Nick Carter Weekly (no. 187) (1900 07 28)
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
ued weeklar 0 per year. Entered as second clas Post Office by Price 5 Cents. WHEN HE RETURNED TO CHICK’S SIDE NICK BORE THE CHILD IN HIS ARMS.
Page 2
NICK CARTER WEEKLY... Entered according to Act of Congress in the year rap to sont Smith, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, — ashinglon Entered as second class Maiter al the New York, N: Y., Post Office. Subscription price, $2.50 per year. “NEW YORK. Tssued weekly, No 187. STRUET & SMITH, Publishers. July 28, 1900. a 5 Cents. 238 William St., N. Y. The Best Detective in the County; OR, A PROMPT REPLY TO A TELEGRAM. By the Author of ‘‘NICK CARTER.” CHAPTER. I. NICK CARTER’S STRANGE CASE AT BLANKVILLE. “Do I speak to Dr. Vivian Burns?” “Yes, But you have the advantage over me. : “T am here at your request.” “Surely you are not ” The young man arose from his seat and stood facing his elderly, respectable looking visitor with a stare which was full of.doubt. “T am Nick Carter.” “The detective?” “Yes, the detective. that.” Nick handed the young man a teens which ran thus: I believe you sent “To Nicholas Carter, New York City :— Can you come here at once on a case which will require the best detective skill in the country and unquestioned bravery to: handle — successfully? Please answer. y! “Dr. Vivian Rinks” “But you didn’t answer the dispatch, and therefore——” — ‘ “Oh, but I did answer it,” smiled Nick. “I answered it in person.” “T was expecting an answer by wire, and had about given you up. That accounts for your appearance being a surprise to a cer- Besides, I expected to see a young man. I always understood Nick Car- _ ter was young and——” “Well,” interrupted Nick, are often deceptive. tain extent. “appearances It doesn’t always do for a detective to look too much like himself when he goes among strangers to tackle a hard case. From what your telegram says I imagine it is no usual task into which you have called me.” “Indeed it is not. I doubt whether in all your experience—varied as it must be—you ever met with a case at all similar.” “Of that I shall judge when you tell me what the case is. What is it I am asked to do?” ; :
Page 3
2 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “To find a missing child, or discover how it disappeared; that is primarily your work.” “Whose child is missing?” “Mine.” “How old is it?” “Two years.” “When did it disappear ?” “Last night.” “From where?” “From my. house.” “Kidnaped ?”’ “Presumably.” “Why do you say ‘presumably?’ ” “Because there is a curious element of mystery about the little girl’s disappearance.” “What is this mystery?” “How she was taken from the house.” “You mean that there was no place left unguarded by which the abductor’s entrance or exit could be explained ?” “Yes.” “You said this was to be primarily my work. What do you mean by that?” — . . “There is a deeper mystery back of my lit- tle girl’s disappearance. The person who stole her left in her place that which has prostrated my mother with terror and dread.” “And the things which were left by the unknown kidnaper—what were they?” “These.” ‘The young physician opened a drawer of ‘the desk before him, from which he took three surprising things and laid them before. the puzzled detective. One was a ring in which was set the cameo face of a beautiful girl, Nick picked up the ring and looked for an inscription on the inside, which he found. It was: | , From Luctnie a to. pes "JEROME, " = 21867. Nick then Giboed his attention to the other articles. a At : Z pry ‘OR ae Spams 4 wade will be. One was composed of the three bones of the finger of a human hand neatly held to- gether at the joints by wire. The last bone bore testimony to the fact that it’ had been severed from the hand near the knuckle joint. From the size of the bones Nick was sure the finger had come from the hand of a man. The third article of the three puzzled Nick at first. It was a gruesome looking object about two inches long, conical in shape, shriveled and bee and had ade texture of leather. The detective turned the object over ‘a his hands several times before a realization of the truth flashed of his mind. tas He was handling a dried-up human tongue. “What do these three things represent, doctor?” he asked, looking up at the pale, nervous, man ‘before him, who he saw was battling desperately to retain self-control.. “They mean much more than I can tell you, Mr. Carter. I only know that they rep- resent the vengeance of a man which was wrought years ago when I was a boy, and. which it. seems has not yet been glutted.” “Well, [should like to hear all about it.” “T know too little of the story, I will have to take you to one who can put you thor- oughly into possession of the facts.” “Who is that ?” “My mother.” “Then the sooner I see her the better it T have no time to lose.” “And I have no desire that you should lose any time, either, as you will understand when you have all your facts in hand. We will go to the house now and see my mother.” Dr. Burns locked up his office, and with Nick at his side in his buggy was soon being driven through the streets of Blankville, on his way to Dt. Burns’ residence. Their appearances as they drove along: seemed to excite very little notice. _Occa-
Page 4
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. é rae 3 sionally some one would greet Dr. Burns with a nod, a smile or a move of the hand, but there was no mark or curiosity or peas thy exhibited by any one. The truth suddenly forced itself ke Nick’s mind, and he said: “Am I right in supposing that you have not let the fact of your child’s disappearance become general news?” For reasons which you will soon understand we have not let the infor- “Vou. are. mation get abroad.” “There is more in this kidnaping case — than appears on the surface,” mused Nick. And that surmise was correct, for he was just entering upon a piece of very puzzling work, CHAPTER II. THE RING, THE BONES, AND THE TONGUE. The house to which Nick was taken by Dr. Burns was an old-fashioned, roomy, two- story structure on the outskirts of Blankville. It was surrounded with spacious private grounds, which were covered with tall shade trees, hiding the residence entirely from per- sons on the adjoining street. A cement walk and a carriage drive wound their way among the trees from the street to the house. Nick was not long in learning that Gray- court, as the place was called, was by far the most valuable and most beautiful Priwaths: property in the vicinity, “How long have you lived here, doctor ?” inquired Nick, as they approached the house. seo you mean in Blankville?—eight years.” “T mean in this house.” “Oh! A little more than three years.” “From whom did you purchase?” “I did not purchase. The place belongs to my wife.” | “Tumph |” ‘ “Tl tell you all about it after you have seen my mother.” _ face of the woman before him. - ful eyes had a haunted expression. Arriving at the house, Nick was first ushered into a reception-room, tae Dr. Burns hurried away up stairs. ot Several minutes later he ‘returned and asked Nick to follow him. The two ascended to the second floor, and the detective was conducted into a ‘spacious, luxuriously-furnished bed-room. ° His quick eyes, noted the moment he entered the room that a child’s small brass bedstead stood near a larger couch. ~ A lady reclined in the depth of an easy chair near the window. Nick was introduced _ to her by Dr. Burns. Bes “Mother, this is the noted detective, Mr. Carter,” said the doctor. “He has come to have.a plain talk with you.” =, . _ “Tam glad you are here, Mr. Carter,” she said, in a voice which was weak and trem- bling. “God knows you are needed.” “Are you sure, mother, that you are equal to the task before you?” anxiously inquired the son. “Yes! oh, yes! I have been silent too long. Better had I intrusted you with the whole story of the sad past, Vivian. Now that it is necessary for me to tell it to this gentleman, you must remain and hear it also—hear the full particulars of a tragedy. of which you know only the bare outlines.” “The story of my father’s death?” “Yes, dear; and of your. sister’s disap- pearance.” “My sister? I never knew—I thought she died.” “Heaven grant that she did; but I now fear she-did not,” groaned Mrs. Burns. Nick, meanwhile, had been studying the _ It was a beautiful face, though marked with the lines of much suffering. ‘The face was thin, the hair prematurely gray, and the brown, wist- f The detective concluded aa Mrs. Bins
Page 5
4 Nick CARTER WEEKLY. was younger than she looked. Sorrow or some life trouble had made her prematurely old. There was an embarrassing pause after Nick took advantage of it toask of Dr. Burns: “Did your little girl disappear from this room ?” “Ves “Who was:in the room at the time beside the child?” “J “was,” “Dotty has slept there at my side for the past year. I could not bear to have her out of my reach Mrs. Burns’ last words quoted above. spoke up Mrs. Burns. even at night.” “Ts there anything unusual at the bottom of this extreme love for’ your grandchild, madame?” “Oh, yes! My own little girl was stolen when she was only two years old—the same age—and Dotty was-her exact image, She was a daily reminder of the baby which was taken from me; the baby for whom she was named.” Here Mrs, Burns began to weep silently. To divert her mind somewhat, Nick inquired: “What is there so strange about this child’s disappearance?” : “The manner in which she was taken out of. the house,” responded _ Dr. , Burns. “Mother was the first to miss Dotty. That was about six o’clock this morning. _ “No one had yet risen. She'called me.and Mildred, my wife. two servants we searched the whole house. “Now what is strange is this: “T’ve not only failed to find the slightest trace of the missing baby, but failed to dis- cover a possible place by which any one could have taken her from the house. “The onfy windows which were open dur- ing the night were three—one in this room, one in the rpom occupied by me and my wife, and one in the room where the two servants slept Without alarming our ie na “The windows of this room have iron grat- ing shutters which lock on the inside, Those shutters were locked when we examined them in our search. “The doors leading into the other two rooms were bolted upon the inside.” “Was the door to this room bolted or even locked ?” “No.” “Then the abductor entered the room and left by that door.” “No doubt. But how did he get out of the house ?”’ “There was no way discovered ?” “None. Every door leading to the outside was bolted; every window which might possi- bly have given egress was found secured by patent fastenings, which could not have been replaced by any one from the outside.” ; “How about the cellar?” ; “There are two doors which give access to the cellar. Both were bolted from above— on this side.” “All of which seems to indicate that the baby was removed either by or with the aid of some one on the inside.” ; “That theory is not tenable.” — “Why?” “There would be no one to suspect except the two servants.” ; “Well—and they?” “One—the elder—has been in the Burns She was my nurse and my . mother’s nurse before me. Her daughter was born the same year mother saw the light first, and ma never known another Mees than ours.’ t family for years. “Are there any sleep-walkers in the . family ?” eae : A “Not that were ever kndDwn.”) Mrs. Burns at this point interrupted: “IT would have held to that theory had it not been for those terrible mementos of my past which were left by tice same Beso, who spirited ise ae aval,
Page 6
NICK CARTER WHEKLY. Len She looked at her son appealingly. “T have shown them to him, mother,” he replied to her look, “Where did you find them?” Nick Heieed: When we could find no trace of Dotty I thought of my jewels, and believed a robber had carried her off. I went to my jewel-case on the bureau and opened the lid.” A shudder shook her frame and her face grew ghastly. “In my jewel case. By a great effort she controlled her emo- tion and presently continued : “The motive had not been one of robbery. The jewels were all there and something else.” “Those three objects which your son turned over to me?” PEER. “Will you tell me what they are?” “One was.a.ting which I gave to my hts- band when we were married. It has my face cut in cameo as a setting. He wore it on the day he was murdered.” “Murdered?” “Yes. When his body was found the ring and the finger on which he wore it were gone.” She was speaking almost in a whisper, and with great difficulty. With a mighty effort the poor woman continued: “His tongue was also missing. ‘To-day,” she gasped, ‘‘the ring, the skeleton firiger and the mummified tongue of my poor, mur- dered, mutilated husband had been left in my bedroom by no other than he who committed. that awful crime eighteen years ago, and at the same time stole my baby girl. “Now the fiend, whom I hoped bad: long since been dead, returns, steals my grand- child and leaves those terrible tokens of his fiendish crime, which robbed me of happi- ness in my youth.” “There was no written message left?” “Written message?” almost shrieked Mrs. Burns. “What could he have said in words, written or spoken, so terrible as he expressed when he placed that ring, those bones and that human tongue in my jewel-case—the — tongue which spoke the only words of love | “to me which ever made my soul thrill with happiness ! ’ “Oh, Mr. Carter, capture that fiend, rescue my grandchild from his devilish clutch, and V’'ll give you every dollar I am worth in this world.” CHAPTER III. MRS. BURNS’ REMARKABLE STORY. After Mrs. Burns had been somewhat quieted by Nick’s pacifying words, she re-. lated to him and her son, who heard most of * the facts for the first time, a remarkable life story: ' “T am. an Hiei aan she said, “and was born near Sydney, in Australia, where my father was one of the pioneers in bus- iness. : “My father was very successful, in a world- ly sense, and I was his only child. young and somewhat adtractive, I did not lack for suitors in that country where young people of my sex were not very plentiful, comparatively. “Among my suitors were Jerome Burns and Adrian Lascour. ‘They were friends and con- stant companions until they discovered that. é each was in love with me and a suitor for my — hand. : “Though my preferences were decidedly for Burns, I, girl like, played his rival as a foil, and by many little arts known to girls who love a flirtation, I managed to convey Being ‘the impression that Lascour was the favored suitor, though I Bos them both oft from day — to day. “Tn this state of affairs a crime, too revolt- _ ing to name, was committed. By the indis-—
Page 7
6 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. putable évidence of Burns, given with the ut- most reluctance, Lascour was proven the guilty man and became a life convict. “A few months later I became the wife of Burns. I yielded to his wishes for an imme- diate marriage, the more readily because I : could not get rid of the accusing thought that my flirtation with Lascour had in some way brought about his downfall. “Well, Mr. Burns and I lived very happily together. My father died soon after our mar- riage, and my husband took charge of his extensive business. A son was born to Six years later we were blessed with a little girl baby. “When the girl was two years old I met with my -double affliction—a blow which “The years went by. us in the second year of our union. wrecked my life. “My husband had gone a hundred miles or more into the interior upon some business. In his absence my little girl, ‘Dotty,’ was stolen. She disappeared as if invisible spirits had taken her away, and in spite of every- thing humah power ‘or the influence of money could do no trace of the child was ever found. “On the same day of her disappearance my husband’s dead body was found in the interior. tongue, and hacked off the finger on which he wore my ring. Neither of the mutilated members, nor yet the ring, were ever found.” “Yet they have been carefully preserved by the murderer ever since,” said Nick, as Mrs. Burns hid her pale face in her hands. “Ts that all you have to relate?” “No. As you probably suspected, the news came about this time that Adrian Lascour and several other life convicts had escaped a week previous by killing their guard. All but Lascour.and a Malaysian were recap- “tured.” é His assassin had cut out the “And Lascour was never taken?” “So far as I know he never was.” “You, of course, believe he killed your husband ?” “T cannot doubt it.” “But the child?” “That puzzles me, Mr. Carter. Ag I said, my busband was killed and my child spirited away on the same day. The crimes were committed over a hundred miles apart. It was simply impossible that es should have done both.” “He may have had an agent to help him?” “Who ?” ; “Probably the Malaysian.” “Perhaps you are right,” sighed Mrs. Burns. : : “You did not remain long in Australia after your widowhood began?” “Only till I became convinced that my baby was ‘either dead or not on the conti- nent.” * “Then where did you go?” “T took Vivian and, having converted all my late father’s possessions into cash, went to England.” “When did you come here? rei “Fight years ago. I thought in this quiet place the rest of my life could be spent with only the shadow of my past sorrows to op- press me. But that fiend’s vengeance has been merely held in abeyance all these years, it seems. He has struck me once more, and I do not believe he has finished his devilish work yet.” “You believe Adrian Lascour is still on your track?” “How can I believe otherwise.” “If Lascour has followed you here,” he would be easily known, I should think. a “Why ?”” “Well, Blankville is not so vee but that a stranger’ s presence would be noticed.” — “That is true,” interrupted Dr. Burns, | :
Page 8
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. _ eee “and I can assure you that there has not been a man, woman or child in or around Blank- ville during the last two weeks who is not known.” “is . “Then,” said Nick, “Adrian Lascour is here yet, and has been here for some time past.” “Fiow is that?” queried the young doctor. “T mean we will probably find. your mother’s enemy in some one of the residents of the village. A man of his character would devote his life to his one idea of vengeance. Men like him have been known to spend years in preparing for one single, simple stroke of revenge.” “Then what can we do?” “Nothing, hastily.” “But the child—Dotty ?” “Tf she is alive, and I have no doubt she is not only alive, but well cared for, haste or too much publicity might endanger her life. You must have patience and bear up as phil- osophically as you can until I have had time to make a quiet, careful investigation among the residents of Blankville.” “Oh, sir, you will find her and bring her back safe?” sobbed the widow. “Tf she is to be found I will find her. But we must also see that Lascour is not ‘per- mitted to escape.” For while he lives and is at liberty my life will be a constant terror.” “Where is your wife?” suddenly inquired Nick, turning to Dr. Burns. “Yes! yes! ” “Sleeping,” was the reply. “She was al- most thrown into hysterics when it become evident that ‘Dotty’ was missing. I gave her an opiate to quiet ner and she finally fell asleep.” “Who lived in this house before you moved in, doctor?” “My wife’s father.” “Where is he now?” “Dead.” “Who was he?” == “Captain George Gray.” “How much of a family had he rae “Only Mildred, my wife.” _ ; “Were you married before or after ane f death?” - “Just before, at his death: bed.” “Oh. He desired the match? 2 a “Yes. He wanted to see se buketges future ~ settled before he left the world. “You called him Captain Gray?” “Yes. - He was a retired sea captain.” “He was living here when you came?” » “No. He came-here with his’ daughter and servant the year after we arrived.” “And servant? ‘Surely, they didn’t live in this house with only one servant?” “Yes. But they had the services of ys others, a man and his wife, Dan and Lizzie O’Grady, who lived then and still live in a little cottage near the avenue gate.” “Humph! They did not sleep here in the house?” “No. Only Captain Gray, Mildred and the old woman, Bulah, slept beneath this roof.” “Bulah, did you say?” M3 “Yes. That was her name.’’ “A negress ?” _ Not a white woman, surely. She had a very yellow skin, black hair and the blackest eyes you ever saw.” “Where is she now?” “I don’t know. She left Blankville the week after Captain Gray died, and no one ever saw her since.” . “Tow long has Captain Gray been dead?” — “A little more than three years.” As-Dr. Burns made this answer the door — opened and a very beautiful young woman, whose face was excessively marked by grief and anxiety, came in. Dr. Burns advanced to. meet her, put jan arm around her waist, and led her to a chair. “Oh, Vivian! have you heard saree ‘ from her?” is
Page 9
J 8 NICK CARTER WHEKLY. - “Not yet, darling ; but here is the great de- tective, Nick Carter, and he has promised to find and bring her back safe and well.’ “God bless you!” she said, turning to Nick “T have heard so much about your powers that such and giving him both her hands. a proinise from you is to me what pardon would be to the condemned.” Nick had not the heart to contradict her husband’s pardonable white lie. So he gave her hands a consoling pressure and replied: “You must be a brave woman, Mrs. Burns, and trust me to bring you out of this trouble | into lasting happiness.” “T will—with God’s help, I will,’”’ she said, smiling up at him through her tears. The great detective had scarcely taken his eyes from the face of Mildred Burns from the time she entered the room till she bestowed upon him that beaming look of confidence. He was all this time struggling to. bring out more clearly in his mind a half defined conviction, and with that smile from her he succeeded. To himself he was saying as Mrs. Mildred Burns turned toward her mother-in-law: “ “There are none so blind as they who will not see!’ How true the old adage.” Then as he saw young Mrs. Burns stoop _and give her husband’s mother a loving kiss, and receive from the latter a most affection- ate caress in return, he turned away, walked’ over to a window, looked out into the gath- ering twilight, breath: “What a fiend that Lascour is. ‘The depth “Of his vengeance is luckily not suspected by his unhappy victims. “He has not yet struck his master blow. I must try to deprive him of power and priv- ileges before he has a chance to reach the “climax of his revenge, “Tt would be terrible to think of if he were permitted to reap the full reward of his years of plotting.” and muttered under his the street, CHAPTER IV. NICK AND THE O’GRADYS. As soon as the elder Mrs. Burns got an opportunity to speak to Nick alone she whis- pered: “Mildred must not know about the little girl i lost and never found. The two chil-. dren were the same age. It might take away all hope from her heart to know of my early loss? “You are right. Does she know anything about the story of Lascour’s vengeance— about the death of your husband—about Lascour himself?” “Not a word. Why, even Vivian never knew- that story, except the mere fact that Mr. Burns was killed, until I was compelled to turn over to him those awful mementos _ which were left in my jewel box; turn them over to him and ask him to carry them away so that they might not fall under the eyes of Mildred.” Nick proceeded under the guidance of Dr. Burns to make a rapid inspection of the house, and if he had any suspicions that all which young Burns had said was not true, he seemed to be satisfied that there was no way out of it for the adbuctor of little Dotty. It was quite dark when Nick left the house, promising to meet Dr. Burns at his office next morning. He walked down the gravel oath toward musing over the strange case which had come into his hands, As he approached the street a blinking light on his left through the trees met is eyes. _ “Let me see!” he muttered. “That must be the cottage in which Captain Gray’s out- sidé servants, the O’Gradys, live. I wonder — if they could not give me some valuable in- formation ? “T'll just drop in on Mr. and ae ake ©’Grady.” ! He found the O’Gradys spending a Ge FAT, Saeki ie a
Page 10
NICK CARTER . WHEILY, evening between themselves, each immetsed in the ecstatic delights of an evening pipe. Dan O'Grady was a typical Inshman of middle age, possessing a face which bespoke geniality, shrewdness and a love of his fellow men. ; Lizzie O’Grady was a fine looking, buxom Irishwoman in the prime of life, who, in her girlhood days, would have precipitated a fight at a Donnybrook Fair with a single ~ sinile or wink at some favored Irish laddie. The cottage door was open. Nick had scarcely reached its portals when O’Grady’s — quick eyes saw him. Tn an instant the Irishman was on his feet. His pipe was whipped from his mouth, and: with a bow that was deeper than it was grace- ful, he received the stranger at his door in true Irish politeness. “Good avenin’, yer worship. honor our poor cabin by shteppin’ insoide an’ havin’ a pipe o’ terbacky wid’ me an’ the ould woman?” ; : “V’ll come in, and thank you for. your kindness,” laughed Nick, as he made good “But with your permission, and (here he bowed to and received in. return a his words. that of your good wife,” Mrs, O’Grady, rather awkward curtesy), “I'll join you with a cigar, I have one in my pocket.” “ Tyery man to his taste,’ as the ould lady said whin she kissed her cow. Terbacky is terbacky, whether yez schmoke it wan way or anither. May St. Patrick bless the weed.” Nick pulled up a chair near the Irishman, and soon had the smoke from. his cigar mingling with the cloud from Dan’s pipe. Lizzie had respectfully laid her pipe on the mantel as soon as Nick entered. “To get.a light for my cigar must be my excuse for intruding on your quiet evening here,” explained Nick, as soon as he had his cigar well under way. ~ “Sure, sor, there be no axchoose needed, We. Pa Pte! tae x ee PT NN tenaue on As “Will yez_ F 9 seein’ that it’s a favor to eke your honor insoide our poor cottage,” was: the quick re- ply. dunno?” “Yes. I came up here fron me citys on property left by his late father-in-law to his wife.” ee ; “Ye mane, ¢. Cap’ n Gray, I reckon” “Yes. I will be detained a day or two. You've lived here some time rats “Goin’ onto siven years.” You're a stranger in these ales 5 _some business with Dr. Burns relative to this — “You came here while Captain Gray lived © up there at the house?” . “We did that. The cap’n had this cottage put up, and thin hired me an’ Lizzie to come an’ live in grounds an’ about the house.” “He must have been a queer man—this Captain Gray.” “Indade he wor. A quarer man niver brathed the brith o’ loife. Why, all the time we lived here under him nayther Lizzie nor it and tind to affairs on the. I iver got our head into the big house be- twaan nightfall an’ dayloight. = “But they had servants in the house—he and his daughter?” % f “Wan! May the divil fly away: wid her black ‘soul !” £ “A woman?” — Exe “A famale divil if there iver was a segehs ter o’ Old Nick.” “Queer creature, eh?” ; “She wor that. We didn’t grave because we couldn’t siape under the same roof wid her. Our throats were safer here than there while we dramed.” 2 arene Captain Gray and his daughter liked this woman?” - “The cap’n did. Miss Mildred couldn’t bear her,” spoke up Lizzie. “Indeed ?” “Thrue, sor, as I am tellin’ you, ‘An’ aes a didn’t same to be much love lost atwixt bic be Pon oa phic oe Me
Page 11
10 Bulah niver wint near the girl, an’ that’s why I had all the waitin’ on Miss Mildred to do myself.” “This Bulah was there till Captain Gray died, was she?” “She wor. Thin she wint away widout sayin’ divil a word to any wan, an’ nobody iver seed hair or hide o’ her since.” “Did Captain Gray ever have visitors— he or his daughter ?” “None ‘except the Burnses and the Waynes.” “The Waynes ?” “Ay sor. Misther and Misthress Miles Wayne, from.the city.” “And these Waynes and the Burnses were his only associates ?” -“That they wor.” “How did that happen?” “Begar, he'd have nothin’ to do with the resht. They couldn’t git widin a mile av him socially, an’ he shut himself up from thim in. his big house yonder.” “How did the Burnses gain his favor?” “He got sick, sor, and sint for the docthor. That led up to Mrs. Burns bein’ invited to the house. An’ the docthor an’ Miss Mildred fell'in love, an’ that settled it.” “Captain Gray made no- objection to the young folks’ love-making?” “Tor, no; sor. He seemed plazed.to death at as 5 “Mrs. O! Grady need’ not have told me that,” said Nick, to himself. “And these Waynes—who were they?” “Misther Wayne wor a broker, sor, from the city, who attinded to Captain Gray’s in- vestments. He often run up-to Blankville. Sometimes he’d spind siveral days at the ‘cap’n’s house. . Most av the time they'd be locked up together. for hours at a time in the cap'ni’s stoody.” . - “Very intimate, were they?” “Like twins, sor. ‘Sometimes Wayne would ’ Walk in, sor. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. . bring his wife wid him and they’d shtay over Sunday at the hall. She wor a stunnin’ lady, sor. Ye piver seed a finer-lookin’ wan in your life.” “Indeed ee “Poor thing. She died at the cap’n on one of these visits.” ’*s house Nick’s interest in the Waynes suddenly in-_ creased. “Died, did you say?” She’s buried over yonder in the graveyard jist beyant.” “What ailed her?” “Heart failure. “Very suddintly, sor. ¢ Her husband still comes to Blankville to visit her grave. He’s here now.” “How long has she been dead?” She died two weeks He is buried ‘over there, “Mor'n three years. afore the cap’n. too.” “You attended the funeral » “Which wan ?” “Both.” “J did. I helped to lower both coffins, an’ sure two more illegant corpses niver were laid to resht. They both looked as. if oe were jist lyin’ there aslape.” “Humph!” muttered Nick, as he arose from his chair and prepared to leave. He was saying just then to his inner self: “T must meet this Wayne and make his acquaintance.” } , As if in answer to these rie a Dan looked over Nick’s shoulder toward the open door and exclaimed : “Be the powers! “Spake av the angels an’ Here is Misther Wayne. now. » Sure yez are welcome.” they appear. Nick arose, turned quietly around, and. stood face to face with a man whom he — thanked his lucky star for bringing thus ice : portunely into his presence, ee
Page 12
CHAPTER V. THE GHOST AND THE BURIAL VAULT. Miles Wayne and Nick Carter stood look- ing at each other steadily for several seconds. Nick saw standing before him a man of medium height, rather squarely built, with - an erect, muscular figure, very dark skin, al- most swartthy, smooth, closely-shaven face, coal-black hair and dark brown eyes. His age might be anywhere from forty to fifty- five years, ; Wayne was the first to speak: “T beg your pardon, Dan, but I was not aware you had company. Pardon me for in- truding. with you and get you to look after my wife’s Tt needs I just dropped, in to chat a little grave when you have a little time. a bit of care. However, Ill call. to-morrow when you will be more at leisure to talk over these things.” "5 He was turning to go when Nick spoke up: eee “I beg you will not let me deprive you of the object of your call, sir, Pray do not mind me at all.” “You are a stranger in Blankville, are you not?” asked Wayne, turning again to Nick. “Entirely so. Until to-day I have never set foot in the village.” - “Tt is an out-of-the-way place, and seldom sees a stranger among its residents,” fe- marked Wayne. ect! Nothing would have brought me here except some a busi- ness with Dr. Burns.” Wayne began to be plainly interested in Nick. The latter could understand how much the man before him wanted a better introduction, but he refrained giving it or mentioning his name. “I can believe that. “T am well acquainted with Dr. Burns and his family. But I was not aware that he transacted much business outside 9 his pro- Socata ia NICK CARTER WEEKLY. eit - “Probably he does not. My business I should say is indirectly with him or his wife, rather. In a word, I’ve come up here as an - agent to try and buy his homestead.” Wayne stared at Nick some seconds with- ; out replying. Then he said: : “To buy this property? For whom?” “Pardon me, but the gentleman does not. — want to be known in the transaction,” smiled = Nick, “Well, what success fue you had ?” “None as yet. I’ve only had one chance to talk with Dr. Burns and his wife, and neither seemed to be in a humor to discuss. business. I shall see them again in the morn- ing.” “T am going up to the house now. Shall. I have the pleasure of your company there?” “Thank you, but I just left them an hour ago.” “Then I shall probably have the pleasure of seeing you again to-morrow. Good- night.” Without waiting to hear Nick’s return “sood-night” Miles Wayne strode rapidly out of the room, and soon disappeared. Turning to O’Grady as soon as Wayne was gone, Nick asked: core “How large a man was Captain Gray?” “Fest about Mr. Wayne’s size, sor.” “What did he look like?” ' “Sure the cap’n had‘a shnow white beard an’ hair, an’ a very white skin. He walked wid a shtoop to his shoulders.” “An old man?” : “Siventy an’ he was a day.” a “Where is this graveyard where the cap- tain and Wayne’s wife is buried?” “Not a shtone’s t’row from this blissed spot. These grounds run e up agin the dividin’ fince.” “This Mr. Wayne seems devoted to. the memory of his late wife.” ee ‘sy “Sure he do that. It’s — a night S "
Page 13
/ _ building by a rear door, unseen, as they be- _ lieved, and made their way through vacant 12 that he do not go to the graveyard in shpite av ghosts an’ goblins, an’ spind hours at the side av Misthress Wayne’s grave.” “A brave man?” commented Nick. Begob, he’s the only livin’ soul I know as iver goes in- “Yez may well say that, sor. side among thim graves after iste ie “Why 2” “Ts it why, thin? |’Case no sett but him dares to face the ghosts.” “But there are no such things as ghosts, my good man!” “Arrah! and isn’t thor, though? Thin, fwhat the divil’is it that people have seed in that graveyard betwixt midnight and dawn, dressed all in white, flittin’ in an’ out among the threes and bushes, I dunno?” Nick was all attention to every word the \ Irishman uttered. “A veritable ghost, eh?” “Yez can gamble on it.” “Flow long has this ghost been raliag around among the tombs?” “For two or three years, sor.” “Has nobody ever tried to lay it?” “Flowly Mose no!’ almost yelled the Trishman. Nick shortly afterward left the cottage, and strolled back to the one hotel of which Blank- ville boasted. ‘There he met a young man who had come in ‘on the evening train. ‘This young’ man was Chick, and had followed his chief on the next train as per directions. They at once retired to Nick’s room and re- mained in. earnest conversation ‘till eleven o'clock. Then they both slipped out of the lots and unused alleys to the street which ran past the property of the late Captain Gray. They had little trouble in locating the cem- etery or graveyard described by O’Grady as adjoining the Gray property on the east. It NICK CARTER WEEKLY. extended from the street or road backward The entire tract was covered with large forest trees and the usual shrubbery of old burial grounds. for a distance of several hundred rods. Before they entered the cemetery they sat down on a large stone and Nick remarked, in a subdued voice: “It is taking a rather long chance, lad, but I’ve an idea we'll get a glimpse of O’Grady’s ghost to-night, and see what it is up to.” “You mean Miles Wayne?” inquired Chick. : “Of course. There is no doubt that the prowler in white among those tombs is he.” “What's his object ?” “We will try to find out, my boy.” “Tf he'll only come out to-night.” “Well, I think he will. At least he’s in Blankville, and I’ve an idea’ his graveyard business at this time is unusually pressing. Let us get into some favorable hiding place where we can look around a bit.” The night was dark, with an overcast sky, and prospects of a storm before morning. They found a place of concealment in a clump of bushes about thirty rods from the road, and began their vigil. - About half-past one o’clock their, eatbbiee was luckily rewarded. Chick was the first to see the “ghost” and he silently pointed it out to Nick. Something was flitting in and out among the trees, and that something was of the traditional ghostly white. The uneasy spirit darted hither and thirther, now disappearing, and again coming into sight in some unex- pected place. At last it disappeared behind a very thick clump of bushes, and somes to have retired for the night. : The detectives waited half an hour. hen, convinced that the ghost had gone tempor-_ ni arily into retirement, Nick signaled to Chick,
Page 14
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. and led the way noiselessly to the bushes behind which the white object had last dis- appeared. ‘ Into these bushes the two men crawled un- til they were concealed, but could see out on the other side. There was not much to see; even if the night had been light enough. Beyond the bushes was a small hillside, and by straining his eyes Nick managed to make out that against this hill was the open- ing into a burial vault. “There is just one place that ghost could have gone, lad,” whispered Nick into Chick’s ear. : The latter made no answer, for none was needed. Without another wordfrom either, the two detectives lay there in those bushes flat upon their stomachs, waiting, watching, and fully understanding each other. Hours passed without their coward: Both knew that the light of dawn would soon begin to dispel the utter blackness of this dark night. Suddenly Nick’s hand closed upon Chick’s arm with a grip that was not gentle. _A tall white object suddenly appeared against the dark background in front of them. How far away from them the object was neither could determine. There was a short pause in the ‘hate ob- ject’s movement. ‘Then came to their ears the faintest kind of a metallic noise, after which the figure in white moved a bit and paused once more. tes Soom The metallic ghost of a noise was repeated. Then the ghost glided away swiftly, and dis- appeared among the trees. Nick whispered in Chick’s ear: “Come! To the hotel.” They crept from their place of conceal- * ment, and fifteen minutes later succeeded in~ reaching the peigibar asd ok the hotel, . where they again sought concealment. EES _ They had only half an hour to wait ia man’s figure strode boldly at to the build- ing and entered. : Nick recognized him in the faint light of the dawn, aided by the dim refulgence of the lamp which burned on the hotel veranda. “Ts it your man?” asked Chick. “."Y 6s. Miles Wayne is the ghost of Blank- ville. The ghost’s residence is a burial vault in the cemetery. Chick; we have some ex- citing work before us.” CHAPTER VI. INTERESTING MILES WAYNE, Chick boarded the first train for New York that morning and went flying back to the great city for a purpose which he and his chief had clearly discussed before he left Blankville. : At nine o’clock Nick called at Dr. Burns’ office. The young physician, looking pale and anxious, was waiting for him. “Any news?” was the doctor’s eager greet- ing. “Tf you mean news of your child’s where- abouts, I answer no. I don’t expect to get definite news on that point for several’ days. You and your wife and mother must bear up under that uncertainty, meanwhile, as well as you can, resting assured that none of you could take better care of the little one than’ she will be cared for while in the hands of her abductors.” : “Mr. Carter, you speak like a man who sees his way clearly in this mysterious case,’ “Then my words do not convey a. wrong meaning, doctor.” “In Heaven’s name——” “Now, my dear. sir,” interrupted _ Nick, “you must not grow excited. es t “But who—how——” ee _ “Nor ask questions which it wit Be a
Page 15
1% ‘that IT should not at present answer. I want you to trust me fully with this again, and keep mum as an oyster.” “Then I fear I have already blundered.” “Why ?” “T’ve disclosed your identity and the object of your visit to Blankville to one person.” “To Mr. Wayne?” “Yes. He said he had met you.” “And did he tell you that I had tried to throw him off as to my real mission up herer” Burns showed his annoyance as he an- swered; “He did. But not until I had informed him to the contrary.” Nick laughed softly, which put Burns into an easier frame of mind. “This Wayne is a particular friend, is he not, doctor?” Yes; he was the best friend my wife’s father had, and that is how we became so intimate.” “Well, no harm has been done by what you have told him. But from this time out please to repeat nothing to him or to any one else of.my assurance of success in your behalf. If it were not that I do not desire you or your wife or your mother should suffer under the burden of hopelessness, [ would have concealed, even from you three, the almost ‘certain conviction that I will not only capture this Lascour, but restore your child to you’ safe and one as well.” Dr. Burns promised to be on his guard. Nick was not surprised a few minutes later to hear that Miles Wayne was at the door of the office. Dr. Burns turned an anxious look upon Nick when Wayne's presence was” an- nounced. ” “Tet him come in,”’ said the detective, “and then leave the rest in my hands.” - The next moment Wayne entered Buris’ ees i NICK CARTER WHEKLY. private office, shook hands with the doctor, and greeted Nick with a nod and a smile, © The conversation turned at once upon the case of the missing child. It could not have surprised Burns to hear Nick talk before Wayne as if he was wholly “stumped” in his investigations. “Tf we could only find some clew to the manner in which the kidnapper entered or left the building, there would be something to make a start from,” said Nick, with a wrinkled brow. : “Did you examine the house carefully ?”. asked Wayne. “T didn’t, search,” was the response, “Don’t know whether there are any secret doors. or passages?” queried Wayne. “Well, we didn’t search for those things. Was Captain Gray a man to indulge in such romantic secrets ?” “Why, no. But he didn’t build the house, you know.” “Who did?” “A retired minister, who lived in the house until Sy captain bought See the captain told me.’ “Not likely, therefore, that. there are » any secret doors or traps.” “Well,” said Wayne, “suppose we all go © up to the house and make a thorough ‘of course, make a minute search.” Nick half expected such a proposition, and he fell in with it willingly. The three men proceeded to the Burns residence, and spent two hours in inspecting — every floor, wall, ceiling and closet. Wayne led the exploration, and Nick was not half so earnest in his pretended search for hollow walls or sliding panels as he was in secretly watching every move made by Miles Wayne. “Tt’s no use,” finally said “Nick. “We might as well give it up. For once in my life ?m up against ity? s Deseo tote Agta ‘. €
Page 16
NiCkK CARTER WEEKLY. “What will you do now?” inquired Wayne, rather anxiously. “What can I do?. I certainly cannot waste I must return to New York this evening, where time here without a clew to lead me. more important work is waiting for me.” “Then I'll go along. I have business at my office to-morrow. But I'll return in a few days, and do what I can to help the doctor get some trace of the little girl.” said “T do not give the case up, but will “T, too, will return in a few days,” Nick. have to drop it temporarily.” “l’m going over to the cemetery to take _a look at my wife’s grave. Would you like to go along?” said Wayne, suddenly break-— ing in on Nick’s conversation. “As I can do nothing here, I might as well,” replied Nick, while an unaccountable feeling of exultation shot through his heart. In going to the cemetery Nick noted the fact that its western boundary was not more than two hundred yards from the Burns res- idence. Wayne took him to a beautiful,spot under a huge maple tree where two well kept graves lay near each other. A small monu- ment stood at the head of one grave on which was the inscription: Sacred to the Memory oi MARY, Beloved Wife of Miles ‘ane Died May ist, 1891. fEtat 33 Years. A much plainer stone marked the other grave, The inscription on this stone read: ze Here Lies the Body of GEORGE GRAY. ” Born October toth, 1825. Died May 18th, 1891. Requiescat in Pace. “My wife died suddenly while we were f = ae | - RTs visiting the captain, and he insisted 1 should — bury her here on his lot,” explained Wayne. Nick allowed Wayne to lead the way into. ~ the cemetery and out again. ‘It did not surprise him, therefore, when while on their way out. they passed an old vault built into a hill side and almost sur- rounded by shrubbery, which had been al- lowed to grow up wild. ~ “There’s an old vault,” explained Wayne, parting the bushes and pointing in at the place, “where the remains of a whole fam- “ily rest.” “Has a history, eh?” encouraged. Nick. “Yes. As it was told to me, the vault was built by an eccentric resident of Blank- ville thirty years ago. Soon after it was finished his wife was found dead i in bed one morning. A week later his eldest son fell ‘down stairs and broke his neck. The only daughter died of malignant typhoid fever shortly afterward. The remaining son was struck by lightning and killed within the year. Then the old man killed himself when — quite crazed with grief. His body was the last to be deposited in the vault, and when the doors were locked upon it, they were never afterward opened. Of late years a silly report has gone forth es the spot is haunt- ed.” “Ghosts, eh?” smiled Nick. “Yes. Some servant girls and timid young men are willing to swear they have seen the spirit of the unfortunate man who had the vault built hovering around this spot at night in the usual airy white robes.” Wayne’s laugh was echoed by Nick. ‘As they walked away Wayne added: “That is why the place is neglected and al- lowed to grow up wild.” When Nick parted with Wayne he chuckled under his breath: Ke “What a wonderful book human nature is! I’d rather read in its pages than I would es in any print which ever fell from the press. —
Page 17
16 “Mr. shrewd, but Nick Carter was not born yes- ~ terday.” CHAPTER VII. WHAT WAS FOUND IN TWO ‘GRAVES. Miles Wayne and Nick Carter. went to New York that afternoon on that same train. Wayne gave the detective his office card and invited him to call at his convenience. The two parted at the depot. Miles Wayne, you are devilish NICK CARTER WEHEKLY. Fs peg ee. % Nick went direct to his home, where he met Chick. As soon as the two were alone together in the study, Nick asked: “What have you found out about Wayne?” “Not much, perhaps; maybe a good deal.” “Well, out with it.” “This Wayne is an old timer, Nick.” “What do you mean by ‘an old timer?” “He has occupied his present office for the last fifteen years.” “That would make it from 1879?” SYep.y “Three years after. Eascour escaped from Australia?” “I. guess so. time, was a clerk in another office on Broad- way.” “Tow long.before he opened sp! own of- fice?” “Four years.” . “Sure of that?” “Sure as shooting. gation thorough. Indeed, I talked with a man who was his room-mate in 1875. In that year Lascour was serving his term in Australia, was he not?” Mesa. “Then Wayne can’t be Lascour,” “Humph !” A But Wayne, prior to that I made the investi-- Chick looked ioe 4 at Nick as the latter uttered that’significant exclamation. “You are still not satisfied that this man is not mixed up in the Burns tragedy?” ‘one suspects. { i f “You are right, Chick. Miles Wayne and Adrian Lascour have been intimately asso- ciated in some way, and Wayne knows more about the Burns mystery than he thinks any We must find out just what he is or has been to this Lascour.” “That’s all right; but how are you going about it?” “Tl tell you presently. find out about Wayne?” “Very little, except that he has been a changed man ever since his wife died. So much so that he sometimes acts queerly, neglects business, is morose, shuns his for- mer associates and has made almost a her- mit of himself.” “A hermit—how so?” “Why, he has been in the habit for the last two or three years of going out on Long Island and shutting himself up in a lonesome, out-of-the-way house in charge of a solitary negro,” “Negress, you mean?” “No. It is a man.” “And he will not receive any of his for- mer friends there?” " “No. When he isn’t shut up out there he frequently makes trips to Blankville, where it is said he spends hours in the cemetery at his wife’s grave.” What else did you Chick gave Nick a wink as he imparted this information, and Nick laughed softly. Chick broke the short silence which fol- lowed by saying: “Nick, wouldn’t it pay to explore Miles Wayne’s Long Island retreat?” “TI guess it would. We'll do it, too, in good time. Just now we've other fish to fry.” : Early next morning three of the most dis- reputable tramps ever seen around Blank- — ville caused considerable uneasiness among _ the residents of that quiet neighborhood. When the marshal of the place. warned : : eile
Page 18
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘them to “vamose” they meekly obeyed, and ‘hobbled off down one of the roads which led out into the country. But they did not go far. The trio visited several farm-houses, solic- iting food, and went into camp in a woods near a house where some laborers were dig- ging a well, As night came on and the well- aigering de- parted for their homes, there were signs of unusual activity in the camp of the tramps. One of the three, who had been absent on an expedition of some kind, returned to camp shortly after sundown, and made a report in an undertone. His companions called him Phiay. About ten o’clock Patsy went away again. He was gone an hour.. When he once more appeared before his comrades he-had some heavy articles on his shoulders which he threw on the ground at the feet of the other two. These articles were two picks, two shovels and a small coil of rope. The well-diggers had used these articles at their work during the day. Patsy had stolen them, without doubt. No hurry to get away with the stolen ar- ticles was evinced by any of the men. On the contrary, all three were soon stretched upon the ground taking things easy. Cigars were produced, wholly inconsistent with the - pretended calling of the men, and as they smoked an occasional word was passed among them ‘in a low tone. Midnight had passed some time before the waiting tramps showed signs of activity. Finally he who seemed te be the ee yawned and asked: “T wonder what time it is?” “About two o’clock as near as I can cal- culate,” responded one of his companions. Then the latter reached in among his rags and brought forth, as if by magic, an elegant gold watch, the face of which he consulted by the aid of a lighted match. ‘tence. 17 “Just two exactly,” he said, as the match went out. “Then we'll be going wiehiout loss of times” replied the other, springing to his feet. The stolen tools were divided among the three, who set off across fields in the direc- tion of Blankville. They approached the vil- lage from the side on which Dr, Burns’ resi- — dence was situated, and struck the cemetery “on the side farthest from the road which ran by. Without exchanging a word the three - tramps entered the deep shadows of the cem- etery, the one who appeared to be the leader going in advance, and the ee two follow- ing single file. The leader had not gone far when he struck one foot against the low foot-stone of a grave and almost fell prostrate. “Look out there. Better see where you’re going,” whispered the man just behind. “Guess you're right,” assented the leader, “might as ‘well be seen as heard, so here goes.” The rays of a circumscribed beam of light a moment later were illuminating the ground ° for several rods before them.. The raan in front had produced a dark. lantern. With its aid the three night prowl- ers made their way through the cemetery a little faster and without so much inconven- They thus carefully advanced for about ten minutes when the man with the lantern stopped, i “It’s not far from this place,” he miutheeak “T'll have to reconnoiter a little.” So saying, he raised the stream of light from his lantern, and began to flash it around in several directions. “Ah! I thought so,” he exclaimed at last, ina low voice. “This way, boys.” Turning abruptly to his right, he took a dozen steps and stopped beside a mound of earth, at one end of which stood a on head- stone.
Page 19
18 “This is the place,” other two came up and stood at his side lean- he whispered, as the ing on the stolen tools, and looking down at the mound at their feet. “Now we'll-soon see what lies down there six feet below the surface,” spoke the leader. Had any one been a witness of this strange scene there would have been no doubt left as to the intention of the three maurauders. They were about to open a grave, and it was not a new-made grave, either, for a heavy sod covered the mound, and flowers grew and bloomed near the head. “Now, then, Patsy, take a position down toward the road about one hundred yards away, and keep your sharp ears open,” com- manded the leader. “Chick and I will not be long at this job if we are not interrupted.” “All right, Nick,” sentinel, “if anybody sneaks into the ceme- replied the appointed tery he'll have to tread mighty softly if I don’t hear him.” Patsy left for his place of observation. Then Nick Carter and Chick laid aside their ragged coats and took hold of their shovels. Nick stuck his shovel into the mound first. Chick followed his example, and for half an hour the two men worked as if their lives depended on it. : G At the end of that time their shovels heed upon wood. we “The vault is covered with boards, Nick,” panted Chick. “That’s good,” make it easier for us to manage it.” said the detective, “it will _ As soon as the boards were uncovered and removed, Nick and his assistant jumped out of the grave. : The cry of a night bird rang out on the still air. It was Nick’s signal for calling Patsy iny and the lad responded promptly. In a very short time the three men had wi: coil of rope around the coffin, which was raised and placed on the ground beside the ie y NICK CARTER WEEKLY. = { opening. Then Nick produced a screw-. driver and opened the coffin by removing the lid. ee The three men fell back precipitately to avoid the rather unpleasant odor which arose as the lid was raised. “There isn’t any doubt about it, I guess, Nick,” said Patsy. in there sure enough.” “George Gray’s body is “T’m not so sure of it, but I’m going to take a look,” declared Nick, as he advanced and threw the rays of his lantern on the open coffin, Chick and Patsy were at his side. All three caught sight of the coffin’s contents at once. The result was a quick ejaculation from Patsy. They saw the half decomposed body of a man drawn up as if the last muscular action was produced by great torture. One hand was clutching a bunch of hair which had been pulled from the head, and the tongue was sticking out of the almost fleshless mouth. “Nick!” cried oi “that man was hates alive.” / “No doubt of it, Patsy! my boy,” replied Nick, looking calmly at the coffin, _ “What an awful fate for. George Gray,” added Patsy. “Teil him, Chick,” his chief assistant, “It is not George Gray, Patsy,” Chie ‘ . “Why, how do you know?” ’ aud: Nick, turning to complied George Gray had long white whiskers and white hair when he was buried. This man’s hair was black and his face smooth.” “Then, for the love of heaven, who is it?” cried Patsy. | Chick looked at Nick and the great detec- _ tive calmly answered: “It is the body of Miles Wayne.” a S: Se Ce el PE ee Tae
Page 20
ay per : NICK CARTER WEEKLY. fae sk CHAPTER VIII. “THE WICKEDEST FIEND OUT OF HELL.” Nick Carter’s startling words concerning the corpse in the coffin astounded and puz- zled: Patsy. But he knew they were no ex- traordinary révelations to Chick’s mind. Chick usually followed his chief's deduc- tions much closer than Patsy, and in this in- stance he was close upon Nick’s mental trail, but Patsy was floundering along in the dark some distance behind. Nick noticed the Irish boy’s*puzzled look, and added: “We, have no time now for explanation. That will come a little later on.- Daylight will be on us very soon, and we have work to do here.” Hastily placing the lid upon the coffin he © screwed it down. sistant, he exclaimed: “Now, boys, lend a hand.” Then, turning to his as- And so the casket which bore on its silver - plate the name of George Gray, but which contained not his body, was for the second time lowered into the grave. The dirt was ‘hurriedly thrown in, and no care was taken to replace the sod or to destroy evidence of the desecration of the tomb. When this work was accomplished Chick turned to Nick, who was gathering up the tools, and inquired : . “How about the other one?” pointing to the grave of Mrs. Wayne. “Not now,” said Nick. “Daylight will soon be here and we have no time to spare. We know what we would find there.” _ The three men made their way out of the cemetery in much shorter time than it took them to enter. They left the picks and shovels where they were found, and before the sun was up they were resting under a, large tree in the woods three miles south of © Blankville. ; _ After ten minutes of rest Nick reached into a hole of the hollow trunk of the tree and pulled out several packages which ‘Chick S opened. The packages contained more pera spectable clothing than the three men had | on, and also the material for facial disguises. In less than half an hour the detectives were completely metamorphosed, and had turned theniselves from the genus tramp into a te-- eos hate old farmer and his two & sons. “Let me see wa said Nick, looking at his ‘ watch and consulting a time table, “we are two miles from the first station beyond Blankville, and the next train for New York \ will not reach that station for an hour. So we might as well rest for twenty minutes.” Meanwhile Patsy had gathered up their tramp rags and chucked them into the hole of the hollow tree. When all three were once more lounging on the ground, Chick was the first to speak. “Nick, there’ll be a commotion in Blank- ville to-day,” said Chick. “The people will discover that the grave of the late George Gray has been opened.” “Correct.” “There'll be only one party who will get a proper conception of the situation.” “You mean the phere Miles Wayne £ Vep.” ~ “Chick, your bead is level,” “You intend that he shall know some one has opened the grave and found therein the body of Miles Wayne?” “I do.” “But he daren’t let people iaiow what he knows?” A “Of course not. That would disclose his own guilty knowledge.” “Fell suspect who has done it?” “T think it very probable.” “Will he try to vamoose” “T scarcely believe he will. The fellow is shrewd and desperate. Everything is staked ars
Page 21
20 NICK CARTER WHEKLY. on his present plan. He will realize that to attempt to run would not serve him. How- ever, we'll not give him much time to change his plans.” “Vou have indisputable evidence that Mrs. Wayne and Captain Gray were buried in those graves?” “Certainly. Scores of Blankville people saw the bodies in the coffins and saw both coffins lowered into the graves and the graves filled up.” “Yet had we taken Mrs. Wayne’s coffin’ from the grave we should have found it empty,” said Chick, slowly. Patsy heard the words with surprise writ- ten all over his face, but Nick smiled a com- pliment at the shrewd Chick, and replied: “There is no doubt of that.” “Then what became of the bodies original- ly buried?” “They were cocettomnn™ a “And another body was substituted for Gray’s ?” os Si “By whom ?” “By the man who has since then a I for the genuine Miles Wayne.” “Now, what became of the bodies of George Gray and Mary Wayne after they were resurrected ?” “They were resuscitated—brought back to life, without a doubt, "ing reply. ' Neither was dead when they were put into those graves?” “T think there is not a particle of doubt about it.” “Some means was used to suspend life— * was Nick’s unhesitat- to throw them into a comatose condition re=_ sembling death, which lasted till si were ‘resurrected and resuscitated.” “Chick, you are fast getting ahead in our vart. «Possibly. But there may be a few things on which 7 am not so positive in my mind,” fe “Well, go ahoad. Maybe I can brush away the cobwebs.” “How did the real Miles Wayne’s body get substituted for George Gray’s?” —~ “By the same process which placed Gabese Gray there first. Only in Wayne’s case no disinterment took place, and he was left to — the horrible fate of returning to life in the grave and dying in reality down there under six feet of earth.” “And who, then, is the pretended Miles . Wayne whom we know?” “Whom do you think?” “Captain George Gray, who’ was resur- rected.”’ “There you and I agree. But to go still farther into the plot, who, then, must George Gray be?” “Why, Adrian Lascour.” “Go up head, my boy.” “Why was Mrs. Wayne made the first vic- tim of a burial alive?” ““That’s clear. She was used as a test. Some one wanted to be sure that the plan would work. She was first ‘treated.’ Her life was suspended, ‘her body buried, dug up at a specified time, antidotes applied and life restored,”’ “Then what became of her?” “That we have yet to find out,” “Who did this?” “George Gray and his mysterious female servant, Bulah.” “Why do you include her?” “T'll tell you, my boy. She was described as a Malaysian, of unusual stature for a wom- an. I believe Bulah was a man—a member of some of those East Indian clans who are. so skilled in toxicology—otherwise in poi- sons and sleeping potions, which place vic- tims in a state so closely resembling death that it fools even the medical men. Gray wanted to make use of this Bulah’s drugs, but demanded oe oe their este Before
Page 22
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. he surrendered to her devilish art. There- fore, he decided to try it on Mrs. Wayne. She was buried and resurrected.” - “But why should you believe this Bulah aided him?” “That’s as sure as a sum in addition. I have found out that a stone slab was placed in the grave. Jt would require the efforts of two men: of remarkable strength to lift the stone. That is why I am so sure Bulah was a man.” “And that explains why boards, instead of a stone slab, were laid over Gray’s coffin. Bulah had to dig him up unassisted.” “Correct.” “Then . Wayne was trapped, drugged, buried and left to his fate while Gray was metamorphosed into his double ak took his place.” “Which explains the great change in the man which his friends noticed after his wife’s death?” “And probably also why he has been lead- ing a hermit’s life out in the wilds of Long Island. Nick, there is a negro in charge of that house of his out there.” “Certainly. So you told me.” “Bulah ?” “T have no doubt of it.” “What else is there in that hermitage?” “We have that much to find out. It will be our next objective point.” : “When will we investigate?” “To-night.” : “Good. How about the ae and the old S Vault hs asks “That will do for to-morrow night’s job. Let us give Miles Wayne No. 2 a chance to show his hand.” “Say, Nick, a new thought has just en- tered my head.” ‘Well, produce ite?” “George Gray was oan Lascour.” ee. - ae ged. “He had a daughter who married pe: Burns.” “Correct.” “She is just gee as old as ald be Mrs, Burns’ missing child which disappeared at the time Lascour escaped.” “T believe you are right.” < “Then why couldn’t Mrs. Burns, the younger, be the stolen child of Mrs. oe the elder?” ‘ “She is. I am-sure of it as A am of my tax bill. If there were not all this change of ‘proof there would still be her resemblance to her mother.” “What?” : “I am not surprised that you so exclaim. How on earth the resemblance escaped the eyes of Mrs, Burns herself, or Dr. Burns, I have been perplexing my mind to explain.” “But good heavens, Nick?” “Well, what now?” “Why—why if she is the long-lost child, then—she has married her brother.” “That deduction is incontrovertible. It is part of the vengeance of the wickedest fiend out of hell,” was the calm reply of Nick Car- ter, as he proceeded to light a cigar. Lar CHAPTER IX. THE LONE HOUSE ON LONG ISLAND. Half an hour after Nick Carter spoke the words which are found in the last paragraph _ ‘of chapter eight, an old farmer and two younger men, presumably his sons, boarded a train at a neighboring station and were soon flying towatd New York. _ When Nick and his assistants reached home, several letters awaited the detective. ~ One bore the Blankville post-mark, and the date of the evening before. Nick opened it. An unfinished photograph—evidently the work of an amateur artist—dropped out. _. Before reading the letter, which was in- closed with the picture, save to notice that
Page 23
22 the signature was that of Dr. Burns, Nick took a look at the photo. Chick and Patsy were leaning over his shoulders. The three men looked upon a strange sight. The picture was a photograph of a little girl not much more than a baby. The little girl was lying on her back full length. Her eyes were open, but fixed. The lips were slightly apart, and a paleness as of death was on her face. ™ The first impression was-that the child was dead: Handing the picture to Chick, Nick read Burns’ letter aloud: “Dear Mr. Carter: I inclose herein a pic- ture which came this afternoon in the mail from New York. It was addressed to my mother; but, fortunately, it fell into my hands. and being suspicious, I opened it. You can see the fiend’s vengeance is being glutted. Our little one is dead, and he has sent mother the proof. I have suppressed all knowledge of the photograph till I. can hear from you. Come up on the first train after you get this. There is no one here to whom I can talk, not even Wayne. I am as nearly crazy as a man can be who has to wear a false countenance and mask his heart. “Burns.” Just as Nick turned to several of the other letters, a servant entered with a pelcerast _ At was also from Burns. Nick smiled as he,read it, and passed it to Chick. The telegram ran thus: “Blankville, June - —, 1894. “Nick Carter, New York City: The grave of Captain Gray was desecrated last night. What does it mean? Come at once. I have telegraphed to Wayne. Burns.” The detective went to his desk and wrote the following message in reply : ae “Dr. Vivian Burns, Blankville : Impossi- ble for me to leave New York to-day or to- morrow. Important business detains me. t » Wayne purchased: it cheaply. NICK CARTER WERKLY. But will be with you early day after to-mor- _row morning by first train. Try to keep news of your child’s fate from the ladies till I can see you; and keep mum. — - CARTER.” This he sent at once to the telegraph of- fice. Then turning to his aids, he said: “Now, boys, we’ll have some breakfast, and then for a good sleep to refresh us against the adventures which are before us on the next two nights.” “Hold on, Nick,” exclaimed Chick, as if he had just remembered something. “Well! What is it, my boy?” “We are to visit Wayne’s Long Island re- treat to-night, are we not?” VY esse “Then there is no sleep for me during the next few hours.” “Why?” “Because I must go and do what, in my stupidity, I forgot to do when I had the op- portunity.” “And what is that?” “Find out just where this hermitage of . Wayne’s is.” “Then vou gan go to your room at once and sleep the sleep of the just, for I need no directions to the place.” “You know where it is?” “As a bird knows its nest.” “How did you find out?” “By a photograph.” Chick showed his puzzled state of mind by his look. Sania “Do you remember, Chick,” said the de- tective, speaking slowly, “the house on Long Island where we arrested. those counter feit- ers four years ago?” “Why, certainly I do?” “Well, that is Wayne’s retreat. deserted after that arrest, and ig presume You have not forgotten that the house is situated in a sec- tion which is cursed with malaria, and for — It was
Page 24
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. that reason is uninhabited for some miles around.” | “I have not forgotten it; no.” “Well, that state of things has served Wayne just as it served those counterfeiters. He has used it to keep people away from his retreat.” “But you have not yet told me how you found out it was that house in which Wayne spends so much time.” “Oh; yes I did, my boy.” “You spoke about a photograph.” “Well, during our official visit to the house four years ago, my attention was attracted by one of the most oddly constructed mantels I ever saw.” “T remember it now. It was in the dining room. The mantel was hand carved and con- tained the heads of a bear, a lion, a horse and several other animals.” “Ves; including the face of a woman. It was the rough work of some amateur wood- carving genius who had plenty of time, lots of patience and some sharp tools.” “Well?” “Now, Ill show you the photograph of that mantel.” So saying Nick took from his pocket the photograph of the dead child which he had just received from Burns, and held it before Chick’s face. His assistant looked, and after one sharp, piercing glance, muttered: “Well, Vl’ be hanged!” For he saw what had escaped his observa- tion in the first inspection when his eyes had been centered upon the chifd in the picture. In the half blurred imperfect background he saw the indistinct outlines of a mantel, and on the mantel were the carved heads, sure enough. To make these tell-tale objects stand out ‘more clearly Nick brought a microscope to bear upon them. Then there was no possible doubt about Nick’s original discovery. - \ by an amateur artist,” “This picture was taken by a flash light said Nick, “and that oddly constructed motel was caught i atts the background.” : “I say, Nick.” “What now, ‘ad? ie : “Wayne means to accomplish his entire revenge, whatever it may be, within a_ very. short time or he wouldn’t have been so care- less about sending a photograph of a room in his house to his victims.” Be “You are right, Chick, and thatis why we must work fast.” } “Wayne will not be at the retreat to- night.” ce f “Certainly not. He will go to Blankville after receiving Burns’ message about the grave robbery.” “Then we'll have no one to deal with aaa Bulah.” “Probably. But he may be enough. Bulah is no ordinary person.” a * * * * Nick and his two assistants left New York for their Long Island destination early that night. They traveled in a closed carriage with a trusted driver on the box—a man who knew every road, highway and byway with- in forty miles-of New York. No other than the faithful Patsy. It was about one o'clock when the detec- tives got out of the carriage and stretched their cramped limbs. e: Leaving the team by the roadside, Nick led ‘ the way through a small collection of trees which covered about three acres of ground. On the opposite edge of these woods he stopped and pointed to a low, oblong struc- ture standing on the edge of another group of trees across an open space of ground, probably three hundred yards wide. “That’s the house,” whispered Nick. “Yep. I recognize te old faakenys Lem ase pice Chick. Be rae
Page 25
24 Nick struck boldly out across the open space with Chick and Patsy at his side. Their eyes never once left the mune in front of them, Without noise and without apparently be- ing observed, they reached the old house, A quiet examination of the doors and win- dows; on that side of the house, showed that the place seemed to be securely locked up, and whatever inmates there might be were asleep. But Nick Carter never did anything’ half- way. So they continued around to the rear, still At last, to his evident surprise, the latch of a side door yielded to his touch. He pushed the door open and peered into total darkness. trying doors and windows. In a moment his dark lan- tern was in use, and with it he discovered that the door led‘ into a summer kitchen. In a whisper he said to Chick: “As soon as we are inside I will drop be- hind.. You and Patsy will take the lantern Tl not be far off in case you need help at any point and proceed on your investigation. in your work.” The three men silently entered. A: close inspection disclosed the fact that the room had not lately been uséd. A door leading to an inner room stood open. Chick and Patsy entered this room also, but Nick was not with them. es The second rootn also had a barren, un- used aspect. Without exchanging a word, and without making enough noise to waken’a sleeping mouse, the young detectives passed on into a third apartment of larger size. Here, too, an air of desertion met their in- spection under the rays of the dark lantern. Could it be that’ their bird had flown? Thus they passed entirely through the lower part of the house, and no sigh of hu- _ man habitation was seen anywhere. _ NICK CARTER WEEKLY. In passing through the largest or main room, Chick had noticed an open door into a narrow passage where some stairs led to the second story. : Silently signaling to Patsy he returned to this room and approached the stairway. Flashing his lantern’s light upward he no- ticed that the stairs filled the narrow passage way and ended at a door on the next floor. This door was closed. After a very slight in- spection he began to ascend, Patsy following at his heels. Reaching the top he tried the door. It was securely fastened. Before he had time to decide on his next move, the door at the bottom of the stairs closed with a slam. Instantly there followed the sound of shoot- ing bolts and falling iron bars. The truth flashed upon both men at the same time. They had walked blindly into a trap. No word passed between the two men be- fore Chick hurled his powerful frame against the door in front of which he stood. It made no impression. Patsy joined him in the assault. Then for the first time they realized the truth. The door was a blind. a hey were butting against solid masonry. The walls on each side of the stairs were sounded. They, too, were solid. “Let us try the door down there,” were Chick’s first words. “That at least has’ hinges, and is not built into the masonry.” But their combined strength could not so much as make an impression on it. Suddenly Chick caught Patsy sharply by the arm and began to sniff. “What’s that, lad?” “Smoke,” “You're webs, my ‘boy; the house is on fire, and we are here like tats in a burning I wonder where Nick can be?” * was Bae s laconic reply. ship at sea.
Page 26
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ' “We certainly deserve all we will get,” growled Patsy. “Right again. Nick said that Bulah was a devil, but I, nevertheless, was taken off my guard, and unless Nick gets us out of this we have less than ten minutes to live. And I fear the black fiend has temporarily over- come Nick.” CHAPTER X. THE END OF BULAH. Chick had scarcely uttered the words which close the last chapter, when there, was a rattling and a clatter of irons on the out- side, and the door flew backward. The immediate result was not a relief for tle imprisoned men. ‘The smoke and heat which rushed in upon them added to their already great distress, and almost overpow- ered both. Chick, however, was. quick to take in the situation, and he ran out into—what? ‘The smoke was so dense that no one could have seen half a foot before his face had it been daylight. Just as the young detective’s senses were about to leave him there came a rush of cool air from directly in front of him, which swept the smoke temporarily away, and through the reviving passage thus made, he, with a final effort, staggered forward. It was a door opened to the outside of the house which had sent in the rush of air. Through this door Chick tottered and fell weak and gasping just on the outside. Some one tried to rouse him. : “Ts it you, Nick?” “Yes, Chick. How is it with you?” -“T’m all right, but Patsy. Where is he?” Without a word of reply, Nick rushed through the door and disappeared in the ‘belching ¢loud of smoke. When he came into the open air he dragged the w unconscious form oF Patsy after him. i. “SELe4s merely overcome with is ack Chick, and will come out all right. Let's leave him here. I want you to help me in there. That black fiend has something up stairs which he was going to get when I knocked him down. This way. F ollow me.”. Leaving Patsy on the ground at a safe dis- tance from the burning house, Nick led Chick around the house to a veranda. “Look out!” cautioned Nick. But. too late, for Chick stumbled over ee “What is it?” “The carcass of that fiend, Bulah. That's where I dropped him. Just watch lest he comes around and escapes. I’m going to see what he was going after up here.” So saying, Nick grabbed Chick’s lantern and disappeared up a ladder which stood against the side of the house and ended at an open window. When he returned to Chick’s side he bore something in his arms. “The child?” exclaimed Chick. “You bet!” “Tt’s alive and asleep?” “Soundly!” muttered Nick. “Under the influence of some drug. Well, probably it is just as well till we get her back to New York.” “Tet’s put the bracelets on this fellow,” suggested Chick, giving the form of Bulah’ a kick. “He'll be coming to soon, and might give us trouble.” Nick lowered his lantern till its lights il- luminated the swarthy face. Then he placed a hand on the back of the prostrate man’s head. “T guess handcuffs are not necessary in this case, Chick,” he said, as he arose and wiped his hand on the side of the house. -“Not dead?” oF ‘Dead as a door nail. I split his skull &
Page 27
26 from top to base. Well, I didn’t spare the force of the blow and I guess I have not done much harm to society.” “You have done the best for him and man- kind that was possible, Nick. Suppose we go and see how Patsy is getting on.” They found Patsy sitting up, rubbing his eyes and trying to get the smoke out of his lungs. : By this time the old house was well wrapped in flames. Suddenly an unearthly scream filled the air, followed by the laugh of what certainly must be a maniac. “Took!- look!” shouted Chick, pointing upward, They did look! ‘There at a tion fitted up with bars, stood a woman. Her hair was streaming aver her shoulders in disheveled Her eyes were full of the fury of the insane. The features were clearly defined in the light which now lit up all the surround- ings; the light from the flames of the doomed building. masses. It. was just for an instant. Then, before either of the three men could move, there was a crash, a roar of flames, and millions of sparks in a huge volume of smoke shot up to the sky. The entire building had fallen in, and the maniac went down with it to an’awful death. Ten minutes later Nick and his assistants were once more in their carriage on. their way back to New York. The beautiful mone ing child lay in Nick’s arms. - Chick was the first to speak. “Nick, the woman who perished back there was Mrs. Wayne?” “No need to ask that question, Chick. It “was Mrs. Wayne.” “What torture those fiends put her and her husband to.” Nick's only reply was to compress his lips and gaze down upon the indistinct form -of iS the tit BES ‘one sleeping on his breast. Blankville. NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Nick explained to Chick how it happened that he let the two young men remain locked — up in the false stairway so long. “It was a lucky thing that I remained be- hind, my boy, and a very foolish trick for you and Patsy both to go up those stairs to- gether.” “T know it, Nick. You can’t hit me too hard for my stupidity.” “Well, you’re not often so thoughtless,” “Where was Bulah when we entered the house ?” ; ' somewhere in the second room. He must have believed you two con- stituted the whole party. At least I had no trouble following him and seeing him shut “Concealed you in that stairway. “T watched him set fire to combustibles placed near the stairway designedly, and was prepared to jump on him as he passed me going out. “But he surprised me momentarily by opening a door leading directly from that room.to the outside and making his exit that way. “T beat a hasty retreat by the way we en- tered and surprised him just as he set foot on the ladder. “Tle was scarcely disposed of when I real- ized your danger and went to your rescue. “IT was nearly overcome with smoke by ‘the time I got the stair door open, and had » I not used the side door to make my exit . we all should have been suffocated.” CHAPTER XI. A TRAIL BENEATH THE EARTH’S SURFACE. On the- following night a sterm broke over But notwithstanding the war- ring of the elements, two men sneaked into the cemetery. Aided by the frequent flashes of lightning they picked their way between trees and grave-stones slowly t but surely. ones nated
Page 28
NICK CARTER WEEKLY. the scéne of the grave robbery of two nights before, but-scarcely halted at the Gray lot, passing on as rapidly as possible. Presently they crouched down behind the clump of bushes whence Nick and Chick had watched “the ghost” enter the old de- serted vault on a previous occasion. As they lay there in the shrubbery, wholly regardless of the shri¢king wind, pouring rain, sharp, frequent flashes of lightning and crashing thunder, their eyes were fixed in the direction of the gates of the vault. “If the ghost doesn’t walk in this storm,” whispered one of the watchers in the ear of the other, for restless souls.” “then storms have no fascination He was right. They had not been in their place of concealment half an hour, and the storm was at its height when a sharper, more lasting fash of lightning than usual lit up the vicinity. By this light they saw the white-draped ghostly figure standing before the gate of the vault. Then came a half minute of dark- ness. When the next flash dispelled the dark- ness the white-robed specter was inside the iron gates in front of the solid iron door which shut off the vault chambers from the outside world. Another period of inky darkness came, and then by the next flash the two watchers saw —nothing. : The specter had disappeared. Neither moved for five minutes, nor was a word exchanged between them. ' At the end of that time, he who had pre- dicted the ghost’s visit arose, whispered: “Come,” the gate of the vault. Of course the reader has guessed that the two men were Nick Carter and Chick. They were trailing the ghost on its myster- ious business into the old unused burial vault. ¢ Chick. and started to feel his way toward. 27 They reached the iron gates just as anoth- er flash of lightning showed them their loca- tion. =: Nick’s hand ‘reached out and with. some misgivings he pulled at one of the gates. It moved outwardly without resistance. To his further . satisfaction the iron doors pec! to his hands. Carefully he swung one of them peters, S. and nothing but’ stygian darkness was before them: They could not see three inches be- fore their faces. ‘ _Giving Chick’s shoulder a decided pres- sure with one hand to warn the latter to be ready, Nick sprung the slide of his dark lan- tern, and that instant its brilliant light lit up tlie entire interior of this “house of the dead.” Nothing living save themselves was there. What then had become of the ghost? There, on the floor of the vault, lay its garb—a long white sheet. But the ghost it- self was gone. Five coffins rested in as many niches cut into the rear wall of the vault. Both men at the same time saw that one of the five coffins had been turned at a right angle with its original position, thus leaving more than half of the niche unoccupied. Nick advanced and fearlessly shot the light “of his lantern upon this earthen shelf. “As I supposed,” he said, turning to “There is an opening beyond the coffin. The ghost has gone in there, and I’m going to follow him.” . “It's a dangerous undertaking, Nick,” warned Chick, “Well, danger is part of our trade,” was the quiet response. “Shall I follow vou or wait here?” “Neither. Go out and make your way with all haste to the outside of Burns’ house, where Patsy is waiting with the child. Be | there on guard _ ready at: any te ee which may arise.’ ; =!
Page 29
28 As soon as he was gone Nick swung his lantern around and saw what he evidently was looking for. Up near the ceiling of the vault above the iron door, beyond the sight of any one who might be outside, was a small opening, evi- dently not made by the builders of the vault. “That hole gives air to this underground room,” communed Nick. Then he closed the slide of his lantern, stowed it away in one of his large pockets, and blindly entered the niche beside the dis- placed coffin. ; It was like crawling into a jug. He felt his way into,the hole which began at the rear of the niche and crawled forward, for he found that the underground passage was very little larger than was necessary to allow a large sized man to squeeze his way through. For fifteen minutes he advanced as fast’ as possible under the circumstances. Suddenly the hole ended in some large dark apartment, in which he was able to stand erect. Again he brought forth his lantern and lit up the place. “As I thought. Burns’ house,” This is the cellar of Dr. silently commented Nick, looking around. “Ah! there is the stone of the wall which filled up the opening into the passage-way so carefully. It falls inward, and the end of the hole is enlarged to aécom- modate it. The fellow must lave been some- what of a mechanic to construct such a neat job. Now, how does he get from this cellar to the upper_part of the house?» Oh! ho! There it is. He has left everything open be- hind him to expedite a hurried retreat, may- be. Or is this the last move in his game, and he has, therefore, left caution behind?” As he repeated these words to himself the detective was looking at an opening in the floor above: i: b NICK CARTER WEEKLY. A board’ which was’ tongued © _ and grooved had been so arranged that it * could be slid back under the double bos of the next room like a sliding trap. When closed no one would ever suspect the secret of that board, and would never discover it except by the merest accident. An empty barrel stood directly beneath the’ : opening—placed there to assist the night visitor to crawl through to the floor above. Nick was not slow in using the same. means to elevate himself, and he found him- self in the kitchen of the house. The door leading to the interior of the house stood open, marking the direction taken by the man whose queer trail he was following. Once more the lantern was darkened and put away. Then Nick began to feel his way through the house. Not until nearly twenty minutes had elapsed after he emerged in the cellar did he find himself at the head of the,stairs on the second floor. Then a surprise greeted him. The door of the elder Mrs. Burns’ room stood open. Light came from within, and the hum of voices was plainly heard. To. Nick’s ready wit the truth of the sit- The fam- ily had been kept awake by the storm which was just dying out, and fad assembied in Mrs. Burns’ room to keep each other com- pany, tes But where was the man whom he had trailed beneath the earth? Had he passed the miscreant somewhere between the cellar and the head of the stairs? uation was instantly made clear. As Nick lay crouched with his head on a level with the top step, and was meditating - on whether he should retreat or advance, he ’ suddenly saw the form of a man arise from a hiding place behind a large chest which sat in the hall, and walk fe toward the open door. . * It was he who called himself Miles Wayne. ais ‘soon as he came within the light of the
Page 30
NICK CARTER WHEKLY. doorway, Nick noticed that Wayne’s ap- pearance bore no trace of his passage through the underground tunnel, and the detective argued that the man had probably worn an over suit as he erawled through. What passed immediately in the room be- fore him demanded all of Nick’s attention. Wayne’s sudden and unexpected appearance in the doorway was greeted with a faint scream. ‘Then a man’s voice demanded: “What does this mean? Mr. where did you come from?” Wayne, “T came from Australia originally,” was the bold reply. my vengeance-is,at hand.” “Oh God! It is Adrian Lascour !” moaned a woman's voice. “Ay, Lucille Clyde, the mah you deserted ~—whose love you refused—to marty his rival, stands before you to complete the ven- geance he has worked for during eighteen years,” “You fiend!” roared Burns. Wayne’s hand flew up and a pistol con- fronted the young doctor. Your time will come soon enough. I intend to kill you, son of Jerome Burns, but those two women must live. To live will be worse than death to them: Do Because they will know “Don’t move. you know why? that the younger is the daughter of the other; | that she has been for three years the wife of her brother; that she has born her brother a daughter whom she will never again see, but ~ who will be brought up in all the depravity which an hig = at child can be taught. I will There was a sudden interruption to his threats. Burns, seeing his wife fall back senseless under the horrible accusation of the man before them, and quick to realize the awful horror of the sudden disclosure, sprang at Wayne in utter defiance of the well aimed pistol. “Tt means that the hour of ° 29 There was a eatecting report and a ee fell prostrate Sees. the floor. CHAPTER XIL. END OF A VENGEFUL LIFE, It was not Burns who fell, but the man called Wayne. The latter had not seen. ae denon: steal- ing up from behind. so intent was he on the enjoyment of his vengeance, and so secure did he feel. from interruption or interference from without, — ap Nick’s ready, powerful fist was not an in- stant too soon.in its work. It struck Wayne on the jugular just as the villain’s finger pressed the trigger of the pistol. It was soon enough to divert the aim sev- eral inches, and to save Dr. Burns’ life. Before Burns could realize what had hap- pened, Nick Carter was astride the fallen ex- convict fastening handcuffs to the fellow’s wrists... : “Who are you?” gasped Burns, stepping back a few feet and gazing at Nick in amaze- ment. : “Tam Nick Carter.” “Thank God! Why did you not come soon enough to stop that man’s hellish tongue!” groaned Burns. “He may have been lying,” said Nick, . merely for the purpose of relieving Burns’ mind temporarily, not that he doubted Wayne’s statement about Burns and his wife being brother and sister. Wayne recovered consciotisness in time to hear Nick’s words. Rolling over on his back he almost shrieked: ; ; But you are not in time. “Tt is the truth, and you know it, Nick Carter. That young woman over there is Lucille Burns’ daughter, whom my faithful Bulah stole from her eighteen years ago.” Mrs. Burns, the elder, sprang from her — chair at this moment, a strange light shining : from her face. Striding forward till she stood re
Page 31
30 ®over the prostrate villain, she gave him a look of triumph which neither he nor Nick could understand until she spoke. “T could almost ask Heaven to forgive you, Adrian Lascour, for returning my daughter to me the pure and noble girl she is.” “Pure and noble!’ sneered Lascour. “Pure and noble! the wife of her brother ; the “God May He forgive me for reviling mother of his incestuous child, the “No!” fairly shrieked Mrs. Burns. is good! His name when He took-away my boy’in his early babyhood. I now see the hand of His mercy in it. He thwarted your wickedness before it was conceived, glory be to His name.” a “What mummery is this?” frothed Wayne, as something of the meaning of her words and a conviction of their truth forced itself on his mind. “Tt is no mummery. My boy died when he was a year old. The man who stands there is‘ the son of my adoption only—not of my flesh or blood. I meant that he should’ never know. But now that I have my daugh- tet again, and he is my son-in-law as well as by adoption I can defy you, you imp of Satan !” The long suffering woman could not re- She flew to the side of her insensible daughter, and gathering, her press her happiness. up tenderly in her arms, pressed her to her bosom, and rained tears and kisses upon her Aace. Lascour uttered a bitter oath and raised to a sitting posture. “At least my Bulah has your little whelp in his possession. Through it he will tor- . ture you long after I am rotting in my y ” grave. “Hug no such delusion to your breast, — “Your Lascour,” now interrupted Nick. faithful Bitlah is dead, and little Dorotha NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Burns is safe and well not five hundred yes from this house.” At that moment a violent ringing was heard at the door-bell. “Go down and admit the late caller,” said Nick, addressing the half stupefied Burns. “It is my assistant.” ; Burns hastened to obey. Ina few minutes he came rushing back. Little Dotty was in his arms, strained to his breast, while Chick, Patsy, Lizzie and Dan crowded in on. his heels, closely followed by the two terrified house servants in their night clothes. . Burns was speechless with joy. He rushed to the side of his wife, who had just returned to consciousness in her mother’s arms, and held up the little one before her astonished eyes, Dotty reached out her chubby arms and cried: “Mamma! G’an’ma!” The next moment her little body was half crushed in the embrace of the mother, while the grandmother was. hastily removing the horror of Lascour’s words by revealing the truth about Vivian’s birth. An awful sound, a cross between a roar and a shriek, called ev erybady: s ptterion to “Lascour. "He had risen to his feet and was pldwitis at the happy family group before him. A realization came upon him that all he had spent his life time to attain had failed. The effect was more than he could bear. Suddenly his manacled hands flew toward his head. He tottered and fell es to the floor. Ten minutes later he. was dead, “Burst a blood vessel in, his brain,” was | Nick’s sententious explanation, as he threw a rug over the blackened, distorts face of the corpse. | : Thus ended a life which. Sse nearly aquar- ter of a century had been devoted toa wou of vengeance.
Page 32
NICK CARTER WHEKLY, ore B31 It was Jerome Burns whose testimony had convicted him—who afterward married the girl for the love of whom he committed the. crime which sent him to servitude. His es- cap and terrible vengeance on his successful After that he lived only for revenge on the woman he had lost. rival is known. Bulah, the East Indian, was a fellow-con- vict. They’ escaped together, and in their flight Lascour risked his own life to save his companion’s by killing a pursuing guard. Thence forward Bulah consecrated his life to Lascours Under the directions of the latter the Hindoo stole Mrs. Burns’ child, on the same day that the father was assassinated after being unmercifully tortured. The two convicts, with the child, escaped by means of an outlawed sailing vessel. Las- cour joined in the smuggling business and soon amassed a fortune. Meanwhile, the little girl was sent to a con- vent school. Then he took up his work of vengeance. He followed Mrs. Burns and her supposed With his white hair and beard he felt sure he would not be detected. With a cunning wickedness he brought Vivian and Mildred, his supposed daughter, son to Blankville. together, Everything went as he would have it. They fell in love. He saw them fieretec Meanwhile, he had dealings with one man in New York—Miles Wayne, the broker, who invested his money for him. Unfortu- nately he met Miles Wayne’s wife and fell . in love with her. The Waynes were invited to visit him. He made it so profitable to Wayne that the latter went often to Blank- ville. é x He knew Bulah had ‘the secret of a drug which would produce a suspension of human life or a state so near to death that it could not be detected from the real. The Hindoo also claimed that he had the antidote which ; ‘ is r : i BAY 5 , \ Os tah } By ’ Fiat baa eae fa wt 7 re ve rr, Lee ol) re would restore the victim to life any time within sixty hours after the drug was taken. At the end of sixty hours the drug would lose its effect and the victim would revive without the drug. Mrs. Wayne was the first victim. Lascour had two reasons for giving her the drug, first to get her into his power; secondly, to test the drug and antidote oe he ‘tried it on himself. The Hindoo's art worked to partes They successfully revived the poor woman and kept her undeér the influence of narcotics in the old vault for some days. Then came Lascour’s turn. After Bulah resurrected him he used the means already prepared to transform himself into Wayne’s double. Wayne was decoyed to the house on pre- tenses that the daughter, Mildred, wanted to consult him on business. He never left it alive. The drug was administered the third time. The Wayne who left the house and walked back to Blankville was the false one whom we have known. The real Wayne’s body was dragged that night through the underground passage to the grave-yard, placed in George Gray’s empty coffin and was buried alive. Mrs. Wayne was spirited away to the Long Island lonesome retreat, where her mind finally gave way. under the inhuman treat- ment she received at the hands of Lascour and Bulah. : | Before his supposed death, the pretended George Gray planned and constructed the communication between his cellar and the old vault in the grave-yard. He did the work himself, spending sey- eral hours during the latter part of every night while Bulah kept watch. Thus the work ‘ran through more than a year. : : nee, The patience of the man and his eee 1 3
Page 33
32 the work of vengeance convinced Nick that Lascour was. a madman before he followed ‘the Burnses to Blankville. “Mad as a Match hare, Chick!’ declared Nick, when they had got back to. New York, and were talking it over. “IT guess you are tight, Nick,” assented Chick. ‘But of all the madmen with whom NICK CARTER WEEKLY. } we’ve had to deal, that Lascour had the most method to his insanity.” THE END, The next number of the Nick CARTER WEEKLY will contain ‘‘Nick Carter at the Races; or, Two Kinds of a Lead ‘Pipe Cinch.”’ Nick Carter Weekly THE BEST LIBRARY OF DETECTIVE STORIES. : LATEST ISSUES: 188—Nick Carter at the Races; or, Two Kinds of Lead Pipe Cinch. 187—The Best Detective in the Country; or, A Prompt Reply to a. Telegram. 186—Nick Carter Rescues a Daughter; or, The Junior Partner’s Strange Behavior. 1g85—Nick Carter Saves a Reputation; or, A Button Worth a Fortune. 184—Shielding a Murderer; or, Nick Carter’ s Dealings with an Avenger 183—Saved from the e Panitetitiary: or, Three Cheers for Nick Carter. 182—The Blood-Stained Check; or, Nick Carter in the Dissecting-Room, 181—In the Clutch of the Law; or, Nick Carter’s Chain of Evidence. as eee 4 Government Custom’s Swindle; Nick arter’s Work for the U. S. ‘Treasury. 179—Nick Carter's Beautiful Decoy; or, The Diamond Duke of Chicago, 178—Nick Carter ereate The Body Found in the Flat. 177—Nick Carter’s Dumb Assistant; or, The Man with : a Dead Brain 116—Nick Carter Behind the Counter; or, A Peck of Pawn Tickets, 17 ee Carter’ s Pointer; or, A Hungry Dog’s Din- or, a Client; or, 14—By Whose Hand; or, Nick Carter Advertises for a Cab-Driver. Rie Caugnt in Six Hours; o» Yrouble in Room No. 4 i or, Nick Carter’s Leap in the Dark. 172—Burglar Joe; The-Man with 17iI—Nick Carter's Little Shadow; or, the Yellow Dog. 170—Caught_ by Wiectricity; or, Nick Carter Bags an Old Offender. qd 169—Unmasked by Nick Carter; or; An Attempt at ; Blackmail, 168—Nick Carter's Second Sight; or, A Dumfounded Prisoner. A6?7—Nick Carter Makes a Loan That Brings Him Big Returns. ' 166—Nick Carter Prevents a Disturbance, and Loses a Disguise. 165—Nick Carter in a Hole; or, A Plan to Catch Him That Didn't. Work. 164—Nick Carter Off the Track, but Has ‘Another String to His Bow. 163—Nick Carter Jumps a ‘Chances, 162—Nick Carter Saves a Life, Gratitude. 161—Nick Carter. Corners a Bank President; Balance That Was Crooked, 160—Nick Carter’s Steamer Trunk; Mid-Ocean. Train, and Takes Big and Earns a Woman's or, A or, A Crime in Back numbers always on hand. cents a copy, will bring them to you by mail, postpaid. 159—Nick Carter’s New Uniform; or, A Bribe That Was Expected. 158—Nick Carter and the Sawdust Sg or, An In- vestment That Caused Troubl vs 157—Nick Carter as an Expert; or, A Battery That Was Tampered With. 156—Nick Carter's Silent Search; or, A Drive at a 155—Nick “Carter's Gu —Nic arter’s Curious Client; A Crimi with More Gall than Sense. Re a Carter Settles a Conspiracy; or, A Telegram hat Wasn't Signed. 158—Nick Carter's Midnight Caller; or, A Case Con- cluded Before Daylight. 162—Nick Carter’s Fake Murder Case; or, The Plan to Wipe Out the Agency. 151—Nick Carter Stands a Biett, and, Wins a Game Which Ends in Limbo. 150—Nick Carter’s wal A Bargain; or, Outwitted by Duplicate Method 149—Nick ‘Chnree Ptenanges Prisoners; or, A Like- néss Easily Explained. 148—Nick Carter’s Snap Shot; or, A Photograph That Gave Evidence. 147—Nick Carter’s Turn at the Wheel; or, Red and Black Both the Same. 146—Nick Carter's Race for Life; or, An Accident in the Nick of Time. 145—Nick Carter’s Midnight Arrest: . or, An Interrup- tion of a Poker Game. 144—Nick Carter Claims a Fortune, and Turns It Over to the Right Owners. 148—Nick Carter's Handsome Prisoner; or, How Her Smile Failed to Pascinate Him. ee Be ae a Wizard and Shows Him a Tric aalg os Carter on the Limited; is The Man on he Smoker Who Didn’t Smok 140—Nick Carter’s Greatest Comipinnent or, 139—Struck Down; or, How the Superintendent Lent . a Hand. 138—Nick ey atey s Mouse Trap; or, The Wnd of Doc Helston ro ge Ferret! s Trump Card; or, What Was Found a/Century Run 136—Short Work with ‘Train Robbers; or, ‘The Mask That. Was Marked with Bl 135—The riya Abduction Case; or, A Baby’s Cry for _ Freedo 134—Th ie Malays, Charge; or, ‘Roxy’s Life Saved by 193—Afraid of Nick Carter; or, The Man Who Wasn’t Born Yesterday. 132—The Face-in the ores or, Detective Buff and One of the Finest 131—At Kessler Switch; or, Nick Carter's ‘Train Rob- bery Case. Tf you Pecatot get our publications from ions ‘aowideslon: five STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 238 William St., New York. 3 "ire Y pon Bt ae
Page 34
M a ] aria Do you know what it is to have the ‘genuine, old- fashioned “ague”? Not very pleasant to be obliged to look forward to a terrible chill, a raging fever, and profuse sweating every other day, is it? When malaria shows itself in chills and fever, intermittent fever, or ague, That’s Severe Malarial Poisoning ” Or perhaps you have the “dumb ague.” Your muscles are sore, your nerves are on a tension, and your bones ache as if they would break. You have your well day and your bad day, you suffer from periodical headaches, neuralgia, indigestion, extreme debility, and you are generally uncomfortable every minute of your life. That’s Ordinary | Malarial Poisoning You know, malaria is caused by the malarial germ. With proper medicine you can do two things: Keep. these germs out or quickly kill them after they enter. To keep them out, take one or two doses daily of the. only positive and never-failing preventive of malaria— That’s Ayer’s Malaria and Ague Cure If you already have malaria, either the severe or ordi- nary kind, you may rest assured that Ayers Malaria and Ague Cure will give you prompt relief within a few hours. 50 cents a bottle. All druggists.