and foot, and Mar- ~ quette engaged in searching his person. — “An examination of Nick’s pocketbook re- “vealed the disguised detective’s identity. “So you'te the great Nick Carter, are “you?” chuckled the smuggler. “But you're ‘hot great enough or smart enough to work ‘your points against me, though. You'll have _ to go to school again if you ever get out of my) clutches.” ‘ ‘Nick gritted his teeth; but Bad nothing. * Marquette went on: apkif reckon I’d best leave you to Dent's ten- der mercies. for you fooled him.clear up to the time you Went on board the train from Montreal. Then le got on to you. _ Dropped on to your Ses- sions game all. at ohce, don’t you see. And Pe now your cake Ws all dough, for here in my : Thands‘i is the evidence that you obtained from y train boys, and here you are. _ How do you like the looks ‘of things, eh?” No answer, but at that moment Nick did some savage thinking. Marquette, put away the articles he had “3 ? en n from Nick’s pockets, and then arose to He's got*it in for you strong, ~ rear. As soon as he was out of sight Nick began to tug at his bonds. : pee Fortunately for him, Marquette was a nov- ‘ ice in the art of rope tying, otherwise Nick might have failed to free himself. Inside of five minutes, however, he was on his feet and ready for business. He was moving along the side gf the church, when he chanced to glance up at the tower, and saw the face of Lees at the win- dow. The rascal, luckily, did not perceive Nick, for at the moment his eyes were fixed on the street. Nick.crept back to the rear and began to . look about him. “This church must have/a tin leader to drain the roof,” he said to himself; “ves, here it is out of sight of the window. I'll try to give Mr. Lees a little surprise.” Placing his feet on the iron rings support- ing the leader, he cautiously mounted to the roof. : When he saw the door opening “from ass tower, his satisfaction was extreme. The shingles of the roof were old and warped, and Nick had no difficulty in climb- ing up to the ridge. He was approaching the door of the t tower on his hands and Ey his pistol in readi- ness for’ instant-use, when Lees suddenly opened the door and looked out. ; The fellow had seen: nothing of a suspi- ciotis nature from the window for some time, and had. concluded to open the door at the | back, and ascertain if all looked safe at the A cry of alarm was frozen on his lips 28 the low, hissing whisper : : Sr “Not a word, not a sound, or ri will tig your brains out.” ao wc 5 Lees lacked the courage | and resolution of Dent, and he weakened at once. fi 4 =
Page 33
' sy ed atte i CY ‘1si—Nick Carter as an 32 He had just been handcuffed when Chick “began to make things lively below. - That night Marquette, Dent and Lees oc- cupied separate cells in the Canton jail. The evidence the great detective had gath- ered was supplemented by a full confession from Lees. Dent was hanged for the murder of Logan, and Marquette and his other accomplices got long sentences in prison, the Canadian au- thorities uniting with Uncle Sam’s officers in the prosecution, NICK CARTER WEE THE BEST LIBRARY OF DETECTIVE vce LATEST ISSUES: 180—The Government Custom’s_ Swindle; Nick arter’s Work for the U. 8. Treasury. 179—Nicke Carter's Beautiful Decoy;-or, The Diamond Duke of Chicago. 178—Nick Carter Arrests a Client; or, The Body Found in the Flat. 177—Nick Carter’s Dumb Assistant; or, The Man with a Dead Brain. 176—Nick Carter Behind the Counter; or, A Peck of Pawn Tickets. | YW—Niek Beh ad s Politer: or, Ww4—By SVhose Hand; or, Nick Carter Advertises for a Cab-Driver. 173—Caught in Six Hours; or, Trouble in Room No. 46. 172—Burglar Joe; or, Nick Carter’s Leap in the Dark. 171—Nick Carter's Little Shadow; or, The Man with or, A Hungry Dog’s Din- the Yellow Dog. conan a Ses oe cease ae or, Nick Carter Bags an nder, 169—Unmasked by Nick Carter; or, An Attempt at Blackmail. 168—Nick Sieh Second Sight; or, A Dumfounded Priso ‘otic Oar a Makes 2 Loan That Brings Him Big Returns. 166—Nick Carter Prevents a Disturbance, and Loses a Disguise. 165—Nick. poets in gs or, A Plan to Catch Him Th Didn't ork 1¢4—Nick Carter Off the Track, but Has Another String to His Bow. 168—Nick Carter Jumps and Takes Big Chances, -162—Nick Carter Saves a Life, and Earns a Woman’ s Gratitude. a Train, : _ As1Nick Carter Corners a Bank President; or, A Balance. That Was: Crooked. 1g0—-Nick Carter's Steamer Trunk; or, A Crime in 5 n sae he Carter's New Uniform; or, A Bribe That s Expected. 158—Niek Carter and the Sawaust Man; or, An In- vestment That Caused Pea Expert; or, A Battery That Was:Tampered With, 156—Nick Carter’s Silent - Search; or, A ie ata Fake Detective, NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Wi-Nick UGatter én: tha Limited or, “2 : ‘Back numbers alwayson hand. If you cannot get our publications from. he cents a ‘copy will bring them to you by aes er ae €. : * \ é The Marqtette- Dent underground railw ceased its operations when the mast oe of the great fraud was run to earth. ed by the, Treasury Deparment f brave and skillful service. THE END. WEEKLY will contain ‘In the Clutch of the Law; or, Nick Carter’s Chain of Evidence,’ Pe by the author.of ‘‘Nick Garter.’ - \ 155—Nick Carter’s Curious Client; with More Gall than Sense. 154—Nick Carter Settles a Conspiracy; or, That Wasn't Signed. 153—Nick Carter's Midnight cous or, * cluded Before Daylight, JR NiCs Carter's Fake Murder Case; ES The P o Wipe Out the Agency. 151—Nick Carter Stands a Bluff, and Ww Ends in Limbo. 150—Nick Garter’ s Spear "Bargain; o Duplicate Method 1449—Nick Carter Mixeneyirgs Prisongieg ness Easily Explained, fe 148—Nick Carter's Snap Shot; or, Gave Evidence. 147—Nick Carter’s Turn at- the Whe eel Black Both the Sante. 146+Nick Carter’s a Aes Life; Soe: t ick of. Tim : a Fortune, ead sade J he Smoker Who Didn’t § 140_Nick Carter’s Greatest Com en 189—Struck Down; or, How the ten poieey nt a Hand. 3 $ 188—Nicke pat oe s Mouse Trap; on, ; ston 131—Bob Fonret s Trump. Card; | on a Century Rum - 136—Short ed with Train Ro a That Was Marked. with 135—The Pree ke Abduction Case; or, ve Spat) rene Malay oe Charge; or, Roxy’ Life Ist—afraid a of NY ia Carter; or, The sah “Face an the “Botte; or, Detect 131—At essen 8 Byitch: or. Nick « Carter’
Page 34
4 Secdsat sth ht tsk sheesh seek Seb A shea eeeae vase atte The Tip Top Weekly | AND THE FRANK MERRIWELL STORIES. No modern series of tales for boys and youth has met with anything like the cordial reception and po Popularity accorded to the Frank Merriwell Stories, published in Street ‘& Smith's TIP TOP WEEKLY,a pu cation » which has to-day a circulation jargee than that of all similar publications combined. There must be a reason for this, andthere is. Prank Merriwell, as portrayed by the author, is a jolly, wholesouled, honest, coura; 1S American lad, who appeals to the hearts of the boys. He has no bad habits, and his maniiness inculcates 1 16 idea that itis not necessary for a boy to indulge in petty vices to be a hero. Frank Merriwell’s example is a shining light for every ambitious lad to follow. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE LATEST ISSUES: 200—Frank Merriwell’s Skates ; or, Into the Ice Trap. 207—Frank Merriwell’s Influence; or, Inza, the Mascot $ 201—Frank Merriwell’s lee Yacht; or, Wing and Wing. 202—Frank Merriwell’s Sleigh; or, Warm Hearts and Brave Hands. 2083—F rank ee aa Musketeers ; Vendett 204—Frank Merri well’ $s Opponent ; bit 205-—Feapik Merriwell Gold. 206—Frank Merriwells Mishap; Guise of a Foe. ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY. or, The Mountain or, For the Ice Hockey Deceived; or, A Heart of or, A Friend in the MORE LIBRARIES TO SUIT “TIP TOP”? READERS. The Do and Dare Weekly. THE ACTOR-MANAGER. - PHIL RUSHINGTON, 5c. PER COPY. 208. Br ben ae ll’s TI —Fran erriwell’s Theory ; or, A Fight for a F 209—Frank Merriwell’s Five: or, Old Friends aetatos 210—F: aici Merriwell's Honor; or, The Nobility of | Badger. f 211—Frank Merriwell’s Reward; or, Buck Badgers — Humiliation. ey c 5 212—Frank Merriwell’s Football; or, The Disappearance of Jack Ready. 218—Frank Merriwell’s Handicap; Elsie. 32 PAGES AND ILLUMINATED COVER. or, The Heroism of HE ‘‘Do and Dare Weekly ”’ tells of the exploits and adventures of one PHIL R SHINGTON, a lively, hustling, bright and brave American boy—a first-class all-round athlete, and a thorough gentleman. al the phases of his eventful career. The author of these stories is rR. STANLEY NORRIS, an able writer, and Stereos in sympathy with the wants of our boys and girls in the line of reading. His work is bound to p The following are the latest issues: 6—Phil Rushington’s Danger; or, A Bright Light for Friends 7—Phil Rushington’s Friends; or, Springvale Boys ina Lumber Camp. $—Phil Rushington’s Thing.” 9—Phil Rushington’s Soubrette ; or, Success. New Role; or ‘The Play’s the The Rockdale | 11—Phil Rushington’s Great Show ; or, Another Whirl of | 12—Phil Rushington’s Star Rider; or, Fortune’s Wheel. a Rivals of the ( Ring. . 18—Phil Rushington’s Home Trip; or, Two Kinds o Circus. ope! Rushington’s Loss; or, A Lion Hunt in the dity. 10—Phil Rushington’s Set Back Fickle Fortune. The ‘‘Do and Dare Weekly’’ appears every Tuesday. 32 pages, ito in size and style with “‘ Tip Top,”’ 5 ‘“Comrad THE BEST RAILROAD STORIES EVER WRITTEN. # «« Comrades,”’ is a bright boy who has decided to devote his life to the service eee reaaat railroads of our land. Rest assured he will reach fame and fortune on the a express. The life ofan ambitious railroad man is full of exciting incident, and Tom has his tee, ventures. Through all of these, he will be found Wright by name, right in word, righ always right. The many adventures of Tom and his friends will be followed with: interest by all who are fortunate enough to read this new series of splendid stories. surrounded by several ‘‘comrades,’’ who join hands with him and stand by himin his vai enterprises. [R. ROBERT STEEL is an author of wide experience in the field coy: by these stories, and his work will please all who admire the well-known “ Tip Top Weekly”’ and ‘‘ Do and Dare Weekly,” to which ‘‘Comrades’’ will be a companion. 6—Tom Wright's Fast Run ; or, The Mill ; or, Fast Friends and Ny aes Rushington’s Rivals; or, Three Shows in- One j < | Town. 1—Tom Wright on Trial; or, A Clear Track to Success. rani or cu sor 2—Tom: Wright, Station Agent; or *‘ Saving a Superin- tendent.” 8—Tom Wright at the Throttle ; or, The Belle of the Mid- night Special. 4—Tom Wright, the Railroad Favorite ; or, The Raid on the Through Express. 5—Tom Wright, Car Finder; or, The Search for 1313. Remember, “Comrades”’ appears every Wednesday—Read it—Price 5c. 32 pages, illuminated cover, uniform in size and style with ‘‘ Tip Top,’” S95 95 Gu Guo Bo Go Fu Bs Go Go Du Bo Bs Go Gu Gu Go Bo Tu ge do dw Gu ge ge ae ue ge ae ge ineer’s Strange He hate s Choice; on, a j apa Wrig right on the Flyer; or, The Missing Express i 9~Tom Wright's Resolye ; or, 4 Railroad Chum’s Noble toon Wright on Duty ; oF, A Battle Against Railroad brooks