Nick Carter Weekly (no. 266) (1902 02 01)

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ICKEGAIRIIER WEE Kilby Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year. Entered as Second Class Matter at New York Post Office by STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N. Y. No, 266. Zl Price, Five Cents. SEXING THAT IT WAS IMPOSSISLE TO AVOID A COLLISION, NIOK HALF ROSE, PREPARED TO JUMP, CRACK! WENT THE CRIMINAL’S REVOLVER.— (CHAPTER CCIV,) e

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, Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.50 per year. No. 266. NINGKQGAIRTER WEEKLY Entered as Second Class Matter at the N. Y. Post Office, by STREET & SMITH, 238 Wilham St., Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1902, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, W Pen D.C. NEW YORK, February 1, N.Y. 1902. Price Five Cents. NICK CARTER'S ADVENTURES. ‘ CHAPTER 172. RAISING PHE WIND. Miss Ida Jones, Nick Carter’s famous lady assist- © ant, was writing at a plain table in a cheaply-furnished -_ reom of a boarding-house on Dover street, Boston. =. ; She had been living there. for several days, and at __. this-moment was busy with her daily report to Nick. t. _ Her letter to him was nearly finished when there ~ was a knock at the door. ay It was opened before she had time to speak, and ae ___ girl of singular beauty appeared upon the threshold. , “Belle, I want to ask you something,” said the new- comer, abruptly. As Miss Jones was in the Dover street boarding- house for professional reasons, it is hardly necessary to say that she was not known there by her true name. ; ~ Belle Adams was the name she had given to the “ Jandiady, and the name on the envelopes of letters a oe from time to time. _.Ida. see, I was just going to ask my uncle By the author of “NICHOLAS CARTER.” The girl entered, closed the door, and stood there a moment, hesitating. She was rather above medium height, dark, and had brilliant black eyes. Ida waited for her to speak. “This is it, Belle,” she said at last, crossing the room rapidly and dropping into a-chair in front of “I've got to raise the wind. I’ve just got to!” * “Dear me!” exclaimed Ida, “so have I.” “What! you don’t mean to say that you're broke, too?” “That’s the limit,” she said. Laura looked disappointed. “Two of a kind,” she remarked. you had a lot of cash, for I was going to be bold enough to ask you to lend me some. We're down to rock bottom, pa and I.” “I’m awfully sorry,” Ida responded. you ont gladly, if I had anything.” “T thought you would.” “And I’m not sure but what I can, anyway. You ° ” “I was hoping “Td help 6 ~4 a) ee 3 2 » ra ee Gelade ee a,

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, “You were?” inbertapted agra, excitedly. “L ‘didn't know you would do that, or I would have sug- gested it myself. Some people, you know, object to asking their uncle for an advance.” is “Why should they?” asked Ida, pretending sur- ‘prise, and she added : “But I supepee it isn’t every- body whio has an uncle.” “Nonsense!” cried Laura, sale: now. 2 ieby: - body has an uncle when it’s a question of raising the _ wind—that is, if he or she has anything to hock.” ie a looked as if she were beginning to understand. “You see,” Laura went on, “I couldn't help think- ing of your watch. You've got an elégant ticker, a! oie x and it would be good'for quite a raise, and if you're _ going: ‘to soak it anyway, you might let me have the use of ‘the moiiey for a day or two. I sholget be e long in giving itbaek.” = > Es “T've no doubt about at: ud responded Ida, “but I ~ hadn’ t thought of putting my watch in eee, aid was --areally and truly uncle I legion’ caller a> ge “I was-just writing to him on this very matter. ae ie and she handed her anfinished report to Nick - to the girl. “Do you want me to read it?” sakes Laura, i “Certainly. Why shouldn't you? I've been tell- of ing a about you and we te aa to know what I a t pe 4 can ~~ 3 its anything ‘hay ru eo your eyes out,” wha No jokingly, sn pad the Wier ‘ fies. 5 ‘iat 1M hs , ge de: te ait it oe younger. Her is Laura and I like her very d deal, but T am afraid I to be: i ay NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Why shouldn't I?” returned Ida. “Now, uncle never refuses me money, and when his check comes I'll gladly divide with you.” “That's awfully good of you, Belle, but I can’t wait.” . “It will be only two or three days.” ¢ “Two or three days! Bless your heart! I’ve sot to have some money to-night.” _ “So soon?” “Yes, The landlady won't wait. She'll turn us_ odt to-night if I don’t pay up for the two weeks we're owing,” . Ps rs “Horrible!” “I should say so! You ean see what that means for pa. I’ ve got to raise the wind somehow. How about your watch now, Belle? Pa oe “Well,” said Ida, doubtfully, “it’s a keepsake, you. ‘know. I should hate dreadfully to lose it.” “But there won't be any danger. I shall have plenty of money before the end of the week. The young man I’m engaged to will send me some. T've. S told you about him, you know.” ; “Yes,” said Tda, and added to herself: “But not - half as ‘much as ! wish you would.” “He’s the smartest fellow in the State,” went on | Laura, “but he's had a little hard luck recently. } He'll get out of it ‘soon, aad then we'll have money ~ to burn.” he Ida pretended to ‘hesitate. Her mind was ‘made ae “ups but she did not think it would be good policy to 9% e.. t the girl know at once. - The reason for Ida's hesitation ‘aad her action gen- ¥ catty may be understood by another glance at the en Jetter.. she had written to her “dear uncle. em Tt was in cipher, and no one, except ‘the Carter de= -tectives, could have told what it reaily meant ; Nick would have read it about this way: : Kes oh a ae ort of mo: Soy toes sconce

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her a ae = _ dence.” Then, perhaps, she'll take me into her confi- It is clear from the translation of this cipher letter that Ida was in the Dover street boarding-house for ON the purpose of watching the beautiful Laura Dash. - The circumstances that led to setting a watch upon Miss Dash may be stated briefly. Patsy had captured a desperate murderer named a Stetson. The murderer had escaped from a deputy sheriff who was taking him to jail. He was aided in his escape by a Salem dentist named Mason. In the course of an attempt to trace’ Stetson’s “movements, Patsy had been captured and nearly _ killed by Mason and other criminals in the gang, but Chick, who had taken a hand in the case succeeded in hes: turing all, of the crowd, except Stetson himself, who | was still at large. Then Nick, seeing ‘that Stetson was a eisai of unusual cleverness and daring, decided to put all four ; patie detectives, himself included, into the work of ining him down. e dentist, Mason, hat state a partial confession, ai Dash, for, from what had happened previously, eke about the country north of Bos- in Salem, one around Stetson’ s former Newburyport, : and another following up that pointed toward Concord. — “Well,” a pd arcing “Tl do it, Show me "il ge me hati. at st replied Latira. soon as she had left the room, Ida finished her ick, Sag? ‘that her acd had been asked, , aerdere: was s'detailed to get acquainted with _ She saw. on sale. ital ae JA goed: oa! dollars! worth of the stuff could be - - NICK CARTER WEEKLY. | 3 “T’ve half changed my mind,” said Laura, as they - started toward Washington street. “What do you mean? You still need money, don’t you?” “Oh! [ve got to have it, but there are other ways, besides hocking a watch. I guess you can think of some, can’t you?” “Yes, indeed,” replied Ida, quickly. She had led Laura to suppose that she had been discharged from a store for robbing the money: drawer, and that she had been mixed ap in other crooked transactions. “I was thinking,” continued Laura, “that it would be too bad for you to go without your watch, even for a few days, if there should be any other way of rais- ing boodle. I might find a pocketbook on the. side- walk, you know.” “Certainly.” “Well, you've got dicudl for car fares. up-town.” They took a ca + and when it was passing Jordan & Marsh’s big store,J aura said: Let’s. go “We will go in here. They are advertising some lovely things that I might like to get.” For some minutes they wandered around in the store, without stopping at any of the counters. Laura spoke from time to time about the goods “T like that, ” she would say, or, “That might go very well with my blue waist.” ; Ida replied in the same way. The store was crowded. Finally, they pushed into a jam by a counter and Laura went to eabcientig the articles for sale there. “T don’t see just what I want,” she said, at last. and turned away. Ida, watching all the time, saw that -slie had hidden a small roll of valuable silk beneath, her jacket. - They went to another counter where Teal lace V was +} :

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until she saw her chance, when she quietly took a quantity and put that also beneath her jacket. + ‘ae The salesman didn’t notice, and Ida was astonished As _at the skill the girl showed in the work. : ee “This is one way of raising the wind,” she thought, eh “and I wouldn’t have suspected what she was doing, if I hadn't watched every move. I wish she’d hurry ‘up and get done with it. I should hate to be caught with a shoplifter.” . They were slowly edging their way from the lace “counter when Ida’s blood seemed to freeze. _ A few feet away was a man whom she knew to be the store detective. _ He was looking straight at Laura, and Ida knew that the girl was, under suspicion. —__—— CHAPTER 173. FOOLING “SHE DETECTIVE. For one instant, Ida wondered if it would not be better to let the girl be arrested. ek, ; - That might bring her lover, Stetson, to her aid. Then she thought that Stetson would be too Piivend to show himself to officers of the law, as he would have to if he called. on Laura at a police sta- tion, « or tried to on bail for her. wd is fs cee 4 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘jn the lunchroom, corner of Winter street. him, [ll be with you quickly. yP she pabond “T won- . “Well, then, he’s the man with his back half to- ward you near the post.” “Are you sure he’s on?” “Sure! vast Laura, pass your stuff to me.’ “What “I think 1 ean bluff him down. If he stops you he’ll find nothing. Leave the store and wait for me Ii I blurt If not, why “You won't let yourself be caught instead of me!” “Why not? I have no sick father to take care of.” This conversation, of course, had been carried on in whispers while they were still in the thick of the crowd and while they were esrnnding | to examine the shawl. é The store detective was simply waiting for them to come along, for he did not care to make a disturb- ance by pushing into the crowd after them. The transfer of stolen articles was made quickly, and the girls worked their way out of the crowd. As Ida had expected, they were no sooner clear of the crush than the man at the post turned about and spoke to them. “Excuse me, ladies,” he said, politely, “but I shall have to ask you to step into the te ir for a moment.” | ip ‘““What for, I should like to know? a demanded Lata st Ida said nothing, but looked indignantly at the de- tective. . “T will caniaak there,” the said. “You will save _ yourselves a good deal of trouble by going at once.” Laura turned with blazing eyes to Ida. _ “Are you going! ?” she asked. ey suppose we'd better,” Ida answered. “T don’ t - understand it, but if he thinks there is anything — wrong we A, satisfy him fi easily there than < Py here.” : as well, then, but

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; “ployed 4 in this Ladin and when she had come up, he said: Batt: "Now, ladies, I will ask you plainly, have you for- By. gotten to pay for anything?” “Forgotten to pay!” echoed Laura, her black eyes a € sk open and flashing. ‘ 5 Shh you have,” continued the detective, quietly, i “and will make up the amount now, we will say noth- ing more about it.” z x Laura stamped her foot, and was about to make D4 an angry retort, when Ida interrupted coldly: _ “Tsee that you suspect us of shoplifting. You are making a great mistake, and if you give us trouble is I shall see that the store suffers for it.” _“T’ve heard that sort of threat before,” responded the detective/ “and it doesn’t frighten me. T saw that young woman take goods from a counter and hide them underneath her jacket.” He indicated Laura. ue “Ont you did!” she cried, ndbestbeeibier her jacket and holding i it wide open, “What do you say now?” The detective's face fell. He had been very sure e ‘stolen estinte: had not been transferred, but a8 absolutely sure that he had seen them stolen. earch h .” he said to the woman. ra put up ‘great. deal of indignation, but she oom with - woman, uc Te- NY ey faa nate « 3 a Pant “eaeane wate dont need to vee respectable ses are.” aig ly t | Le | Sen ot ed eon tt, | NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 5 “T won't,” returned Laura. “Come alongy’. “One moment,” interrupted the detective, speak- ing to Ida; “if you are innocent, you won’t object to proving it, will you? Wouldn’t you rather prove 4 ” It “Certainly,” said Ida. my dear.. I will join you in some store where they don’t treat customers so badly.” “You needn’t wait for me, Laura took the cue at once, and marched out, won- dering how her new friend would manage to avoid exposure, and fearing that she, would not succeed, Obeying the detective’s order, Ida went into the private room with the woman. There she took off her long cloak-and shook it, and the woman felt of it carefully, : For several minutes the woman searched, and Ida said not a word. She did everything she was told to do, and at last the woman drew a long breath. “There's evidently been some mistake,” she said. She called in the detective. Ida was, of course, fully dressed, except that her cloak lay on a table. ’ She was seated in a chair beside it. “Mr, Henderson,” said the woman, “I am afraid you'll have to apologize humbly.” “T will if I have to,” he answered. “Haven't you found anything ?” ; : “Not a thing.” “Then I apologize, but I cannot ‘a umatind it, for, while I have been waiting, I have had reports from two counters, A small roll of silk is missing from One, ae a Monae hace of lace from the at cc T: ; *¥ou id, fi remarked 3 auietly: “Here they -

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6 NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “So you did,” said Ida, “but the articles were here ali the time.” : “What does this mean?’ demanded the detective. “Tt means,” replied Ida, laying the stolen articles on her cloak and turning up its edge, “that you and I ought to become acquainted.” She showed them a little pocket concealed in the edge of her cloak and took from it a card case. Removing a card, she handed it to the detective. He read: NICHOLAS CARTER, Detective. Presented by Miss Ida Jones. “Good gracious!” said he, “do you mean to say that you are Miss Jones?” , “Iam for the present,” she answered, “but when I am with the young woman whom you ee de- tected in shoplifting, I am aciaed person.” 7] “Then-——” : “That girl is a crook. I ai need to say that, but I am shadowing her for a very important pur- pose. I didn’t know when she led me into the store that she intended to steal anything, but when T saw that was what she was up to, I had to let her go on, for if she should be arrested for this little crime it would ruin our plan for catching a greater criminal thansheis. — _ - So I had to manage obagss in such a way that she ee ‘would appear to be innocent.” J mae _ “She passed the articles to you, then?” a “Yes, at my request. I told her I could bluff you.” 3 hn on Well, pons did, both of us; but I don’t see how you managed it.” : ae you? Would you like to oy the srolen nd holding slik her Hands gs caddie Wii % He reached out his hand for them, aad mt drew She looked at the floor, as if to hunt for them. 4 _ The detective and the woman looked, too. “Ah!” said Ida, to the woman, took the lace.” “T see now. You “TI?” exclaimed the woman. “I haven’t touched it- What do you mean?” : . “What's that hanging from your belt?” returned Ida. The woman looked and saw the stolen lace hanging at her side. : “How did it get there?” she asked, in amazement. Ida laughed again. : “Mr. Henderson,” of silk?” ‘ “T certainly didn’t,” he answered. “Oh! I thought you did. Then, you might look under my cloak for it.” He stepped to the table and raised the cloak. There was nothing under it. “Failed that time, didn’t you?’ he asked, smiling. “No; it was you who failed. You said you didn’t take the roll. Examine your pockets.” she said, “did you take the roll He did as he was told and presently drew the stolen roll from a side pocket of his coat. . He looked very foolish as he turned it over and over. “That’s the article, isn’t it?’ asked Ida, em with laughter. - “Tt is,” he replied. “I must say- “That you now understand why these things were not found on me when I was searched. It was really very simple. Nick Carter taught me sleight-of-hand when he first employed me as an assistant. I keep in practice for the fun of it, but I don’t often have to use it in. my business.” ’ : “You are certainly skillful.” ” I hope you _ “T ought to be, with such a teacher. are entirely satished.” _ F “T am, and I suppose you. want to go at once to — ee your victim.” a3 st ie “Yes; but there's no ‘great hurry, “she wait for: She is hehe, and thinks that I

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WS bien’ 4 ey for these articles, if you please, and Al. ask you to get mea ring, or some. other small piece of jewelry _ from that department that is worth about twenty dol- lars, How much are these sh ih . “Fifteen dollars.” eee: “That will make thirty-five dollars altogether.” Bs: Ida took up her cloak again and showed them an- a ‘other concealed. pocket, from which she took the _ money required, and Henderson sent for a twenty- dollar ring... "While that was coming, de “showed them more about her cloak. It was very much. like the coats that the men-detectives used, fitted with many pock- s. that only they themselves knew how to find. ~ *¥ou didn’t notice this, did you?’ ’ she asked of the woman, indicating a rather large pocket. ts 4 oh i te N ow that you show it I wonder I failed at “Well, as. you missed it, I will put tae atticles in it and tell my: friend that you couldn't find them. : V When a ring was bei therelace, Ida slipped th the silk and lace pat, the concealed pocket. Then she eaid Deis. e a detectives Dei left wee Ida had ‘alti -in the er was ewer k for the TN Ue fe ica ery a MAKES. A “DISCOVERY. Pay anxious as “ran coe sts bi. sey with exeite- to do till you had done it.” _ ‘NICK CARTER WEEKLY. @ Laura looked her wonder. “T’ve got it,” said Ida, “and better yet, I've added to the collection.” “Good gracious! what a girl you are! Come somewhere and show me, quicix.” They went from the lunchroom to the store of R. H.. White, where they vagina their talk in the ladies’ parlor: “I pinched a box of bonbons in that place at the corner, ” said Laura; “have some?” She held out the box. It was already half empty, for, having stolen it from the counter, she had calmly stood thete eating the candy, in plain view of the - saleswomen. This was a little too ivitteh for Ida. She felt com- pelled to help the beautiful criminal out of her shop- lifting sorape, but she didn’t like the idea of receiv- ing stolen goods, even when they were no more valuable than candy. - “No, thank you,” she answered, “IT nate candy.” These are eerily good. But, it 2” “That's a shame. tell me, how did you do Ida opened her cloak. “See” anything?” she asked. “No.” -“Neither did they, but look!” With a quick motion, she drew the ehree articles from the concealed pocket. — Laura’s eyes bulged with surprise. “You had them all — time Soon she asked. ~Viiag " “And that cloak——” “Do you suppose this is ; the first dae T've used it? i Thad it made this way on purpose.” : “My stars! what an idea! Why. didn’t you tell me about {NOR ee Ty alse? ak ; “Because you didn’t say ‘that | you were going. to a pinch anything. ah didn’t know what you were hie! ¢ “Tee. et you know est ne, “Bat what!

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8 NICK CARTER WEEKLY: She had noticed the tiny box in which was the. ring that Ida had bought. Before waiting for a reply, she opened it. “Great Scott!” she gasped, “isn’t it a beaut!” ¢ “You see,” explained Ida, ‘after they found that I was innocent, they apologized to beat the band, an:! actually begged me to'make myself at home in the s%ore. Just to show that I had no hard feelings, I did so, and took this from the jewelry depgpmient.” “Oh! aren’t you smart!” “T've been there before,” sggtied Ida, dts AG “T thought it might help you out.” ; “Do you mean that, you're going to give this to me?” eee. . me money.” * “T- should say you could if this is the way you can do-the pinch business. “I’m awfully obliged, Belle.” “You can raise enough from these things to pay the landlady, can’t you?” “Oh! easy. I must get about it right away.’ Ida was glad to hear (a's, for she had feared that Laura would take further ies by lifting from other a stores. | It was for that reason that she had binge the _ ring, so as to make more stealing unnecessary. “Where do you look for pawnshops in this town?” Re asked Ida, as if she didn’t asta all about ther _ already. ea Laura. hewtategs They were. going down the . stairs of the store to the street. “There are lots of them,” she said. “You mustn't think that you've got to go poking, into pawnshops a. ; with n me, agar We haven't got to soak your watch pow, you see.’ - . “But I should enjoy going with you.” _ “And I should like to have you, but—see here, a he dt ai Sace Ida. “Well: ?” said the latter. + “mascots ately tea I can get+along till my uncle ae “Not at all, Laura; but what’s the matter?” “Nothing is the matter.” I’ve got a secret that { haven't aright to give away to anybody, not even to you.. The fact is, that I’m not going to a pawn- shop.” 3 mont “Tf we'd had to soak your watch, of course we would have taken it to my uncle somewhere, but, you see, I don’t want to see these things again.” “Ah! you mean to sell them.” “Exactly. I can get more out of them that way. And that’s all I mean to say about it.” “All right, Laura, I'll go back to the house. Only | “Only what?” ; . Ai | Rapitt. like to know . a good fence for myself some time.’ Lau: ¢ look2d sharply at Ida, and then smiled, “You're no chicken, are ged she said. “T know what a fence is,” “Well, so do'l, and I'll tell you this much. When- ever you need a fence let me ‘know, and I’ll Beh take you to one, or I'll handle your stuff for you,” “Very well, but tell ne all about it when you get back, won’t you?” “Sure!” “)'m crazy to know how myich you i get for the things.” ~ AA “1H let you know, and’ I'll lend you some if I have, enough to spare.” “Thank you. Good- -by.” “So long, Belle.” Ida started toward Dover street, but she had not gone far, when she pretended to see something in a store window that interested her. Standing still, she glanced back, and saw Laura get aboard an, East Boston car. Boston streets are narrow and crooked, and cats cannot go at high speed sa ie’ heart of the city. It was not difficult, therefore, for te to ep that ear in: view ee:

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1) | NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 9 o 7 ny she engaged, and told the driver to follow the.line taken by East Boston cars and not to hurry. - From the cab window, a little later; she saw Laura leave the car and disappear down a street leading cas | Ida was then in Hanover street. She left the cab and hurried after Laura on foot. Luckily, as it seemed at the time, Laura was not walking fast, and Ida soon was in sight of her. ___-She turned into North street, and the detective was ‘ear enough to see her. open the second door from: the corner. . That was nearly as much as Ida. wanted, but she - thought, it would be well to look a little further. ‘Patsy had had a theory that Stetson operated through a fence in Boston, and up to this time none ci the detectives had — able to get any clew as to where it was. Ida believed that Laura Dash would take her stolen goods to the fence used by her lover. “It was in the hope of finding it that she had fol- _ lowed the shoplifter. ba : ‘So, having noticed that there were a number of _ alleys and crooked streets in that neighborhood, she :. turned back for the purpose of strolling around to eA ee where ‘they. led and how they: connected; for it ae was almost certain that there would be a way to get . ey from the fer eat the back. + Y oa Es x The 1 ‘more ‘information she aaats get, the better, . th ohe thought. = . - ing care not to go in front of the building Laura had gf entered, lest the shoplifter should see her, when the "side door of a building that faced 0 on North street | opened, and who should come out but Laura Dash! It was very awkward for Ida, who, however, began laugh as if she enjoyed pees: epee % HSS go _ She walked until she found an empty herdic, which @ . ¥ . didn’t suppose. it-would do any harm. She had explored, ere of r four alleys, alw ays tak Pp? “You followed me!” she exclaimed, “Ves,”-Ida admitted; “I couldn't help it. just dying of curiosity.” “Then why didn’t you die?” The words were hissed forth fiercely.” “Why!” said Ida, as if surprised at the tone, “I I lost your I was track, you see and only came on you by accident.” “T don’t believe it.” Ida put on a look to show that her feelings were hurt. “How can you say that?” she asked. “I thought we were such good friends.” .- ; ”? “So we were,” retorted Laura) “but no friend of mine goes tagging around where she isn’t wanted. I suspected that you’d do just this, Belle Adams, and I took pains to make it easy for you, so that I could catch you at it and fool you.” “Why, Laura!” “Don’t talk to me! to know where my fence was. I knew you'd try to sneak after me, and so I led you wrong. You haven’t found out, Belle, for it isn’t here or any- where near here.” “I'm awfully sorry,” Ida began. “You'd better be. Now, if you want to have me speak to you again, you go straight home. I shall “attend to my business and I won't be spied on by anybody, friend or not.” . You said yourself you'd like “I hope you don’t forget,” said Ida, meekly, “that T helped soe out of a bad scrape at Jordan & Marsh's. Laura’ s angry look softened a little. “That’s so,” she admitted. “You did a good turn by me. there, two good turns, in fact, but seriously, Belle, you mustn’ t try to get my secret... It isn’t fair or friendly.’ Be » Well,” Fespon del Ida, “I'll go home now. Do we ain in and see me — you get back, so that I a was immensely surprised. — Hine Bs _as if she would dodge Sack into the. e. know you forgive me.’ a ; eh std ne oe. ica “That will eka on whether y you go straight to . : ~ ate the house.” Ste aegis gas 4 ¥, ay ‘ rt x ? Pia, | niaeeles bio Sn aoe ar ate ae i

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f» £0 With this, Laura Wheeled about, and. walked to- ward North street, where she bee cu aD around | the corner. Ida made no attempt to follow her. é - Laura’s hafids were émpty, which showed that she had got rid of her supposed stolen goods. So Ida went rerey back to the boarding-house and waited. : Be ura. : Tda wondered if she had tried more e inoshlg and got caught at it? \ > Every: now and ‘then she riadé ‘ali éxcuse to go down the stairs to the ground foot, thus passing the rooms occupied by Laura‘and her sick father. “4 ., She did not hear their voices, and, in fact, the land- ee lady, told her that Miss Dash had not come in, On one of these trips she, saw a trunk being car- ried from ‘the second floor ‘back room, woe was “next to Mr. Dash’s room. | nt “Somebody going away § 2 Ida asked the landlady. ; Yes,” was the reply, “Ty might as well have an by S eet room as a boarder who doesn’t bay. his aac p : “That's 80. toa? “There are others who will bia to ipok out for _ themselves,” continued the landlady, with a glance toward Mr. Dash’s room. “I don’t keep a charity , house, Idon’t. I can be kind to people a little while, _ but if they haven't got money, how can they. expect ae iy’ op them?” Ida said they shouldn't expect it, and went back'to = ‘oom. Feideatly Hoes. 8 fear of being, soph seal, she had ‘bn money why didn’t ‘she return? — At last, when it had grown dark, Ida, on one of © 1 A cow heard aes ae, in the: e $ room. a ; +f \ eto. wart be r aia Téa would ked listening in the I Hl anyway. i thought of the empty. room. ‘in q PA ‘All the afternoon passed: and there was no sign of Ce “NICK CARTER WEEKLY. | . Ida stepped into it, died een found that the parti- tion was 60 thin that most of the spoken words came _ to her distinctly. At first. they. were. somewhat obscured by. the sound of footsteps. nic Rg = Somebody was pacing up and down thé room. . » Laura? They did not sound like the steps of a girl, Mr. Dash? . But he was a sick man, . He couldn’ t walk with so much energy. Ida had seen him corne to the dinner-table so feebly. ‘that it seemed as if ‘he would fall every, minute... The man’s voice, too—— But while Ida was getting thesé arat impressions, — she heard Mr. Dash say: “I tell you, Laura, that. woman is a detective!” “But why should. she help me?” responded Laura. “Why should she stand by and let, me pinch things? and she said she pinched the ring: herself.” “Bah!” , ; Mr. Dash never spoke that way at tlie table, His voice there was thin and weak. This was his voice, “put how strong it sounded! Pe “Tell me!” insisted Laura ; “why should she. let me lift things i in the store and not have. me aerated. If she’s a detective ih SES “Because,” interrupted. the’ deeper yoite, harshly, %) _ “she’s after bigger game.” Pen. F “Bigger “game?” repeated Laura “bigger, game - . than me? > Wwhat——” eke “Yes! bigger game. than ¢ a mere. shoplifter! Ob! you haye put your foot in it upto the neck! I'll teil, ‘efit er ian i you if. you: don’t. begin. to see for. yourself. 7. het ss ns: I'll bet my head, is——”, | -And Ida Jones did not wait to hear her name pro-" Neitecad™ “She ‘did not wait for “Mr. Dash’ s Sect “tion of what the bigger game w was. For ida had made a discovety. ti ‘How i came fo her she cotild not tell, ‘and neice" 43 Fa ‘ket ‘aout’ ali , that aged, | ‘Sick “Mr.

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CHAPTER 173. A MIDNIGHT VISITOR, . “Ah!” thought Ida, “if only Nick, or one of the others, were here!” ____ She knew from what Patsy had told her that Stet- _ Son was a man of muscular pies almost equal to that of Nick himself. a There never was a more desperate, cold-blooded + criminal than he. : It would have been nothing but madness for Ida to try to capture him single-handed. or, | Such feats were ‘not expected of her. had struggles with criminals, but she never at- 2 tempted the impossible when | she could help it. oa There was not only Stetson, or “Mr. Dash, ” to 3 ™ : 1 She had reckon with, but ‘the beautiful Lawra, who, Ida did ‘ not doubt, would be a furious fighter. So, much as the detective would have liked to rush into that room where they-were talking and _ demand Stetson’s surrender, she did not dream. of AG There was a better way. _ It was the way that Nick had not only advised, ; “bat commanded her to take if any SeetKencys should arise. ed While none of ben had dreamed Sa Stetson was actually living in Boston, they did think he might visit Miss Dash, and in that case it was Ida’s ig to notify the nearest police station, : : cloak, and put them on as she went downstairs. . _ As she crossed the second floor hall again she heard the murmur of voices, or rather of “Dash’s.’ ae greatly he was still explaining his theory of the we ive to Laura. ; ht ‘to be good for a half-hour’s talk,” i aoe i “and I ae get the police here in much . Tess time than that.” - j : She ran to the rier ioe Washington street, ‘ _ There she saw ‘aipublic telephone office. " An ious to ‘save every minute, viet went in, and ‘ his ‘s, Belle Adams,” she. said the wire ; ; “do da 3" tepeated the sergeant in charge. | NICK CARTER WEEKLY. a hastened to her room, caught up her hat ae, 11 “Great “Wait! there isn’t a moment to lose. send a couple of men up at once?” “Til send half-a-dozen!” “They must be armed and ready for a struggle.” “Never fear! Will they ask for you?” “No. Ask for or get Mr. Dash.” “Who's he?” “He’s supposed to be the father of Laura, the girl I've been watching. In reality he’s the man you weet ae “All right, ie We'll be there in less than no time.” Will you ” “I wish they were there now,” sighed Ida, as she hung up the receiver. There was a little delay for her when she paid the charge for use of the phone, other customers being ahead of her, but-altogether, she had not lost more than a minute by it, and she had not been absent five minutes from the house when she started back. A good many persons were on the street at the time. _ She glanced at all she met or passed, and also kept her attention on the steps leading to her board- ing house. She could see them by the light of a street lamp directly in front of the house plainly enough to see -whether any went up or down. Nobody left the house during her walk back, and She felt some relief as she opened the door and went in. On the way to her room, she listened again for the murmur of voices. No sound came to her. wk Hurriedly, and in great fear, she. again went to the closet where she had heard everything distinctly be- fore. » Nota sound. Ida ran up to her own’ room, looked in, tossed off her hat and cloak, and ran downstairs. _ On the ground floor she met the landlady. : “Has Mr. Dash gone out?” she asked. . “Mr. Dash! bless you, no! How could he? He’ ee ‘such a feeble old man.” “T thought he had gone with his daughter.” - eh?” “No. He’s meee lying ae in his room. ey Pg ‘wigs She went out a few miriutes ago.” se PY ics a ee “Oh!” and Ida’s voice was suddenly faint. “Was + she alone?” | * <taleast, 8 ec hae oe 2 he? a, » a *yh : ee t * Dee ee. é / . cout RE ace a eS AS By oe a aaa sh ae 433% 2 ON oa ae

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“No,.a gentleman went with her who had been to call on her father.” “Was he a tall man?” The landlady drew herself up proudly. “Seems to me you ask a good many questions about my boarders, Miss Adams,” she said. “Believe me,” responded Ida, earnestly, “they are necessary questions, and I have the right to ask them. I will explain soon. Please let me know about this caller.” ~ “T can't tell you anything about him, Miss Adams, Not but what I would if I ceould, for I think you are ty a proper sort of young lady and’wouldn’t want to sa know unless it was right——” Ida could not listen to a <n rupted : ; “Was he tall, Mrs. Billings?” %; “Yes, I should say so. I didn't measure him, and I really don’t know a thing else, for I never saw: hie before.” “When did he come in?” “I don’t know, for I only saw him go sett “Wh-a-a-at !” } and she inter- & ou?” “ *No,” said Ida, suddenly calm, “I am not, but I am fearfully disappointed.” Without another word, she went into the sitting- ‘room to wait for the arrival of the police. She knew what had happened. When the police came—there were Six of them— _ Mrs, Billings met them at the door, and then it was her turn to look and act as if she were going to faint _ away. “What.can you. want in my house?’ she gasped. ; commanded the squad. oe What! that poor sick pa! - *Then show. us his r Ida sat silent. She rea 1 the matter. policemen went up. _ A knock brought no ‘response. The, door, was “Goodness! you're not going to faint away, are. _ “We want Mr, Dash,” replied the roundsman, whe " felt too bad to, take any ‘Billings pointed: to the second Boor sy 4 Mrs. Plng was bate ig mies : sate vin behest ae NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “Of course they'll come back,” stammered Mrs. Billings, looking around. “You see, they've leit everything just as usual, There’s Miss Dash’s um- brella, those are her books and things on the table, © and here,” she opened a closet door, “here are lots of Miss Dash’s clothes. Of course they'll come back.” , “Gone out for a R has’ I suppose, roundsman. “Likely, though whoever would have supposed that Mr. Dash would dare to go out in the evening air, and him so feeble that he could hardly walk across the floor?” ; “Where's Miss Adams?” res ‘Goodness! do you a her, too? sitting-room.” “But “Miss Adams” was not in the sitting-room when the roundsman looked in, and she’ was not in her own room. Ida had gone to the police station to explain the situation to the captain, rather than have a long talk in the boarding-house. + . The roundsman found her there when he returned with his men from their fruitless errand. “Stetson and Laura must have left the house within a minute after I did,’ she said. “Of course they won't come back, into some house near on the pretence of looking for rooms, and watch from a window until he saw the police hunting for him. I never suspected that the old man was not Laura’s ess until IT heard his voice this afternoon.” |~ The station detectives, of course, did a good deal of work that evening hunting for traces of Stetson and Laura, but it may as well be said at once that they found none. . The couple had apparently walked quietly down Dover street and disappeared. Ida sent cipher dispatches to Nick, Chick and Patsy, telling them what had happened, and address- ing the telegrams to places where she thought it likely that the detectives would be. Then she thought how the visit of the police would — be known to all the boarders, and she took supper ina restaurant, in order to avoid their questions, About eight o'clock she returned to the house. Mrs. Billings evidently had been waiting for her, . oe suggested the She’s in the * net a ay ce for she hastily came ftom the Pigs: ae wn) ae It would be like him to go - & “ 4 Pi; i

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y 886 you gave the police the slip, did you?” she demanded. “Well, all I’ve got to say is that you _ don’t take another step in my house. _ You shan’t hide here any longer.” _ . Ida stared in surprise for a moment, and then be- a gan to laugh heartily. She hadn’t known that the police had asked for her, and it hadn’t struck her that the landlady would _ misunderstand. “Qh! you, brazen-faced, busey !” cried Mrs. Bill- ings; “you stand there and laugh, do you? If I only had a telephone, I’d summon the police to come for you, and I'd hold you till they got here,” _ *You'd have a hard job of it, Mrs. Billings,” said Ida, “and if you had a telephone the police wouldn't have had a useless call here to-day.” a do you mean?” me go with you fa your room,: or anywhere, here we can be alone, and I'll explain.” A number of the. boarders were standing in door- ways listening. — “Took out for her, Mrs. Billings!” said one ‘at em. “Don’t you ast her,” said atAhan it all seemed so comic to Ida that she laughed again, and that made Mrs. Billings angry. “Out of my house!” she cried. “Ti go if you really mean it,” said the detective, t me tell you a better way. Bring a cord and my hands and feet’ Then Yl sit here on the tell Mrs. Billings alt about it, but T ‘sha’n't on the stairs as she sp spoke. s looked reroll ah ig oe on a moment, ee ee ont vidteetive: : Billings, “that's only thief! Tf I had known “i Ines” exclaimed Mrs. "a little-worse than being a thie y hotse si Seah fi Dash, Tsay aa NICK CARTER WEEKLY. ‘Go right out. ‘until you can bring a policeman. In his pres- bare tet you have a room. The © 13 “They are criminals.” “What!” “Have they paid their bill?” “No.” “You've seen the last of them.” “Are you sure?” ““Will they come back here to be arrested? They know that I am a detective.” “Oh, my! oh, my!” groaned the landlady. “The shame of it! To think of having criminals in my house! and they owing three weeks’ board, too, for I haven’t had a cent from them since Mr. Dash came to board with his daughter.” “Ah!” thought Ida, “if [ had known that Mr. Dash had been here so short a time I might have suspected who he was earlier.” But she said aloud that it would be better to say nothing to the other os paz or anybody else about the matter. Mrs. Billings declared that “ was too ashamed of the whole affair to mention it to a soul, and Ida said that she would leave the house the next day. At that the landlady begged her to stay as long as she wanted to, and Ida answered that she could not tell how long her business would keep her in Boston, or where it would take her next. Ida then went to her room. Her telegram to ‘Nick had been very short, and she now wrote a long report of what had happened, and mailed it in a street box near by. . It was then bedtime, and she lay down, bee she could not sleep. She was greatly troubled by thé thought that the criminals had slipped from her grasp. As a matter of fact, Ida was somewhat ashamed of herself, although she had no reason for being so. “I ought to succeed in doing something in this case,” she said to herself. “I’ve had one chance and lost it. What can I do?” cio ud she thought of the fence. 1 A oe ry not try to get evidence saninst it, and lead ut d the police in a raid upon it? Nick would be pleased, for that was one of the things the four detectives were trying to do. t got up and dressed. — Aap Sunnah ae ’ Tt was then nearly midnight. ~ When she was almost ready to go, she had anothe ht about the matter. — : ? ay fence once, sa if bos: went

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14 ay again as a woman, some shrewd crook might recog- nize her. It was a small chance, but Ida would take no risks. “T’ll go as a boy,” she decided. So she stepped into her closet to get the necessary clothing. While she was picking it out, she heard the click of her door knob. Quickly dropping the clothes, she stepped into the room agai. Laura Dash stood before her. . . CHAPTER 176. ee. WIT AGAINST STRENGTH. For a moment neither spoke. _ Laura stood perfectly still, but her black blazed with excitement. : , Her arms were folded. “I wasn’t expecting you so late,” said Ida. “Did you have trouble in raising the money your needed : ”? *You snake!” hissed Laura: : Ida smiled. - $ . “Sit down,” she said, “‘and tell about it.” “T won’t sit down,” returned Laura. “I'll stand up and tell you what I have to say.” “Suit yourself.” Ei “You betrayed me.” 4 “Did 1?” | : hy “Don’t try to deny it. I know you now. You } _ came here to spy upon me, hoping to trap my lover. -, He says you are Ida Jones, Nick Carter’s woman detective. I don’t know whether you are or not, but I do know that you are my deadly enemy!” “I hardly thought you’d come a to tell me R 4 that,” said Ida. 1 iG “You didn’t suppose I’d dare come back at all. _ -That’s what you mean. So you left your door un- Br locked, and you didn’t think that I would have the pa when I left the house to take the key to the ; outside door with me. I did, and here I am. No- ‘ Dotty knows I am in the house except you.” derstand first that my lover easily got to a place tne a you: were very saan but we ‘ "You! find it so ina minute, I. just want you to NICK CARTER WEEKLY. shoplifting, but he saw through it all as soon as I told him.” “Did you come back so as‘to give me a clew, and let me try again?” “I did not! I shall leave the house as quietly as’ I entered it, and when I go you will stay here— dead!” *§f, see. ” It need not be said that Ida perceived the girl’s deadly purpose from the start, and she regretted that er cloak lay across a ae on the further side of the room. In it was one of her revolvers and a pair of brace- lets that would have looked mighty well just then on Miss Dash’s wrists. The detective could not ee at her weapon with- out passing Laura. “She'll spring at me,” thought Ida, sooner it’s over the better.” “an® the Accordingly, when she spoke the last time, the de- tective made what seemed to be a careless move- ment. Instantly the beautiful criminal leaped. She unfolded her arms, and a gleaming dagger flashed in her right hand. Ida caught her descending hand and tried the trick - Nick Carter had taught her of wrenching the dagger away. For once it failed.’ Laura Dash knew that trick, and a laugh hissed from her lips as she saw that the detective, though avoiding the first blow, had not succeeded in what she tried to do, The only thing that Ida could do then was to, grapple with her foe, and she did so. Almost silently they strained at each other. * The criminal had the strength and fury of a tigress. Strive as she would, the well-trained detective could not overcome her. It was all that Ida could do to prevent Laura from forcing the knife into her side. ; Once, twice, three times Laura pressed the Kees point against her. Rents were made ‘in Ida’s clothing, but each time, by a terrible effort, she pushed the blade away. And all the time they hardly stirred in their tracks. Thiage was no ere about, no eG no eae .

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4 The boarders in the rooms below slept through be it all. cos" Oe course Ida could have aroused them by “screams, but that wasn’t her way of doing things. A Carter detective fights it out alone and wins, if he can, on his own strength or wit. 4 Ida saw very clearly that strength w que not save her. : _ She had met her match. ~ Besides, Laura fought with insane fury, maddened to desperation by thought of her lover. The last time the criminal forced the point of the - dagger against Ida, the weapon touched her shoul- 2 aj They had moved a very little, and the criminal had e advantage, for she could brace one foot against “the wall, and so give all her strength to driving the blade slowly, but surely in. Ida. felt a sting like a pin prick,” as the point uched her flesh. - Her left hand etuiched the criminal's right wrist ; her right was holding the other's left away from her own throat. NV Quickly. Tda let go with het right. i added that hand to the other’s hold on (ae s hen the detective any. lifted her feet from but an down came t the knife, cutting ine ng in the. fous A s.dress, is nett as ree : posal ot ‘Ida’s ae the passing Ree oi the knife. v_was ani she could not ain outled to force the knife a toward her. g,, Bae Sica be not succeed in NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 15 Saat stooped quicker than Ida, ict caught up both dagger and revolver. She was panting from the siruggle, and her face was as red as fire. ' “All right,” she gasped, “if I can’t make the knife _ do.its work, I'll risk the consequences and use this.” She raised the revolver, cocking it as.she did so, Ida started across the room as if to run away. — * “No you don’t!” snarled the criminal, “you won't . pass that door alive.” She pulled the trigger. Snap! went the hammer, but there was no report. At that instant Ida was. catching her cloak from the chair. , “Next, she was aiming a revolver taken from the cloak,at her enemy. k “Laura,” she said, coolly, though her voice shook on account of the hard struggle she had been through, “if that gun was loaded I shouldn't have let you have a chance with. -your knife.. This one is loaded in every chamber, and I am a dead shot!” Laura’s face suddenly turned ghastly ‘white. She seemed insane. Again and again she cocked the empty revolver and pulled the trigger. Every time it failed to go off she Seated and tit- tered low exclamations of impatience. She seemed to think that the knife was in her way, and she thrust it under her arm, so that she could use’ both hands freely on the revolver. . “You won't dare to kill me!” she stammered, With an attempt at boldness. x “Won't 1?” retorted the detective, moving Liceaay - “Don’t make such a pa? cena as that, my girl.” i Laufa raised her head defiantly. Her eyes flashed again, and in another instant she. would have recovered her sense and tried the knife. But that instant did not come. Ida ‘knew what she was about, and before the criminal had stopped trying to shoot with the empty revolver, § she had caught her two hands ae slipped the bracelets upon ‘the wrists. That was another of the Carter tricks, and this. em succeeded. 3 “Hal gasped the fair criminal, a ae in amaze- ‘

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16 She strained at the bracelets, gritting her teeth and panting with the exertion. Ida simply drew the chain tight and let her struggle. At last drops of blood oozed out upon Laura’s wrists. She had forced the steel bands through her skin, bit she was so excited that she did not feel the pain. The sight 6f the blood brought her frenzy to a sudden end, and she sank into a chair and sobbed. “You made a good fight of it,” said Ida, in a kindly tone. “I never had trouble with any one who did better. If you had held on to. your. knife, you might have got me; but I let you pick up the empty re- volver so that. I could have a chance to get one that would do the business. Iam sorry for you, Layra.” Laura made no reply in words. Her strength seemed to have left her, and she cried like a child. The detective took the dagger, that had fallen to the. floor, and put it in a safe, place. Then, keeping her revolver where it could be used if necessary, ‘she pinned up. the rent in her clothing, and slowly’ put on her long cloak. — Mter that, she sat down for a few minutes to yee until ‘hy aura. should be more calm. At last she Said: “Tei is bound to be like this with your lover, Laura, ! soouer or later.” The girl stopped crying and eae at her eam: . i ingly 5 ; = “He will be i meariet a added lac a “Not he !" returned Laura. “He's too smaet for a Ram lam a fool, and so you get the best of me.” Lee don’t call you a fool, but I think you are very a "unwise: Gp ow cannot escape justice. Neither can i ia Re Stetson.” : r a sfloment Laura sangre at the detective, and, e stared, ‘the expression ’on her face hardened. ae know what you're driving at,” she said. “You : hope to persuade me to give information about Lan. Y a won ‘tgetit. Never! And you won ‘Cget him, : Never, I tell you; never!” — sa ne rue! Ira, oun BS tty won vt t talk oe Sh getty ; SH 7 wi . by Seat ae i nf ae: were loafers in the doorways, and quite a ware Wi: men walking one way or the other, NICK CARTER WEEKLY. “To the station?” she echoed, blankly. Then she looked at her hands and bit her lips. “All right,” she said, carelessly ; “get a move on.” CHAPTER 177. IDA AMONG THE CROOKS. Laura gave no trouble on the way to the station. They left the house so quietly that no one in it was aroused, and when they were outside they linked arms as if they were the best of friends. Ida fixed her prisoner’s jacket so that it covered her wrists, and the few persons they met did not notice that one of the girls was handcuffed. > While they were on the way, Ida asked one,ques- tion: ; “Did Lan know that you were coming back to the house?” Aes “No. He wouldn’ t have let me take the risk.” The detective ‘pelieved that this was the truth, and said no more about it. There was no scene of impottance at the station Laura had recovered her cool manner, and when the examination was over, and Ida was starting away, the prisoner called mockingly : “Bye-bye, girly!” “She's a hard case,” thought Ida, “and probably ° she really believes that her lover will never be taken. Well, she doesn’t know Nick Carter.” She went back to her room, and finished what she was beginning when Laura came in, © At about half-past twelve she again left” the house, and this time she would have been taken for a boy... Her clothes were old, and she had made up her beautiful face so that she looked like a young tough. Among the things she had brought with her to Boston was a watch with a gold chain. | She did not know when she left New York that she would have any use for it, but, like her boy’s costume, she took it so that she might be prepeneg for anything that might happen. s The watch was in her p cket now. : Half-an-hour after eines she was in North ° $i street, : leet ane In spite of the late hour and tie told weather there » Pages of them wer .

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_ toughs, and among them all she was pretty certain that there was more than one professional crook. Ida did not go at once to the building which Laura _ Dash had entered. Laura had declared that her fence was not there, _ but Ida knew well enough that the girl lied. % She had gone in with her supposed stolen goods and she had come out without them, dnd that settled _ it, for she had ‘undoubtedly lied also in saying that _ she knew she was being followed. _ The detective waited becatise she knew too much about fences to go in scape an invitation unless she kad to. _ She hoped that good Jack or shrewdness, or both ¥ Soniined, would bring her in the way of some crook with whom she could make nan and so be led to the place. Pe The men ‘detectives had erees that slows more 4 “than once. __ So she went by the place, and was not at all dis- ‘couraged when she saw that ca EOE was eget ~ dark. het should fear I vil be mistaken,” she thought, “if the place was lighted up like an honest house.” ‘A little further on her attention was attracted by d cries, and she saw some men running. _ There was a bend in the street just in front. 4) Ida hurried around it, and saw three meft fighting sly. / _. Two of thera were evidently trying to knock out 1 ther, who was striking v ild, but. so rapidly that rt make much progre: ; ‘d was g: gathering around, and Ida joined it. e notice Mat the © one ‘mai was well’ dressed, he eter were si dis and Villainous-look- i Fi e other for the pepo of Eka: him. ently he was half-drunk, — a | be a one hitter if he wasn’t soaked, toe! alate fellow who stood ~miCK CARTER WEEKLY. drunken man got a hard blow ‘on the chest that 17 knocked his wind out and caused him to stagger until he fell full length. And at that instant there was a warning cry: “Gheese it! de cop!” Most of the crowd scattered hurriedly, among the first to run being the young fellow to whom Ida had spoken. The two who had been fighting the drunken man ran away also. Those who stayed stepped over to the other side of the street. : A policeman came running around the bend. The drunken man, who had not been badly hurt, was sitting up and looking, around. pereres cried the policeman, “what’s going on?” “Iam,” returned the drunk, thickly. “T’ve cleaned out the street—hicand I’ll clean’ out the next crowd—hie !—that has anything to say. Come on!” He got to his feet and began to spar ata eRe post. “Huh!” said the policeman, ” ‘you're a fine come- on, you are. I'll take you in.’ With that he caught the drunk by the arm and dragged him off toward the station. — The men who were looking on laughed quietly, “That's the way it is sometimes,” thought Ida; “the copper comes up just in time to lock up the _ victim, while the real guilty ones escape.” She strolied around for. a few minutes, looking for the young fellow to whom she had Spoken, and found him at last in a doorway. “Hello,” said he, when she stopped in front of him, “did the cop get those two?” » “No,” replied Ida, “they chased themselves away just in time.” _ “Huh! has the cop gone?” “Yes, he pulled in the swell.” “Huh!” ss He looked up and down the street cautiously. “Say,” said Ida, “I’m new here. Can’t you put me onto some joint where I can shove up/a ticker?” “Soak it?” | “No, sell it, you Nee: ‘a He looked at her's “Where'd you get ‘the pees! >” he asked.” _ J wouldn’t tell that to me best friend.” © ‘ is iy portal ere wes me, you go down the eset tan . ae

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18 to number,” here he mentioned a piaahes, j waltz right i in, They’ ll give you cash for it.’ “Come along with me, wiil yer?” “Naw! I’ve got troubles of me own.” He left the doorway then, and started up the street in the direction opposite to that that he told her to take. “All right,” called Ida, Pick obliged.” She started toward the number he spoke of, not because she’ had any idea of going in, but for the purpose of making. him. believe that she was in earnest. . He made no response. A short walk aay ia the detective’ to the number mentioned, : At a glance she saw it was a sailors’ lodging-hotise, one of the kind that is run by charitable people. A room on the ground floor was lighted, and there were two signs in the window. _ el One read: “The Door Is Never Locked.” The other made known that religious services were held there at a certain hour ev ery day, : “So!” thought Ida, “he was kidding me. This would be a nice place to offer a stolen watch for sale. | I think I shall have to give up trying to get friendly __with a crook, and brace that fence all by myself. “I’m not going to back out now, and I won't waste any more time about it.” She weit to the building she had seen Laura Dash enter, Few persons happened to $e on the ‘treet at this time, and ‘no ‘one’ was near when ‘she paused at the *e door. at pa 3B “and , Fi knob. Closing | the door Lape 3 her, she found herself in _totaldarkness. During the moment ise it was open she had oe ‘that there was a ‘allway here running toward fa along the hall until she came to the end, — ‘ she felt for a door, but without finding one. 1 she looked around toward the front again, The dettceive passed only long enotigh to bare: the The doit was not locked, aid Sis went quickly in.” whether by sibeek have to be up or vher | Pay ‘NICK CARTER WEEKLY. She felt her way to that spot, found there was a door there, and turned the knob. This door was locked, but before she had time to decide as to what she should. do next, the lock clicked, and the door was thrown suddenly open. A man stood beforesher holding the door partly open with one hand. She could not see his face clearly because the light. was behind him and faint at that. “What do you want? he demanded, roughly. “Oh!” said Ida, at once, putting on a swaggering tone, “this here’s the joint, is it? I want to come in and do business, see?”, “There’s nothing doing,” returned the man, start- ing to shut the door in her face. “Aw, say!’ she protested, ‘ ‘give a feller a chancet, well ye?”’ ‘A Voice from within the: room said: “Better let him in, Dave, if he’s got this far, and see what he wants.”’, : “All right, I don’t care, but I never seen him be- — fore,” replied Dave, and he stood aside, Ida stepped into. a room in which she saw at a. glance that there were nine men. It was a rather large room, very plainly furnished. Four of the men were playing cards at a table. | Others were in chairs, tipped back against the wall, smoking. _ A tougher set of men she had never seen before. /in one place, not Syen. in he prisoners’ pen at a, police court. ‘The card players" were too interésted in their ‘ game’to do more than glance curiously at her as she_ entered, but those in the chairs kept. their eyes. on | One in particular, ‘the most hortible-looking vile lain she had ever seen, stared at her i in ouch a way that’she almost shuddered. “Does he see through my disguise?” she won- ‘dered; “doés he know that I am a woman? “This looks as if it might be more than I fad bar gained for, but I’ I see te prongs fs R Hee CHARTER es tS os THE SECOND-STORY THIEF. toe bay! “gi ‘ae ko One os - Sabet’ am m4 she r ar ; on Fee hp him. e cog Or, ;

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“Hullo, kid!” said he, in a tone of surprise. “Hullo, kidder,’ she responded; “had me on a _ string, didn’t ye?” _ Before he could make any retort a man spoke, and _ Ida recognized the voice as that of the man who had _ given orders that she be admitted. “Do you know him, Dan?” he asked. _ “No,” replied the young ‘tough, “I just met him _ outside, that’s all.” 4 The one who seemed to be the leader addressed Ida. He had not left his chair, and, in fact, nobody _ had stirred. : _ “What are you doing here?” he asked. “I’m up against it,” Ida answered. “Hain’t got a ‘, red, but I struck a soft graft this afternoon, and I'd like to run it into dosh.” “This isn’t a pawnshop.” 7‘ “Don’t tell me that. I knowed that when I came b Eee ” ; “Well, kid, what do you think it is?” “Some people might call it afence.” a _ “Oh, no! this is a missionary society.” _ The men around the room laughed. “We are members. of, the! committee for giving h p to reformed jail bitds,” added the leader, pleased ‘with his own joke. {| + : here were more chuckles. . _ “G’wan,” said Ida, “I’m no chicken if I ain't got ; rh iskers.” “No,” said the man, more seriously, “I can see t. You've got nerve or you wouldn’t have come rere. But et fact is, kid, even s nobody here ng and wactges = rapid stepe along the hall- Y added the man, “there’s the boss. You not to be here, kid, vad there’s no way to get you out.” card players topped their game Sadibeity, man in nthe ht wee Lage gete inst the wall, lookeiog as if he E oe oF NICK CARTER WEEKLY. this eh die was the pat of a door og so nearly upset the detective still ° 19 He was well dressed, and his face, though crafty, was more like that of a gentleman than a criminal. “Ha!” said he, “two strangers.” “That one is all right,” explained the man who had been speaking to Ida. ‘‘He’s an expert second-story operator. The kid wandered in here to drop some- thing.” The boss glanced at the second-story thief, nodded as if the sight satisfied him, and turned to Ida. . “What are you here for?” he demanded, sharply. “I’m here for this,” she responded, taking out her old watch and chain, “’cause I don’t want to go any- , where else for it, see? I want to turn it into boodle and fergit it.” The boss took the watch‘in his hand, looked at it a moment, and asked: “How did you happen to come here?” “*Cause I was told it was the rignt sort of place.” “Who told you?” “Laura Dash.” Ida had foreseen this question, and had made up her mind how she would answer it. The boss started slightly and looked at her sharply. - She saw that other men in the room were in- terested at the mention of that name. | Then the boss smiled, and it was a smile of such villainous satisfaction that Ida was instantly sus- picious and on her guard. “Boys,” said he, “Laura Dash was pulled in less than two hours ago by the detective who had been spying opour friend Lan. Who this kid is, I don’t pretend to know, but I do know that Laura never sent him here. Put a string around him, and we'll attend to him after ie got the rest of the night’s business out of the way.” Dave and another man immediately stepped to- ward Ida. . One of them drew a strong cord from his pocket, and the other took out a gag. “It’s now or never,” thought Ida, quickly. “If I want je get out of here alive, it’s got to be done now.” She stepped quickly back a pace and flashed her revolver in the face of the astonished Dave. e _ “Halt!” she cried in a clear, determined sas ~ “another: step, and I'll fire!” — 4 Both: ae ae back rae started.

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Taking advaniage of this, Ida leaped toward the % door.. ~~ She had half crossed the room before a ruffians recovered from their surprise. “Stop him!” cried the boss. Two of the card players who were nearest jumped at her. She swung her revolver arm about, and fired full in the fellow’s face. He staggered back, howling, with an ugly but not dangerous wound. , Ways at once, and she found herself seized from be- hind, Hy Strong hands forced her back to that part of the room from which she had started. It was the villainous second-story thief who had done it, and everybody else in ate room was coming at her, She tried to shoot the man who grabbed ber, but for a moment she could not free her arm, He did not seem to think of taking her weapon Ne _ denly. Dave's blow missed, éo as he went stumbling past, the second-story thief brought him a awingitg ng Ay side blow that dropped him in aheap, Next instant two other ruffians attacked Ida. _ She was just getting her balance, and would have weapon the second-story thief sailed into them with crack when they landed. rnal one of gs ae sure fenth to stir!” ‘da understood. Ida gained a step by this, but she could not look os away, but he held her for an instant, or -tintil Dave — close and aimed ‘ fearful blow at her with his - Then the second-story Hote! pushed bet aside sud- - fired at them but that before she could aise her _ straight-arm blows that seemed 0 make saa oan tach confusion was so ge that half the. men 1 in “heer ‘he shouted, in a terrible voice; “back, ert “but T wages it was Het for you that I happened to ¢ fs oe - sure Ii was Sera si when uo aca me snt NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Then one made a break for a side door. It opened upon one of the alleys that Ida had seen in the daytime. In fact, it was the very door out of which Laura ' Dash had come so unexpectedly. Chick let the man get half through the door, and then fired. i The bullet took him in the shoulder, and he went staggering and groaning across the alley. Another man, who had started to make his escape in the same way, was brought down by Ida with a bulletin his arm, “You can have all you want, if you like the taste,” said Chick, with stern galmness. “I’m not particular whether the police find you dead or alive when Dees come.’ The shots, the groans of the wounded men, and the sight of the two detectives standing with re- volvers smoking and raised to fire again, awed the ruffians. They stood like statues, the boss particularly be- ,ing motionless and pale as marble. It was only for a few seconds, The noise of shots had alarmed the police in the. neighborhood, That was the reason why Chick had allowed one of the gang to get the door open, He knew that the shot would be heard further, and it proved that the presence, of the wounded man in — the alley guided the first policeman to the spot. “What the——” ; “We are Carter detectives,” interrupted Chick, “and we ean hold this crowd as long as you please, but you’ ’d better run back and send a call for a patrol wagon.” . This was done, and, before the wagon came, ‘Othe policemen ran up and helped the detectives put all _ thecriminals in irons. — ‘ : Not one escaped. ; a Chick hardly spoke to Ida until the last of. ee gang had been igh uh pe and locked up at the police station, hanes nie “That was a pleasant party, Ida,” he said, then, | ae be there.” y “Indeed it was,” she answered, “but I ae ey

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-“T should say not!” “T knew you the instant you came in, a I tried to '¢ you a look that you would understand.” . “Dear me! that look almost scared me, Chick, I ‘never saw you look so horribly.” ei) “Thank you,” .s Bidet I do right in trying to break aes. as | ‘Exactly, Ida, I pulled you back for two rea- . In the first place, I saw that a couple of the ans would head you off at the door. They had shots, and one of them would haye managed € you a soaker. ack, I made them believe that I was fighting for and got them to come toward me. That gave my chance to knock them out before they knew = they were at.” laughed quietly. . ; nd Twas ¢ trying to shoot You, ” she said. be ras CHAPTER 179. — partst’s prexm, know aes. said Chick, “and I-really think it was ser call for me than it was for you. If I hadnt ou pretty rough, you would have put a bullet But I understand, from what thé boss eis arrested Laura Dash.” | nee you get my telegram? Yr, 't been anywhere where you, could e past: eT Tae: hors. Aah me to Lda’ s boarding- ba sal of ‘hoe a ne na Slt will try will, In the next place, by pulling ; NICK CARTER WEEKLY. 21. His name is Lambert. I was pretty certain that I should get a confession from him, and I succeeded. “Lambert’s part in the scheme was to receive stolen goods for Stetson and some others who worked up that way, and hold it until there was a chance to ship it to the fence in North street that we broke up to-night. “He told me all about it.. The fence is run by the man they call the boss. He is supposed to be a re- Spectable merchant here in Boston, and he goes under the name of Hawley. I doubt whether that’s his real name, but it doesn’t matter. His real busi- ness is the management of thieves. “For the past twenty-four hours I have been play- ing thief and getting evidence against Hawley. “I hadn’t seen the man until to-night, and I was _in the joint waiting for him. “My plan was to get a good look at him, see how he did business, then make an excuse to get out and bring around a squad of police before the gang broke up for the night. “As soon as you came in, I knew I should have to change my scheme.” ‘ “I hope my coming didn’t spoil your plan,” said Bis “Not a bit. It brought things to a head a little faster, that was all. I've got’ all the evidence we need, and I think we can say that everybody in the gang is now under arrest, except Stetson,” “I hope Nick catches him.” “So do I, and, as there’s nothing I gan do about it to-night, I shall go to a hotel and get some of the sleep I’ve been png In the nee T'll join Nick.” ~ They were now at ,the Dover aun boarding- house, and they said “good-night” there. As indicated before, ) Nick and Patsy had been ex- ploring | the country lying to the north of Boston, _ because it was there that Stetson had committed the ieee crimes that had attracted Nick's attention to him in the first place. They had found many traces of him. Sal, for in- stance, had come upon a roadside tavern, where Stet- ud son had spent soreeal: days, negetiotols after a not 7 boa near by, The rate t tavern had no idea that the

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22 tions, and there was one time when he pretended to help the police hunt for himself. Another time, when he had been hard pressed by the police, Stetson had stayed for a week at a farm, doing odd jobs about the place for his board and lodging. He didn’t go away until the police had scoured that neighborhood and given up the chase. It caused Nick and Patsy a great deal of trouble to find out these things, but everything they learned convinced them that the place to look for the crim- inal was in the country that he was familiar with. They felt certain that, so soon as he believed that the pursuit had been dropped, he would bréak loose somewhere north of Boston. So they kept their own movements very quiet, and ‘ nobody knew that they were on the hunt, except a \ few high officers of the Boston police force. Patsy’s part of the hunt had been to start in near Newburyport, where Stetson had been captured, and zig-zag across the county, working steadily toward the south. Nick had begun his operations nearer Boston. On the morning after Ida’s adventures, they met in Arlington, a few miles north of the city. Patsy had been on the tramp. all night. he had had almost no sleep for several days. “Well?” said Nick, when he saw the young man. Patsy held up both hands, palms downward. “Nothing, eh?’ Nick added. “Nothing new,” replied Patsy. slippery customer I ever tackled.’ “I should say so! Think of having our hands on him for more than a week!” “What do you mean, Nick?” “Why! Ida—but you haven’t heard from her, I suppose?” “No.”, “That's so. You pve been where her tele- gram would reach you. Well, I got this at three o'clock this morning.” He handed Ida’s telegram to Patsy. Zs In fact, “He's the most It was the One which told briefly of Stetson’s es- _ cape. a - Patsy shrugged his shoulders. and handed it bei “It’s no fault of Ida’s,” said Nick. “It simply vi i shows what a sharp crook we have to deal with. The ; mt ops just sibs me this Tetter, iy NICK CARTER WEEKLY. He then gave Patsy the letter that Ida had written before her encounter with Laura. When he had read it, it was Patsy’s turn to say: “Well?” “I’ve been on the watch ever since,” said Nick, “but nothing has happened. I’m sure he couldn't get out of Boston by rail, for every train is watched by central office men. He’s got'to go by carriage road, and, knowing as-much about him as we do, I feel that the road leading through this village i is the one he is most likely to take.” “I'd bank on that,” responded Patsy; “but isn’t it probable that he’s got beyond this point already?’ “Do you think he’d get by me?” “Not if he came thisgway. He may have taken some other road.” . “Of course, but I’m going to watch here for a while. The thing for you to do, Patsy, is to get sleep. You moh as if yoti were Jat about at the end of your rope.” “Oh, no!” cried the young man, trying to look fresh. “As long as\there’s anything to be done, I can keep awake.” “T believe that, but there's nothing to be done, my boy ; that is, nothing for two of us. You go into the hotel there and get a room. three hours, or sooner, if there's any need, and when you get wp) you be be worth four times as much as you are now.’ “I guess you're right, Nick. 4 presume a kid could do me now, if there was a fight.” Patsy went into the hotel and was shown to a room that overlooked the street. It was always his habit to sleep with a window open, and so, although it was winter, he : ee a window before he lay down. Nick remained on the street for the Herpes of watching the trolley cars that passed there on their way from Boston. “There was a shop for the sale and repair of auto- mobiles next to the hotel, and at this time a machine had been stopped before the door to tured tire plugged. a id As usual under such Sir oapietainetas a number of men and boys gathered around afte watched the work, Nick Woked on also—not because he was inter® ested, but in order to keep bes peg attention : to himself. ne j (ll call you after two or, * rane a punc- . ee

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hy +pts + automobile caer up. ek ~- n Was going at high speed when first seen, and the villag gers ‘Supposed that it was Rows. to pass, but the the road neat ‘the ads ‘door. * “Gee!” exclaimed one of the bystanders, ‘machine is a flyer, ain’tit?” ae be seit for speed,” remarked eaeidee, , “Wonder who ’tis?”) °° * Hy a ‘There were various guesses, the names of séveral ‘rich Boston mén beifig méntioned, but nobody could be sire: who “the driver. of the. thachine was, for he had on a cap with a vizor'that covered the upper part is face; his eyes: were concealed by big goggles, d there was a muffler over tis mouth. other words, he was rigged out like the regula- chauffeur, as the drivers of imi are “e any: mskdtheeP=e called to thie mah who: eae over the pictured tire. - the ee gaye Ld Se ! NS pF ar t cages rts Bier ive te 2 “that ooking up. ed oe ig saga tt Beis ick CARTER WEEKLY. 23 About half-a-minute - after he had disappeared, Patsy came running from the hotel. He was not wholly dressed, but was putting on his coat as he ran. Ess His eyes were wild and excited. “Nick!” he said, in a husky tone, “didn’ t you get him?” “Get him?” echoed Nick, “what’s the matter?” Patsy looked around as if he was only half awake. “T fell asleep the instant I lay down,” he muttered. “Of course you did. -We all dos What did you wake so soon for? I haven't called you.” - “No, but somebody did.” so “Eh? Ee > “T’ mean, I thought I heard secs I suppose e “must - have. dreamed hed Patsy. was again ‘looking around ioquiriagly. “See here!" cried Nick, suddenly, “what did ‘you dream ?” “T can t remember, but I heard a -voice and tried to get up. Lcan only remember one thing the voice _ said,” u “What was 56 ?”? “The voice said: ‘Get a move on. “Well, there was a man here just now WAG ‘said that.” “There was?” Patsy _ clutched Nick. by the atm. The young man was wide awake now,. but more. _ excited than before. Pee is ; “Where has he gone?” he wdhispaked “Up the road in an automobile.” “Nick, I knew that voice! I know I am right. |The man who said ‘Get a move on’ was es Stet- son!” 3

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24 “The scoundrel has slipped out of our grasp again!” groaned Patsy: ° “No, he hasn’t,”’ retorted Nick, then. him this time, or give up the business!” He dashed into the automobile shop. “Which is your swiftest machine?” he asked. “That one,” said the dealer, pointing. Nick gave it a hasty examination. “Is it ready for use?” “Tll have “Tt’s a good one,” he said. “Oh, yes.” ~“T must have it.” ’ “You want to hire it?! rx “I’m not particular “We don’t loan valuable Maus like that unless we know the party——” “What's your price for it? ” ' “Twelve hundred dollars,” . In a twinkling Nick’s wallet was in his hand, and he was counting out some large bills. 9 _ “Got all you med ?” askéd Patsy, Ral Cie out his own roll, “Yes.” _ He handed the amount to the astonsitied dealer, “Rush that machine into the road,” ordered Nick. “Yes, sir.” 7 ; _ The dealer was beginning to write a receipt for the money. _ . | “Hang the bill of sale!” fied Nick. “Get that pe machine out where I can use it.” es: nie” he dealer. stuffed the: billstinto his pocket, and : , ran around to the machine. “Better have it inspected, sir,” he suggested. - “Inspected! Yorf said it was in working order.” ~ “So it is, but we usually give a machine a looeing over before it leaves the shop. ie ne ape’ chance : aw ; “Very well, sir sir.” . rere + "Plenty of gasoline aboard?” , - The tank is fal, si.” “Out with it, shen ”” - NiGK. CARTER WEEKLY. Pe eon ee ‘a woulda’ sis aeee “You go back to bed, Patsy,” said Nick. - “I'd like to take you along, but J‘am afraid the extra weight \ would keep me back. He must be:two miles ahead of me already.” eS eee ee ae Patsy was disappointed, but he knew that Nick was right: 3 If there was any chance of overtaking the flying criminal ‘it was in giving the mavhine nothing unnec- essary to do. So the young detective returned to the hotel. - | Nick’s start was slow, for it took some time for the | machine to get up full steam. Before he had got well to going it was probable that Stetson had gained: on him another mile. “If he’s really going to try for a long run to-day,” thought Nick, remembering what the chauffeur had said when he askéd for gasoline, “and if he is sen- sible, he won't push too hard, and that will give me a chance to come up with. him. I wonder how fast this thing can go?” 4 | ; He was not long i in getting beyond the village, ; The roadway had been cleared of snow most of the : way, but there were low drifts alongside. : The detective had noticed that there was acyclom- eter om. the machjne, and when he saw a. long, straight stretch ahead, Hé took out his watch and timed a mile. It was not a cold day for winter, but the rush of air - was icy on his unprotected face. " The tears came into his ee so that he seemed to. 3 be looking through a mist. He pulled his hat down low on his forehead to protect his eyes as much as possible, but at that he. suffered severely. : Only those who have tried running an auto at high speed can understand how necessary the. ign = goggles and mufflers cake pam the regular Cheutiegy a use. RS per 48 “Apter: was anything but the catching of that daring

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“He was quite familiar with, the running of the ma- chine,. for he had made some study of it. i That was the way he did with every new invention. He wanted to be ready to make use of anything that t might help him in ‘his business. +8 So, when the famous Frenchman, Fournier, was this. country, Nick quietly Vane some lessons of Fournier has won most. of. the i ohie races here and in Europe since the machine was invented, and from him Nick learned. all that was necessary for ¢ the highest possible speed out of the auto he now traveling in. . her . was a curve in the: road before. hie came to ‘end of his ‘mile, and, as. he swung around it, he another auto, coming toward him. wonder if ‘Stetson has tried to double on his c ser he thought. es: * The other auto was fully half-a-mile away. ~ “Seventy-five seconds,” he muttered. “That's do- i evied well for a start, but i asiust igi it up to a a a ‘minute. as <eigihal that i ae i ar goo one, bid) ra a hae Sictide he aad see that the coming auto not the one in which he had’seen the criminal. e distance back: he has pres the beginning ie eee . ‘ — vit hela up his hand to tile % A: bai ’ or ee os é ¥ We & NICK CARTER WEEKLY. Nick glanced at his cyclometer ‘and watch. - 25 trary, he seemed to be gaining. Artd it showed, also, that Stetson was not likely to turn off the main road. The branch roads would be less clear of snow. “If Stetson wanted to make speed, he would have to stick to the turnpike. . Nick got up speed again without delay. Soon he passed through a village, but he did not stop to ask questions, for he was certain that his man was ahead. t Two or three miles further on he noticed curving wheel tracks in the snow at the side of the road. “Looks as if he turned into the drifts,” Nick. A little further and Nick himself had to turn into the drift, for a wagon carrying a big load of hay was in the middle of the road. Nick slowed down to pass around it. “Seen another auto go by?” cane? — to the thought “T wonder why?” farmer who was driving. “Yes, gol darn him!’ was the angry pe “He seemed to think he owned the highway.” “That was Stetson,” thought Nick. He pushed rapidly up a grade, and wheit he was at the top he found a straight stretch of road in front of him for more than a mile. Away at the further end was a black speck that disappeared-around a curve almost as soon as Nick sawit,: +) ee He shut his jaws together, and put on all the power possible. ' a _ Down the grade, faster om faster, till he could sce nothing but two lines of white on each ate vars the detective. .. As he came near the ey he ed see iota at all ahead, but there were the lines of white to guide him. ; Fete | . They were the drifts of snow along ‘is roadside. He was going re) fast, m more than, a mile.a minute now, that cm, seemed to be waving like clothes: ona < eee Be rt I e, » taking his chances chee upset Dc the a again.

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6 It was twice as large now, and he knew it to be the auto that carried Lan Stetson. There was another straight stretch, level. Stetson, unsuspecting the pursuit, was saving his machine. Nick, therefore, sain sand The distance between the two had become no more than two hundred yards? when Stetson sud- denly looked back. _ No need to tell him anything! : "Instantly he put on all the power he had, and there was a race in earrvest. +3 Nick dashed the water few his eyes. pee gathered again quickly, but he kept rubbing it Saye and saw that he was gaining. ‘eetehans looking: around again, saw the same thing. \ Once more he tried to get more hy from his Bayer eee: F He bent over to make his hdy give he least basi wh sible resistance to the wind. | 3 -Then ‘he must have become ‘convinced that the ‘s ‘pariaee had the faster machine, for he suddenly stood up and faced the. detective with-a drawn revolver. |. Shut 8: si vaste or ea ‘rea dead oan) ‘ “he “shouted. Senet 20 She "Nick never leds maine : ay - Stetson’s machine was going as before, but he was sts not guiding it now; and. ainete: ‘it ee lump of | ice and snow. © ‘ ac gent Tt was small penn ise ie was: jus enough J Gilby the forward els little. 3 a den ave he steering ea too fons hg a turn. It, ee bite, slewed — a began. to ey ey é eet Ni seeats a? th lanai Nick was. 5 alose a fal ik Te ned not to, use ‘it, if he- pind — NICK CARTER WEEKLY. It was a last desperate effort to kill his pursuer. The bullet whistled by Nick’ s face, and at the same instant the machines collided, just as Nick had an- ticipated. - Both men went flying through the air. As Nick was prepared for it, he shot clean ov er Stetson’s machine, and landed in a drift, through which he*slid for two rods or more. ’He was somewhat shocked and winded, but he picked himself up quickly and ran back to Stetson. The criminal had plunged into the drift also, but, not. heing. prepared. | he had not been able to ‘save himself. . Instead of sliding His, it safely, he pene eget’ ‘straight down, and his head struck a covered Fock: Stetson’s skull was smashed in. He was. dead before Nick knelt beside him.* a4 “Well,” said Nick, thoughtfully to himself, “the hangman. has lost a job, but ‘we. didn’t need his evi- dence, so. perhaps it’s just a as well tq end this way “as any other.” an . The atitomobiles were too’ badly datoaged for further use at that time, but Nick hired a farmer to drag them, to: the peers haat where they were put in order. ee It prdved that Stetson had stolen his machine from in front of a house on Commonwealth avenue oe: an early hour that morning. © > aaa ee rag 9 eeepaetce * ‘before the rane was over, e' by. a ‘sedegeama 4 Gans. Nick, who found his name on A some, articles i in the ‘auto. ‘rage ne This. adventure ended the work ‘i the deere 2 “that part of the country for ; a time, but’ * fect to let them work elsewhere.” : : ; =) a oe S ‘ 4 iit vine END, %, tant case, 2 an sepia : f issue (New 2

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f _. FUN FOR EVERYBODY! This is where all of the funniest stories sent in by the contestants in the prize contest appear. Here are some right off the bat just sent in. Read them, boys, and then send in your own. _ This contest has become one of the most successful ever conducted. The entry list even now is simply : enormous. This is the last week of it. & Look out for a New Contest next week! % : Peter’s Courtship. te ? (By R. P. Taylor, Oklahoma. ) __- Well, you see, me and Sal got along middlin’ well for _ some time till I made up my mind to fetch things toa head, for I loved her harder and harder every day. . And I had an idea that she had a sorter sneaking kind- ness for me, but how to dew the thing up right pestered me orful. _I got some love books and red how fellers got _ down on their marrow bones and talked like parrots and _ the gals they would gently fall into the feller’s arms, but, somehow, that way didn’t suit my notion. I asked -marm how dad courted her, but she said it had bin so long that she'd forgot all about it. (Unkle Joe allers says marm done all the courtin’.) At last I made up my _ mind to go it blind, for this thing was fairly consuming _ my innards. So I goes over to her daddy’s, and when I = there I sot like a fool thinking how I should begin. Sal, she sed somethin’ was a trublin’ me, and sez she: — ** Ain’t you sick?’’ _ **Yes—no,’’ says I; ‘‘that is, I ain't exactly well, I _ thought I’d come over it to-night,’’ sez I. _ “That’s a mighty purty beginnin’, anyhow,” thinks ; so I tried again. o : “*Sal,’’ sez I, and about this time I felt mighty faint yeasy. — “What?’’ sez Sal. bomen sex 1, agdin, ~ yy. “What ?’’ sez she. a we “T'll get to it arter a while, at this luck,”’ thinks T. “‘Peter,’’ sez she, \‘there’s something a troublin’ you ful, I no. It’s mity wrovg for you tew keep it | a body for an innefd sorrér is a consuming fire.”’ She sed this, she did, the dear, sly creatur’. She noed was the matter all the time mity well, and was a trying to fish it out, but I was gone so far I didn’t the point. At Jast I kinder sorter gulped down the as was raising in my throat and sez I: | 1, does you love everybody?” ber fn gers all the tinie with eyes sorter shut like a Well,” says she, ‘‘thar’s dad and miarm and (count-_ of herself and sed I orter get one of them. That sorter got my dander up and so I hitched my cheer close to hern and shet my eyes and tremblously sed: “Sal, you are the very gal I’ve been hankering after for a long time. I Juv you all over from the sole of your head to the foot of your crown, an’ I don’t care who knows it, and if you say so we’ll be joined together in the holy bons of matrimony e pluribus unum, world without end,’’ sez I; and I felt like I’d thrown up an allygator, I felt so relieved. With that, she fetched a sorter scream, and she sez, sez she: ‘**Peter!’’ “ ““What is it, Sally 2’? sez I. “*Yes,’’ sez she, a hidin' her purty face behind her hands. (You may depend upon it, I felt orful good.) “Glory! glory!’’ sez I. ‘I must hollar, Sal, or I’11 bust wide open. Hooray for hooray. I kin jump over a teu rale fence, can do everything that any feller could, would or orter do. With that I sorter sloshed wyself down by her and clinched the bargain with a kiss—and such a kiss—talk about your sugar, talk about yer mer- lasses, talk about yer blackberry jam, you couldn’t have got me to come nigh ’em; they would all a tasted sour arter that. If Sal’s daddy hadn't hollered out: ‘‘It’s time for all ‘onest folks to be in bed,’’ I do believe I'd stayed there all nite. ‘ lg An Irish Letter. (By John L. Holsinger, Pennsylvania.) The following letter was written during the Rebellion Z au Irish member of Parliament to his friend in Lon- on: } My Dear Sir: Having now a little peace and quiet- ness, I sit down to iuform you of the dreadful bustle and confusion we are in from these bloodthirsty rebels, most of whom are, I am glad to say, killed and dispersed. We are in a pretty mess, can get nothing to eat, nor Wine to drink, except whisky, and when we sit down to dinner we are obliged to keep both hands armed. While I write this I hold a sword in each hand and a pistol in the other. I concluded trom the beginning that this would be the end of it, and I see I was right, for it is not half over yet. At present there are such goings on that everything is at a standstill. I should have answered your letter a fortnight ago, but I did not receive it until this morning. Indeed scarcely a mail arrives safe without being robbed. No _ longer ago than yesterda y the coach with the mails from Ahis’ town; the bags had been

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28 judiciously left behind for fear of accident, and by good luck there was nobody in it but two outside passengers, who had nothing for the thieves to take. Last Thursday notice was given that a gang of rebels was advancing here under the French standard, but they had no colors, or any drums except bagpipes. Immediately every man in the place, including women and children, ran out to meet them. We soon found our force much too little. We were far too near to think of retreating. Death was in every face, but to it we went, aud by the time half onr little party were killed, we began to be all alive again. Fortunately, the rebels had no guns, except pistols, cutlasses and pikes, and as we had plenty of muskets and ammunition we put them all to the sword. Not a soul of them escaped except some that were drowned in an adjacent bog, and, in a very short time nothing was to be heard but silence. Their uniforms were all different colors, but mostly green, After the action we went to rummage a sort of camp, which they had left behind them. All we found was a few pikes without heads, a parcel of empty bottles full of swater, and a bundle of French commissions filled with Irish names. Troops are now stationed all around the country, which exactly square with my ideas. I have only time to add that I am in great haste. Yours truly, . &. If you do not receive this, of course it must have beev miscarried, therefore I beg you will write to let me know, o_o The Dutchman’s Offer. (By James Robin, Pennsylvania.) A German in Chicago who has not paid much atten- tion to learning English had a horse stolen from his barn the other nigh lows: : **Vone nite de oder day, ven I vas bin awake in my - shleep I heare sometings vat I tinks vas not yust right in my parn, and I out sbumps to bed and runs mit the parn out; and ven I vas dere coom I sees dat my pig. iron gray mare he vas bin tide loose and run mit the shtaple avay, and whoeffer will him back pring, I vill yust so much pay him as was him kushtomary.”’ - The Country Circus. ‘up y-five ria Foreclaw’s pA, . 2, ” . ; all the animals, hit owithee , whereupon he advertised as fol- — rk- walking NICK CARTER WEEKLY. with tew tails, I asked a man what it was, and he said it was an ‘‘elegent.’’ Then I‘asked him if all elegents had two tails. He got mad and said: ‘fYou darn fool, that ain’t two tails. That big one in front is his trunk.”’ - Tah I laughed, and he laughed, and my girl laughed, and I said: sp ‘‘Well, if that big snapper in front is his trunk, the little snapper behind must be his valise.’’ Then the show started and the fellow with the painted face sang a song. He Knew Her. (By Sterling Widener, South Carolina.) A young man living in town was visited by his aunt and uncle from the country. One morning his uncle went with him to his office, and while there the young man had oecasion to use the telephone which was con- nected with his residence. Now, his uncle, who had never saw one before, was curious to know what it was, so the young man calling up his wife at home told her to send Aunt Mariah to the ‘phone; then telling his uncle to put the receiver to his ear, told him to call bis wife’s name, and that she would hear him and answer him. The old man. thinking that there was some trick, was reluctant to do it, but after prevailing with him a while the young man finally got him to consent to go to the ’phone. Picking up the receiver he placed it to his ear and bawled out: ‘*Mariah!’’ when about that time lightning struck the wire and knocked the old man down. Picking him- self up, the old man limped over to where his nephew was standing, he exclaimed, ‘‘ That was her all right!’’ A Promising Lot. . (By James Hanly, Ilinois.) z The Big Lie Club has opened a branch at Chicago, and on Friday last thirty-five persons presented them- selves for enrollment. The chairman pointed out that each one would be required to say something which would justify his being enrolled a member, Said applicant number one: | — rm) ‘I know a man who is so tall he has to mount a forty- member, rung Jadder to shave himself,” ‘*T know a woman,’’ said the next would-be er, ‘twho is so thin it takes three of her tomake a shadow,”’ “T caught a piece of cheese running my dog all around the house this morning,’ said a third, bone es I know a nigger,”’ began a fourth, “who. is so white . * that——’’ a i nf « at How He Got Even, (By Le R. Nelson, Ohio.) A certain tax assessor se or of a district in Chicas mpgs etme anh Alpe . 24 “Stop!” cried the chairman, ‘‘you are all enrolled."

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a NICK CARTER WEEKLY. brushed the dust off his clothes, and started again for his destination, thinking of some plan to get even with the owner of the goat. During the next assessment, as he was assessing the _ tax on the goods of the owner of the goat, he taxed the - __'man eight dollars for the goat. _ “Eight dollars,’’ exclaimed the astonished man. “Why, I only paid fivefor him. Read me the law.”’ Zz Taking a large book from under his atm, the assessor _-read the following: eu ‘*Any man owning property a-butting on Neil street will be taxed four dollars a foot, four feet eight dollars.”’ “| Tt yg Effective Medicine. "(By Clifford Crouch, Norwich, Coun.) - Once’ there were two Hebrew doctors. Their names __ were Isaacstein and Goldsmith. They had just started out in business to sell their patent medicines, which -were Electric Oil and a Healing Compound. _- Phey started in different directioys, but a year later met at the same hotel. ‘ ; - ** Vell, how vas your medicine selling?’ asked Dr. ae » -Isaacstein. i - **¥ei},?? said Dr. Goldsmith, ‘‘I have solt a goot ‘many bottles, and have some pretty goot testimonyals.”’ Then, taking from bis pocket he read as follows: Dear Sir: A year ago I was run over by atrain and had both legs cut off. I at once began taking your Heal- ing Compound and they grew on again. eS * Yours truly, . Dan Smith. €*Well, dot is noding, just gome up to my room. I vill show you sometings dat vill make your eyes stick out,’ said Isaacstein. es: 4 went Spits, and Isaacstein produced a paper and read as follows: ~ Dear Sir: I was born without liver or lights, but at ence took your Electric Oil. I took ten bottles and now my liver weighs 24 pounds, and I have electric lights. <) aa a3 1 ri i, 322 truly, John Smith. eva peesni net ons mit him, so ve gould do -schtore,’? he’ says, ere @ pooty schtock § Moral: t Ww dT ooiy bat? with an ax and 29 *bout a tousand tollars vort of goods in de place, so I says: ‘‘ You ton’t vould tink I hat more as dree tousand dollars in dis leetle schtére,\ ain’t it?’’ He says: ‘‘You tou’t tole me! Vos dot bossible!’’ I’savs, ‘* Yaw.”’ **Vell,”’ says der shentleman, ‘‘I dinks you ought to know petter as anybody else vot you have.’’ Und den he takes a pig book und says, ‘‘ Vell, I poots you town for dree tousand dollars.’’ I ask him vot he means py ‘‘hoots me down,’’ und den he says he vos au assessor of broperty, und he tank me so kindly, pecause he says I vas sooch an honest Deutcher, und didn’t dry und sheat der gofermants. I dells you I didn’t veel any petter as a hundred {er cent. ven he valks oudt of the schtore, und der next time I makes free mit strangers I vinds first deir peesnis oudt. Wanted Water Next Time. (By M. La Verne, Corbin, Michigan.) A teacher in a Dallas County (Texas) public school has received the following letter: ‘*Sir: Will you in the future give my son easier somes to do at nites? This is what he’s brought hoam to or three nites back: ‘If fore gallous of beer will fill thirty too pint bottles, how many pint and a half bottles will a gallin of bere fil?’ **Well, we tried and could make nothin’ of it, at all, at all, and my boy cried and said he’d get licket; so I had to by a nine gallin keg of bere, which was aginst my religion, as well as my pocketbook, and he went down cellar and got sum bere and brandy bottles; we filled them, and my boy put the number down for an answer. I don't no whether it is write or knot, as we spilt sum of the bere, while doing it. “'P. S.—Please iet the next some be in water, as I am not able to buy more bere.’’ A Modern Fable. (By Guy C. Thompson, Indiana.) Once upon a time a Spring Lamb strayed far from the Shepherd’s precinct, and becoming Weary, he stopped at a Babbling Brook to refresh his Interior Department. Now, it happened to Happen that an old Gray Wolf was treating himself toa Drink just below at the same B. B,, and observing the Lamb in the water he called out, angrily: ‘*Say, you! Remove your Pedal Extremities from that Aqua Pura. Can’t you see you are riling the Mud and thus making the liquid unpalatable?” ‘*Go to, you old Growler!’’ retorted the Lamb, ‘‘If the Riled water Riles you, suppose you go and chase yourself. See?’ ~ “You will see what I see,’’ replied the Wolf, who was fond of Lamb with Sauce, whereupon he Started in to make Mincemeat of the Innocent. But scarcely had he begun the Job when, Lo aud Behold, his teeth brot%e short off and he was compelled to Sneak away in Dis- and the Lamb trotted back to his mother, where, shedding a few Prodigal tears, he lived happily ever after. : ing Spring Lamb arm yourself

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Stamp and Coin Department. Each week, in this department, you will find special articles about stamps and coins., We also give an oppor- i tunity to our readers to make exchanges of coins, as well as stamps, through this department free ‘of cost, and we will answer, in a-special column, any questions our readers would like to ask on these subjects. Address all com- munications to the ‘‘Stamp and Coin Department.” \ Hints to Coin Collectors. Coins have interested mankind from their first i incep- tion to the present date, and as their numbers have in- creased there has been a certain quantity laid away and forgotten for one reason or another, only to be found years later when, perhaps, their value has increased enormously; unfortunately, there is no established rule by which their value can be determined by those who are not in the business, because the commercial price of a coin depends upon a number of circumstances, the _ principal factor being the quantity originally coined and the number of amateurs engaged in forming sets of the “series to which it belongs. For instance, a 1793 half cent is very much rarer than a cent of the same date, but will not sell for as high a price because there are. com- paratively few collectors of half cents. Then as to date, the 1798 is one of the commonest of the old series of cents, while the next date, 1799, is the rarest. Again, we pay 50 cents for an 1873 silver 3 cent piece, and sel] genuine Roman coins, 2,000 years old, for 10 cents. Then, the condition of a coin has a great deal to do with its value; all old coins, in perfect condition, have, some value, but by perfect condition we mean exactly as it came from the mint, a coin on which you can read every word plainly may not even be in what we call good con- dition. 2% United States Coins. The series of silver coinage was commenced by the U. S. mint the year following the regular copper issue, the dollars being first struck in 1794, and continued up to 1804, from which date to 1836 no coins of this denomi- natiop were issued by the U. S. mint. mie first cent struck at the U. S. mint is known as the Franklin. penny although the immortal Ben was in no Ae connected with its issue; but as it bears on its and apothegm—Mind Your Business—which reads like one ofvhis sayings, it was early attributed to Frank- jin, and still goes by his name.. The regular series, how- ever, commences with the 1793 cent, of which there are three types and fifteen varieties. From this date we have _ a regular yearly issue, broken only i Ae in which ‘Year no anit were pce he Nigra + around the edge the valamie expressed as ae ceuts — - CORRESPONDENCE. Dan Burford.-—Send a‘eopy of your drawing to the Scott Coin Co. W. Brady, Pa.--By sending to any first-class dealer you can obtain a complete set of Guam stamps for $4.50. H. Earl.—Your coin is what-is properly called a colo- nial coin of England. It was struck for Virginia in 1773 and passed as half pence. It is an interesting piece to the American collector, and while tolerably common, sells for fifty cents, R. R. Kingston, N. Y.—If your 2-cent brown, has no embossing and is on hard white paper, it is a reissue of © 1875 and is catalogued at $7, new or used. A set was issued in 1870-71, on ordinary paper, the 2-cent issue of 1 which is catalogued at $1.50 new and 2-cent used. W. I. X.—Your drawing was not distinct enough for us to determine what the coin you refer to is. A flying , eagle nickel cent of 1858 is worth just about a cent. 5 Most of the large collectors have such a large stock of k cents of that date on hand that they are unwilling to pay { anything more for them unless they are in exceptionally . fine condition. Tileston, Randolph, Mass.—Your rubbings are from ; the following: 1. Turkish 4o paras, 1255 A. H., Abdul Medjid. (1839-61), struck in the eighteenth year of his reign; the inscriptions, letters and figures are in'Turk- ish.” 2. Is not a coin but .a medal of no recognized value struck during the time of George III. in England, 3. A common Italian centesimo of the late King Hum- bert, of Italy. Intrinsic value in U.S. currency, one- fifth of a cent. p S. M.—There are no premiums on the dollar (silver) of 1859, the 2 cent pieces of 1864, 1865 and 1867, or the small cents of 1858, 1860 and 1863. The half dollars of 1829 and 1832, if good, sell for 75 centseach. The 1838 __ quarter is worth 50 cents, If you will again exainive — a your piece of 1806, having all the indications of a a dollar, but with no value expressed, you will notice that oe half ‘a dollar.”’ m2 %

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___ NEW PRIZE CONTEST. : “It is to Laugh?” Read : i What is the funniest story you ever heard, boys? What’s the latest joke? Do you know any good ones? If you do, here isa chance for you to win some dandy prizes. We are going to give away these Prizes to the boys who ’ send us the Funniest Stories or the Best Jokes, The Three Boys Who Send Us the Funniest Stories will each receive a first-class, up-to-date Banjo, These banjos — dre beautiful instruments and are warranted in every particu- | lar. They have 11-inch calf heads, walnut necks, and veneered’ finger boards, with celluloid inlaid position dots, raised frets, — twenty-four nickel brackets and wired edge. These instru- ments can be easily mastered, and every boy should jump at | ___ the opportunity to win one. The Five Boys Who Send Us the Next Funsicst Stories will each receive a complete Magie Trick Outfit, including _ the Magician's Mill, the Columbus Egg, the Enchanted Money Box, the Magician’s Whip, the Enchanted Rose, the Ghostly Finger, the Box, the Great Transformer the Phantom Ring, the Magic Dice, and the Fire Hater. Besides all the magic tricks, the outfit includes a private instruction hook for the use of the operator. at The Ten Boys Who Send Us the Next Funniest Stories 4 will each receive a pair of heavy Military Regulation Leg- | __ gings, just the thing for winter wear while coasting. or skat- ing, or for tramping the snow. Warm and durable. Made of — extra heavy brown canvas, with four straps, . Send in your stories at once, boys. All the best ones will be | __ published on another page. Watch for them! Some of the funniest stories, jolliest jokes and side-splitting grinds ever — _ heard are going to appear there. This contest will close February x. Remember, whether — _ Your story wins a prize or not, it stands a good chance of being :4 , together with your name, To become a contestant for these prizes, you must cut out © the Prize Contest Coupon, printed herewith ; fill it out prop- "SMES NEIAL EAS AAAe RE VNE NEA ES NENREURESLEVAENNEDRE NERNEY NEA EE RENEE eseeviests ey wy NS COUPON ER WEEKLY PRIZE CONTEST. Dia 2 kee aNd eds ig Me 2 FO + i * > ae | Seen “Naaie j F 7: eta 3 a er k - : ee ene eee eeepc cree eoemereeeereeresecers be > Bi? 4 a r ; 3 ae RA seer Steg th ok ad . . oeneeee a ee . eee ah Mele tcvee go tie Cece sore if tot te oe) a % Sane eine e eeine ye enetnrr tent ee Y ap SUENEVENE ENE HEE NEE VENEER NENE NEVE HEV ENE NE NENEVE'S SHIRLEY’S 20TH CENTURY Lovers? Guide LOVE, COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE. AAA : HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF A FAVORITE WITH THE GIRLS. PRICE, 10 CENTS. Here is a book that every young man should have. Look atsome of the contents: The Symptoms of Love—Getting Acquainted—When to "Tbe Age to Marry—Love P: Qualities— Love — Flirtation — Prudery — tion — ~ — How to falta RS est hen _ price—Confidence— — The es of Love—Pro- ing Se penny ng: bo Wooing of a Widow—Lovers’ Quesrele-Long and Short Engagements —The Rejection of a Proposal—The Reject Pleasing a Sweetheart —Courtship — Love Gifts— Love ignals and Signs—Embraces—The Art af ig—Love . Letters—Letters Ex g Love—Proposal by Answer :o Same—- ent — Announcement — etc., eter, etc. rd a a ey re) These are only a few of the best subjects treated, and which & gna hd eh asa pety esate gna ee ye on tet 9 Ss Por sale by all pee ealers. If edased by mail, add four cents & or postage. STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., New York City, SveeE YS vee (30 HOW TO WRITE A LETTER! SHELDON'S 20m CENTURY LETTER WRITER The best guide to correct modern letter writing published! PRICE, 10 CENTS. In this volume, every phrase of letter writing is treated, and innumerable samples of correctly-writ- ten letters are ‘given; showing how a young man may address a baygker.or a teacher, a friend or a stranger, a bridegroom or a widower, etc., etc. A FEW OF THE MANY SUBJECTS: Grammar—Paragraphs—Titles—Construction of ja Letter —Postcripts —Stamps--Social Letters — Fami Letters—A Father's Letter to ah Erring Son— _ Brother's Warning to a Sister—The Sister's Reply —Letters of Intr duction—Letters of Condolence ~- - Lettersof Congratulation —Love Letters—Wedding Announcements—Ceremony and Reception--Form Suitable for Invitations—M. Announce- ment—Valentines—General Tavitations—Accept- ances and Regrets—Notes of Ceremony and Com- ' pliment—Business Letters—Application in Answer to Advertisement— Miscellaneous Letters, etc., ete, For sale by ali newsdealers. if ordered mail, add four cents for postage. ~ 2... STREET & SMITH, 238 William St., N.Y, City, . < es ~ + hs 4 or £ 7 : Tas ee <&

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| 7 opening installment of this great story. F 75 Solid Gold Watches GIVEN AWAY Not Gold Filled Watches Not Gold Plated Watches BUT ABSOLUTELY Solid Gold Watches WARRANTED UNITED STATES ASSAY, FULL PARTICULARS IN NUMBER 20, BOYS OF AMERICA. COMING! IN No. 20, BOYS OF AMERICA, OUT JANUARY SOth NEXT, At Corking, Up-to-Date Story cm 5} Yo orice RANK MERRIWELL The Famous Yale Athlete, - Entitled ... Here ty All-Star Athletic Club; The Boys Who Couldnt Be Downed N 2] AN AFFORD TO MISS THIS FASCINATING STORY. The wonderfu! record of the All-Star Athletic Club, their bitter rivals, their battles on the ice, in the gymnasium, on the snow, in the rink, the plots of their enemies, etc., etc., are just a few of the features of this remarKable story, throbbing with enthusiasm and excitement. Don’t miss No. 20, BOYS OF AMERICA, containing the + rf ‘ v ‘ 2 is ; x : ie : y x alles <TR ok hat 5. den “ arr & - i ot : ses ¢ é ' * p . = : es a —s ac + il MN aE IR i i te, IER: ‘ ; af ee Soke

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be a 2 i = = un 44 nd i. Nee

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Nick Carter Weekly, Large The Best Detective Stories in the World. ..Nick Carter in Harness Again ; or, At Odds of Five to Two 229. .Nick Carter's Time Lock Puzzle ; or, The Mystery Five's Big Haul 230. .Nick Carter’s Unknown Foe ; or, A Bold Game of Blackmail 231.. Trapped by a Hypnotist ; or, Nick Carter on the Track of a Swell Abductor 232..Nick Carter in the Air; or, The Perils of a Female Gymnast 233--Nick Carter in the Witness Chair ; or, A Surprise for a Shyster Lawyer 234..Nick Carter's Night Off; or, Hot Work with a Volunteer Assistant 235..Nick Carter Against a Rival ; or, A Chase After Documents 236..Nick Carter's Midnight Rescue ; or, A Rascally Millionaire 237..Nick Carter in a Fog ; or, The Strange Flight of a Bridegroom 238. .Nick Carter's Mysterious Neighbor ; or, The Occupant of the Third-Floor Flat 239..The Rolling Mill Tragedy; or, Nick Carter's Hunt to Death 240. .Nick Carter’s Queer Burglary Case ; or, A Thief Robs a Thief 241. .Nick Carter Downs a Doctor and Destroys a Prescription 242. .Nick Carter Accused of Murder ; or, Identified by a Nose 243--Nick Carter's Water Trail ; or, The Strange Hiding Place of a Millionaire 244..Nick Carter's Dynarnite Fiend ; or, The Unraveling of False Clues 245.-Nick Carter’s Child Rescue ; or, The Defeat of a*Desperate Villain 246. .Nick Carter on the Racecourse ; or, Crooked Work in the Paddock . Nick Carter's Black Clue ; or, Heard in the Dark (SERIES) NICK CARTER’S ADVENTURES 248..Chapters 1 to 12 describe Nick Carter's’Strange Vacation 249. .Chapters 13 to 26 describe Nick Carter Investigating a Leak 250. .Chapters 27 to 37 describe Nick Carter's Double Clue 251..Chapters 38 to 47 describe Nick Carter and ‘‘ The Brown Robin” 252..Chupters 48 to 55 describe Nick Carter Tracking a Traitor 253..Chapters 56 to 64 des-ribe Nick Carter’s Tunnel Mystery 254..Chapters 65 to 74 describe Nick Carter’s Queer Murder Case 255..Chapters 75 to 83 describe Nick Carter Challenged . Chapters 84 to 93 describe Nick Carter and Arizona Jake Back numbers always on hand. If you cannot get them from your prvaiegles, FIVE CENTS a copy will bring them to you by mail, postraid _